Wednesday 24 October 2012

October Days and Good News



Here are some photos from the Forest and from our garden, taken on some of the rare fine days of October.

Above, there are still a few bright tormentil flowers in the undergrowth out on the heath.

Below, the chestnut tree in the lane has small, hardly-formed chestnuts in fewer shells. It is giving food just for birds and rodents this year.




The last of the bell heathers still in bloom.



This wilding crab apple tree is usually covered in fruit in early autumn. This year, there is barely a handful of little yellow apples and the leaves have already gone.




Even "Old Jenny`s" tree, which has the reddest and most plentiful fruit that makes wonderful jelly, is struggling. There are so few apples on it that I have abandoned plans to make crab apple jelly. The birds need this meagre harvest more than we do.




Lichen on a wilding tree.



In the greenhouse, we had better luck with the tomatoes this year. Blight has flattened our garden tomatoes in recent years, so we tried this blight resistant variety, Firkin (sp?), which has produced a reasonable crop of medium sized, tangy -sweet tomatoes.





Runner beans have been good too, so some of the last stragglers on the vines are being saved for seed to grow again next spring.




The courgettes have struggled, but we have had a few ( if the mice have not found them first).








Some of the last raspberries.



A few zinnias to cheer the garden at the end of a poor growing season.





Last, but by no means least, is the reason for my blog break over the past few weeks!
Our second granddaughter, K, was born twelve days ago, after false alarms and a fair bit of stress and worry. Thankfully she is thriving after her Caesarian birth and her lovely Mum, Dad and little sister are doing well.





Thank you everyone for your comments and good wishes!

15 comments:

ann @ studiohyde said...

I can see that your priorities were elsewhere...what a cute little sole.

Kath said...

Congratulations Grandma! I do envy you, I can't wait for my own grand children :-D

Lovely autumnal photos, I particularly like the first 2.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Congratulations on the birth of a lovely grandchild!

Sorry to hear that the harvests have been meagre, pretty much the same up here too

Jan said...

Such a beautiful little one-congratulations!

rachel said...

Absence excused. And what a wonderful excuse too!

Em Parkinson said...

I wondered where you'd gone. Congratulations - she's utterly beautiful.

The last of the Tormentil disappeared here last week so they're hanging on a bit longer in the forest. The gorse flowers are still going strong here unfortunately!

crafty cat corner said...

I love Autumn but at the same time don't like the thought of cold days.
We had trouble with toms and blight and like you found the only way was in the greenhouse, but the new blight free strain sounds good.

What a beautiful baby, I can just smell that lovely baby smell from here.

Briony
x

Anonymous said...

I think you can be forgiven anything for showing us that beautiful child. Congratulations to all concerned.

Mum said...

Congratulations to you and to the parents.
Love from Mum
xx

Down by the sea said...

What wonderful news your granddaughter looks so lovely. Congratulations.

Your garden still looks so full of produce.

Sarah x

WOL said...

Blessings on her sweet little head!

angryparsnip said...

awwww, I have tears in my eyes, what a little sweetheart, she is beautiful.
And I think your where you should have been. Wonderful !
When my grand daughter was born all the way in Osaka it was hard not to be there. But son was on the phone all the time with me.
We went later for her Omiyamiri. In the Shinto ceremony the fathers Mother holds the baby for the whole service. I was very happy to be part of this ceremony.

cheers, parsnip

Ragged Robin said...

Congratulations on your new grand-daughter - what a beautiful baby.

Lovely to see photos of autumnal flowers and fruits.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I just adore babies - so congratulations all round.

Morning's Minion said...

A sorry year for fruit here as well, other than the ancient pear tree which seems to take each season in stride.
A lovely photo of the new baby girl--one can almost feel the softness of her cheek.