Holmsley Passage cuts through stretch of moorland on the way to Burley. There is a sweep down to a deep valley which rises as a little bridge takes us up the other side.
Late this afternoon, as we drove along it, the sunshine and showers offered enticing landscape lighting
bringing a glint to a the eye of a trotting thrush.
Bright yellow gorse blended with burnished bracken,
among which bronzed browsing ponies nibbled
and cloven-hoofed cattle chomped.
A black cow ambled across the junction with the main road into Burley,
pausing to admire its reflection in a gutter pool.
Crossing the road at this point, and turning right takes us up to a popular dog walking spot.
Halfway up the slope lies a small pond also harbouring reflections
admired by a distant robin, its breast russet as an autumn leaf, standing out against the shadow of a lichen covered tree,
Back towards Burley the lowering sun still burnished the trees and the bracken among which
walkers wandered
with their straining dogs,
while ponies cropped the grass.
One canine creature, its tail aloft, passed a busy grey pony. They did not pass the time of day.
Heading towards Lyndhurst the skies grew more dramatic,
in preparation for impending sunset which would soon be visible from the approach to Holmsley Road.
Elizabeth returned this evening after her next stint of moving in to her Pilley House. We dined on bacon chops; sautéed potatoes; spicy ratatouille; and piquant cauliflower cheese Jackie drank Hoegaarden and my sister and I drank Terre de Galets Cotes du Rhone 2016.
Fantastic photography, Derrick, especially reflections in water and sunset images. I also loved the “bronzed browsing ponies” – language usage at its best!
Very many thanks, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick
I do believe that that is the most poetic that any of your posts have been. Absolutely beautiful. Nothing specifically in the individual comments or photographs. But as a whole – beautiful.
Very many thanks, Paol. Your opinion much appreciated.
Those sunsets peeking through the trees are just gorgeous Derrick.
Have a great evening
Thanks very much, Drew
Nice peaceful photos and great pictures of the sky Derrick.
Thanks very much, Gary
Beautiful colours again. Warms the heart. Needed as grey cold rain seems set in for December in Yorkshire.
Thanks very much, Dad. We have our share of rain, but, so far it is still pretty warm
Such wonderful photos, Derrick, and I love your commentary, too. Autumn certainly has its own colors–not drab at all!
Very many thanks, Merril
Sometimes you let loose your inner poet and the beauty of your language almost outshines the beauty of the photographs. xo
Very many thanks, Pauline. Much appreciated X
Wow! So many gorgeous photos, Derrick! Cheers!
Thanks very much, Jill
Great job Derrick.
Thank you very much, Rupali
Each time I see the photographs you and Jackie take I’m struck at what an exceptionally beautiful place you live. It must be heavenly!
It is quite unique, Elizabeth. We are most fortunate
Looks like a lovely passage indeed! 🙂 Great pictures!
Thanks very much, MB
Lovely, meaningful photos.
Your photos are gorgeous as usual and I also really love your descriptions of the places that you travel to!
Thank you very much, Lynn
Very soothing pics. Thanks.
Thanks a lot, Alex
The light in some of your photos reminds me of a Van Gogh painting. The light in others reminds me of paintings by artists from the Hudson River school of landscape painting in mid-19th century America.
Your descriptions are always well worded.
Very many thanks, Nicki
A wonderful capture of an English Autumn!
Very many thanks, Andrew
Gourgous photographs today. Love the warm light.
Thanks very much, Sherry. Fortunately we picked the best time to go out
It was almost as good as being there one’s self. With the added benefit of prosaic commentary. Wonderful job here, Derrick.
You certainly have some amazing ‘Wild’life in your region.
I particularly love the Pony head shot, the last sunset and the Thrush.
Do you get the same thrill i do when editing the images you’ve just taken on the computer and up pops a detail like the highlight in his eye?? 😉
Thanks for these lovely comments, Bob. Yes, I do enjoy discovering what the camera picks up.
the evening light has given beautiful colors to your images
Thanks very much, Yoshimi
Your photos and your words made me sigh. 🙂 Such beauty in both! And just looking at them here brings a calm and warmth to me. I love the light and shade in so many of your photos. 🙂
Well, even cows have to check “the mirror” to make sure they are lookin’ good! Wouldn’t want to have a cow-lick and not know about it! 😮 😛
HUGS to all!!! 🙂
Many thanks for such wonderful comments, Carolyn X
The captions under your pictures, when read together, almost make a beautiful poem, Derrick. Intentional or not, it’s pretty neat!
Thanks for making sure to take pictures of the day’s animals. And please have Jackie give me a hint about the bacon pork chops?
Thanks a lot, GP. Jackie says they were simply baked in silver foil yesterday, removing foil at the last minute to brown them. Had she had some Dijon mustard she would have spread that on them
Thank your lovely wife for me!
Will do
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I think I told you once before, but as a reminder, you take me to places I would never have the opportunity to go 🙂
I do remember, Jan. Thanks very much
Lovely pictures and equally lovely descriptions. I especially like the way you described the robin. Poetic, really.
Very many thanks, Laurie
Each sentence that you write is as much a source of beauty and enjoyment as the next photograph emerging from the page of your blog. Sometimes I reread them and enjoy them afresh to the last word and image.
That is wonderful, Uma. Thank you very much
Those are beautiful photos from your day, Derrick and Jackie! I love the black lace of trees against the fading sky, just like in Ian and Sylvia Tyson’s song “Farewell to the North”
Thanks very much, Lavinia
Exceptional photos, Derrick. Your narrative is delightful.
Thanks very much, Eugenia
You’re welcome.
I bet Elizabeth is going to be so glad when everything’s unpacked and, mostly, in place. 🙂 … the horse and dog seem to be of the regularly-passing-by acquaintanceship 🙂 … magnificent sunset photos. 😀
Very many thanks, Widders
Beautiful place you live
We do, Donkey Whisperer. Many thanks
More extraordinary photographs and colours we do always notice.
I suppose if you’re a horse or cow there isn’t much else to do really but eat.
Quite. Thanks very much, Brian