Why I love Autumn

You can't disagree, Autumn is beautiful. The trees start to turn and the landscape becomes a sea of yellows, reds, oranges and browns. Mushrooms pop up everywhere, I've never seen so many mushrooms as I have this year. I took these photos on a walk with friends (and their lively pups) this morning. We walked for about two hours on trails, tracks, alongside the rivers and waterfalls just north of Merthyr Tydfil. This area gets such a bad press but its outstandingly beautiful. We even came across a group of walkers who had come miles to walk along this specific route. They had come to see some interesting geology on the route, which we would have  never had known about. An area of completely unspoiled natural beauty right on my doorstep. A-amazing. 

This entire tree trunk was covered in mushrooms, I've never seen anything like it before!

Not only do I love Autumn for the changes in our surroundings, but also for the way it seems to spur me on in my creative pursuits. I always feel very inspired in Autumn to both create new things and try out new crafts, but also to finish up long-neglected projects. In January I often start new things, but Autumn is usually the time that I finish them. This Autumn I've felt a need to declutter, to work my way through the bags of yarn shoved under my desk, on top of my wardrobe, on my shelves (you name a place and I'll have a bag of yarn or a half-finished project there). I've also been making the most of the abundant berries, picking sloes in the Isle of Wight last month (which swiftly went into gin!) and blackberries which have made their way into a bottle of vodka! Last weekend I picked some crab apples from a tree at the end of my street (I got up super early on the Saturday morning so that no one would see me- its a busy street) which are also submerged in vodka to make Crab Apple Schnapps, a Danish delicacy. I also made jam for the first time. My friend has a glut of apples and I made some apple and chilli jelly using this recipe (here) and it worked! It was amazing, I was worried that it wouldn't set but it set really quickly. I think it would be great with cheese and its so easy I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

Getting back to my need to declutter I've been working through some longstanding projects, knuckled down and got them done. Do you remember by sock yarn hat that I started last summer (yep, I am that bad at finishing things)? Well I only finished it!

I'm so pleased with the way it turned out, and its lovely and warm too. The pattern is "sockhead slouch hat" by Kelly McClure and the yarn I used is Lana Grossa Meilenweit in India. 

I also finished my Worcester Scarf by Kat Goldin for The Crochet Project. I just love those little puff stitches! I used the suggested yarn for the pattern, Socks Yeah by Coop Knits

Two completed projects is enough for one post, more to follow :-)

Time for a bowl of crumble, my friends' apple trees giving again......

Faffing

I don't know about you but I sometimes have moments where I just want to play with my camera for no reason other than to have a bit of a faff around.

Sunday morning held one if these moments. I had been doing some product photography and after a lot of fiddling around managed to get a good set-up (which is pretty difficult in my small, clutter-filled flat) so decided to make good use of it. These are just snaps of bits and pieces around our flat that I have accumulated over the years (hence the clutter). 

As I write this I realise that each piece comes with a bit of a story too. 

I HATED this china cat for the first couple of years. I still think it's pretty horrible, what with the remnants of a sticky label on its head and the (most likely real) fur. We have a bit of a family tradition of having a long weekend in Bruges, Belgium every couple of years. There is this brilliant second-hand shop spread over three floors and we have a challenge where we do a secret santa and buy each other a 'lovely' gift for a euro. these gifts have to be displayed in your house for at least a year.  Imagine my delight when I received this cat!? The worst part was that I'd unwittingly helped my sister choose it! 

Despite my initial hatred of this poor cat it has been displayed in the living room of every house I've lived in for the last 6 years. I guess I just got used to it!

These elephants are from the same shop and aren't much more tasteful. I chose these myself though so say no more!

Now, these are fabulous! These were being given away by someone local to me on Twitter. I just couldn't say no. There was a whole bin bag of these, and I gave them away bar these two, as lets be honest, I didn't have the space or any use for them really, just couldn't bare the thought of them being thrown away. 

Yep, its a pine cone! I was at a local market where there was a stall that made the most beautiful chopping boards and carved wood ornaments from trees that were felled in the local area. Whilst chatting with the stall-holders about their work my eyes were drawn to the vast array of these huge pine cones on the stall and the stall-holder kindly gave me one. It was all closed up when I took it home but after a couple of months opened up. So beautiful to photograph. 

Have a great week.

The sun on our backs

 

It was so delightful to feel the sun on our backs and faces on this walk around Cyfarthfa Park this morning, and for the first time in months it felt warm. I have an inkling that spring may be on the horizon.

SSxx

I last came here in Autumn, which is silly really as its just up the road. 

Brrrrr!!!!

It was so cold yesterday morning there was no way I was getting out of the car to scrape the ice off, so instead I just took photos. From the inside.

Stay safe and warm xx

Autumn

Cyfarthfa Castle. This fabulous castle is in my 'new' local park. I took the opportunity this afternoon to check out my new surroundings. From what I saw this park is beautiful, and has way more too offer than just the castle......lake, beautiful gardens......I will explore it properly in the upcoming weeks. 

Here are a couple of other snaps I took this afternoon...

A slight lack of crochet you might say? Sadly this job has been pretty all-consuming but I think when I'm settled I'll definitely get back to it. I'll be working on this evening, so watch this space!

Have a great weekend,

SSxx

P.s.In the time it took for my laptop to charge in order to post this I made significant crochet progress, yeay!

August, August, August

August was a funny old month, all was 'as usual' and then whoosh, I finished my waitressing job, had two weeks of holidays and then straight to Wales to start my 9-5. Here are a few snaps of my 2 weeks off.

We went to a lovely wedding......

 Stayed in our little old caravan (for pics of this see this post from my trip last year).....saw the sea.....saw some sun!....saw some fireworks....

........all in all a great couple of weeks! Now back to the grind.....

I hope you have all had an awesome summer!

SSxx

Weekend- In pictures

We spent a lovely weekend in the Northumberland countryside. Here are a few of my favourite snaps from the weekend. 

What were you up to this weekend?

SSxx

In pictures

The last couple of days in pictures. 

More next week,

SSxx