On another warm day of clear blue skies we accompanied Matthew and Poppy to Everton Garden Centre to buy a birthday present, then lunched in their Camellia’s Café.
The very well cooked, plentiful, meals set us up for the day. Mine consisted of chicken and ham pie, new potatoes, and vegetables; Mat’s was roast duck; Jackie’s jacket potato; and Poppy’s roast beef.
Later, our son and granddaughter left to return home, breaking the journey with a visit to Becky and Ian, while we drove into the forest,
taking the Lower Sandy Down route and enjoying the sun-dappled environment, with its
reflections in the stream crossed by Church Lane,
where blackberries ripen
and lichen coats the beams of the fence to Heywood Mill House.
We caused a group of walkers on Rodlease Lane to hug the verges.
I have often thought of photographing this very rickety building on Pilley Street before it falls down. It is Tootlepedal who prompted me to actually do it. An elderly gentleman often sits on the chair leaning to our left of the structure. Is he, I wonder, selling the eggs?
Further along the road, a number of ponies continue to thud down from the road and the field opposite into the dry quarry pit lake. It is almost as if, like us walking fast down a slope, run away with ourselves until we can straighten up on the level.
Not that this pitted terrain is level. The myriad of grassy mounds and dips created by the animals’ hooves at wetter times are now rock hard. I wandered over them taking shots that would not normally be possible without thigh-length waders.
No sensible pony would eat the acorns that are strewn about, for they are poisonous to them.
While we took our pre-dinner drinks in the Rose Garden we grew of the opinion that our little robin, Nugget, is now engaged in courting. He still cries from his various vantage points, but is answered more gently. On one occasion he darted across the the sky from our Weeping Birch to a neighbour’s false acacia, after which all was quiet for a while.
We dined on huntsman’s pie and salad with which which I finished the Saint-Chinian.
Little Nugget courting! They grow so fast. 😉
Unfortunately RSPB report that most live less than 2 years – although there are recorded exceptions that give us encouragement. Thanks very much, Laurie
I hope Nugget lives for many more years!
🙂
The rickety building bares a faint resemblance to
one I visited today!
Thanks very much, Helen – for both 🙂
….There was a crooked man ……. and they all lived together in a crooked little house 🙂 I love ramshackle – it reminds me of me. And Nugget has a girlfriend – how exciting!
Thank you very much, Pauline. I think we can all identify now 🙂 X
So nugget is courting! Awe… ❤️
And that old house is interesting and I wonder if he does sell those eggs
Thanks very much, Yvette. I think he may live there
Fantastic news! Maybe next year you’ll have baby Nuggets.
🙂 Thanks very much, Sheree
I am glad to have have nudged you into taking the rickety building shots as I enjoyed them. As a rickety person myself, I like it when rickety things get respect. 🙂
🙂 Me, too. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
That’s some fine food there sir. Did you pick any blackberries.
We didn’t pick any – not really enough yet. Thanks very much, Gary
Wow, Nugget is growing up fast! The lanes are beautiful, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Jill. A puzzle, perhaps 🙂
Yes!
Won’t be long and you’ll have a Mrs. Nugget and some little nuggets! I wish Nugget the bestest of luck in his endeavors! 😉
I’m glad the ponies are sensible!
Love the blackberries and lichen photos! Beautiful! 🙂 Bet those berries are tasty! 🙂
I think the rickety building is a wonder to behold! I hope it stands for a lot longer!
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. I seriously wonder if the man we see actually lives in that house 🙂 X
You’re welcome, Derrick! Yes, it would be interesting to find out. If he does, I hope he is safe and comes outside on windy and stormy days. 😮
🙂
Courting has been the ruination of many a fine young robin…
https://youtu.be/uS90B4sZf7U Thanks very much, Quercus
That was running round my head as I wrote it. 🙂
I thought so – I can take a hint 🙂
🙂
Good for little Nugget! Jackie may have more avian helpers in the garden next year!
I always enjoy these forest drive photos with all the ponies and reflecting pools. The pigs will be in to eat the acorns soon, if not already.
We have never seen pigs at that particular spot, but elsewhere. they are certainly out. Thanks very much, Lavinia
The tree canopy over the lower sandy route is truly a lovely sight Derrick…..
Thank you very much, Ivor. Our granddaughter, Flo, used to call them tree tunnels
Oh that’s gorgeous Derrick, I shall remember those words…
Quite poetic, really
Oh! That’s exactly what they look like.
🙂
Scrumptious meals; a pleasure to look at, Derrick. And, of course, I always enjoy your fabulous photos of shady lanes.
Thank you very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick
The dappled light of the lane is wonderful; as are those juicy blackberries!
Thanks very much, Clare. Most of the hedgerow blackberries are quite small this year. Those are exceptions
Ours are small too, but very sweet and flavoursome. I made a blackberry and apple crumble this evening!
Didn’t know about the incompatibility of ponies with acorns. That is quite a ponyland there.
Thanks very much, Uma. Normally they just drink from it
I shall be visiting our local garden centre later today.
The meals look delicious, especially at this time of day when I’ve been awake for hours but still not had breakfast! I enjoy seeing your family days.
Our family Saturday was spent on the East coast.
Thanks very much, Sue. I hope your garden centre does good food
They do excellent food Derrick, but I think we’re eating at home today, due to over indulging in seaside food yesterday!
🙂
That’s some fine fare there Sir! (Including the blackberries – yum!)
I’m really liken the lichen! 😉
I don’t know if the man is sellin’ eggs but he’s not at all eggs-sellin in barn repair, that’s for sure!
The pony shots are wonderful and my favourite is the little black fellow, who i suspect might be called Eeyore by his friends. Unfortunately his hairstyle does remind me a little of your Prime Minister!
We can only hope that if Nugget is indeed plighting his troth that he has found the robin equivalent of Jackie! 😉 That would be eminently sensible!
Very many thanks, Bob. Some good points here, especially the egg yolk
gro
Maybe I’ll try counting ponies instead of sheep. You have some mighty beautiful ones there!
I am beginning to like always find a feature of Nugget in your posts.
Thanks very much, Arlene
Having read that the Germans turned acorns into both bread and coffee, I have tried chewing them on occasion.
In a word, “Don’t.”
I tried it once as a kid. Once is enough. Thanks very much, John
The landscapes and horses are great. But I especially like that old house. There really is something to that building.
Thanks very much, Rabirius
I’m with Poppy on choosing the rare roast beef!
You know I love the ponies, but that old house is a hoot!! That building is defying gravity! haha
Thanks a lot, GP. The meal was so large that she need some assistance – but not with the beef 🙂
Good girl!
Oh, Nugget! Our little boy is growing up.
Fast. Many thanks, Leslie
That meal looked great, love the photos, I can’t find nugget all the time but my guess is he is there, haha
Actually there was no Nugget photo, More. Thanks very much
We have a robin singing so beautifully at the moment that he deserves to be flooded with lady suitors. And this morning – he was answered. Fingers crossed for Nugget ?❤️️
Thanks very much, Sandra
Oy! that is a very rickety building I am surprised it has not been condemn or roped off as it screams lability. I also hope the old egg seller doesn’t live there.
🙂 Many thanks, msw
It looks like a delightful day–family, country rambles, and Nugget out courting. I do hope he is successful. I wonder if he will bring his bride over to show you.
Many thanks, Merril. We will see what happens in the spring
Ahh–yes!
Sun-dappled environments, lichen, and rickety buildings are just a few of my favorite things!
I’m pleased, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick!
Camellia’s Cafe certainly seems the place to visit.
It certainly is, LL/PS. Thanks very much
A pleasure to amble through your countryside Derrick, your pictures are vibrant and really bring the excursion to life, again your fresh vegetables tempt the palate of this once gardener, cheers my friend.
Thanks very much, Ian
I didn’t know that acorns are poisonous to pony. Another I’ve learned from your posts. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Byung.
I want to eat at Camellia’s Cafe. That food looks amazing. I’m pleased to hear that Nugget is willing to quiet down when it’s courting time. No need telling the whole neighborhood what’s going on. 😉
🙂 Thanks very much, Crystal