#conkers

[rherlotshadow]

Perfect things: conkers, briefly glossy, fresh from their white-velvet-lined, green-prickled cases.

[autumnalsoul]

x

[heyitsjonphotos92]

📸: European Horse-Chestnut

Follow me on Instagram: @heyitsjonphotos ( Link to my Instagram page is below 👇 )

https://www.instagram.com/heyitsjonphotos?igsh=aTNicG5qNTA4bjdw&utm_source=qr

[lost-harts]

September 2022

[conkers-thecosy]

Every Christmas I try to get a special decoration for the tree as a sort of tribute for the year. Anyway, this year I got a sparkly little acorn as a nod to our lovely little community and all the wonderful people I’ve met through it this year! 💛

[theweeowlart]

As we enter my favourite season, here's a wee celebration of autumn with my art. All these pieces and more are available to collectors and gift hunters now… https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWeeOwlArt

[petermorwood]

So, I visited Europe for the first time in my life a few weeks ago - Rome specifically, right after the Pope opened the Christmas season there - and for the first time in my life tried roasted chestnuts. Are they always that sweet? I will admit to not liking nuts so the fact that they were easier to choke down than I expected was somewhat revelatory, but like still odd. Do you like roasted chestnuts? Also, how does conkers work?

Mostly asking because youre my best European source of knowledge of such things - there's no chestnuts to be had in America

First, there are two kinds of chestnuts, the kind you eat (Castenea, Sweet Chestnuts and the kind you don't (Aesculus, Horse Chestnuts).

(Water chestnuts, which don't grow on trees, are something else entirely.)

Second, there are definitely Castanea chestnuts in America, though I'm betting they're a regional thing so if you're not in the region, hard cheese, and they even appear in the first line of "The Christmas Song".

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,  Jack Frost nipping on your nose,  Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,  And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

The edible ones are definitely sweet, it's even in their name, but the burnt smell of them cooking might suggest they'll taste otherwise, so that can come as a surprise.

I don't care for them myself, though roasted chestnut purée mixed with rum, then topped with unsweetened whipped cream and maybe chocolate sauce is another matter entirely.

This treatment is variously credited as Hungarian, Italian and French; those who want to argue about it can sit over there, because sensible people who want to get on with eating it will be sitting over here...

*****

As for Aesculus conkers, the easiest way to explain them is to point you to this post.

Wearing schoolboy caps, oversized wellies or a severe short-back-and-sides haircut isn't compulsory, but might help. Or not.

[yorksnapshots]

Leaf Art.

[pinkcadillaccas]

+if you reblog put in the tags what country/region you're from

[ihobbit]

“Well I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know.” 

- Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. 

October is coming. Are you ready for Conkers? I do)

[septembergold]

[rherlotshadow]

Conkers

[kidcore-nostalgia]

🍂 playing conkers 🍂

[u-friend-or-ufo]

CONKERS!!!

[conkers-thecosy]

The Hobbit moved to stand from the edge of the spring and Thorin automatically stepped forward and offered him a hand for balance, concerned he might slip on the wet rocks. Bilbo blinked rapidly in that way he did when he was surprised by something, but took the offered hand despite attempting to very grandly ignore Thorin’s nakedness. Quietly charmed by the dusting of pink on his cheeks as he blushed, he didn’t release Bilbo’s hand immediately.

“Would you like me to come back with you?” Thorin asked, tilting his head and trying not to smile as he attempted to catch Bilbo’s gaze. 

“No no,” said Bilbo quickly, clearing his throat and wriggling his fingers out of Thorin’s grasp. “No, no I should be fine, thank you.”

The Hobbit took a step back and tried to pull the wet shirt away from his body ineffectually. He was now quite red in the face again, and the dwarf found he much preferred this expression than the myriad of shame and sadness and anger he had seen this morning so far.

“You’re sure?” he asked, unable to keep the grin from his face as he moved to step out of the spring.

“No no!” Bilbo squeaked again, flinging his hands over his eyes. “No no no! No, that’s quite alright!”

“No?” Thorin repeated, though not moving this time, slightly emboldened by the muffled chuckles behind him. 

“No!” Bilbo turned on his heel and stumbled a little as he stooped to pick up his waistcoat, then scurried back towards the camp.

“Bye Bilbo!” Bofur called cheerfully after his retreating back, and rather delightfully, Bilbo called back over his shoulder. 

“Bye!"

~ "Poet" - Chapter 2, by Conkers (me!)

[theweeowlart]

Something very seasonal for you, horse-chestnuts with a leaf from the tree. This drawing is available to collectors and gift hunters…