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On a dull day with intermittent light rain Jackie drove Elizabeth and me over to Mum’s to carry out a few tasks.
The major object of the trip was the rescue of a wayward wisteria, flattened, and stretching across the grass. Jackie provided the expertise
and a metal stake with which to reinforce the old rotted wooden one snapped at the base.
She took a heavy mallet to the new stake in order to hammer it into the still rock hard ground.
I lent a hand or two.
Elizabeth offered support, guidance, and assistance in positioning the plant.
Mum offered directions from the sitting room window,
and Jackie pruned to the level her mother-in-law required and wired the old post to the new one.
My wife and sister then went shopping while I cut up all the pruned branches and fed them to a green garden rescue sack. When they returned we enjoyed a lunch of salad, ham, cheeses, bread, quiche and strawberries, all fresh from Sainsbury’s.
Elizabeth then mowed the lawn and she and Jackie carried out more tidying and weeding while I kept my mother company.
After this we returned some inappropriate equipment to a local health centre, and made our leisurely way home.
This evening the three of us dined on Jackie’s succulent roast lamb; roast sweet and normal potatoes; Yorkshire pudding, cabbage, our own runner beans, and carrots. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and, Elizabeth and I, more of the Merlot.
My favorite shots are the third one of Jackie…she’s glowing! And the shot of your sweet mother peeking out the window…adorable!
Jackie has the best smile!
She does, indeed. Knocked me out more than half a century ago.
Oh, I hope she saw that. xoxoxo to the both of you. So sweet.
She did – and much appreciated
I agree Jill
Me, too!
Thank you all
🙂
Very many thanks, Jill. Mum has only peripheral vision in one eye and none in the other – so what she does see is amazing
Mmmm – now I’m wondering what the ‘inappropriate equipment’ might be. Do you know Derrick I have never seen a photo of where your vegetables are grown, is this a secret part of your garden? How is the knee today?
Don’t mention the inappropriate equipment, Gwen – far too large. Tomatoes are secreted in pots among the flowers, and tomatoes grown up the arches alongside roses and clematis. Knee was bad last night, but better this morning. Always the case after a work-out. Thanks very much for asking, and for your comments.
Love the sequence of your mum and Jackie interacting through the window. Wonderful. AND – like Pauline- I am wondering about the inappropriate equipment. lol
Not to be mentioned, Jodie. Almost everything gets ordered on the phone, no OT visit, no measurements, etc. Sometimes the authorities won’t even collect stuff – such a waste. Thanks very much
Uh, I get you. I have been dealing with some similar online issues. Things that used to take 5 minutes in person now have to be done online in a series of excruciating online escapades that take weeks.
Yes. And when you are 96 you can’t manage it
How wonderful that the 3 of you were able to help your precious Mum! 🙂
You have some beautiful, wonderful women in your life, Derrick! 🙂
The lunch you and the gals shared sounds delicious!
HUGS!!! for all of you! 🙂
PS…”Where nature blooms…so does hope.” 🙂
Wow, a busy day and then an amazing menu.
Thanks very much, Peggy
I love it Derrick, Jackie to the rescue with the heavy hammer, …..Great work by all…..
Thanks very much, Ivor
I love the shots of Jackie wrestling the wisteria, propping and trimming it. And the one of your mother — she looks quite amused–is priceless. It sounds like a good, fulfilling day!
It was indeed, Lisa. Thanks very much
All of you worked hard and your Mom seemed delighted to see the outcome. Is wisteria invasive?
Thanks very much, Arlene. It does spread but needs to be trained, usually on an arbour – a prolific climber. One on a stake needs to be kept pruned.
What an adventure
Thank you very much, Yvette
So glad you could go help out your mum! My two grandsons used to do that for me until my daughter and family moved to Colorado. But I think I have finally found some one for hire to help get my beds back into shape. And so hopefully I will at least be able to look out and enjoy some order in summer’s rampage chaos brought on by the blistering heat. Then when fall descends upon us and we get a smattering of new blooms and beauty it will be a joy to look at once again. Supper sounded splendid as usual. Have a grand weekend my friend. Love, N 🙂 <3
Thank you very much, Natalie. I wish you every success with your new help. X
Thanks so much dear sweet Derrick❤️❤️❤️xoxoxo
I would invite myself over for dinner if it weren’t really rude.
It would be an honour 🙂 Thanks very much, Cindy
Derrick, Nice that you all helped out your Mom. I’m sure she appreciated your help and visit.
Derrick, Nice that you all helped out your Mom. I’m sure she appreciated your help and visit.
Thanks very much, Gary
“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.” – Luther Burbank
Every day I am waiting to read your stories and my heart is so full of love and peace!!!
God bless your family Derrick!!
Send to all of you my love!!!!!!!!!
That’s lovely, Efi. Thanks very much
Nice that you helped your Mum. I liked helping my mum. She is in a home now in Sydney AU.
The roast dinner sounds yummy. Been a while since I’ve had it.
Thanks very much, Sherry. Your Mum is a very long way away
Hard work, family and robust meals – you’ve got the life, Derrick.
Many thanks, GP
It’s wonderful that all of you could come and help your mother–and I’m sure she enjoyed the visit, too. I agree with Jill and Jodie about the photos and Jackie’s smile.
Many thanks, Merril
: )
Jackie does indeed have a radiant smile. And speaking of smiles…this post sure made me smile.
🙂 Thanks very much, Laurie
What lovely peek at a day in your life and photos of those you love. It’s days like these that are the best of life. I love best the photo of your Mum looking out the window.
Thanks very much, Timeless
That is a dexterous rescue team in action. I must say your mum would have loved watching the mission launched by the veterans lambs.
Very many thanks, Uma
I’ve been a bit AWOL, Derrick – but I see you’re back on the Merlot. Could do with Jackie training our wisteria, which shoots out tendrils without warning and invades the first floor like something from a Grimm’s tale. It hardly ever flowers, but then the clots that had the house before us planted on a north wall, as if being north wasn’t already sufficient disadvantage. Still, it’s useful to hang the Christmas lights on…
We inherited planting like that – including a fir in the gravel at the front of the house, on which we hung our Christmas lights. Great minds. Many thanks, Mike
Wisteria is beautiful, but it is a mystery to me. The same applies to Jackie. 🙂
And now I have your attention, Mrs Knight, are you able to comment on Derrick’s “inappropriate equipment”?
Jackie laughs – it is not to be mentioned 🙂 Thanks very much, Quercus
🙂
Every job needs a supervisor!
🙂 Nice one, Andrew
Looks like you had a whole crew of workers! Jacki is sure an expert x
She is, indeed – especially with Mum’s direction 🙂 Thanks very much, Lynn
So nice derrick!
Fantastic family.
Thanks very much, Rupali
I bet the Mum and the wisteria were pleased as punch with the new arrangement! 😀 … well hammered. 🙂
Thanks very much, Widders 🙂
Your mother is fortunate to have you and Jackie living nearby. It was good of you to take care of that wayward wisteria for her. 🙂
Thanks very much, Lavinia
These are lovely photographs, Derrick.
Loved this post 🙂
Thanks very much, Lakshmi