Isn't it the wierdest thing that when summer arrives you just don't want it to end and yet, when it does, you're kind of glad?  I walked with my dogs yesterday in the crisp, autumn sunshine and thought what a beautiful time of year it was.  It's a little premature perhaps and hard to believe that just over a week ago the sun felt hot on my face, but walking with the leaves crackling under my feet made up for the lack of warmth.  Conkers lying all over the road reminded me of my childhood, gathering them and taking them home for my mother to bake in the oven so we could have conker competitions in school.  That made me think about home made apple dumplings which were a bit part of our Hallow'een celebrations each year.  One year, when I almost died following an ectopic pregnancy, my sainted mother swore it was eating her apple dumpling the day before kept me alive.  You know I really will have to make an apple dumpling myself now that she's no longer here to do it. It's early morning but the sun is shining through the trees inviting me to take my dogs for another walk.  Some mornings just start feeling good.  This morning was actually not one of them but writing this has made me count my blessings and made me put my troubles behind me.  Thank you to anyone reading it and I hope your autumn is a lovely one.