The strange weather continues. Yesterday was the 1st of December, but you would not have known that in Beetley. It was bright and sunny, with blue skies until almost 3pm. The temperature even got up to 10C, before falling back at sunset.
This confused the insects, who have stayed late. On Beetley Meadows I saw three different bumblebees, and walked through clouds of midges hovering over the riverbank. That proved to be a bad idea, as I received three large (and very itchy) bites on my head.
The trees have also been confused, but yesterday the local Oaks decided it was time to shed their leaves at long last. Those leaves have stayed late on the branches, and many still retain their green colour. There were thousands of leaves drifting gently to the ground, like multi-coloured extra-large snowflakes.
By the time I was walking home with Ollie, my shoes were crunching on a carpet of freshly-fallen leaves. When we made our way along the small woodland path, it was quite magical to see and feel them cascading down on us.
The same thing was happening to the large Oaks at the front and back of our house.
This reminded me that leaf-clearing season is late this year, but will still have to be done at some stage.
beetleypete 
Lovely description of the leaves falling and your walk along their pathway. It made me smile. Best to you, Pete.
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Happy to make you smile, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Best to you, Pete. 😀
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Be happy you had got a follow up of autumn. Here this time it was rainy and stormy. xx Michael
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We have also had some very heavy rain and sleet, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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I especially enjoyed this post-what a beautiful time.
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I’m very pleased to hear that, dear Michele.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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It is trying to be winter here, but with not much success. Warmest regards, Ed
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Winter is doing quite well here already. Snow in parts of Scotland today.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The weather in the UK this year has been very weird all around. It seems pretty weird in the USA too.
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I think we can safely say that the whole world is experiencing some worrying changes in weather patterns, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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How beautiful, Pete …I miss a lovely autumn walk over freshly dropped leaves…our brief cold spell is still not here we have little glimpses and then the sun shines brightly again which is probably why I now have a cold my first in a few years xx
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Hope you recover from that cold quickly, Carol.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Thank you, Pete xx
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Late fall?
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Very late indeed, Arlene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Saturday’s forecast high in Las Vegas is 19° C. By the 15th of December, the high is forecast to be 11° C. We had very little “autumn” this year. The transition from summer heat to winter cold was very quick. Deciduous trees are clinging to most of their dead leaves; some have fallen to the ground.
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11C must seem very cold to the residents of Las Vegas, David.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Kissing 70 and I still love to crunch the leaves underfoot. Some beautiful oaks across the road from me so autumn is my playground. I don’t know why people clean leaves up (unless the block gutters) off their lawns. They make wonderful manure so I mow over them without the catcher.
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I only clear the leaves from the paths and gutters. The rest I leave alone.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Beautiful description, Pete. I can see the trees and hear the crunching of the leaves. Sorry the insects are confused, but when winter hits suddenly it will all be distant memories, just like here. 🙂
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Those insects need to either hibernate, or be killed by the cold. I don’t need itchy bites in December! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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The weather is all “wrong”. I feel that winter comes later every year and stays longer. I love seeing those showers of leaves falling, especially on a fine day. The sun is out here again after 3 mostly overcast days.
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The leaves are amazing. If only I didn’t have to clear so many of them away.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Walking through cascading leaves is one of life’s simple pleasures.
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It was a joyous feeling indeed, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Leaves all down here now, and a third dose of snow predicted. Winter is early after a late-lingering summer.
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We have no snow forecast as yet. I hope we get none at all this year, as I dread it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Our inch or so of snow (twice) has all melted, but its early arrival is unusual. Weather seems to be getting less predictable.
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Nothing better than falling fall leaves…we don’t have those seasons here in Los Angeles, but it was under 50 degrees at night for the past week and people are “bundling up” here!
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We had a daytime maximum of 42F here today, with heavy ice-cold rain. Winter is upon us! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We just had a snowfall after the last leaf fall. Now a lot of fallen leaf haters wlll be forced to leave them for fertilizer.
PS: You should wear a hat, Pete.
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I have a straw summer hat that I wear when it is hot. My winter one is a waterproof cap, but I prefer to use the umbrella. I didn’t expect to get insect bites on the 1st of December. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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The plants are very confused over here as well. I am supposing that all this will soon become the norm.
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I’m sure you are right about that, GP.
Best wishes, Pete.
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There’s cherry blossom on one tree in our churchyard, and my rhubarb is sprouting again, as are our spring bulbs.
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It’s all very strange indeed, Stevie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pleased you enjoyed the leaf fall walk, Pete!
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It was lovely, until I thought about all the leaves around the house. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hmm, yes, I get that…
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Weather here is strange…..40 at night 75 day…..yesterday it was 72 at night….we have a hard time dressing for the day…..LOL My yard guy uses mulching blade so raking is not a problem anymore. chuq
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I leave most of the leaves on the lawn to rot as fertiliser. But I have to clear the pathways and gutters, a job that seems to be neverending.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Gutters are never ending. chuq
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It has been a long Autumn. Not much sunshine here sadly, and down to 2-3 degrees at night, but still some leaves on trees to fall, I must go and check my oak tree across the way. 🙂
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Even after the huge leaf falls yesterday, there are still thousands more on both of our trees.
Best wishes, Pete.
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