Preserving time again

'In progress' chutney

Autumn's always the time of year for making chutneys and jams on a massive scale. Although sound pumpkins and apples keep easily enough, there are always damaged ones thatneed to be processed in some way, so ... out with the preserving pan - first to rescue a couple of butternut squash by making chutney, then to turn some damaged apples, with the help of blackberries from the freezer, into jam.

The finished chutney

Autumnal Hues on a Sunny Sunday Afternoon

After a dismal start to the day, with proper autumnal rain lashing at the windows, 

the sun appeared during the afternoon giving me time to potter around in the garden

Leaves have started to turn and drift down from the trees

but for now 

from Michaelmas daisies, through the leaves of blueberry shrubs and red salad-bowl lettuce,

 kaffir lilies and fuchsias, to ripening apples

the predominant colour in the garden ranges through red to purple