Today began unpromisingly dull and wet. I scanned the last few colour slides from
Abney Park Cemetery in May 2008. The second image and
the two which follow have been converted to black and white. The first of these shows a typically decorated capital. The second is the Pesman family grave. According to jacobstree.co.uk Frederic Adolphus senior, originally an artificial flower maker, lived for 81 years. His wives, Agnes Susan née Peak, daughter of a builder; Mary Ann, née Bulford; and some of his children were not so fortunate. The last name on the stone, obscured by ivy is probably the son of Frederick and Agnes who, along with two sisters, did not survive early infancy. Two of their daughters did survive, one to be 90.
Before lunch we drove to Ferndene Farm Shop and bought a Christmas tree, the needles of which
attempted to spear me on the way home.
The weather gradually improved this afternoon when we drove into the forest.
Barrows Lane is becoming soggy. Jackie parked on the verge while I photographed the landscape including two field horses in bright red and blue rugs.
By sunset over Hatchet Pond the skies had really cheered up.
When I came to draft this post I was hard put to distinguish between Jackie’s and my shots. The second gallery images are, I believe, those of the able Assistant Photographer, who,
driving home, metamorphosed into my Chauffeuse, and parked at East Boldre while I photographed
the remnants of the sunset reflected in a Winterbourne pool
and providing a backcloth for skeletal trees.
For dinner this evening Jackie provided lamb jalfrezi, mushroom rice topped with slices of boiled egg, and vegetable samosas. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Coonawarra.
SO many gorgeous photos by you and Jackie. The final one is particularly beautiful. And the one of you being threatened by the Christmas tree made me laugh. 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Merril
You’re welcome! 😀
You certainly made the most of a cheerful sunset. These photographs are all delightful to look at!
Thank you very much, Anne
Terrific shots of the sunset and great black and whites of the cemetery. I hope you won the squabble with tree, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Dolly. I kept the tree in order 🙂
My pleasure, Derrick. Glad to hear that.
Well, you got a much better end to your day than we did and you made excellent use of it.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
What a lovely sunset you have captured. May tomorrow be a fine day for you!
Thanks very much, Val.
Regardless of who took the photographs, those taken over Hatchet Pond are stunners. Are your skills rubbing off on Jackie? Are her skills rubbing off on you? When will we read a post that concludes with “We dined on Derricks crunch cheese cauliflower…”?
By the way, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to see your posts pop up every day without fail. It cheers me no end to share in your forest drives, your views of “the Needles”, your evening meals. You both are a delight to the blogosphere. Thanks to both of you.
I too would like to see ‘we dined on Derricks delicious something or another……..’ but he is too busy writing a blog! So glad you enjoy coming with us to see the Needles and forest makes it extra worthwhile us getting out and about.
Thank you so much, Sue. Such comments really make it all worthwhile. Believe it or not I did all the cooking when Jackie was still working, but she is so much better and has taken some of my recipes to a new level. That’s my excuse, anyway. X
Beautiful light at sundown, Derrick. Or beautifully captured, anyway!
Thanks a lot, Mike
Thanks for the Christmas tree laughs. I gave up on real trees with all their sharp needles years ago. Especially when we rented so many times and moved again by RAAF in the New Year. I’m sure we left many a hidden needle to be found by new occupants. 🙂
I too love your many drive-by photos you share each day.
Thank you so much, Chrissy
All of the sunset photos are so incredibly beautiful. What a special day it must have been to witness them. Those are the moments we live for.
Indeed, Liz. Normally that pond is very crowded with photographers at sunset. Not so yesterday. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Beautiful photos! She helps you with the photographs and you help her with the garden. It works out perfectly.
Thanks a lot, Luanne Her photography is better than my gardening 🙂
I don’t think we should get involved in that argument. 😉
🙂
I’m giggling at you sharing the front seat with the Christmas tree Derrick…. I had a very similar problem last week, sharing my car with a 5′ tree-fern….
Solidarity, Ivor. Thanks a lot.
The plants win every time..
The sunset shots are gorgeous, Derrick. Of course, I had to regain my composure after laughing at your Christmas tree photos…you are a clown!
Thanks very much, Jill. Perhaps the close-up would make a puzzle 🙂
Definitely! 🙂
Those are truly magical shots of the day melting around the wet tree-scape. The last light of the sun rimming the clouds and skeletal trees and glowing in puddles and pools underscore the quiet force of elements.
Thank you so much for your poetic response, Uma
Marvelous sunset photos! You never know what the sky is going to do, but you and Jackie were ready!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Time for the Christmas tree! Do post photos for readers when you get it decorated. We can’t put up a tree here as the cats find it and the ornaments all too interesting.
The afternoon forest photos are lovely, especially the golden skies and golden reflections on the water. Nature puts on an exquisite show of her ephemeral visual delights.
Thank you very much, Lavinia. We put the tree up after Matthew’s birthday on 19th, so traditionally it wasn’t swamped by Christmas
Fascinating graveyard shots and information.
The sunset shots are absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks very much, Sue
All of these photos are spectacular, Derrick and Jackie! The water! The trees! The skies! Wowza! 🙂
So nice (and brave) of you to share your space with the Christmas tree, Derrick! 😉 Those photos made me snort-laugh! I hope you weren’t injured too badly! 😉 😛 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn. The tree stopped me having to pick my nose 🙂 X
HA!!! 😀 *snort* 😛
Fabulous shots of the sunset
Thanks a lot, Sheree
That really was a beautiful sunset! My favourite was “Sunset over Hatchet Pond” where the clouds all look like dinosaurs going home.
Thanks a lot, John
Yes, Derrick. I agree with John. But what is the plant that makes that blue hedge in one of the two colourful horses?
I don’t know – perhaps a trick of the light on an evergreen hedge? Thanks a lot, John.
Beware the sharp needles of the ‘O Tannenbaum.’ 🌲 That last photo is breathtaking, Derrick.
Thank you so much, Cheryl. https://youtu.be/Xww_oaafCBA
Thank you. That was beautiful.
The sunset photos are ridiculously beautiful. I think you need to have a talk with that tree though. Attack of the Evergreen! Coming to a theatre near you.
Thanks very much, Leslie 🙂
You look scared behind the tree 🙂
Good 🙂 Thanks very much, Bridget
Thank you for another romp through the life and times of Derrick and Jackie! Beautiful sunset, historic cemetery and arm wrestling with an evergreen are but a few of the delights to be found in this post. Sher and I consider ourselves lucky to have made your acquaintance via blogging.
That is so encouraging for both of us from both of you. Thanks a lot, Maj
Such a beautiful sunset, Derrick. The horses look so smart in their winter coats. The photo of you and the prickly branches looks like it’s advertising a horror movie. 😳😅
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sylvia
Some lovely, atmospheric shots here between you. My favourite is the one with the branches, the pink and the heart shaped reflection in the water.
Thank you very much from us both, Susan
Excellent sunset. We live facing west over open farmland and wait each day for a sunset. None today unfortunately. Maybe tomorrow?
I hope so, Andrew. Thanks a lot.
What a gorgeous end to the day, despite being attacked by the Christmas tree 😉
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
😊
Beautiful sunset photo.
Thanks very much, Byung.
Wow! This stunning sunset cheered me up too 😍 Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Ribana
Beautiful. I can be having an awful day and see a sunset and it will change my mood.
I can see it would, Mrs W. Thanks a lot
Your welcome on all your comments the last few days.
That last silhouette is gorgeous.
Thanks very much, Lindsey.