This morning I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2021/11/17/a-knights-tale-66-horse-and-dolphin-yard/
Jackie continued with the garden refuse incineration and after lunch
we emptied the last of the compost bags’ twiggy bits onto the middle bin to let them dry out before finally burning them; then carried half a dozen of the now empty bags to leave them at our free horse manure source in South Sway Lane. The yellow plank on the compost bin was the wonky mantelpiece we replaced soon after we arrived seven years ago.
Opposite the horse field in the lane a young copper beech was lit by the low sun.
We popped into Kitchen Makers where we delivered Richard’s jacket that he had left behind yesterday, then continued into the forest.
A bush of holly berries nodded to a tree draped with poppies of remembrance in Church Lane.
As we left Brockenhurst a silhouetted pony ambled across the road. Jackie parked on a patch of gravel beside the speed limit sign while I photographed
this animal and its companions against the still lowering sun.
Mushrooms grew on the verges of Sandy Down.
Wintery sunset signalled its approach from behind trees at Norley Wood.
This evening we dined on slow roasted belly of pork with crunchy crackling and Bramley apple sauce; crisp roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding; tender runner beans; firm Brussels sprouts; crunchy carrots, and tasty gravy, with which Jackie drank more of the Chardonnay, and I drank Azinhaga de Ouro 2019.
Another lovely day.
Lovely photos, Derrick. Jackie is a hard worker taking care of all the foliage that needs to be burned. Once again, your dinner sounds so delicious, Jackie, you’re a wonderful cook! βΊοΈπ¬π§β€οΈ
Thank you so much, from us both, John.
Your welcome my friends! ππ¬π§πΊπΈ
I can’t get over how hard Jackie works!
No – she is a grafter. Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Jackie should be ready for a good long winter rest when you are done cleaning up your yard. It looks like your internet was working better this morning.
Thanks very much, AnneMarie. Yes. All was well.
You two are so ambitious! Did various people contribute to the poppies of remembrance, linking one poppy at a time? I like the thought of that.
I think so – in various locations, Judy. Thanks very much
Did you know this was a tradition in the States as well? https://www.vfw.org/community/community-initiatives/buddy-poppy. Every year they would sell Buddy Poppies in memory of veterans and everyone would wear theirs for the day.
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I didn’t know that, Judy. Thanks for the link
Those mushrooms look like little funnels!
I love the pony pictures, especially the silhouette.
Good job burning, Jackie. You must be glad that job is finished!
Thank you very much, GP, from us both
Gorgeous autumnal shots Derrick
Thanks very much, Sheree
Pleasure Derrick
There is a thread of peace and ‘winding down’ running through your post for today – including the ponies and the sunset pictures (lovely all). This is a sign of heading into winter, whereas we are enjoying the petrichor as drops of rain fall for the first time in a while, the greening of leaves and grass, the new wild flowers, and the sense that any day now swimming in our pool will bring welcome refreshment from the heat!
Good news, Anne. Thanks very much
I agree with everyone about how hard Jackie works. That’s a lot of smoke though.
Beautiful photos–I particularly like the tree silhouette (also the pony with the same tree, I think?).
Yes. You are right about the pony/tree, Merril. That was the last bit of green stuff burning. Thanks very much.
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Wonderful photos. The Holly berries intrigued me.
Thank you very much, Mrs W. I’m pleased you noticed them
Your welcome.
What a productive day!
I’d love to know what those fungi are, if you know their name – there are several around here, too – they are very attractive; like little space ships on stalks!
Thanks very much, Emma. Have a look at Clare’s comment with links.
Thank you, Derrick!
I really like it when readers engage with each other.
Great work, Jackie!
Great documenting of the work, Derrick!
Beautiful photos today! Love the leaves, the nodding of the berries and the poppies, the pony silhouette, the upside-down-umbrella mushrooms, and the sun setting. π
(((HUGS))) π
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn.
A bit late for bonfire night Derrick!
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Your days are always an interesting round up. In this series, I was struck that your neighbour’s house forms part of your boundary fence. How curious. I’m glad you warned them about the burnoff. Not that I’d expect any less consideration from you two. So…I wonder whether those horses will contribute to stuffing your empty bags? And the mantlepiece – just one more wonky item from a house that never fails to deliver curiosities π .
Thank very much, Gwen. The neighbour’s house is a much extended cottage. Much of their garden was once part of ours. Yes, our house is a splendid example of dodgy DIY.
Your mushrooms photos seem to stir my thoughts, and your image made me remember this old poem Derrick …
“A Mushroom Anthem”
Why is there always a dark side,
When the moon shines so bright.
Whoβs taking us on this blindfold ride,
While our reasoning is out of sight.
Why is there always a silver lining,
When the clouds are hovering so low.
Whoβs making the lower world glowing,
While our malignant demons grow and grow.
Why do we call them magic mushrooms,
When all they bring is gloom and doom.
Whoβs controlling this aging Mother,
While our pleading hands are hustled undercover.
So apt, Iv or. Thanks a lot
Thank you Derrick
I love your post Derrick! The school bus yellow mantle must have made quite a statement. The poppy remembrance tree was a nice touch.
Thanks a lot, Dwight. Typical of the workmanship in this place the shelf was neither straight nor stable – you leant on it at your peril π
Ha ha… it is good your replaced it.
π
Jackie is super woman! Lovely photos today, Derrick. I love the poppy bush.
Thank you very much, Jill.
What a busy day! I like the poppy tree and the photo of the toadstools which might be Giant Funnels https://ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/273-leucopaxillus-giganteus.html or even Milk-white Brittlegills https://ultimate-mushroom.com/edible/233-russula-delica.html
I love your final image, the wintry light and the tree silhouette.
Thanks very much, Clare. I go for your first mushroom option, but I won’t test their edibleness π
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Thank you for those links, Clare; I think they may be Giant Funnels. Both apparently edible – though I’m not sure I have the courage to try – I wonder if you’ve eaten either?!
No I haven’t and I doubt if I would ever. I am not a risk-taker when it comes to food! π
Nor me – hence I haven’t either… but it seems such a shame not to be so sure – especially when forking out at the supermarket for fungi that look so similar. Stick to ‘better safe than sorry’, though! π
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I thought the two ponies against the low sun was the best of some fine pictures today.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Mushrooms remind me of Enid Blyton π. The poppies look beautiful. And your photos are lovely.
Thank you very much, Lakshmi
What a beautiful light – beautifully captured πππ
Thanks very much, Val X
Lovely arboreal photos, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Dolly.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I know you’re glad to have the incineration done. Thanks for recycling the bags!
And thank you, JoAnna. The horse owners were out of bags.
Jackie looks determined in the upkeep of the conquered territory and presents great photographic storytelling opportunities. The silhouetted horse and the arched country road with a lone car are beautiful captures.
Thank you so much for your close reading and comments, Uma.
Beautiful light behind those trees!
Thanks very much, Laurie
The pony images are lovely, especially the silhouette.
Jackie you must be relieved that the garden waste is cleared up and the bonfires have finally finished, I envy your energy; you are one amazing lady. π.
You Derrick must be pleased to have completed scourging the paperwork.
It’s Thursday! Today’s the day. All the very best with your new system! π
The engineer arrived at 7.50! Sue. Thank you so much from both of us
I presume that somebody has the job of taking down all those poppies. That will be a time consuming task although clearly worth it, given the visual effect they had.
Thanks very much, John.
Oh, my, dinner sounds so, so good. My neighbor has a copper beech tree, rather large and just beginning to drop its leaves which will blow into my yard AFTER I raked my yard clear of maple leavesπ₯΄. Great pictures if your βwalk wherever we want to goβ animals.
Thank you very much, Steve
Beautiful photos, Derrick. I love the sunlit copper beech tree.
Thank you very much, Eugi
Most welcome, Derrick.
I love all these photos–so evocative of fall and the colors in the poppies and the holly pop. All the mist and smoke says fall. As for mushroom descriptions–I’m with you. I don’t know why the descriptions so often say they are edible…but might give you a stomach upset. I will stick to the ones I know for sure…or one of those logs impregnated with mushroom spores…
Thanks very much, Lisa
I enjoyed all your photos from the day, Derrick and Jackie, especially the Copper Beech portrait. That is a very beautiful composition, and speaks of the season along with that wintry sunset.
Thank you very much, Lavinia.
was a productive day! love the sunlit beech tree! π
Thank you very much, Lola. I trust you continue to improve
almost there, Derrick. thank you very much!
Finally autumn came to your garden. Let it rest till the next spring!
Thanks very much, Alexander
I like these photos a lot, Derrick. The copper beech in Autumn clothes, the holly berries and poppies, and especially the two darkest ones that show a shimmering outline of ponies.
Thanks very much, Crystal. I am particularly pleased that you liked those last two
What a beautiful autumn day π
Thank you very much, Ribana