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A.P. Maintenance, in the form of Aaron and Robin, this morning, almost finished the fence they have built between our garden and that of North Breeze.
On the way through to the gate to the back drive, I enjoyed the early morning sunlight blazing through this hanging basket,
and managed to spot a well-camouflaged dunnock before it took off from the back of a chair.
I took a trip with Aaron to Mole Country supplies to buy more timber. We always have a convivial chat on these occasions, and I am transported in time to my father’s removal van, which contained such familiar clutter and carried the similar evocative odour of petrol and tobacco.
Jackie made a great sacrifice until this afternoon. She refrained from delivering death to a cluster of rose sawfly larvae until I had managed to capture a reasonable shot of these squirming creatures busily engaged in reducing the leaves of Crême de la crême to projecting spikes.
Entering The Rose Garden I reflected that it bears just one example of Jackie’s signage.
Just as the sun was setting this evening, Mat, Tess, and Poppy arrived for an overnight stay en route to Cornwall.
Tess lost no time in introducing her daughter to the garden.
Jackie then fed us on gammon steak, mashed potato and swede, sweet potato, roasted vegetables, carrots, runner beans, and piquant cauliflower cheese. Needless to say, this was all cooked perfection. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and Tess and I finished the merlot.
That’s the dinner I would like when I visit, please 🙂
I love the image of Poppy looking directly at her poppy, with a hint of a smile 🙂
Many thanks, Mary. You’re on 🙂
Another series of lovely photographs. I am impressed by the shot of the larvae though I must say I am not particularly fond of the creatures in real life.
Many thanks, Geetha 🙂
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Poppy looks delighted with the garden. What a sweetheart she is, Derrick. Great shot of the squirming creatures!
Many thanks, Jill. I needed loads of attempts at that shot
What, pray tell, is gammon steak?
Gammon (from French: jambon) is a leg-cut of ham/cured pork, cooked and served in relatively thin (half-a cm) slices. Our favourite is with a pineapple ring accoutrement (if cooked with this on top of the meat, the fruit juice runs out and creates a sticky glaze, what might be known as a “jus” in trendy cooking terms. Does the Head Cook agree with this?)
Sounds delicious!
“Steak” sounds more substantial than this, and it may be that some diners prefer a much thicker slice than we do. I can’t recall ever being served one thick enough to warrant the label “steak”.
I am informed by the Culinary Queen that it was baked ham
That ham ‘steak’ and pineapple sounds just like something my Mother used to cook for dinner as a treat some 50 years ago. The sweet sticky juice was just wonderful.
Many thanks, Vicki
Thank you both. As you will see, The Culinary Queen says we were eating baked ham (no pineapple on this occasion)
Thanks, Leslie. Paul has answered this, but Jackie tells me we were eating baked ham anyway 🙂
Ha!!!
Lovely photos!
Thank you, Lynn
But what did Matt drink? That Jackie is a saint, waiting for you to photograph those rogues – look how quickly they devour a stem of leaves! Love the thrush photo <3
Many thanks, Pauline. Mat drank water 🙂
I particularly loved the ‘bokeh’ behind the hanging basket. It has come up beautifully. All the pictures are amazing…and, the food sounds perfect!
Thank you very much, Maniparna. You have increased my vocabulary 🙂
Unless Aaron is on a different version of tobacco from his partner’s (Robin?), I doubt it was Pure Virginia you were reminded of… !
Well spotted, Paul. Actually Dad’s were Woodbines 🙂
“… managed to spot a well-camouflaged thrush… ” so well camouflaged, it’s a dunnock/hedge-sparrow (grey head distinctive).
Thanks, Paul. I knew you and/or John Knifton would put me right if necessary. You both did 🙂
I’ve never before encountered cauli cheese served as a “side” dish to a main. I’d always eaten/cooked it as a main in itself. Interesting idea, but tricky to time with all the other cooking going on.
True, Paul. It usually goes with Jackie’s fish meals. Thanks
I love the entrance to your rose garden… I wish I could walk there, but it’s lovely to be able to have these virtual wanders.
Thanks very much, Val
Agreed, Val – it’s so enticing!
Thanks very much, Jodie
Like Val above, I wish I could go for a walk in your garden too. It must feel like magic walking through when the flowers are all at their best and the air is filled with the various aromatic essences.
Many thanks, Vicki
Isn’t it amazing how a scent can transport you to a particular place? Poppy has changed tremendously since the last pictures. She’s looking bright eyed and sweet.
Many thanks, Lisa. She certainly has
I like the way you photograph the details rather than taking snapshots of views. The photos of Poppy are lovely.
Many thanks, Suzanne
such beautiful pictures.. Loved them all and the detail they captured!
Many thanks, Zigyas
Pleasure Derrick!
I wish we could know exactly what babies were thinking. They sometimes have such profound expressions. By the way, the bird is a Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow. A thrush is quite a bit bigger with a pale underside.
Many thanks, John. I knew either you or Paul Clarke would put me right if it wasn’t a thrush
I’ve been struggling to identify a grasshopper from a photo all weekend so I sympathise with your ID problems.
Sawfly larvae ate our gooseberry bushes again this year, but it was a good photo despite the associations.
😉
Thanks, Quercus. Sorry about your goosegogs
There are worse things than feeding wildlife, I suppose…
Darling, darling child!
Many thanks, Laurie. She is very sweet natured
Simply adorable!
Oh, yes, Laurie! I thought Derrick’s garden photos were his specialty – but these photos of Poppy and her loved ones are just stunning.
Very many thanks, Jodie
She’s utterly adorable.
Thank you both
I was reminded of The secret garden 🙂 beautiful.
Many thanks, Lakshmi
What a delightful feast and wonderful guests, Derrick and Jackie! The basket with sunlight shining through it was my favourite shot! Lovely rose garden photo, you two are somehow keeping up with the neverending battle of weeds and deadheads. 🙂
Very many thanks, Robin
A pleasurable read Derrick, now to google gammon steak.
Thanks very much, Ian