I am home after two weeks on the road with a lovely client, touring the best brocante addresses in Normandy and Southern France – great fun but extremely intensive with long and busy days ….. which would explain why I haven’t published here for the past week!
Excusez-moi!
Arriving home late yesterday evening everything was dark, so when the sun rose this morning I was keen to see how the garden had changed since I left at the beginning of the month.
I wasn’t disappointed, we are at that precious moment in between the end of summer and full-on autumn. The last roses are still doing their thing, and even the white geraniums are still blooming, but the sedums have already turned deep russet pink, and the ivy berries are beginning to form.
I intended to make a real bouquet, but as I laid out the flowers with some trailing ivy, they came together rather nicely on the table, and when I picked the last of our late raspberries and added them to the tableau, that looked fun too.
I love the nuances of orange in the Polka rose and the rose hips, contrasting gently with the pink raspberries and sedums.
Now the photos are done, the autumn roses I used are popped into a little vase on my desk, there is the perfume of this evening’s supper drifting upstairs from the kitchen, and I am looking forward to enjoying a family meal this evening.
Because no matter how much fun it is to be out and about, no matter how exciting it is to discover new treasure, and no matter how enjoyable it is to stay in beautiful hotels and eat great meals …. at the end of the day, being home and enjoying the small things in life is what really matters.
Thank you for reading me. It’s good to be back.
26 comments
Beautiful autumn colours Sharon. I love this time of year when everything becomes quieter and the garden takes on a warm fireside glow as if preparing us for the long days of winter next to the fire! This month for me has been one of sadness as my dear old Dad passed away suddenly. But I have a posy of autumn coloured flowers taken from one of his flower arrangements and it reminds me of all the love that was there on Monday at his funeral. Family and friends came together to remember him and to tell us how much he was loved. How lucky we are. And these warm cosy colours will always remind me of him somehow. Thank you.
I am sorry for your loss, Marian. All that love and family…how lucky indeed. I’m glad you are taking comfort in that. Be kind to yourself.
– Cheryl from Minnesota
Thank you Cheryl. Only just seen your reply. Its very kind of you. I hope life is good for you in Minnesota – do you have the seasons like us? Is it autumn there and do you have the beautiful colours?! Take care. M
Yes, autumn is in full force and our colors have been stunning this year! Minnesota is lovely, but I am hoping to visit England, Ireland and France in a couple of years. It will be my first trip off my continent!
Let me know when you’re coming! Meanwhile enjoy your Autumn.
Very sophisticated Sharon. Glad you are back home.
M.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time hunting for treasures! It is so comforting to finally be at home after time away. Your garden is still rewarding you with beautiful flowers, how wonderful! Such a splendid bouquet of flowers with subtle and rich colors that work well together. Thank you for sharing it with us. Our Autumn has been glorious here in New Hampshire & this area is right now in the peak of foliage color. Our home is breathtaking with all the glorious colors bursting forth from the trees in our yard. I have to keep stopping work and run out & take photos of the trees, the garden, the river and other wonders that catch my eye. It will be over all too soon. I love finding late-blooming roses in my garden. I’m looking forward to (hopefully) reading more about your adventures during the last 2 weeks and seeing more fall bouquets from your garden!
Sharon, I must say that I read so many blogs and have become nearly immune to the beautiful photography that many display, but when I saw these I was moved by their beauty. You are very talented and we are lucky that you share it with us.
In a word . . . lovely!
I knew you were busy, perfectly understandable so no excuses needed. Beautiful roses & flowers Sharon. Yes, there’s no place like it, home is one of my favorite words. X
Lovely garden finds, Sharon. Arriving home is one of the best feelings in the world.
Lovely thoughts and lovely Autumn colors Sharon. Thank you for the inspiration!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Love your website!
I was out walking our dear old dog this morning, he prefers a little stroll in the country lanes these days, it had been raining much earlier in the morning and the hedgerow were filled with freshly showered autumn growth – Glossy Holly, Bramble, Ivy with berries in abundance. I thought to myself that this would make a great tablescape but I was ill prepared for collection. so how amazing it was to find your post this evening almost as I had envisaged xx
Sharon, such a wonderful array of colors and textures!! I wonder if you could tell me the name of the rose that produced those hips?? They are wonderful!!
And, as Dorothy would say “there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home”…
I look forward to you blog so much, your photography is so beautiful it lightens my work day.
“NO PLACE LIKE HOME!”DOROTHY said it…………I agree!
What a STUNNING arrangement!
I am in need of your address……..have some little thing to send off!
XO
such a beautiful home coming. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
A precious moment indeed..and you have brought it to us gloriously!! Savoring it all, Leslie
Beautifully creative photos Sharon – thank you. I do enjoy your posts and share them with my wife. Your Autumn garden sounds similar to our Normandy region.
I agree with your sentiments about ‘being back home.’ Absence often does make the heart grow fonder and even more appreciative.
Please keep up your creative work. I’m sure it brings great joy to many. Allan.
Sigh… to view your beautiful flowers from your garden, is to view Monet in stills. Lovely. All the best, Rié
Sharon:
Just beautiful! Thank you.
Sandra
So beautifully laid out on top of the peering words of France….oh and welcome back! I missed you!:)
Très joli tableau, nul besoin de faire un bouquet. Merci pour cette agréable fraîcheur très romantique.
Love the rustic feel to the French romance of Autumn colours.
Just so beautiful
Xx
Bisous
Doré
Beautiful arrangement – love those colors.