Monday 7 September 2015

A golden hued day







'Rusty John'








Hello lovelies.

It feels strange not having Olly at my side today. He bounded into his new class, having got himself dressed about an hour before. He loves his new school shoes and his new blue polo shirt. He was pleased to see his chums, and they fell back into step as little ones do. Alfie went off looking rather grown up with his swish narrow legged school trousers and great big boats on his feet. I noticed that he is taller than me now, and starting to look more man than boy. He still forgot his lunch money though......

Yesterday was one of those rare days. It was the sort of day that I often dream about. It nearly started very badly, when a school shoe cock up meant that I was knocking on the door of Clarks at the crack of dawn, so that Alfie could be spared the humiliation of going back to school in his slippers. You all know, I'm sure, that school shoe shopping is the seventh circle of hell. I loathe it. But bugger me if we were in and out within fifteen minutes. No waiting, ticket in hand, surrounded by other tight lipped Mums (always the Mum, never the Dad. Have you noticed that). No disappointment or tantrums or giant huffs that the desired shoe wasn't in stock or in the required size. We went in. We got measured up. We got a choice of three shoes. Alfie picked the ones I would have picked. We paid. We left. Hoorah!

We had arranged to take our neighbours for a walk along a section of the ancient church pathway between Wicca and Zennor. It was a beautiful day for it. I have written about this walk here. It is a favourite of ours, because it is a really good walk for boys with little legs. The terrain is flat, there is so much to see, it is completely beautiful and there is tea and cake at the end. What could be better.

One of things I love about a sunny September day is the light. The sun is not quite as high in the sky, and it casts a rather wonderful golden glow on the surrounding landscape. It picks up the seasonal hues of nature and makes them shine with a rather other worldly atmosphere. I swear that you could grab a handful of colour from the air, and pop it in your pocket. The colours are softer and not as harsh as they can be in August. The light is clearer, somehow cleaner. There is a magic to it.

We were treated to this beautiful light along the length of our walk. We picked a great may blackberries and sloes. There were handfuls of elderberries too, although the bushes were so big that I could only snip off a few handfuls. Olly found a beetle and cradled it in his hand for part of the walk. He named it Rusty John; Rusty after a dog we met along the way. We have no idea who John is. There were lots of spiders webs dotted throughout the hedgerows. I always think of September as spider season. There were also the rather fabulous webs of the (I think) labyrinth spider. I was so struck by them that I didn't think to take a picture. Olly decided to leave Rusty John by one of these. He was tickled pink to see the spider scuttle out to investigate, and then make a swift return to his home.

The butterflies were out in force too. There were a great many Red Admirals, Tortoiseshells and possibly my favourite butterfly, the Speckled Wood. They are not the most flamboyant. Or the biggest. But I love their feisty nature, and how they will accost you as you wander onto their turf. There were so many of them, and they were either squabbling amongst themselves or challenging us to some kind of butterfly duel. Either way I found them charming.

I was going to wax lyrical about the hedgerows. Much of the far west of Cornwall is populated by small farms. Many have been managed by the same family for many generations. It is mainly livestock - cows and sheep, with some arable too. We walked through fields of tall spires of sweetcorn along our journey. The fields are bordered by hedgerows and Cornish hedges. They are obviously very old, judging from the variety of flora and fauna found in, between and around them. My favourite nature guru CT, has written a beautiful post about hedgerows today, and I think that she expresses the wonder that can be found amongst them, and also the plight that they face much better than I. You can find her post here

We arrived in Zennor, where I shared a pot of tea, and didn't share a rather scrummy piece of salted caramel millionaire's shortbread. I admired the fledgling crab apple tree, and Olly was entertained by my neighbour's rather lovely daughter. Finally we retraced our steps, and headed for home. The rest of the late afternoon and evening was spent preparing for the week ahead, and watching Antiques Roadshow and Lady Chatterley's Lover. Both had me gasping for entirely different reasons.

It was the nicest way to end the school summer holiday.

Leanne xx

Thank you for all your kinds words on my last post, especially about my kitchen! It's a bit old and tired, and it works extremely hard. I suspect all of your does too. I do like a bit of clutter in the kitchen, but I can't stand a sink full of dirty dishes. Unnecessary. As for all the pottery; it could really do with a dust......






43 comments:

  1. Sounds like a really lovely way to end the summer hols. I love your thought about being able to grab a handful of colour and put it in your pocket - so poetic. I'm glad Olly and Rusty John (!) enjoyed the walk too. I think we're in for a glorious week weather wise, so enjoy. xx

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    1. September is always lovely in St Ives. August is a poor second.
      L xx

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  2. I seldom have the pleasure of shopping for the kids shoes...I always send my husband to do battle. Your walk sounds delightful, I love your description of Speckled Woods, they do sound rather feisty. I hope the rest of your week is just as pleasant x

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    1. Your husband should be commended. How did you manage that one? I need to know.
      L xx

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  3. How lovely to see one of my favourite coastal walks through your eyes. We walk from Portmeor cove where we've stayed many times over the last 20 years, the last time being this May. We always go down to River cove to see the seals playing and our half-way treat is often a Moomaid icecream eaten in the churchyard. I love the farm buildings at Treveal too and walking through the garden at Treveal Mill. You are so lucky to live in one of the most gorgeous parts of England. Please keep walking and sharing your wonderful photos.

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    1. Moomaid and Trevail Mill. It doesn't get any better than that really. What flavour? I like Shipwreck.
      L xx

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  4. Visiting Clarks is indeed right up there in the seventh circle of hell. Their new measuring app drives me mad, they measured Alistair a size smaller than the year before and despite my protestations, the sales chap insisted that he was right and refused to bring out anything but in that measured size. All shoes were too small. I uttered a very self satisfied 'told you so' and ordered a selection online.
    Rant over. Your walk is beautiful. I really love September light, too. It is golden rather than blinding. Here's to a long month of glory. Christina xx

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    1. I thought Alf would blow a gasket when the fitter asked him what character he wanted be on the measuring app. Luckily he's grown up a bit, and just raised one eyebrow!
      L xx

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  5. Speckled woods and Countryside Tales are favourites of mine as well, I thought her hedgerow post was excellent and linked to it too, so inspiringly written. Your walk looks wonderful. I thought for a moment the beetle variety was a Rusty John, and I was quite excited because we saw one like that at Chew Valley Lake a few weeks ago. I imagined myself dropping it casually into conversations, "Ah, yes, a Rusty John I believe". I will of course remember that name now, but have no hope of remembering what it's actually called. Cornish place names are the best aren't they. I'd like a walk between Wicca and Zennor today. CJ xx

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    1. I am going to call them Rusty John's from now on. Maybe it will pass into Cornish vernacular.
      L xx

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  6. Oh I do so love where you live. Your photos are always a tonic. I'm glad the return to school went well. We are suffering with chronic teenage insomnia here. It's all rather stressful, for L and for me. Thank you for the link, you lovely lady, you xx

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    1. You articulated a passion for the hedgerow with more wit and wisdom,than I, dear CT.
      L xx

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  7. Always look forward to your posts, but it's taken me about 2 years to learn how to comment! I just love that part of Cornwall, but taking long walks is sadly beyond me now. Seeing it through your eyes has to be the next best thing. Roz X

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    1. Hello Roz.
      I'm glad to be of service. And how lovely of you to take the time to comment.
      L xx

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  8. I agree with you on the Clarks situation, I was unlucky and had to cue for ages, but hayhoo all done!, the pictures are lovely and yes I agree the colours look so different this time of year!.
    xx

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    1. Hey Michelle,
      It's a Clarks cartel. They have you by the short and curlies.
      L xx

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  9. Hi Leanne this has been a lovely post to keep me entertained over lunchtime. Such a lovely wordy post at that I was almost there with you on your walk.

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    1. Thank you. I am guilty of lyrical waxing. And usually too much gushing. Of words. Obvs.
      L xx

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  10. What a lovely end to the summer holiday. I used to hate school shoe shopping, we always had problems finding shoes to fit Daniel as he has narrow feet, and it was always a struggle getting Eleanor in to Clarks, she always wanted fashion shoes. I'm glad those days are over.

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    1. I'm with Eleanor. I used to throw huge strops in Clarks. The shoes seem much nicer now though. Or am I looking at them through old rose tinted specs?
      L xc

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  11. It really does sound like the perfect end to the summer holiday, Leanne. I agree about the changing light in September. I notice it in the forest. The sun is lower, so filters through the trees in a different way, spreading rays across the forest floor. Your pictures are wonderful!

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    1. Thank you. Yes I must go to Tehidy woods soon. I love that filtered woodland light.
      L xx

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  12. Wondering when the best day to go for blackberries might be...might try on Sunday

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    1. Go now. Take your basket and rocket off on your bike. Nothing like a blackberry and apple crumble!
      L xx

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  13. i very much agree with you about the light in September....and the spiders....everywhere is festooned with jeweled webs around here.

    any walk that ends with tea and cake has to be a winner...even more so with such beautiful views.

    i thought CT's post was utterly brilliant.....i think she'll have an influx of new visitors!

    back to school shopping of any kind is from hell as far as i'm concerned. our venture was fairly painless but i also refused to go anywhere near a shop in the last week before school started. :)

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    1. Hey Mel,
      I am endeavouring everyone to follow the path that leads to CT's door.
      Leanne x

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  14. I'm in catch up mode and need to read that kitchen post! I agree, the light is really beautiful at this time of year. It has an almost dream-like quality to it.
    The countryside in your photos looks stunning. We keep talking about a trip down that way at some point...
    Well done on the school shoes. I have been spared the ordeal so far but buying Joe's first ever pair of shoes coincided with back to school time, so we unwittingly found ourselves stuck in the Clarks ticket maelstrom.
    Anyway, hope you're having a good September. You sound very happy 😊 x

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    1. I am a happy bunny Sarah. This time of year brings forth my happiness bunny. I guess your journey into the seventh circle proper will begin next year with Joe. Good luck!
      L xx

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  15. It sounds like a perfect end to the summer holidays and start of a new school year!! I used to hate shopping for school shoes as a child. My mother would always insist on the absolutely most hideous ones that there were and I was always teased relentlessly for them! I am glad that you seem to have more agreement about shoes in your family! xx

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  16. Oh Amy you have my sympathies. Funnily enough it was my Dad that took us for the dreaded school shoe shop. Perhaps Mum couldn't face it any longer. He was ruthless. His choice. No arguments. And I was also teased for wearing 'clodhoppers'
    L xx

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  17. I love your description of the September sun. You put what I've been thinking and feeling my whole life into words. Thank you! We too have a lot of spiders this time of year. They started in my garden in August, which is a bit early and now they are growing quite large. Stacy :-)

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    1. Hey Stacey,
      Thank you for your lovely comment. A very large spider scuttled along the floor while Olly was having a bath yesterday, and he refused to get out!
      L xx

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  18. I'm here to give my blessings to the new shoes. May they be emblematic of an easy school year.

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  19. I also dislike shoe shopping with a passion. What is it the app these days and also (whilst I'm having a middle aged rant) why do they hide toys in the shoe? Or is that just a girl shoe phenomenon? I love the name Rusty John - BigR is poor at naming stuff at the moment - usually relying on glitter, dazzle or sparkle (!) Hope you're having a good week xx

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    1. I do remember a car hidden in a shoe once. As if children don't have enough plastic tat. My week has been rather frenetic thus far. But that's what happens when you leave everything to the last minute. Hope yours is a good one yoo.
      L xx

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  20. I love Rusty John, he looks like he could almost become a housepet of a beetle. I have to admit that I kind of like shoe-shopping with my kids but that's because I rarely buy any shoes and when I do, they're mostly sneakers. It's warm enough here to mostly wear sandals about six months out of the year. The lack of rain means we don't need boots. It's a freewheeling shoe situation around here. :)

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    1. I live in flip flops from April-October, and then alternate my wellies and my converse. I have heels, but they get an airing maybe once a year. Mostly because I look deranged wjen I walk in them!
      L xx

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  21. Helloooooo I'm here from CTs blog. Your comment on her last post made me LOL!
    I've decided that sons break your heart. I can't remember if I noticed the man hands first or the Adam's apple. Each is equally distressing!!! Plus yes, where ARE the dads who do the school shoe shop??!!

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    1. Well hello to you!
      The Dads are all at home chortling in front of Sky Sports.
      Leanne xx

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    2. Yes, the light, it's softer somehow. Beautiful though.

      I am still - every time - appalled by the cost of a new pair of school shoes. It's almost £50 now! I never remember and every time I pale at the till. Xx

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  22. we queued in the children's section of Clarks to discover the E is now a 10 1/2 and we needed to get shoes in the mens dept.........

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  23. That sounds a wonderful way to end the school holidays. The landscape between Zennor and St Ives is so lovely. Sarah x

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