Over the last couple of weeks it's become clear that autumn is here.  Fruit is ripening.  We cut these blackberries from our overgrown hedge a few weeks ago.

Most blackberries look like this now!

The leaves on some trees are beginning to change colour and even fall off.  The nights have also become much colder.

This is the sky.  Yeeesssss?!  That's what you are thinking isn't it?  Most people including pictures of the sky have something in the sky, like clouds or birds.  (This is a rather pretty photo my mum took by accident when she borrowed my camera when they took the boys out - see next post - I've got photos of the car dashboard, the floor - you get the idea!) 

My point is that it is a photo of the sky over Lancashire and it's been a rare sight in the last few years.  A cloudless, blue sky.  Beautiful!

We've had several lovely days.  'They' were right in the forecast for once.  (I suppose it has to happen sometimes, just by the law of averages!)  The nights have been too cold for the days to get blazing hot, but they've been blissfully warm, cheerful days.

Here we sometimes have what flyers call 'gin-clear' days in the autumn.  These are days that are perfect for flying and ballooning too. (Can you spot the balloon just above the trees in the middle?  My camera was not co-operating and by the time it was, the balloon had all but disappeared!)

Look at the sunset we had this week too..... --

We took our regular walk to the local woods.  We found a few changes, not least 3 huge piles of dead pond lillies. I suppose there were too many in the pond and someone had removed them.  Do you think they look vaguely like something from a science fiction film - tentacles crawling across the ground  {shiver!}?PJ trying to reach a living lilly to see what it feels like. 

We visited the ducks and there were no new flying visitors this time.  In spite of the fact that there is a large 'Please do not feed the ducks' sign, people clearly do and as we approached we were mobbed.  LJ said to the ducks, 'Say cheese', then paused and revised his command, 'Say bread!'  I had to smile!  He then looked down and said, 'Oh look, it's Count Ducku!'  (Star Wars joke - Count Dooku)  I love the way he's beginning to 'get' words and how to play with them.

The boys also had a great time trying to 'climb Mount Everest' - guess I haven't quite managed to convey how high it is!

I was also pleased to see how much more 'at home' the boys are in the wood. 

Good days.  Thank you Lord for sunshine!