Even at 8.30 this morning garden watering was shirt-soaking weather without having gone anywhere near the sprinkler.
I also produced a few photographs. Jackie said I made life difficult for myself with the camera slung round my neck. As usual, the gallery can be accessed by clicking on any image, each of which may be enlarged. This may be useful to find the camouflaged bee in the last picture.
Later, we set off for a picnic lunch. I should have known that the cattle drinking from the stream crossed by Holmsley Passage would have been inquisitive enough to
leave by the time I extricated myself from the car, and proceed to block the road.
The usual string of ponies did the same with considerably more effect than the bovines. Jackie considered that the traffic problem had been exacerbated by “old man in the road”. Well, it was a little difficult for me to round the obstacles to meet up with my Chauffeuse who had moved on ahead.
Outside Hyde CE Primary School a donkey foal stopped during feeding time for a scratch while waiting to be enrolled into ‘The Family in the Forest’.
Eventually we found a shady car park in Godshill Wood. We hadn’t bought chairs and there were no benches, so we could not emulate other, better prepared, picnickers and stayed in the open-windowed car watching
a trio of ponies clustered together for protection against the myriad of flies they had diverted from our lunch.
Another equine pair took direct shelter beneath the trees.
Occasionally a combination of the carelessly parked grey car and the cluster of ponies presented drivers with difficulty. One young lady left her car and proceeded to push a pony in an attempt to shift the group. She was pushed in turn, declared that the pony was either too hot or too grumpy, and returned her transport which threw up dust as it sped off into the distance.
This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Malbec.
Despite my local temperature being a single digit this morning I can feel the heat radiating from the photos of shade seeking animals and picnickers……. The relief found in dappled light is captured perfectly.
Thank you so much, Pauline.
I just love the way the cattle and horses just wander at will, despite the traffic.
So do we – but then we are seldom in a hurry 🙂 Thanks a lot, Sheree.
It sounds like you’re having the same type of weather we’re having–but we just had a scary thunderstorm, too. Your flowers are so bright and beautiful–but it’s that little donkey foal that has my focus today. So cute!
I can’t imagine picnicking with horses and cattle wandering about. There’s nothing like that around here unless you’re on a farm.
Thanks very much, Merril. We abandoned one spot with a bench in shade because there were so many sheltering ponies we thought might want our lunch. Still no rain here.
Blimey, she shoved a pony? Bonkers. Lucky it didn’t eat her.
😀
It did send her reeling. Thanks a lot, Geoff.
Yes, that “old man in the road” hazard definitely bears watching.
I did wonder at one point how I was going to get round the ponies. Eventually a car waited for me – so Jackie’s observation was quite accurate. 🙂 Thanks very much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick. 🙂
The garden is repaying the dedicated watering team with a lovely show.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
Gosh, I’m starting to think the animals are taking over the streets. 🙂 We’ve been extremely hot and humid here. Our potted flowers wither after a couple of hours.
The animals are making sure that the people don’t consider the streets their own. 🙂 Thanks a lot, Jill.
A butterfly was hiding on the perennial peas too, though perhaps not quite such a master of disguise as the bee. I love the light you’ve captured on the petunias. It is far too hot for me at the moment.
Me, too. I don’t mind the heat, but the humidity does me in. Thanks a lot, Susan.
I loved that light on the petunias, too. <3
your flowers are gorgeous, well watered and holding up despite the heat. and good to see ponies sheltering. your photos are always delightful! thank you 🙂 🙂
And thank you, Lola. 🙂
Those flowers, just stunning.
Thanks very much, Gary.
I’ve never seen anything funnier than the foal scratching himself, contemplating whether the school is good enough for him.
I’m so pleased, Dolly. Thanks very much.
The pleasure is mine, Derrick.
It is especially humid here this summer.
Here, too. Thanks a lot Mrs W.
Your welcome.
Oy! It take a special person to push a pony, she is lucky she wasn’t harmed…maybe next time she will understand the lesson of slowing down and enjoying the moment.
Quite so, msw. People with special needs over here are unkindly called “special people” – but in this case………..
🙂 My thought too. Big car, no sense of proportion…
Hi Derrick – well the other day it was a traffic jam of cars – I think I like this jam of cows and horses a little better. I don’t know why I like looking at donkeys so much – they are so cute to me. 🙂
Two women thought so too, but didn’t want to be photographed petting them 🙂 thanks a lot, Barbara.
Never a dull moment with ponies.
True – but the young lady rather stirred this moment. Thanks very much, Laurie
What the heck!
She may have known horses, but not wild ones.
Oh Derrick, I do love a picnic in the park, under shady trees on a hot summer’s day…
It was quite a scene, Ivor. Thanks very much.
They were lovely photos Derrick..
Thanks again
Lovely, delicate flowers! It looked like a good day for watermelon, while ponies offer lessons in patience for those willing to learn.
I think that young lady learned all right, JoAnna. I hope she remembers it. Thanks very much.
I don’t know whether the astuteness of the images or your description of the day convinced me of the stuffy climate out there, so I felt relaxed when you moved to Godshill Wood. The proceedings of the picnic spot have been described in a captivating manner.
Thanks very much Uma. The young lady really ricocheted off the pony that repulsed her.
I love that solo orange bloom, what do you call it? Hi Jackie, is it really that hot? The sun is shining bright.
It’s dahlia, Arlene. High 30s. Thanks very much.
Very middle class to bring garden seats to a picnic. If they’d had a roof rack they could have brought a park bench!
Thanks a lot, John 🙂
Hi, Arlene, it really is that hot, I am melting after about five minutes, it is very humid too. The Dahlia that I think you are referring too (the single with the dark centre?) is in a pot, it has been there for years and I have lost the label!
The young lady could be someone who is used to being around horses, someone who knows that occasionally you just need to give them a blooming good shove!
That is what we thought – but people who bring stable knowledge into the forest have to learn that these animals are wild. Thanks very much, Sue.
So true, Derrick.
OOH! I found the bee! 😉
Ha! on Jackie’s comments! 😮 😀
Love that little donkey!!! 🙂 He could come live at my house any time!
What a beautiful place, and shady, to picnic! I would’ve thought they would have some benches and tables set up.
Loved the middle horse in the trio! He was probably trying to convince the other two that they were pointed in the wrong direction! 😉
Hmm…what is that old saying? “You can push a horse, but you can’t make him get out of the road if he doesn’t want to get out of the road. OH, and he might push you back!” Ha! 😀
Thank you so much for these lovely photos! A highlight in my day! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…we cooked a pot of pinto beans and then fixed some ribs to go with them!
Thanks very much, Carolyn. The young lady was lucky she wasn’t kicked.
Today it was my little daughter’s turn to read blogs with me – she absolutely loved the horses 🙂
I’m so pleased, Tiny ( do you prefer this to Beck?)
Oh please do call me Beck ? It’s only my children’s names I keep quiet – so that they can choose how to be online when they are older ?
🙂
Excellent galleries as usual Derrick.
Thanks very much, Andrew.
Here in New England we are also experiencing many sweat-soaked days. But it’s worth it for you considering the views you get. Gorgeous photos and I love the idea of the woman driver trying to push the pony aside!
Actually the woman was endangering herself – even though she may know tame horses. Thanks a lot, Pamela.
I enjoyed seeing the garden, as always! I am sorry you hare having excessive heat there. We are in a temporary cool spell right here, but the forecast is now for 102 on Saturday, and high temperatures for the next week.
The forest photos are always interesting. The ponies are probably hot and grumpy. in the current weather. So much gardener’s gold being left behind on the street! Who cleans that up or gets to go off with the gold? Does anyone get to come by with shovel and bucket to take it home for the garden?
That one cow has some impressive horns, and I would not want to have to ask her to move. 🙂
I think the young lady who pushed the pony and ricocheted off the response possibly knew tamed horses but didn’t know that these were wild. Maybe she does now. Here Is one answer to the clean up question: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/12/13/the-vacuum-cleaner/
Thanks very much, Lavinia
A super-duper pooper truck!
Excellent phrase, Lavinia. 🙂 Thanks again
Such interesting pictures, as always, Derrick! The thing that comes through all your posts is how much you and Jackie enjoy each day. Lovely.
That is really lovely, Cynthia. Thanks very much.
Even having a picnic in the car is great surrounded by such beautiful nature and animals ?
Thank you very much, Ribana
Ik vind het heel erg apart, dat al dat “vee” gewoon vrij overal rond kan lopen: koeien, paarden en ezels alsof wij hun lastig vallen in hun territorium. Ik vind dat wel héél erg country site en snap er als Amsterdammer helemaal niks van. Dat dat kan in Engeland, hoe is het mogelijk!!!
Nee, ik begrijp het niet: Komt in Nederland nergens ergens voor. Stel je voor zeg! Het hele dorp in rep-en-roer, de hele provincie in rep-en-roer … , heel Nederland in rep-en-roer: “De beesten lopen los!!! Bel 112! Desnoods de brandweer, want dit kan niet!”
Dan kan je niet eens rustig op een bankje zitten te picknicken, omdat nieuwsgierig “vee” ook een hapje wil proeven. Rare mensen die Engelsen, maar uw tuin is onovertroffen … Amsterdam, 14 – 8 – 2020 * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com *
Thanks very much, Frieda
Another adventurous day, including a senior citizen engaged in holding up the traffic. I suppose in his day it was only horses and farm wagons. It’s his wife I feel sorry for…
🙂 Thanks a lot for the solidarity Quercus
My pleasure. 🙂
You’ve received lots of comments about that one young lady who left her car and proceeded to push a pony… hah! If she thought the pony was ” either too hot or too grumpy,” she should have looked inward as she “threw up dust [speeding] off into the distance!” She has a lot to learn!! BTW, your garden is looking no worse for the wear of all that heat… thanks to the diligent waterers. Beautiful, {{{Derrick}}} and {{{Jackie}}} <3 <3
Thank you so much from us both, Jan. XX
Wonderful creation ?
Thank you very much, Subrata