Sunday 29 September 2013

Autumn Cheer

Today is Michaelmas Day, and therefore a good day for getting rid of gremlins and bugbears and thorns in the flesh. (For those of you who don’t know such things, or haven’t got an Almanac handy on the shelf beside your computer, the Archangel Michael fought against Satan and his evil angels and cast them out of Paradise; hence my decision to cast out  Dark Days  and return to the brighter side of life.

I must also say how moved I was by the many kind and helpful replies I had, when I threw my weeping head on your collective bosom and nourishing crumbs of comfort promptly came my way. Thank you, dear all, your wise words have helped tremendously. Bless you.


It’s been a glorious day, the sun was at his most cheerful, bathing the hills around me in happy autumn tints. I’ll share a few of my discoveries with you by way of thanks and a general feeling of pleasure. I came across a man and his two collies, who has lived in Valley’s End for almost a year now. When I asked him if he liked it still, he said “Of course I do. Who wouldn’t.”

Can you see why he said that?


 I found a small clump of cyclamen in a hedge. Perhaps a bird dropped a seed 
and survival did the rest.




Seedheads are putting on a spectacular show at the moment.
There is beauty in nature at any time of the year’s cycle.
Smoke bush and willowherb form the most intricate patterns
and sunlight turns the tracery into spun gold.

The autumn garden isn’t half bad either.
Colours seem to be at their most intense just before dying.

(I know the physical reasons for this phenomenon,
just indulge my fancy and let me see something extraordinary
in the most ordinary course of the natural process.)

Somehow, today is special.


48 comments:

  1. Well I'm heartily glad that you've flung out your dark days and have pleasure in life again.

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  2. oh yes, I can certainly see why. fall is slowly making it's way here. leaves fall while it is still in the 90s outside. but fronts start to move through sparsely, cooling things down to the 80s. fall bloomers start up. grasses bloom.

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  3. It's been a day for lifting the spirits and blowing away the clouds. Your part of the world is so beautiful and the photos you have published have a certain 'angelic' magic about them!

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  4. Little moments of joy like finding that clump of cyclamen growing a way in the hedge are little treasures. Valley's End is beautiful - we love where we are too. One of those days when you can just breathe it all in. It's been glorious here today.

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  5. smiles....how could you not...its beautiful country and such wonderful different textures and colors as well...stay on the lighter side friko...smiles.

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  6. Beautiful pictures and writing as usual, Friko. I love the yarn-bombed bicycle! And any place where cyclamen grows wild is pretty special in my opinion.

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  7. Gorgeous - and I love the whimsy of that bike.
    Autumn is such a vibrant treat - though I also love the elegance of winter when the bones of the trees and the natural environment are on display.

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  8. Ah Friko, it made my heart glad that someone else thinks today is particularly special. (Although from where I write, I am in your future :)

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  9. Your sharing today made mine an even finer day! The affection we bloggers share is very real, and buoys me immeasurably, Dear Friko


    Aloha from my "Valley's End" :-)

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  10. A nice cheerful post. And an exceptionally cheerful looking bike! tell us more...

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  11. Just popped by and found out about your 'black days' earlier in September. So sorry. Although we are having a beautiful Autumn, there is nonetheless, something melancholy about the ebbing of the year. Having the Aga off is like losing an old friend, albeit temporarily, and your human old friend, must have both shocked and saddened you with the revelations. Your other readers have given great advice and comfort and there is nothing I could add, except to say I am glad you are feeling better. Whatever the situation and/or the motives, such outbursts always reflect on the psychology and the character of the complainant rather than the recipient. Hope the Aga is better soon and that you can enjoy the wonderful Indian Summer.

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  12. A "general feeling of pleasure" is so much appreciated and recognized by those who don't always live in that state. I'm so glad that you are there just now. Valley's End is a beautiful place; it's no wonder the newcomer still likes it there.

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  13. It certainly does my heart good to know you are feeling better, Friko, and that you and St. Michael have banished the gremlins in time for you to enjoy the autumn beauty in your garden. What a glorious place! The man with the collies was certainly right: who wouldn't like it? Or, put the other way, who could dislike it? The surprise patch of cyclamen makes me think of the surprises I find here. I have Nanking cherry bushes springing up everywhere, thanks to the birds, and even my ornamental crabapple tried to establish establish itself anew, right under the front step. I felt bad when I had to cut it down.
    I hope your Michaelmas cheer will stand you in good stead for the rest of autumn and into the winter.
    Luv, K

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  14. Imagine finding a fragrant cyclamen by the side of the road - a gift! It is good to hear that your spirits are brighter and the sun fills your days

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  15. OMG, I want that bike! And it makes me happy that your days are brighter.

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  16. I'm getting caught up - loved the view of your valley's end. You live in such a beautiful place. Over here there is rain, rain and more rain along with high winds. It's a perfect night for cosy reading by the fire - with a flashlight close by for the inevitable power outage.

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  17. Oh, I love that bike! And the spun gold seed pods. And your wonderful upbeat post, it goes without saying but I'm saying it anyway. :-)

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  18. Love the bike and the beautiful autumnal flowers. Delighted you are restored to balance.

    XO
    WWW

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  19. die fiets dat is mooi ,maar de mooie natuur natuurlijk ook ,maar ja zo,n fiets kom je niet vaak tegen.

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  20. How wonderful to be finding so much beauty around you. I love the self-seeded cyclamens; so very fresh and perky.

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  21. Each day that I am able to walk into the mornings light I feel blessed and glad. Bless you dear one.
    Hugs
    SueAnn
    Your photos are breathtaking!

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  22. Now Friko - you have outdone yourself with that beautiful bike - I am amazed and thrilled with the combination of colours - I am hoping you did this, for it took someone with great patience to do all those spokes. I may contemplate doing something like that next year for our parade - I would have the prettiest bike there I think. So good to hear you have left the darkness behind you and I trust you will enjoy our Autumn. We are experiencing a morning fog, with sun filtering through. If I had been smart, I would have dashed down to the river first thing to capture the light on the water, however; I am sitting here reading posts, having a lazy beginning to my day with a fine cuppa coffee at hand. Have a wonderful day and I send you lovely wishes all the way from my coast to yours.

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  23. Everyday is special, isn't it? I never bore of Mother Nature. Even if sitting in a chair on the porch, there's always something going on of interest. Ants are fascinating creatures and the wasp nest up in the corner, where did that come from?

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  24. Glad you're on the upswing and able to see the beauty all around you. Me too, and what I see when I look around here is much like your photos. Glorious, all of it.

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  25. Wonderful photos...and you know my addiction to good photos! Thanks for the fix. Also glad to see the sun is now shining and amazed that flowers just start themselves over there!

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  26. Glad to know you've banished the dark days. Your landscape is so lovely - I enjoy your photos of it no matter the season. I see you're harvesting plums and apples, too. I'd be making applesauce with those apples - one reliable comfort food my grands will eat.

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  27. Frikio, your Valley's End is so beautiful...in wide open vista and in surprising close ups, too. How very generous you are to share all these gorgeous views with us.

    Many thanks. xo

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  28. Best I say Nowt. Glad you are better. I'll leave it at that.

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  29. You are so right about there being beauty no matter what time of the year. When RJ and I went on a long walk (he would call it a hike) on Sunday, I could have taken a picture every two steps or so. Instead, I only took two.

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  30. Friko, the last photo is great! It's really fall colour! Life is love.... and delight. You're optimist and I love it!

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  31. I just love fall! Best time of year and always lifts my spirits. What great pics. :)

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  32. "sunlight turns the tracery into spun gold." I never tire of this. Beautifully phrased.

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  33. Wow! All pictures looks simply superb. Beautiful flowers with bright colors. Especially the cycle made of things which we get looks good.

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  34. Beautiful! Love the mood you paint through the pictures and your vivid expressions.
    Cheers to autumn!

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  35. I'm not sure if my other comment came through -- basically, I said I could see why your collie friend said "Who wouldn't?" It is just beautiful. Oh, if only winter didn't follow fall, I would love fall even more than I do! And I especially love the yarn-bombed bike. They do that a lot here to trees and posts but I've never seen a bike done. It's delightful!

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  36. Beauty, awareness and truth. Thanks.

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  37. Smiling with you - what's not to like?

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  38. Hello Friko,thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a note for me. Your blog is most beautiful with such lovely photos and writing. I have added you to my blog roll so that I can come back and visit each time I see you!

    The autumn brings us a few colors, but not until November. Many of my plants and trees are still green and in bloom. I so enjoyed seeing your photos of the colors slowing changing around you. Nature gives us beauty, we just have to take the time to sit and enjoy her offerings and just notice, such as you have done and shared with us.

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  39. Hi Friko - stunning photos - the glories of early Autumn .. and hasn't life changed in a couple of weeks ... gone is the end of summer, autumn is now showing ... October has arrived.

    You remind me: next year .. I must appreciate the seasons and the dates that record our year ... this year is slipping away too fast ... and I need time to sit and stare ...

    Shropshire is definitely a place to revisit .. cheers for now - Hilary

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  40. Time to stop picking the blackberries I guess. Apparently the devil wee-wees on them at Michaelmas and they turn sour. I am trying very hard to lose my gremlins at the moment, in particular my ex-husband who is being a particularly nasty thorn in my flesh at the moment, 14 years on!

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  41. Your little corner of the Marches is glorious and I'm glad the sun has come out for you in more ways than one. Here further west we've been under a blanket of cloud for days, but the colours are still wonderful.

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  42. Thankyou for the peek into your part of the world. To see such beauty - and nature doing its thing is just marvellous. Here in Australia, the part where I live, cyclamens do not grow naturally via a seed in a bird dropping. We can only enjoy the beauty of the flower when we buy it, the cyclamen, in a pot. And here, it is Spring. The air is laden with the scent of flowers and sunshine... when it is not storming and threatening snow!

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  43. I for one could live happily ever after there... I love the country, the hills and history. Even the seasons. Keep taking photographs as I love to sink into them :)

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  44. Such gorgeous surroundings!
    I've been having a little slump myself, and my post yesterday was my way of trying to write myself out of it, which kind of worked.
    These beautiful photos finished the job.
    Thanks!

    =)

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  45. You are truly blessed. Glad you pulled yourself from the slough of despond and emerged as if newborn into the light. It is so worth it at Valley's End.

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  46. I left a comment earlier but like fairy dust, it blew away. Thanks for beautiful photos of Valley's End. Wonderful!!

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  47. What a wonderful post. We celebrate Michaelmas too. Spurred on by my son's Waldorf school. The bike is such wonderful whimsey! Did you knit its outfit? The pictures are so beautiful! Who wouldn't love it!

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