Wednesday 29 September 2010

Sad though it is to say goodbye to Summer, I'm trying to focus on all the things I like about Autumn. The colour of the Virginia creeper is one of my favourites and the crunch of beech mast underfoot is another. Then there's the winemaking, redcurrant, plum and elderberry are bubbling away and as soon as there's a frost I'll gather rosehips. The Egremont russets are ready to eat and the pears are almost there. So it's not all bad, despite the dark mornings. Talking of which, I'd best be on my way, I've got 5 minutes to get to work.(Ah, the pressure, the pressure!)
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13 comments:

Dene Wood said...

Yes every cloud has a silver lining, the unmasking of anthacyanins, Xanthophyls and other pigments is a treat, my grandfathers acer is looking particulary good at the moment, ah well summer may be gone but theres still plenty of gradening to do, just need to dig out the long johns.

Kyna said...

Ooh, winemaking...I'll be right over!

:D

Bub said...

There's a Virginia creeper just outside the local primary school here - it looks absolutely stunning at the moment.

Wait... did you say wine? Let me know when it's ready ;o)

Is the Wiz said...

There's no guarantee when it comes to wine-making, and even if all goes well, we're talking Christmas at the earliest, next Christmas for the elderberry. But trust me, it is worth the wait. My grandad Lavelle traced the family back to French vintners, so I like to imagine that one day, the lawyer's letter will arrive, telling me I'm the long-lost heir to a chunk of Bordeaux! A girl's gotta dream, n'est-ce pas?

Anonymous said...

Dearest Isobel, And now there is another skill to add to your already lengthy list of attributes -winemaking. I have never really understood what goes on with all those glass jars and tubes, so I am most impressed that you can manage to create something drinkable out of it all. Will there be some tipple ready for Hogmanay?!!

Is the Wiz said...

Dear Edith, I have hopes for the redcurrant, but there's many a slip so I'll still buy my usual ne'erday bottle.

The Idiot said...

Bah, it's not Autumn, it's still summer. I'm still harvesting summer squash, so I think that proves the point.

Make some beer, just in case the wine is slow!

Is the Wiz said...

Dear Idiot,
It's remarks like that which make us resent the English.
Trees are turning to gold, skeins of geese cross the sky, children are gathering conkers and squirrels are squirreling.
I rest my case.

Britta said...

Dear Is the Wiz,
Thank you for the reminder of all the good things autumn is giving us! For some time I made sloe-gin - terrific colour! - but I never dared to make wine. Do you know Rum-pot in GB? Where you put a lot of fruits (one after the other in the season - starting with strawberries) + suggar + rum into a pot and let it ripen? Delicious with icecream... Stress I do have too: moving to Berlin means travels ti meet the painter, the plumber etc, to and fro. Mid-November we shall have settled in (hopefully) - so bear with me when my comments and posts come now a bit unregular. Britta

Is the Wiz said...

Dear Britta, good luck with the move, see you when you're settled in.

Paul C said...

Amazing how the Virginia Creeper steals the show in autumn.

Is the Wiz said...

Hello Mr. C., welcome to my world. Yours must look especially wonderful this time of year.

Britta said...

Dear Is the Wiz,
just an enquiry: you are well - only having a lot to do in the garden? Don't feel pressured to write - I just wanted to send you a few greetings! Britta