Saying goodbye to Autumn

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My last post, about Lumiere 2015 at Durham, is a hard act to follow.  I was tempted to just let it ride until I come back to the blog in December, but the Christmas ‘rush’ will be well and truly here by then.  There’ll be no opportunity to bid farewell to Autumn.  It’s been kind to us this year and I’m quite reluctant to let it go.  Just a week or two ago I was wandering through Durham.

The cathedral gardens were looking pretty
And the cloisters empty of the activity soon to come
Artworks inhabited St. Cuthbert’s space
The weir was calm
And on the riverbank, benches for Jude
Such a cute otter!

On a bright Autumn day the shadows can be as beautiful as the blue sky.  I loved playing with them on my walk at Auckland Castle this week.  IMG_0777

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It must have been about the same time last year that I was here, because there’s a poster advertising the Christmas Food and Craft Market on 20th November.  I well remember my ginger wine and mince pie, whilst looking at the palatial dining room, shared with you on this walk.  This year they’re going a step further, with an outdoor skating rink until 3rd January.  I might just have to come back for that.

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This is the bench from the other side
And there go the walkers!

Of course, it’s no good having a great view without a bench to admire it from.  And one bench invariably leads to another.  Let’s leave the Deer House and go looking for some more shadows, shall we?  I’d better catch up to those walkers too.

Leaves against an old stone wall
Deep shadow!
Feathery pines
A wall and a stream
A last flourish of rust
A spider’s web of branches

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I think I’ve just about got Autumn out of my system.  And managed to share a few more benches for Jude.  It’s the last week of Festival of Leaves too and Verena has done a wonderful job.

If you do get the chance to visit Auckland Castle in the near future, don’t hesitate. It’s a beautiful setting and there are plans afoot to make it even more interesting.

That’s all from me for a week or two.  Take care of each other, please.

136 comments

  4. Is that a poppy you have featured at the beginning? I am always thrilled when people share certain blooms which speak to them about autumn. It’s interesting to see what stays in late bloom and what others associate with the season.

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  7. I was surprised to see some flowers still blooming around here. I would have thought they’d all be dead since we’ve had a frost. That otter bench is cool. Have a good time away from here, Jo.

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  11. Well we have a skating rink (til Jan) here also and I am hoping to skate – keep us posted if you do get to do it…. And favorite takeaways from this post – the artsy otter bench and all your shadows! Oh and the spider web branches was so cool. Ok – have a nice break Amiga 💕

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  13. Still some Hollyhocks .. wow ..
    I’m looking forward to a cold snap over the weekend Jo but then it will mean an almighty sweepand rake up of leaves here … :-/
    Super Autumn gallery .. won’t be long and it will take on totally different look . Love those trees in the landscape .
    Have a completely marvellous break in your lovely Portugal xx

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    1. I’m hoping to stay ahead of the snow, Poppy. It’s really not my thing except in very brief flurries. 🙂 Did you see the the Lumiere post? It was a night of fantasy followed by tragedy. Thanks for the good wishes, hon. 🙂

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  15. Oh, Jo, you found the best way to say goodbye to autumn, most touching and beautiful! You too take care and come back, we are going to miss you…

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  17. I am glad that you decided to do this post because it is beautiful. I am suffering the same temperatures as Lignum Draco and I welcome some end to Autumn weather, even if it is only virtual. See you in a few weeks!

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      1. 🌞 Sending your warm thoughts from (extremely) sunny Sydney…the good news is a southerly is just starting to kick in and down under that means cooler temps. Hope you outrun the snow ❄️

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  18. I feel sorry for some of you. Good that autumn is hanging around a little longer than usual. But winter will arrive soon enough. And where I live now, it’s autumn all winter long!! But we have no benches for Jude!

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    1. Well, Gilly tells me it’s still warm in the Algarve. 🙂 I hadn’t dared check till now. (I totally pretend that the weather doesn’t matter to me and I’m a total liar) So long as I can saunter along a beach or two I’ll be happy. I’ll face whatever when I return, but I have a visit to my sparkly daughter then and that is worth looking forward to.

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  19. This is a gorgeous post Jo, you’ve really upped your game with your photography recently. I still have the Tavira weather on my phone so I know roughly what you’re going to, lovely, lovely lovely! Enjoy every warm moment, take care and come back soon x:-)x

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    1. I still haven’t looked at the weather, Gilly, but I had an email from a neighbour over there last night and she says ‘looking good’ too. 🙂 Sad person that I am, I will be hoping to watch Rafa at her home on Sunday. She was widowed suddenly at this time last year so she won’t mind the company. Take care, darlin’. Sending hugs xx

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