Today’s guest picture comes from my brother Andrew. He crossed this bridge on a walk near Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

We had another lovely day here today, but there was a definite hint of autumn in the air, with the temperature in single figures before breakfast after a chilly night. It warmed up well though, and it was a good day for a pedal when I sneaked out to do my familiar Canonbie circuit before coffee, especially as the wind was very light.
I only stopped for two pictures, both taken at Irvine House, one to show a very unhelpful sign and the other to show what a good day it was.
Mrs Tootlepedal and Matilda had been doing water colour painting while I was out, and the kitchen table was covered in fine art when I got back.
We had coffee with Margaret and then it was time for a wander round the garden. As well as painting, Mrs Tootlepedal and Matilda had done watering and dead heading already so there was not much left for me to do except take a few pictures.
I was very excited by the sight of our first ripening tomatoes . . .

. . . and I enjoyed the sunshine and shadows on three clematis.
While familiar flowers like a symmetrical salvia and an upstanding dahlia caught my eye, a new zinnia was to be found tucked away in a bed, and the row of little hostas along the back path is very pretty.
There were many bees about again . . .

. . . but the best thing was the sighting of a peacock butterfly on one of the buddleias. There was another one about in the garden too.

The plant that stood out for me though, was this berberis.

The berries on the rowan tree are turning fast, another sign of impending autumn.

I watched the birds briefly after lunch. There are definitely more chaffinches around among the usual siskins and sparrows.
In the afternoon, we all went off to the park, where Matilda had a pedal, a play on the swings and a visit to the waterside. We went down to the Esk below the Church, where the water is so low that there are many wildflowers growing in the river bed. We could see that new timber has been laid on the suspension bridge.
The water was so low that a duck had to stop swimming and walk down the river under the bridge.

Then we went along to the Wauchope below Caroline Street where Mrs Tootlepedal and Matilda built a very adventurous pier out into the middle of the river. It wasn’t as exciting as it might have been though, as neither of them fell in. I looked at flowers to pass the time.
It was very pleasant sitting on the grass beside the river, and as it looks as though it might start raining tomorrow or the next day and then forget to stop, we will have done well to have had two riverside outings while the sun was still shining.
When we got home, Alistair cooked us a delicious evening meal which we followed with some of Mrs Tootlepedal’s home made ice cream.
We are waiting rather nervously to see what the weather brings, but there is no doubt that we do need rain, so we shouldn’t complain too much if we get wet. We will though.
The (just) flying bird of the day is a chaffinch.

Love the road sign! Maybe its best to hug the curb 😁
I keep my ears open. 🙂
I remember those narrow roads….and wondering what there weren’t more collisions. Folks had better not drive along at speed as seen on British mystery shows.
We try to be careful.
Too bad it wouldn’t rain at night and then clear by morning.
It might do that tonight. 🙂
See the poem A Gardener’s Prayer by Karel Capek. 🙂
Very clarifying text on the plate 🙂 The tomatoes look appetizing and what a wealth of flowers. Another nice trip under a radiant sun.
The tomato tasted pretty good when I ate it.
Gorgeous peacock butterfly and berberis! They compliment each other with the same colors, it’d be interesting to see the butterfly on berberis. Next post? 😉
No sign of any butterflies today!
😕
I am glad you have manged to photograph a butterfly at last. Both bees and butterflies have been scarce around here – possibly waiting for the weather to warm up a little more. I imagine the home-made ice cream was a delicious treat.
It went down well.
The photograph of the berberis was unbelievable as a plant so much like a painting in my eyes.
Dappled sunlight on the clematis was my favourite today.
I reckon that road sign was pretty helpful 🙂 Lots of good pics – I pick the tomato the berberis, the Peacock, and the header
I found this comment in the spam along with another couple. I don’t know how that happened. I try to avoid oncoming traffic wherever it is to be found.
It is not unusual to find genuine comments in spam. I check daily
I should do it more often.
The berberis does make very pleasing composition, and would make a good enlarged photo for the wall. Your rowan tree with its orange berries looks like what we call mountain ash here. It is not a true ash tree, just one of those common name misnomers.
We are supposed to be getting a slight break from the heat for a few days, for which I am grateful. After that, it is back into the oven with 100 degree weather. I am enjoying seeing your colorful gardens and occasional rainy days.
We are set to get some welcome rain over the next few days.
The rowan is indeed a mountain ash.
The berberis and butterfly photos are so very lovely . . . but the shot that made me laugh was the poor duck walking down a river. Drought is nothing to laugh at, but . . . the poor duck.
Not good weather for ducks as they say.
Beautiful butterfly and berberis photos. The poor duck does look rather perplexed! Hope the rain doesn’t bring out the slugs to dine on those lovely hosta leaves.
And the potatoes which have been slug free so far.