Friday, 11 October 2013

Rambling on . . . about a vase full of autumn . . .

 

SDC18879

There is a smell in the air, the smell of autumn, a yeasty, damp, fruity smell,

carrying a hint of smoke and a hint, too, of decay.

It fills me with nostalgia, but I do not know for what.

It is a smell I love, for this is and has always been my favourite season.

I have never been let down by autumn, to me it is always beautiful,

always rich, it always gives in heaping measure, and sometimes

it can stretch into November, fading, but so gently,

so slowly,

like a very old person whose dying is protracted

but peacefully, in calmness.

(Susan Hill – The Magic Apple Tree)

26 comments:

  1. Oh, I do love that vase of flowers and berries - as you say wonderfully autumnal - just as we are heading into spring and summer.

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    1. I thought I would pick them before the birds had them all.

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  2. A beautiful autumnal arrangement Elaine, it captures the best of the season perfectly... but are you not tempted to eat the blackberries each time you walk past?

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    1. Of course - by tomorrow the blackberries will probably no longer exist.

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  3. What a wonderful idea to put berries into a vase, Elaine! Looks so autumnal. I recognise the edibles but what are those yellow berries? At first I thought pyracantha, but the leaves don't look right ... or do they? (I'm hopeless on identifying shrubs!)

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    1. Yes they are pyracantha but the leaves you can see are from the elder.

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  4. I love this idea Elaine. What a beautiful vase of autumn-ness :)

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    1. For me it just epitomises autumn - or fall as you would say.

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  5. Lovely picture and words. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty - from one of my favourite books about living in the countryside - her descriptions put visual images into my mind perfectly.

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  6. A beautiful autumn vase and words from one of my favourite books too! Have a great weekend.
    Sarah x

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  7. Beautiful! Both the vase and the sentiment.

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  8. Love your autumnal arrangement..
    Julie :o)

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  9. What a lovely poem, and how well it sums autumn up.
    Your posy is marvelous, I have to admit it's the first time I've seen elder and blackberries in a vase but wow...it sure works. How do you resist eating them though....xxxx

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  10. It is a very bountiful autumn too Elaine. The fruit harvests have been far better than expected.

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  11. I'd never thought of putting berries in a vase before. Yours looks gorgeous and such a lovely idea. The poem is very fitting too Elaine. Have a lovely weekend.
    Patricia x

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  12. The picture certainly sums up natures magical time Autumn.

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  13. Lovely arrangement and lovely words in praise of Autumn.

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  14. The elderberries look great in an arrangement. Like black pearls. Brilliant!

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  15. Blackberries in a vase - how lovely! I wonder how long they lasted before being eaten though!

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  16. I love Susan Hill's writing and I do like your autumnal display:)

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  17. Autumn is my favourite season too ... always has been, possibly as a child because it had my birthday in it!

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  18. What a fabulous display - and it so captures autumn. Love Susan Hill's words, too.

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  19. I love your display of berries, hips and flowers. This is how autumn looks, just beautiful! Regarding nature autumn and spring are my most favourite seasons, followed by winter and then summer. Is not it strange, summer is nice but just for enjoying the warmth and sitting in the sun. We have the first real windy autumn days with lots of rain. Lovely to have a walk with the dog and afterwards warming up in front of the woodstove.

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  20. You've inspired me with your beautiful arrangement. I plan to be out with my snippers tomorrow in an attempt to create something a little like it. Autumn is my favourite too. Susan Hill has done a good job of describing the smell of it.

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