Like The Pool, Reflecting

One of Aaron’s tasks this morning was to embed into the soil of the front garden this previously potted Hot Chocolate rose,

near which is a planter containing last autumn’s petunias, pansies, and pelargonium, alongside a euphorbia. Similar survivors of our mild winter are the clematis, nasturtiums, pansies, and solanum adorning the garage door trellis.

This afternoon we took a short drive into a rather crowded forest. We encountered far more cars, cyclists, and walkers than of late. By and large social distancing was being observed, but in the village of Burley, for example, this wasn’t really possible.

A bovine mother and babies group was meeting in what is normally an unoccupied field alongside Hordle Lane. As always with these creatures my presence engendered a certain amount of curiosity.

Soon after we entered Forest Road we saw two herons trying their luck in what is now a rather shallow pool. Jackie parked as soon as she could and I walked back to photograph them standing in the water. A cyclist shot round the corner and spooked them. They took flight. I panned them and hoped for the best; almost immediately I was left, like the pool, reflecting.

Further along the road

assorted foraging ponies were strewn across the landscape.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s well filled, flavoursome, beef and mushroom pie; boiled new potatoes, crunchy carrots and broccoli, with tasty, meaty, gravy. The Culinary Queen drank Becks and I drank Patrick Chodot Fleurie 2018.

75 comments

  1. It seems that the cows are somewhat lax in observing social distancing, Derrick.
    The Hot Chocolate rose took my breath away!
    I like the dynamic photos of ponies swishing their tails, especially the chestnut brown one.

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    1. Thank you very much, Dolly. I like to catch the ponies actually doing something 🙂 We have two Hot Chocolates, one in the Rose Garden. I think the animals think the virus won’t cross species 🙂

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  7. Beautiful photos, Derrick. Pity about those cyclists. 😳 Your Hot Chocolate Rose looks gorgeous and sounds delicious. Jackie’s beef and mushroom pie must have been a winner. 😝

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    2. I know, it’s rather sad isn’t it? I am finding Hoegaarden hard to get these days, If they are out of stock it’s not that easy to pop in when I’m passing and collect them as it requires queues, face mask,gloves and social distancing, that has made shopping for anything such a bind these days. So I’m settling for second best. As soon as I can, normal service will be resumed, and consumed!

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      1. The shortages of things during this time are really odd, aren’t they? Why Hoegaarden versus any other brand of beer? I’m not a beer drinker but I do like wine. There isn’t a great selection available in grocery stores in Ottawa and for the most part it is of mediocre, at best, quality but I’m not keen on standing in line at the liquor stores where there is better selection. And honestly, I’m not an oenophile, so I’m okay with plonk. Cheers to your regular beverage appearing soon, Jackie!

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  10. You know how I love reflection photos (and how I like to reflect on reflections) 😏. I love how you caught the heron in flight and his/her reflection, as well.
    That hot chocolate rose is stunning. I wonder why the name?
    It looks like everyone was enjoying the beautiful day.

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    1. Thanks very much, Merril. That is why I added the reflection 🙂 We think the name of the rose comes from its deep brown red. It was certainly a popular day out.

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  12. Those are very good looking beef cattle. Now will they be grass fed to finish or grain fed to finish? (I used to have a commercial cow-calf operation decades ago. We sold feeder calves.)

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  13. The baby bovine faces are so sweet! 🙂
    Your birds in flight and reflection photos are spectacular! 🙂
    The Hot Chocolate rose is stunning and what a perfect name for it! 🙂
    You are fortunate to have such a great helper in Aaron! 🙂
    We will be making a Shepherd’s Pie this week…but, no shepherds will be harmed in the making of the pie. 😉 😀 It will mostly be veggies…possibly some chicken.
    Tonight we will be foraging on leftovers. 😉
    HUGS for you and Jackie! Been thinking, also, of your Mum. I pray she is well. 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much for the lovely comments, Carolyn. Mum is fine. There has only been one coronavirus case in her home – that was about a month ago. X

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  16. I love the shots of the heron you were able to get! They always seem so regal when they lift off from a standing position. Your cows seem so much cleaner than ours.

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  17. Your cows do seem clean. Good shot of the herons in flight, that’s not always easy. I like the survivors adorning the garage door, and the ponies of course – especially that rust colored one with the black mane and tail.

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  20. That is a lovely Chocolate Rose to open up today’s reportage. You have captured so much in that expression of yours, like the pool, reflecting.

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  22. That’s a great photograph of a heron taking off, but the white bird is a Little Egret and I think that that it is a Sand Martin with it but I’m not 100% sure.

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  24. That Hot Chocolate rose is certainly a beauty! We one have on of those purple clematis, and I had not though of companion planting nasturtiums along with it to climb the trellis. That is a beautiful combination of form and color Jackie planted.

    The calves so innocent and sweet-looking, and the ponies seem to be enjoying a sunny day there.. I love the forest drive photos! 🙂

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  28. I always love traveling the road with you, enjoying the flowers, the animals, the landscape. Today I especially enjoyed the “bovine mother and babies group.” Such interesting markings on those calves! Thanks you for sharing your day, Derrick. <3

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