Featherglen

November already? Autumn seems to be racing past as fast as the leaves are getting swept off trees by stormy winds outside. Today is dreich, wet and gloomy. Nonetheless, once I've accepted that yes, it is actually happening, I begin to enjoy the change of season. I'm cheering myself up by looking at pictures of our half term holidays, when despite chilly downpours, we managed to get out and about. Thoughts of a camping trip were abandoned by forecasts of snow (and a mild dose of chickenpox!), but we stayed cosy at home, luxuriating in a little  unorganised time together, and ventured over to the west coast for the day, and out into a local arboretum to see the glorious colours of the specimen trees.  A bit of painting and foraging for hazelnuts too. Indoors saw us taking time to sew (a long-promised bag for my sister), make paper maché dinosaurs (note son No.2 getting right up on the kitchen table to get on with his work - so like his mother!), bake and admire the treasures we brought home. Mine included some deliciously soft merino wool which I'm using for a simple project. A bit of knitting (nothing too taxing) is the perfect antidote for these long dark evenings, a simple cure for the downturn of the year, in colours as fresh as a spring day.