What Now?

It was a pair of grey ponies at the crossroads that prompted me to ask my willing Chauffeuse to park beside

the stream at Ibsley ford, where a story began to unfold.

The greys, casting their shadows in the morning sunshine, were mirrored by a couple of cyclists engaging in a lengthy conversation before parting and going their separate ways.

Leaving its companion to admire her silhouette, the lead pony

climbed to a higher level and, despite acorns being poisonous to horses, began to snuffle around them.

A kindly woman parked nearby, left her vehicle, and began lobbing apples in the direction of the animal that had remained on the green. You may need to bigify these pictures to see the airborne fruit just beneath a cycle wheel.

Having emptied her carrier bag the lady returned to her car and continued on her way, leaving the recipient of her largesse wondering what to do next.

There are a number of mighty oaks at this location. Here, one is host to an intriguing fungus; another leans over a stream; and a third casts long shadows.

This comparative youngster has seen better days.

Visiting holiday children spent many happy hours on this makeshift swing.

On the other side of the ford the continuing stream

has recently been bridged by a fallen tree which will see no better days.

I photographed some autumn leaves and turned to find that

Jackie had been focussed on me.

In nearby fields, reflecting the much colder, albeit bright, weather, field horses are back in their winter rugs.

We drove on to Hockey’s where we brunched, even though on technically takeaway meals, this time in

a warm covered dining area with its antique displays.

We had travelled to the north of the forest in search of peckish pannage porkers, but the only ones we met were these on Hockey’s pots.

On the road to Gorley I photographed a fence and its accompanying gate; a lane with smoke wafting past a thatched cottage; and sunlight piercing the same vapours within the dappled woodland.

Jackie meanwhile focussed on

the ancient craft of hedge laying

and a winsome weather vane, in the process pausing for the wind to produce a pleasing direction.

Later, we presented a dilemma to a hind and fawn imitating a pair of rabbits in headlights. They eventually decided to take the road ahead, until they encountered an oncoming woman. What now?

The walker moved aside and they scampered back into the trees.

This evening we dined on oven fish, chips, and peas with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Shiraz.

67 comments

  1. Apples for my ponies!! That woman is okay by me!!
    Those dining areas are adorable. I wouldn’t mind having some of that stuff for accessories around the my house!

  2. I adored warm covered dining area at Hockey’s, with its antique displays. .. reminds of the ‘Box Office Cafe’, (where I often have lunch), with it’s canvas canopy’s and rustic atmosphere…

  3. What a delightful post with so many sights to enjoy! In addition to the ponies and deer with their stories, I loved the weather vane. The hedge laying is interesting. It’s good to use natural fences when possible. Fugus can be quite intriguing as long as it’s on trees.

  4. I looked up hedge laying. It seems like an efficient and resourceful way to manage fencing, borders and wildlife. It is a skill I have not seen over here anywhere, yet..

  5. The post presents moods of many hues through the ponies, fungus on the tree, makeshift swings over pools, tentative fawns and cosy dining areas. Those beams of light look great, and so do you, caught by the AP.

  6. That intriguing fungus looks very like the creature in the film “Alien”, and, having seen the film, I wouldn’t go too close to it if it’s still there next time you visit.

  7. Looks like the greys, and their shadows, had a lovely day. 🙂
    Oh, what a wonderful swing! I can imagine many HAVE found joy there!
    There is something about a bridge…whether small or gigantic…that captures me in!
    Weather vanes are always a joy, too!
    Oh, gosh! Those piggies would make such a swine addition to any garden. 😀
    Love seeing the dear dear! Your B&W shots of them are so lovely!
    HUGS to you and Jackie!!! 🙂

  8. Hi Derrick !
    I noticed on the directional sign in the first photo, the word ‘Mockbeggar’.
    Our neighbourhood in Newfoundland is also called Mockbeggar. It dates from 1497.
    We live within a kilometre of where John Cabot landed.
    Thanks for a great post. ??

  9. Heerlijke blog, schitterende eiken en die hertjes … Voor mij zou het ook erg gezond zijn, om wat meer de natuur in tè gaan. Met de Kostverlorenvaart na een omweerSbui ben ik wel klaar, de gigantische boten komen ook altijd voorbij als ik weer binnen ben.
    Een Tweede Corona Golf zit er aan te komen, hoor en lees ik overal … Mensen verliezen hun baan, zijn kwaad …
    Kortom, het wordt er niet gezelliger op in de wereld: Eerst heel heftig in China, Europa, Amerika en die begrijpen het nog niet, zien het als de ‘Ver van me bed show’ en ze nemen nog een shot heroÏne …
    Ik ga foto’s downloaden en misschien neem ik een andere blog, ook met mooie grote foto’s over het hele beeldscherm. Kunnen ze de rotkop van een oud wijf van 76 goed bestuderen … Me haar ga ik helemaal afknippen: Grote stappen vlug thuis … Blijf gezond en eet veel groenten, liefs van Elfriede in Amsterdam, 26-9-2020, 16.50 uur … * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * BAKKIE-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-YYYYYYYYYY!

  10. I especially like the photo of the autumn leaves. It’s nice to learn about hedge laying. I didn’t know anything about that, and only very little about hedges themselves. My mother was a fan of cast iron pigs, and the peckish pannage porkers reminded me of those. I do like how you tell stories with your photos and bring us into your day.

  11. Love the deer! There’s a section of the drive through our neighborhood where we have to be especially watchful for deer. Any time I’m on my motorcycle I keep up a running commentary: Stay away deer.

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