Four different types of bamboo

Four different types of bamboo, and not a panda in sight.

The Autumn Fairy

This model is the Autumn Fairy from Prokofiev's ballet Cinderella. This is one of several models on exhibition in the Rex Whistler decorated room at Mottisfont.

It was all go at Corfe castle

It was all go at Corfe recently.

Four Calling Birds & Three French Hens

Four Calling Birds

                                  Three French Hens

                           
This year Christmas at Mottisfont is being celebrated with exhibits from the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas"   We know they are French birds because they are papered with the newspaper Le Figaro

The last vestiges of autumn in Salisbury

Some houses in The Close at Salisbury Cathedral where staff  have collected the fallen leaves with mechanical aids. Yesterday, we had to use rakes to gather fallen oak and silver birch leaves from the grassed areas of our garden. I had previously removed the leaves from the guttering of the green house.

Fir cone sculptures on exhibition

Fir cones - just some of the fine sculptures on exhibit this autumn.

Herdwick sheep.

A fine example of a Herdwick sheep, and though a native of the Lake District in northern

England is admirably suited to rough grazing in some parts of southern England.

The Clintons' War on Women - it's a book

Can one have a respected opinion about recent events if one has failed to read this book? This is a question and not a political statement. 

Just sometimes, there is only one opinion that is right . . .

. . . but reflect for the world has changed following recent voting and events in the USA, Germany, France, and Greece for example. We now have to encompass change. Similar to the leaves above, they will die back, like the old order, and a return to a new world.

Ana Maria Pacheco - Shadow of the Wanderer

My photograph does not do these figures by Ana Maria Pacheco justice. They are presently on exhibition at Chichester Cathedral and well worth viewing.

Autumn colours down by the pond

Some of the autumn colours down by the pond. We have had a spectacularly colourful autumn this year.

More tomatoes picked in late October

A selection of tomatoes we have grown and  picked in late October. The small yellow

ones are the sweetest. The tomatoes plants have been very good this year, even

though we started later than usual. Many have been bottled for winter use, and,

some have been  roasted and then frozen, again for winter use. We have been picking                           raspberries since the beginning of August  and now they have finally come to an end.

              

 Late tomatoes have to be considered a luxury, and green ones make good chutney.

This year we have made apple and mint chutney for a change. It goes well with

 lamb, hogget, and mutton. Grab apple jelly is also a good accompaniment for lamb.

 Now, for us, it is time to tidy the garden and lay it to rest for the winter.

Our compost bin is full, so, after many years, we have resorted to using the local

authorities garden waste scheme. The council can deal with the difficult to

 compost materials and, of course, ground elder, potato haulm and diseased plants

 for example.

Christmas and a Gloucester Old Spot

Christmas is coming. Did you know that dogs think human beings are better than them,

pigs think they are equal to humans, but, cats know they are superior to humans.

This is a Gloucester Old Spot in an open field.

Roman Catholic Cathedral, Arundel

           The Roman Catholic Cathedral at Arundel from the  Earls Garden - I liked the border

Tomatoes we have grown this year.

Some of the different varieties of tomatoes that we have grown this year. The yellow ones are sweetest.