November

No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day--
No sky--no earthly view--
No distance looking blue--

No road--no street--
No "t'other side the way"--
No end to any Row--
No indications where the Crescents go--

No top to any steeple--
No recognitions of familiar people--
No courtesies for showing 'em--
No knowing 'em!

No mail--no post--
No news from any foreign coast--
No park--no ring--no afternoon gentility--
No company--no nobility--

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member--
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!

                                                              Thomas Hood

Fall back

Approach Of Winter by William Carlos Williams

The half-stripped trees
struck by a wind together,
bending all,
the leaves flutter drily
and refuse to let go
or driven like hail
stream bitterly out to one side
and fall
where the salvias, hard carmine—
like no leaf that ever was—
edge the bare garden. 

 I guess we're getting to that time of year again. Enjoy your extra hour's sleep tonight!

They were all yellow

Well, it was another grey, wet and rainy day today. But, do you know what? Not for me it wasn't.

I had the same weather as everyone else of course, but I decided it wasn't going to get to me. And I don't mean, get to me in the same way as it got to me yesterday as I struggled home from Edinburgh up the Royal Mile in the pouring rain and then home from Stirling station in the torrential downpour that graced central Scotland yesterday evening.

No, I mean get to me as in make me grumpy and sad. All I had to do was look out of my window at this ray of light and my heart lifted. That, and the fact that it was Friday and my day started well, I had time for lunch (even if I did have to sit on my own) and I also had time (and company) for coffee.

I may only have got one thing done. It may have rained most of the day. I may not have been invited to a firework party this evening. I may be super exhausted. I may have had some grumpy moments.

But, on the whole, life is good. And that's good enough for me.

After all, look how they shine for you. And all the things that you do.

A poem lovely as a tree

Waiting to go
all the leaves want to go
though they have achieved
their kingly robes.

Weary of colours,
they think of black earth,
they think of
white snow.

Stealthily, delicately
as a safebreaker
they unlock themselves
from branches.

And from their royal towers
they sift silently down
to become part of
the proleteriat of mud.

(Autumn, Norman MacCaig)

Routes to work

Can I just say,  isn't this a great sight to see on my way to work?

Unfortunately the photo doesn't really do the colours justice. But suffice to say, I walked on a golden carpet to work today!

That time of the year

 
Halloween, Day of the Dead, Samhain - call it what you like, it's very definitely that time of the year again. The time when the nights start getting much darker, days of fog or frost, leaves falling off trees, smoke in the air and gloves, hats and scarves all round.

This morning, after the clocks went back for the end of British Summer Time (possibly for the last time?), Halloween kicked off to a gloriously autumnal foggy start. Before too long, the sun starting breaking through and we were set for one of the fabulous 'tail end of the year' days. No more inspiration was required - before heading off for my tango class I managed a quick walk round Stirling and caught some beautifully atmospheric shots with my camera. Wreathed in mist, with the reds and golds of the falling leaves competing with the last shoots of green, the city looked so pretty - I swear there is nowhere better on days like this.

What do you think?

Falling headlong ...

...into autumn. (By the way, isn't autumn a great word. But not as good as autumnal)

Anyway, I noticed when I was out for my run this evening (6 miles in 61 minutes since you asked), that autumn is definitely on its way now. All around me the leaves are starting to turn a golden colour and begin their descent from the trees. We've got a windy night outside tonight, so I'm fully expecting to see leaves everywhere when I head in to work tomorrow (on my way to work that is, not in the office - unless I forgot to close the window that is). And there's a chill edge to the air these days too - particularly at the beginning and end of it. It might warm up in the middle, but there's no wandering around without a coat for the rest of the time anymore.

Other hints have been the abundance of the apples on next door's apple tree (I must try to get a photo, it has to be seen to be believed), my tomato crop and the advent of the brambles/blackberries all over the place.

I always find it strange at this time of year. Just when we've got used to the warmer weather, all too quickly it's scooting away and winter is soon on it's way. The evenings are already noticeably drawing in - my evening run has to be started by 7 pm now or it's too dark to get round and back comfortably. Before long, it will be back out with the scarves and hats and gloves, misty breath and (with any luck) crisp white mornings and clear blue skies again. And I'll need to remember where I stored the winter part of my all seasons duvet.

But for now, it's autumnal. And hopefully will be for a while yet. A reminder to make sure I get out during the day a bit more to keep my sunshine intake up and to enjoy the last few warm days of the year.

Autumn is here!

So back to the yarn projects (courtesy of Macaree's).

Here's my first foray into knitting for a while. A nice slouchy hat all ready for my trip to Bristol tomorrow.

More yarn for the train journey so expect some work-in- progress pics over the next few days.