Today was sunny and warmer than yesterday.
Jackie entered the garden for a weeding session. Within seconds Nugget was in attendance, taking time out from his under-gardener role to tweet sweet nothings to Lady, who kept out of sight.
“Where’s Nugget?” (63)
Ron continued sweeping up underneath his front garden feeder.
Jackie also photographed
hellebores,
irises,
and Daphne Odorata Marginata.
Since it was another sunny, somewhat warmer, day, and knowing that Hockey’s would be open today we brunched there to make up for yesterday’s disappointment.
Ponies were back on the moors alongside Holmsley Passage,
and in the Bisterne Close woodland,
where a lowing cow wandered down the lane and vanished into the shadows.
On a bracken covered hillside outside Burley
stood what seemed a somnolent quartet of grey ponies. I fact there was a bay among them, visible only to my camera.
On our return, just north of Ringwood we diverted along an unnamed lane which is in effect a cul-de-sac,
alongside which gnarled knuckles of mossy tree roots caught the sunlight.
A pair horses could be seen at the bottom of a field,
a gate to which bore an Alergy Alert.
This evening we dined on scrambled egg liberally laced with chopped spring onion; fresh salad, and toast.
Great photos. You know I love seeing (and finding) Nugget. Your posts are always a mini-vacation.
Thanks very much, Leslie
Agreed. 😀
🙂
Super pictures of Nugget!
Yes I thought so too. 🤗
My kitty Elsa caught hold of a dove today. My son pried it out of her clutches and helped it recover. When I came home and gave him some TLC, he stared at me stonily as if to say, I need to teach my kids better manners. He flew off and I was so grateful that he was ok.
That’s good, Kavitha. Thanks very much.
Oh, so grateful, too! It’s hard to love all the animals when they don’t get along themselves.
🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Sheree.
Great joint effort again today, Derrick!
Thanks very much, GP
Found Nugget, found the bay too – that is a clever bit of camouflage! Beautiful lichen covered roots, stunning colour <3
Very many thanks, Pauline X
Pauline hit all of my high points. <3
X
In your wonderful photo of the four grey ponies, I able to see the bay pony after I enlarged the photo Derrick….there standing behind the grey pony on the left…
I had to enlarge it to spot her, too. Thanks very much, Ivor
You need to print and frame the one of the horse in the woods. How lovely!
Thanks very much, Lisa. One of my favourites, too.
Love these pictures and I especially love the line: “gnarled knuckles of mossy tree roots” – that’s poetic!
Thank you very much, Barbara
Yes!
Thanks, Jodie
Nugget is flashing his bright orange vest a bit to the left off the center.
He is, indeed, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Love wee nugget!
Many thanks, Val
Nugget needs to be a jigsaw puzzle! I love these shots!
Thank you very much, Jill
Nugget doesn’t seem to suffer from the harshness of winter.
He doesn’t at all. Thanks very much, Sylvie
I liked your gnarled knuckles.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
I loved your outing today and I found Nugget and also the Bay.I was pleased to see the allergy alert on the farm gate.
It is amazing how many people think it is alright to feed animals. We once had a pony die from stomach ulcers. It turned out that the warden at the scout camp that adjoins one of our fields used to regularly feed our horses and share food including fish and chips. We’d no idea if this caused his death but it certainly wouldn’t have helped him.
Thanks very much, Sue. There are signs all over the forest warning against feeding the ponies. Well spotted
“Nugget was in attendance, taking time out from his under-gardener role to tweet sweet nothings to Lady, who kept out of sight.” What have I missed? Does our little man have a girlfriend??
Yes he does I think, I saw him at the feeder with a companion a few days ago, I managed to get photographic evidence albeit a bit fuzzy. She is ‘Lady Nugget of Downton’ a well connected robin, known as ‘Lady’ Very exciting,
Oh, I am so excited! I was hoping he wasn’t so “of your world” that he didn’t know how to behave with his own. And royalty, yet! Good for him!
Indeed, Jodie. I believe Jackie has answered your question. Many thanks from me.
It’s always wonderful to hear from Jackie. : )
Wonderful photos of Nugget today. My own little wren showed up with a wren companion, and I suspect they might be a couple. The tree roots covered with moss are a pure delight — wonderful images.
How wonderful, Spring is in the air.
Thank you very much from us both, Linda.
A beautiful sunny day for you and Jackie, and Nugget and friends. The ponies look like they are enjoying the warmth of the winter sun. I enjoyed all the photos from your day!
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Stunning photos! Supper sounds lovely 🌿
Thanks very much, Tiny
Nugget is looking particularly chipper today (must have been the company he kept). The header photo is really special
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick!
A fine dinner! And glad to hear nugget has a lady friend. Who knows what the robin population of the garden could become. I love those mossy trees.
Thanks very much, Lisa.
So good to know that Mr and Mrs Nugget are doing well through the winter. Beautiful flowers especially the Iris.
Thanks very much from us both, Sylvia
These photos are especially excellent. I love the clear crisp shots of nugget. The tree with the mossy roots has a lot to say.
Thank you very much, JoAnna. I hoped you’d like the trees
Oh, yes! I’m drawn to the gnarly ones with moss.
Apart from having enjoyed the mossy roots, that unnamed cul-de-sac looks an interesting one to explore.
It is, Anne. We visit it periodically. Thanks very much.
Fabulous photos derrick!!
Thank you very much, chasingbeans.
Ha ha Derick I also saw the bay pony: D
Thanks very much, Yoshimi. Well spotted
Robin perched on owl – I love that! Wonderful mossy trees too.
Thank you very much, Peggy – from us both
You started your first “bush ballad” there, Derrick.
“On a bracken covered hillside outside Burley
Stood what seemed to be……..”
Don’t forget, at least one kangaroo is compulsory, and a bank robbery.
……the armoured gang of Kelly
astride their kangaroos.
fresh from Jerilderie
– read it in the news (refrain).
Thanks a lot, John
Great photos, all of them! Yours and Jackie’s photos!
Love the colors of the flowers and plants! Love the green velvety mossy knuckled trees!
So great to see Mr. Nugget! I hope Mrs. Nugget is doing well, too! I’m waiting excitedly for the Baby Nuggets! 🙂
Love ponies and horses, always! Beautiful photos of them! I’m hope the sign protects the horse(s) with the allergies!
Your meals sound eggs-cellent and yummy!
HUGS to all! 🙂
Great minds, Carolyn. When Jackie suggested scrambled eggs, I replied “excellent”. She laughed at the unintended pun. 🙂 X
HA! That’s funny! 😀
I always think eggs is a good meal! And throw in some veggies and I’m an even happier than happy camper! 😛
I love pictures with the bird! Awesome!
Thanks very much, Alexander
Wonderful that Nugget has found a partner. Even more wonderful that are so many flowers in bloom in your garden in January. Holy cats! Hard for this Mainer to envision. 😉
Pretty unusual for us, too, Laurie. Thanks very much
Those are interesting close ups of Nugget. I wonder if he has built a nest of his own? Does he prefer to court the night under the stars and moonshine, alone on one of those mossy trees.
🙂 We haven’t found his nest yet. Thanks very much, Uma
I must ask: is this Nugget bird a real bird? Just teasing, but it really is extraordinary a bird allows such close-ups, does not flee with a sweep of wings! The “quartet”: such a good picture. Thanks.
Thank you very much, Cynthia. Over here, robins are known as “The Gardener’s Friend”.
Indeed, they are
What a beautiful day! Mr Nugget is playing hide and seek 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana. Well spotted.
This warm weather is certainly bringing the garden on early. I really like the moss covered trees. I remember as a Boy Scout doing orienteering – look for a tree with moss and that will be north!
I never knew that, Andrew. Thanks very much.
Delightful photographs, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Roland