Jackie’s labels for her Paths and Beds occasionally need refurbishing.
Yesterday she renewed this one, demonstrating that the bed is named for the tree.
The storms of the last couple of days left the paths covered in debris. Today the Head Gardener swept and cleared them.
This kept swivel-headed Nugget well supplied with fleeing insects, quick as an arrow, to dart at.
This afternoon we visited Annie and Derek at Barton on Sea, where we enjoyed the, cakes, and wide ranging stimulating conversation.
After this we took a brief drive into the forest to make use of the early evening light.
Having noticed a pair of ponies lurking in the shadows thrown across
the virtually dry bed of the old quarry lake in Pilley
I gingerly made my way down there to join them.
A grey up on the road clattered over the tarmac and
thudded down the bank in my direction.
I took evasive action as it joined its grazing cousins.
A pair of spectral equines appeared atop the opposite bank.
This evening, from trays on our laps, we dined on pepperoni pizza, marinaded chicken and plentiful fresh salad accompanied by Blue Moon in Jackie’s case and the last of the Bergerac in mine; while we watched the highlights of the first day of the first Ashes Test match between England and Australia.
I imagine it’s a bit daunting to have a pony of any colour suddenly decide to thunder towards you! Maybe she was just hopeful of the contents in your pockets……..
Thanks very much, Pauline. I found I could move quite quickly 🙂
Nimble! 🙂
LOL – I’d be skipping along quite brightly were I accosted so.
🙂
Heh, heh, heh … needs must. 😀
Exactly 🙂
You live in a luscious place!
We do, indeed, Cindy. Once my posts were all about tramping the streets of London 🙂 Thanks very much.
I think little Nugget enjoys having his picture taken, Derrick. 🙂
🙂 Many thanks, Jill
The Head Gardener and her apprentice Little Nugget are busy as bees! Good work being done! I love how Jackie labels the garden! 🙂
Yay for cake and conversation! Sweet! 🙂
I think The Grey wanted you to get some close-up portraits! 😉
The last two photos…the two B&W photos of the horses…are so beautiful!!! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂 for you and Jackie!
BUGS!!! for Little Nugget!
Very many thanks Carolyn. Nugget says “sweet tweet” X
Your new knee seems to be coming on well.
Thanks a lot for realising that, Tootlepedal
Jackie is sooo organized!
I love the photos of Nugget. The black and white photos of the ponies are really interesting. They look like etchings.
Thanks very much, Merril. I just converted them to black and white
Wow! Great post.
Thanks very much, Leslie
Lovely post, Derrick! I hope Jackie didn’t get too much damage in her garden during the high winds.
It was quite destructive but we’ve got over it. Today some roses to tie up. Thanks very much, Clare
Those last two black and white photos of the ponies brought to mind the cave drawings of Lascaux. They have a bit of a prehistoric — or ahistoric — feel to them. They’re quite wonderful.
Thank you very much, Linda. A nice link with Lascaux
Your photography just keeps getting better and better, Derrick. I love the pair of ponies lurking in the shadows … Wish I could copy that photo and put it on my Facebook cover photo and tell all my friends to follow your blog. It’s delightful. I would like to have been there to share in your pepperoni pizza, marinaded chicken and plentiful fresh salad accompanied by Blue Moon. Mmmm …. sounds delightful!! <3
You are very welcome to take any photo off the blog, Jan. Thank you very much.
Re Cricket. It’s a good thing we let Smith back i’n’it? But The single spectral equine needs to be saved – a quite amazing photograph!
Thanks very much, Paol. I noticed the ghosts approaching and lined up my lens in the gap. Certainly a great knock from Sneaky Steve. I think everyone has forgotten about Atherton’s pocket of dirt.
I don’t know. I think there’ll be a few of the Barmy Army who will keep things alive.
Yep. Moaning Geoff Boycott was at his best with comments like: “They only have two who can bat” and “He’s not worth a review”
The silhouetted equine forms look extraterrestrial. I believe it’s time Jackie built a birdhouse for Nugget.
I’ll let her know, Uma. Thanks vey much.
Yes! I must get him a birdhouse, you are quite right Uma. I will put my mind to it. He will be looking for a mate next spring.
Love seeing your horses over there. 🙂
Thank you very much, Cynthia
Absolutely beautiful photos, as always. I love that you have labels in your gardens!
Thanks very much, Becky
Love the “spectral equines”!
Thanks very much, John
Wonderful sets of photographs again Sir. I concur with your comenters as to the quality of the ‘Spectral’ ponies! Little Nugget is absolutely beautiful and your photos of him keep on improving – i don’t think i could tire of seeing more.
While i’m disappointed at the quality of our ‘top’ order batsmen, (Smith excepted) i was even more disappointed with the appallingly bad umpiring decisions made yesterday. They do not deserve to be first class umpires after those howlers. Whatever happened to ‘benefit of the doubt’?
They were bad, Bob. Thanks very much
What a perfect close to what appears to have been a lovely day out.
Thank you very much, Sue
I like the final two ‘spectral equines’ photographs. Could be black and white engravings used as book illustrations.
Thank you very much, Roland
Fabulous photos, especially the two spectral equines. And what could be better than friends, cake, and wide-ranging conversation? As we would say in Maine, sounds like a finest kind of day.
Yes, indeed. Thanks very much, Laurie
Nice to see Nugget taking advantage of ‘windfalls’.
Nice one, Helen. Many thanks
It’s so cool that Nugget has realized he is among friends and that he knows how to use your activity to his benefit. I think that’s “survival of the fittest” at work.
Thanks very much, Jodie. It is great fun. We look out for each other
: )
Little Nugget is becoming quite a photo model, Derrick. How quickly did you get away from that pony (just wondering)?
Like lightning after thunder, Dolly. Many thanks
Very welcome, Derrick
I’ll add my admiration to everyone else’s about the silhouette ponies … and the Head Apprentice. 😀
Thanks very much, Widders. I’d never have seen those shots had I not been on the dry bed.
Spectral equines…. such wonderful images 🙂 I’m glad you manage to avoid the grey, Derrick!
🙂 Many thanks, Sandra
Rain is good until there’s too much..then causes havoc and a lot of cleaning up!
Thanks very much, Gary.
What idyllic days you and Jackie have together! Beautiful gardens, drives in the forest, not to mention wonderful dinners!
Very many thanks, Lavinia. A contented retirement