Elizabeth and the rest of her village remain without power. Given the total amount of extended outages across the country and storm Franklin following on the heels of Dudley and Eunice, my sister is likely to be with us for a while longer. This morning she returned to her home, emptied her non-working fridge, and brought back its contents to transfer to our appliance.
As we watched a large pittosporum swaying in winds climbing to a speed of 60 m.p.h. we feared for its safety and, should it fall, that of the nearby arch over the Dead End Path. The South African native shrub had been allowed by our predecessors to grow into a tree and we had simply shaped it a bit.
I completed the scanning of Charles Keeping’s illustrations to ‘The Highwayman’.
End papers.
Back cover.
This evening we dined on flavoursome liver and bacon casserole; creamy mashed potato; crunchy carrots; and firm Brussels sprouts with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and Elizabeth and I finished the Douro.
With the storms, I was fearful of what the ghostly embrace might mean. I’m glad you didn’t have more damage, and that Elizabeth is settled with you. Those illustrations are both romantic and spine-chilling.
Thank you so much, Merril. Such a fine description
You’re welcome, Derrick. ?
Agreed. So well put, thank you Merril.
You’re welcome.
I hope that your sister can get her power back soon, Derrick, there’s no place like home!
Thanks a lot, John
Good luck with the remaining winds. Hope you received no damage. Elizabeth’s contribution should make some interesting meals which I’m sure Jackie will create gormet meals.
Thanks very much, Pat
The illustrations are stunning. Thanks for sharing them Derrick.
Much appreciated, Donna
The ghostly images fit the mood of the poem and the story so well. Do the images appear as inverted in the book?
They do, Liz. Thanks very much
Your sister is fortunate that you live nearby. I hope power is restored soon.
It will still be a day or two, Sheree. Thanks very much
Oh no! Lucky you two get on.
Just heard it has come on.
Fantastic
Now Franklin is coming! 😮 Oh, gosh!
So glad Elizabeth can be with you! Hope all is remedied soon for her to get back to her home.
These Keeping illustrations are ghostly great! He sure focuses our attention in interesting places and ways…and the action he creates is amazing!
Ooh! So many owls in the Osteospermum photo! YAY! 🙂
Keep safe! and (((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks a lot, Carolyn. The osteospermum is a pittosporum – Anne has put me right.
What a talented and versatile artist Keeping was.
We now have power restored – I hope the same for Elizabeth before too long. Though your beautiful home, and Jackie’s wonderful hospitality must make for a very welcoming shelter from the storm – have you got your ‘bed and breakfast’ sign out?!
Thanks for remembering the sign, Emma 🙂 Glad you have power restored
Us too!!
You do seem to bear the brunt of these storms.
It is unusual for us to get our share. Thanks a lot, Andrew
When I look at the osteospermum I see a head, perhaps sporting a beret, but with a definite chin and looking slightly down. Kind of ghostly in itself, like the book plates. Hope Elizabeth gets her power back soon!
Thanks a lot, Maj. Anne has pointed out that the tree is not a daisy. The correct word is Pittosporum. We have the daisies too, which Is why I got the names muddled
Muddled names are but a part of my getting older, I fear.
I remember memorizing this poem in grade school. I love it. The scanned illustrations are eerily wonderful. I hope you have no more storms!
Thanks very much, Cindy. Franklin expected to be the last
Wonderful illustrations. Thank you.
Reciprocated, Tootlepedal
The images are outstanding. The garden looks endangered, for sure! 60 mph winds? Goodness!! I hope you saved that osteospermum. My heart goes out to Elizabeth to have been without power so long. I’m glad she has you two lovely people to turn to for help! <3 God bless your welcoming home!!
The tree is OK still, although winds remain fierce. Actually it is a pittosporum. I have Anne to thank for pointing out that I muddled the name with osteospermum daisies which we also have. Thank you very much, Jan.
Well, both names are new to me. Whatever it’s called, it’s a lovely tree and I’m glad it survived!
I’m sorry about the continued lack of power but pleased Elizabeth has you both.
Hope you all stay safe from Franklin.
The snow melted but the rain has been torrential all day. The mini river continues to flow around the outside of the house.I cleared the drains, well, the grates anyway, and Joss put sandbags around the doorway.
Storm Franklin seems determined to make it’s presence known, it really is strong and noisy.
We hope you will be safe, too, Sue. I seem to have trashed your comments on crosswords and A Suitable Boy, so thanks for those and this. My first edition of the book now has completely dark brown pages – such a disappointment.
Oh, no such a shame about the book.
Being without power is the worst. Elizabeth is fortunate to have a place to wait for restoration. Great illustrations!
Thanks a lot, Jill
Fantastic illustrations, unlike everything I have seen of Mr Keeping’s work so far.
They are, Dolly. So relevant to the ballad. Thanks very much
The pleasure is mine, Derrick.
Wow … your scans of Charles Keepings finale Illustrations in “The Highwayman” are hauntingly breathtaking Derrick ..
I agree. Thanks very much, Ivor
Take care, the storms appear to be back to back for your land.
They do at the moment, Catherine
The ghostly images are well done. This tale was put to music by two women, many decades ago. My mother had the record, but I do not remember their names. A search on “The Highwayman song” comes up with a more recent one written by Jimmy Webb. That one has been covered by many, but is not the song I vaguely remember.
Did you find this one, Lavinia? https://youtu.be/Ixi4jz0Gn4E
Thanks very much
This one did not come up on my search. I am listening to it now. Thank you for finding it!
Keeping’s drawings are so good; I love the one near the end of the rear view of the Highwayman on his horse. I hope Elizabeth gets her power back soon. Franklin is still raging round our house.
I hope it will calm for us all today. Thanks very much, Clare.
I enjoy looking at these drawings. The door and the galloping horse and rider profile are my favorites. I’m curious if they are negatives in the book. Either way, the lines are fascinating. I’m glad Elizabeth is safe. I’m glad she could get her food out of the frig. Whenever a big hurricane is on its way here, we try to eat all the perishables. She may have lost electricity at her home, but she has the loving power of family supporting her.
Thank you so much, JoAnna. Keeping has changed to negative images for his illustrations following the deaths and indicating the ghosts
Ah! That makes sense. Thanks.
Those illustrations are stunning. And with the surname of Noyes, I highly approve of this post.
Thanks a lot Nana N
I hope your power stays on. Here, above 60mph, it’s anybody guess, but we’ve been lucky the last few years. I’m glad Elizabeth can bunk in with you and share her food that would otherwise spoil. As for those illustrations, they are pretty ghostly and chilling. I do like those end papers.
Thank you very much, Lisa. So far we still have power.
That was some storm, wasn’t it? Hope the next storm isn’t as bad. A lucky thing that Elizabeth can stay with you. Eerie illustrations, that’s for sure.
There are lots of houses here without power since Wednesday. So much damage. Plus things get fixed and then the next storm hits.
It seems we have been going that way, too. Not expected to return to normal until early next week
Be safe!
Thanks very much, Bridget
Keeping’s drawings have an ethereal feel about them and they left me in no doubts about the ghostliness of the embrace. Meanwhile, storm after seem to have descended on the terra firma about you. I hope the windy procession peters out quickly now.
Today is expected to be the last, Uma. Thanks very much
I have been trying to reduce watching Netflix and the elk, and cutting down on activities that have been eating up my time. I have begun reading books again, of which there is a pile that would shoot through the stratosphere if arranged in a pile. I am hoping to rekindle photography again.
Weird! I had intended to post this comment on the Crossword post and have entered it here!
At least I got it
I’m glad Elizabeth can stay with you during this series of storms. Good grief, they just keep coming.
They do. It is expected that today will be the last bad day. Thanks very much, Alys.
I wonder what your tree really is for Osteospermums are daisies!
Pittosporum, Anne. My mistake (we have the daisies, too) Thanks very much. Off to correct it now
I seem to recall reading this long ago, but I’m going to try to find another edition!!
You’ve certainly had your share of stormy weather, Derrick. I noted several bloggers reporting damage from the storms in the UK.
We have been luckier than many, Eugi. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Wow that tree looks dangerous. I am glad your sister could stay with you. Hopefully you will have storm free days soon.
Thanks very much, Mrs W. The tree hasn’t yet fallen, but it will need to be removed
We have one of those. Luckily it has only the lawn to fall on.
I’m glad you’re all safe there. Europe got hit so hard 🙁
Yes. I suppose it was our turn, Rose. Thanks very much.
Good thing your sister has a cozy place to stay awhile. We also do get high winds here with rain–and also without rain. Sorry about that damage.
Thanks a lot, Cynthia
I am glad Elizabeth has such accommodating hosts. I hope her home will be okay when this is all over. ?
She has her power back, AnneMarie. Thanks very much
Luckily Elizabeth was able to stay with you!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Eerily beautiful photos.
Thank you very much, Byung