Thoughts on a Theme – October, Kent

I woke up this morning as a result of JS‘ alarm going off repeatedly and him just IGNORING it! Argh. I stayed in bed for a while reading through some blogs, and the overlying theme of most of them was:

“It’s October! I love October! Look at all the pretty colours and the trees and the new season in the air and…”

Lying in bed, grumpy because the alarm was still going off and feeling extremely unconvinced by the people heralding the arrival of October/Autumn/Fall, I decided it was time for me to Get Up. The weather has been awful here for a few days, and when I got up I was stunned too see glorious, glorious sunshine. The dew was on the lawn. Spider webs glistening on the fences. Apples in the orchard shining on the trees.

I went and retrieved the Boys from the barn, and they sat munching at the breakfast bar. Look at the expression of contentment on Archie‘s face. Eyes closed, carrot in the process of being devoured…om nom nom. Norman was being difficult and making it hard to get photos of him. Bad boy.

The Boys at the breakfast bar.
The Boys at the breakfast bar.

Tommy was being impatient because I haven’t managed to take him for a walk recently. I had just boiled the kettle for my morning tea, and was about to sit down and finish sewing up the Dragonfly Jumper. Something had enchanted me, and I left the fresh hot water and went out in my appropriately autumnal dress and wellies. I barely remembered a jumper – I had to grab a smelly boy one from the laundry basket but it was so smelly I couldn’t wear it, so I just put the dog-lead in it and tied it around my waist. I wasn’t cold.

The First October Walk

The house is perched on the edge of Shadwell Wood in Kent. I borrowed an SLR from the lounge (not sure who it belongs to!) and took a few shots. I know the quality is a bit shoddy. I’m not a natural photographer…maybe I should try work on that!

Wellies and hand-knitted socks. Fashion. Icon.
Wellies and hand-knitted socks. Fashion. Icon.
My gorgeous fashion sense - who else would go out wearing nothing but a tie-dye dress and wellies? Sorry mum.
My gorgeous fashion sense – who else would go out wearing nothing but a tie-dye dress and wellies? Sorry mum.
Cobwebs on the fences.
Cobwebs on the fences. I’m a materials scientist and spider silk fascinates me. This stuff is amazing.
Tommy waits impatiently under an oak tree for me to stop taking photos.
Tommy waits impatiently under an oak tree for me to stop taking photos.
Flowers held together by a single thread of cobweb.
Flowers held together by a single thread of cobweb.
Spiders have kindly wrapped this poor twiggy plant up all snug and comfy so that it doesn't get cold in the morning dew.
Spiders have kindly wrapped this poor twiggy plant up all snug and comfy so that it doesn’t get cold in the morning dew.
Come ON Corrie, hurry up!
Come ON Corrie, hurry up!
Looking over the field into the forest. About to go in...shiver.
Looking over the field into the forest. About to go in…shiver.
Do I take the left road or the right road? I went for right...next time I'll go left!
Do I take the left road or the right road? I went for right…next time I’ll go left!
A gap in the trees looking onto a field - and providing lots of lovely sunshine.
A gap in the trees looking onto a field – and providing lots of lovely sunshine.
Why are you STILL taking photos?
Why are you STILL taking photos?
The first time JS and I walked here, he didn't believe it was a mill.
The first time JS and I walked here, I saw the buildings and told him the bricks MUST mean there was an old mill here. He didn’t believe me (and in 20 years of walking in the woods, had never noticed the bricks!). We asked his dad, and I was right. Corrie 1, JS 0.
The house with a gorgeous red tree in the drive.
The house with a gorgeous red tree in the drive.

I was inspired by this post written by Sue over at Mr. Micawber’s Recipe for Happiness. After reading all the blog-posts in bed, I was expecting bright red, orange, yellow maple trees and colours of Autumn everywhere! Alas, Kent is still in the grips of late summer, but the walk was gorgeous anyway.

I found some of my sunshine today. I feel slightly more hopeful than I would normally. What are the colours like near you? Are you just going into spring? What is your absolute favourite season?

Much love,

Corrie xx

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3 Responses to Thoughts on a Theme – October, Kent

  1. Trish Berry says:

    Wonderful photos which tell a great story although the cobwebs on the fence are hard to see! Its well worth trekking out on sunny mornings because they will be much darker very soon!

  2. Casey says:

    Great pics which have given me a very good idea of your surroundings – what a lucky boy Tommy. Archie and Norman must be in their 7th heaven with the kitchen floor memories fast fading!. Well here we have sunshine and autumnal colours; there are still beautiful butterflies, bumble bees and wasps looking for food; definately cooling down; swallows have taken off on their very long flight to Africa – I do envy them their final destination and hope that they find their home wherever they left them. Found a frog with a very pointed nose in the garden which doesn’t seem autumnal does it?. Wondering whether to give the lawn its final cut of the season. On a still sunny day in Devon what could be better?

  3. Trish Berry says:

    Oh and I’m glad you were actually wearing a dress and not wellies only!

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