This morning I rediscovered an album of elderly colour slides I had thought lost. I scanned a selection from May 1989.
Sam managed to set this drum rolling across the lawn at Lindum House;
Louisa preferred the inside drum roll
Kate, our popular child-sitter, was an excellent birthday party emcee. This was Louisa’s seventh.
Jessica took a rest in the hammock.
Late this afternoon we collected the Modus from the excellent Downton Service Station and Jackie drove the newly service vehicle into the forest.
Beside the undulating, winding, road to Burley
we encountered another bay pony pulling up its clear vegetable soup from the bed of a forest pool in which it was reflected among the surrounding golden gorse bushes.
We ventured a short distance along the very pock=marked Honey lane, at the corner of which a grey pony was on sentry duty. A small variegated rhododendron sheltered in the shade along a verge.
At the far end of the lengthy Charles’s Lane
we diverted to Neacroft, where an unusual pair of ducks crossed the road. The female burrowed in the undergrowth while her splendidly top-knotted drake stood guard.
This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare with which Jacke drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Pinot Noir.
Your splendidly plumed ‘drank’ is, I think, actually a ‘drake’. And I just love those shady lanes you photograph, they are so few and far between in my part of the world.
Thanks very much, Pauline. Now corrected. We were only commenting yesterday that these lanes were not made for motor cars
When I was living in rural ish Kent many years ago I spent an awful lot of time going backwards on a lane with a big truck urging me on š
š Great way of putting it
Lovely family garden photos, along with ponies and shady lanes. The drake who drank (or was that you?) š is quite splendid and unusual. I’ve never seen one like that before.
John Knifton points out that the ducks are variants of mallards. I like the drake/drank quip. Thanks very much, Merril
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I’m so happy you found the old photos…they are wonderful, Derrick. Oh gosh…I wish I was strolling down those shady lanes. š
Thanks very much, Jill. You know why I put there lanes in
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Beautiful family and beautiful place.
Thanks very much , Cindy
I fine shot of the crested drake but the bay pony pulling up its clear vegetable soup was the best picture of the day for me.
Many thanks, Tootlepedal. That is a phenomenon we have only noticed this year
I had no idea old-fashioned slides could be scanned. Thank you for a great idea, Derrick; I have so many that I had used for teaching before the invention of Powerpoint and Preso. Marvelous photos of shady lanes; I envy you.
You can get scanners with templates for scanning slides and different sizes of negatives. They also do flat photos. Mine is an Epson Perfection V850 Pro, which can take a book. Thanks very much, Dolly
You are talking to a tecno-idiot, Derrick. My eight-year-old grandson son would understand, I am sure, so I’ll consult him.
Thank you very much for information.
I think you are as good as me, Dolly. I just learn what I have to along the way. Your grandson will sort you out
Thank you for a vote of confidence, Derrick!
Wonderful energy! Almost makes me wish I were a kid again so that I could have that energy once more. Almost.
I like the ‘almost’, Laurie. Even now, Louisa will have a go at anything
A woman of action!
“Even now, Louisa will have a go at anything” That is a wonderful compliment. It makes me love Louisa.
Thanks very much, Jodie. She is very loveable
Looks like great memories
Indeed, Mrs W. Many thanks
Your welcome
I am sure you were chuffed to find the elderly photos!
Indeed, Wombat. Many thanks
It’s become a ‘thing’ now with me, I have to scroll down and read to the end, not only because I want to see it all, but also because I just need to know on what food you have feasted, š it just so adds to your blog writing Derrick, brilliant!
Very many thanks, Agnes
Beautiful memories.
I love the close-in view of the pony drinking. Soon I’m going to ask permission to post a particular poem on my blog (a very positive happy one) which I would present with a number of photos that relate to the verses. Would you allow me to include the pony drinking photo? I’d credit you and link back to your post. Please let me know – thanks!
Many thanks, Liz. I’d be most honoured.
You are very kind, thank you!
OH! What wonderful treasures you found, Derrick! š Photos capturing such sweet memories! š
That bay pony is having quite a feast day! And the ducks are having a good day! And Mr. Duck is having a great hair day! š š
Your photos of trees are some of my favourites! I know I’ve said this before, but I love how the trees link arms and hold hands to provide a sheltering cover for those who walk the path beneath them! š
HUGS to you and Jackie!!! š
I am enchanted by the hammock, bay pony and the lane winding beneath the trees.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
The colour slides transported me to my childhood.
Those groves too.
Very many thanks, Uma. Where was your childhood?
It was deep in the mango land of the North-Central Indian plains, close to Varanasi. Those very same places have lost their green cover of late due to reckless urbanisation and deforestation.
Thank you. Such a shame about the vandalism
Another great selection of photos!
Thanks very much, Sheree
I had to look it up, but your duck with feathers on its head is a crested duck, which is just a variation on the mallard. This website is probably a degree module in genetics:
https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Duck-Breeds.html
I knew you wouldn’t let me down, John. The male was so like a mallard that is what I thought. Thanks very much – also for the link
Those found photos must bring back many memories! I hope most of them were of a happier simpler time?
That crested duck and his magnificent pompadour are wonderful photos. For wild birds they seem quite tame and comfortable in your presence. š
Another wonderful ramble through the woods, for which i thank you and ‘The Chauffer’ š
Many thanks, Bob. They were, indeed, happy times although not quite so simple, given that Jessica had been diagnosed with myeloma two years before and had just eight more to live.
I was afraid there may have been some not so pleasant memories associated… life is rarely ever only all that ‘simple’ or purely happy! š
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Some really nice pictures.
Thanks very much, Rabirius
Happy kids. And nice winding country lane.
Thanks very much, Arlene
A visit to your site, Derrick (and I haven’t been visiting anyone much lately), is like a soothing tonic. Usually – I added that to cover myself. Lovely images. I trust you took the duck to the take-away to be prepared?
Thanks very much, Mike. Good to see you
I loved the pictures of your wonderfully active children, Derrick! The photo of the bay horse drinking (fantastic reflections!) and the crested drake are really good!
Thanks very much, Clare
Gorgeous photos! Both children and nature!
Thanks very much, Dwight