An Ella Day

A lone Red Admiral joined the Small White butterflies fluttering round the garden as Jackie swept paths this morning while I picked up clippings and emptied trugs.

Nugget sang a song of greeting, paused in a shrub, and approached Jackie, enquiring what was for lunch.

We didn’t offer him any of what we shared with Matthew, Poppy, Becky, Elizabeth, Danni, Andy, and Ella who all came to our lunch consisting of Jackie’s usual array of cold meats, pies, cheeses, salads, cake, and cheesecake.

The afternoon began in the sitting room where

Becky entertained Ella with pictures of her parents;

Matthew got down to the infant’s level;

Danni gently changed her nappy;

Jackie cuddled and played with her great niece,

to the amusement of her grandmother.

We decanted onto the patio where Ella continued playing with Jackie,

and Andy joined in the conversation.

The song of a robin announced Nugget’s desire to contribute, which he soon did.

“Where’s Nugget?” (17).

Becky, Mat, and Poppy left early in the evening, after which the rest of us dined on Jackie’s soothing cottage pie; piquant cauliflower cheese; firm carrots; and tender cabbage and runner beans with which I finished the Garnacha Syrah, Elizabeth and Danni drank Batturica Gran Reserva 2012, and Andy drank Diet Coke.

88 comments

  1. My goodness, you guys get lots of family coming by! Ella is still a wee babe and you have seen her so many times. It’s wonderful.

    It took me a long time, but I think I found Nugget. I won’t say where since I am at the beginning of this. Don’t want to spoil the fun.

  2. These are such beautiful family photos, Derrick. “Nappy!” I love that. šŸ™‚ In the second shot, little Nugget looks as though he’s not interested in being photographed. He’s so sweet!

  3. Ella’s ever so much easier to find than Nugget, but they’re both sweet as can be. I think I found Nugget, but I’ll keep it to myself, so as not to spoil the fun for others. Your menus certainly do sound good!

  4. What a lovely family day – the garden is looking as lovely as ever and I found Nugget, though next time I will look for him before reading the comments!

  5. OK. Babies are cute. I’ll give you that. Nugget is brilliant. Yep, I’ll give you Nugget.
    But the butterfly! The butterfly wins. Lay down misere.

  6. No Poppy picture??

    It’s wonderful that you got to spend quality family time together and it was good to see Jackie was rewarded for all her hard work in the kitchen playing with Ella. šŸ™‚

    Lovely photos again but my favourite was the 3rd pic starring Nugget – an absolute gem of a photo!

    I found nugget There…and there… and there… and there….and… šŸ˜‰

  7. Excellent pictures.
    Amazing, that you manged to get such good pictures of a robin. They have the tendency to fly away when I come around with my camera. šŸ™‚

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