Today it was mostly raining.
Nugget, however was determined to keep playing the game. Where is Nugget?
Following our trip this afternoon to Otter Nurseries to buy a couple of replacement pots for those damaged in the storm, the precipitation lessened so we drove into the forest.
Just outside Minstead, along the road between Emery Down and Stoney Cross that leads onto the A31
there is a sloping bank leading to an ancient hedgerow.
Clambering over the debris of recently fallen and sawn up trees,
I focussed on a group of ponies at the top of the bank.
One poor creature whose white blaze seemed a magnet for flies bashed her head on a lichen covered branch and shook herself distractedly in an unsuccessful effort to dislodge the pests.
As I made my way back to the car, speculating, as had Jackie, about the juxtaposition of these ancient hedgerows with fenced off modern forestry, she mentioned the three ponies that, with no warning, had suddenly thudded down the bank and clattered at great speed across the road. Any vehicle travelling round the bend in that first picture of the road at the permitted 40 m.p.h. would certainly have been involved in a collision. I had heard them when my back was to them on my return.
I was grateful to a young woman running with a terrier for, with her red sweater, adding a focal point to my landscapes from Picket Post.
This branch from high in an oak tree alongside Holmsley Passage was another victim of the recent storms.
A careful and competent riding group crossed the road outside The Rising Sun at Bashley.
This evening we dined on Mr Chan’s excellent Hordle Chinese Take Away with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Shiraz.
Lovely images as usual, Derrick. Did those trees fall during the rainstorm?
I think so, Cynthia. Fresh saw cuts and foliage. Thanks very much
I found Nugget instantly – after I enlarged the image!! 🙂
Those poor horses, if it isn’t cars bumping into them, the insects are covering them.
Thanks very much, GP. Well spotted. That is the first time I have seen a pony reacting so strongly
Hey Derrick
We”ve been having a lot of rain here in Tampa as well. Now have many nature made ponds all around me! I want some dry weather so all this standing water will go away!
Hope it dries up for you and the birds, Gary. Thanks very much
It’s been very stormy weather here
And those ponies are beautiful
Thanks very much, More
I spied little Nugget! He likes having his photo taken. 🙂 The road between Emery Down and Stoney Cross is beautiful, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill. I Have often walked that road. It is indeed beautiful. Well spied
I had to biggify to find Nugget – hidden in plain sight – perhaps practising his chameleon chances? I immediately thought of the impatient man from yesterday – or was it the day before – tooting at the animals slowing him down…. what if he had sped round the corner at the same time as those horses took to crossing the road. Fraught!!
Thanks a lot, Pauline. I think I might have refrained from photographing the gory scene. So much rain to continue today that we might not see Nugget
I also had to enlarge the photo to find Nugget. He’s rather well camouflaged. I didn’t think you had so many flies in the UK!
The flies congregate on the horses and cattle at this time – heat and humidity I suppose. Thanks very much, Jane.
I think we all had to enlarge the photo to find Nugget. !!
Bob thought the previous one rather too easy 🙂 Thanks very much, Ivor
The landscapes with the red jacket are very Corot.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
I see him! Just where the walkway ends.
Yep. Well spotted, Leslie. Thanks a lot.
Do you know where Nugget sleeps?
We don’t
In the book, Poppy, the detective could look for Nugget’s bed. Except Poppy’s bedtime keeps her from doing in depth detective work….
Not a bad beginning. How does it continue 🙂
Let me think on it.
Just off the top of my head… https://nananoyz5formewordpress.wordpress.com/?p=117
Just Kidding – not found?
Pooh. I guess I have to publish it first, and I don’t want to do that with a draft.
Pooh, indeed
Keep in mind that it’s just thoughts laid down. I think your book would need very few words, and I’ve written too many already. Between your lovely photos and a few pertinent captions you could have yourselves a sweet little picture book.
WE – I think, Leslie
Ok, this is a very rough beginning. I published it on my other site. https://nananoyz5formewordpress.wordpress.com/2019/08/14/poppy-and-the-mystery-of-nuggets-nest/
Nugget needs his own story. He could be the star of a children’s book.
🙂
Those poor horses and ponies! If I had the means I would try to provide them all with masks.
What a lot of damage has been done by the recent storms! I am enjoying your ‘Where’s Nugget?’ photos 🙂
Thanks very much, Clare
Hidden in plain sight is exactly right. He does look even smaller in that spot — such a darling little creature, he is! Sorry to see so much storm damage, but it seems everyone’s out and about again, and life is getting back to normal. Well — or what passes for normal these days!
Thanks very much, Linda. All is abnormal now.
How old could those ancient hedgerows be? Were they the ones Charles the Bald kept whining about? The woman in red certainly provided you an interesting focal point.
Hedgerows before the Enclosure Act of 1720 – age can be dated by number of species therein. Height should be at least one metre. Lots of detailed requirements. I’m not sure about Charles the Bald’s time 🙂 Thanks very much, Uma
I really like the hedgerow pictures. Nice day here yesterday, odd how your weather can be so different.
It is always different it seems, Andrew. Many thanks
It wasn’t easy to find Nugget, but eventually I spotted him in the center of the photo, at the end of the walkway. So many trees ruined by the storm – what a shame!
Thanks very much, Dolly. Yes, indeed.
My pleasure, Derrick
I am so glad you were able to go out and even take pictures.
Here it’s foggy and rainy.
Bad luck, Rupali – although you might get some atmospheric shots. Thanks very much
I see Little Nugget! His bright orange-iness helped me find him…as he is either getting off the path or about to go down the path! 🙂
The rain and storms sure can do damage. 🙁
Poor horses! Those flies can be too pesty! 🙁
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Well spotted X
The rain has returned here as well for the moment, although we are still far from meeting our August average rainfall figures. 🙁
I too needed to biggify the shot to find Nugget this time – a rewarding ‘task’ i might add 🙂 Great work! May they long continue. 🙂
Those are some very handsome ponies sans all of their shaggy winter coats, at long last! I do feel sorry for their lot with those pesky flies though, having endured something similar on trips to the Western Australian ‘bush’.
Thanks very much, Bob. I understand a hand wafted in front of a face is known as the Australian salute
There must be something in us since childhood that rallies when we are faced with a challenge; you found it by asking your readers to find Nugget! Great fun!
Thanks very much, Ronnie. So wet today we haven’t found him ourselves
It’s nice of Nugget to continue the game. I saw him right away, but I might not have if you hadn’t mentioned he was there. I like the red focal point of the young woman’s sweater–lovely–and those tree branches! I’m glad no ponies were injured while you were out.
Thanks very much, Merril. Well spotted
Rain here too Derrick, and boy those winds were rough,… I pity those poor horses with the flies irritating them..
Loved your images my friend.. And the Shiraz a good choice! 🙂
Thank you very much, Sue
?
Those horses live a life of danger! If I lived in your neighborhood, I would drive very, very slowly.
Then you’d get other drivers hard on your tail, as we do sometimes. Thanks very much, Laurie
Yikes! We have such drivers in Maine. What the heck!
Jackie always pulls over to let them pass when she gets the chance
I do the same thing if someone is riding my bumper. Or, bumpah, as we would say in Maine. 😉
🙂
Your rambles through the beautiful countryside always remind me of an idyllic driving vacation through England, Scotland and Wales with my mother. Me driving. One of the best trips of my life and certainly my best time with my mother.
I’m pleased. Thanks very much, Judy.
And those flowers. Gorgeous.
Thanks very much, Judy
Your photos show how irritated that horse felt, and I can empathize. Thank you for the shots of that ancient hedgerow. How thought-provoking it is that the boundaries that once were important to someone are next to the new deceptively-flimsy fence which marks someone’s new important boundary. I agree with you that my thoughts turn to the overlap of ancient and modern.
You often focus on that in your posts
Goodness – those must have been some serious storms… Yikes! I gave it a shot, but failed in finding Nugget – despite enlarging the photo.
Pretty much in the centre of the picture – but no matter. Thanks very much, Anna
Haha – I looked again, and STILL didn’t see. Maybe if I knew what I was looking for… what kind of creature is Nugget? It might help if I knew what I was looking for, but then again – maybe I’m just blind as a bat…
So sorry, Anna. You have missed the game’s origins. Nugget is our gardener’s friend robin. After I featured him a few times in close up. Lwbut suggested a regular feature of hiding him in a photo for people to find. This was the third one.
Ah, that explains it! I kept looking for a dog or a cat. ?
Thanks very much for persevering, Anna. When he comes back after the rain I will have to mention it is a robin we are looking for. X
Nugget certainly blends in well even while clearly the ‘center of attention’. Thanks Derrick for another nice little jaunt through your garden and the countryside.
Thanks very much, Jerry. Well spotted
How nice it would be to start a post with, “Today it was mostly raining”. I had to read all the comments to have any chance at spotting Nugget, bigefied or not. Still, a trip to the optometrist today did re-inforce I need a new prescription.
🙂 Many thanks, Gwen
I enjoyed coming along on your outing. I particularly liked the photos of the purple heather.
Thanks very much, Liz
🙂
The Head Apprentice looks like he’s got a lot of runway lined up for his next takeoff. 🙂
Doesn’t he just, Widders? Many thanks
I love that old holloway formed by the hedgerows. Always so many beautiful things to see in your area!
Thank you very much, Lavinia. We are very lucky to be here