A Penchant For Dried Leaves

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.

0 comments

  1. 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. πŸ™‚
    It sounds like you and Jackie had quite a feast.

  2. 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………..

  3. 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!

  4. Okay, you know I spent 10 minutes looking at that first photo, don’t you? πŸ™‚ We love your photographs, but please don’t get hurt for our entertainment, Derrick. πŸ™‚

  5. Donkeys and cows and pigs, oh my! πŸ˜€ I love the photos of the donkeys eating the leaves. πŸ™‚ And that one cow looks like he has something to say. πŸ™‚ 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! πŸ™‚
    HUGS to all of you!!! πŸ™‚

  6. 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.

    1. 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

  7. 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.

  8. Derrick, Love the beautiful fall photos and the animals enjoying the leaves that have fallen on the ground

      1. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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. πŸ™‚

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