Welcome to my Field Notes - once a month I write a little snapshot of the season from wherever I’m writing it. I write about the season/month’s weather as a whole and what it’s been teaching me about life. It’s also a time to update you on any goings on in my garden. I’d love to read your updates too so please do share them in the comments.
Greetings from my new creative shed!
I still need to think about a better seating situation as this stool was perfect when it was my floristry shed - not so good for writing and journaling…
… that’s a bit better, I’m now using a garden chair and I’m using my typewriter case as a laptop holder so it’s on a better angle. RSI and carpal tunnel and all those things HR people worry about are staved off for another newsletter!
I’m enjoying the temperature today’s sun has left me this evening inside the shed. This afternoon it was too hot and stuffy to use but now in the cool light of evening this is a perfectly cosy temperature.
As I look out to my right I see my “working area” of the garden - this used to be our sitting area where we’d enjoy a sundowner during COVID as it was the bit that had the last of the sun. But now with the patio we’ve turned this bit into the place for hanging out washing and storing wood and, for now at least, the hotbin compost!
A trellis separates the main part of the garden from this bit and next year I plan to plant a clematis or two to climb up it and hide the ugliness that is a bunch of wood and gardening tools. This year however we’re still in “garden clearance mode” so bags of garden waste are in the way. Perhaps on Friday I can book in at the tip and do the last bit of clearance then the garden is halfway to looking tidy.
Today we managed to actually have a run of sunshine and warmth that lasted longer than 2-3hours so I decided the priority was to sit still and enjoy it! I picked up the latest copy of Daphne’s Diary and a cup of tea and I plonked myself into my deck chair and enjoyed the sun beaming down on my face like a lizard on a rock.
In the UK I know we have temperamental seasons all the time. Last summer’s heatwave is really the exception and not the rule when we think about it. I know with climate change perhaps we’ve been expecting summers like last year to become more common but I think it’s important to think of the weather as a year-round thing. A hot summer can mean a mild winter which can mean a wet spring and so on.
With that in mind, this summer holidays has really taught me the importance of pausing and taking things as they come. Of course there is an element of planning involved with some activities - concert tickets, flights and holiday lets, festivals, hang outs with faraway friends etc but the rest of it lends itself so much more to a bit spontaneity.
When I began the summer I’d mapped out every week to a theme, week 1 was to get all my celebrant work wrapped up, week 2 was the Lake District, week 3 was a writing focus, week 4 was wedding planning, week 5 was Greenbelt and week 6 was school prep. What ended up happening was I was so exhausted from the summer term, after 2 days of trying to force myself to get all my business affairs in order I made myself ill.
I ended up scrapping my elaborate plan and decided on simply waking up each day to feel into what the day looked like. Even with coffee dates and football matches locked in I’ve found so much more wriggle room and now, with 3 weeks to go before I’m back into teacher mode, I feel much more relaxed. No more am I thinking I need to make the most of every inch of freedom, as I accept that a lot of my freedom involves sitting still and being thankful for it.
That’s not to say it’s been the BEST HOLIDAYS EVER so far. With the continuous rainfall and chilly winds I’ve certainly felt listless and cooped up indoors more times than I’d have liked. I’ve also forgotten how quite lonely the holidays can be without any routine. When you’re a childless teacher who doesn’t have tonnes of teacher friends, you can often find yourself twiddling your thumbs while you wait for everyone else to finish work.
I know that may sound frustrating if you’re someone who works in a proper job that doesn’t have summer holidays or if you’re a parent who is scratching the walls waiting for September to come back around. And if that is you I am sorry, I do appreciate I am lucky in some ways. I guess this summer has made me realise more than anything that I’m an extrovert and that I do so much better when I have a daily dose of company.
I love this part of the evening when I can see the sun reflected on the windows of the houses behind me. The houses give off this orange glow like we could be in the Mediterranean or somewhere. The cherry tree in my neighbour’s garden dances in the breeze with orange tips at the top, and as I strain my neck to the horizon I see the hombre affect of yellow fading into blue - there’s no green between them though - something to do with the human eye not seeing that light frequency perhaps? I’m not a scientist unfortunately.
And finally, I’ll leave you with an update about the mystery squash that I may or may not have told you about last time. The compost I made from last year clearly didn’t kill of a few pumpkin seeds as two plants have taken over my entire planter this summer. Seeing as I’m having a relatively fallow year I decided to just let them grow to see what happens.
One has climbed all over the wall and is seeping over to next door (not that they mind) and it has started to sprout its vegetables. Judging by the big round green orb that’s grown on top of my sweet pea teepee I think I can conclude it is indeed a pumpkin! My hope is that it continues to grow and mature and be ready in time for Samhain where I can either make a delicious soup or I can carve it for decoration. I’ll keep you posted.
So that’s my garden/seasonal update for you this month. How are things in your area? Have you had anything interesting growing? Have you taken part in any summery (or wintery) adventures? Do let me know. I’d love to read your own updates!
Take care
Love Beth x
Sorry that you made yourself ill, the Summer term is a tough one. Great piece and pics as ever, love your work set up.