Today’s guest picture comes from our friend Bruce’s northern trip. He had got as far as the Isle of Harris when he took this shot of the famous beach at Seilebost on a day that was not encouraging any sunbathing…but the view was still good.
It was both less windy and warmer than yesterday here today in spite of the complete absence of any sun.
As I sipped coffee and nibbled scones with Dropscone, who had come in search of a spare mouse for his computer as his had died, Mrs Tootlepedal was clearing off the remaining dahlias from the front beds.
She made short work of the task…
…and by the time that Dropscone left, the beds were cleared. It didn’t take us long to shred them and add the remains to the green mulch on the back bed.
Mrs Tootlepedal has become very fond of green mulching and I have to take care not to to linger for too long in one spot while taking flower photographs for fear of being covered in mulch myself.
I nipped around with the camera just to show that although the dahlias may have gone, there is a good deal still left to delight the eye.
All this….
…and these too.
We even have what passes for a colourful corner in October…
…and of course, there are Special Grandmas.
I had a quick check on the birds while we having coffee. We are getting a steady supply of greenfinches again though they were rather rude today and turned their backs on me…
…and a blue tit wasn’t any more helpful.
Still if the birds won’t ‘watch the birdie’ then there is nothing to be done about it.
After lunch, the warmer weather persuaded me to ignore the possibility of some light rain and go for a cycle ride. I took the precaution of having my big yellow rain jacket on from the start and a persistent drizzle, which came on almost as soon as I had left the house, made me grateful for the decision.
It was a gloomy day….
…with the hills shrouded in clouds and there was quite enough wind to make pedalling into it seem like hard work.
There were reminders along the way of even stronger winds in the recent past.
However, as I dropped down into the Esk valley at Canonbie, the rain stopped and the wind became my friend and pushed me back up the hill into Langholm. The trees along the riverside are among the most colourful around at the moment and the bridges at the Hollows…
And at Skippers…
…gave me the chance to have an uninterrupted view of the colour.
All this tree watching was very tiring and my new bike had to have a short rest on the old A7 between the bridges.
Although it was only my usual 20 mile Canonbie circuit, the ride gave me great pleasure, both because of the views and because my legs had appreciated four days rest since my last cycle outing.
I had a shower and a sit down and then, after a nourishing meal of corned beef hash, it was time to go out to sing with the Langholm Choir and put my singing lesson to the test. My teacher, Mary was too busy to take the choir herself this week and sent her husband along to take her place so I don’t know what she would have thought of my efforts but I enjoyed myself a lot so I thought that the lesson had been worthwhile.
I have got several busy days ahead and posts might become a little sketchy or even totally invisible after tomorrow for a while.
Meantime here is a flying goldfinch as a change from the incessant chaffinches.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
You posted a delightful set of Autumn views taken on your cycle ride, thank you so much. What a lot of colour you still have in your garden too.
I enjoyed the views from the bridges very much; the trees are certainly very colourful.
I am going away for a few days so I hope that there will still be colour when I get back.
I’m sorry to see the dahlias go but as you say there seems to be plenty of color left in the garden. That is indeed a colorful corner. I hope the frost hold off here and there.
The views from the bridge are beautiful . I think our color has finally caught up to yours.
I’m sure the green mulching will pay back ten fold.
Mrs T is keen to protect the soil from damage by heavy rain and snow during the winter.
That makes sense. We used to use evergreen boughs.
Marion Cran thought frost and snow were excellent for soil that was turned over in the fall. I think a lot of rain makes the soil look tired and beat up. Loved the bridge photos!
We get a lot of rain in the winter.
The autumn scenes by the water are lovely. A very nice selection of flowers in the panels.
I am glad you enjoyed your singing with the choir. That is how it should be!
I agree about that.
Not bad colour all round.
Agreed. Not sensational but satisfying.
The glass-like surface of the Esk downstream of Skippers Bridge contrasts with the boiling turbid water that follows autumn and winter storms. It also allows sight of shoals of fish that congregate. All are notable images.
Not so many fish to see these days alas.
While some of my favorite flowers are now gone, I’m still enjoying the ones that are continuing to bloom, whether in close up or wider views like the colorful corner.
I also very much enjoyed the views of the fall colors along the river.
They brightened up a grey day for cycling.
Those October blooms are very impressive.
We are happy to see anything survive a couple of chilly mornings.
Jack Frost will soon make his nipping appearance in central Maine. Time to start getting the pots cleaned and put away, along with the garden ornaments. More fun to take them out in the spring. 😉
Your photos of the river and woods sum up autumn for me…just perfect. I suspect planning is well under way in Mrs T’s mind for the borders next year but it will be difficult to surpass what pleasure the flowers have given to so many people this year and are still giving…thank you team T!
A warm summer is a great boon and I sincerely hope that it isn’t another 40 years until we get the next one.
Absolutely marvelous river and tree scenes. You are way ahead of us in color. As for the birds turning their backs, I like the photos anyway because they’re great identification practice. I will never manage to keep all your flowers in my head though.
I could say that about your warblers.
Nice “colorful corner” et al.