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With yesterday’s snow now but a memory, today held a real promise of spring.
The Culinary Queen made us a picnic lunch,
half of which we consumed in Whitemoor Pool car park, which, in common with all other such New Forest facilities offers a really rocky ride from the road, riddled as it is with murky pothole pools. Ponies had been there before us.
On our way to the moors, we had enjoyed the drive along Lower Sandy Down where primroses, daisies, and crocuses thrust through the cropped sward on the shadow-striated banks of its clear, flowing, stream. One garden contained a huge fallen tree.
Just outside Brockenhurst, I hoped the stains streaking the backs of the legs of a runner towing his dog was mud thrown up by his trainers from the soggy terrain.
As opined by Jackie, if you live in a New Forest village you must expect equine visitors to you garden or any patch of grass outside. So it is with Brockenhurst, where ponies basked in the welcome sunshine.
Back home, a wander around the garden with its own early afternoon shadows, made clear that our plants have all survived.
We dined this evening on Jackie’s succulent pork chops flavoured with mustard and topped with almonds; crispy roasted potatoes; crunchy carrots and broccoli; and red cabbage, peppers and onions in red wine, with which I finished the Chateauneuf.
Beautiful spring landscapes, Derrick. It doesn’t look like the snow affected anything. It is good to see all that green and the lovely spring blooms. (It’s snowing here.) Those ponies are amazing to me, but I suppose it must be commonplace or expected as you said.
Thanks very much, Merril. I hope I never get to take the animals for granted
I remember the camellias and wood anemones from other years in your garden – they are favorites of mine. Can’t believe how many flowers you guys have already!
Very many thanks, Jodie
Beautiful gallery and I so glad about your garden. Flowers look gorgeous.
Thanks very much, Rupali
I loved your photos of the horses basking in the sunshine on the front grass area of the house in Brockenhurst, haha, over here, out in the country towns, it might be kangaroos on the front lawn.
Thanks a lot, Ivor. From what I’ve seen on film, the roos move a great deal faster than the ponies
Yes Derrick, very fast !!
Those ponies look right at home. 😀 … which is something I find rather wonderful, although I suppose it’s all commonplace to those humans who live there. 😀
Thanks a lot, Widders. You are right about the humans finding it commonplace; some men dislike them 🙁
What happy looking ponies and lovely spring captures Derrick.
Thanks very much, Miriam
I should love to look out my front window and see ponies lying about on my grass verge. I feel rather deprived!!
Many thanks, Pauline. That would be good
I thought those were tattoos on the runner’s legs…LOL! The weather sure made a turn…beautiful shots, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Jill
Was that a slab of pork pie atop the sandwiches? It certainly looks good enough to eat.
A runner with a dog, and stained legs, here, would be more like a runner with tattoos on his legs.
Try as I might I have been unable to purchase a “Baseball cap” with a reverse peak, the only ones I can find have forward facing peaks so it looks like I shall have to miss out.
Thankfully!
Pork pie, indeed. We have a surfeit of good outlets. Thanks a lot, Brian
I don’t believe I’ve ever made or eaten a succulent pork chop. I tend to over-cook them and they require vigorous and determined mastication. Do people ever feed the free range ponies apples or is that forbidden?
Many thanks, Susanne. People do feed the ponies, but it is not generally advised. It stops them foraging; too many apples are not good for them; they can bite. Some people feed them from their gardens – they queue up for this.
Goodness, Derrick, you just never stop taking beautiful photos. I love your celandines.
Lovely comment, Lisa. Many thanks
I
Wondered about those “muddy”
streaks, too!
Thanks a lot, Leslie 🙂
What a difference a day makes – I would like to see some side by side comparisons.
So nice to see the ponies relaxing in the sun rather than standing frigid in the snow!
You have made me hungry again!
Many thanks, Mary. Yes – what a difference. I hope you had a good meal
Picnic pies, potholes, ponies and plants, they are all produce pretty photographs. Or perhaps it is the passion of presenter that produces such beauties.
Such eloquent alliteration, Uma, for which I thank you.
Yes, another 10 out of 10 for the lunch. Hopefully, though, sausage rolls crop up from time to time?
The item on top of my box is a sausage roll!! Thanks a lot, John
One of the very few things I really miss about Britain is the Pork Pie. I am very glad this was included in the packed lunch and I am sure it enhanced what was clearly a beautiful day to perfection
Many thanks, Osyth. We are in good pork pie territory
I sustain myself with pâté en croute but nothing beats real PP … my mother always has one in the fridge to greet me when I visit 😀
🙂
Your lunch definitely made us hungry. And the flowers are back!
Yep. Winter gone we hope. Thanks very much LL/PS
How fun to expect horses! One of the things I enjoy so much about your blog is how you lovingly chronicle where you live. The cherry on the sundae, of course, is reading about Jackie’s fabulous meals.
Very many thanks, Laurie
I’m glad your plants have wintered well—it’s always a relief! And thank you for the pictures of the ponies. I always look forward to that!
Thanks very much, Diane
I can’t imagine looking out my window to see a group of ponies! That would be so cool
It sure would. Many thanks, Lynn
What pretty pictures, Derrick, and those ponies in the yard. I would love that. Thanks for the smile. 🙂
Many thanks, Diana
got lost in the stream.. thanks…=^_^=
Many thanks, Dymoon
waves to you across the puddles =^_^=
Preparing and packing picnics is one of my favorite things … next to consumi g them of course. Thank you for sharing a charming day out?
Thanks very much, Val. Reminds me of my Mum’s soggy tomato sandwiches taken to The Oval to watch cricket
It is almost as if the snow had never been! Lovely flowers – wild and in your garden.
Thanks a lot, Clare. We were lucky with the snow, but I gather some are predicting more in April
I saw that forecast yesterday! Thankfully, it never lasts long in April.
The food sounds as beautiful as the photos.
Thanks very much, Cathi
Awww, I love the charming gathering of ponies on the lawn of a quaint house!
The different nature pictures indicate Spring and it’s promises poking up, Derrick! Such pretty pictures with just the right variety, a bouquet to feast upon. . .
Very many thanks, Robin
A beautiful day for a forest drive. The ponies seem to be enjoying the weather , too!
Yes, Lavinia. I think they were relieved after the cold. Thanks very much