Friday 21 September 2012

Last Spring

This weekend sees the Autumnal Equinox which heralds the change in seasons. In Turkey the word for Fall or Autumn is Sonbahar, literally "last spring". This is a much more optimistic route into winter as it promises new growth and a return to green. The photo above is the pond at the bottom of our garden in Ilkbahar,  first Spring this year and the picture below was taken this afternoon.

The pond never completely dries out  but it's a murky green colour now and the earth around is split in deep cracks and crevices.The cows still visit twice a day and don't seem to complain about the water quality. This is as dry as it gets and from now on, even though we may not have any rain for a month, the mornings start to feel damp and the dew will encourage the first plants to sprout. 

Even in this parched landscape there are still a few flashes of colour and it's the humble thistle that is providing the lovely lilac splashes. Those of you that have stuck with me from the beginning  know that cooking, eating and drinking thistles has been a minor theme of this blog so it is fitting that I have a picture of them on my 100th post. 

Thistle Posts:







22 comments:

  1. Congrats on your 100th post, on a great blog and the wonderful description (and optimism) of Sonbahar. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. B to B, Nice pictures of ilk and son bahar. I also went back and read your postings on thistle and am glad I did because now I know what those weird looking roots in the Kastamonou market are in the early spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did have a bit of a thing for thistles in the Spring>

      Delete
  3. Congratulations on your 100th blog...wishing you well for the rest of the autumn, and more gentle weather conditions. J.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still in the 30s during the day but bliss in the evenings

      Delete
  4. Hi Annie - happy 100th post! I've enjoyed reading your past prickly posts too. Autumn seems some way away here - it's very hot today, over 30 degrees, but it will come. Love the spring view.
    Axxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello:
    Many congratulations on your thistle decked, 100th. post.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations on your 100th post....and how great to read about thistles!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on your first century. Time to get him indoors to get the logs in and for you to plan ahead to your second century sometime in spring.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Many congratulations on your 100th post: ) I loved reading your Sonbahar post

    ReplyDelete
  9. well done you! Always a pleasure when that little notification pops up :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm way behind your numbers but I'm pleased that I got to a 100.

      Delete
  10. Congrats!!! on your 100th post...I always enjoy reading your posts. Here's to another few 100 posts.;-)
    Thistles, loved reading about them, because I never really ever thought about them. Thanks for sharing your story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks E . I always check into your posts too. We seem to have a lot in common despite living so far apart.

      Delete
  11. Congrats on 100 posts! Time sure does fly by...I'm enjoying the last bit of sun that I can here in Istanbul. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Joy. It was still very hot today. I had to give up sitting outside.

    ReplyDelete