Raining conkers

Those of you who know me well will remember that there are lots of special images during the seasons that I just love. In autumn one of them is conkers.  Oh yes I have never ever grown up when it comes to conker season. I still get a thrill when I find my first one, which I did a few weeks ago. I even found out from my son's girlfriend that she went to pick him up from a night out with the lads at the weekend and found him and his friend climbing a lamppost trying to reach some conkers. He is 23! I think my love of them must have rubbed off on him. As a lad he always had pockets full of them. Every year my daughter and I always exchange texts of " Found my first conker!". You can tell that it does not take much to make me happy.

After the delights of my Dad's birthday party last Saturday my Hb and I decided that a good long autumnal walk would be perfect. We had noticed that our local trees were  full of ripe conkers and we would go to our favourite haunt to find some.

I just love seeing those beautiful brown conkers peeping out from their prickly cases.

There are several very mature horse chestnut trees in this particular park. They are all grouped together and there were hundreds and hundreds of conkers amongst their branches.

We spotted lots on the floor still in their cases. After a few minutes we noticed that we seemed to be targeted by something up in the trees which was knocking them down and almost hitting us. We did a few dances out of the way and looked up expecting to see a squirrel. We were amazed that it was not a squirrel up in the branches.......

It was a parrot! I quickly zoomed my camera onto him and got this shot of him opening up the shell ....

and this even clearer shot of him picking up the conker in his beak and tossing it down to the ground at us!

We gathered up some "treasure" including some "cheese cutters" to bring home with us. We still cannot resist filling our pockets.

Aren't they beautiful? I think this year they are extra beautiful after all the rain we have endured. I suppose that is one good reason for a wet summer.

Even Billy wanted to take a peep at them too when I put them in the garden.

He looks as though he is guarding them, bless him.
That evening a very talented lampworker Claire of  Rowanberry Glass I have known for some time listed some amazing beads and jewellery on Etsy and amongst them was none other than a conker necklace. I just knew I had to buy it and was so lucky that at 9pm,when they were listed, I quickly put it in my basket on line and it was mine. It arrived on Thursday and I am so delighted with it.

It was really hard to photograph in the sunshine but it quite stunning. The bead is glass and Claire has added little leaves and a silver chain.

So now I have my very own glass conker and can wear it even when the conkers have fallen and winter has arrived.

As the year is racing along so quickly my challenge card just has to be a Christmas card today. Vivienne close your eyes but there are only 80 days left til Christmas :0)



Isn't she a cutie?

She a stamp drawn by the talented Mo Manning and is called Little Elf Mim. I thought she was very apt swinging here from the branches like that naughty parrot in the tree.

I coloured her using really traditional Christmas colours with my Promarkers and highlighted her with my Prismacolor pencils. Unusually for me I also cut her out. I used some shiny foil Christmas die cuts in the background and some gorgeous double side satin ribbon from my stash on the bauble. The second thinner red ribbon reads Happy Christmas.I used some diamond dust on her hat and top to give some extra sparkle.


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

DP2 (Mo Manning) Challenge anything goes #155
Cute Card Thursday #237 lotsa ribbon
Simon Says Stamp Glimmer and sparkle
Sparkles Christmas challenge Traditional I have used very traditional Christmas colours.
Forever Friends Fortnight Challenge Anything goes #46
Charizma Cards #39 badda bing (bling/shiny)
Winter Wonderland across the miles
Crafty Hazel's Carol singing
Holly Jolly Glitter and bling
Make it Monday Linky Party #109
Fashionista Challenge anything goes Christmas
Totally Gorjuss anything goes #152


It was very wet and windy yesterday and has been literally raining conkers around here. The weather for the weekend though is looking good. This morning the sun is shining and there is a gorgeous blue sky. Strictly has started again on BBC1 , a sure sign that the countdown to Christmas has started too. I just love watching the dancers teaching their new recruits. As a dancer myself it really is much more difficult than it looks.  Enjoy your weekend.....Keep Dancing!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x