Oíche Shamhna. Halloween.

Trick or treat!

Downward looking

It's hard to not not look down while out walking the past few days. Changes underfoot every few steps.  Here, yellow speckles of Lime tree leaves on tarmac. There, papery pink Sycamore polka dots. Then, curvy oak leaves making splashes of burnt sienna. Sometimes scattered, sometimes mixing all together. Sometimes spattered on green grass, sometimes scattered on navy tarmac.

Above, blackberries and "jinny-joes" for a belated September birthday. Now to unwrap a slice of the belated birthday cake from tin-foil and put the kettle on!

Be-jewelled Autumn

 Have you ever noticed how the colours of Autumn are full of jewel and gem tones? Gold, ruby, bronze, copper, amber, topaz. Even smudges of amethyst on blackberry stained fingers. Like as if the trees are arraying themselves in all their rich loveliness before Winter's unadorned repose.

Glimpses of be-jewelled trees, footpaths, doorsteps, window-panes, windscreens and puddles to your week!

Little Red, Little Autumn

This little red fellow has been sitting on my desk for some time now....we shall see what becomes of him.

 Little leaf

 Little helicopter

Little cup

Little umbrella

New Website

I updated my website!
If you would like a little look you are welcome.

There is such a thing as Cloudberries

There is such a thing as cloudberries.
Who knew!
Berries like little amber clouds and they grow in Norway!

Last month I took part in a nature swap organised by  A butterfly in my hair (she is full of good ideas like that!). Names were chosen randomly and it turned out that V and I were each others "swappers".

Such a lovely surprise to hear a package drop through the letterbox. A parcel full of nature treasures and a handwritten note. With postage marks from Norway on it.

The shell and stone are from the north of Norway and the other pieces are from V's garden. The petals I can't stop sniffing and V suggested putting them in a cup of herbal tea (But I think they smell too nice for that! Maybe I will save them for a special goldeny Autumn afternoon cup of tea). The soap is made from cloudberries. (First time I ever heard of cloudberries!) The two postcards of girls with flowers are a lovely take on the nature theme - one of them is by an amazing Norwegian artist, Kirstin Vestgard.

Go raibh míle maith agat (thank you!) V

Septembering

These past few days, golden leaves speckling the footpaths, decorating my walks. Not many yet, just hints, but every day a few speckles more.

Beginnings and ends of days cooler. The trees and birds and air are quieter and more still - as if remembering to prepare for their Winter sleep to come.

During the days, sunny with blue skies and delicate wispy ribbons for clouds - September hasn't quite cast off August yet and I can still bring my cup of tea outdoors.

So cute to see the little girls and boys starting school for the first time yesterday with their brand new schoolbags and uniforms. 

Above, a couple of illustrations from a children's book  I illustrated a while back.