After lunch today I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2021/09/23/a-knights-tale-38-girls/
The day remained largely overcast, but reasonably warm, so, after a trip to Ferndene Farm Shop we took a drive among the forest lanes.
I am not sure what these tractors were doing alongside Preston Lane, but they were sending up clouds of dust.
We can never normally stop on the A35 to Lyndhurst, but, as a consequence of extensive bridge widening works near Holmsley, there are long tailbacks enabling me to photograph the adjacent woodlands from my window.
We turned left into the road to Burley where
Jackie parked the Modus in order for me to wander into the woodland
with its green and golden bracken, its live, dead, fallen, and decaying trees, and its magical views.
Later, I scanned three more of Charles Keeping’s illustrations to ‘Our Mutual Friend’, each one bearing recognisable portraits of characters previously depicted.
‘Wegg held the will tight, while Venus searchingly and attentively read it’
‘The darkness gone, and a face bending down’
‘Bella kissed her on the cheek’
This evening we dined on second helpings of our Red Chilli takeaway, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Fleurie.
Those woodland photographs look both peaceful and alluring.
Thank you very much, Anne
I love the photos of the woodlands, Derrick. The tractor may be pulling a Cultipacker or a Till to turn the soil over after harvest, preparing it for next season. I grew up around farms in Michigan.
Fabulous dead tree
Thanks very much, Sheree
My favorite is the last picture of the dead tree. It has character!
I’m pleased, GP. Thanks a lot
Superb tree photos. 🙂
Thanks v very much, Quercus
I like the road photo, and the contrast between the alive green trees and that fabulous dead tree creature.
Thank you so much, Merril
That tree is straight out of Tolkien. Good find!
Thanks very much, Leslie
Lovely forest scenes.
Thanks. very much, Pat
After reading your girls post in “A Knights Tale, which I don’t usually read until I read your garden & daily drive post, I think you must be pretty chuffed you finally found a great cook, garden and chauffeur. 😉 Even the choices of take-away sound wonderful.
Thank you so much, Chrissy – and who made my pulses race 🙂
🙂
The decaying trees have an interesting sculptural quality.
They do. Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
The tractors are stirring up mighty clouds of dust! But, your woodland photos stir up beautiful clouds of joy! 🙂
Love seeing the trees in all of their stages/seasons of life…there is beauty in each stage…even in their final stage. Love the texture and character of the trees in your photos! They do appear magical and artistic! 🙂
Each time I peruse a Mr. Keeping illustration I look at every little detail…today I chose to focus in on the hair on each person’s head. Great hair! Ha. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Your detailed appreciation is appreciated. X
I join the chorus of pleasure at the picture of that final tree which to say the least has seen better times.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Wonderful images from wandering into the woodland with its green and golden bracken, its live, dead, fallen, and decaying trees, and its magical views. … like some enchanted forest Derrick …
Thank you so much, Ivor
My pleasure Derrick ..
I needed a trip to the forest today, thank you! Gorgeous shots today, Derrick.
I’m pleased, Jill. Thank you, too
You know I was excited by this title and even more excited that I was able to click on individual photos and slide to the next which I had not been able to do in a while. The old twisted tree trunks are marvelous! I would have wanted to stay and study them for a long time. But I suppose that’s the beneift of photography – you get to take some of the magic home with you and share it for which I am grateful.
I do appreciate your love of these, JoAnna. And I am pleased your gallery glitch has been resolved.
So nice to get back into the woods💛
Yes. I don’t mind tripping up now 🙂
The framing in which the road dips and bends away looks beautiful. You have explored the woodland with its characteristic freehand of spawning and recycling. Keeping returns to charm us yet again.
Thank you so much, Uma
Tractor to Derrick – it’s our annual day out, where we shift dirt from one part to another – and later will have a bevvie at the pub – sorry we didn’t invite you, but put it in your diary for next year – all you need to bring is your tractor…
Tractor, you are on. Catherine, I thank you.
Woodlands such as this would be an inspiration to authors of children’s books and their illustrators, especially the hole in the dead tree, a great place to shelter a little animal family..
You have outlined a book, Nikki. Thanks very much
Indeed magical views 🌳
Thanks very much, Ribana
Fabulous photos, Derrick. The dead tree is most interesting and looks like it is screaming for help!
It certainly does. Munchian, almost. Thanks very much, Eugi
My pleasure, Derrick.
The tractors send up much dust here, too. Large tracts of grass seed, wheat, etc. are harvested, plowed up and pulverized. We see a lot of dust devils in late August.
The forest looks beautiful, even the old dead trees have an artistic side to them. Have you had a frost yet?
Thanks very much, Lavinia. No sign of frost
Beautiful woodland photographs.
Sometimes the inconvenience of roadworks can be to our advantage.
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Sue
Oh, those woodlands! I kept thinking “magical.” Then, when I came to the end of that section, I see that you had the same thoughts. Great minds? 😉
Certainly great minds. Thanks very much, Laurie
Mr Keeping’s characterization is impeccable, as always.
Thank you so much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.