Gifts from Nature

There is something about chestnuts that I can not resist. Each one is a beautifully crafted object that seems to have been smoothed and polished to the finish of an expensive piece of furniture. They are so richly coloured and smooth when rubbed on your cheek. I find it hard to walk past them lying on the ground... I remember collecting them as a kid because we used to put them on a string and plat conkers with them but I think they are too lovely now to do that with them.

There is a chestnut tree near the hospital and beneath it were all of these miniature sized chestnuts - each perfectly formed. I just had to stop and collect them as they were too beautiful to leave behind. I have come home and put them in this little wooden bowl I bought a couple of years ago in a second hand store. Now they from a collection of objects for me to run my fingers through and admire and all for free! No shopping involved!

I read recently that an old wives tale suggests chestnuts keep spiders away too so I wonder if they'll do double duty as decor items and pest control - saving me from having to get out the sweeper to brush away the spider webs from the corners of the room!