So, unbelievably, we are into the last quarter of the year – where did that go? We have had a good run of late warm weather and although it is still pretty good for this time of year, signs of autumn are everywhere. The hanging baskets will need to be taken down soon as they are now looking rather sorry for themselves.

The leaves on the trees are starting to turn brown – some quicker than others – here’s a typically contrasting sight at the moment on the same tree and with others as well.

And many of the leaves are starting to fall from the trees, covering some areas of the lane almost completely.

There is the perennial problem of what to do with the house martins’ discarded nests – they look a mess but the problem is that, if you take them down, they rebuild them the following year and leave a trail of failed ones as they start again – see the muddy blobs in between the constructed ones below.

By way of a contrast, the horses’ winter field is lush and green and ready for what will hopefully be a drier winter than last year. They should be moving back there by the end of the month.

In the lane, we now have two different types of hens – a few newer black ones have joined the standard brown residents. Would like to say what “make” these new ones are but I’m afraid I am not technically competent to do that hens-wise. 🙂