After lunch I watched recorded highlights of yesterday’s international rugby match between England and Australia. I then prised Jackie from her greenhouse so she could take me for a drive in the forest.
“Look, Derrick”, she announced, indicating a plant on this sunny but cold afternoon, “it’s a little chilly in the garden”.
Many moorland trees have now lost most of their leaves.
Whitemoor Pond, near Brockenhurst, is one of those many normal waterlogged areas of the New Forest that has been bone dry for most of this year,
In recent days it has filled up again, which is good news for ducks, specifically a happy paddle of mallards.
From there we motored on to Burley, where, at the busy crossroads outside The Burley Inn
a suckling foal caused great delight among the youngest visitors
who failed to notice the other pony ambling amongst the traffic.
It is not that unusual to see a grey mare with a black foal.
Approaching sunset we enjoyed the pastel skies beyond Picket Post,
then sped back to Burley to watch the golden globe descending.
This evening Jacqueline joined us for dinner before returning to stay with Mum. Jackie produced a superb starter of hot and spicy vegetable soup with homemade croutons followed by classic cottage pie served with crisp carrots, cauliflower, and runner beans. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden while Elizabeth and I finished the Brouilly.
Such a beautiful end to the day with gorgeous colours in the sky.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie x
Love the horsey traffic!
Thanks very much, Cindy
Ha-ha Jackie!! 🙂 Did you mean a ‘grey’ pony with a black foal Derrick? (Sorry, retired English teacher!) It’s still raining here, no long evenings and late sunsets for me to enjoy so I am happy to share yours.
I did, indeed, Pauline. Thanks very much. A WP correction I missed – I’m grateful for yours. Are you too near the Antarctic?
Yes, too near the Antarctic. Apparently it is melting so I’m wondering if some of it is condensation which then falls on us. 🙂
🙁
Your Jackie is indefatigable.
She is, indeed, Gwen. Many thanks
Wonderful photo, especially the trees and ducks. And yes, it was an entertaining rugby match.
Many thanks, Alex. Later, I watched the breathtaking Wales/South Africa game
Some great rugby this weekend. Well this whole autumn series really
Indeed. I still have the last game to watch, so don’t mention it 🙂
Derrick, i think the green house has become Jackie’s second home! From one gardener to another, I appreciate people that like to tend to and take pride un their gardens!bplants are living things too and we need to love and nuture them! I have the biggest flower garden here in my RV park. Nothing like the one Terry and I had in Dallas, or the one you have in England, but nice just the same.
That is good to know, Gary. Thanks very much
I really love the tree shots …
Thanks very much, msw
Stunning colours stunning photographs as always. Thank you
Thanks very much, Dad
Love your winter tree images, Derrick. I don’t often see a horse in traffic, either. 🙂
Thanks very much, Jane. I’m pleased this took me to your blog
The Head Gardener still has a lot to do in the garden I see despite the weather change. She must enjoy going to the forest too.
Right on both counts, GP. The greenhouse is rapidly filling up – cuttings now moving indoors. Thanks very much
Jackie looks beautiful in purple! I love her scarf. Gorgeous sunset shots, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill
A lovely day, by the look and sound of it.
Thanks very much, Mike
Beautiful photos, Derrick. I particularly like the pond shots, though I love how the foal is having a drink outside the inn. 🙂
Nice comment on the foal’s drink outside the inn, Merril. Thanks for all.
Those sky pictures, and the trees against the sky, are lovely. And Jackie looks to be saying “Derrick, it’s cold in the garden, much less out in the forest. Are you sure?”
Thanks very much, Lisa. Fortunately, Jackie needs no persuasion for a drive
Love the moon shots and Jackie’s photo. Hi Jackie! Your silhouette shots are lovely too.
Many thanks, Arlene.
Thanks!
That foal looks as big as its mother!
It was quite big, Judy. Many thanks
The trees are readying themselves for the long winter. I wonder how they cook their food sans leaves? The golden globe is charm personified.
Very many thanks, Uma
Where did you get the runner beans? Supermarket beans are so disappointing. My dad used to grow good beans. My new vegetable patch will have a good bit given over to runner beans in 2019.
Think they came from a small local greengrocer. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Did they have real beans inside? These tasteless things from Kenya are hopeless!
They did. Agreed, Andrew
the day was beautiful
Thank you very much, Yoshimi
Gorgeous sunset! But you knew I’d say that lol
🙂 Many thanks, Dorinda
You’re welcome, my friend 🙂
Make way for horses! 🙂
Your tree photos are spectacular, Derrick! and your pastel skies are soft and comforting! 🙂
HUGS for you and Jackie! May you both say well, safe and warm!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn X
The white horses of the Camargue all start off dark, so perhaps that foal will change colour eventually.
That’s what Jackie thought, John. Thanks a lot
You didn’t mention the score. (37 – 18) How thoughtful! But anyway, you did post shots of ducks. If God had stopped when he made ducks and said, ‘That is the entirety of avian creation,” I would still have been delighted.
I didn’t want to rub any noses in it, Paol. 🙂
Very decent of you.
🙂
Beautiful photo’s Derrick! I see many similarities between your garden ( Jackie’s garden!) 😉 and ours.
I love the mallards. 🙂
Your last pic reminds me of a Youtube video i saw recently where the creator (little ‘c’) tried to infer the video was proof the sun is a mere few hundred miles away, and orbits over the earth as it was both in front of and ‘behind’ some of the clouds at the same time! (Sigh).
🙂 Thanks very much, Bob
Glad the pond is full again. I am still amazed to see a picture of horse casually trotting amid cars. Beautiful sunsets and yet another feast.
Very many thanks, Laurie. It is quite amazing
I shall have to remember ‘a happy paddle of mallards’ (though here, they’re anything but happy as other half won’t let them stay on our pond.)
I love your photos, Derrick but – oooh, the move into winter is telling now.
Thanks a lot, Val. It is on its way
Liked your photographs, particularly the shades of sunset I
Thanks very much, Uday
My mouth always waters when reading of your meals….my goodness you are fortunate! I have been eating salads and sandwiches for so long since my husband was ill awhile ( and he is the more willing and better cook by far) and then we had other family matters to deal with.
That foal looks rather large–they grow fast, I guess! Nice capture!
Thanks very much, Cynthia. From our observations I’d say that foal was probably born late this spring.
A pun, a sunset and cottage pie. Perfection. 🙂
🙂 🙂 Thanks so much, Quercus
Was that a typo ‘Great mare? that suckling foal looks a bit big to still be sucking on poor mummy mare.
Is it likely that the foal will change colour as it gets older?
Lovely sunset!
Thanks very much, Brian. It was a WP amendment, now corrected to grey. Others have made the colour change suggestion about the foal. They do seem to still plug on when they are quite big.
The Yanks like to mess around with OUR language don’t they?