Jackie and I each photographed a few flowers
blooming yesterday morning. Here are the Assistant Photographer’s contributions. The first three are of Mrs Popple fuchsias and a giant which has lost its label; next is a white solanum with the bright blue Ali Baba planter in the background; the hanging baskets following contain petunias and bacopas; next, not actually a flower, are bejewelled weeping birch catkins; and finally we have raindrops on black eyed Susans.
Mine were chrysanthemums of varying hues, still hot lips, and, believe it or not, yellow antirrhinums.
Before lunch today we took a short drive into the forest, via
Lower Sandy Down which offered
a number of autumn scenes.
Church Lane, running up and down from Boldre to Pilley, came next.
Jackie parked on a verge while I stood on the road bridge contemplating
the now fast-flowing stream and its reflections.
This tangle of oak branches and the weeping willow tresses were also visible from my vantage point.
At Pilley we encountered a number of ponies beside the lake,
and noticed that Foxglove and Twinkle now have chickens for company.
The cyclist who squeezed past these donkeys on the road must have been intrigued at the number of times we passed him as we wandered around in circles at this point.
Back at home Nick continued working proficiently yet at a rate of knots. Moving from room to room as he put curtains back up and another coat of paint on the door in the sitting room; he further prepared the kitchen and added paint to walls and ceiling. One of the horrors he had to deal with was the hole in the lath and plaster wall into which had been driven by our predecessors a bracket on which swung a large fridge that blocked the doorway during their residence.
Unfortunately our craftsman will have to leave the work in the kitchen until after 19th January which is the earliest that Barry Chislett-Bruce can repair our leak. Reflecting their reliability and the quality of their work, both these men, thorough experts in their fields, are very busy, so we are happy to wait.
This evening we dined on crisp oven fish and chips; green peas; piquant pickled onions and gherkins, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Prestige de Calvet Cotes du Rhone Villages 2019.
Reflection in the stream photo is lovely, as are the rest of your autumnal reflections, Derrick. I am glad your house is shaping out in a way pleasing to you and Jackie.
Thank you very much, Dolly.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
That white pony is beautiful. Your garden is more multi-colored than anyone would expect for this time of year! Love the donkeys too!
Thanks very much, GP
So many beautiful photos by you and Jackie. Of course I love the reflections.
I saw people riding horses down a wooded path today, and I almost felt like I was in your part of the world. ?
It looks like the renovations are going well. You are fortunate to have such skilled professionals doing the work, even if it means a delay.
Thank you so much from us both, Merril
Your garden is still so colourful, beautiful flowers.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Those are beautiful garden and forest scenes, Derrick and Jackie! It’s nice to see Foxglove and Twinkle again, too. Trees really show their character when the leaves start falling. The black and white of that old gnarled oak is very artistic.
Thank you so much from us both, Lavinia.
Beautiful garden photos as usual.
A mere couple of months and the work will be completed.
I love the reflection photos too. Creative.
We didn’t see many Autumn colours around here back in March to May but then it doesn’t really get cold here, nor winter much to my achy joints delight. There were just the occasional deciduous trees on roadsides. When we lived in Canberra back in early 1980’s and again in early 2000, Autumn was the most colourful time of the year.
Thanks very much Chrissy – and for a bit more of your history
🙂
I always enjoy your fascinating donkey photos Derrick, you capture their aura of calmness perfectly…
Thank you very much, Ivor
I liked the reflections in the fast flowing stream. And the fuchsias.
I loved the fuchsias, also.
🙂
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Wonderful photos. Derrick. Those donkeys are a hoot for sure. It’s a shame that Nick ran into plaster and lath repairs/rework. That old construction can be a hassle to redo.
Nick is very relaxed about it, Maj. Thanks very much
Your garden is still full of wonderful surprises. I love your photo of the tangled oak branches–very ominous looking, the stuff of hauntings.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene
Gosh, so many beautiful photographs, Derrick! Gorgeous reflections. I’m happy the renovations are moving along.
Thanks very much, Jill
What a wonderful visit. Loved the water photos.. a nice piece, the pictures of the scenes along the drive, are dreamy.. I’ll take them to bed with me.. let my thoughts drift down the lanes.. thank YOU.
And thank you very much, Dymoon, for your appreciation.
fantastic autumnal gallery as always, Derrick! your reflections shots are just magical! and what a delight to see the ponies, donkeys and white chicken. and of course, the lovely chrysanthemums!
Thanks very much, Lola
The tangle of trees looks magical. Lots going on in your house. Too bad you have to wait, but skilled work is always worth waiting for.
Thanks very much, Laurie. That will be no problem as we sit and admire what has been done.
I have not seen such beautifully bunched chrysanthemums before, mine tend to flower in a scraggly sort of way. You have provided a delightful range of photographs for us to enjoy. Although they now sport fuzzy coats for winter, your donkeys look much softer than our too – perhaps ours lead a harder life, given that they roam around town seeking their own nourishment until their owners round them up to pull a cart.
Certainly our donkeys have a good life, Anne. Thanks very much.
Lovely flowers! I suspect I am partial to Mrs Popple. The rain beaded catkins are no less charming. Chrysanthemums are an old favourite. The Autumn has descended on the forest with no uncertain intent. I swear that tangled oak is home to ghosts! The monochrome compounds the mystery.
What kind of people hang a fridge swinging over a bracket and blocking a passage? It’s a wonderful world, after all!
I was thinking that was a heck of a lot of work to do, Uma. We humans are kinda strange creatures.
We surely are. I am reading a book “Sapiens” by Yuvan Noah Harare. If ever I had a shred of doubt about our strangeness, it’s gone like dew drops in the afternoon.
Great last phrase, Uma
Indeed
Thank you so much for these thoughtful comments, Uma. Oh, our predecessors perpetrated plenty of beautiful botches.
I agree with GP, the colours are amazing. I couldn’t help smiling at the thoughts that might have been going through the cyclist’s head.
Thanks very much, Sue 🙂
The oak tree branches are very nice, especially in black and white.
Thanks very much, John
Oh, you know I love the fuchsias and the snap dragons! 🙂
Thank you, Jackie and Derrick, for the gorgeous photos…popping with vibrant colours, wonderful textures and shapes, etc! Smile-bringers!!! 🙂
Love all of those equines enjoying their day…all beautiful…but the donkeys captured my heart eons ago. 🙂
Your tree photos and your water photos are always stunning! 🙂
YAY for a beautiful day! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn, from us both
You two are always welcome…so much! 🙂 I appreciate both of you! 🙂
Excellent set of photos, with some impressive flowers. Your photos were quite good too. 🙂
I’m always suspicious when somebody tells me he hasn’t got much work on – good tradesman are always in demand.
Hope it all goes well.
Thanks a lot, Quercus. I gratefully accept your appreciation of my pics. 🙂
Yes, keep on practising and you’ll soon be nearly as good as Jackie. 🙂
🙂 She likes that thought.
🙂
Lovely fall blooms. Mrs Popple is such a good one!
Thanks very much, Anna
Amazing that you should still have flowers so late in the year.
A Côte du Rhone is a good choice. ? ?
Thanks very much, Brian
I especially like the oak and the
willow.
Thanks very much, Sherry
The black-and-white photos are the standouts in this group. Very impressive! I particularly like the one with the single cattail.
Thank you very much, Liz. I liked those, too.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Stunning reflections! Those donkeys are so cute ☺️
The renovations are going well! Too bad it will take so long but better wait for skilled people ?
Always worth waiting, Ribana. Thanks very much.
I hope things will be okay while you wait for your leak to be repaired. Lovely photography as usual
Thanks very much, Geetha. Leaks not too bad.
Welcome Derrick. I am glad it is not giving you too much trouble. These small household issues can become such a bother sometimes.
I love all of your pictures and your two black and white ones are art-worthy. How nice to have skilled, responsible workmen available (even if you have to wait.)
Thanks very much, Pat. We are fortunate with them