Monday 1 October 2007

Sunday walking in the woods



It was such a beautiful day yesterday - warm, crisp and bright and so miserable today - grey, wet and, well, Monday morningish! At this time of year you realise that you have to seize every opportunity to be outside that comes your way. So yesterday late morning we decided to grab a football, put on some old shoes and head for the woods. Here's a photo of my youngest outside our house waiting for her older sister to join her. As you can see it's quite a big house, the heating and window cleaning bills are a nightmare .... Sorry, couldn't resist it, of course this is not our house but I wouldn't mind spending the odd week or so living in this setting and grandeur! Built in the 1720s this house, Stanmer House, sits in a huge landscaped park with woods and farmland. I bet this house has seen the odd Jane Austen moment or two.
Stanmer Park is one of our favourite places for a walk in the autumn, winter months and we've been coming for years ever since my oldest was a toddler. In the grounds is an entire village that was completely private and hidden away until 1947 when the city bought it.


Anyway after the obligatory game of footie, climbing of trees etc off into the woods we went. Lots of photos here to show you just how beautiful it is.



The colours of Autumn are beginning to show



and the sun is still high enough to cast dappled rays amongst the trees and heighten the turning shades of the leaves.



Delicate, intricate seed heads are forming



and hidden treasures like this winter cyclamen are waiting to be found



and in corners of the woods leaves are turning chocolatey brown.



It was great to spend hours amongst the trees and climbing the hills, Sometimes it is just too easy to take all of this for granted and there are times like yesterday when I realise what a special time of year this is.

38 comments:

dottycookie said...

I do love those cyclamen hiding in under the trees. In my last house I had great luck growing cyclamen under an elder tree - they were really happy. For some reason they just don't like it where we are now, so I have t make do with growing them in pots. Not so bad really!

We're down in Sussex again over half term - we may have to make a trip to do that walk - is there anywhere for tea nearby?!

mollycupcakes said...

What a beautiful post, just lovely. It made the rain day wash away when I read it and put a little smile back on my face. Thanks sweetie.

Catherine x

Cape Cod Washashore said...

What outstanding photos! When I see forest photos like those, all I can think of is Sherwood Forest! =) What a lovely place to take the family. And I really did think that was your home until I read further and saw your disclaimer! heehee

Anonymous said...

Such pretty photos and colors.Thanks again,Brenda

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking us on your lovely autumn walk! What an enchanted place...It's like something from a dream. Happy Day ((HUGS))

Heidi said...

Oh, I love seeing your version of the beauties of the autumn season. I have been anxiously awaiting a post about it when you commented on my blog. Autumn is a very special time and many are so busy mourning the loss of summer and its flowers that they miss the 'flowers' of autumn. These woods are really pretty and it sounds like you had a wonderful day. Is Stanmer House open to the public? It is very Austenesqe!

Now I have to stand up for those grey and wet Mondays too and challenge you to find the beauty there too. I love grey days for their own special qualities. We have had quite a few lately and it has put me in a Bronte state of mind. DH is in Canada on a business trip and I am watching various versions of Jane Eyre on videos. It is great fun and I can do my stitching while I watch. Days like this, I want to run away from home to Haworth! LOL!

Thank you so much for sharing your Sunday with me Kim!

~~ Heidi ~~

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Oh haaahhhaaa!!! You got me!!!
My head was spinning :)
What a place to get to go walking though! Gorgeous.

Clare and Mike said...

Hi Kim,

I've just been catching up with your latest posts - don't know where the days go to!

We went to a murder mystery evening some months ago - it was great fun! My character was 'Mandy Seaver' - haha!! I had to dress rather vampish - and my wardrobe was very light on such clothes! Thank goodness for charity shops!

The weather was great yesterday but as you say, today is dire! Just imagine what fun you'd have dressing all those rooms if it was your home!

Clare x

tea time and roses said...

What a lovely post, and the photos are just beautiful! All of that beautiful green with touches of Autumn blended in can be so lovely...
What a beautiful day for you and your family...

Have a lovely week...

Beverly

julia said...

Now I know why I love autumn so much, that post gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Aren't the colours amazing at this time of year, the trees are at their best.

Hope your daughter enjoyed her murder mystery night, I bet she looked a treat!

Julia x

ps - have you any spare rooms going, I'll clean the windows!! Just think of hoovering all those stairs if you lived there!

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

I am really enjoying looking at all the photos of Autumn leaves people are posting at the moment-yours are lovely!xx

pinkgreen said...

Those pics sum up the best bits of Autumn really well. Sounds like a lovely walk...it really is the best time of year for it.
Cathy X

hannah said...

love your autumn pictures, what beautiful woods!

OhSoVintage said...

You had me fooled for just a moment and I was thinking 'How does she have time to blog with all that to clean?'. You take such beautiful photos, I really enjoy looking at them.

Janice said...

What a beautiful day you had. Your pictures are breath taking. I love the ones in the woods with all the trees.

Heidijayhawk said...

what fabulous photos dear friend!

Anonymous said...

I think it would be one of our favourite places for a walk too judging by these photographs.

Elzie said...

I just love England and wish I could go visit there some day. I don't want to go to London, no, it's the country I'm looking for. With all the stonehouses. It's a real dream for me.
Hope you're having a great day.
Love Elzie

The Ginger Darlings said...

I went to college in a place like that and developed a love for raucous peacocks. There were loads draped over the grounds.
Gray here today and miserable but the rose hips do glow bright on days like today.
I should be painting!
Jackie, and the ginger cats.

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Beautiful photos! I will never look at the dried leaves again and not think of your description of "Chocolatey Brown". It absolutely suits it! I loved every picture. Thx for sharing

Kitty

Leanne said...

your photos are beautiful Kim, autumn is my favourite season too, the colours are wonderful, and your photos capture it perfectly.

leanne x

Betty said...

What a beautiful place Kim. We have to drive miles to find somewhere green like that.

pink-petal-designs said...

what a lovely looking walk!
Sarah x

Thimbleanna said...

Oooh, it's all so beautiful Kim! When I first saw the picture of the house, I was going to make a joke about it being yours, but you did that for me! You're a few weeks ahead of us in the autumn department. Enjoy your moments outside -- it's so beautiful there!

Curlew Country said...

Autumn is so lovely and your pictures really sum up why. Everyday the colours are getting stronger aren't they. Love the dappled sunshine.
Stephx

thehomelyyear said...

Hi, lovely photos...it's such a brill time for going for walks...so much to see and enjoy.
Margaret and Noreen at THY

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

beautiful pictures and a warm welcome to Autumn
Suzie Sews

Mary said...

Wow, you are so lucky to have such a beautiful place to walk nearby! Thanks for giving this Anglophile her daily dose of beauty!
xoxo,
Mary

Anonymous said...

"Oh to be in England now that Autumn's there ..." (with apologies to Robert Browning!) Stanmer House is gorgeous as are your lovely pictures of Autumn! ~ hugs, Lynda ♥

Mandy @ Belle and Boo said...

What beautiful photos, I really LOVE this time of the year.

weirdbunny said...

What a wonderful place to walk through. I walked through the park today and acorns were dropping down from the trees left right and centre. Thankfully none had a direct hit on me ! ~ love Julia x

meggie said...

How beautiful it all is!

ginny said...

nice house.. hope you have a cleaner .. or two!
Lovely warm crisp day in Hampshire today.. hope you are enjoying it too.
ginnyx

Nan said...

"In the grounds is an entire village that was completely private and hidden away until 1947 when the city bought it. " Now there's a mystery book in the making! It's a little reminiscent of Peter Robinson's In A Dry Season. Beautiful place, lovely photos.

dragonfly said...

Beautiful photos...am off out on my bike to capture some of my own...thanks for the inspiration.

Rowan said...

Lovely set of photos, the woods are a wonderful place to be at this time of the year. I love all the colours of autumn though they are slow to arrive up here this year.

Louise said...

I love the change in seasons - people like you post lovely pictures. Sounds like a wonderful family day out. Thanks for sharing it all with us.

love.boxes said...

stunning photos!