BS: The Best of Autumn?

Subject: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 08:28 AM

Just a notion regarding one's personal / idiosyncratic ceremonial / spontaneous seasonal responses.

For example, inspired by the squall without, I've just been moved to make myself a veritable feast of toasted (Warburton's) crumpets topped off with a molten mix of (Singleton's) Lancashire cheese, (fresh) garlic, (likewise) ginger & (Heinz) tomato ketchup whilst bopping around the kitchen to the legendary recording of Spunk Rock by Man as recorded live at the Greasy Truckers Party.

And now, as though to acclimatise myself with respect to my imminent relocation to Lancashire, I settle down to squander the remains of the blustery day with the shed-load of George Formby films I bought off ebay last week.

'These are the best of autumn, these are the best of autumn...'

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 12:28 PM

The best of autumn for me is the crisp cold mornings that I step into at 6.00am when I leave the house for work, the sky clear and pearly with the promise of a sunny day ahead. I've always loved this time of year best.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 12:30 PM

Autumn isn't here yet in North Texas, except for occasional lighting situations that are harbingers of the season to come.

I just picked my first two tomatoes from the garden I planted in time for fall.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Amos
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 12:59 PM

There is little doubt we are two fine nations, widely separated by a common language.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: KT
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 01:05 PM

Amos, that's what I was thinking, but as always, you say it so well. As do you, Sedayne.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 01:17 PM

Dunno, Amos. If the meaning isn't in the English I normally read then it's Greek to me.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: nutty
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 02:10 PM

I wrote this two years ago when we had a wonderfully colourful autumn. Last year was very good as well.
Hoping for another spectacle this year but the leaves haven't started to turn yet so I'm having to keep my fingers crossed.


AUTUMN LEAVES

Leaves of yellow, red and brown
In the wind come tumbling down
To lay a carpet on the ground
And say that Autumn's here

For Autumn has come in with grace
And with a smile upon his face
He's taken a paint brush in his hand
And painted bright colours all over the land

Not for now the white and grey
Of the foggy Autumn day
Not for now the grey and white
Of the frosty Autumn night

Soon the Winter's dark and cold
Will tell the year it's growing old
But till that story can be said
We're bathed in yellow, brown and red

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: open mike
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 02:21 PM

it is still summer until the autumnal equinox on sept. 23
any where on this planet

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: KT
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 02:28 PM

Nice poem, nutty!

I love autumn! The cool, crisp days, and dry leaves being tossed about on a gentle breeze....the golden light and the way the shadows are cast.....crisp, juicy apples just waiting to be picked, the fall harvest, the pumpkin stands which pop up all over the countryside, and the squeals of delight that come from the children in the pumpkin patch when they've found just the right one...the cider mill, mmmmmm....the smells of fresh apple or pumpkin pie, and a good hot autumn stew to warm a chilly night....

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Becca72
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 02:36 PM

This is by far my favorite time of year, too. Just cold enough to require a snuggly sweater but not yet enough for a coat (and before you have to turn the heat on). That certain special "autumn" smell in the air. County fairs featuring every sort of apple product you can think of. Perfect.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 04:14 PM

Singing Mike O'Connor's "Best of Autumn" song to him (which we did last weekend in Swanage)....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Peace
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 04:16 PM

Is autumn the time of year just before or just after winter?

Subject: ADD: Logs to Burn ^^^
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 05:55 AM

Spring Equinox, eh? Well, here I am on the morning of Sunday the 16th of September; without, a blustery wind fetches down the leaves and acorns, & within it's so cold I'm having to light the kitchen stove with oak & holly logs.

Naturally, this brings me to The Woodcutter's Song, which I'm led to believe is entirely traditional, though my main source is Robert Graves 'The White Goddess', where it occurs as a footnote on page 196. Not sure where the refrain comes from however - if anyone can tell me, then please do.

Anyhoo, last year, being stuck for a tune (other than the one by Robin Williamson on 'Glint at the Kindling') I came up with one myself, which you can hear for the next seven days by clicking HERE . This will take to an mp3 on YouSendIt of me singing it, entirely live & self-accompanied, with the instrument I refer to as Citera Beta . Try as I might, however, I couldn't seem to rid my mind of Robin's 'Sirs'...

The Woodcutter's Song

Logs to burn, logs to burn, logs to save the coals a turn;
Here's a word to make you wise, when you hear the woodsman cry: logs to burn, logs to burn, logs to save the coals a turn...

Oak logs will warm you well, that are old and dry;
Logs of Pine wood sweetly smell, but the sparks will fly.
Beech logs for the winter time; Yew logs as well, sir.
Green elder logs it is a crime, for anyone to sell, sir.

Holly logs will burn like wax, you could burn them green.
Elm logs like to smouldering flax, with no flame to be seen.
Birch logs they will burn too fast; Chestnut scarce at all, sir.
Hawthorn logs are good to last, if cut down in the fall, sir.

Pear logs and Apple logs, they will scent your room.
Cherry logs across the dogs, they smell like flowers of broom.
But Ash logs, smooth and grey, burn them green or old, sir:
And buy up all that come you way, for they're worth their weight in gold, sir.

Logs to burn, logs to burn, logs to save the coals a turn;
Here's a word to make you wise, when you hear the woodsman cry: logs to burn, logs to burn, logs to save the coals a turn...^^^

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 06:29 PM

Beautifal Autumn weather today. My friend and I drove out to Pennsylvania, in the Pocono Mts. On the interstate, we ran over a chunk of concrete and blew a tire. as did the car behind us. We called AAA and got it fixed, and at least were entertained by the plight of the other folks, city people who had never been out of the city and didn't even know what state they were in, in spite of the billboard saying "Pennsylvania Welcomes You" that they had to have passed at the state line. ANyway, my repair guy fixed their tire too, so we were both happy, except that I had one of those stupid small spare tires that you're not supposed to travel far in, so I ended up going home and the day would have been a waste, but we found a diner back in New Jersey that had excellent food (I had sea scallops, my friend had leg of lamb). I'll try again next week.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 09:48 PM

The winter will be short, the summer long,
The autumn amber-hued, sunny and hot,
Tasting of cider and of scuppernong;
All seasons sweet, but autumn best of all.
The squirrels in their silver fur will fall
Like autumn leaves, like fruit, before your shot.

The autumn frosts will lie upon the grass
Like bloom on grapes of purple-brown and gold.
The misted early mornings will be cold;
The little puddles will be roofed with glass.
The sun, which burns from copper into brass,
Melts these at noon, and makes the boys unfold
Their knitted mufflers; full as they can hold,
Fat pockets dribble chestnuts as they pass.

-- Elinor Wylie, "Wild Peaches"

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Nov 17 - 07:18 PM

This is to warm the cockles of the heart
when it's bitterly cold outside,
as it is where I live.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Nov 17 - 08:51 PM

"While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day"

Yeah, right. Except that it's blowing a gale this end!

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Nov 17 - 09:23 PM

Ah the best of fall
the butter stays hard left out all night
The dog food won't slide out of the can
Time to buy another 300 coffee filters
Jacket and sweater time again.

Linger a little longer in the car
first to warm up and latter to listen to XM
I feel glad I'm not a maniac holiday shopper today
I'll put it off for another day.
Like Xmas eve.

Subject: RE: BS: The Best of Autumn?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Nov 17 - 09:26 PM

Yep, time to make the transition from leaving the butter dish in the kitchen to bringing it into the living room...