Slumber

'If these shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended,

That you have but slumbered here

While these visions did appear.'

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Today is a day of enforced slumber as I am having surgery under a general anaesthetic.  I had some routine health screening during the summer which resulted in further investigations, weeks of worry and a surgical referral.

This came out of the blue, but it is something that has to be faced, and I would rather have it behind me.  I've planned a few blog posts in advance for my blog posting challenge, as I will need a some time for recovery.

In The Pink

On a visit to one of the last farmers' markets of the season, I bought some fresh beetroot, with no real plan as to how I would use it.  After some thought and a little research, I came up with the idea of baking a cake.

Frosted Spiced Beetroot Cake to be precise.  This is a recipe

which I found online under the title National Pleasures and it is taken
from the National Trust Cookbook.

I've never used beetroot in a cake before, so I was curious to see how it would turn out.  Having no desire nor wish to add grated fingers to the mix, I opted to shred the beetroot in my food processor.  As I don't have a fine blade, the texture was a bit coarse.

The recipe produced a moist cake, but I'm told that the frosting was 'a bit strange'.  I don't normally make cream cheese frosting and this was a caramelised cream cheese.  Personally, I think that this cake would have been better with a vanilla buttercream.

I would definitely like to get my hands on a copy of this book to try out some of the other 

National Trust recipes.  No doubt there are some national treasures amongst them.

Late Autumn Colour

Just when I was feeling quite disappointed with the colours this year, Mother Nature decided to give us one last hurrah.

The time change in the early hours of  Sunday morning made a huge difference to me - I have no doubt that I am affected by those darker mornings, so it was a joy to wake up to daylight.

As promised, I headed out for a walk to enjoy the early morning light and I captured some photographs along the way, though it was not as bright as later in the day.  I headed to the park, which was quiet early on Sunday morning, with just a few dog walkers about.

Out of the park and into the neighbourhood, where there were some lovely colours to be found.

Some of the maples are past their best, but there are some later varieties which have managed to keep their leaves a little longer.  A close-up view of one tree, which had some gorgeous colour.

And this is the same tree from a distance.

Mother Nature certainly knows how to surprise us.  I was happy to have been outdoors on such a glorious morning and to have enjoyed these last colours of the season.  It looks like this is going to be a mild week too, so I plan to enjoy some more walks before the onset of winter.

Whitby

My last visit to Whitby was four years ago (which was also my last trip home).  Time marches on, but some places stay much as they have been for centuries.  I had planned to visit Whitby Abbey on that visit, but winter visiting hours meant that it was closed on the day I was there.

Whitby is my favourite seaside spot and one that I always visit whenever I have the opportunity.  I am drawn to the sea: not from any desire to paddle in the cold water, but more for the connection that I feel with the place and the rhythm of the tides.  It is about continuity and a sense of history, both of which are missing from my life at present.

I hope that it will not be long before I am there again.  I feel the pull of the sea and I cannot resist it.

Thought For The Day - Part One

'May nothing but happiness 

Come through your door.'

(Unknown)

Time Change

Tonight is the end of Daylight Savings' Time, as we head towards winter and return to Eastern Standard Time (which is GMT - 5 hours).  It is always surprising just how much of an effect this time change has for me.  I find myself waking up even earlier (I'm normally awake early anyway) and feeling hungry at strange times.

The advantage will be lighter mornings.  As a morning person, I'm hoping that it will spur me into getting up and out for an early walk, which is something that I've got out of the habit of since dawn has been arriving so much later.  I do enjoy starting the day with a walk, even if the air is cold (I can always bundle up with my hat and gloves!)

As we head towards late autumn and into winter, I will try not to go into hibernation mode.  It is far too tempting to curl up indoors and not venture outside, even though I know that fresh air and exercise is good for me.

I think it is highly unlikely that I will be having a lie-in tomorrow, so I will enjoy the quiet of an early Sunday morning with a cup of tea before heading out for a long walk to celebrate the season.

Guy Fawkes' Night

'Brightness falls from the air...'

Thomas Nashe (1597-1601)