Jackie was up in the dark this morning, in time to photograph
our first smattering of snow before the rain washed it away.
This afternoon we drove to Crestwood in Lymington to complete the paperwork and pay a deposit on our new sitting room flooring which will be laid after Christmas. We continued on to the north of the forest by way of
Roger Penny Way where
the gloom could not conceal the burnished gold of bracken
and autumn leaves.
Among the fallen trees
a skeletal cervine spectre remained tethered beside a moss-coated log.
Blissford Hill was not the only thoroughfare becoming waterlogged enough for arboreal reflection.
The pannage season has been extended. Pigs dashed towards us on
Hyde Hill where Jackie parked the Modus ahead of the
billowing sounder, too fast for me to keep up with.
Suddenly they dashed off piste and disappeared into a soggy field.
I needed to wade through sucking mud to reach the gate.
A somewhat perplexed freckled Shetland pony, sharing its field with
two be-rugged horses and an oak tree, observed the porcine proceedings.
Many thatched cottages, like this one at North Gorley, were able to admire their coiffure in their weedy green pools.
Since our dinner was being slow-roasted while we were out, I had no qualms that I might have been eating the shoulder of one today’s snuffling pigs with crispy crackling, Yorkshire pudding, creamy mashed potatoes, crunchy carrots, and tender cabbage with most tasty gravy. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Fleurie.
What a lovely drive. You have such beautiful scenery, even in autumn.
Thanks very much, Anne Marie.
At first I thought Jackie was photographing her little friend waiting for his breakfast, but it was just a reflection I think …. Perhaps you will have a White Christmas! Those pigs amuse me so much, they are so very focused! It took me a while but I eventually matched your imagination re the ‘Cervine Spectre’ Maybe I need a second coffee …
🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline. I saw that reflection, too.
Gorgeous photos as always Derrick.
Thanks very much, Sheree.
Wonderful photos and narrative, Derrick. I do love crispy pork crackling. ?
Thanks very. much, Sylvia.
Snow! In November! Arghhh!
It only lasted for a few minutes. Thanks very much, Dolly.
Very welcome, Derrick.
That’s very creepy formation of branches – really does look like a deer skeleton. A bit early for snow…
Thanks very much, Quercus. I’m pleased you spotted it too.
Thanks for the lovely drive!
I thought you would like it, Jill. Thanks very much.
Snow in the south of England before we have had any here…this is an outrage.
Isn’t it just! Thanks for that, Tootlepedal.
Just love your scenic country roads!
Thank you very much, Rosaliene.
You two seem to be driven by a rare passion for chronicling the Nature as it abounds in your neighbourhood.
Thanks very much, Uma. Every day is an adventure.
Thanks to you I now Know about the pannage season. I enjoy your forested drives very much – all the more reason to go out often.
Thanks very much, Anne.
I like the after the rain shots ….
And dinner sounded good
Thank you very much, Yvette.
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Hi Derrick,
loved the captions with each photograph.
Your dinner menu sounds wonderful!
Thank you very much, Dee.
Beautiful photos! That last one is so wonderful! Nature provided a “mirror” for the cottage to gaze into! 🙂
Stay safe and warm!
We had rain and snow the past 3 days and they are predicting it again for 4 days next week. Brr… 😀
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. You are obviously colder than we are. X
Those autumn photos are absolutely gorgeous!
Much more colourful than we were expecting. Thanks very much, Sue.
Sounds like I’ll be out sledging tomorrow! The “skeletal cervine spectre” is interesting. Presumably it is made by a passing walker?
I never thought of that, John – just saw it as fallen branches. I will check next time. Thanks very much.
Roger Penny Way is beautiful, and I liked your description, too: “where the gloom could not conceal the burnished gold of bracken.” Your cervine spectre fits with the French show we’re watching on Netflix, where there appears to be an ancient stag god in the forest. 🙂
Synchronicity, Merril. Many thanks.
Stunning!!
Thanks very much, Jan.
Stunning! Love those fall colors. Gorgeous photos!
Thanks very much, Jan
So much water! Typical for you in the fall? That pony is adorable.
Thanks very much, Laurie. Yes, this is typical now for a few months.
Intresting. Have a great weekend.
You too, Mrs W
Thank you
So you had snow! Our first snow is not supposed to fall until next Saturday now. The forecast changes daily.
I enjoyed the photos from your day, and your cervine specter, too. Good catch, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Lavinia.
Wintery and dark images.
Nicely put, Sherry. Thanks very much.
SNOW!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 … thank you, Jackie! 😀
Thanks a lot, Widders.
Your pigs seem sleeker and far more well-behaved than the feral hogs that are happily digging up our state. Ours are so destructive, and unutterably prolific capable of producing three litters each year. If they can’t find a way to control them soon, we’ll be up to our hips in hogs.
Yours do seem much bigger. The reason ours have rings in their noses is to prevent them tearing up the terrain, but I wouldn’t fancy the job of ringing feral hogs. Thanks very much, Linda
Now, that’s interesting. I had no idea why pigs had rings in their noses. I knew there had to be a reason other than leading them on a leash!
🙂
‘Cervine’ was a new word for me. The ‘sculpture’ reminded me of a small dinosaur.
I guess it could be whatever we see. 🙂 Thanks very much, Helen
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Those burnished gold shots are gorgeous, Derrick! We have had a little sleet and some hard frosts but no snow as yet.
Thanks very much, Clare
Nature is always beautiful but you manege to enhance it in your pictures!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Snow!! That is certainly a sign the season is inevitable. And what a lovely, curvy Roger Penny Way. You captured it well. I may have not spotted the spectre, but did as soon as your caption alerted me. Great catch!
Thanks very much, Crystal