Miscellany ‘r’ Us today, because
1. I’ve a five-hour roundtrip jaunt to take a girlfriend out for birthday lunch. All on public transit (except for the part I’ll be transported by Shank’s Mare), so I’ll have some welcome reading time.
2.What will I be reading? Red Rooms, by Cherie Dimaline. I unearthed it from a pile of books when I was sorting and culling books a few weeks ago. On its cover was stuck a yellow post-it note on which a colleague of mine had written “Frances, For your pile of leisure reading! Happy Days!” Yes, she’d underlined “leisure reading,” no doubt with, hmm, not so much envy because she was still energetic and enthusiastic in her teaching and research, but rather with anticipation of the day when she might indulge. So it’s a bit embarrassing that only now, at the beginning of my fifth year of retirement, am I finally turning her gift’s pages.
3. Above, an outfit that well represents what I’ve been wearing these last few weeks of transitional weather, as does the one in the photo below. I bought that faux-fur vest on sale seven years ago, dubious about giving in to such an obvious trend. As it turns out, I wear it numerous times throughout the fall and have not yet felt dated in it, and it’s so useful. Glad I didn’t leave it behind in Bordeaux three autumns ago when it formed part of myTen Weeks, One Carry-On Wardrobe.
I’m pleased to note that there are only two relatively new items in the two OOTDS here — the black sneakers (a few weeks old) and that cotton-linen navy skirt (bought this spring). The black folk-embroidered dress is another I contemplate giving away, but I still enjoy wearing it a few times through the fall and winter. . . .
4. And now a very quick garden tour. . .
As the kids say, these chrysanthemums are LIT! The pink-burgundy (are they magenta? With a hit of sunshine they come close). Pater brought those home the other day for the little balcony directly in front of our sitting area where we need something to soften the view of the hydro lines and rooftops across the lane.
The ‘mums below are from pots that served the same purpose in previous years and then got moved to the bigger terrace, where they thrived well enough to cheer us again this autumn. . . .
This one’s sleepier than her cousins. . . .just beginning to stretch into action. . . .
And this one’s actually a considerably deeper colour than the rust of the one above. It skews closer to burgundy, but it’s on the ground under a tree canopy and I have a tough time photographing it.
Other features right now include the seeds — these maple keys. . .
the snowberries. . .
5. and the one fig that ripened enough for me to eat. . . We would have done much better with our fig harvest if we had better instructed the young contractor (cough granddaughter cough) who was watering plants for us while we were away in the spring. She’s a close relation 😉 . . . and will do better next time. So no hard feelings but . . Every leaf and the nascent figs fell off the poor little thirsty tree. The good news is that it bounced back quite happily once watered more carefully and even threw up a whole new crop of figs, but they’re not going to ripen before the cold. Except this one.
So there you go. My Friday Fall Five
and now I’d better get the rest of my day organized. . .
What’s up for you this Fall Friday? Or, as I saw, but did not photograph, on a sidewalk sandwich board outside a bistro-pub yesterday “Sup Bae”? (Here’s an interesting article from Esquire online, written five years ago, when “bae” had just entered the language. And while we’re thinking about what was happening five years ago, if you’re curious about what I was wearing this transitional time of year seven years ago,here’s your answer. . .
Your turn to chat now — or even just wave a hello here, let me know you’ve stopped by. . . Comments always welcome.
The faux fur vest is perfect – strikes me as a signature piece!
Question. I have two volunteer fig trees growing in the back yard. They do not produce fruit. Is that because they are a non-fruitful gender? Or because somehow pollination isn't happening correctly? Do you know? Thank you in advance!
Beautiful colours in your garden indeed! We do tha same,buy flowers for the front door every year and than,after a while,they are planted. Sorry about the figs but the lesson learned is wortwhile,I guess-our first figs were tasteless (to much rain during the spring),but the second were nice
I love yout OOTD (or fall)-the vest is so useful and looks nice
You are a perfect friend!
Dottoressa
P. S.It is Saturday morning,so you know my plans;-),spica coffee!
D.
You have had really good use out of the fun vest. I'm glad to see you're wearing black runners with skirts. I've been wearing them to school because they are comfy and I can easily go outside with students if needed. Did you have a fun birthday lunch? I've got to read The Honey Bus by Monday night and I've got laundry to do. I'd love to get outside too. Week 3 of working full-time. How did we do it?I planted a tiny chrysanthemum last week. The colour in the fall is inspiring.
Waving hello from the East Coast having just returned from a couple of weeks in Europe with my MIL. As we moved through four countries, the weather varied from 45(7c) degrees to lower 70s(21c) with some sun, some torrential rain (Cologne), lots of showers and a fair amount of wind (30-40+ mph). My carry-on sized case managed, but I was v. happy to throw everything in the washer as soon as I got up (no laundry facilities on this trip–other than hand-washing unmentionables during my showers). Not sure I can bear to wear some of these pieces again for a while.
Happy to see photos of your creative outfits and catch up on your posts.
I looked for that skirt shortly after you bought it…it's just what I like…but wanted to try it on and either the size or the colour was not in store.
I will have to just continue to admire it on you 🙂
Your OOTD looks perfect for our fall weather and the vest looks cozy. Our neighbours have a fig tree that grows beside the fence. If we are lucky the tree drops a few ripe figs onto our grass so we can enjoy them.
Nice to see how you have incorporated flowers on your balcony to soften the power lines. You’ve made so many improvements to your rooftop garden in a very short time.
Lisa: There are self-pollinating varieties, bred specifically for those of us who want to grow figs hassle-free (mine's a Brown Turkey Fig) in places where they're not indigenous, but many figs require a very specific insect — wasp — to pollinate them. Their botanic lore is pretty fascinating, but has turned some squeamish eaters to eschew the juicy Mediterranean fruit. Pas moi! Here's the scoop:
Comment eaten, so will try again.
Both outfits are so chic. The skirt and the gilet work well with both types of shoes, even the difficult to match trainers. Well, I find them difficult to match, perhaps because my feet are huge.
Your containers are a real joy. Container gardening is a whole other garden art. It looks as if you're finding your "roots" (couldn't resist!) in it. I'm envious of your figs. We are not in fig territory here, unless you have a very sheltered garden with a high, south facing wall of honey-coloured sandstone. A castle kitchen garden for example.
Dottoressa: You have so much better a climate for the figs — but even just one and I'm happy 😉 Wish I'd been there for špica!
Mme: And the students will think you're on trend with your sneakers. . . Did you plant that tiny 'mum in your parking lot garden?
Mary: Oh, those temperatures would have challenged a small carry-on! I hope you had a good raincoat and waterproof shoes/boots. I know what you mean about those clothes going to the back of the closet for awhile.
Georgia: I have to admit it's quite covetable. Sorry you couldn't find your own.
Hostess: Lucky you! Figs delivered 😉
Linda: Thank you! Figs are a stretch here as well — this summer was cooler than last and they didn't have enough time to ripen. Now if only I had a castle kitchen garden (I do love that image!)