As a measure of yesterday’s sunlight, Jackie photographed some solar lights at 11 p.m. last night.
This morning she continued her determined decimation of the front garden shrubbery. After lunch we both chopped and bagged up the debris. Unfortunately, refreshing as they were, the fat raindrops that dribbled through the afternoon cloud cover were insufficient to drive us inside until we had virtually finished our work for the day.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata, char fried peppers and onions, and runner beans youthful enough to be devoid of stringy sinews, with which she drank Beck’s and I drank Mendoza Malbec 2018.
Gardening is hard work!
🙂 Yep. Thanks a lot, Sheree.
Jackie took a picture of the stars! ?
🙂 She went out to photograph the moon and this is what she got. Thanks a lot, Maj.
I love the mysterious twinkling solar lights.
What do you think of Mendoza Malbecs, Derrick? They are my husband’s favorite.
I do like them. Your husband has good taste 🙂 Thanks very much, Dolly.
I’ll tell him you said so, Derrick. You are very welcome.
To bad the rain did not run you inside. The unexpected free time caused by rain is my favorite thing this time of year.
I’m pleased you got this, Mrs W. 🙂 Thanks very much
Your welcome.
Attila the Gardener is a mere amateur compared with Jackie.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Wow, what a lot of work. Glad you finished the day with good food and drink.
Thanks a lot, Peggy.
All that hard work and then a delicious dinner–I’m sure you’ll both sleep well tonight!
We did, indeed, Merril 🙂 Thanks very much.
I bet you worked up an appetite!
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Jill.
Why do I feel so tired? 😉 Hard work does that especially when seeing it in action. 🙂
Next year you will need these photos to remind you how much you cut back. It will be more lovelier than ever.
I’ve got my fingers crossed! I certainly hope that it is, if not next year then maybe the year after?!!
You are so right on the importance of looking back on photos, Chrissy. Thanks very much.
🙂
You did a full day’s job… and earned every sip of that Malbec with a delicious sounding dinner. Were the runner beans (youthful enough to be devoid of stringy sinews) from your garden? It’s hard to find such tender runner beans in the store!
Ferndene Farm Shop, Jan. Our own beans didn’t survive the heat. Thanks very much.
I love the fairy lights! You and Jackie deserve a very long rest after all that garden work.
Winter won’t be long 🙂 Thanks very much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
We have solar lights, too–lovely at end of day’s work.
Yes. Thanks very much, Cynthia
Ahh Derrick…the bigger the garden, the bigger the clean up…. was that fat rain drops, or fat sweat drops…. ??
No doubt both, Ivor. Thanks very much.
What a hard day’s work, but rewarding.
I loved it when we grew our own runner beans, so tender, and no strings attached
🙂 Thanks a lot for this, Sue.
Not an easy work but good progress ?
Love those solar lights and dinner sounds delicious! I’m waiting for cooler weather to do that kind of pruning, but I admire your perseverance!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
The solar lights make an interesting photo, Jackie! I have a few lights here, in planters.
You both are hard workers, Derrick! And dinner sounds wonderful.
Thank you so much, Lavinia
truly a labor of love! 🙂 lovely solar lights photo! 🙂
Thanks very much, Lola
Even the solar lights look like creeper plants. That is backbreaking work you two put into that captivating garden.
Thank you so much Uma – a nice comparison
Oh how I remember the day the roses were to get their haircut. Particularly the Banksia that was missed last year. Every now and then I was tempted to hide the secateurs and buy a bottle of Chardonnay instead.
I’ll bet. 🙂 Thanks very much, John.
The little lights remind me of fireflies in the summer! 🙂 The lights add such joy to the night time! 🙂
Well, sorry the weather didn’t cooperate so you could take work break! 😉 Ha! 😀
I like rainy days that give us an excuse to go indoors and while away the day…reading or doing crafts or watching a fun movie, etc. But, it IS a great feeling when the outdoor work is complete. 🙂
You and Jackie’s blood-sweat-n-tears-work combined with your tender-loving-care make your garden an Eden…minus the devil in snake form, of course! Don’t want none of THAT going on! 😉 😛
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Carolyn. Fireflies is a lovely thought. X
Rain has interrupted some of our gardening plans too Derrick… A job and a half you look to have well under control though 🙂
Thanks very much, Sue
🙂 Hugs
What are char fried pepper onions? Here too many are pruning their gardens. Regards 🙂
Normally char grilled – burning the edges for taste. Jackie fries them 🙂 Many thanks, Lakshmi
What a process! As my mother would have said in admiration, you two are workers. Or rather, workahs. 😉
🙂 Thanks a lot, Laurie
There’s a joy felt from being productive. Jackie and you are experts at that. Everynight is a meal which could be served in a restaurant. What a lovely retirement you are expericening, Derrick.
Thank you so much, Cindy, for these insightful comments
Well done – you have a big garden to prune!
Thanks very much, Helen.
It’s very hard.
Thanks very much, Laleh.
My pleasure.?
I wasn’t sure what pasta arrabbiata was, so I looked it up and decided that I’ll have a plate!
I recommend it, Barbara. Thanks very much.
Pretty spicy? We love the hot spices!
Yes. You can add as much spice as you like.
I just made a spicy chicken with peppers and onions and for some reason the cayenne pepper I sprinkled on it took to the air and we all had runny eyes for about an hour!
Oh dear. Jackie uses chillis for extra heat.
We recovered nicely 😉
🙂