Jackie produced a few photographs of dawn this morning.
Although the skies would darken with rain squalls and the windspeed increase at intervals after lunch the morning was brighter and the speed 45 m.p.h.
I toured the garden investigating what turned out to be very little damage.
The patio planters in front of the French windows were unscathed;
a few pots, like this one on the Kitchen Path,
and this beneath the clematis Cirrhosa Freckles, had toppled;
a few slender branches had been ripped from the copper beech and the weeping birch;
the already disintegrating rose arch had lost a piece of its top;
the back drive gate had shed some of its screen;
empty compost bags had been blown about a bit;
but many areas, such as the Shady Path were unscathed.
Nugget’s Wisteria Arbour was intact. “Where’s Nugget?” (67)
This afternoon the weather alternated between dark sleet showers and bursts of sunshine during which
darting blue tits took what opportunities they could to grab a peck
between those squabbling sparrow trapeze artists swinging on the swaying feeders
from which they spilled more than they consumed.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata plentifully packed with peppers, mushrooms, onions and garlic. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Did Mrs. Owl lose her head? The birds don’t seem to mind the weather.
No owls were harmed 🙂 The one that looks like a head was made like that, Rosaliene. The rain wasn’t that consistently heavy – that would have kept them inside. Thanks very much.
Good to know 🙂
Whoa, from the stories we’ve been hearing on the news – I expected the garden to gone!!!
That is further north, fortunately for us, GP. Thanks very much.
Fantastic photos of dawn being born out of gloomy morning.
Mr Nugget is having a snack – or is it a meal? – in the very center of the photo.
He is. Well spotted, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
With the wisteria bare leaved little Nugget is exposed – it will be a different story in summer I expect. I’m glad to hear you got off lightly this time. Danella is convinced the sparrows scatter seed to the ground from her feeders deliberately. Lots of other sparrows fly in, directly to the garden beneath the feeders, and eat their fill from there. This of course really entertains her cat who sits in his window gnashing his teeth at them. It’s a win-win really 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline. Is Danella fully recovered now?
Yes she is Derrick. She lives with a couple of metal plates in her leg which she can feel, but is fully mobile and active again. Thanks for asking xo
🙂 XX
Glad you survived the storm with only minimal disruption! It was rough here too – and snow flurries today ❄️
Thank you very much, Tiny.
Fortune favours the brave Derrick…. you have a brave and strong garden….!!
Thank you very much, Ivor
Looks like Nugget is prepping to do some window-peeping! 😉 HA! 😀
I stopped by earlier today than I normally do because I wanted to check in and see if you all (and the birdies and the garden) were safe and well after the storm. So glad things were not worse!
Always wonderful to welcome the dawn after a stormy night! Jackie, your photos of the dawn are so beautiful and are smile-bringers! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…”Remember to play after every storm.” – Matthew “Mattie” Stepanek
Thank you very much, Carolyn. X
Very glad there wasn’t much damage. Phew! Found Nugget after a bit of looking.
Well spotted, Laurie. We are very lucky. Others in the same county had much worse. Thank you very much.
Oh, goodness! Glad your area was spared.
Thankfully just a glancing blow. If only that would be the only storm of the year.
More to come at the weekend, we are told. Thanks a lot, Gary.
So glad you weathered the storm.
Another strong windy day for us but the rain lessened as the day wore on.
End of the day again and I sit in bed listening once more to the high winds. Unfortunately, we are due more Heavy rain overnight and tomorrow and with more flood warnings in place. Bring on the sunshine!
I hope there were no more leaks, Sue. Thank you very much.
Just from my balcony doors. I’ve lost track of the times they’ve been ‘fixed’ ! Thank you.
I’m glad to hear you emerged relatively unscathed from the storm. Jackie’s dawn photos are lovely.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick!
Beautiful dawn photos, Jackie. I’m so glad there wasn’t too much damage done to your garden.
Thank you very much from us both, Sylvia
What a sky – gorgeous photos! I’m glad there wasn’t much more damage to contend with!
Thank you very much, M.B.
I’m happy to see you didn’t get much storm damage, and that Nugget, too, is fine, as are the other birds, including the “squabbling sparrow trapeze artists swinging on the swaying feeders.” I won’t try to say that real fast. 😉
It’s “trapeze artists” that would set you stumbling. Merril. Thank you very much.
🙂
You had more trouble than we did but in general we both got off lightly.
A friend in the aptly named Waterlooville, not that far away in Hampshire, had her garden wrecked. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal.
You were lucky then…or better sheltered.
Jackie’s photos are gorgeous. I’m glad to hear your damage wasn’t too bad.
Thank you very much, Jill.
I’m glad your damage was relatively slight, and it was good to find Nugget safe and sound. Perhaps your weather can calm a bit, now. I’d think it would have worn itself out.
Love seeing these bird feeders. We put one out, attached to our deck, but only one visitor in a month! We think it may be too close to the house, plus our back yard has no trees. We want the birds!
Sorry about your neglectful birds, Barbara. Thanks very much.
I love the pink dawn skies! Thank you, Jackie! I am glad the damage to the garden was relatively minor, and that you got some afternoon sun and bird activity at the feeders.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Great news!
Thanks very much, Sheree
Yes, some birds have a wonderful knack of throwing the food around rather than eating it!
Thanks a lot, John
Beautiful dawn sky. I am so glad to hear the garden weathered the storm almost intact and our feathered friends too ?
Thank you very much, Peggy.
Beautiful pinkish skies captured by your lady! Enjoyed how you transitioned from the birds eating at the feeders to your dining table. Bon Appetit!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Rose.
It looks like you got away with that one Derrick!
So far, Andrew. Thanks a lot.
I’m glad the garden got off relatively lightly and all looks so well.
Thanks very much, Susan
you and your wife were lucky to have had the garden with minimal damage
I think of the animals roaming free around your house … I hope they did not suffer from the storm
Thank you very much, Yoshimi. I think the animals know where to hide when necessary
Beautiful dawn photos and my only chance to see it, as my biological clock (the only excuse I can find) is on the lazy side of the day and the show is over when I get up.
🙂 Thank you very much, Sylvie
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Glad you did not have any serious damage Derrick. It was very bad here too, but apart from a few of my shrubs in large pots blown over we had not other damage.
That is good, too, Agnes. Thanks very much.
If only you could share some of your rain with us — we’re always dealing with droughts here…
I wish we could de-AL. Thanks very much.
I am pleased your garden was virtually unscathed, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Clare