An Autumnal Walk in the Lingebos and Mastbos Forests

It's my favorite time of the year...in spades!  So, as you'd guess, even in the midst of a pandemic, Astrid and I wanted to get out to enjoy the colors.  But, much to our surprise, even by now, at the end of October, we're still only at the beginning of our tree changes.

So, what you get in this post is what we DID see.  We really weren't that disappointed!

First, on October 10th, Saturday, we went to our nearby Lingebos in Vuren, just 6 km from home.  It's actually an artificial forest (284 acres) created by the government in the 1960s as a recreation area. To be honest, for how beautiful it is so near to us, we should go more often!

This is what it looked like that day, with only a few trees changing colors.

But as you see, there was plenty to see.

I really got addicted to these beauties.

And just about everything else going to seed!

I didn't even see Ms. Ladybug until I got home.  A nice surprise.

Mother Nature knows that even what we might see as imperfect is perfect.

I immediately thought of this from Martin Luther King, Jr:

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Then, just as it started to rain, we had a fleeting glimpse of the Childlike Joy we all need these days.

From my first photo to the last, it was only 35 minutes.

But we were filled up.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The following Saturday, on October 17th, we decided to try another forest, the Mastbos (1409 acres), this time in Breda, 40 km from home.  It's one of the oldest pine forests in the Netherlands, planted in 1515 with Scots pine seeds from Nuremberg, Germany.

This was where we parked and started our walk.

Before turning off from the main road, I loved the sunlight on the cut lumber.

Once again, the color change was still at it's beginning.

But still...enough to make us happy!

We weren't the only ones out that day.

But sadly, the next day many roads to the forest were closed because of coronavirus,

which is spiking now all over Europe, as well as the rest of the world.

We were lucky to have been there right at the wire.

We needed the autumnal fix!

We had seen the Bouvigne Castle, from 1554, as we drove into our parking spot,

and made sure we walked back to it before leaving.

(No, it wasn't open.)

Then, while walking back to the car, this is what we saw all along the path:

Lichen is one thing and actually stands on its own.

But then, it was like the Faeries came out in force to serenade us around their homes.

Some of these I've never seen before!

Some made me believe in growing older gracefully.

Some reminded me of why "it takes a village,"

something we so desperately need in these estranging times.

And because it's almost Halloween, how about a big 

BOO.

(It actually creeped me out!)

This time we had 2 hours of filling up our senses with, and I repeat myself,

my favorite time of the year.  God willing and the creek don't rise, 

maybe we'll get another walk in before it's all gone!

Till then, let's hope and pray next week's American Presidential Election remains as "calm" as possible.

(sigh)

Socks Socks Socks and More Socks (cont'd)

Lest you think I haven't continued...HA!  Carrying on from my last post on socks, July 28, this will catch you up to date, for the record.  (Those of you following me on FB have already seen them.)

20th Pair (for daughter Amy), finished August 3, 2020

Flotte Socke, Rellana #1551, Germany, 46% cotton, 33% wool, 12% polyamide, 9% polyester

 (I also had a black and grey yarn without the turquoise but Amy liked this one better, "with color.")

21th Pair (for son Mark), finished August 9, 2020

Lana Grossa, Christmas #6756, Germany, 80% wool, 20% polyamide

 (Mark said he'd like something "seasonal."  Hopefully this will work?!)

22nd Pair (for Astrid), finished August 23, 2020

Scheepjes, Invicta Colour, NL, #951, 75% wool, 25% polyamide

 (Astrid and I decided it'd be fun to try a ribbed sock down to the heel.)

23nd Pair (for sister Ruth), finished August 29, 2020

Opal Fairytale, #9792, Germany, 75% wool, 25% polyamide

 (Whenever I have 2 skeins of the same yarn, there's exactly enough left over to make a footies pair,

which Ruth prefers to full-legged socks.  How cool is that!  A first for me, after 22 pairs.

Half a sock is better than no sock at all?!)

24th Pair (for BIL Don), finished September 10, 2020

Flotte Socke Scandinavia, Rellana #1475, Germany, 75% wool, 25% polyamide

 (Sister Ruth and hubby Don live in Maine.  This design reminded me of a winter Nor'Easter!)

25th Pair (for Chris), finished September 20, 2020

Flotte Socke Scandinavia, Rellana #1474, Germany, 75% wool, 25% polyamide

 (This is a Thank-You to Astrid's "Big Brother" in Bath, England,  

who helps ferry us all over tarnation whenever we visit.)

26th Pair (for moi), finished October 1, 2020

Flotte Socke, Rellana #1552, Germany, 46% cotton, 33% wool, 12% polyamide, 9% polyester

 (This is my favorite yarn, like 2 other pairs I've made, as for Amy above.  Perfect for my khakis.)

27th Pair (for sister Ruth), finished October 8, 2020

Flotte Socke Scandinavia, Rellana #1474, Germany, 75% wool, 25% polyamide

 (Remember what I said about left-overs when I have 2 skeins of the same yarn?  Footies for Ruth.)

And now I'm starting another pair for Astrid....

In case you're wondering, I still have 7 more skeins of yarn in my stash.

After those socks are made, I'll go on another shopping spree (with left-over money from my birthday)!

  I really AM addicted.  :)