Morning Mist

 There was a discussion on breakfast news this morning about the difference between mist and fog.  Some areas woke up to fog this morning but I think here it would have been classed as mist.

It wrapped around the garden like a flimsy cloak.

Hanging damply in the trees over the hedge in the little school nature reserve where Mr Fox lives.

There were cobwebs everywhere made visible by the dew.

Drops of moisture shivered and fell from tree branches.

And bright berries shone out in the gloom

The first morning in October that has looked and felt Autumnal.

It's amazing how many flowers there are still in the garden, some usually seen in late Spring and summer.

Hardy Geranium

Hardy Begonia

Clematis

Foxglove

Hydrangea

As I write this the mist has lifted and a weak sun has made an appearance.  We've had an hour in the garden dead heading, cutting back and clearing some of the debris of summer.  It's time to cosy up with a good book and a mug of tea.

Take care. 

Two Local Exhibitions - Part Two

 Continuing our visit to the exhibitions in Stoke we entered the Minster which was warm and welcoming.

This is the second of the two Longest Yarn travelling exhibitions.  Here is a - link - to the first one, visited in  November last year.

This second display depicts the preparations for the outbreak of war and events following on the home front.

War is declared

The cabinet meets

Windows are taped, gas masks are issued, special Mickey Mouse ones for children.

Children sent to the countryside for safety.

Anderson shelters for back gardens

Food rationing introduced

Training of the Home Guard

Dig for Victory

Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister

The Blitz in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Coventry.

The Women's Land Army

The Lumber Jills

Far too many photos.  There are 80 cases in all covering events like the small boats leaving for Dunkirk, the invasion of the Channel Isles and the Battle of Britain.  The Polish Pilots and the arrival of troops from America.  Lots of the cases were difficult to photograph with my little camera because of the lighting.  It was the small details I found fascinating. 

A VE day street party

 The exhibition is here in Stoke until the 29th October.  

Two Local Exhibitions - Part One

 There are two exhibitions worth visiting at the moment, both in the town centre of Stoke.

At the Spode Works the British Ceramics Biennial is in full swing

and at Stoke Minster there is The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War which has just arrived from it's showing at Southwell Minster, in Nottinghamshire.

Let's pop into the Spode Works and find just a few of the unusual works on display.

 

Above and below Slip Tales was a community project led by Sue Blatherwick to explore the heritage of Staffordshire slipware in a contemporary style.

(Not) Guilty Pleasures by Jo Taylor, contemporary designs influenced by the Rococo style popular in the Regency period.

The title comes from her hearing someone say that watching Bridgerton was their 'guilty pleasure'.

Just Be There 

by Johnny Vegas and Emma Rodgers.

The work addresses the beauty and transience of physical contact and interaction.  The installation captures the fleeting moment of human hugs in a permanent form.

Biba Klico Domestic Rituals - Kettle Reliquary

Loop: Postcards from the Green Belt by Alison Rees

The 400 ceramic postcards are a snapshot of  Alison's experience of  walking the London Outer Orbital Path.

Time for a morning coffee at The Little Vintage Tea Room at Spode Museum and then over the road to the Minster.

part two to follow

Into October

October already, where did September go?  It seems to have passed by so quickly.  We've had wet days and gloriously golden days.  Rich in warmth and colour.

Above October's calendar picture by textile artist Kate Findlay.  Below a photo of the Amelanchier tree in the garden taken from our bedroom window.  The window sticker is to stop birds flying into the glass, which they have been known to do from the trees beyond our hedge.

On Tuesday we took our usual weekly walk around Trentham Gardens,  The skies were blue, the weather was calm and warm and Autumnal colours were everywhere.

It was an almost perfect day.  I say almost because I have been struggling health wise over the last couple of weeks.  I'll be back soon as hopefully I will have a couple of future visits to share with you.

Take care.