A peaceful death

Today, I found a dead coot along the waterfront of a recreational lake. I don't know how it died, it seemed like the bird just washed ashore after a silent, natural death.

However, it was in perfect condition. It lay there so peacefully, like God himself put it down on that small beach. 

I know there are people who don't like to look at dead animals, because they think they're filthy, scary or they just don't want to get faced with death. But every time I look at an animal -dead or alive- I'm always astonished by the beauty of nature. A dead animal is innocent, inspiring, beautiful. It stands for transience, but also for new life. The sight of a dead animal is so peaceful, I forget all those things I normally worry about. 

I think it's healthy to be faced by death, every now and then. A dead animal put your legs right back on the floor. And I hope, I really do, that I will not be the only one who is thinking about this in this way. Fore those people I took some pictures of this wonderful, inspiring bird. 

This is how I found the coot. 

I turned the bird, just to gauge its condition.

Everything was so perfect: its eyes half closed, the sands on its beak. His beak and forehead were so bright white, it seemed as if someone furbished it.

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Bad weather comes with good music

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Autumn fruits

Autumn is a fruitful season. Last weeks, I collected nuts, berries, apples and pears from the park and our garden.

Homemade applesauce and stewed pears with cinnamon.

A plate full of autumn! Plums, an apple from our own tree, grapes, pinecones, a pear, hazelnuts and leaves from our apple tree and ivy.

Stewed pears with cinnamon, sponge cake and grapes. Yummy!

 Preserves nascent! Elderberries with applepieces (for the pectin).

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Nuts!

'Nuts, nuts, driving me nuts. So sick and tired of nuts in me' guts!' Poor Eddy.

Nuts in abundance! Last week, I looked for several nuts to gather.

During a walk in the park, I noticed an unusual noise. It was the sound of hazelnuts, falling from the tree! I was right under a big Common Hazel (Corylus avellana).

I gathered a bunch of hazelnuts and took them home. In a few weeks, I can use them in cookies and cake.

These chestnuts from the Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) fell from the tree too early. The spines are still soft and the nuts are not ripe, yet.

Beechnuts from the Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica). Yummy!

The first mushroom I photographed, this autumn. This lovely, small white guy has still dirt on top of its cap.

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The end of summer

It's obvious: the end of summer is certainly here. Now. The wind is blowing in our faces, clouds cover the sky and make it look like sheep to be shorn.

Though, today was a wonderful day. The sky was mostly clear, and the sun was shining the whole day. I thought it was time for a walk, and my dog was very with me. During the walk, I noted that autumn is very, very near. Take a look yourself.

A pond with fountain in our neighborhood. Some leaves of the Small-leaved Linden are already yellow.

The sun was shining on these beautiful trees. The berries are so bright red and orange, it looks like they're painted.

A stunning blue sky.

The Rowan and its fruit.

Elderberries. If you want to make syrup or jam with elderberries, this is the time to pick them.

A young pollard willow against a bright blue sky.

Flowering clover! The last meadow flowers of the year.

The park in the polder is a lovely place to walk. My dog loves this place, because she can run free and there are always other dogs to play with.

Outside walking gives me so much energy and inspiration. Every time when I go outside, I am astonished by the beauty and the power of nature. I hope you can feel with me.

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