Saturday 16 October 2021

Blogtober 2021 :: Day 16








The flowers are still doing nicely while the dry weather lasts. There is a cosmos outside the back door that must be five feet tall, tangled up in the fig. The chocolate cosmos are doing well too. I bought more than I meant to, but they've been lovely. I think they're perennial, so hopefully they'll be around for a while. Are they supposed to smell of chocolate? I can't smell it at all. Maybe an urban myth.

Today was much like a week day for me. I am in a phase of working a lot at the moment, so on Saturdays I just carry on as normal. I don't mind particularly, it's good to have the work. Of course, a break would be good too, but it just seems to be that season where I am working and building at the moment. 

The middle boy told me with great authority today that we share 97% of our DNA with bananas. We the human race that is, not the middle boy and me specifically, although that might be more likely. I looked it up and in fact it's only 60%, but still, that's quite a lot banana.

On the subject of DNA, I put on some wolf howling noises earlier to drown out some other noise. Bertie was very intrigued. In fact, he sometimes howls himself when he is soundly asleep. It's only very occasionally, probably a total of three occasions, but it's brilliant. It's a really long loud howl, unlike any noise he ever makes when he's awake, as though it is calling his ancestors back through the ages. In fact he is technically 99.9% wolf, although to look at, not so much. 

Tomorrow will be a combination of work and watching football, which will be good. I love the early matches when it is still fairly balmy. Already it is getting colder though. I really struggled to get up this morning. I don't ever have a lie in, I like to be up early every day, but it's definitely harder when it's cold and dark. Probably another DNA thing, the ancient instincts telling me to hibernate. If only.

9 comments:

  1. I find the dark mornings hard - definitely a 'curl up under the duvet til the sun is up' kinda girl!

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  2. Your garden is looking lovely. I think you must be more sheltered than us as our fig tree is losing its leaves now. 60% banana? Fascinating. I think I may be a little bit more as I always pop one in my breakfast smoothie! :O) I'd love to hear darling Bertie howl like a wolf; it seems so at odds with his cute, knitted exterior. Have fun at the football. xx

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  3. Lovely photos of your garden, very "moody". I can't believe I share that much DNA with bananas, a fact I didn't know.

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  4. Your flowers look amazing. Our border collie howls when she hears sirens on emergency services vehicles. It is such a wolf like sound.

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  5. Bananas, who would ever guess that. I have a rather pronounced nose and as a child my brothers called me banana nose. Mean I know but it’s what brothers do. They weren’t far wrong it seems. Love the glorious colour in your garden and I’m intrigued about perennial cosmos. Will have to check that out. Hope you’ve got your thermals for football; it’s definitely cooler today. B x

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  6. Lovely flowers. The cosmos should smell of chocolate, and is a half-hardy perennial if the rootstock is protected through the winter.
    I generally get up early, and like you find it harder when it's cold and dark. xx

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  7. Oh, your banana DNA facts have absolutely made my day! I grew chocolate cosmos once and they do smell of chocolate, although that strange bath-bomb chocolate smell rather than a bar of Cadbury's. I'd forgotten all about them - I lost them to snails - and you've reminded me how pretty they are. I hadn't realised you were doing Blogtober as well so it's thanks to Lucy that I've found you - and I'm looking forward to catching up with your posts! xx

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  8. Oh to be a banana! DNA is my favourite macromolecule of them all, totally love it. I did my PhD in molecular parasitology and spent many days isolating DNA. Never from bananas though. Isn't the October garden always surprising? Lots of unexpected colours. Happy Sunday!

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  9. So Bertie doesn't have banana DNA? I think Ruby may have as she loves banana. She also is glued to the TV when police dogs are doing there stuff.

    Our cosmos are really tall too.

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