The early sun setΒ the front garden glowing gold, as always, this morning. The autumn flowering cherry has been in bloom since last October. The telegraph pole, from which a cluster of cables fans out along Christchurch Road and all points of the compass, receives regular visits from BT engineers.
What this area looked like a year ago can be seen in ‘Before And After: Through To The Front’.
Much maintenance was carried out today,
my major contribution being mulching the three bags of Landscape Bark bought yesterday into the rose garden;
and Jackie’s, weeding and composting The Palm Bed.
This wide-eyed owl was decapitated by storm Katie. Surgeon Jackie performed the necessary operation.
We are still at least three bags of bark short for the rose garden, so this afternoon we drove back to
Mole Country Stores and bought them;
after which we took a roundabout route back through the farm lanes where we spotted a group of ponies, three of which masqueraded as sheep. Sway Tower can be seen in the background. Otherwise known as Peterson’s Folly, this landmark has featured in a number of these posts.
Finally, we topped up with compost in the form of ten 35 litre bags from Lidl.
We left those in the car and settled down for a beer (well, one each, actually) in the rose garden. It is quite a sun trap so we were certainly warm enough.
This evening we dined on tender fillet steak lost under lashings of fried onions. accompanied by mixed vegetables au gratin (left overs in cheese sauce), crisp carrots, Brussels sprouts, and new potatoes. Jackie drank sparkling water and I finished the Memoro.
Your evening meal sounds heavenly. Hubby just put 15 bags of mulch on our front garden, in between doing the ceiling timbers. Always something to keep busy with when you have a house. π
Thanks, Sylvia
Two decades ago we came to the conclusion that we didn’t own the house, it owned us. My husband had a ceremonial burning of the lawnmower and we have lived in apartments ever since π
We haven’t reached that stage yet, and the garden service mows the lawn. π
Thanks, Gwen. Very sensible π
But not as beautiful as your creation.
Every time I see your photos, I smile. I love the colors, the atmosphere, your subjects. Nice posts every time. Be blessed!
Very many thanks, Sofia
I love beautiful gardens. I appreciate how much love and hard work you and Jackie put into yours π Yummy dinner!
Thanks a lot, Robin
I still don’t know when where how Jackie has time to cook…
She really didn’t have today, but she did. Thanks, Bruce
Lovely gardens and such a delicious dinner! π Beautiful post, as always!
Thanks very much, Anna
Yay! I’m happy to hear Jackie saved the owl’s head. I love owls. The two of you make an awesome team, Derrick.
Many thanks, Jill
Good mulching and composting, as well as owl rescue! Those ponies are certainly furry and quite chubby. I wonder where they’ve been?
They were in a farmer’s field, so not roughing it. Thanks, Lisa
Your garden is lovely–and I guess it should be with all the work you do on it. I like the owl.
Thanks, Merril
I’m glad Jackie put her surgeons cap on and saved that owl – it is a particularly fine specimen! The paving looks wonderful – those young fellows did a grand job!
Many thanks, Pauline
I need a Jackie to put my head back on and cook my meals. The pony looks so cute with the sheep. I was amazed to see the sheep’s tails – ours don’t have them, or rather, theirs were lopped off (they say for hygienic reason; God was so sloppy when he gave tails to the animals) so that I’d never seen one.
The “sheep” ARE ponies, they’ve either been permed π or naturally/unnaturally have a curly coat. I’ve never seen such before.
Sheep’s tails are not usually very long, but they DO get dirty, since sheep don’t seem to raise them when they [well, you knowβ¦Β but this is a family show]. They’re usually ‘docked’ early in their lives.
Well Derrick’s never pretended to be a David Attenborough hahaha
Sheep’s poo are not as messy as other animal scats so I guess that’s why they don’t need to raise their tails.
Thanks, Mary
OK I misread Derrick’s sentence. I said I needed to have my head screwed on.
Thanks, Mary. ‘masquerading’
I’m so charmed by the ponies. Are they Shetland ponies? We don’t have anything like that here!
And that Jackie. She is the best Jill-of-all-trades!!!
Many thanks, Luanne. I don’t think they are Shetlands. Must be some other breed. I agree about Jackie π
Dear little pudgy, curly sheep-ponies!
THanks, Yvonne. Only their long tails give them away
Those ponies do look like sheep!
Thanks, Leslie
You both definitely deserve a sit and a beer each.
Thanks, Cynthia G
Your garden looks increasingly better, Derrick π
Thanks, Monica
Your welcome, Derrick π
Love the owl and the ovine ponies. I’ve always wondered how I don’t have the leqal right to have my gutter overhang next door’s drive, yet BT can string unsightly wires over our front garden, (which go to other people’s houses, not mine).
Thanks, John. Same here re BT
I look forward to your daily reports, such a wonderful neighborhood, family and friends you have!
That’s lovely, GP. Thank you
The garden is beautiful Derrick, the photos bring a smile to my face. π
Thanks a lot, Terry
Love that big-eyed owl π Your meals always sound delicious… !
Thanks, Maniparna
I am very happy to heat that you and Jackie took a break in the warm sun to drink a beer each.
I liked the golden morning sun in the garden and your photo which included the photographer.
The masquerading ponies as sheep made me laugh. You have such dry and witty comments, Derrick.
Thank you for such a full response, Robin
tender fillet steak lost under lashings of fried onions – “lost under lashings” – that’s just brilliant.
Many thanks, Jodie
I love the Owl! π
Thanks HeavyCloud