I do love this time of year..

So it's autumn, (at least I think it is, it probably should be winter by now but the temperatures are all over the place), and it's only four weeks till Christmas! Maybe because I live in the centre of town, I've become a bit obsessed with photographing trees. I love the patterns and colours, I only wish I was a better photographer and had a better camera so I could do these beautiful trees justice.

I can't wait till the beginning of December,  when I have 'permission' to be all christmassy. In readiness, I have acquired some branches with which I intend to make an alternative christmas tree. I have decided not to get a tree this year. Our flat is too small, and last year I got depressed watching the tree slowly die in the corner of the living room, despite my obsessive watering and sprinkling.
So this year, I will stick the branches in a pot and paint them white and hang baubles and things off it. (Not sure the kids are totally convinced about this idea, they didn't seem that keen when I mentioned it..) Anyways, watch this space. In the meantime, here are my magnificent branches!...(I should point out that I didn't just go out and chop them off a tree, they came from a tree that had already been cut back, and the branches were on the ground, ready to be disposed off, so I guess I'm doing my bit for recycling..)

 

Admittedly I got a bit carried away, and they are rather large, and the whole thing looks a bit stark at the moment, but let's see how it works out (and let's hope no one pokes their eyes out on the thing!) I was going to wind white wool round it rather than paint it but I suspect it would take me too long.

Trees shedding their leaves in autumn is really beautiful and in the starkness of winter, the trees replenish themselves, ready for spring. It makes me wonder about the beauty that is to be found in simplicity, in the simple things. Is it possible to celebrate Christmas simply? My intention is to make lots of gifts rather than buy them, but I hope I am able to do this, rather than leave it all too late and end up dashing round like a crazed woman doing last minute shopping like I usually do.