We had a busy day today – the phone kept ringing, people kept visiting (with and without appointments) and though we only had two orders on eBay overnight, we had six more come in during the day.Β We also managed to load three lots onto eBay.
It’s just like being at work, but more fun.
When I returned home my first impression was of lemon-scented hygiene. Julia had clearly been cleaning.
She had also been cooking. We had two apple crumbles and a plum tart. The plums are from our own tree, which has been very prolific this year. The apples are from the Mencap garden and the garden of one of the neighbours. It’s always satisfying to use the garden produce. It’s just a shame that it’s over so soon. We really ought to plan the garden better, but we never quite get round to it. We’ve had plenty of courgettes this year and the baskets of tumbling tomatoes are doing well.
She also managed to cook an excellent meal of marinaded chicken, rice with fruit and nuts and green salad with tomatoes from the garden.
Whilst doing that she caught the knife block with her elbow and was momentarily the middle of a cloud of flying knives. Not quite The House of Flying Daggers, but as close as we are likely to get.
Fortunately she survived unperforated.

1997 Silver Dollar
I took photos of a group 1921 pennies for eBay, a silver dollar and a papal visit medallion. While I was photographing the medallion I decided it would look good on my collection.
It doesn’t really fit in to my collection, but collectors can always find an excuse. It is an exceptionally nice medallion. with good portraits and excellent relief. And yes, now you come to ask, Newman really did, according to all his portraits, have a nose that size.
The 1921 pennies will come into their own next year – people always seem to like centenaries for souvenirs or party favours. The things that people buy are an interesting subject.

Pope Benedict XVI

Cardinal Newman
Great to hear your plums have done so well this year π
I was afraid the branches might break under the weight, but waited for the June drop. When it didn’t make any difference I thought about thinning them out, but I always hate that, so I left them and was lucky. π
Fingers crossed the branches hold!
WE have harvested the majority now. When the time comes next year we need to give it a good prune as we have neglected it for the last few years. The neighbours on that side used to break the branches off at the wrong time of year and it started to show signs of stress so I stopped pruning. It seems healthy now so time to get it back into shape.
Would it be pruned in the winter?
I’ve always done it in late May/early June but just checked up on the RHS site and they say April or July. It’s to avoid silver leaf curl.
Okay – I donβt have a plum tree but always good to know.
WE have a damson in a pot and it has eight damsons on. You never know what you might grow…
Well, that is true as well π
Our plum tree started off as a minarette pruned example but the neighbour who gave it to me had let it get out of shape. I couldn’t get it back and it is now a 12 foot tree. I am going to bring it down by a few feet and open up the middle again next year.
A proper minarette is about six feet tall and three feet wide, so it is manageable.
Sounds like it needs it – good luck!
More good illustrations. I am pleased to learn that you still have your sense of smell and therefore must be Covid-free.
I hadn’t thought of that, so find myself cheered now that you have pointed it out.
π
Glad Julia came through unscathed!
She said time slowed down a little as they fell all around her feet – it must have been scary. I really must move the knofe block…
I can picture time slowing down for her. Yes, move that block.
It’s either that or buy her some styeel toe-capped boots. π
Many of these coins you post about really are quite detailed, and beautiful.
We planted one courgette this year, and I have been amazed, now that the plant is taking off in hot weather, just how fast the fruit is growing over the course of a day. Give them a little manure and lots of water, and interesting things happen.
I always say I will pick a lot of the finger sized ones, but that usually fails as a plan. And we always end up with a few massive ones. They are just so quick!
A nose to treasure.
If I were to make a collection of notable noses Wellington and Newman would be well out in front. Having said that I have inherited the family nose and, though not Newmanesque am never going to have a problem keeping my glasses on.
I am much the same as far as glasses retention goes.
It is handy. Julia has a rather small nose and in her younger days had much trouble with glasses slipping.