Six Paddys plus two

Ellesmere hosted six Paddys plus two for a Sunday lunch.

Six Irishmen and women, plus an Australian and an Englishman.

We had drinks under the leafy canopy of one of the Mulberry trees.

We enjoyed four courses and plenty of good wine.

tables set for eight

looking over to the lunch across the pool

ready for the guests to arrive

six Paddys plus one

main course of tandoori chicken, rice and green beans

entrée of two cold soups

lemon posset with raspberries

a mauled cheesboard

All you can say is, "the craic was good!"

The potager coming on

As we move toward mid-July, the crops in the four raised beds are growing prolifically.

And down in the field, the tomatoes are bushing out, as well as reaching upwards.

cucumbers and chillis in near bed, peppers in far bed

a dozen varieties of tomatoes

aubergines, two kinds of basil and chillis in near bed, potatoes in far bed, young lettuces in fruit boxes and roquette gone to seed in the foreground

The flowers at the front of the house have benefitted from nettle juice ...

The strong light of summer and the colours of the garden make this time of year special.

A warm summer's evening in the garden

A few photos taken in the soft, clear light of late afternoon ...

The partridge family

A pair of adult partridges had become a common sight in our garden.

But after their absence for a period I began to worry.

Then, joy!

Mum and a dozen babies showed up ... and it was a real thrill.

the chicks are perfectly camouflaged against the stones and leaves

They have their favourite spots in the garden and tend to come out in the early evening.

I've come to recognise mum's call and, with my camera at the ready, can quietly locate them.

The sunny calm

Sunday was a bright, warm day.

But it proved to be the calm before the storm.

Monday morning brought thunder, lightning and a downpour.

the view from our front window

The storm quenched the garden's thirst, which had returned after a week of sunshine.

But not before I'd harvested our first artichoke.

Around the fountain, the irises are eye-catching ... white on tanned skin, violet on boot-polish black and purple stripes with just a hint of gold.

 

Lurking in the shadows, catching the rays of the afternoon sun, a glorious rose.

The first flowers of Spring

Oblivious to human events, the seasons and Nature move forward inexorably.

Here are the first flowers of Spring in the garden of Ellesmere.

A 19th century amphora, a recent purchase for the garden.

The beauty of Nature can comfort us in times of stress.

Viv's room rejuvenated

With the compulsory isolation (lock-down) now entering its fifth week, we've managed to do lots of put-off-til-later jobs.

One of those jobs was applying linseed oil to the floorboards in Viv's room.

I called it Viv's room because it contains many antique pieces from my late Aunty Viv's house, Karslake, in south-east Queensland.

I think the darker floor has really enriched the room and added to its character.

The canopy bed on the right is from Viv's home.  Made of silky oak, it dates from the early 1900s.

The early 19th century cedar chest of drawers and toilet mirror also came from Karslake. They were Hobart made and pre-date the establishment of Melbourne.

In the corner stands a cedar pedestal table from Karslake, with a 1930's radio I bought in France.

The silky oak wardrobe came from the same room in Viv's house as the bed and chest of drawers.