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The garden was looking very refreshed as I wandered around this morning. Most blooms bore baubles of raindrops.
Bees were making up for being confined in hives by the recent precipitation.
By lunchtime, I had finished reading 
Hibbert’s well researched history is founded on the subject’s personal correspondence and contemporary observations. Like many great men, our national hero comes across has a man of two halves. Undoubtedly kind and generous to his men and to many others Nelson’s relationship with Lady Emma Hamilton was seen as folly by many, and, even as demonstrated by his own letters he must have treated his wife very badly. This Viking paperback of 1994 contains no identification of the painter of the cover portrait.
After lunch, Jackie and I visited the sites of the two scarecrows missing from our last visit. Prince Eric, now wearing a rain hood, perched on a hedge at Ramblers in Woodcock Lane. I am very pleased to be able to report that a rebuilt Frog Prince again sits outside 49 Ashley Lane. His creator informed me that his battered body had lain on the ground and his decapitated head had hung from a branch.
We continued on a drive through the forest. Near Ogdens, a herd of deer got wind of my approach, and, turning tail, slowly picking up speed, elegantly trotted across the undulating terrain to safety over the brow of a hill.
Clusters of pesky flies surrounded somnolent ponies gathered together at North Gorley.
Other ponies mingled with visitors to Ibsley ford, some of whom competed to establish who could create a bigger splash.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s splendid spicy pork paprika with savoury rice. The Culinary Queen drank Coonwarra Chardonay 2016; Elizabeth and I chose Villanyi Merlot 2015 and drank some of it.
All of these photos were gorgeous Derrick. Loved the ones with the bees most
.
Thanks very much, Drew
Wow! So beautiful! You are so talented!
BloomsandBeautifuls.wordpress.com
Many thanks, B and B
Beautiful pictures, Derrick. the flowers indeed look refreshing. Culinary Queen is an apt title for Jackie… 🙂
Many thanks, Maniparna
Another lovely frog prince – this one looks much happier than the previous one I admired. (I seem to have a thing for frog princes, I wonder what that’s about!) That’s a really fabulous capture of the big splash Derrick – almost magical!
Many thanks, Pauline. You are a romantic 🙂 I was some distance away when I saw a ball thrown up and realised what would happen when it landed. I had one shot. The timing was lucky.
“Most blooms bore baubles of raindrops.” – Lovely words for beautiful photos. So Refreshing.
Thank you very much, Jeanne
What fun with the scarecrows! The ponies are beautiful 😊
Thank you very much, Dorinda
You’re very welcome! Happy to see you getting around! 🙂
Gorgeous photos
Many thanks, Cinnamon
You’re welcome
All life is here, Naval hero/philanderer, deer, horses, scarecrows, bees, roses.cuisine. You certainly cover much interesting ground in your blogs Derrick.
Many thanks, Roland. What a difference a day makes.
I thought the human prince was a beekeeper, given his head protection. Did someone beat up the frog prince? That is terrible. I’m glad there’s a new one. He’s quite charming. Your deer pictures are fabulous and your splash even more fabulous!
Thanks very much, Lisa. The frog prince was a casualty of the recent storm
Oh, I’m glad it wasn’t a vandal.
I love the raindrops on the flower pedals…so pretty. Fantastic photos, Derrick. That frog prince looks much happier.
Sorry for the typo “petals”
🙂
Thanks very much, Jill
Amazing expressions captured on the horses.
Derrick,
That first scarecrow in your blog would scare me. I am sure it keeps the crowd away!
Thanks a lot, Gary. It has got quite an expression
Love those roses and those deer and phonies. Nice capture as always Derrick.
Thanks very much, Arlene
So glad to see that the frog prince rebounded. It’s hard to keep a good frog down.
🙂 Many thanks, Laurie
You are very lucky because you have the opportunity to break with the routine of daily life!! I am starting my summer vacation from tomorrow!! I will return in September!! Kisses to all of you my friend!!! I will miss you!!!!
Thanks very much. Do enjoy your holiday, Efi. I look forward to your return.
Thank you for all Derrick!!!
Lovely gallery Derrick.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Around here, if you went to a park and saw a pony – someone would call the police or animal regulation! Sweet to see them roaming at will by you!!
Thanks very much, GP
Awesome Derrick, your photos of the deer on the move are superb.
Thanks very much, Ivor
Your roses are so beautiful. I’m always in awe when I see the ponies wandering about in your photos and now deer as well. You must live in magical place.
We do, Carol. Many thanks
I wonder under what spell you keep your flowers? They keep getting impossibly more beautiful in the next post and the next. You have described both deer and ponies in a pictorial vein. It occurs to me the ponies present an antithesis to the former.
Nicely observed, Uma. Thanks very much
Such excellent photos, Derrick. The flowers do look refreshed. I like that Frog Prince, and you managed to get the deer in motion. Yesterday, a neighbor posted a video taken in her yard of female deer chasing off a buck. She had wild turkeys, too, but no ponies. 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril. Well done, your neighbour
The flowers look good enough to eat.
Thanks very much, Leslie
I especially love the photos of the deer, Derrick. Is the darker one a different species?
This seems to be the winter colouring of the roe deer. One a bit ahead of the others, Cheryl. Thanks very much
So interesting! Thanks. (Off to Google to find out more. 🙂)
OH! the dear deer are so beautiful!
And I always love your photos of the ponies! I’ve never seen a dark brown deer! I wonder what kind he is?
YAY for the rain which makes all of nature happy!
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. We wondered about the deer, too. X
See my response to Cheryl. I looked it up
Beautiful roses! We pruned ours a few weeks back and new growth started already! Summer coming in early! 🙂
Many thanks, Rob
That pink rose is a real beauty! They are all gorgeous, but that one is such a lovely color.
Good to see the frog scarecrow back together again. 🙂
Thanks very much, Lavinia