On a decidedly dank morning we took a damp drive to Ferndene Farm Shop via Otter and Everton Garden Centres. We didn’t find what we were looking for in the garden centres, but the Ferndene shop was well stocked and not crowded.
We returned home via Holmsley and Forest Road.
Although there were a number of walkers on Forest Road,
where Jackie parked the Modus while I wandered woodland with my camera,
just three sheltering ponies beside Burley Golf Course seemed to be only ponies we would see.
I squelched across the muddy terrain
with its fresh, reflecting, pools;
bright green moss- and lighter coloured lichen-covered woodland, smelling of delicious damp.
It must have been a long-necked creature that nibbled this zipper up a slender trunk;
possibly a relative of this pony that emerged from the forest and crossed the road in front of as we moved off. Naturally I had to disembark once more and pay my respects.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s flavoursome savoury rice; a thick omelette; and a rack of pork spare ribs marinaded in plum sauce, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Bonpas.
Went to the garden centre last week. No one there. Felt guilty. Is it my imagination but are garden centres getting more and more expensive?
I imagine they would be, Andrew. Thanks very much
Those 3 ponies were fine, Derrick. Such powerful, grand figures they are!! (and then you came up with a 4th, good job!)
đŸ™‚ Thanks very much, GP.
I have delighted in the excellent sprinkling of adjectives along with a soupçon of alliteration that has made my happy reading day!
He is good with the words, Anne.
đŸ™‚ Thanks very much, Yvonne
I’m pleased, Anne. Thanks very much
Nice to see you getting out and about, Derrick! Let’s hope for some dry weather now so that the mud goes away.
Thanks very much, Helen
?
Moss and lichen covered trees you have captured, Derrick, make fascinating shapes and colors. I also enjoyed reflection photos.
Thanks very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
wow Derrick…water everywhere…
Sodden ground
Mud abounds
Squelchy sounds
Woods unwound
đŸ™‚ Thanks a lot, Ivor
Ii have to ask, what do you do about your muddy footwear when you get back to the Modus. Do you have a spare pair to change into?
And I have a date with Mr Google to find out about the Modus. We don’t have that model name here; it is no doubt called something else.
Thanks a lot, Yvonne. I scrape them a bit then get back in. We are not car-proud đŸ™‚
Okay, I can rest easy now.
đŸ™‚
Gosh, you have had a lot of rain.
Thanks a lot, Sheree. We haven’t seen the last of it – but at least we haven’t got the snow
Snow and ice is much more treacherous
Yes
Mud and rain and the earth is an overfull sponge–there and in Oregon! Enjoyed the horses, as ever. And I like lichen, too. đŸ™‚
Thanks very much, Cynthia
You ALWAYS find the beauty…even on a soggy, damp. muddy, pool-y day! đŸ™‚
And you are SO observant! Love the toothy-zipper tree! A snack for some creature! đŸ˜‰
Love the moss and lichen! They are so beautiful!
Aw, the ponies are joy-bringers! And each of them have a different hair style…bangs, bangs-aside, decoration in bangs. đŸ˜‰ đŸ˜€
HUGS!!! đŸ™‚
Thank you so much for your appreciation, Carolyn X
You’re welcome!
GUESS WHAT?!?! Now I’m thinking about mud pies! đŸ˜‰ đŸ˜›
I am beginning to wonder if it is ever going to dry out…
Yes. It is going on a bit. Thanks very much, Jessica.
Even with the mud you captured wonderful pictures.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
If yuo have water, photograph reflections! Nice shots Derrick.
Thanks a lot, Quercus
We won’t be short of water for a few weeks.
I’m sure. Thanks a lot, Gary
Your pictures make me think, “If winter damp is here, can spring be far behind?” Unashamedly lifted from Shelley’s musings. As usual, your pictures bring life and color to what could be a drab day.
Thank you very much, Diane. A nice quotation
A fine selection of branches.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Another gloomy day but the forest and the ponies looks gorgeous! And that dinner, yum ?
Thank you very much, Ribana đŸ™‚
The woodlands rejuvenate with all that rain and dampness. For my part, I delight in the sunshine and lively colors đŸ™‚
We take what we can from what we get – although we were somewhat disappointed the we got a couple of hours of sunshine yesterday afternoon and had already had our trip out đŸ™‚ Thanks very much, Rosaliene
I particuarly like the silvery lichen on branches. We just had a big load of snow dumped on us. It makes for a very pretty sight.
Thanks very much, Liz. Other parts of UK do have snow – we are lucky
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I always enjoy my wandering with you and Jackie.. thank you!
And thank you from us both, Dymoon
Lovely photos today, Derrick. I’m going to try and send some sunshine your way.
Strangely enough, yesterday afternoon was sunny. Thanks very much, Jill
You’ve again made the most of a deliciously damp day with the mossy trunks, lichen, and handsome ponies. The first group of ponies seems to be posing for you.
Those ponies were intrigued, Joanna. đŸ™‚ Thanks very much
That was a decidedly damp tour through the wetlands. Weren’t the ponies ancestors of giraffes? As least that’s what Mr Lamarck having come across a similar nibbling up a long, slender trunk must have thought. Accentuated by the pervading dimness, the Modus looks bright and expectant.
Thanks very much, Uma. You had me Googling Lamarck’s theory which I hadn’t known. đŸ™‚
Beautiful but wet forest scenes! It is the season of lichens and mosses. I enjoyed seeing the ponies again, as always. No Gloucester Old Spots out and about anymore? đŸ™‚
Thanks very much, Lavinia. The pigs are back in their pens now đŸ™‚
Always wonderful to see the horses and their knowing expressions.
Thank you very much, Laurie
Lovely captures as always Derrick.
Thanks very much, Arlene
When you mentioned squelching across the muddy terrain, I could almost hear and feel the mud pulling at my boots. Do you have quicksand there? I’ve never been in serious quicksand, but a couple of times I’ve wandered into quicksandy mud, and it’s quite a feeling!
Thanks very much, Linda. We don’t have quicksand, but we do have very soggy patches from underground streams in the forest. When I walked through these areas I more than once had a shoe sucked off https://derrickjknight.com/2016/01/05/late-afternoon/
The shade of green in “Lichen” is marvellous. Just the colour for a “wind-cheater” as they were called in my childhood.
I remember wind-cheaters, too, John. Thanks very much.
Those horses look so gently content, despite not the squelch all around them!
…I can smell the woody damp, and the dark, softening leaves.
Don’t the colours – particularly the greens – of nature always seem so much more vibrant in, or after, wet weather?
Exactly, Emma. Thank you very much
Your damp day led to some gorgeous photos, Derrick. The lichens on the branches, the walkers, reflections, ponies–all beautiful.
Thank you very much, Merril
I’ve not seen such beautiful green lichen before.
We think there is so much because of the purity of the air. We never saw any in London. Thanks very much, John
Derrick, I hope you and yours are well. Your posts and photos are alway beautiful, even these that are taken on a damp and dreary day. This is the first post I am reading upon my return. Great to stop by. Stay well.
Thanks very much for this, Drew. I look forward to comments being open on your posts.
THanks
A mucky day for sure! Do the ponies get on the golf course and tear up the sod?
They do crop the green rather well, Dwight. Thanks very much
i always enjoy the pony photos.
Thanks very much, Sue