The sunniest, coolest, part of another day of developing humidity was before we left this morning to visit Mum at Woodpeckers. Jackie took advantage of this to carry out an early spell of gardening.
I nipped out to photograph her Head Gardener’s Walk clearance, which she had completed yesterday evening, and she showed me the solid lump of hellebore root which had never produced flowers during our time here, that she had prised out of the soil and was too heavy for her to lift.
Mum was on very good form, conversing with wit and humour, especially when we commented on the haircut she had received just before we arrived;
and when she instructed Jackie to quarter a serviette offered because she had forgotten to bring her tissues. After each use the sections were neatly folded, possibly for further application later when they had dried out.
My mother can see very little now, but did struggle to catch sight of a fearless baby robin that darted overhead, paused in a small tree, perched temporarily on a rail in her eye-line, dived on an ants’ nest beneath, returned to the rail to digest its prey, then swooped across Mum’s shoulder, to repeat the process at will. Jean could see the flash of action. She could also hear the building work across the road and ask what was being erected.
More gardening was undertaken this afternoon. My contribution was extensive dead heading, and breaking up the hellebore roots pictured earlier. They were indeed too heavy to be carried in one dump bag, so I distributed them among several.
This evening we dined on roast beef, horseradish sauce, boiled potatoes, crisp Yorkshire pudding, crunchy carrots and broccoli, with meaty gravy. Jackie drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc, and I drank more of the Shiraz.
A lovely day, split between gardening and visiting. Your mom looks great, and so does the baby robin — your close up shots of the robin do a wonderful job with those tiny feathers!
Thanks very much, Janet. We can certainly see how young it was.
Your mother looks so good with her new haircut. She looks so happy. Jackie is such an attentive daughter-in-law. Great shots of the baby robin, Derrick. Shall we name it? 😉
If it comes back in a fortnight we could name it indeed. When Mum was wheeled out to us she looked at me and said “Oh, just you?” until she turned and saw Jackie 🙂
Your mum is looking super, and I’m sure the baby robin thought so too, with all its close-call flypasts.
x
Thanks a lot, Melanie X
Most welcome.
x
Your mother looks wonderful, Derrick, and quite happy! That was nice of the little robin to make an appearance, too. Those are beautiful photos!
Your gardens look beautiful, Derrick and Jackie. Those root clumps sure can weigh a lot! I’ve had to move a few similar things from time to time and have been quite surprised at how much they can weigh.
Thank you so much, Lavinia. We have filled almost all our used compost bags in readiness for the dump
You’re Mum looks like she could be your girlfriend. Lovely pictures.
Thanks a lot, Pat. I won’t mention that to Jackie 🙂
Good idea. And nothing untoward was implied except out young and attractive your Mum looked.
Of course 🙂 X
I enjoyed my visit with your mum today. She Looks so happy to see you. Do you tell her how many of us look forward to seeing and hearing about her?
Lovely garden shots too.
I have told her about her fans, Sue. I will pass your message on. Thanks very much.
Your mother is indeed looking in very good spirits – and lovely to read the description of her hanky waste-not!
The images of the robin are so vivid – they really catch the perkiness of the little bird on his stick like legs 🙂
Thank you so much, Emma
Your mom looks great–happy and alert. It sounds like the baby robin added to the visit, and you got such wonderful shots of it!
Thank you very much, Merril. So much better than those visits behind the screen
Yes, I can imagine it is.
Wow, your mum looks great, all chipper with her hair done! I love the baby robin sequence of photos. The header one is my favorite. I really like the angle from which you took it.
Jackie was delighted that she agrees with you once more, Liz. She read your comment before realising who sent it, and shrieked “It IS Liz Gauffreau”. She had already made the point about the angle. I had to ask her what she was talking about. 🙂 Thanks very much.
You’re mom looks great and I love those pics of the bird so beautiful.
Thank you so much, More
You’re welcome Derrick
Love the bird photos
Thank you very much, Gary
You Mum looks really good! What a pleasant day surrounded by such beauties 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana
Your Mum is looking healthy and comfortable, and lovely she was in good form Derrick …
Thanks very much, Ivor
Your mom looks wonderful, Derrick. It’s easy to tell that she enjoys your regular visits. That is so important for you both.
Tell me, what exactly is Yorkshire pudding and what makes it crispy?
Once again, I love the paths through your gardens. Nice work to you both.
Yorkshire pudding is made with a thin batter, placed in a hot oven so that the edges rise and get crisp, it’s traditional to serve with roast beef, although I love it with any roast dinner!
I can understand why. Sounds delicious! So, it is not a soft pudding in the traditional sense?
Not really. My grandmother made individual ones into which a dinner could be loaded
Thanks a lot, Steve. Jackie has responded re Yorkshire pudding
It’s so good to see your Mum looking so good, and it’s good to know she was aware of the little robin-visitor, even with lessened vision. We always played that silly game called “which sense would you be willing to lose” when we were children. I still don’t have an answer for that one, since I’d prefer to keep them all, but losing sight certainly would be a trial.
That is a game we didn’t play. Sight would be my last choice. Thanks very much, Linda
Your mom and the wee robin certainly have stolen the show this time. Your mom’s hairstyle suits her so well. What a gorgeous smile she has.
Thank you so much, Yvonne
Your mom looks so pretty and radiant! Sweet pictures of the baby robin. Glad your mom could catch the motion.
Thanks very much, Laurie
I’m glad your Mum is doing so well. Her hair looks beautiful and her serviette quartering instructions seem to be working well. The detail in the robin photos is impressive!
Thanks you very much, JoAnna. Because the robin kept coming and going I had time to change the lens 🙂
Great views too
Your mother is as sprightly as the young robin in spirit. May God bless her.
Thank you so much, Uma
What a lovely day and I’m sure your Mum appreciated all her visitors
Thanks very much, Sheree. The “all” was good 🙂
Dead heading is now a daily chore!
Indeed. A bit like housework – not worth mentioning, Andrew 🙂 Thanks a lot
I won’t mention it again then!
🙂
Your Mum looks to be in good form. Does she know that she is the pin-up girl of 3,518 followers of your blog?
She does like that she goes round the world, John 🙂 Thanks a lot.
Yorkshire pudding is made with a thin batter, placed in a hot oven so that the edges rise and get crisp, it’s traditional to serve with roast beef, although I love it with any roast dinner!
Derrick, your beautiful Mom looks so healthy and happy AND I AM SO GLAD! 🙂 I think of her so often and smile! 🙂
How wonderful that the little robin came to visit! Your closeup photos of the robin are spectacular! 🙂
(((HUGS))) to you and Jackie!!! 🙂
PS…”Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off and they are nearly always doing it.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Thanks very much, Carolyn. He was quite friendly
Seems you have enjoyed a lovely day and i like the birds so much, wonderful views
Thank you, too, Mina 🙂
I love the photo of the robin on what appears to be a branch which cuts through the image north to south.
Thanks very much, Helen. It is a branch. I was pleased with the angle
Yes, good angle.
The thing about your robins is they always seem to be happy standing still for you to take their portrait. And what is the red barked tree near the robin’s boardwalk.
I’m afraid I don’t know the tree – maybe a prunus of some sort. Thanks very much, John
Always great to see Mum smiling. A good visit and good gardening – another wonderful day, I would say, despite the weather.
Indeed. Thanks very much, GP
Your mother looks fine, and the haircut is very pretty. Good to see her smiling and in good spirits, catching some avian action.
It seems that Jackie has switched from beer to Sauvignon Blanc; I am with her on that.
Thanks very much, Dolly. “Is she now” says Jackie with a chuckle
LOL You are very welcome, Derrick.
Yes, your mum was in very good form, for sure! How fun to see her looking so chipper! The pictures of the baby robin are priceless! Love that fluffy down on his/her chest (or was it the tummy?).
Chest and tummy I’d say, Jan – they are so small. Thanks very much
Your mother is looking as spritely as that little robin. Beautiful photos Derrick.
Thank you very much. A nice observation, Lindsey