Lovely Leaf Table Decoration

Hello again! I do hope you have been well. We have managed to enjoy a little more of the sunshine at the beginning of the week, which is just as well because today it has been lashing down and blowing a gale out there. The sunflowers have just about had it! But I took some photo's whilst they were still looking good. 

Garden Orb Spider

Pansies and other pretties from the garden.

Sunflowers and Sunshine Shades.

Pink and purple posies.

 I also found this funky looking fellow on my rose bush. It's a Vapourer Moth Caterpillar.

Rusty Tussock or Vapourer Moth Caterpillar.

Through the woodland 

We went for another wander in the forest at the weekend, this time at Anderwood. I didn't think we would find anything different from our last walk, but we did! Again, please do not use my amateur identifications of funghi because it is just as likely that I am wrong. I am not eating these, neither should you unless you know what you are doing!

Possibly a Purple Brittlegill

 This pretty purple one was Big Sparkles favourite find on our walk. Here are a few more finds... The first bluey one on the left might be an Aniseed Toadstool (Clitocybe odora). Below that is Yellow Stag Horn. Middle top is an Common  Puffball Funghi. Then below that the brown one is a Velvet Top or Phaeolus schweinitzii. Dyer's use  these to extract a yellowy brown pigment for dying wood and material. And I think the black ones might be Witches Butter, which I think is a pretty fun name!

More interesting things! 

Anyway, we seemed to be acquiring undergrowth and leaves at an alarming rate so by the time we had finished our walk, Big Sparkle had collected enough of the forest to make an Autumny display.

We already had some dried bits and bobs from pot pourri packs (we got these for a few pounds at the supermarket, even the cheapy ones have nice dried gourds and interesting things in) so we added some of that in too. I also used my cloche to feature some nicer bits to 'showcase'.

I have been working on some lovely Halloween crafts and some cards this week too but you will have to wait until next week to see...here is a sneaky peek though!

Making bunting...

The best way to choose sequins is to pour them out everywhere!

Sequin stitching!

Autumn rainbow.

I hope you have enjoyed this entry and maybe you will be inspired to make your own autumn centrepiece! See you soon,

Amber x x x

Babes in the Wood

 Hello again! I do hope you have been well and have been enjoying the new season. I have really been enjoying finding lots of Autumn treasures with my Little Sparkles. I am going to show you some pictures we took at Ivy Woods in the New Forest. Here we go! 

(But please don't rely on my identification on the mushrooms and toadstools - I have been a bit blasé in naming them on the basis that I have absolutely no intention of eating any of them edible or not!)

Autumn leaves. Actually this wasn't in the woods, this is the tree I can see from my garden but I wanted to show you!

A pretty dewdrop chandelier

The Blusher (Amanita rubescens)

Sharp!

Not sure what this was but it looked very pretty strung up in the trees.

Autumn textures.

Possibly a  Ruby Bolete (Boletus rubellus or Xerocomus rubellus)

Not sure what these ones were but I wouldn't have been even slightly tempted to eat these ones as they looked a bit slimey!

Babes in the Wood

Saying hello to the New Forest Pony at the end of our walk.

A silver lining.

There, I hope you enjoyed my Autumn treasure hunt. I know there hasn't been much crafty stuff on here lately but I am going to be making some lovely Halloween bits next week, so come back soon!

Amber xxx

Autumn Berry Woodland Walk

Hi all, good to see you again. I have had to put my blog on the back burner for a while but I thought I would quickly share some snaps from the little woodland area and pond that is at the bottom of the meadow nearby. We had a lovely wander and saw many signs that Autumn is on the way!

Beech Nuts.

Cow Parsley gone to seed. 

Arum maculatum, Lords and Ladies or Cuckoopint berries among Holly.

Haw Berries

Elderberries

Sweet Chestnut

Oak galls.

Lily pond.

I spotted a Moorhen that was on the other side of the pond so decided to try to get a little closer.
These are shy birds and as I approached I could see a couple young birds. The mother bird started to tell them to follow her but they didn't really want to so poor Mummy Moorhen had to squawk and tell her naughty children off!

Moorhens.

'But Muuuuuuuum! I don't want to go inside!'

Sloe Berries.

 Sloe Gin Recipe

Ingredients

• 450g/1lb sloes
• 225g/8oz caster sugar
• 1 litre/1¾ pint gin

Preparation method

1. Prick the tough skin of the sloes all over with a clean needle and put in a large sterilised jar.
2. Pour in the sugar and the gin, seal tightly and shake well.
3. Store in a cool, dark cupboard and shake every other day for a week. Then shake once a week for at least two months.
4. Strain the sloe gin through muslin into a sterilised bottle.

There are also some good tips here for making Sloe Gin.

A little Meadow Brown Butterfly enjoying the sun.

A cobweb hammock.

Wild Honeysuckle.

Rowan trees full of berries.

Autumn clouds.

I hope you enjoyed my autumnal stroll. I still have lots going on at the moment but I am sure I will get some Halloween crafts together soon!

Amber xxx