Albeit dry, today’s weather consisted of unrelenting Stygian gloom.
We set out sometime after 3.00 p.m. which might as well have been dusk, and drove around for a short time before visiting Mum at Woodpeckers.
Ponies are now sporting shaggy winter coats.
One of these, intent perhaps on leaving some of its hibernal (not hibernate, WP) hair on the barbed wire penning it in its South Sway Lane field, with a fearsome whinny gave me the evil eye.
Shetland ponies near Brockenhurst attracted a corvine entourage.
I disembarked at Longslade to photograph the landscape.
Jackie photographed me playing chicken with the traffic,
then walking along the verge
to make the second landscape shot.
This was her version of it.
Mum seemed over her chest infection, as she spoke about
the Teddy she had made for Adam when he was small. This had emerged during Francis’s assistance in Elizabeth’s clear out.
This evening we dined on the Culinary Queen’s chicken and vegetable soup thick enough to stand your spoon in followed by lean baked ham; creamy mashed potato; piquant cauliflower cheese, and al dente broccoli, Brussels sprouts and carrots with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Garnacha Syrah.
The horses have nice thick winter coats!! You Mum is looking fantastic! I’m very happy about that.
Thank you very much, GP
What beautiful ponies! Mum looks lovely
Thank you very much, Lynn
You are welcome
Your mother looks good, and I am sure she was happy that the Teddy has been found.
Thank you very much, Dolly.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Your pony photos are a glorious way to start my weekend Derrick…..and your mum is looking quite sprightly….
Thank you very much, Ivor
Glad your Mom is doing better.
Thanks very much, Bridget
A wintry looking day there but such sweet expressions on the ponies! I am glad to hear your mother is better now. That is a beautiful teddy she made for Adam.
Thank you very much, Lavinia. Mum made the teddy from a pattern.
The pony photos are quite stunning.
We’ve been very fortunate this week, no rain and have been blessed with sunny bright skies. Finally, the first clue that the shortest day is behind us and we’re now on the turn! Unfortunately, the forecast for next week tells a very different story!
Thank you very much, Sue
Those ponies are stunning. Good to see your mum smiling.
The ponies look as though they’re posing–“Oh, here comes Derrick. He’s making us all famous on a thing called a blog.” The one did look a bit like he could give a hex out. The patchwork vest on the teddy is really sweet.
Thank you very much, Lisa. They were ready for their close-ups. 🙂
Lovely story, Derrick. It’s nice that you’re near your mom. She looked happy to see you. Your weather looked dank. I enjoyed the free range horses.
Thanks very much, Steve.
By the way, the soup sounded grand.
It was 🙂
Lovely horse portraits at the top of the post.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Super cute
Thanks a lot, Alex
I’ve noticed we are losing the light at the end of the day, so it won’t be too much longer before your 3pm gloom lifts. I too am pleased to see your mum looking her usual chipper self and that teddy has stood up to the years very well indeed. I can’t say the same for myself!! I’m glad Jackie got you out for a game of chicken – and glad you won!
Thanks very much, Pauline. Sunset is now around 5 p. m. which shows you how gloomy it actually was.
Love Teddy’s natty waistcoat! That pony was definitely giving you the evil eye.
Thank you very much, Sheree
Glad to hear your Mum is doing better.
Thank you very much, Jill
Hello Derrick, your horses are lovely! I love your breezy style and the great pics. Have a beautiful weekend. Smiles xx
Thank you very much, Selina.
Teddy is dapper and handsome!
The pony-faces are sweet!
SO glad to hear that your Mum is doing better! She is beautiful and looks happy! 🙂
Please be careful when crossing the roads…especially when vehicles or chickens are afoot! 😉 😀
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…Why did the chicken cross “the net”?
To get to the other site! 😛
Thank you. very much, Carolyn. Nice chicken joke. X
Yes, your Mum looks very well after her illness.
Thanks very much, John
Your condemnation of WP trying to play the tutor is amusing. There is a certain purpose in your steps as you chicken walk through the traffic, and it manifests in your photos. Your Mum looks set to receive that letter from the Queen in style!
Thank you very much for all these comments, Uma
How I love ponies!!!The mere sight of them warms the cockles of my heart. In Jerusalem, I thought of you and Jackie and prayed. Hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend!
Thank you very much, Sofia. We are well. Have a good weekend yourself and your husband
Aww, teddy is gorgeous! Wonderful winter landscapes too
Thank you very much, Peggy
Those are stunning pony portraits, Derrick!
I’m happy your mother is feeling better. She is very talented to have made that Teddy–and how wonderful that he is still around!
Thank you very much, Merril. She made it from a pattern and shopped for all the materials
She did an excellent job!
The pony photos are absolutely beautiful, but the MUM photo did it for me!
Thanks very much, CadyLuck
Your Mum is looking splendid and so is the Teddy. He must be a good age too. Your portrait photos of the ponies are absolutely beguiling. I want one. 🙂
Thanks very much, Sylvia 🙂
How great for your mum to rediscover a treasure, and please remember to always look both ways when playing chicken 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, msw.
The Longslade landscape is lovely, both your version and Jackie’s. I’m also very taken by the colors and shapes of first photo in the group. The large photo of the tree beside the water reminds me of the setting of medieval fantasy novels. I’m glad your mother is feeling better. She looks very well.
Thank you very much, Liz
Is the Teddy staying with your mum now? That would be a fitting arrangement for them both, I’d say. I still have the Raggedy Ann doll my mother made for me before I even started school — it’s sitting in my bedroom right now, and makes me smile. I suspect your mum smiles at Teddy, too.
Thanks very much, Linda. Mum will probably keep him
Love the fact that you mentioned visiting your mum and right underneath there’s a photo of a white haired pony!!! 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Widders.
Love the horses and landscapes.
Thanks very much, Sherry
I enjoyed the shaggy ponies and a handsome Teddy. I’m glad your mum is doing better.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Loved the pictures. May Allah bless you and your mother. Āmīn
Thank you very much, Amin
My daughter loved the pony photos!
That’s good to know, Lisa. Thanks very much.
She’s five and she said “oh! More ponies!” I had to go back and look at al your old posts with ponies. Unfortunately she didn’t care for any of your garden photos or the scenery. I’m sure she’ll be asking for a horse someday but she’ll have to be content with looking at photos and visiting my friend who owns horses.
Ponies and horses, as you have discovered, are regular features.
Wonderful photos of those ponies! And that teddy is adorable.
Thanks very much, Laurie
Love the teddy. I have a small collection of teddy bears. Maybe they’ll appear in a future post. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m pleased to inspire, Leslie. Thanks very much.
It’s good to see your mom in better health. Teddy has a jaunty vest on , and I really like your ref jacket
Thank you very much, Pleasant.