Autumn is arriving here, with all of its mellow, golden beauty and the leaves are just beginning to change colour. It is one of my most favourite times of the year. Although walking in the woods is a beautiful and enriching experience whatever the season:
- In winter they are cold, silent and skeletal, but oh so atmospheric, and the architectural shapes of the trees against the sky can be seen and admired;
- The Spring they come alive with birdsong, the new leaves are a bright impossible green, and bluebells beautify the woodland floor and scent the air;
- In summer they are a cool place to enjoy respite from the heat, and the woodland floor is dappled and pretty with a sprinkling of sunlight through the dense canopy of leaves overhead,
But it is in Autumn that I find the woods at their most magical and fascinating, and that is due to the beauty of the autumn leaf colours, the quality of the light and the profusion of wonderful fungi that emerge and fleetingly exist under the trees.
There’s not much fungi sprouting yet, just a few springing up here and there in the damper patches of the wood, but with rain forecast over the next week the majority should begin emerging soon.
September signals the start of spider season too and all along the hedgerows a host of big orb weaver spiders are sat fatly in the centre of their webs. They look like they are floating in mid air until the sunlight glints off of the silken strands and highlights the intricate pattern. And the hedgerows themselves are absolutely laden and bountiful. This year is a ‘mast year’ meaning that trees and shrubs are co-ordinating and producing an unusually large quantity of fruits, berries and nuts, possibly in response to weather conditions throughout spring and summer, or perhaps from a more mysterious connection between their root systems or pheromones, it is not fully scientifically understood yet, leaving us free to still believe in a little magic going on out there in the woods 🙂
At home there is knitting, of course, but there is very little in the way of pattern writing going on here for me. Things have been a little difficult of late. I don’t often mention Amy here on the blog anymore, because although she is still living with us and our stories are still very much intertwined, it feels an invasion of her privacy to write about her. It is after all her privilege to share her own story with those that she is personally comfortable with. But I am going to say that this has been such a tough month for her, she has had to contend with physical health issues, which have led to mental health issues too. It has been so hard to watch her struggle and be able to do little more than try to comfort her. I so hope that she can overcome her struggles and get back on an even keel again and continue her journey towards building an independent life for herself. The path from adolescence to adulthood is never an easy one, but it feels like it is harder than ever for our young people now.
After a few planned solo trips out to the woods with my camera I hope to be back with some toadstool pictures later in the month. I am craving the peace and comfort that being out there alone brings me, and look forward to having the space and time to calm my racing thoughts and concentrate only on what I see, hear and smell in my woodland sanctuary.
I hope you have a good couple of weeks and get some time to spend on the things that you love,
J x
little cotton rabbits 
Thank you Julie for the beautiful descriptions of nature around you. It gives me eyes to see beauty around me in my own surroundings. I love your blog. I enjoy very much the makings of the little animals, their clothes and belongings and to see the joy of the children and their parents when they discover the gift I made.
Warm hug Lieve
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Always love your posts and photos Julie. I hope things turn around for the better for your daughter
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beautiful post love the photos and best to your daughter
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Lovely post and photos. 🥰 Thank you for everything. All the best to you and your family 🥰
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I think I finally have boarded WordPress with you…I hope! Three attempts is the charm.
I feel that I am only as happy as my unhappiest child…no matter what their age! Physical & mental health cannot never be separated…they are subject to the same circumstances & suffer together. They can also heal together. Sending healing, comforting & caring energy across the silvery seas. I wish better days for all of you.
🇨🇦🌬️🇬🇧🥰
Lori from Vallentyne.
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Thank you for your lovely pictures and descriptions of the world around you. Many thoughts and prayers, too, for your daughter. Health struggles can cloud the light our futures hold. Hopefully glimmers shine through to keep her optimistic! 💕
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I admire your talent in knitting, photography and writings but most of all your courage and strength in dealing with events in every day life .It’s not easy being a mom . I wish you continued good health and hope for a better tomorrow for all your family.
ps. I so enjoy reading your blog.-you are an inspiration to many!
God’s Blessing
eva [ Canada]
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I’m so sorry to hear that Amy is struggling at the moment, sending her healing thoughts and hopefully she’ll be back on an even keel soon. I agree life can be complicated for young people these days.
Beautiful pics as ever Julie … I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many acorns as there are at present! I must admit I love looking for fungi too.
Best wishes
V x
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I love your photographs and writing. Thank you
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Sending my very best wishes to Amy and hoping she makes a swift recovery with both her physical and mental health. Your life seems fraught with the complex issues that many of us have been so fortunate to escape. You are amazing.
Chris
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Hi Julie,
Fall is becoming my favorite time of year. I live in the Pacific NW on an Island. The falls here are amazing as there are so many Maple trees and the beautiful reds oranges and yellow are abundant here.
Your blog looks amazing. Much work went into the making it all that it is.
So sorry to hear Amy is going through a rough patch. I like you feel it is difficult for young people these days. I hope she soon feels better and is able to get on with life. It’s good you mentioned Amy and her struggles. I am a believer in if enough people wish her well it will happen.
It’s good you have the Forest to escape to and find beauty there to comfort your soul.
I think of you often and how your patterns brighten so many lives. It brightens my day to look on the website and see all the beautiful knitting that comes from your beautiful patterns. The wonderful people that feel like family. You are an inspiration to me. I hope you find peace in the coming months.
Sandy
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Oh Julie, I think of you every morning on my walk! now even more to be concerned about for you.
With all that being said, your photos bring me joy and yes, mast year and Magic 🙂
Continue to follow your paths thru the woods and be at peace.
Love, Me
Thistle be a beautiful day!
While there is tea there is hope!
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Hi Julie,
I have two sons in their twenties who struggle with loneliness and discouragement about the future. It was a comfort to read your words about Amy and to realize I am not alone in the weight and worry I feel as a mom.
I followed your blog when my boys were little and I knitted two tiny stockings from your pattern! I still put them on our Christmas tree every year.
I recently found you again and I enjoy your content so much.
Thanks!
Maria
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Hi Julie,
Firstly, I love all your beautiful photographs of the change of seasons in England over the years. Also I have knitted over fifty of your lovely rabbits, I knit for a Hospice called Bear Cottage where my Grandson Jack died when he was eight, of his fifth rare Brain tumour.
I have also knitted many Mice, which I was told a month ago the Children really love, so I knitted some more… I am now “miced out” for the time being…
It is Spring in Penrith NSW, I had a lovely meadow of Freesias until we got two days of over 30 degrees and Westerley winds and they all died…. I planted a150 bulbs over twenty years ago, and I now have thousands coming up all over the lawn and the cracks in the paths.
Penrith is 50km from Sydney at the foot of the Blue Mountains, we get over 40 degrees in Summer, so plants have to be very hardy…..
You do wonderful things for your Son, I have a Neighbour who does much the same as you with her Son..
Enough ramblings,
Kind regards
Margaret
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I so enjoy the content of your e mails. The photos are such a joy. Looking forward to the next batch.
Irene
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I save your blogs for special moments when I can enter your lovely photos and enjoy them as though I was walking with you. You have become a friend across the miles and I hurt with you when family challenges come your way. Your way of dealing with these– by knitting or by walking in nature– are familiar ones. I feel for your worries about your daughter and hope these difficult days pass quickly and she finds strength to go forward. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
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Stunning photos as always !!
Sending much love to both you and Amy!! Thinking about you both lots. Xxxx
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Beautiful pictures like always. It is always difficult to see friends/family struggling with life. May you all find some peace to help face each day. I often read the FB Little Cotton Rabbit comments. I hope you derive joy from seeing all the ways your animals bring joy wherever they go.
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Prayers, love and hugs for Amy – the struggles the young ones experience today are certainly difficult. Hopefully she will also find peace and solace in the woodlands. Mother Nature is the best healer , all it takes is for one to stop and admire the wonderment of it all.
Your pictures are always calm. serene and filled with beauty.
Kind Regards
Sue
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Thank you Julie it’s nice to catch up. So sorry about poor Amy give her hugs – life is just so much more complicated for our children and it is so stressful.
Look forward to your October update – I’ve seen plenty of toadstools popping up in my garden and in the woods xxx
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I am praying for Amy. I hope she will feel better physically and mentally very soon. Life isn’t easy so many bumps in our roads.
Praying for you too Julie. It’s hard on a mom when her child is having difficulties. Sending you a hug.
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I cant read your post for gazing at your amazing photographs. What I wouldn’t give . . .
Thank you.
Be well.
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