This afternoon Flo, Dillon, and Ellie needed to return to the hospital for a final check. Becky and Ian drove them there.
Before they departed I photographed our grandson-in-law with his 25 hour old daughter Ellie. Despite having slept very little over the last 36 hours Dillon was setting off back to the Princess Anne’s Hospital.
Jackie and I went for a forest drive.
Log piles alongside the road just outside Ripley
were earmarked presumably for buyers.
As we approached Bisterne on the Ringwood Road we fell behind a steam traction engine. Eventually Jackie managed to pass it and drive further up the road
in order for me to disembark and lie in wait for the slow moving vehicle. A white jet plane’s trail crossed the steam clouds emanating from the chimney from an earlier age.
For reasons of various more pressing priorities we had missed the annual Bisterne Scarecrow tour this year, but further along the road we enjoyed two of the lingering competitors:
the Very Hungry Caterpillar,
and Ham Sweet Ham.
Tess visited with Poppy to meet Ellie and her parents, bringing a splendid bouquet of flowers and various other presents.
They were unable to stay for this evening’s Ashley’s fish and chips and Garner’s pickled onions, with which I drank more of the Bordeaux; Ian drank Morreti beer; Dillon, cider; and Flo Fruit cordial.
Totally delightful outing and a very sweet baby picture. Good day overall.
Thank you very much, Pat
Such beauty and such fun!
But, most beautiful and fun of ALL…sweet little Ellie!!!
Congrats and (((HUGS))) and ❤️ to all of you…especially Flo and Dillon! ❤️
Thanks very much from us all, Carolyn X
What a delight to see the traction engine… and all the displays. and awws and arghs over your new baby Ellie, she is adorable.. <3
Thank you very much, Sue X
A traction engine is always a fine sight and the caterpillar was amazing.
Love the three little piggies
I don’t know if “Ham Sweet Ham” won the competition, but it must have taken a very good one to better it!
Yes – a good pun, and out of shot is a pile of straw, reflecting the three little pigs story. Thank you very much, John
Ellie is beautiful mate ?
Thank a lot, John
Your phone numbers are very different. ?
The photo of your new great-grand takes the prize for today’s group! I’m sure she will bring her parents and extended family much joy.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Ellie is cute, an addition to your lovely family.
Thank you very much, Arlene
Great caterpillar scarecrow, and a set of great traction engine photos.
Thank you very much, Quercus
Beautiful baby. Without a beard, I’m not sure if she looks like you, Derrick. 😉
She is most like her Dad, Chrissy. Thanks very much.
I love Ellie’s full name.
This is such a special time for you all. Again I send my warmest congratulations to each of you. ?
Thank you so much, Sue X
Some very interesting photos but of course the one of most interest for me was the proud new daddy and his little one. She is coming into a wonderful family!
Thank you so much, AnneMarie
I finally accessed my blog on WordPress and your post today is my first one I’ve commented on on a readable screen! I was especially impressed with the steam tractor photos. It amazes me that machines that huge were used in agriculture or that ordinary farmers had the financial means to own such monsters. It must have been scary business for horses and other livestock to hear and see these machines in the early days!
I am very pleased your problems seem to have been resolved. Thank you so much, Doug
Ellie is beautiful! Congratulations to the family!
Thank you very much, Jill
Precious photos of dad and the baby.
Thank you so much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Yep, that’s a precious photo of Ellie and her dad. Holding a baby close activates the attachment helping hormones in dads, too. I like that giant caterpillar.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
As the saying goes, you hit the trifecta today: beautiful father and daughter photo, a terrific caterpillar, and a wonderful bit of history. The smile on the face of the guy driving the steam contraption says it all.
Thank you so much, Linda. That is a new word for me. Yes the driver was amused – probably because he knew we had passed him for the purpose
I agree with Linda, Derrick. You hit the trifecta today!
Thanks very much, Lavinia. That’s a new word for me
You’ve gathered a lovely collection of photos for one day, Derrick. There is something so precious about new life. Congratulations!
Thank you iso much, Alys
After all the excitement of the new arrival, I sense there is a shaking down and a subtle return to normal. I loved the steam traction engine!
Insightful comment, Anne. Thank you very much
Good to see you are continuing with your own lives regardless of the delight of a new baby in the house 🙂 It is so lovely to see that Flo has somewhere in which to be held in the embrace of family at this turning point in her and Dillon’s life, and even though it will cost you some sleep, you and Jackie must be thrilled to be in a position to offer them all sanctuary.
Such beautifully insightful comments, Gwen. Actually we don’t hear her in the night 🙂 Thank you very much X
My heart may have melted when I saw that photo of Dillon and his precious daughter.
I wish you had made a sound recording of that steam contarption, that is, if it is the same sound I recall from my childhood. They are slow, powerful machines.
Oh, crikey, I just remembered that my dad was a stoker in the Canadian navy, in WWI, and then a fireman on the railway afterwards. He would have been able to tell me how heavy that coal was to shovel into the hungry fire.
What an amazing link to your own history, Yvonne. Thanks very much for all these comments.
A wonderful shot of Dillon with dear little Ellie. I’m glad you didn’t miss all the scarecrow displays; they are so clever! Before you know it, Ellie will be enjoying those fantastic scarecrows right along with you!
Thank you so much, Sandra. Are you aware that Elowen is a Cornish name?
Because I read these in reverse, I hadn’t realised that you do recognise the Cornish name 🙂
Indeed! ? .
Congratulations to the family!!!What a wonderful post, Derrick! Thanks for the share!
Much appreciated, Sofia
What a wonderful post! We totally enjoyed it, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jan
I had wanted to ask how it came to be that Flo was staying with you, but didn’t want to admit in the midst of busy here I lost the thread of the story! So now it all is revealed, and congratulations on a healthy new great-grandbaby
Thank you very much, Rose. They will be with us until the Kentucky house sold and they find one over here.
Such wonderful photos of your countryside–lingering scarecrows (isn’t it a scarecrow’s job to linger?) and engine, but the photo of Dillon and Ellie beats them all. That’s one for him to have framed.
Thank you so much, Merril. They intend to have that one framed
❤️
What a beautiful photo of Ellie and her dad.
Thank you very much, Eugi
Most welcome, Derrick.
Hi Derrick, gosh, you don’t stay in the hospital for long in the UK when you have a baby. I stayed in for three days with both of mine (reluctantly with the second I might add). A delightful picture of the baby and your grandson-in-law.
All has changed now. When our first were born it was 10 days in. Thanks very much, Robbie
?
Precious Ellie! <3
Thanks very much, Aletta
Scarecrows are cute, and baby Ellie is a doll!
Thank you very much Dolly – a Doll, indeed
I guess in these moments, sleep is the last thing the young family think about ? that Very Hungry Caterpillar and Ham Sweet Ham are amazing ?
Thank you very much, Ribana
Oh, my goodness, the photo of precious Ellie and her loving, exhausted Dad brought tears to my eyes. Thank you (and Dillon and Flo) for sharing such a special moment.
Someone must get Ellie the following 3 books: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “The Three Little Pigs,” and “Thomas the Tank Engine.” And they must tuck a copy of this blog inside of it for her to read when she is older.
So much love and best wishes going out to all of you. xoxo
Thank you so very much, Jodie. What a good suggestion