On this sunny and rather cold morning Nugget followed Aaron around the garden, darting for his prey.
“Where’s Nugget?” (18).
Small White butterflies multiply by the minute, sharing the verbena bonarensises
with swarms of bees.
I spent much of the day listening to the fourth Test Match between England and Australia.
Late this afternoon we drove into the forest. Holmsley Passage was blocked by a car that had slipped into the muddy ditch. It would have been rude to have photographed it. We and another car managed to find our way round the obstacle, having assured ourselves that help was on the way.
We drove up Clay Hill at the top of which I wandered around the undulating terrain. Clouds allowed the sun to shine on occasion.
A group of ponies enlivened the landscape which was carpeted with
heather, blackberries, harebells, and gorse,
some of which had been recently burnt.
From the summit I looked down over the moorland,
then wandered along the sloping pony tracks into the woodland.
It will come as no surprise that Jackie prepared more than enough cottage pie and cauliflower cheese yesterday, with the intention of feeding us with more today; along with fresh carrots, cabbage and runner beans. I drank more of the Baturrica, from which the Culinary Queen abstained.
I not only spotted Nugget right off, I knew I was looking at heather before I read that I was looking at heather. I’m getting to know your countryside!
🙂 That’s all good, Linda
Poor little Nugget seems lonely, don’t you think?
We’ll see what spring brings, GP. Thanks very much
cottage pie leftovers – ? any left for us?
—
and that brunt shrub actually has cool lines
Thank you very much, Yvette. There is another in the freezer, but we are rather a long way away
🙂
Gorgeous photos, Derrick! I spotted our little friend. I think he needs a mate!
Thanks very much, Jill. We’ll see what the spring brings
Wonderful photos! The white butterflies barely stop still long enough here to photograph them.
Best bee picture yet! Great vicarious travels with you today, Derrick. Thanks for the ride. I’m sure the extra Baturrica didn’t go to waste! <3
Thanks very much, Jan X
We have just had two days of perfect weather, warm and sunny and with a light breeze, the kind of day you hope to get for washing day.
Nugget made his appearance early today, he blended in well but I spotted him. This time I looked for him before I read the comments therefore his hiding place wasn’t given away before I’d had a chance to look.
Well done, Sue. Good strategy. Thanks very much
Feels strange to see you start your blog saying you have a cool morning. It’s far from that we’re I’m at in Florida. It’s so hot that when I go into my brother’s pool feels like I’m going into a heated Jacuzzi!
That is hot, Gary. Many thanks
I particularly like the two horse silhouette.
We both saw that at the same time – waited for the heads to be raised a bit. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Nugget is so much easier to find when I fire up the laptop rather than trying to find him on my tiny phone screen. Were moors always moors or were they once forest?
Thanks very much, Sue. I would think it very difficult to go hunting on a mobile. The history of the forest shows that the oaks were specially grown to build warships – many were cut down in preparation for the Armada in the sixteenth century. French visitors have quipped that the New Forest is neither new nor a forest.
I’d love some of that cottage pie!
It’s a pity we can’t send you some, Leslie. Thanks very much
A true pity!
Lovely moorland photos – it’s starting to look quite autumnal isn’t it?
Won’t be long now, Sheree. Thanks very much
Mr Nugget is next to the girder slightly off to the left from the centre of the frame. Majestic ponies domineer the gallery.
Thanks very much, Uma. Well spotted
Nugget’s handsome profile is hard to miss, even at a distance. 😉
Love the bonuses on the bonarensises! 🙂
Those blackberries in the superb gorseland look good enough to eat – did you gather any?
My commiserations for the cricket – and we were only playing with 10 men! (you can’t really count Warner, can you??). At least everyone will be able to relax a bit now and we might see some good cricket on both sides for the last match. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Bob. At least we’ve found a bit of an opener. We didn’t gather any blackberries – then someone would have to do something with them 🙂
By an opener i presume you mean Leach? 🙂
We could do worse
I think you already have?? 😉
Aw! Nugget is brave, friendly, and outgoing…so I’m sure he will find a mate to teapot with! 😉 😀 (“teapot with” Ha! 😛 )
All of your photos are amazing, Derrick! But, often your B&W photos just take my breath away! Such stunning captures! 🙂 Love the one today of the two horses side by side! 🙂
Birds, bees, butterflies…sigh…a beautiful day! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn X
I loved the photos
Thank you, More. I’m so pleased you can see them
Me too. I am very happy I get to magnify them and view it, yes it takes more time to look at each photo piece by piece but with my table’s help I can. It gets sad not being able to see things in person only up close in photos but at least I can view it this way than no one at all.
I try to explain to people sometimes they don’t quite understand. But it’s like living with clouds over your eyes until something is up close and person to my face. I’ve learned to except it and nice people like yourself make life a little easier.
God bless you, Derrick.
Your perseverance is admirable. My mother, at 97 has macular degeneration
Oh god bless her. She is in my prayers
🙂 Thank you
Bees, butterflies, a sweet Nugget and ponies; what more could you wish for? 😍
Thank you. very much, Sylvia
I, too, quickly spotted Nugget and knew I was looking at heather. You are teaching us well, Derrick.
🙂 Much appreciated, Laurie
As others have noted, Nugget was much easier to find today. So many other wonderful shots! It looks like you had a good day wandering.
Thanks very much, Merril
Wonderful set of images Derrick.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Favorites are the bee and butterfly 🙂
Thanks very much, Cynthia
I love the horses and the flowers and the landscapes and the berries. Yea, I loved all of it.
Thank you very much, Gael
Beautiful photos my friend. Sad to think that winter is not far away now.
Thanks very much, Jerry. We’ll have to see what it brings us
So, Aaron is staff too now. 😀
Yep. Many thanks, Widders
Lucky you to have a cold morning. Temps here are still in the 90s.
I think we are very lucky in comparison, Cheryl. Many thanks
A beautiful set of photos from your day! I love those views of the ponies and forest. The light is looking more angled now as equinox approaches.
So Nugget is following Aaron around, too!
He is, indeed, Lavinia. Many thanks
A lovely walk into the woodlands! Thank you Derrick!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Love your woodlands photos. Derrick. Spotted little Nugget after some zooming.
Thanks very much, Dolly. Well spotted
Very welcome, Derrick
Beautiful ponies!
I love the ponies in the heather!
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome!