It was a shame that we were only due sunshine and lack of rain this morning, because I needed to be at home for the Openreach engineer engaged by BT. I won’t dwell on this, but, although the man turned up on time the problem is not resolved. It didn’t help that he hadn’t been told what Friday’s engineer had done and that he had been sent for an installation rather than a repair. Another technician is to attend tomorrow.
I did manage to wander round the garden before heavy rain set in for the afternoon.
We have numerous hellebores;
a prolific variety of camellias;
iris reticulatas;
and snowdrops coming into bloom throughout.
One of the occupants of the Dragon Bed cradles her egg;
another has recovered well after Aaron’s spinal surgery.
After lunch, with raindrops splattering on the roof of the car and slaloming down the windscreen, we took a drive into the forest.
The watery Black Lane, in the murk, lived up to its name.
Many of our roads are now irrigated by overflowing ditches and waterlogged fields.
Braggers Lane, with its
rippling reflective bubbling pools stretching alongside, is a good example.
Despite the banked verges, the fields are very generous with their excess water.
Woodland is a little meaner.
A group of horses, some wearing waterproof rugs, simply tolerated the downfall.
Further along, on Thatchers Lane, fallen. lichen-coated branches, recently at home on dry land, are reflected in their own pools. Drinks cans now bob beside them.
Long haired goats foraged in the grass alongside Fish Street. One inquisitive creature raised its head briefly before getting on with its late lunch.
Sheep sheltering on London Lane wondered why I was standing there getting wet.
At Avon thatchers seemed to have called it a day. It seemed a good idea, so we set off for home.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s nicely matured sausage casserole; crisp roast potatoes; firm Brussels sprouts; and tricolour carrots with which I finished the Malbec.
Love the iris picture. They are one of my favorite flowers.
Thank you very much, Mrs W. I’m pleased.
Your welcome.
The colors of the flowers are a nice contrast against the dark background, and the rippling pools are stunning. The sun finally came out here. I hope it’s headed your way.
Good luck with your repair problems.
Thanks very much, Merril.
I especially like the raindrop pictures. No rain here today so got lots of gardening chores complete and filled the bin before garden waste collections resume on Friday.
Have you heard anything from John?
Got e-mail today. He’s had phone and internet probs. Arriving Southampton 15.40 Wednesday. Thanks very much, Andrew.
Thank you very much, Rahim
Snowdrops !! ah, you’ve made my day Derrick…
Thanks very much, Ivor. I expect there will be more 🙂
The flowers are gorgeous, Derrick. We hit 72 degrees today, but more rain is in the forecast. We can’t seem to dry out this winter.
Same forecast here, Jill. Thanks very much
The flowers are looking gorgeous as usual! 🙂
It’s dank and drear here today as well. Hard to believe we are in the height of summer. Though further south and west are in much worse shape so I mustn’t complain. And now I’m wondering what Aaron did to that poor dragon…. is he responsible for the obvious repair mark halfway down her back? Or did he in fact save her life? I think Aaron is quite heroic, so I’m going for the latter choice.
The latter it is, Pauline. It’s hard to imagine anything further south than you – I hope the weather improves, soon. Thanks very much.
At least you have some lovely flowers to cheer you up as you contemplate the business model of the telephone company. I would like to be a fly on the wall at a board meeting. Do they set out to annoy their customers or is it just a happy accident?
BT have turned it into an art form, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
I am sorry the telephone problem was not fixed today. Seems it should have been a simple one. Too bad the last fellow wasn’t allowed to leave the fix in place.
Your winter garden flowers are such a bright spot on a wet, grey day, especially those camellias! The dragon bed has quite a bit of character to it, and Aaron seems to be a man of unending talents, including dragon spinal surgery. 🙂
The forest rain pools have become quite extensive. I am glad you were able to get out and take some photos. We woke up to a fine layer of snow here, which has since melted under beautiful, partly cloudy skies. Unfortunately, I took ill this weekend and have not been able to enjoy any of it. Window viewing and other people’s blog posts will have to do for now.
Thank you very much, Lavinia. I am so sorry you are ill, and hope you recover soon.
Your February and my February look very different. I just put out some paw friendly de-icer on the sidewalk. 😀 Great sequence.
Thanks very much, Joseph. We had a little snow in March a couple of years ago.
That iris! Oh my goodness, what a beauty!
Thank you very much, Leslie
Such pretty blooms to brighten the day. (I did enjoy my camellias when I lived in Virginia.)
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick!
I love the photo of the thatching project. That’s so unusual, from my perspective. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a thatched roof here, even as a bit of (ahem) cultural appropriation from the British Isles. We have some thatched roofs, but they’re done with palm leaves, and aren’t always well enough done to last more than two or three seasons before wind and rain do them in.
Thanks very much, Linda. With periodic top-ups some of ours last 4/500 years.
My favourite.❤️
Thanks very much, Laleh.
My pleasure.
What floral bounty you have–you seem not to have had winter. I do love speckled flowers. They look like one should come upon them in the woods.
Thank you very much, Lisa. We certainly haven’t had much of one – yet.
Dragons! I didn’t know you had dragons! Maybe I’ll get some for my wild garden. They’ll go nicely with the skinks who will hopefully return when it warms. I like the sheep and goats, too.
Thanks very much, JoAnna 🙂
I have a whole bed dedicated to them , my granddaughter loved them when she was a child, and I am fond of them too.
🙂 I collect rabbits, so thinking about why I’m suddenly drawn to dragons. Maybe it’s the power and mystery. Dragons are exciting. My granddaughter is 8. I bet she’d love them!
The flowers are gorgeous, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Chasingbeans
What gorgeous camelias!
Thanks very much, Sheree. So early, too.
Well Derrick as you know I have no idea when camelias are supposed to bloom!
🙂
Such awful wet weather, but the reflective pools are pretty. The gales up here during the last couple of days are quite scary.
Such a shame about BT.
As usual your supper sounded delicious.
Thank you very much, Sue. I hope your gales settle down.
Just back from an 8:00 AM appointment, and I think slightly less windy than yesterday.
“Hellebores”? You could guarantee a few of those at staff meetings and training days.
HA! Your comment made me snort-laugh! 😀
Yes, I’ve been in some business meeting and staff meetings with such peoples. 🙂
Puddles, bubbles, rain, reflections, horses, goats, sheep, flowers! All beautiful!
But, I must say…love the dragons! So cool! What wonderful additions to the garden!
AND…the iris! 🙂 I know I’ve told you this before, but my Dad planted many flowers and plants and trees and veggies…but his irises were my favs…especially the purple and yellow ones! Stunning photo!
(((HUGS)))
PS…hope the problem gets resolved soon.
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Phone now sorted. X
Snowdrops! Spring is coming 😉🌸 So beautiful!
Thanks very much, Ribana
Water, water everywhere! But what beautiful flowers. Very glad the spinal surgery was a success.
Thanks very much, Laurie
The ditches are certainly brimming over aren’t they! I loved the falling raindrop images and the camellias bejewelling your garden.
Thank you very much, Peggy
Such blooms! We have very few roses inn our current area but they will show up elsewhere (a few do stick around all winter. I don’t see iris here until April at earliest.
Thank you very much, Cynthia
Beautiful captures, Derrick!
Thank you very much, Julie
Thank you very much, Joseph