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On another overcast morning Jackie and I tidied up the garden with secateurs and broom while Aaron and Sean completed the building of the log shelter. Later, Jackie did some more planting and pruning as I carted clippings and branches to the compost and dump bags.
This afternoon I returned to the scanning of the negatives of the 1985 holiday in Instow.
A fine fossilised scarecrow in a field was revealed as a gnarled stump crossed by barbed wire.
Bees congregated on kniphofia.
A roofer was hard at work in the August heat. This seemed to me to be some traditional method merging slate with other materials. Were they being refurbished or replaced altogether, like those next door? I would be happy to learn from anyone with knowledge of this.
Our holiday home was a short walk from these houses. Here, Jessica sits with Louisa on the wall featured yesterday, introducing her to the wonders of nature. Tall irises stand proud while yellow roses ramble along the stones.
Sam took his turn, too.
For dinner this evening, Jackie produced lemon chicken with chilli and garlic; swede and potato mash; broccoli; and sautéed leeks, peppers, mushrooms and courgettes. This was followed by rhubarb pastries and ice cream. The Culinary Queen drank a blend of Bavaria and Hoegaarden, and I drank Foremost Hawke’s Bay syrah 2015.
Such sweet pictures. Your description of dinner made my mouth water.
Many thanks, Laurie
Mine too. 🙂
Mine too, those rhubarb pastries sound delicious
Thank you, JUNE
🙂
The photos of Jessica with her children are beautiful!
Many thanks, Pauline
They’re really beautiful this batch. There’s something so special about the quality of the light in these pictures
Very many thanks, Geetha. It was the light I was aiming for
Most welcome. You succeeded 🙂
The narrative in those pictures painted a thousand words.
Many thanks, Mary
What a special gift you’ve given Jessica with your beautiful photos. I love the kniphofia shot too, Derrick.
Thank you, Jill. Unfortunately Jessica died in 2007. Louisa and Sam have copies of all the photos, each in their own album. You may find this post holds useful clarification: https://derrickjknight.com/2014/01/05/my-branch-of-the-family-tree/
I shared this with my Facebook readers in hopes some might become your followers. We need more Derricks in this world.
Very many thanks, Leslie. I did get a spike in my stats
Oh good!
I used to have a recurrent dream where the ceiling of my childhood home was falling in (any readers care to interpret that). Anyway, in that roofing photo I can’t even see a ceiling under the rafters. I suppose it’s because most English houses have an attic, whereas Australian one’s usually do not. But also no sarking or other insulation. Is it usual just to lay the slate or tiles directly on to the roofing beams? The flower photos have just clarity I thought they were with your new camera. And the family shots are just so sweet. Especially Sam coming in for a cuddle.
Very many thanks, Gwen. I wish I’d asked the roofer about all that. Those pictures were probably taken with an Olympus OM2 film camera with a long lens
No doubt one of your readers will pop on with the answer.
Sam coming in for a cuddle brought tears to my eyes. Very sweet photos on the wall. The roof is a mystery. I echo, Gwendoline in noticing the lack of anything under the slates. It looks a bit scary–for those above and those below!
Very many thanks, Lisa
Without knowing how old the original roof/house was, it’s quite possible that, back in 1985, i was unlagged. There must have been many properties with no roof insulation. If the loft/attic wasn’t used for storage, any insulation may have been effectively ceiling-insulation for the storey below (easier to install: you just lay it down on the attic floor), and the detritus of broken slates prevents seeing into the space down to floor-level.
Now that is very interesting. It was an alarming looking roof replacement.
Thanks, Paul
Beautiful photos.
Thanks very much, Ann
Wonderful photos, Derrick. The stump in the top photo really does look like some sort of figure. The series of photos with Jessica and Louisa (and Sam) are lovely.
Many thanks, Merril
Really amazing photos as always
Thank you so much, Lynn
most welcome
All the photos are interesting, but I think the ones toward the end with Jessica, Louisa and Sam are particularly sweet.
Many thanks, Bun
Such joy to remember and then put it into words…
Thank you, Pins & ashes. It is
I know was musing over some memories this morning. Wonderful it is.
Glad to see those happy bees!
Thanks, John
Wonderful photos 🙂
Many thanks AGE
Amazing photographs!
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Wonderful photos.
Many thanks, LL/PS
The fossilised scarecrow is really scary. I don’t want to see it at night :))
I love the photos with Jessica and Louisa. Beautiful memories, Derrick <3
Many thanks, Monica
You’re welcome, Derrick 🙂
Love that gnarled stump image, derrick. The roofer looks to really have his work cut out, especially in the heat of the day. Hope he has some sunscreen on his back. Lovely family photos again.
Thanks very much, Sylvia
Jessica on the wall looks enchanting and such a precious memory of Louisa and Sam with her. The best part of pictures is how it can refresh and help memories last forever.
On your next post, I loved all the diversity in chairs and their placement.i liked the dark blue and the elaborate metal one with loops.
Hope that you are having a wonderful week, Derrick. 🙂
Very many thanks, Robin
Stunning photos, Derrick. Wouldn’t mind popping round for dinner either!
xx Rowena
Thanks, Rowena. you’d be welcome
Beautiful puctures 🙂
Thank you Ana
My friends call me by this name 🙂 ,nice to hear from you
I enjoyed these photos. The textures comfort me.
Thanks very much JoAnna. I’m pleased
If I came across that scarecrow while walking down some street here in a foggy night or morning in October, people would see Ginene Nagel running down the street in the opposite direction.
Now that would be a sight to behold, Ginene. 🙂 Many thanks