Day Thirty – Change of season

Autumn is definitely in the air, even though we are clinging on to August with our finger nails there is a sense that summer is disappearing.  The blackberries are nearly finished and the leaves are on the turn. It’s chilly at night and even in the early morning sunshine there is a nip in the air.

With what feels like the last day of freedom before September and the start of the new academic year, we spent the afternoon strolling round Winkworth Arboretum, near Godalming in Surrey. Once owned by Dr Wilfrid Fox, it is now a national trust property after he gave 62 acres of land to the trust in 1952.

Our walk took us down the Azalea steps down to the Boat house which is situated on Rowe’s Flashe Lake. 

 We wandered around the lake and through the meadow, where we discovered newly planet Maple trees dressed in their glorious golden red leaves. 

The scenery of the rolling Surrey Hills was simply stunning and took my breath away (both physically and metaphorically).  There are more photos from my visit to Winkwork via Flickr.

Day Twenty Nine – Stopping

Sometimes, if I am not careful, Sundays can get consumed by busyness and striving and I can forget to stop and rest. It is a time to know that I am loved and enjoy the beauty of relationship.

So after Sunday lunch we went blackberry picking along the canal. Watching the slow passing of time that is life on a the canals, we went foraging for blackberries in the rain.  There is something very romantic and deeply satisfying about finding and picking your own food.

 Of course, I forgot to bring my camera, so I had to borrow my hubby’s mobile phone to capture two pictures for Day Twenty Nine of the August Break.

Day Twenty Eight – Coffee culture

We have got into the habit of finding a coffee shop and enjoying an afternoon pick-me up. We discovered that our local Pret A Manger has re-opened after a big refurb. And what a refurb. I couldn’t resist but take some piccies while we enjoyed our drinks. I simply love the use of old fashioned materials and equipment that they have used to decorate the walls.

Day Twenty Seven – Seale

After having afternoon tea in the tea rooms at Manor Farm Craft Centre, we took a walk up to St Laurence Church.   Here are four of my pictures from our visit for Day Twenty Seven of the August Break.   More pictures from my visit to Seale can be found in my Flickr collection.

Day Twenty Six – Bedtime

I thought with a week off work, I would have more time to devote this week to the August Break, but things just haven’t worked out like I had anticipated. The weather hasn’t helped either, making it difficult to get out and about to discover new and exciting things.

As it’s nearly time for bed, I thought I would take a look at those things that I keep by my bed.

 A little bed time reading.  Something to crawl under the duvet with and get lost in. I do love books, though I don’t have enough time to read anymore, despite being a librarian. I have a stack of books by my bed including I, Robot which was a freebie with the The Times newspaper this week.   I have been meaning to read this Isaac Asimov classic (long before it was made into a film with Will Smith). 

This is the first proper address book I have had in years. 

My gorgeous wooden Westie bookend, which I simply adore because it is a Westie.

A gift from a friend of a beautiful book by Helen Steiner Rice which contains inspiring poetry combined with beautiful imagery.

Day Twenty Five – London

We organised a day trip to London with for a little bit of shopping along Oxford Street and to visit the Tate Modern.  I am never sure whether I like visiting art galleries, especially when I have been walking around all morning in the rain. In the end it was only a short visit due to weary legs and flagging spirits. We did manage to view the collection on Level 3: Poetry and Dreams which was all about Surrealism and the Surrealists.

What really caught my eye was the building it’s self, especially the interior of the impressive and huge turbine hall.

Day Twenty Five – Tate 01, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Five – Tate 02, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Five – Tate 03, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Five – Tate 04, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Four – Garden fruits

I am not a huge fan of gardening, so our garden is usually left up to its own devices. On one of my hunts for something interesting to photograph for Day Twenty Four of the August Break, I came across some blackberries at the end of the garden, that are just ready pick.

Day Twenty Four – Garden fruits 01, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Four – Garden fruits 02, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Three – Rainy start

The first day of the holidays and it has been bucketing it down all night.  There was a tiny hint of hope this morning with touch of weak summer sunshine, but that didn’t last long and it looks like we are in for a breezy day of showers.  I managed to capture, in between showers, some of the remnants of the rain droplets on one of the garden chairs.

Day Twenty Three – Rainy start, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

August Break – Week Three

Week four of The August Break project has just begun, I can’t believe I have managed to keep it up for nearly four weeks.

What I have really enjoyed is finding wonderful gems and beautiful pictures from everyone involved in the project. I have also been really surprised by the wonderful interaction with people I have met through this project, and the support and encouragement we have been giving to each other.

So this is my mosaic for Week Three, I really struggled to only find 16 pictures and there where many more I would have picked if I had not been so disciplined.  I hope you enjoy my selection below.

The August Break – Week 3 Mosaic, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

1. Blooms, 2. August 15th, 3. Signs of Fall, 4. 8/17, 5. “I love cooking”, 6. fifteen, 7. highline color, 8. nineteen, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled, 11. 14/31 August Break, 12. Secret Garden, 13. Teeth Of The Lion, 14. Untitled, 15. nineteen, 16. apricots, no.2

Day Twenty Two – Afters

Day Twenty Two – Afters 01, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Two – Afters 02, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Two – Afters 04, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.

Day Twenty Two – Afters 03, originally uploaded by Chrissy Lewis’ Flickr.