After lunch we took two large bin bags of clothing and bric-a-brac to the Heart Foundation Charity Shop in New Milton; while we were at it we bought me a pair of shoes at Stephan Shoes; and while we were at it we bought two pairs for Jackie.
During the still lull between storms we took what will be our last forest drive for a few days.
The gorse on Hinchelsea Moor glowed bright gold.
Further along Brockenhurst Road I decamped and tried out my new shoes in
soggy, sucking, woodland terrain. The rippling stream running through reflected the trees overhead. The shoes stayed on my feet and I didn’t stray far.
Mostly I kept to the drier sections with their mosses, lichens, and bracket fungus on a giant oak.
On the left hand side as we approached the village a couple of bay ponies enjoyed their freedom to roam, while some of the field horses opposite, although fenced in, were comforted with rugs.
This evening we dined on tender roast duck breasts; crisp Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and parsnips; crunchy carrots; firm Brussels sprouts; mixed vegetables in piquant white sauce; and meaty gravy, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Signargues Côtes-du-Rhône Villages 2020.
Your beautiful pictures certainly show off the calm between storms.
Thank you very much, Anne.
I like the gnarly tree roots and raw beauty of the woods, Derrick. I’m glad that your feet stayed dry!
Thanks a lot, John
YAY for donating to charity!
YAY for new shoes! So glad your new shoes kept up with your adventures today. Did you break them in or did they break you in? 😉 😀
The gorse gold is so brilliantly beautiful!
Love seeing all the textures and colours of “art” that nature creates!
Your header photo is my fave today! Perfect pony portrait!
(((HUGS))) and stay safe, warm, and dry! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. I certainly tested the claim that the shoes are waterproof and mud can be simply wiped off 🙂 X
The middle of this looks like something out of Middle Earth. The ponies look comfy.
And OMG, it has been an awful long time since I had duck (it was one of my mother’s favorites!)
Thank you so much, GP
I don’t wear new shoes for at least six months, I just like to look at them at smell the leather/plastic.
Haha, I’m like that with a new car, Andrew 🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Andrew
Such interesting things happening near the ground with the trees you photographed. Your header photo is my favorite today. I like the out-of-focus pony in the background.
As so often I am pleased with your choice, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Take care, tomorrow, Derrick……. “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Thanks a lot, John. We are going nowhere
I understand exactly what GP means.
I love the giant oak, and the pony in the distance could be standing in almost a surreal mist.
I think Storm Eunice is meant to hit you harder than it is us, I believe we’re due the snow and blizzards. Take care of yourselves and batten down the hatches.
Red alert and 90 m.p.h. gusts today. Thanks a lot, Sue
Yes, I saw that. Stay safe
The gorse is very fine. I am glad that you found a gap in the weather to get out. Hold onto your hat tomorrow.
We are staying in. Red alert and 90 m.p.h. gusts. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
I’m glad you didn’t lose your new shoes, Derrick. Derek and I enjoyed your photos today. He likes to read your post out loud with his “British” accent. He was born in Devin, as you know. 🙂 Stay safe in the storm!
I’ll bet his Devonian accent is different from our London ones. Thanks very much, Jill.
Of course, I enjoyed the mossy roots, as well as the header photo, the big oak, and the long root lounging on the fallen trunk, I got a nice chuckle from, “and while we were at it we bought two pairs for Jackie.” Enjoy the new shoes and stay safe!
Thanks very much, JoAnna. You were in my mind during that ramble
🙂
Over there you have the golden gorse Derrick and here in Victoria we have the golden wattle ..
Only fair, Ivor. Cheers
Duck. Now I’d have to go back a while for some of that. And I don’t know where I’d get it here.
Thanks very much, John
I love them all. So peaceful.
Thank you very much, Arlene
I am sure you have invested in trekking shoes to widen your reach in the moors and woodland. The pony in long shot looks like an apparition!
Thanks very much, Uma. Yes trekking shoes for the optimist. A good word for the pony
Again, good luck with the storm. The picture of the roots lying on what looks like another tree is so striking.
Thanks very much, Laurie. Red Alert today with 90 m.p.h. gusts howling outside
Phew! On BBC news, I saw some pictures of the storm. Red alert is right. Hope you don’t lose your power, and I certainly hope your beloved garden is spared any major damage.
Thanks very much, Laurie. We can’t even get the back door open to look.
The glowing gorse on the moorland is beautiful. The tentacled creature on the fallen tree is creepy.
It’s good to know you and Jackie are both well shod now. 😀
Thanks very much, Merril.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I can’t get past the header image! It is spectacular like something you would see in a movie.
Thank you so much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I love that header image, too. But I was disappointed we didn’t get to see the “trekking shoes for the optimist.” No picture??
The gorse adds such a beautiful golden color! How long does it bloom?
All the year round, Lavinia. Thanks very much
I hear that there have been gusts of up to 122 miles per hour on the Isle of Wight today. Hopefully, your garden is as unscathed as possible and there is no damage in any other respect.
We haven’t been outside to look, but it looks as if it is not too bad. Thanks very much, Helen
Stay safe 😊
You remind me of my granddaughter Genie. She could never wait to get home to put on her new shoes. Most days we had to wait for her to put them on halfway to the car. I doubt that she has changed. 🤣
That is fun, AnneMarie. Thanks very much
Very interesting woodland photos, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Lovely photography
Thank you very much, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick 🙂
So, let’s see the “trekking shoes for the optimist.” <3
🙂 X thanks a lot, Jan