This is the progress Richard and Ross had made on the bedroom wardrobe before they finished last night. I had been unable to add it to yesterday’s post, but did so this morning.
Later I scanned six more of Charles Keeping’s illustrations to ‘Dombey and Son’.
‘Mr Carker the manager’ will be instantly recognisable when he next appears.
‘Florence came and sat by his side’ and
‘Sister and brother wound their arms around each other’ give Mr Keeping opportunities to use flowing folds to indicate their closeness.
‘A vista to the railway world beyond’ demonstrates Keeping’s skill with perspective.
‘Mr Carker, showing all his teeth’
‘Florence smoothed his coarse back with her little delicate hand’
This was interrupted by a session with Max of Peacock Computers in which he remotely controlled my iMac in order to rectify a problem with my BT ID and password being rejected. This is apparently not an unusual situation resulting in lack of access to e-mails.
I then plucked up courage to wander round the garden which has received scarcely any tidying up since the recent storms which brought down the wisteria arbour. I was pleasantly surprised at how well she was looking.
These are a random selection of photographs of how I found it. Each is labelled in the gallery.
The Kitchen Makers gents had reached this stage of the wardrobe assembly before we left them this afternoon to drive to Elizabeth’s home at Pilley to complete further administration relating to Mum’s estate.
By the end of the day the wardrobe was almost finished. The more accurate colours feature in the penultimate gallery.
This evening we dined on smoked haddock; creamy mashed potatoes; tangy cauliflower cheese; firm carrots and broccoli; tender spinach and green beens, with which we both drank Jurancon white wine 2019.
You are so right about those wonderfully ‘flowing folds’ – the way they flow into each other does indeed perfectly illustrate the closeness between the two.
Your new wardrobes are magnificent in their clever design, colour and simplicity – beautiful, and very enviable!
I’m so glad to hear that your garden has held up well against the recent weather!
I am glad that your ID issue has been sorted – it’s always a bit worrying to find out that we’re apparently not who we thought we were! 🙂
I thought that, as well, Emma, about the “flowing folds”. His take on it was spot on.
Thank you so much for these thorough comments – as always, Emma.
Perhaps it’s just my computer, by for some reason, when I clicked on them, 4 pictures were very tiny. (Shady Path, Gazebo Path, Dahlias and Bench, New Bed). Ah, computers . . . Your garden (except for the poor Cosmos) looks much better than I had feared.
It was the freakiest thing the first time someone took control of my computer remotely. At this point, I’m all about it. It’s a super fast way to get things figured out.
That wardrobe looks amazing! Very cool to see the process.
Thanks very much, Jodie. I am sorry about the pictures. Yes, it is startling to see someone else’s icon whizzing around the screen.
Exactly!
Your garden has certainly proven herself to be a most resilient lass. Mr. Carker looks like a Victorian Tony Robbins!
I had to look up Tony Robbins, Liz 🙂 Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick. I wasn’t sure whether the reach of this particular snake oil salesman had reached across the pond.
Aw, on the broken Cosmos! 🙁
Ooh, I spotted an owl on Shady Path! 🙂
Love the chair and the bench adding character to the flowering beauty going on around, and on them. 🙂
In these Mr. Keeping illustrations we must be amazed by the clothing! We can see it’s movements! And you know I love the dog! 🙂
Great work, Richard and Ross! The wardrobe is wonderful! 🙂
(((HUGS)))
Thank you so much, Carolyn. I will pass it on X
The wardrobe went together quickly.
Thanks a lot, Mrs W. Following Richard’s measurements the various parts are made in advance and assembled on site
That makes it go quick.
The wardrobe looks fantastic! I wish I could hire Richard and Ross to build a wall of bookshelves. They do great work! We’ve got a freeze in the forecast tonight, so many of our potted flowers are coming inside. I’m not ready for winter!
Thanks very much, Jill. Good luck with the freeze
The flowers survived! 🙂
So glad the garden is relatively undisturbed.
Yes – we were Lucky, Sheree. Thanks very much.
The garden still looks beautiful, Derrick and Jackie! Those fellas do very nice work building your wardrobe.
Thanks very much from us both, John
I am surprised to see how well your garden stood up to the battering. I was expecting much more carnage.
So were we, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
Another day of progress. I envy you your fuschias. They look glorious.
They all seem to be pretty hardy here. Thanks very much, Pat
That wardrobe was beautifully constructed. The stringers across the end were meant to provide extra stability, I assume. Nicely done.
Yes. Nothing moves when Richard – a former boat builder – puts it up. Thanks a lot, Linda.
A thoroughly interesting illustration by Mr Keeping “Florence smoothed his coarse back with her little delicate hand’’..and your wardrobe is looking great Derrick ..
Thanks very much, Ivor
Even in November your garden is still full of flowers and looking beautiful!
Thank you very much, Alexander
Derrick, your wardrobe is coming together quickly and it looks well-built and spacious. You must be pleased. Your garden is looking pretty good considering the pummeling from wind and rain. I’m glad to hear things are recovering. Will this type of storm blow through all autumn and winter?
Thanks very much, Alys. These storms have been a fairly regular occurrence for the last couple of years, but not apparently previously – however we were quite lucky with this one – apart from the arbour.
It is amazing how so many little hanging pots and lights survived intact. It is strange the way storms hit and miss as they blow through.
Yes, AnneMarie. We normally take down the baskets, but this time we didn’t and it didn’t really matter. Thanks very much.
Thinks are coming along nicely in your enchanted cottage. I love the picture of the girl and dog.
Thanks very much, JoAnna.
The garden is doing so well. Those illustrations are stunning.
Thank you very much, Gary. We have been lucky with the garden.
Coming together nicely.
Thanks very much, Bridget
Keeping’s illustrations keep pulling me in and make me want to read the story. Garden beckons the hands that prune and protect. The wardrobe in its final shape is in harmony with the bedroom.
Thank you very much, Uma.
Beautiful work! And the garden looks great after the storm.
Thanks a lot, Laurie. The garden was a pleasant surprise
Still so many flowers blooming after the storm. We had high winds here today, but they fortunately did not last long and the power stayed on.
The new cupboards look beautiful! Almost done!
I am still enjoying those Charles Keeping illustrations.
Thank you so much, Lavinia. We very rarely have power outages. Richard was once a boat builder.
I almost gasped at the first sight of Mr Carker, for there is someone in our town who looks so similar! All in all, it is heartening to read a fairly upbeat account of life in your corner of the world.
Thanks very much, Anne. I think Charles Keeping spent a lot of time studying a variety of faces. Yes – it was a good day.
What a fantastic job on the new wardrobes. I’m sure you’ll both appreciate the difference it makes from freestanding ones to having them created and fitted by professional cabinet makers. A streamlined neat look. I can imagine you both sitting in bed admiring and cooing over the handiwork! (obviously that’s what I do) 😁
The garden is looking better than I expected after the stormy weather. I’m pleased Max sorted the e-mail problem.
Thanks very much, Sue. Yes – good day all round.
It must be very upsetting to see your work so mistreated by the elements but don’t forget the old song:
Take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.
You’ll soon get it all shipshape as we say here in Nottingham.
Thanks a lot John. So true
The house and garden look in excellent shape all things considered. And Mr Carker looks exactly as I imagine him. Those teeth! 😁
Thanks you so much, Sandra – especially for your impressive catch up
😊 One day I’ll go back to the beginning of A Knight’s Tale. One day…
🙂
Ah, your garden is showing its pretty face again and I love the new wardrobes!
Thanks very much, Eugi.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Yes, in spite of the storm, there still is much beauty in your garden. That’s a blessing. Thanks, {{{Derrick}}} for your latest scans. I LOVE the drawing of Diogenes with Florence … so beautifully done! What a talent, huh? Your wardrobe is going to be a wonderful addition to your bedroom. Thanks for showing us the progress they made. You’re blessed to have engaged such fine craftsmen.
Blessed indeed, Jan. Thank you very much.
That wardrobe is really looking good! And the garden seems to thrive again 🌸
Thank you very much, Ribana
Love the wardrobe.
Thanks a lot, Chrissy
I love your post. I am amazed how well you both cope through storms and adversity. Hope it is easy to put the garden to rights.
Thanks a lot, Sherry. For once, we are focussing more on the house, t the moment.
It’s looking very stylish. 😀
Thanks a lot, Widders
I would not object if Florence came and sat beside me all night.
Thanks very much, John
The wardrobe is looking good. I need someone to build something similar under my stairs!
Your garden also looks great with so many blooms to appreciate.
Thank you very much, Helen
Since when do you drink white wine, Derrick?
I was pleasantly surprised to fins a set of Mr Keeping’s delightful illustrations in this post. I have missed them. Mr Carker’s face, built of repetitious triangles, is just a bit shy of caricature, which makes it all the more expressive.
That is a good point about the brink of caricature, Dolly. More Keeping to follow soon – I have been a bit too busy to do the scanning for a few days – especially with the upload problem. I do actually prefer white with fish, but only drink it when Jackie chooses to do so as well. Thanks very much
I am glad more Keeping is coming up, Derrick.
Since I am limited to fish and chicken breast, I only ever get to sample a sip of red wine from my husband’s glass. Thus, I have become a connoisseur of whites by default.
🙂
The wardrobe is excellent, and since I’m so far behind on reading your posts, I know I will see advanced work as soon as I get to the next one!
🙂 Thanks very much for your perseverance, Crystal