Cornflower

Colours of the season

    This is 'Samhain' by Jess at Olann, and if I've time today I shall wind the skein and cast on, as Samhain starts at sunset.

    In the Isle of Man, where I grew up, Samhain 'crosses' with Hop-tu-naa, and never mind the Johnny-come-lately pumpkin, it was turnips we made into lanterns on this day.

    If the Culture Vannin website (from where that video comes) is anything to go by, the old ways are being kept alive, though I do admit that pumpkins are easier to carve and don't have the distinctive aroma of the turnip when the candle flame scorches the flesh ....

The game is afoot

    I've finished the first of my Marie Curie socks for @sherlock_knits - all details here.

    As I mentioned in the previous post, Sarah has expanded her goal, aiming to have 229 pairs of handknitted socks done by Christmas, that is one for every inpatient at Marie Curie hospices, so there's scope to join in if you wish. The wool is still available, exclusively from City Knits.

    The sock above is unblocked, hence the slight unevenness, but it will have a bath once its fellow is done and should smooth out nicely. Self-patterning yarn is fun to knit.

A garden by the sea

    The garden at Dunrobin, looking down from the terrace.

    The air in this part of Scotland is so clean that lichen grows at a pace - here's a close-up of a branch of that quince tree:

 

    Searching for family graves across the Firth in Portmahomack proved fruitless - even with the help of the churchyard records - as the lichen had rendered all the headstones illegible.

    The Discovery Centre is well worth a visit, though.

Barely there

    "I'm not sure you really know a tree until you have seen it without its leaves. Naked, so to speak. They are often at their most peaceful and romantic in winter, like watching a loved one asleep."

    Nigel Slater, The Christmas Chronicles.

Open for business

    For all who have been following Flora Shedden's progress with interest, I am pleased to report that her Aran Bakery, in Dunkeld, is now open! According to her Instagram posting, they sold out in four hours yesterday - the first day - so that's a great start.

Life and art

    Dunrobin Castle

    The General's castle.

Dressed for the hill?

    My favourite of the many family portraits on display at Dunrobin was this one by Philip de László* of the 5th. Duchess of Sutherland.

*See also

Cair Paravel

    "The castle of Cair Paravel on its little hill towered up above them; before them were the sands, with rocks, and little pools of salt water, and seaweed, and the smell of the sea and long miles of bluish-green waves, breaking for ever and ever on the beach. And oh, the cry of the seagulls! Have you ever heard it? Can you remember?"

    C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

    The above came to mind while visiting Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland today; it's not as magical as Lewis's creation, but is nonetheless a striking building in a romantic setting.

                                    ~~~~~

    For more on Lewis, this post may be of interest.

Just because

    I see we haven't had any music on here since July - not that I need an excuse to post something as lovely as this.

    If you want audio alone, this recording is the one I have.

An old curiosity shop

   

    My London wanderings yesterday took me down Middle Temple Lane where I came upon the tailors Thresher & Glenny (established 1696).

    Specialists in legal dress, they also offer more mainstream tailoring for the discerning customer. They have an illustrious history, and their website a good copy writer - you may enjoy a browse, as I did, if you have a spare moment.

Incantation

    "Bridstow Wasp

     Barcelona Pearmain

     Gipsy King

     Sugarloaf Pippin

     King's Acre Bountiful

     William Crump

     Maiden's Blush

    These words are as mystically English as the shipping forecast. I want to chant them, a comforting spell as the nights draw in. Get the order and inflection right, and they will probably summon up cosy, mashing teapots and slices of warm, buttered Soreen out of thin air."

    Pete Brown, The Apple Orchard - an excellent read.

Willowy

    Pattern: Prairie Socks by Kay Jones.

    Wool: The Yarn Lab UK 4 ply, 'Willow'.

    Book: an old family copy.