More Young Life

Jackie spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the garden. Later she drove me into the forest for a short trip.

Ponies cast their shadows on the sward beside Holmsley Road. One enjoyed a good scratch.

Two mares suckled their foals. In the first picture the youngster is in the process of rising for a feed. The adults are so ungainly when they heave themselves upright that I was quite surprised at the nimbleness of the little one. The mother ignored the flies crawling over her muzzle. The grey became a little self-conscious at my approach; unplugged her infant; and moved off. Her persistent progeny latched on from the other side. I left them in peace.

While Jackie waited in the Modus I took a walk down the far end of Forest Road outside Burley as far as the very dry ford and back.

The high banks and exposed roots at each side of the lane betray its ancientness.

The stream is so very dry that much of the gravel bed is exposed; reflections on the shallow surface mingle with the small strip that does contain a smattering of liquid; and the depth gauge stands proud of solid ground.

I was not the only photographer focussed on groups of small Highland cattle on the outskirts of Bashley where a calf was learning to forage.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata; pepperoni pizza; onion, tomato, and mozzarella salad; and juicy ratatouille, with which the Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.

83 comments

  1. The highland cattle must be very warm. Our long-haired tabby cat is melting. He couldn’t be persuaded into a dip under the hose spray though!

  2. Love the ponies shadow photo! And, oh, that little calf! What a face!!!!!!!!!!!!
    🙂 Day brighteners, for sure!!! 🙂

    Hope you get some good rain soon. We need some, too.

    It is always interesting to watch mothers in nature…whether it be bird-mums, cow-mums, horse-mums, etc….they are always so protective, loving, focused, great teachers, compassionate, ETC! We can all learn from them! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  3. Your photo of looking down Forest Road with the overhanging canopy, reminded me of one of my little quotes…..
    “The tunnel is growing wider
    The light is glowing brighter” .. Ivor.

  4. It’s so nice to see these photos after all the horror I’ve been seeing today. I love the mothers and babies, and that close-up of the calf is wonderful. What a face! ? I always enjoy seeing the Forest Road. I hope you get some rain soon.

  5. The depth gauge amused me.

    We should have know that it was going to be a dry month when the Daily Express predicted that it would be the wettest May on record.

  6. I really needed these sweet photos of the foals and their mamas and the shaggy calf. Your blog is a very good way to end my day.

  7. Those baby foals are such a delight!
    We also had ratatouille with our dinner, and my husband had Cabernet Sauvignon, while I was enjoying my Sauvignon Blanc.

  8. I wonder how the highland cattle take the heat that has been around the past few days. Thank goodness today was cooler.

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