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Although the rain has stopped, we are still enduring gale force winds. This involved us picking up branches and various other bits of debris.
Elizabeth came for the afternoon. After lunch Jackie drove us all to Hockey’s Farm at Ibsley, where the ladies enjoyed cream teas and I drank sparkling water.
At the farm, larger than average donkeys shared a field with the alpacas.
Part of the complex is an attractive thatched house,
by the side of which lie a pair of antique ploughshares.
Seated at one of the tables whilst her companion visited the café, a woman engaged in conversation with her dog.
The back door of the café looked out onto the scene.
Elizabeth photographed me at our table. Later we cropped it to produce an up-to-date WP profile picture.
A Milky Way of mushrooms outside Hyde
prompted Elizabeth later to photograph a puffball growing in the gravel of our Shady Path.
At Frogham, my sister was delighted to encounter her ‘first baby donkey’,
seen blackberrying with its mother.
Something was making the foal itch. Elizabeth created this image.
Back home we dined on Jackie’s perfect pasta arrabbiata with sugar snaps. Elizabeth and I finished the malbec, whilst Jackie drank Hoegaarden.
Afterwards, Elizabeth and I examined our photographs.
P.S. See Paol’s comment below for correct information on the old ploughs
Delightful photos, Derrick! It looks like a wonderful day–and you got a great profile picture, too. The baby donkeys are adorable, and I like the Milky Way of Mushrooms, too.
Very many thanks, Merril
donkeys, mushrooms and you.. what more could one ask for. It is a good picture of you…
loved the donkeys…
Very many thanks, Dymoon
You look very content, I must say 🙂
Many thanks, Rachael
Delightful Derrick 💛
Many thanks, Val
Love the galaxy of mushrooms and I like the sound of that dinner. 🙂
Thanks very much, Mary.
Good profile pic 🙂
I like the gravatar of the donkey!
I just knew you’d have something to say on those lines 🙂 Many thanks, Bruce
Thanks, Derrick. I knew I was being rather predictable. But I might say in passing, O Vain One, that it’s a very nice photograph!
Haw, haw
Lovely profile picture … I approve!
Very many thanks, Osyth
Good profile picture. It shows an eager sort of look.
Now, there is a lady who enjoys intelligent conversation …
Many thanks, Leslie. So the dog wasn’t too hidden.
No; and also visible was a look of intelligent comprehension I find absent in most of my listeners.
🙂
Aw…I want a donkey! I like your new picture, Derrick.
Thanks ever so, Jill
The baby donkey looks totally adorable! 💕 And you look very good yourself, Derrick. Such a nice new gravatar! 😊
Very many thanks, Dina
We used to eat puffballs. We sliced them and fried them in butter. Yum. I can’t recommend, though, as I’m not sure whether that’s the same thing. I’ve never seen one gnawed on before like that…
Thanks very much, Lisa. Jessica was a great fungal forager. We ate them the same way, but neither Jackie nor I would be sure about this one. I wonder whether rabbits like them 🙂
Derrick this a nostalgic post for me, even we live in white picket fences, New York City doesn’t have the outdoors you do! Imagine visiting a farm at spur of moment! Thats precious! Thanks for sharing!🌻
Thanks so much Elisabet
I love the thatched roof on the house at Hockey’s Farm. Such peaceful, green and beautiful photos of your day! The baby donkey is adorable. 🙂
Thanks very much, Lavinia
Great photos, Derrick. Love your portrait photo. 😃
Thanks very much, Sylvia
Such and idyllic setup in the 21st Century! I can’t blame Elizabeth for the crush: the baby donkey is adorable.
Many thanks, Uma. It all makes up for the march of ‘progress’.
When I read that you ate arrabbiata with sugar snaps, I thought at first that they were biscuits. But, I’m hoping you meant peas!
Peas it was, Yvonne. Many thanks
It’s lovely to be able to compare photos with someone who was taking them at the same time. The baby donkey is very cuddly looking, though I dare say those long legs and hooves might express its displeasure if anyone tried it.
Thanks very much, Susan
Nothing was wrong with the old picture of you, but up-to-date photos are always nice. I like having a friend from across the creek.
Many thanks, Jim. One of the blessings of blogging.
Baby donkeys are very, very cute.
Derrick, if this old bloke who was brought up on a farm can have permission to be pedantic the two farm implements you show are very old ploughs. It is the sharp pointy bit at the front that cuts through the soil that is the “plough’s shear.” Hence ploughshare.. Sorry mate, but I couldn’t help myself.
No apologies required Paol. I rely on my friends to put me right. See my P.S. on post.
oooh baby donkeys…..always induces a wide grin seeing that cuteness….and nice pic of you too by the way 🙂
Many thanks, Kim
hee haw hee haw….are they noisy donkeys?
They are eerily silent
I LOVE your blog!
That’s lovely, Flower
The thatched house, the donkeys, the mushrooms, all reminded me of stories by Enid Blyton 🙂
Many thanks, Lakshmi
Sweet donkey!
Thanks very much, Eliza
I enjoyed this very much
Many thanks, Pleasant
I have to say I am not all that fond of mushrooms but your picture of the field of white caps was undeniably lovely. As were the thatched house and donkey pics–Elizabeth’s included! Guess that covers it.
Guess it does, Cynthia. Thanks very much
Love the babies! Adorable pictures. Just reminded me. ….gotta run and slice mushrooms for dinner!
Many thanks, Mommer
Such beautiful photos and an amazing thatched cottage.. And so loved those Donkeys .. And Looking Good Derrick too 🙂
Many thanks, Sue
What a nice outing. I absolutely loved the mushroom photograph. I wonder if you should not send it to National Geographic.
Many thanks, Geetha. Most encouraging suggestion
Most welcome Derrick. I feel you have a natural knack for photography and should use it to affect more people’s moods than you currently do
Cream tea in a thatched cottage sounds idyllic.
It is pretty iconic, LL/PS. Thank you
What a sweet little animal is that donkey 🙂
Thanks very much, Brian.
Another great day out, a baby donkey, a thatched cottage and a new profile picture – you spoil us Derrick! |:-)
🙂 Thanks a lot, Quercus