A Ride on a Train and a September Giveaway for you

I was surprised to discover, when I moved to Somerset, how industrialised the landscape had been in Georgian and Victorian times.  All around are disused quarries, coal mines and most interestingly … railway lines, though many of these were still in use until the 1960’s when the infamous Beeching Report axed so many of our rural branch lines. Yesterday we took Freddie to our local line at Cranmore where we enjoyed a short trip on a “real” train – the sort my Grandad used to drive so very many years ago….

It was such fun, and I think we’ll definitely be returning to ride the Santa Express in December! There were lots of children enjoying their last weekend of freedom before the schools return next week because of course, it’s September now – probably my second favourite month in the whole year! I think my favourite is probably May, with its fresh green and blossom scented hedgerows, bringing the promise of summer delights… festivals and fairs, holidays and picnics…. but those days are behind us for another year as the summer fades gently into the rich mellow hues of autumn.  The trees around my cottage are already beginning to turn from a deep dusty green to a more yellow tone, with hints of russet around the edges of the leaves, though it will be a few weeks yet before they begin to fall, and the air turns hazy with the smoke from gardeners’ bonfires around the village.

The September Magazine was sent out to subscribers last week (so if you’re a subscriber and haven’t seen yours yet, then please do contact us), full of the joys of the changing season.  We also have a lovely autumn giveaway for you over on Instagram where we’ve teamed up with Yorkshire Provender to give away a very special limited edition Emma Bridgewater mug to one of our followers.   You can see my mug in the picture below….

… yes, it’s been warm enough again for some autumnal stitching in the garden.  I’m currently working on a design for the October Magazine and, by pure coincidence, the colours I’m using work really well with the Yorkshire Provender Mug.  Anyway, if you’d like the chance to win a limited edition Emma Bridgewater mug of your own then please just CLICK HERE to pop over to our Instagram account where Rosie has explained exactly what you need to do to enter.