Where’s Aaron?

On another gloriously sunny Sunday, Aaron, of A.P. Maintenance, worked as usual according to Covid -19 practice. He kept his distance, accepted no refreshments, worked to Jackie’s hand-written list; and I paid him on line.

As is my wont, I popped out for a few chats to keep him company – normally this would have been with cups of tea and biscuits – in the circumstances I did this slightly more often than usual –

 

but we self-distanced.

Naturally a game of Where’s Aaron? ensued. I present a few rounds in increasing degrees of difficulty:

1.

2.

3.

4.

 

5.

6.

7.

8.

9. Β A Gold Star if you get this one.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy chicken curry; turmeric flavoured mushroom rice; vegetable samosas, and fresh salad, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank ValrΓ©as Cotes du Rhone Villages 2016.

101 comments

  1. I trust Aaron doesn’t mind being the focus of your blog today. At least this is proof that he was on the job!

    1. He knew what I was going to do and was quite happy to oblige. Actually he has gained some local work from blog readers. πŸ™‚ He also has an album of all the prints I have given him of his photos on the job. He’ll get these as well. Thanks very much, Anne.

  2. It’s great that Aaron continues to offer his services to his regular clients. Here in Los Angeles County, “tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners” are listed among the essential businesses/services.

    On Saturday, as is my usual practice, I spent the afternoon outdoors working in our shared garden plots. One neighbor greeted me from his doorway. Another neighbor who is a healthcare worker, wearing a face mask, chatted with me on her return home from the recommended six-foot distance. Another neighbor gave me two clippings from one of his plants. He wasn’t wearing a face mask, but I was sure to put mine on. I find it suffocating to keep it on for long periods of time, so I keep it around my neck. Another neighbor, passing by on his way to the mailbox, greeted me with a smile and commented, “The garden is looking great.”

    How great that what brings me peace and joy can brighten the lives of others! Just like your amazing garden does for me. May you and Jackie stay safe and well <3

  3. So I found Aaron, with increasing difficulty as you suggested. In the last one I can only guess that is him in the red/black top bending over, behind the open door of his truck? It is a counter-intuitive guess as he isn’t wearing that colour anywhere else ……. That or he isn’t there at all?

  4. I loved this! Where’s Waldo was always a favorite of mine. I did find Aaron in the last shot, but it wasn’t easy! Thanks for brightening my day, Derrick!

  5. Oh, what a good sport Aaron is! He still comes back, so I guess he doesn’t mind your sharing him with all of us. That last one was wonderful. I had to biggify and still had to put on my reading glasses, but I found him!

  6. What a great sport, in these interesting times. I have some landscapers in my yard, and wanted to respect the physical distancing so left them with a cooler of beverages, and a basket of snacks saying help yourself.

    1. We would have done that with Aaron, but he now comes equipped. He enjoys the photographic bonus – I always give him prints πŸ™‚ Thanks very much, msw.

  7. I haven’t checked any of the other comments but I reckon he’s in the truck with his boot poking out. And I couldn’t find Nugget.

  8. Lovely social” shots of your visit-and garden, as ever.
    PS Re: “Corvid” usage in the first sentence….I believe that a corvid is a member of the passerine family, such as a crow, magpie, jay, etc….:)
    No doubt you meant Covid-19.
    Happy Sunday!–it is quite sunny in OR. and a lovely temp for a long walk.

  9. HA! “Where’s Aaron?” This was such fun! His green shirt was good camouflage! πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜€ His white shirt made it easier! πŸ™‚
    Aaron needs a silly bright hat like Waldo wears! πŸ˜‰
    Sending Aaron virtual (((HUGS))) for being a great sport and for doing such great work!
    (((HUGS))) and <3 to you and Jackie!!! πŸ™‚
    PS…think I saw his boot in the last photo…butt not his booty! πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜›

  10. As a former gardener, I didn’t need to look at the last photo (though I did). Reason; when, for whatever reason, tea and sandwiches are not offered by the client, they can reliably be found in one’s work vehicle.

  11. I don’t know what happened to our promised sunshine but it didn’t happen here until the end of the afternoon. Lots of wind though.
    I love your photographs and I found your faithful gardener via his leg and boot.

  12. A young gardener who works for one of my friends is still working through this pandemic but insists only in the gardens of customers who promise to stay inside and whose gardens he can reach without going through a house or having any face to face contact with his customers. He phones them all the night before for his instructions, they pay him on line and he takes his own refreshments. He waves through the window and everyone is happy with this arrangement. Apparently he gets quite irritated if a customer breaks the agreement!

  13. Aaron sure is a great guy, you’re lucky to have him! You almost got me with the Where’s Aaron? pics – and I want my gold star!!

  14. I spend so much time at work with my head stuck in the trunk of my car that I suspected he might be inside in the last photo. So it was! It was a fun series, Derrick.

  15. I like how you made this into a game of “Where’s Aaron?” I definitely had to bigify to find him in some of the shots. πŸ˜€ I think landscaping is considered “essential” in some areas, but not in others here (since each state has different restrictions).

  16. Couldn’t find him that last picture,even though I enlarged it. Tricksy! How you must miss having tea and biscuits with Aaron. At least he can still come over and work in the garden. That’s something, anyway.

  17. I know I’m supposed be focusing on finding Aaron, but all I can focus on right now is how much I could go for some chicken curry… πŸ™‚

  18. I looked and looked but couldn’t find him anywhere so I surmised he’d tucked himself away in his truck – read the comments – looked again and there he was. πŸ™‚

  19. I failed today – scanned the cab and decided that he must be in a high-vis jacket through the window. Even after being given the answer I struggled to spot the black boot against the black tyre in the deep shadows. Pah!

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