Friday 15 October 2010

Fairies at the bottom of my garden

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Thank you to everyone who had a stab at working out what on earth the heading of my last post meant!   And specially to those who came up with other versions and brought back memories from schooldays  - it's reassuring that I'm not the only one whose upbringing seems to have been seasoned with nonsense.  
When not hunched over my sewing table working on the craft fair production line, I have tried to take some time noticing what's happening in the garden.   I'm elevating that from the reality of it simply being avoidance tactics, I know.
There are so many berries this year:  hips and haws, elderberries, ivy, sloes - am I to take it that this presages another cold and snowy winter?   There'll be plenty for the birds to eat if we do have lots of snow again.




I think there's something special about the Autumn season, particularly if we get some sunny days to appreciate the wonderful glowing colours.   Strange to think that a lot of them are as a result of the decaying process.
Something weird has been happening in the garden on the fungus front.   I'm hoping that this too isn't a sign of death and decay for our trees.   Some of the specimens we've seen have appeared overnight, several inches tall and I can't wait until I've got some time to read more about them.    In the meantime I've been taking photos (more distraction activity), ostensibly so that I can try and identify them later.  



Fascinating unbelievable delicacy.


 They do have a certain fairy-fascination, don't they?




Who lives deep in these dark woods?


OK, off to put my shoulder to the wheel and my nose to the grindstone, and other contortions unsuitable for a girl of my advancing years.   Just what tactics have you been employing to avoid those pressing jobs?  Go on, own up, don't make me feel bad!

                       Lots of love,
Chrissie


18 comments:

Things Hand Made said...

beautiful photos.. vibrant fresh colours.

Fiona said...

Lovely autumn photos. I spend plenty of time reading blogs to put off working. That's what I'm doing at the moment!

Liz said...

Gorgeous, Chrissie! Apparently the abundant harvest is the result of the good early summer we had (probably because it was then followed by lots of rain!) rather than presaging another bad winter. Although cold winters do tend to come bunched together so we may well get one...

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Wow Chrissie, what great photos. As soon as I read the heading I saw those Cottingley fairy images in my mind's eye but they disappeared as soon as I started down the page. I got carried away with the delight of it all. What is that wonderful seedhead please? Those inky black fungi are fascinating so when you know what they are ,do tell. My favourite photo is the jug with the apples and sloes and hops...are you home brewing and making beer, cider and sloe gin? I think that photo cries out to be drawn or have a print made of it. May I nick it to have a go? Lesley xx

Anonymous said...

Autumn splendour... beautiful photos. Hope your knees didn't get too muddy getting those magic low shots of the fungi! As for "work avoidance tactics", I could write a book on the subject... if only I could get down to doing it :)

Anonymous said...

Ummm, let me see - avoidance tactics. I've been reading your blog, going for walks and visiting our local cafe in the country more times than is good for me (4 this week so far!) - all in the interest of supporting local businesses of course. Hubby and I went for a walk before lunch today and were commenting on the abundance in the hedgerows. All those berries are so inviting but our kitchen is already groaning with the weight of newly filled jam jars. And as for the fungi, they're everywhere, in all shapes, sizes and colours. Unfortunately, we don't know nearly enough to hazard a foraging expedition. Your photos, as always, are amazing Chrissie. Looks like your garden has been well and truly invaded. Hope you didn't fall over the quinces we left at your door.
Anne

menopausalmusing said...

That is an amazing set of photos, Chrissie. I too have commented on the abundance of berries again this year.....

What do I do to avoid tasks? I say I am going to start the much needed tidying up, and then once I do I find "stuff" that I then start to "play" with..... :O))))))))))

JP said...

fantastic photos

Mrs Button said...

gorgeous colours, photos and i sooo love that little bird :o)

Things Hand Made said...

Hi Chrissie, You left a comment on my blog about the little project packs I was making up and I wondered if I could ask you something. I have deleted the email so will ask here if thats ok? I was thinking of packing them into envelopes with the instructions printed on. I have written the instructions and scanned it it. I am not a big fan of fake ephemera but wanted it to look like a special little packet of threads etc that soemone has given to you. Do you know what I mean? a little treasure? but what do you think?

Chrissie said...

Joanna, I know just what you mean about fake ephemera. However, I'm sure you'll know how to hit the mark and do it tastefully to make it charming and desirable. It's the sort of thing that would certainly draw me in to take a closer look and then pretend I was buying it as a present, but really keeping it for myself! I love a little treasure.

Hope you find this reply! I'm at lifecoacher@hotmail.co.uk if you want to send me a message there.

Chrissie said...

Hello Mrs. Button - going to visit your blog!

Jennyff said...

Beautiful photographs, I almost feel positive about autumn lookig at them. I find that reading blogs is a great way of getting out of doing what I should. They make me feel inspired to craft and tidy the house, but I just keep reading about other people doing those things. Works every time.

Celia Hart said...

I enjoyed your autumnal pictures very much - I love autumn, everything about it, even the darkening evenings.

Must get my nose to the grindstone too, but I really really needed to get out there and get my hands dirty in the garden while the sun was shining instead of working in my studio or repainting the lounge walls

Thank you for dropping by at my blog.
Celia

Sue said...

What a lovely post and gorgeous photos. I smiled to read this after reading your comment over at mine - you are quite right, Christmas crafts seem to hold a sway over our resolutions like nothing else. I love your little birds though. x

silverpebble said...

This post is truly beautiful Chrissie. Love the mushrooms and I think you already know how much I adore that image of the berries.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous post full of Autumn colours. Just beautiful. I think we probably are in for a cold Winter!
Penny

gunnelsvensson said...

These photos are so very beautiful !!!