A Hole In The Hedge.

Danni has e-mailed me two more photographs from yesterday’s visit.

They were engrossed in one activity or another.

Note the tiptoes.

This morning’s steady rain made way for an afternoon of bright sunshine prompting us to drive to the north of the forest, via South Sway Lane where

our friendly equine henceforth, in recognition of her eye, to be called Gimlet ignored my invitations to eat a carrot I held up to view. She remained in the high corner of her field which, although

not completely waterlogged,

was decidedly squelchy.

While I was attempting to tempt Gimlet Jackie collected another bag of horse manure before moving on

to Gorley Road,

one of the more dramatically flooded lanes we were to encounter. Each passing vehicle sent up sunlit spray splashing anything or anyone within reach.

Jackie is working on adjusting to her varifocal specs, especially in relation to peripheral vision when driving. She was therefore very pleased that she was able to spot a solitary  Egyptian goose in a field further along the road.

Naturally I had to photograph it

through a hole in the hedge.

While I was at it I pictured a distant herd of deer and

a horse in a rug designed for protection against the overnight colder temperatures.

 

We continued to Furze Hill along which donkeys ambled, passing basking ponies, and occasionally pausing to

clip a hedge

or hold us up with a scratch. The pictures of the three donkeys on the road and clipping the hedge are Jacki’e work.

 

I photographed some of the ponies and

while I was tempted by the sound of its fast flowing water to concentrate on Latchmore Stream

the Assistant Photographer demonstrated why she is not really secondary.

A little further along the road another herd of deer scarpered when I poked my camera at them.

This evening we dined on left overs from last night’s takeaway meal augmented by Jackie’s authentic chicken curry.

 

 

84 comments

  1. What a charming photo of Jackie and Ella! And all the animals. I love those donkey faces, and the rushing water. The “framed” deer photo at the end is wonderful. 🙂

  2. Lovely photos of Ella and Jackie. I’m please Ella visits you often, you obviously all reap the benefits of this time with her.

    Thank you for the photos of the donkeys.

  3. More adorable pictures of adorable Ella! She does step on full foot rather than tiptoes, most of the time, doesn’t she? (that was a professional question, Derrick).
    I gather it was Jackie who took a photo of the donkey’s behind. It looks like you are swimming, rather than driving there; you need one of those aquatic vehicles that proliferate on our island under the name “Duck Tours.”
    Please tell the Culinary Queen I was thinking of her today as I made Chicken Jalfrezi.

  4. I do enjoy your adventures in the home and around your wonderland. That photo of the golden pony with the halo of sunlight on its shoulder is captivating.

  5. Ha, ‘Gimlet’ is so fitting! You’ll have to do better than one carrot is you are to win her over I think. Sorry about all your sog being back. You both make it look so attractive though 🙂

  6. How delighted I am to see an Egyptian Goose pop up in your post – native to large parts of Africa and so a very familiar bird to me.

  7. I’m in the midst of fine-tuning my new installation of Windows 10, but I had to stop by and see your photos. Those tippy-toes are the best! Now, if only we could see some of the ponies on their tippy-toes!

  8. The little one at her tiptoes is a sight to behold. She reminded me of the times when my twins were of that age.

    Adjusting to varifocals can be a trying enterprise. Peripheral vision is a dream, unless you pay bucketloads of money. I wish the best to Jackie. Going by her shots of the ponies, she is certainly rubbing shoulders with the Primary Shooter.

    There are many keepers from those shots. The donkeys passing by the hedge, the trunks rising at will from the water, the rugged pony and the deer at distance.

  9. Maybe Gimlet is wanting an apple. 😀 😉

    Beautiful photos, Danni, Jackie, and Derrick! 🙂

    Love Ella’s tiptoe stance! 😀 As she gets older, she’ll learn tiptoeing is a good way to sneak up on people! 😉 😛

    I asked Cooper if we should adopt one of those sweet little donkeys, and he “Ha’d”!
    Ha! 😀
    HUGS!!! 🙂

      1. You’re welcome, Derrick!
        Aw, thanks!
        Cooper probably thinks supervising me is a big enough job…he probably doesn’t want to have to supervise a donkey, too. 😛 HA! 😀

  10. I can remember when, if you wanted to see an Egyptian Goose you had to go to Norfolk, and now they are quite common. They always look to me as if they are waiting to see their psychiatrist.

  11. Beautiful pics Derrick – my daughter especially liked that the horse had a coat on 🙂 So rainy and flooded here too – out in the forest yesterday we kept getting our path cut off by rivers that didn’t previously exist ?

  12. A great photo of Jackie, and great photos by Jackie. Is there no end to her talent?
    I suppose in fairness I have to say they were great pictures of you and great pictures by you. However, we do know where the end of your talents lies, because it seems you can’t even attract a pony with a carrot. I bet Jackie could…

  13. Oh, I love those backlit horses and the furry donkeys – but most of all the tippy-toed sweetheart! Oh, and “squelchy” – – – good word, Derrick! <3 Lotsa water there, Squelchy indeed!! <3

  14. Oh my, the very next blog I read (one from Jem Croucher) used that same fun word. Here’s her first stanza:
    Ditchling Down
    the path so steep
    and us all slippy-sliding
    In squelchy mud
    unbalanced from
    the frigid winds all hiding…”
    Check out JemVerse.

  15. I saw those those tippy toes right away and was glad for a close up of them. After that I zeroed in on the two different kinds of tiny deer you photographed! My! I’m going to have to do some research.

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