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We didn’t much feel like taking the Christmas decorations down last night, so left it at unplugging the lights. When you consider that the Head Decorator is also the Head Gardener, you will realise how daunting is this task.
Imagine our delight then, on coming down this morning, to find that leprechauns had been in and completed the job. Leprechauns in the forms of Becky and Ian, of course.
The pastel pink winter flowering cherry in the front garden now blends with the brightly coloured crab apples, which have not yet been finished off by the blackbirds, thrushes, and tits that still feast on them.
Becky has, in recent weeks, taught herself to knit on line – using what Matthew has termed the Interknit. She has, without the aid of patterns, produced a set of sample shoes for Poppy,
who took great delight on trying them on soon after she arrived with Mat this morning.
Poppy enjoys playing with the mice which have periodically featured on posts. She makes a beeline for them when she arrives. She is also fascinated by the chimes of the grandfather clock and the other striker in the kitchen.
It therefore seemed appropriate for four of the mice to run up the clock.
Matthew and Poppy had to leave soon after 4 p.m., so were unable to share the classic roast pork meal that Jackie served up, thus demonstrating a remarkable improvement in her health. She and Becky finished the Barcelino, and I began a very special médoc, Baron des Tours, given to me by Helen and Bill for Christmas.
Charming post, Derrick. It reminds me of the rewrite of the old nursery rhyme:
Hickory Dickory Dock,
Two mice ran up the clock.
The clock struck one
And the other escaped with minor injuries.
I’d not heard that one, Ann. Excellent. Thanks
You are most welcome, Derrick.
Interknit is so clever! And so is Becky, teaching herself to knit. The little slippers are adorable.
The flower photos are lovely.
Many thanks, Merril. Mat is a man you trade puns with at your peril.
My husband loves puns. 🙂
The Interknit … love it! 😀
Many thanks, Widdershins
My wife says Poppy’s shoes are adorable. She (my wife) has also taught herself to knit using the Interknit, and transformed what used to be my workroom into The YarnBarn.
Thanks a lot Oglach. If you write your stories in there, the name is doubly appropriate 🙂
You had Dijon with pork? !! Shame!!
Could’ve done with those Leprechauns at my place. It took all day!
Thanks, Bruce. The Dijon didn’t do much. It must have taken our leprechauns all night
That title has possibly renamed the great www forever! Glad to hear all is well, or at the very least on the mend. (I’m counting on Becky to remain in good health) She also gets many, many points for not only teaching herself how to knit, but also for designing, completing and having those very cute slipper shoes fit! It’s quite impressive really.
Thanks a lot, Pauline. We did speak about your creativity, actually.
Becky won’t be in much shape, health-wise, if she stays up all night in a house occupied by two patients spouting unhealthy bacteria!! I sympathize with the length of time it takes to remove decorations: ours are still yet to be stowed away, even though they’re down.
Ours are still stacked in the library, Paul
Wow talent runs deeps in your family. What amazing slippers. And beautiful photos.and a fabulous meal. I’ve had two attempts at cooking perfect roast pork recently. By the third attempt I think I will have nailed it. Then I won’t do it again for ages, by which time I’ll have forgotten the technique. Jackie just seems to turn out amazing meals consistently.it seems as if you are both on the mend, but don’t overdo it! Hooray for Becky – and Ian too.
Very many thanks, Gwen. Would nailing the pork stop it slipping off the plate?
hahaha. We used to have one of those metal dishes with spikes in it that was supposed assist hold meat while it was carved. Never worked well as I recall.
I wish your leprechauns would come work their magic at my home.
Thanks very much, Leslie. For a price…….
Leprechauns come at a price, eh?
Ours have to use airlines 🙂
So much for magic! ?
🙂
My Derek was drooling over your dinner table. 🙂 Oh, Poppy…sigh…she always warms my heart.
Many thanks, Jill
Interknit…why not ? And your gardens…lovely even in winter. ❤️ ? ?
Many thanks, Van
Wait. What? You have trees that flower in January? We have snow that grows in January. And grows, and grows, and grows.
Many thanks, Susanne. We rarely get snow in this part of UK
Love it all! The mice on the clock, the bunny slippers, the interknit haha!
Thanks a lot, Luanne
Yes – agreed!
The gravy and potatoes look delicious.
Many thanks, Pleasant
The table looks very special, to compliment the lovely roast pork Jackie served up. (It doesn’t seem right to say she ‘made’ it, that sounds like she got out the hammer and nails for the job.)
Thanks very much, Yvonne. A saw might have been useful to cut the crackling 🙂
Taking the decorations down with us tends to be a case of whose nerve cracks first!
I’ll bet 🙂 Thanks, John
Marvellous- the Interknit! Just my cup of tea. Well done Matt.
Thanks a lot, Jenny
The Interknit – a shared global blanket of mutual support & warm friendship. 🙂
Such a good one. Thanks, Joseph
Excellent!
Poppy’s shoes – I would like to have a pair of those at this moment – the temperature is cold and my feel are colder. Wonderful post Derrick – thank you for sharing. 🙂
I love the moon phases (faces) on that clock.
Thanks, Brenda. So do we – painted almost 200 years ago
Great post, Derrick! Those Poppy slippers are amazing! Bravo to Becky – and so kind of her and Ian to help with the decorations.
Many thanks, Jodie.
Delightful post, from the cherry blossom to the gorgeous meal. I especially love the pink boots.
Many thanks, Inese
Poppy is adorable and I do love her shoes! I had to laugh at the mice running up the clock – perfect! Your dinner reminds me of our Sunday dinners growing up. My Mom’s British heritage gave us a roast dinner (pork or beef) every week with all the trimmings. Loved the outdoor shots as well!
Very many thanks, Lydia. Me, too, re Mum’s Sunday dinners
I now know where the cookery terms ‘frosting’ and ‘icing’ came from. Beautiful. I love learning online and I love leprechauns (if only they would visit me).
Many thanks, Mary
Love the garden shots and the adorable knitted shoes 🙂
Many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
What a delightful post! Becky is a really nice person, your having said she played nursemaid in the past illness. Now, she made adorable slippers. Poppy is so sweet, with mice and slippers, what a charming collection of photos, Derrick.
Jackie knows how to set a lovely and appetizing meal! Sounds and looks so yummy! 🙂 Hope everyone has a great upcoming week!
Very many thanks, Robin. You. too
You’re welcome, Derrick. Your photos of the two trees, cherry and crabapple, looked like ice crystal flowers contrasting with the red. Simply beautiful and like a fairy tale setting.
Thank you for the kind wish for my own week!
Great shoes! And always nice to see photos of dinner.
Many thanks, LL/PS
Jackie is so talented! The photos are so pretty
Many thanks, Lynn