On a soft balmy day, what remained of last winter’s logs were split and stacked in the outhouse yesterday to make space for the delivery of this year’s firewood. This chore has been the first physical indication of the slow, but implacable, process of season’s change whose subtle footprints become more clearly formed with the passing of each week. That and the annual realisation that the stone floor is starting to feel cold, rather than cool, beneath my bare feet. Stone houses, that in summer are a blissful refuge from the heat of the day, have to be daily coaxed and chivvied to assume the cosiness that is needed during the bleak months to come. At this time of year I have to prevent myself from imagining the nearby forest as a swaying chaos of dripping bare black trees and redirect my thoughts towards the earthy, rich flavours of autumnal and winter dishes made even more tantalising by the anticipation of enjoying them in the enveloping warmth and soft glow emanating from the wood burner whilst the wind and rain do their worst in the black night beyond the thick stone walls.
Simply Fed – a new book by Roger Stowell – this book is now available from BLURB.com in iPad/iPhone version for 5,49€
Camerahols link
Roger Stowell link
“Eating at La Moussiere” – iPad/iPhone version 3,99€ from Blurb.com
That is fantastic light and most of them are saying cheese! Excellent work
Thanks, Mad Dog. I was surprised at their modelling ability myself:)
I think at least one of those cows wants you to be on your way.:)
Ungrateful beasts:)
Wonderful.
Thanks – hope I feel the same about winter:)
Absolutely fantastic photo…it looks like a still life painting that should be hanging above my fireplace.
I’m so glad that you like it:)
I did think similar too! Like an C18th painting
I just pressed the C18th painting button..:)
That must have been one of the old buttons in Photoshop
That is a sensational photo – beautiful light. Winter – I think we’re escaping to LA before it hits the East Coast.
Smart move:)
I’m turn you into an LA believer
That’ll be hard. I went, I saw and I left pretty quickly:)
Roger, the picture took my breath away: and then I read you words which echo, amost syllable for syllable, my own feelings about the dark months. All a bit Mordor. Fantastic post.
Kate. thanks so much. Very kind of you:)
What a glorious photo of natural beauty! Kind’of special for me: my name ‘Eha’ means ‘the last light of day’ in Estonian [wonderfully romantic father!!] : well, Sire, you have captured it beautifully
!
Thank you very much, Eha. My father was less romantic in calling me Roger. I don’t know if you are aware of the slang use of Rogering:)
Sire!!! Shall I ask the obvious about it applying
!!! Oh, hope you did not mind to my sending this to all and sundry amongst friends last night !!!
I hope your friends enjoyed it and thanks for showing them:)
Roger, this looks like a painting.
Some days the light is so fantastic, as is Photoshop:)
I think I would need underfloor heating to survive your winter
Better than barbed wire and guard dogs:)
Stunning – those cows look like they want to be modelling country tweeds in the Sunday Times Magazine!
I like the idea very much:)
Look at that light! You’ve made even cows beautiful.
We have very pretty cows here, or have I been in the country too long:)
Ha ha!
Such a beautiful photo, Roger. The light is just perfect but where ever did you find not one but six fake cows? Leave it to the French.
You’re so right about what I consider to the “trap” of Autumn. It is far too easy to think of WInter and all it entails, while beautiful Autumn slips by. For us in this area. some of the year’s best days have yet to come and I’m pretty sure you’ve still got some great days to come in the weeks ahead. May we both stay in the Present and enjoy each of them.
Hear, hear, John:)
Stunning picture Roger, and you paint such a sensual picture of autumn, that I am now looking forward to those damp autumn days. Always a treat to read your blog.
Many thanks, Cara. Thanks for the message:)