Country Rambles

We've been having an exceptionally beautiful month of October.
The temperatures having been hovering between 18-24 Celsius (around 68 Fahrenheit)
and I've been out as much as possible, enjoying nature.

From where I live in the town of Lausanne,
I need to take the metro, the train and then another little country train
which you can see here.
It stops at every single little village and hamlet on the way!

I went with a friend, and we noticed how dry the earth was through lack of rain.
The trees were changing colour and looking beautifully seasonal.

Some autumn plantations had already been done and appeared very green
against the dried fields of ploughed earth.

The mountains took on an almost purple hue

and quite a few had been planted with a ground cover
of purple flowers which I learnt were to replenish the soil in nutrients.

Here is a group of flowers in close-up.
The bees seemed to love it.

These country roads are wonderful for walks
and I love to go here at least twice a year to see the beautiful area in different seasons.

I love the lines of fields in different colours.
After walking through the woods, we turned to go back down the hill
down to a village called Apples.

The village church steeple can be seen
and the mountains above the lake as well.

We are still high enough to see the lake
and behind the mountain to the right
is the well-known Mont Blanc Mountain which is in France.

I thought these sunlit leaves, already quite orange,
were so typical of this beautiful season.
Nearer to home, I collected fallen leaves and thought it would be fun
to create an Autumn Quilt by taking macro shots of parts of the leaves and making a collage.

A quilt inspired by nature
in this beautiful month of October.

Balmy October Days

Autumn Camellia

This first half of the month of October
is giving us beautiful clear skies and deliciously warm temperatures,
anything between 19 and 24 Celsius.

Vibrant Dahlia

I've been going out for lots of walks,
especially down by the lake and in the country.

The hibiscus down by the lake were in full, glorious bloom.
Taken in Montreux.

Perfection

This bud is still wet from watering.

An American Oak leaf
well and truly caught in the spikes of a bush below the tree.

Fallen from this beautiful Oak Tree where the colours are starting to turn.

Deep blue skies and colourful branches.
This one was taken in my neighbourhood.

I love this garden gate with the geranium flowers coming out to greet the next visitor.
They seem to say: "Welcome, we're expecting you!"

I do my weekly marketing downtown on Saturdays
and this is the latest bouquet I brought home with me. 
I do love the mixture of fresh colours.

I hope that you are also having a beautiful month of October
with generous sunshine and clear autumn skies.

Water Music at Sunset

The beautiful lake is always an attraction, but never more so than at sunrise or sunset.
I loved looking at the early sunset through the illuminated flag at the back of the steamboat.

But I do believe that this lilac sky is my favourite on this particular day.

I had read about a new kind of evening cruise which included a classical music concert!
The fact that it featured a well loved piece of music made the idea even more exciting.

There was a live orchestra on board playing
Water Music by Georg Friederich Haendel.
So appropriate!
You can listen to it 

It was magnificently interpreted and I especially loved the horns and trumpets
So joyful!
Water Music was originally created in 1717
for King George 1st of England
and it was played on the Royal Barge with 50 musicians
as it floated along the River Thames on July 7th, 1717,
The King loved it so much that he asked the musicians to play it over several times!

G.F. Haendel, gifted musician and composer, born in Germany.
he travelled and lived in several European countries
 and he lived in England for many years till the end of his life.
He even taught music to the King's children.


I have heard that another musical cruise may be organized at some time in the future.
I shall definitely want to go again, especially if the music is as beautiful as this concert!

A last colourful look at the sky right after the sun went down.