I'm picking up my 2012 and 2019 still unfinished novel for NaNoWriMo again this year. Writing immediately becomes the bigger procrastination target, so I might catch up with all my other work this month.
NaNoWriMo began. A strong start, but I fell behind pretty brutally, procrastinated agonisingly, then caught up at the weekend by barely leaving the flat.
Made apple blondies at the Community Kitchen, chilli/sage/basil bread at home, plus mince pies and ginger cake for Dave's last weekend.
Novembersunrises are next level. The sea is luminous. I remember it was like this last year too.
Harvested lots of chillis, and my tenth inside cherry tomato is ripening. My big outside tomatoes are still slowly reddening too, but I have to pick them and bring them in before they're done or they get demolished by slugs. Caught another orchid slug. Planted onions, and found more permanent homes in the footpath garden for sorrel, poppies and rosemary. Pulled out the sunflower and the dead rhubarb (RIP).
On the lookout for wood blewit and trooping funnels between Kirkcaldy and Wemyss. Not much luck (a couple of wood blewits) but did find some late chanterelles, a cloudy funnel (too old to eat), butter caps, and some very pretty brackets.
Discovered wood blewit and honey fungus spots in Ravenscraig Park. Picked up some veiled oysters too! (I think that's what they are.. they have super hefty stems and a really good taste.) Surveyed the edge of Dunnikier Park, and fields on the way to Thornton. Some good spots to go back to at the right time, next year.
A fungal foray around woods in Kirkcaldy, and Dunnikier Park. Found big flushes of wood blewits that were too old, and small flushes that were in good enough condition to harvest. Lots of cloudy funnels that were well past it as well. In Dysart cemetery, picked up some agricus that bruised red and were smaller than Prince; no definitive ID but definitely safe so ate them (they were good); and two parasols (my first!) which we decided were shaggy parasol because they're smaller, and shaggy.
Also found:
beautiful blue/grey oysters on a log practically in the middle of town;
a saffron milkcap that was so old it was mouldy, but still nice to see;
a new cep spot with ancient remains, but logged for next year..
lots of small pink mushrooms that seem to grow wherever the wood blewit are, but haven't IDed yet; they smell of raw potatoes;
a grey/white mushroom with wide gills, and a really distinctive floral smell;
Max was more than happy to be buried in a giant pile of leaves. The only problem is, we could never cover his wagging tail! He also chased the ball off the edge of a wall into a deep pile with great gusto. No Max's were harmed.
Yesterday I spontaneously removed everything from my bedroom and sanded, washed and repainted the ceiling. Today I've done the walls and I'll decide tomorrow if they need a second coat. Amazing what you can do on nanowrimo brain.
Painted my room in pale grey and dark green, and gave the ceiling a coat of white to get rid of nicotine stains from the previous occupant. My cosy crochet corner is finally complete. More or less got the hang of painting straight along edges without taping them up.
