More Than She Could Chew

Aaron works in all weathers. This morning, however warm enough, was even too wet for him. He visited anyway and we enjoyed a pleasant conversation over tea, coffee, and biscuits.

Afterwards I watched England’s World Cup Rugby match against Tonga.

Although this afternoon the skies remained overcast, the steady rain let up; Jackie worked on cuttings in the greenhouse; and I tried to photograph

Nugget without his getting too much under my feet as he darted back and forth after prey.

“Where’s Nugget?” (28)

Rosa Glauca hips and pelargoniums are just two examples of wearers of glistening pearls;

Virginia creeper perspired precipitation,

which weighed down one solitary bedraggled wasp’s antennae.

We have never before had so many nuts dropping from our copper beech. They have to be swept up daily, the husks making good mulch.

Later, with the sun made fairly regular appearances, we drove out into the forest.

One flock of sheep occupied the green at Bramshaw

while another streamed out onto a side lane.

A lone pony was carrying out lawn mowing duties at Nomansland.

Pigs, such as these at Landford, sought out mast;

we wondered what this one at Fritham had caught. soon we realised that

she had trapped a rat

and that she had bitten off more than she could chew. Jackie exclaimed that this sight had permanently put her off pannage pork.

We took the lane leading from Fritham down to Eyeworth Pond where

small birds flitted to and from the trees and the peanuts birders had left on the posts.

An inquisitive cow raised its head in the woodland,

and ponies enhanced the moorland landscape.

This evening we dined on fish pie and a medley of carrots, cauliflower, greens, and runner beans, all perfectly cooked al dente. We both drank Albarino 2017.

69 comments

  1. I didn’t know pigs were carnivores! And rats – yech! That has completely wrecked my image of happy porcines romping about the countryside snuffling out the truffles, mushrooms, herbs, wildflowers and other tasty vegetable-like treats the countryside has on offer. It kind of makes me glad I don’t eat pork 🙂 Nugget is getting very clever at hiding his breast!

  2. I was very pleased not to have had the opportunity to watch another disappointing performance from our boys in blue.

    Our ordinary beech trees up here are heavily loaded with nuts too. It has been an outstanding year for them.

  3. Nugget didn’t escape my eye today… in from of the garden bucket…… hmmm I don’t eat much pork ….. probably less now Derrick….

  4. It is always good to see little Nugget at work in the garden. 🙂

    That is a beautiful lane leading from Fritham down to Eyeworth Pond. I enjoyed all the photos from your day.

    Yes, pigs are omnivores, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of any tasty carbon source, or defend their territory. Relatives in the south once had some potbellied pigs named Wilbur and Charlotte. One fine day, Wilbur left Charlotte with her litter of piglets, and took off across the countryside in search of adventure. He was discovered by a farmer down the road, whose cow had gone nosing into a stack of hay in the field. Wilbur had been nesting in the haystack, and bit the cow on the nose when disturbed. Discovered, he took off once more, never to be seen again. My nephew’s own pig used to eat lizards.

  5. I expect the rat wasn’t too pleased at being caught by a pig! Excellent photos as always, Derrick. The Virginia creeper is gorgeous and I love that view down the lane from Fritham to Eyeworth Pond.

  6. Wonderful photos–and fun word play, too.
    You really caught that pig in the act, but I can’t say that it upsets me that it puts Jackie off eating the pigs. 😉

  7. I think Nugget is sitting with his back to us next to the large shiny black cylindrical object for which I, being completely ignorant in gardening matters, have no name.
    Fabulous photos of all kinds of forest creatures, Derrick. That includes the graphic pig and rat encounter.

  8. I enjoyed the lovely drive today and I found Nugget pretending to be shy!

    Was that rat a black one? I’ve seen rats before but never a black one. The other early evening as I arrived home and drove down my driveway something ran away at speed from Victoria’s front door, shot under a gate and out of sight, it appeared to be all black, but was too quick for me to recognise what is was.

  9. Beautiful photos!
    Why is that sheep marked with red?! Ownership?!
    Nugget is showing us his handsome backside! 😉
    The pig and the rat! 😮 Eek! But, pigs gotta’ eat! 🙂
    Love all the autumn-y colors! Stunning! 🙂
    HUGS!!! 🙂

  10. Your ramble seems to have all the main English meat dishes covered Derrick, Lamb/mutton, beef, pork, fowl and of course, horse! 😉

    I suspect that sow had not bitten off more than she could chew as anyone who has seen the movie ‘Snatch’ may attest to. While that episode was fiction there have been many instances (including one as recent as 2019 in Russia) where JFWK’s comment is all too relevant.

    On a MUCH nicer topic, Nugget seems to be turning his back on you today, not least in today’s Where’s Nugget? 🙂

  11. Derrick it is always a delight to settle in and read your adventures.. I never knew pigs could catch rats.. What great captures you caught on the camera..
    This last week has been glorious weather for September, and I too have been making the most of tidying and planting sorting bulbs out and planning where to put them back in the garden..
    The colours of some of your foliage are beautiful..
    Yesterday we had a rainy afternoon, but a pleasant day out none the less.. Loved all of your photo shares Derrick… You present us with a magical place full of animals and birds that roam free..
    Many thanks for all you share.. You often make my day..
    Much love
    Sue <3

  12. Love it all, Derrick! Over here, you can drive through a forest, but you are not going to get photos of horses, sheep and pigs!!
    You’re getting tricky with the Where’s Nugget pictures, eh? Not showing the red breast makes finding him even more difficult (unless he’s near the changing autumn leaves).

  13. The garden is beautiful in all seasons. Great photo of the dining pig, but I’m with Pauline on that one—ew. Ha! The moorland landscape photos are so calming. Your eye finds the best scenes, Derrick. Just lovely—all of it!

  14. From an objective point of view, pigs eating rats are doing you a favor, like cats, keeping the rodent population down. I bet the pig enjoyed it. Not that I want to see any of that in real life.

  15. Enjoyed your post Derrick and admire your colourful close up photographs. Your pig pictures are great to see, and the rat picture also, it has not deterred me from my liking for Pork belly and Pickled pigs trotters.

  16. Ok I finally looked up the word mast. It’s a wonderful word and I can’t believe I haven’t used it, growing up in forests. Apparently it’s not in common use among the country folk here. What are the rings on the pigs snouts? Do you know? And I say three cheers for pigs eating rats. I’m not a fan of rats, and any way they can be killed is a good way. Poor Jackie, just don’t think about all the nasty things pigs put into their mouths, but think of what deliciousness they turn it into!! It’s like all the yucky stuff that goes into compost yields healthy plants.

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