general stuff

autumn in the air

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

Thanks so much for all of the birthday wishes for Toby. I think he enjoyed his day – he certainly enjoyed the party rings that I let him eat because it was his birthday!

There has been a definite coolness in the air when I've been opening up the chicken coop in the morning and the evenings are getting shorter. Autumn is arriving here and I am happy because it is my favourite season.

All around things are changing and preparing for the harshness of winter. The garden spiders are fat and busy with their spinning,

 

Spider

The leaves are gradually colouring and falling from the trees

 

Leaf

 

Leaves2

The birds have been heading south. We're in the Lea Valley and it must be a popular migration route because recently the evening skies over our house have been populated by v shaped flocks heading to warmer climes.

 

In flight

The sun is getting tired and going to bed noticeably earlier each day.

 

September sunset

My thoughts are now definitely focused on indoor activities and it's time to put the paddling pool and summer garden cushions away for another year.

 

Woodstore

The wood store is stocked and I have a feeling it may not be long before I'm thinking of lighting the fire of an evening and curling up with my knitting – I feel the urge to make yet another pair of mittens coming on! But first I'll finish off the batch of autumny animals and hedgehogs that I'm currently working on.

 

Autumn basket

 

45 thoughts on “autumn in the air”

  9. You photos are beautiful Julie. 🙂 There are so many spiders about at the moment, it’s hard to walk up the garden or even into the greenhouse without running into a few webs!! Autumn is a very pretty season, if only the sun didn’t get tired so early!!
    As always it is an absolute delight to see your WIP, those little leaf dresses are lovely. 🙂
    Happy weekend Julie,
    Vivienne x

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  11. Another lovely post. Each little dress you make for your creatures is so pretty….how long does it take you to make each one? You seem to knit so many in next to no time.
    Hugs,
    A x

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  12. Such beautiful autumn photographs, the leaves are so beautiful at this time of year. Our logs are also stacked and we have lit the wood burner already as it is a bit nippy in the evening.

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  14. Oh my…. what a basket of gorgeousness Julie!
    such amazing photos too and it is lovely to hear that Toby had a lovely day.
    have a cosy weekend
    love jooles x

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  15. I was telling Brian just yesterday that my favorite time of year is Autumn/Fall. I told him that I wished it lasted as long as summer and winter.
    Growing up the Canadian Geese would fly over our house in the spring and the summer going and coming. They were so noisy but fun to listen to. We waited and watched for them each season. I would lay on my back and watch the ‘v’ formation fascinated. I liked watching the birds change positions as ones in front would drop behind to the end.
    Yesterday we went up into the mountains and hiked around and ate a picnic dinner. I kept inhaling the scent of Fall. What a lovely smell.
    I too am ready to light my fire and snuggle down and do some knitting. Our summer was so hot and relentless. I am ready for a reprieve.

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  17. Just what you need a basket full of hedgehogs, I wonder what the name is for a group of little hogs?? When my two children where small they had a milk intolerance (which they have luckily grown out of) the only ‘treat’ looking biscuit they could eat was party rings. It was the only biscuit we bought and brings back memories from years ago!! So pleased Toby had a nice birthday. Sarah

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  18. Tucked up in a blanket and slippers. Today, we have rain. We waited all summer for this, and now we have it – at the wrong time. The leaves will fall faster. In another couple of hours, I will head up the mountain to an arts retreat with some brilliant and some not so brilliant people, some of whom I love. I don’t want to go. I want to get into my jammies and read and finish the last camel’s Christmas clothes. I am sleepy, not chatty. I am taking lion yarn and one of Linda Dawkins’ patterns with me. And some yarn to make manes and tails with. So I don’t lose my mind, sitting still in real clothes with shoes on. I don’t want to go. But it only happens once a year. Rain and mountains. I’m glad Toby got a mess of party rings for his birthday – everyone should be allowed something like – a great, grown parent with all power simply opening the windows of heaven –

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  20. That’s it! You’ve sold this season to me, Juiie! This is a glorious post and I love that picture of a spider juxtaposed against a raspberry. Most bizarre.
    Hedgehogs? That yarn is perfect,isn’t it?
    Have a peaceful weekend.
    Stephanie

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  21. I love Autumn. No excuses needed to cuddle under a throw on the settee with my knitting, fire on (albeit a gas ‘pretend’ fire) and candles lit. What a basketful of scrumptiousness you’ve got there, Julie! x

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  26. Your photos are absolutely beautiful – you are so multi-talented! Autumn has always been my favourite season – I love it when the mornings get colder and it’s time to snuggle up in front of the fire (I’m impressed that you’ve held off lighting the fire – we are obviously far too soft down in Cornwall!), not to mention the gorgeous colours that go with the season. So many of my friends are ‘summer people’ and think I’m mad, so it’s great to find someone else who shares my ‘insanity’!!! Gorgeous hedgehogs too by the way!

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  28. Wonderful Autumn Photos….and love the little Hogsters nestling amongst the leafy dresses! How I envy you the skiens of geese! When we lived in Cheshire they were regular visitors over our house in Autumn and Spring!

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  33. I’ve had a few days away (unlike me)only to return to a blog catch-up and find Toby’s infectious giggle on the video – I hope he enjoyed his day.
    I believe the collective noun for a group of hedgehogs is an array but I somehow feel they deserve something more fitting!
    I’m going to knit another one, whatever they’re called – when others I made were admired by visiting ‘littleys’ I’ve let them take them home with them but this one will be for ME!!

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  34. You can’t beat a few part rings mmmmm, I’m still in slump mode and need to give myself a kick up the backside.Your little dresses look so cute,I haven’t knit anything for ages now and have promised to do a test knit for a friend so I better get a wriggle on . Plus Gabe has asked for a multi coloured pig with a horn for Christmas …. he has some imagination that boy . x

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  35. When I saw the basketful of hedgehogs, a huge smile spread across my face. They are the most adorable creatures on the planet, and you have captured them superbly.

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  36. I’m trying to make sure I notice and appreciate the seasons more – I normally just drift through days not taking my surroundings in at all which is such a waste! I love your bird photographs and your cosy knitting looks lovely. xxx

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  38. First off Happy Belated Birthday to Toby! It has been far too long since i visited and now i have started the day with a smile looking at your latest bunnies coming to life, i loved the previous dresses all hanging from the line – tooo cute!! We had just the same sky all pinky and blue the other night, put the photo on my blog 🙂 nice to think we are all looking up at the sale sky! Rain is pounding on the window today so a day drawing indoors beckons me. Hugs, catherine x

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  43. Gorgeous photos! I’ve made a hedgehog house in the garden in the hope of helping / encouraging the local hogs, but have yet to see signs of them making use of this free accommodation! Wood pile was also organised last weekend, in fact I think the only place where our autumn preparations haven’t matched (in quite a spooky way, really) is the re-appearance of porridge at breakfast time ~ are your oats at the ready yet? Thanks for a lovely insight 🙂

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