In Autumn, the Magic Comes Easily

On Saturday, we didn't have any plans.  We needed to go to market for food, but wanted a change of scenery.  So we made a few random stops with no particular plan-- a "farmer's market" in a nearby village with a few tables set up inside a community hall-- not much actual food there, but a hunter was selling some game from the week-- I picked up venison and a whole duck.  We checked out a health food store someone recommended, but there really wasn't much there-- I just grabbed some gluten-free oatcakes I knew Amelia would enjoy.  Then we were hungry, so we headed to Elveden, where there is a really nice gourmet food shop, where we could pick up some picnic supplies.

On our way to Elveden, we drove through the most gorgeous section of forest, and decided that we should go back there, quickly, before the sunset.  So we bought cheese, ham, and olives, and found a place in that forest to park and eat our picnic in our car (it was really cold out!)  We took a family portrait, and enjoyed our lunch.

Slightly warmed by the meal, we headed out to take a walk and check out the little forest.  I had to get some pictures of the beautiful colors, too.

And that's when things started getting magical...

Look at this forest.
Somehow, it was hard to believe that we could even be there.  And then we looked down, and discovered that we were surrounded by bright little Amethyst Deceivers.

These mushrooms are one of a very few that I am confident enough about identifying and eating.  And there they all were!  We found a bag and the three of us began collecting.  We only took the larger ones, and left more than we picked.

 Still, we brought home a serious bounty.

 Look at the great colors!  The middle photo is from the next morning, when they began to dry out and got pale.  Then, they went into the pan for brunch (with this recipe!)
When we had finished picking, we made the most of the dwindling afternoon light, and walked some more.

It was all just so beautiful, in a magical sort of way. We heard foxes barking (Jeff even saw them, too!) and the most interesting bird calls.
We were cold, but there was so much to see, and the sun would set soon enough.

I thought of so many fairy tales set in forests, and they made so much more sense to me...  And we were alone there.  I guess there's enough magic around here for everyone to have a walk in the forest without seeing anyone else.

 And then it was too cold, too dark, and we had to go.

 But as we drove away, we still couldn't believe it had all been real.  This kind of magic just seems so easy in Autumn...  We'll be sure to get out there again soon, before all the leaves have fallen.

Have you found some Autumn Magic yet?

(This post was shared at Thank Your Body Thursdays and Small Footprint Fridays.)

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