This autumn the colours are magnificent, made all the more vivid and luminous by the exceptionally warm weather for the end of October. A brisk, but warm, wind from the south has chased away the clouds and polished the sky to an improbable blue. We felt we had to make the most of it and so, wearing shorts, we set off on a favourite walk around the area.
We followed paths between rough stone walls that were once the main thoroughfares when the district was much more densely populated, before the roads were constructed. On a day like this, the senses are heightened. The ochres, reds and golds of the trees stood out against the burnished sky and the berries made points of bright colour in the hedgerows.
The dry leaves crackled and turned to powder under our feet. Blackbirds rooting in the undergrowth clucked at our approach before they burst into flight, trilling their distress call. Cows called softly to their calves, while basking in the sunshine or grazing the still-green autumn grass.
Autumn has a distinctive smell, too: a blend of burnt caramel and mushroom. If only I could bottle that scent and keep it for the dark, winter days. We’re reminded of those by the fact that the clocks have gone back and dusk starts around 5.30 pm now. But it’s less than two months to the winter solstice, when it will start going back the other way, imperceptibly at first but with increasing rapidity from mid-January.
For the moment, we are between two seasons. The days are warm and spring-like – almost summery – while the evenings and nights are cooler with a hint of frost at times. So we walk in shorts during the day and enjoy the warmth from the wood burning stove in the evening.
And, as we so often do, we mused on how lucky we are to live amidst such beautiful surroundings.
You might also like:
5 Reasons Why Autumn is the Best Season
Weather for Walks: October 2014 Weather in SW France
Chestnut Fair at Laguépie
Walking the Viaur Valley
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It’s now November 6th and we are still basking in 23 degrees of sunshine … bonkers but long may it continue! What lovely pictures though – absent the ability to bottle the scent at least you have the images to see you through the darker days to come!
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It’s extraordinary, isn’t it? I don’t remember a start to November like this. The weekend is forecast to be just as sunny and warm, but it starts to get cooler next week. But by then we will be a third of the way through the month. Profitons-en!
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Here as well, just magnificent this year, and with sun ! Many thanks Life on la Lune !
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I don’t know where you live, Gilles, but today, la Toussaint, was so warm that we sat outside for lunch with friends and almost complained that it was too hot! It will change soon enough, so we must make the most of it now.
Au fait, j’aime beaucoup vos dessins!
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Ardennes, 50% of my time actually, … in full bright and incredibly warm colours this year !
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I’ve never been to the Ardennes, but I can imagine with all that forest that it must be spectacular this year.
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