This morning I read in the car while Jackie shopped first in Milford Supplies for hand gel, wipes, and a mask; then for pansies in Ferndene Farm Shop, after which we continued into the forest, where Holmsley Passage displayed signs of autumn in the form of
partially nibbled mushrooms, vibrant wild rose hips, and golden brown bracken.
The rippling stream flows beneath the little bridge spanning the lane, now so narrowly tarmacked as to be almost impassable.
While I focussed on the bracken Jackie photographed her resident wing mirror spider as it emerged from hiding, took a little exercise round the rim, and scuttled back inside.
As I wandered in the woodland alongside Bisterne Close the tranquility I shared with a pair of peaceful ponies was about to be disturbed by a steadily increasing rolling, reverberating, thunder, which, given the clarity of the skies was somewhat surprising.
Suddenly, streaming through the trees and into the open a string of assorted ponies rushed past, scooping up the original couple in their wake. Soon they could be seen among distant gorse bushes until their thundering hooves recommenced and instantly they were gone.
All was returned to calm normality by cattle leisurely blocking Bennet’s Lane.
This afternoon Jackie planted the pansies around Scooby’s grave with tete-a-tete daffodil bulbs beneath them.
Later we dined on a second sitting of Mr Chan’s excellent Hordle Chinese Take Away fare with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank a very smooth Bordeaux Médoc 2018
The tête-à-tête daffodils will look nice in Spring and be the right size to compliment rather than overpower the memorial. Good choice, Jackie. Good picture of the wing mirror spider too – I can never get mine in focus. Glad to know I’m not te only one with a wing mirroe spider. I often worry about it getting enough to eat.
Thanks very much, Quercus. I think there are quite a few of them about.
🙂
The horses today are wonderful — almost a study in the musculature of running horses!
I was so lucky to catch them as they crossed into the open. Thanks very much, Janet.
Horses are so grand.
They were, indeed. Thanks very much, GP
Hahah – the resident spider is my top takeaway today! Friends everywhere
And of course the horses and lovely photos giving us a gal vibe
Thanks very much, Yvette.
And looking forward to seeing the spring flowers in honor of scooby –
Woof
Thanks very much, Yvette
🙂
Fabulous array of photos
Thanks very much, Sheree
Both the stream and the pony are equally expressive in color and in black and white. I also enjoyed intensely dynamic photos of running equines. I didn’t know horses were afraid of thunder, just like my female cats.
The thunder was poetic on my part, Dolly. The thunder was the ponies’ hooves. Sorry if that was too obscure. Thanks very much
I have amended the text slightly for clarification
I do get my senior moments sometimes, Derrick; that was one of them.
You are very welcome.
🙂
This is lovely to read and to see the beauty that surrounds you Derrick.
Thank you very much, Holly.
It’s my pleasure indeed!
I am glad that your wine was smooth. You would have had enough excitement for the day with the stampede.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
The action photos of the ponies thundering through woods are magnificent Derrick, I’m going save a couple of photos into my “Derrick” file… they are definitely inspiring enough for a poem, but I’m so busy and tired from working on my manuscript, I’ll rest this weekend, and come back to the Photos another time…
A great task to be busy with, Ivor. Thanks very much.
I never thought of planting bulbs beneath the pansies. It makes sense though and will try it next season.
Thanks very much, Chrissy. Jackie always does it – keeping pots colourful
I love the series of photos with the running ponies! The two water photos were a close second.
Thank you so much, Liz.
the horses streaming through the woods look majestic! Scooby’s grave warms the heart. looking forward to the flowers in bloom! delightful gallery as always, Derrick! 🙂
Thank you very much, Lola
I am certain toadstools are magical beings and are privy to the secrets of the universe, but I will leave it at that. The resident anarchid in Modus’ side mirror surprised me. The stampede of horses was dramatic and well narrated.
That is a nice memorial service for Scooby.
Thank you very much, Uma. I’m pleased you liked the post.
Ponies in woodland …. ponies in wonderland where spiders live in mirrors and pansies come to celebrate sweet Scooby dogs. (I just finished writing my stream of consciousness post for tomorrow so I’m in SoC mode.) My but those action shots of the ponies are absolutely marvelous!
Thanks you so much, Joanne. I just aimed at the clearing, waited for the ponies to reach it, and clicked away. So lucky and pleased with the result.
Could the thunder possibly have been a sonic boom? You can’t be that far from Farnborough, at least, not by experimental space rocket.
🙂 Thanks a lot, John
Oh, how I would have enjoyed watching those ponies.
🙂 Thanks very much, Sue
Thunder AND thundering ponies! How wonderful! Love your action shots of them!
You and Jackie capture-in-photo so many things that most people would just pass on by! Love the visiting spider, the mushrooms, rose hips, bubbly flowing stream, etc. 🙂
Oh, Scooby’s resting place is beautiful…makes me teary-eyed. Jackie, you chose the perfect flowers to keep him company! I can’t wait to see them as they grow, flourish, and surround Scooby with love! <3
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn, from us both X
I was taken with the action shots of the ponies, too.
Thanks very much Helen, too
🙂
and (((HUGS))) to you!
Thank you – what a lovely surprise ? Have a good day
Just realised you probably meant the hugs for Derek lol – looking at replies on my phone ?
🙂
🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂
Really like the header, reminded me of the wild horses of the Camargue.
How odd you mention thunder, last night I dreamed about a thunderstorm that knocked out the electricity supply to the hotel where I was staying.
Great minds….. Andrew. Thanks a lot
Such wonderful movement of the horses captured perfectly.
x
Thank you very much, Melanie X
Those horse photos are stunning. Your mushroom made me think of the mushroom rice I just made for the lunch bento boxes this week!
Thank you very much, Sarah May
I really like your photos of the running horses. You captured the force very well.
Thank you very much, Rabirius
What a sight those horses must have been running. And to get to hear their hooves as they approached…
Indeed, Lisa. Thanks very much
Oh, how I wish I could get me hands on the wild mushroom. We always went into the forest in fall, collected mushrooms and berries. I was quite good. It seems like a lifetime ago -oh wait, it was a lifetime ago.
Thanks very much, Bridget. Jessica was a great fungal forayer
I smiled and smiled to see the bone inscribed on Scooby’s stone.
Thank you very much, Linda
Beautiful photos, Derrick and Jackie, and I loved the galloping ponies. So Jackie has a resident side mirror spider! We have one or two that live behind our porch thermometer every year, and are out there all winter. I like to think of the thermometer as a prime residence that gets handed down, generation to generation of new spiders. 🙂
That is probably the case with Jackie’s guest – either she or a series of offspring has been in occupation for years. Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia.
I thought it was just me who had a spider in her wing mirror 🙂
You are definitely not alone, Helen. 🙂 Thanks very much.
Lovely pictures on a lovely name. Daffodils are something that I dont have luck with. They come up but they never bloom.
That’s a shame, Mrs W. Thanks very much
Your welcome.
The running pony photos are splendid–that little one at the end is adorable. I wonder if something spooked them? It must have been a wonderful sight.
Scooby’s grave will be lovely.
Thank you very much, Merril. We did look for anything that might have spooked the ponies, but didn’t spot anything
I enjoy seeing the change of season. I think I like autumn best. There are so many moods and colors.
Autumn is certainly best for colour and light, I think. Thanks very much, Sherry
You seem to have an affinity for creatures and I always so enjoy the horses you are happily privy to–a lovely post. (That header photo is topnotch.)
Thank you very much, Cynthia. Praise for a picture from you is really appreciated.
Strange to have unanticipated thunder, but it appears the ponies knew it was coming, huh? I have always loved pansies. It never occurred to me that they should be planted in fall. They’d have a short life here before being buried in snow!
These are winter pansies, Jan – they flower now and will survive frost. Thanks very much.
Ah, we need to look for winter pansies. I love ’em! Thanks for the clarification, Derrick. <3
Wow! Seeing those ponies in a rush…gorgeous photos!
That bone ? on Scooby’s place ? So lovely!
Thank you very much, Ribana