Radiant in the rain

It rained all night and continued this morning, so the Friday walk was cancelled - it probably would have been pretty miserable - saturated underfoot and we walkers reduced to peering from under our dripping hoods. But a good steady rain is much needed to replenish the gardens and farmland and fill up the aquifers. So what's one cancelled walk?

Anyway, I can get on with the seemingly never-ending job of painting the doors in the hall. Still, I'm on the home stretch now. Before starting, I nipped out into the garden to get a close up of the Cotinus coggyrgria 'Royal Purple' (smoke bush)which has reached a crescendo of glorious colour. Soon the leaves will begin to die and fall to the ground. What a pity they can't stay to cheer the winter months - but all good things come to an end.

For the record: An early blip today so will have to update the weather later - but rain, rain and more rain will definitely feature.