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We spent a sweltering morning on garden tasks. Jackie prepared an area in the West Bed from which Aaron had removed an ancient, unproductive, rose yesterday for a replacement yet to be acquired. I occupied myself dead-heading and clearing up.
This afternoon we drove into the forest. Jackie did her best to avoid the bank holiday visitors, many of whom were beginning their slow trek home.
We found ourselves at Thorney Hill where the views down the slopes were uninterrupted; the bracken is beginning to adopt its autumn colouring;
and blackberries sprawled over the hedgerows.
The occasional car, and one sole cyclist occupied Braggers Lane,
further along which we stopped to observe horses in a paddock. Some wore fly masks.
The fencing cast criss-crossed shadows.
As we were about to leave, Heather and her companion drove up. Despite her Scots accent, this delightful woman owned one of the horses. Another belonged to her friend. Heather was enjoying an ice-cream. She offered us each a Magnum, for which we were suitably grateful.
The two horses were eager to be tackled up for a ride. Their noses appeared over the barred gate, and I do believe that, as they were petted, they sampled Heather’s ice-cream cone.
Once my driver had consumed her choc ice on a stick, we waved farewell and continued on our way.
Ponies at Furze Hill cropped the grass
beside a stream
into which one of this year’s foals ventured
for a paddle while it chomped on blackberries.
Possibly it was this creature’s parent that pounded down the slope and across the pool to the far end; slaked its thirst, then clambered past me to the road. I thought it best to move out of the way. It looked quite heavy.
I had made my way down to the pebbly bed of the stream, so, when a passing cyclist called to her companion to look at the baby down there, it took me a second or two to realise she was referring to the young pony.
After this we enjoyed a drink in the Foresters Arms at Frogham, and returned home.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wonderful beef in red wine; creamy mashed potato; and crunchy carrots, runner beans, and broccoli. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Fleurie.
Breathtaking photos!
Thank you, Rekha
That looks like a lovely day. And any day with ice cream can’t be all bad. Beautiful photos. Had to chuckle about the cyclist’s comment.
Thanks very much, Robin, especially for the chuckle 🙂
I like that 😊
Thank you, Antonio
Take a look on my last post and follow me if you like it 😀.
Oh, yet another lovely day. 🙂 I enjoyed knowing it.
Thanks very much, Pamela
Catapulted back to infancy 😀 Beautiful pony photos Derrick.
Many thanks, Pauline
Beautiful horses! I wonder what they make of ice cream ;).
Short work, I imagine, Luanne 🙂 Thank you very much
Hahaha, you’re right about that!
The forest seems to be taking on a relaxed air, and you captured it perfectly.
Many thanks, Quercus. The A31/M27 route from the west was jammed solid with all those folk returning home. As we crossed it, Jackie wondered if I’d like to photograph it. Perhaps the contrast would have been interesting
It must be a bit of a trial living in such a beautiful area in the holiday period.
Thanks for that, Quercus. It does get especially congested
I just love all you animal photographs, you catch them just as they are, lovely!
But you have me wondering what has “Despite her Scots accent, this delightful woman owned one of the horses” a Scots accent to do with owning one of the horses?
I know that a Scot is hard, (for me with my loss of hearing, impossible) to understand, but I can’t figure out why it would worry the horse; which probably thinks it’s the humans way of neighing
Hah, M’Lord, you got in before me. I, too, wondered about a Scot and horse ownership.
Perhaps they’re only allowed Shetland Ponies!
She was out of her natural habitat and therefore not a locally born forester. Thanks a lot, Brian
I’ve had a box of six mini Magnums in my fridge for weeks and managed to resist opening it until this morning…
I’m pleased to have prompted your rectifying that situation, Mary. 🙂 Thanks a lot.
Wow…horses! such beautiful photos of them all.
Many thanks, Arlene
I enjoyed the drive ‘with you’. Beautiful country side. Thanks.
Many thanks, Steve
A pony post! Yay. They never fail to make me smile.
Thanks a lot, Susanne. Happy to promote a smile
A handsome foal with a lot of personality. Beautiful photos, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Lavinia
As of yesterday, I am the proud owner of a new pressure cooker, to replace one that stood me in good stead for 20 years. I’m going to look for a beef and red wine recipe.
Thanks a lot, Yvonne. Enjoy it
What beautiful photography. I love all your shots of horses, they are so gorgeous as are your shots on waters. Thanks for sharing such a lovely day!
Many thanks, Geetha
Such beautiful photos, Derrick, especially of the horses. Thank you!
Many thanks, Merril
Even the criss-cross shadow of the fencing becomes a beauty at your hands. You, sir, are a hardened naturalist!
Very many thanks, Uma. When I showed Heather that one she asked if I was a pro 🙂
Love those horses! Especially the foal eating blackberries. My that road is narrow. As a biker, I would be a bit nervous biking on it, but I suppose local folks are used to it.
Thanks, Laurie. The main problem is cyclists who hire the bikes and don’t have any more road sense that the ponies
Well, let us hope that someone is watching over them because as I have learned the hard way, when there is a confrontation between a car and a bike, the car always wins. Fortunately, when I had my confrontation, I was young, the car was going slowly, and all I got were a few bruises. But I still remember the event and certainly don’t want to repeat it. 😉
A lesson well learned
Thank you, Suman
Lovely gallery Derrick.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Such gorgeous pictures! A lovely day with ice cream too!
Many thanks, Lynn
Your photos of horses always make me happy. It brings back memories of my farm and the boys’ ponies. Thank you, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Elizabeth
I haven’t tried a Magnum ice cream but think the layers of chocolate (and caramel) sound scrumptious.
The water perfectly reflected with the pair of burnt sienna colored ponies was gorgeous. All of the photos of horses were beautiful.
This was a lovely post, Derrick.
Very many thanks, Robin
Sorry, I swear this happens once in awhile, repeating my comment twice. Feel free to delete one on each post. 🤗
No problem, Robin. Double thanks