This morning Jackie ironed my last four shirts which is a double result: firstly I didn’t have to do it and secondly she does it better.
The wind eased through the morning and the afternoon was bright and sunny for us to take a drive into the forest.
Much water lay on the roads and their verges. The terrain on either side of Holmsley Road was waterlogged,
but did not deter dog walkers.
Bubbling pools,
where a month or so back the land was dry, now reflected trees and sky.
As we crossed the Burley Road into an unnamed lane approaching Bisterne Close I noticed a group of ponies foraging among fallen trees that were in various stages of decay. Jackie parked on the verge and I rustled my way down slopes
of fallen leaves,
past reflecting pools of various expanses,
and negotiating stumps and fallen trees,
to mingle with the ponies
who bore the dregs
of the recent deluge.
Although one of last year’s late foals this dishevelled creature, larger than any adult Shetland,
after enjoying a scratch against a branch of convenient height, sounded heavy thuds as, with a shrill whinny roughly translated as “I’m going to get my Mum”, it sped past me
in full flight
and, sure enough, returned with its mother
who gave me the eye made all the more alarming by the bright white centre of the black marking encircling its left orb.
Despite appearances she allowed me to continue as she got on with the serious business of eating.
I bid this family farewell and we made our way towards
Burley where the verges were full of reflecting water,
and to Bisterne Close where ponies shared the road with dog walkers,
and the woodland with each other.
Lime green catkins now swing in the trees, contrasting with autumn’s red berries.
On our way home we diverted to Wootton Bridge where the fast flowing stream has burst its banks
and waterlogged the surrounding sward.
Nearby rocks have become rippling watercourses.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s piri-piri mango and lime chicken served with her splendidly savoury rice topped with omelette and with green beans on the side. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank El Zimbido Garnacha Syrah 2018 given to me for Christmas by Ian.
Water, water everywhere, which makes for proliferation of your fabulous reflections photos, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick
I’m glad you ‘rustled’ rather than ‘slithered’ or even ‘trembled’ ….. So much water. Is this the end result of Brendan’s visit? (I think it was called ‘Brendan’ but no longer trust my memory on these kinds of things)
Brendan it is – due to return in a day or two. Thanks very much, Pauline.
A return visit? That sounds ominous. Good luck, batten down the hatches and stay upright! xo
XX
Such wonderful photos, Derrick! I liked the bubbling pool and all of the reflections in the water shots–I can’t pick a favorite. That Momma pony looked fierce!
She did, indeed. I don’t mind admitting that I was a little perturbed. Thanks very much, Merril.
The catkins are very good value. I am surprised that that you managed to stay above ground when everything looks so soggy. I half expected to see a picture from Jackie of a hand sticking out of a pool of water holding up a camera much in the style of the Lady of the Lake and her sword.
I was looking out for just such a picture, but I was to be disappointed.
🙂
Bad luck.
That was a hoot, Tootlepedal. 🙂 Thanks very much.
Parts of this are quite poetic. Lovely post.
Thank you very much, Leslie.
Still waterlogged I see.
Thanks very much, Sheree.
Aw, glad the pony found mom! 🙂 Mom, like most moms, looks like she can take charge when need be! 😉
Oh! your water photos are wonderful! Especially enjoy the bubbles and the shimmery water/reflection photos! That second to last photo…so cool!
Damp ponies/horses…I can smell them from here! 😉 😀
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn. I’ll never forget my Mum slapping the caretaker of a block of flats who had objected to my brother and I walking on the low wall. I don’t remember what he said or did himself! X
Yeah !! we had a couple of little puddles on the ground this morning….smiles…
May they increase, Ivor. Thanks very much.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were here with your camera…well, minus the horses! We’re waterlogged, too. Love the reflections!
Thanks very much, Jill.
I have a fascination with reflective photographs and these are just lovely.
I’m pleased. Thanks very much, Sue
Goodness, your countryside is sodden. That blazing little leaf looked like a flame in one of the early pictures and the red pony with the white blaze looks very dignified.
Thank you very much, Lisa. I am pleased you liked those – especially the leaf.
Stunning photos again sir.
Thanks very much, Gary.
Water water everywhere as it is here–only wish Australia had more, consistently! Nice shots!
Thank you very much, Cynthia. I agree about Australia.
Ironing shirts… now that other half no longer wears them, that’s something I don’t miss… What causes the bubbles? I love the reflections in the water.
Thank very much, Val. I imagine the bubbles are caused by the speed of swirling water – but I’m no expert.
Might be. Thanks.
Nice story Derrick. Well done.
Thank you very much, Gary. I’m pleased you appreciated it.
I enjoyed the photos, Derrick. The forest area has had quite a bit of rain! I love the ponies, as always.
Thank you very much, Lavinia.
And now I can add ‘sward’ to my vocabulary: a nice, Middle English word for grass-covered ground. I had to laugh while seeking its etymology. Every one of the illustrations the Google search engine provided for ‘sward’ was a ‘sword.’ Oops!
Thanks very much, Linda. That’s voice recognition for you 🙂
Probably so, although it’s even more amusing that I wasn’t the one using voice recognition. When I accessed the Google search engine through my PC’s keyboard, lookie what appeared!
🙂 I knew you wouldn’t have been the one.
It’s amazing to me that in the year or more of reading your menus that you have never repeated a meal!! What variety.
Jackie prides herself on variety, but I’m surprised if there haven’t been any repeats. Thanks a lot, Judy.
Thank Jackie!!!
🙂
Delightful tour. Now please make it rain here.
I do wish I could, Peggy. Thanks very much.
Those are such graceful portraits of your equine friends who are surely cognisant of your photographic might that finds expression in your daily chronicle. You have made the most of the overcast and watery outdoors that have ended in moody frames.
My own homemaker is a connoisseur of ironing and it is to her that I turn to for the well being of my wardrobe. I do keep planning to begin doing it myself like those characters in the stories of Haruki Murakami who somehow are always ironing their shirts apart from cooking spaghetti!
Thanks very much, Uma. We have somewhat unusual divisions of labour – Jackie is far more practical – she is, incidentally reading out what Google has to say about your Japanese author of whom I had not heard.
I may have read him in translation, but he is fabulous. I hope Jackie is impressed!
We both are 🙂
That baby pony’s looks like she means business, but obviously decided you weren’t a bad person. How kind of Jackie to relieve you of your ironing duties. 😇
Thanks very much, Sylvia 🙂
Lovelt pics, very envious of all that rain
Thanks very much, Colliss. I wish you could have some
He felt safer with his mom 😉
So cute!
Beautiful pictures Derrick! You make the weather seems nicer 😉
Thank you very much, Ribana. He did, but I have not seen that occurrence before – normally mares leave their offspring to their own devices while they carry on grazing. It would be fascinating to know of their communication.
Would be amazing to understand them 😊
I’ve found out how to view your post properly when my WIFI is playing up (or maybe it’s the WP app): to go into WP on my browser.
Anyway, I could see your photos, so that I could follow the story of the young pony properly. Hopefully, the weather is improving now.
I’m pleased you’ve sorted out that frustration, Helen. Better weather this morning, but it’s coming back in a day or two. Thanks very much.
I think we’ve been spared where I am. It’s been raining a bit and it was blustery for a few hours on Tuesday. Anyway, let’s hope there are no more storms.
It’s certainly looking a tad wet here and there!
🙂 Thanks a lot, John
Whoa, I’d say you sure are wet!! It appears England is sinking by the looks of your pictures.
The ponies are cute keeping an eye on you, especially the pony that went and brought his mother back!
Thanks v very much, GP. 🙂
The pictures of the horses in the forest are magical. No wonder you love that place so very much.
Thank you very much, Laurie
Those landscapes at the top are so lovely, Derrick. Also, it occurs to me that when one of your favourite photographic subjects is reflections, then it’s a good thing when the land is soaked.
Quite so, Crystal. Some would say you can have too much of a good thing 🙂 Thanks a lot.
In this case, not so. 😉
Beautiful photos, Derrick. I do love those reflections. And the ponies. 🙂
Thank you very much, Julie
No amount of water will stop a dedicated dog-walker … or a bicyclist … or a pony. 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Widders
Mysterious bubbling pools tickle my imagination as I marvel at your abundance of beautiful ponies.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Awesome photos again Derrick
Thank you very much, More
You’re quite welcome, Derrick
Now I know what catkins look like! (Heretofore, I’d only encountered them in books.) I enjoyed the little anecdote of “I’m going to get my Mum.” The standout of this group of photos is #7. There is a magical quality to how the light catches the colored leaves among the brown ones.
Thank you very much, Liz. You often pick out my own favourite photographs.
Oh, that’s good to hear!
Stel je voor … , je besluit om naar Engeland te gaan: Leuke cottage’s,met rieten daken, in overvloed bloeiende tuinen, zoals die van Derrick J.K., gezellige dorpjes aan haventjes langs de kust, met vele gezellige visrestaurantjes … , wandelen in oerbossen met eekhorntjes, ezels en wilde paarden … Dan regent het … Ik blijf thuis! Wat een bagger in Engeland … Amsterdam, 27 – 8 – 2020
Oh! Ik vind dat uw kleinzoon op uw lijkt … , ja … , helemaal een kleine Derrick J.K., moet nog even uitvogelen hoe hij heet: Wat een smoeltje … * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com *
Thanks very much, Frieda