I begin with this picture of Jackie’s, down the Brick Path, which I unfortunately omitted yesterday. Mea culpa.
We received a fair bit of rain overnight, but today was dry, if pretty cool, with intermittent sunny periods blown along by stiff breezes.
Our morning began with a trip to Tesco where Jackie carried out the shopping, then wheeled it to the car in a trolley, and I helped unload it into the Modus, after having read a little more of David Copperfield. I then unloaded it at home before my Chauffeuse took us on a forest drive.
During one of the duller spells we drove down Lower Pennington Lane where fresh cow parsley; burgeoning blackberry blossom; and carpets of yellow flowers dotted the fields and hedgerows beneath lowering skies. An inquisitive goat peered through a farm fence.
Looking across to the Isle of Wight we could see Hurst lighthouse and castle, distant walkers, and hang gliders welcoming the wind.
As we pulled into Longslade Bottom car park I was intrigued by voices emanating from the undergrowth. Upon inspection I met three friendly women seated on folding chairs enjoying the shelter.
Dog walkers shared the grassy slopes with ponies. By and large they were respectful of each other.
Then along came a gentleman with two dogs on leads. A small brown one barked a lot. It was loosed. It carried on barking at the ponies. Fortunately they ignored it.
I was also let loose on Bisterne Close where I photographed the woodland and its trees, lichen, moss, and fresh ferns.
A squirrel, racing between trees froze, listened, then sped on. It was so kind of it to pause for the photographer.
A young buck in a field of yellow flowers was quite unfazed by my presence.
More ponies stood among the gorse in the moorland alongside Holmsley Passage.
This evening we dined on a rack of ribs in barbecue sauce; Jackie’s delicious egg-fried rice; and tender green beans, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Rioja.
Lovely photos, Derrick, the buck is a handsome guy! The horses are beautiful too. I thought that you had an overnight freeze. 🇬🇧
Lol about the freeze – me too!
We were tricked! I visited your blog, seems you’ve not update it in a long time…
Thanks a lot John and Jodie. You know I like to keep you guessing 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, John. I was hoping some people might think of the film: https://youtu.be/TbQm5doF_Uc
That was a few years ago, fun movie.
Usual splendid selection of photos. Can I plead for more goat photos?
I second your motion for more goat photos, Sheree.
You can never have too many pictures of goats, especially baby goats
🙂
😀 😀 😀
Oh, I agree. What a cutie pie!
I’ll keep it in mind, Sheree and Jodie. Thanks very much 🙂
😎
Thanks a lot, Sheree.
Lovely set of photos again, Derrick. Those women look very friendly even though you might have intruded on their hideout.
They were happy to be photographed, Sylvia. Thanks very much.
Thank you for my tour. It was a pleasure spending time with the ponies.
As always I enjoyed another garden view.
I love the photo of the ladies – two of them look very happy to be photographed but the third looks slightly worried!
Yes, Sue. I think maybe she was – but I did ask permission before I took the shot. Thanks very much.
Judging by the big grins of the other two I guessed you’d asked permission. I love it when we have willing subjects.
If it weren’t for the mention of the car I would be hard pressed to guess the century you were describing. 🤔
It is very like that here, Pat. Thanks very much
Coincidentally, I watched a deer have quite a nibble on our front lawn this morning. She stayed away from the hostas, so that’s all right.
🙂 Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Jackie’s Brick Path path photo takes the prize today!
Agree with that decision! (The pair of horses standing side by side in the last set takes 2nd.)
🙂
Thanks very much Maj
🙂
I’m sure she would agree with you once more, Liz. 🙂 Thanks very much
You’re most welcome, Derrick!
It was worth putting Jackie’s picture in.
I liked the last picture of the ponies among the gorse, best today, though I had a hard time picking it out of a fine selection.
Thanks you so much, Tootlepedal
Well Derrick, fancy you missing out on the garden path ..
Indeed. I put it into WP then missed it in the drafting 🙂 Thanks a lot, Ivor
Jackie’s picture is just stunning, with the framing and the beauty of your garden. And I loved the sweet goat with his head tilted just so. The rude dog owner made me mad. I cannot imagine letting my untrained dog harass any living thing. Shame on him.
Thank you very much, Jodie – from us both. There are notices all over warning about dogs worrying livestock
Ugh!
You’re sharing some wonderful old trees. One looks like it might have been coppiced, or died and re-sprouted. Love the urn in Jackie’s photo, too!
Thank you very much from us both, Susan. Given the location I imagine the re-sprouted option is the most likely
You’re a wonderful photographer
I love those trees
Thank you so much, More
You’re welcome Derrick
Great pictures, amazing black-and-white shot.
Thanks very much, Bridget
Wonderful and animated set of images, Derrick and Jackie!
Many thanks from us both, Maj
Love Jackie’s shot down the Brick Path.
Thanks very much from us both, Rosaliene
Stunning shots of ponies and woods, Derrick. And I must say the garden’s looking beautiful.
Thank you very much, Mike
no squirrels here in NZ – I often wonder why not, as they don’t seem to have “pest qualities”
Thanks very much, Catherine. They do take food from bird feeders 🙂
that’s not would have them as “pest” in terms of destroying the environment, prey on native birds, cause agricultural sector to have big issues.
Ah.
Stunning photos Derrick.
Thanks very much, Gary
That top photo would make a gorgeous jigsaw puzzle, Derrick. Beautiful shots today. The egg-fried rice sounds yummy!
Thank you so much, Jill. It is always good to have a puzzle contender 🙂
Jill, I was thinking of you and your puzzles the other night. A friend is doing a huge puzzle based on Beatles’ songs.
How cool! I bought a 2k piece puzzle last week. I’m excited to start it. 😉
😀
Your garden is absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful day you had.
Thank you very much, Judy
Jackie’s brick path photo is magnificent, and reflects well the amount of work you’ve both put into the garden. Love the oak trees, too, and the goat!
Thank you very much from us both, Janet
There are so many beautiful photos here! I love the arches in Jackie’s photo. Thank you for sharing the incredibly handsome ponies, the mossy roots, ferns, and interesting tree trunks. I see a face at the base of the trunk in the black and white photo on the bottom left.
Thanks very much from us both, JoAnna. Now I see the face, too
Today’s wide viewed photographs are special, beginning with Jackie’s capture of the Brick Path framed by the arch. The three ladies behind the growth seem to be enjoying their fairyland existence. I was quite amused by your description of being let loose by Jackie whereupon you have produced suitably fetching images.
🙂 Thank you very much from us both, Uma
It has felt good to go out on a drive and a walk with you again – and I am very glad you included Jackie’s photograph: a triumph to excellent gardening.
Many thanks from us both, Anne
The clouds may be dark but what a beautiful day! Gorgeous photos Derrick!
Thank you so much, Ribana
I really liked your b/w picture called “Woodland”
I’m pleased, John. One of my favourites, too. Thanks very much.
Superb selection of photographs today, even if the weather is a bit testing. The brick path looked spectacular.
Thank you very much from us both, Quercus
🙂
Do I dare ask what type of flesh made up the rack of which you partook?
You may. Pork. 🙂 Thanks a lot, Yvonne.
Phew.
This post was a wealth of riches in photos and prose. I knew frozen had to refer to something other than weather. 😏 That photo of Jackie’s with brick path and garden–it’s a wonder you ever leave, but then the sights in your part of the world! That little curious goat, the paths, the wide expanse with horses (and inconsiderate dog owners), the buck and squirrel happy to pose, along with the three women who magically appeared–friendly witches, I suspect. And then to return to a delicious dinner. I would happily eat the egg-fried rice, green beans, along with the Rioja.
Thank you so much for these fulsome comments, Merril. I like the friendly coven idea 🙂
You’re welcome. 😀
A wonderful array of captures Derrick 💕
Thanks very much, Val X
beautiful set of photos for us today, Derrick! thank you! the brick path is just gorgeous; like walking into a paradise 🙂
Thank you very much from us both, Lola
You have an outstanding group of pictures today, Derrick!
Thanks very much, GP
I always enjoy these forest drives! The black & white photos mixed in add a different perspective.
We are in cloud here this morning, but it won’t last long.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. Our cloud has largely persisted today 🙂
Lovely trees. Lovely day.
Thank you very much, Sherry
I could almost picture the brick path on the front of a jigsaw puzzle box; it looks wonderful.
And as usual the forest ponies are so photogenic.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
😊
Among all your (and Jackie’s) wonderful photos, Derrick, I especially appreciated the black and whites, with their intricately intertwined branches.
Beautiful wildlife… I love the horses! They are magnificent!!
Thanks very much, Dwight
The sky looks heavy in some of your pictures.
It certainly was. Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
There’s always one (yappy dog and its irresponsible person) … the Three Fates looked like they were enjoying sorting out a resolution for the human race. 😀
Thanks very much, Widders. 🙂
As always, love the photos of the horses. But Jackie’s brick path photo stole my heart.
Thanks very much from us both, Laurie