Friday 3 September 2021

Frazzle!!!

 Friend S has just called to bring me some eggs (they keep hens);   she always reads my posts and having read about the day when I was frazzled all day she tells me this morning that they have a chicken called Frazzle.   So one of us is in good company - not sure which way round though.

I still feel a bit frazzled round the edges but she is a good deal younger than I am and she tells me that she has frazzled days too, as does her partner.   All these things go to boost my self confidence.   But I do sometimes wonder how I ever managed to run a large department in a Comprehensive School, or plan teaching English as a Second Language.   It all seemed so easy thirty odd years ago.   Now my brain often resembles scrambled eggs!   So it is all the more reason to carry on with my daily posts - it makes my brain work hard rather than go into a semi-dormant state.

So far there is no sign at all of a sun - after a couple of days of warm sunshine it is a chilly grey day.  Much warmer weather is forecast for next week but only in a short-lived burst.   We really need it for the whole of September, then we would go into winter feeling much better.   The news everywhere is so depressing that I have stopped listening to it.   I can do nothing and I see all the posturing, all the threatening, on both sides I might add.   Would that we could all live in harmony with one another.   But I suppose we never have.   If people can't even do it in their own families or with their neighbours, what hope is there for wider mankind?

My garden is making last little bursts of colour and they are giving me much pleasure.   Plants I can see from my window - a lovely hardy geranium - new this year and already a big, sturdy plant- has deep pink, large flowers which are almost but not quite red.   The indigenous colour of these hardy geraniums seems to be pink (plus the odd dark blue ones which don't seem to favour me), e a Bowles perennial wallflower pinky/purple - it has flowered all summer long.   I can thoroughly recommend it but as a perennial it doesn't last all that long.  There is a tall, golden-yellow achillea in full bloom, lots of yellow and a few red antirrhinums which have self-seeded as they do every year.   I leave them to go to seed and then the next year they pop up all over the garden.There are several clumps of gallardia in bloom still - golden yellow and orange and bits of Crocosmia here and there - almost over.  A few pinks here and there, a white scabious clump. various white daisies, a few osteospermum and one single stalk of verbena.    I don't any longer do anything in my garden but my gardener follows my instructions.   I am not a tidy gardener and this time of year I like to leave everything to flower itself out - there is all winter for him to tidy, to split up plants that need dealing with.

It is one of those days when it is warmer out than in.   By the time we reached the postbox I was very much warmer.   We had a pleasant walk with a couple of stops to chat to friends.   When I got home H was standing on the doorstep (she had spotted me coming) ,with some Victoria plums for me - they were exquisite and for my tea I had a ham and pickle roll followed by five ripe plums  - delicious, so thank you very much H.

Enough for today.   See you tomorrow


20 comments:

Ellen D. said...

I am glad you get so much joy out of your garden! All the planning (and gardener's work) sure pays off as you always have something lovely to look at! Don't worry about feeling frazzled - we all have our moments and you do a terrific job of keeping busy and enjoying life!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Good morning! I know it's not morning there. I haven't left a comment for you in a while. That's nice that you get fresh eggs from your friend. My hens here (I have 6) are slowing down, knowing that fall is soon upon us. The sun is out, but it is still cool here (14 degrees at the moment). Have a lovely rest of your day! -Jenn

Tasker Dunham said...

We often seem to get a sunny week around the end of September. Next week might not be entirely the end of summer. It's a long road then to Christmas. The autumn term always seemed the longest.

the veg artist said...

Comparing what I can (or cannot) do now with what I used to be able to do is a form of torture I often inflict on myself, so don't think you are alone in that, either. Like many, I think you are an inspiration.

Rachel Phillips said...

I had to read twice where you said you are not a tidy gardener. I believe you are the tidiest gardener I have ever met!

Derek Faulkner said...

Given your obsession for cleanliness in the house, I'm also surprised that you have an untidy garden but I'm glad that you do, because a too tidy garden is no good for wildlife at all.

Heather said...

Your garden must look so lovely with all those flowers still blooming. What kind neighbours you have bringing you 'homegrown' eggs and plums. I can still remember how delicious the Victoria plums from my grandmother's garden were.
It has been quite chilly down here and yesterday I had to bring my duvet back into action, after waking up the previous night feeling cold. Looking forward to a warm spell before Autumn arrives.

CharlotteP said...

there is nothing like home-grown produce; you can taste the love that went into growing it!

Tom Stephenson said...

Ah, Victoria plums. Everyone always seems to have a glut, which is good news for a town dweller like me.

Bonnie said...

Your description of your garden paints a beautiful and colorful picture! Thank you for sharing it with us. Enjoy every minute of it while it is still in bloom!

Yellow Shoes said...

I’m very envious of your crocosmia for their colour and pinks for their scent.

The Feminine Energy said...

I have read that many times.... that it is good to keep the brain active, so as it stays sharp. I could do a LOT of things 30 years ago, that I can't do today... or at least not as easily anyway. I look back on certain things in my life and wonder "How in the world did I do all that???!!!!!". But I did... and don't remember being much bothered by any of it. Oh, for the good ole days!! ~Andrea xoxoxo

The Furry Gnome said...

I must admit I'm having a VERY frazzled day here today. And I once managed a university department!

Joanne Noragon said...

Ripe plums! Yum. You are in luck.

Susan said...

You might feel frazzled but your posts are not frazzled and they are truly lovely to read. Thank you. As a gardener, I appreciate all the color and blooming as the season moves through Autumn. Your garden sounds very robust.

Cro Magnon said...

Teaching is such a daunting endeavour; one wonders how on earth we can get everything done, and do the best for our pupils. Then when it comes to the practicality, it all runs reasonably smoothly, and we wonder why we panicked.

Anonymous said...

Reasonably smoothly was always a bonus Cro. I've always taught in the toughest of schools and while not frazzled it was necessary to think on your feet. It's strange what you get used to, and extremely frazzled relieving teachers would say at the end of the day 'don't ever call me again', and staff would scratch their heads and think, but that was a good day! -Pam

thelma said...

Who can beat Victoria plums - delicious and home grown eggs have deep yellow yolks - beautiful.

Librarian said...

Hmm... I thought I had left a comment for this post yesterday, but can't see it now. Never mind.
I know what you mean about days when it is warmer outside than in the house, we've had a few days like that now. Especially my Third Room / study, where I sit all day when I am working from home, is the coolest place in my flat. I need a cardigan on when I sit there, and have been making myselfs mugs of hot tea mid-morning just to warm up a little. Our central heating is not on yet, and I am trying to postpone that for another few days as I am very conscious of energy consumption.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Just the same here Librarian
Thelma - have just this second eaten the last of them!
Cro and Pam - yes one has to be in it to properly understand the stresses and strains - and then people gripe abot six weeks off in the summer!

Lovely to discover you all a)love Victorias b) have frazzled days c) are pleased I have an untidy garden. The reasons for c are that even the tiniest flower left helps the pollinators on the last few trawls of Autumn.


Thanks for popping by.