The early bird(s)

Today's weather forecast was for rain starting around 11am so we went for an early jaunt to Dunham Massey. It's a National Trust property: huge house, lake, parkland... there's also a nice gift shop and cafe and it's usually quite busy with families and dog walkers.

Because we were there early in the morning (and no doubt because the skies were grey and ominous-looking) we pretty much had the place to ourselves. That's a lot of space.

The lavender was growing in a tiny walled garden and smelt lovely. The rowan berries hinted at the approach of autumn.

There are deer everywhere at Dunham. Most are used to the visitors and carry on with their business until you get that little bit too close. This one was very pretty.

So were these ducklings. We stumbled across duck HQ - lots of them snoozing together. I said we were there early...

We had a chat with one of the rangers too. There was a display with lots of deer skulls and antlers for people to touch and look at. Joe wasn't allowed this for too long (he tends to shove everything in his mouth at the moment).

The estate includes the surrounding village too. We didn't walk around it today but some of the cottages in the park are let out to people. Jay said he didn't know whether he's like to live in a place with so many visitors nearby. I think I'd cope...

There's a really good play area too, where children can learn to make dens and climb on a natural playground made from fallen trees. I suspect Joe will love it in a year or two.

We headed home after a long walk through the trees. People were starting to arrive and we'd had the best of the weather - in fact, we got in just as the rain started. Home and dry. It seemed only right to make a rhubarb and apple crumble (there's something comforting about cooking on a wet day with the back door open, listening to the rain). The weekend's shaping up just as we'd planned...

In between

Joe's first pair of 'proper' shoes, purchased yesterday. He was measured up and my mum and me chose these as they're traditional-looking and cute.

He's cruising along the furniture and has three top teeth coming through now, to add to his two bottom ones. 

And he's growing fast - not a little baby any more but not quite a toddler yet either. It's exciting but sad in some ways. The gummy smile will be gone for ever soon. And then he'll start walking.

Still, there are lots of things to look forward to: hugs, wellies, his first bike... and his birthday at the end of the month. I love him so much!

There, sentimental post over. I'll be back at the weekend with pictures and goings-on. Hope you enjoy yours, whatever you have planned (we're having a strictly three-of-us-only weekend)...

Indoor transition

I'm a bit preoccupied at the minute with summer coming to a close. Of course, there are things I'll miss: drinking elderflower cordial; raspberries and cherries; light mornings and evenings (and going upstairs early so we can watch the dusk from the comfort of the bed). 

But the thing is, if these things were there all year round we'd have nothing to get excited about. 

So today I'm focusing on the little signs of the new season which are dotted around the house. Like these Bramleys. I love them - they always look a bit scarred and homely but they're British grown and they mean I'll be making a crumble this week.

I bought some asters for the mantelpiece. I like the pinky-red ones best. Seasonal flowers are always lovely; I spotted gladioli too but they didn't have any in my favourite dark, inky purple shade so that can wait.

Flowers in season are always inexpensive too - an affordable treat to add to the shopping basket.

A dried stem now lives in a vase on the bedroom windowsill. I always take a small pair of secateurs when I'm out walking with Joe.

I mentioned in my last post we'd collected some pinecones. Now in the living room near the fire (thankfully we shouldn't be needing that for a while yet).

I've been making a few autumnal lino prints too, like this little toadstool. I've already drawn out and cut designs of leaves, seed heads and acorns. Next up: a pumpkin (currently at the sketch stage).

Last week's sunflowers. Petals gone, heads drying out in the kitchen. I think I actually prefer them petal-less. There are plenty out in the garden too. I'll leave some out for the birds and squirrels but will harvest a few more for drying. They'll make good subjects for drawing and for displaying in a jar or bowl.

Much as I like fresh flowers, I love more permanent touches of nature in the house: shells, pebbles, seed heads, feathers... Collecting them is almost as much fun as displaying them.

Autumnwatch

Yesterday morning I made a discovery. Jay got up at six and I was up soon after - usually I rise with Joe between seven and half past. 

Anyway, being up early meant I got to spend some time with Jay before he went to work. And I eased myself into the day gently rather than having to deal with Joe immediately after waking. I sat and drank coffee, ate toast and opened the kitchen door. The air was cool and damp. There was the tiniest, faintest whiff of the seasons changing. I discovered that getting up a bit earlier is a good thing.

We've been out on a few walks over the last couple of days, looking for signs of autumn. I always get excited about it coming but I think more so this year after the relentless heat.

There are lots of fruit trees nearby - apples are growing and there are red and yellow plums too. Plenty of foraging opportunities over the coming weeks.

The annual blackberry-picking jaunt will take place in Lancashire though. I have my favourite spots.

Conkers are out too. It'll be a while before Joe gets into them... I always like to bring some home from a walk but they never stay glossy and fat for long, sadly.

I can never resist stroking a friendly muzzle. This one belongs to a pony who lives down the farm track - I think he's a stallion so spends much of his time indoors (away from temptation).

We brought some of these pinecones back with us.

We used to call these fluffy seeds 'sugar stealers' when I was little. They're just getting ready to take off into the air.

I picked up a few other seasonal bits and pieces too: red leaves and seed heads to display indoors.

Oh, and I wore a jumper today too (Joe likes going barefoot though. Each to their own).

Knutsford Artisan Food Fair

We live in Cheshire. Knutsford is Cheshyah. It's a bit posh. Lots of Cheshire is a bit posh. 

Knutsford is very well-heeled - lovely shops and eateries, and it's one of the few towns I know where at the end of one of the main streets there's a stately home and parkland (Tatton Park). It also has literary connections: Elizabeth Gaskell grew up and met her husband there, and many street and house names relate to both her and her works.

We read Mary Barton in one of my literature classes at university. I found it a bit dull. I loved Cranford on TV though. This possibly makes me a philistine. But at least I'm honest about it.

On Sunday we met up with Jay's brother and wife and went to the food fair which is held there regularly. It's not just food though - there are vintage wares and plants and crafts too.

I liked a stall selling French antiques and bric-a-brac. This green bottle caught my eye.

I really, really wanted this jug.

And I loved this little mobile summerhouse.

The company was called Ox Eye Daisy and they were selling plants and herbs in very pretty displays.

We didn't have lunch in here but we did sit on the window ledge outside and fed Joe some pasta. He'd worked up quite an appetite observing the market from his pushchair.

I bought a raspberry meringue (it was a bit too sweet so Jay the sugar fiend ate it); a bottle of cordial (I blogged about it here) and some Portuguese sardine pate for my brother. He likes that sort of thing.

Late summer eatings

We went to an artisan food fair in Knutsford today - I'll share some pictures later this week. But the whole weekend has had a seasonal feel in terms of food and flowers. Like these broad beans. Our crop was very disappointing - so we bought some extra and ate them with a light mustard dressing, Parma ham, parsley and toasted sourdough bread.

I always have a recipe or two snipped from a magazine and stuck on the side of the fridge. I filed the baked cheesecake one that's been up for a while and replaced it with Claudia Roden's Orange and Almond Cake. I also baked the cake. It has no butter or flour in it but can be a little bit sharp (you boil 3 oranges and blend them, peel included, into the mixture). So it's nice with a little bit of syrup drizzled on top - and maybe a dollop of Greek yogurt on the side.

I've mentioned before that our gooseberries haven't made an appearance this year. And now the bushes are being devoured by caterpillars (that's the last time we have nasturtiums - they're irresistible to cabbage whites and they lay eggs everywhere).

So yesterday we picked up a punnet from Ramsbottom market. Compote or crumble - yet to decide.

These are the teasels I collected last week with Joe. Still drying out in the kitchen and a bit lethal-looking. They remind me of the Autumn Fair we used to have each year at my primary school. I loved it - the whole being in school at night time, the corn dollies we used to make, the cake stalls and bric-a-brac... maybe that's when I started loving autumn so much.

Jay went to the shops with Joe and brought me back some huge sunflowers wrapped in brown paper. They're now on the mantelpiece brightening up the living room.

It's cooled down a bit over the weekend too. The temperatures are definitely more bearable (but I'm still sleeping on top of the bed covers).

Home and away

Yesterday Joe and I went to the Craft Barn. It's just up the road from where we live and surrounded by fields, so once I'd bought a few balls of yarn we went for a walk. There's a little lane with a few houses dotted along it, and they each have very well-tended gardens and vegetable patches.

Summer's getting on now - apples on the tress and crocosmia flowering away.

Those tidy beds put ours to shame...

The colours of the season seem to be flame-coloured: oranges, reds, golds. Not in an autumnal sense though. More fiery (to match the weather).

We didn't get much further into the field as you can only do so much with a pushchair. And Joe's way too heavy to carry any distance.

The combine harvesters will be out soon and the fields will be stubbly and brown and full of birds pecking at the remnants...

We made our way to the Linear Park next. It used to be an old branch line but is now a footpath. (Ironically, the proposed HS2 railway is going to plough right through it so there are some very unhappy locals). I thought maybe heading for the shade of the trees would give us some respite from the heat but it didn't make much of a difference to be honest.

We walked past some sweet little houses with cute names, like September Cottage and Damson Cottage.

Then we came home and enjoyed the cool of the kitchen whilst sharing a cheese spread sandwich. Joe has simple tastes (although he tolerated a bit of hummus the other day so there's hope).

Jay's dad and stepmum had sent us a postcard .They're currently away in Switzerland. The fresh Alpine air must be so nice right now.

Things are supposed to cool down a bit here over the weekend. I hope so - Joe's top teeth are starting to come through and he's been suffering. The heat doesn't help. I keep opening all the windows in an attempt to get a bit of a draught going. When it works it's lovely. Oh, to live by the sea...