This afternoon Jackie drove me to the GP’s in Milford on Sea to order a repeat prescription.
We travelled via the winding, sunlit, autumnal, Barnes Lane.
We then turned back to the north of the forest.
Had the new traffic calming been installed on the road through Bramshaw, we wondered, in order to protect
the wandering donkeys always in evidence?
I have often seen them chewing prickly shrubs,
but a penchant for dried leaves was a new one for me.
Perhaps the efforts to slow the traffic had also been for the benefit of the basking, scratching, cud-chewing, cattle on and around the green, some of whom regularly diced with death.
The pannage period was not past for this parcel of pigs snuffling alongside Roger Penny Way. I was quite pleased to have positioned myself for these two shots, because I needed to venture down a soggy slope stepping over fallen, lichen covered, branches. Regular readers will know what happened last time I descended a much drier slope in a bit of a hurry.
Elizabeth is staying with Mum for a few days. Jackie and I dined on her splendid beef, mushrooms, and onion pie; Yorkshire pudding; new potatoes; roasted parsnips and butternut squash; and crisp cauliflower and carrots, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Calvet special release Merlot 2017.
I particularly like the top two photos, Derrick–a magical, golden path. The other shots are also beautiful bucolic views, and the photo of the cow’s face made me laugh. I’m glad you didn’t suffer for your art this time in getting a photo of the pigs. 🙂
It sounds like you and Jackie had quite a feast.
Many thanks, Merril. Almost every lane we drive down at the moment looks just like that – a combination of autumn leaves and low sun. It certainly was a feast.
Thanks for these wonderful photographs of New Forest Autumn and its wildlife, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Roland
Fabulous animals in the golden glow of autumn.
x
Many thanks, Melanie. Nice description
x 😊 x
Well done on staying upright whilst getting to the pigs. I rather like the shots of the donkey and its meal of dried leaves. I wonder if its the donkey version of a bag of crisps down pub………..
What a clever thought, Pauline. Maybe so 🙂 Thanks very much
Lovely pictures. Just don’t go scurrying down any slopes!
Many thanks, Cynthia 🙂
Oh I love these pictures, especially the ones of the donkeys. I pass by a horse farm every day that has one donkey. It always looks so cute next to the horses, but I can never get a good look (since I’m driving). Thanks for sharing!
Thanks very much, Mom
Okay, you know I spent 10 minutes looking at that first photo, don’t you? 🙂 We love your photographs, but please don’t get hurt for our entertainment, Derrick. 🙂
Very many thanks, Jill. That one was made especially 🙂 I’m trying to be careful.
The sentence that begins with Pannage period and all the other p-words sounds like pigs foraging.
So it does, Susanne. 🙂 Many thanks.
Donkeys and cows and pigs, oh my! 😀 I love the photos of the donkeys eating the leaves. 🙂 And that one cow looks like he has something to say. 🙂 Isn’t it wonderful to share the world with such amazing creatures?!
Oh, please be careful when you are taking photos, Derrick! We don’t want you to get hurt!
I wish I had a slice of the pie Jackie made! It sounds soooooooo delicious! 🙂
HUGS to all of you!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn. I really am trying to be careful. We are very lucky in our environment. The pie was superb. X
Oh, the close ups of the donkey & especially the cow looking back at you – I love them! Are these all with your newest camera? I feel like your colors have gotten more vibrant since you got that new one.
Thanks very much, Jodie. These were all with my Canon 300 lens which I have had ever since I bought the camera. I think the light quality at the moment really helps
Ah, of course – Our autumn light is also very special.
Love the way those animals seem to take over,
Not a care in the world.
Life as it should be!
It is all rather wonderful, Brian. Many thanks
Yum!!!
🙂 Thanks very much, Candy
I would think that the donkeys would be traffic calming enough. And that cow standing facing the tree while its companion lies on the grass begs for a comment bubble. Not sure what it would say.
“Get up, you lazy cow”? Many thanks, Lisa
Or maybe “This tree is in my way.” They aren’t very bright.
🙂
I love them all but your first photo is what I like best. It seems like a road less traveled.
Many thanks, Arlene. It is one of our wider lanes 🙂
Those are beautiful photos of nature melding into modernity. As usual, the balance of elements and colour is immaculate.
Thank you so much, as usual, Uma
What an idyllic part of the world you live in and what delicious sounding meals Jackie cooks.
True, and true. Thanks very much, Suzanne
in your family we like to eat 😀
We do, Yoshimi. I have a wife who likes to cook. Many thanks
Derrick, Love the beautiful fall photos and the animals enjoying the leaves that have fallen on the ground
Thanks very much, Gary
Thanks for sharing your story. I love the leafy lane.
Thanks very much, Sherry. I wonder how much of the countryside you saw when growing up in London. I didn’t see a lot of it
A few times. A summer camp, a girl guides camping trip, Wales one summer and a trip to Scotland were I came down with measles and I was quarantined with my mother. I always loved countryside better than cities.
🙂
Do these wandering donkeys, cows and pigs belong somewhere? Aren’t the owners wary of thieves?
They all belong to someone. All seem to have tags. Perhaps some are stolen. I don’t know. Thanks very much, GP
Wonderful, wonderful photos of the animals, especially the close-up of the donkey.
Many thanks, Laurie
You’re killing me with those bucolic winding roads, and all those wonderful animals grazing by the road. I want to live where you live!
Very many thanks, Anna
I am so fascinated with your photos! I am surprised the animals can freely roam the roads even in remote areas.
Those who live in the forest have ancient rights of pasturage. Thanks very much, Eugenia
I wouldn’t have thought they would eat dry leaves either. Perhaps it is instinctively self-medicating in some way. We were talking about your New Forest wildlife only yesterday driving down the Natchez Trace. I counted 32 wild turkeys and 8 deer.
Thanks very much, Susan. We don’t have the turkeys; the deer keep out of sight as much as they can
The deer are a bit scary as they are so unpredictable and might as easily leap towards the road as away from it.
I can imagine. I once found a dead one by the roadside
Lovely lighting on the cow photos. Pigs look good too.
Would it be a wise precaution for Jackie to carry a video camera at all times? Footage of you somersaulting down a hill could be worth good money.
She certainly did regret not having one handy 🙂 Many thanks, Quercus
🙂
Well, I suppose donkeys need some chips or crisps from time to time! I certainly would be bored with just grass or salad everyday. Good to know you’re not being too adventurous and running down slippery slopes. 🙂
Many thanks, Rose
Maybe there’s something in the leaves they need? … love the skritch-of-the-chin shot. 😀
Glad you spotted that, Widders. Thanks very much.
These are so lovely. I hope the new régime at WordPress does not cause difficulties inserting pictures. They are a delight.
Many thanks, Micheline. I haven’t mastered it yet
So many lovely photos of the animals you see on your travels. I like the close up of the donkey very much.
Thanks very much, Clare
The leaves are so beautiful!
Thanks very much, Sylvie