After a Tesco shop this afternoon Jackie drove me into the forest.
Along Holmsley Road we had plenty of time to watch the ponies inside an elongated Emlor Polo horse box as the driver executed an impressive reverse.
Daises covered the lumpy terrain of Mill Lane with its reflecting pools; its gorse enhanced woodland; and its decaying fallen tree limbs.
The grassland levelled out enabled these family groups to play cricket with a tennis racket and ball. Enlarging these shots will enable readers to enter the Spot the Ball competition exemplified by the last three images. Give yourselves extra points for spotting number two.
This lane forms a T junction with Lyndhurst Road, the verges of which one of our familiar groups of ponies kept tidy until they became bored and decided to wind up the traffic.
From Lyndhurst Road we turned into Forest Road where water buttercups pierce the layers of pondweed in a pool; mossy fallen branches make their way to merging with the soil beneath;
and ponies crop the grass beside a forded stream
which an escorted little boy investigates with a fishing net.
This evening we dined on oven fish and chips, mushy peas, pickled onion and cucumbers, with which the three older members of the household drank Picpoul de Pinet white wine 2020.
I particularly like the ponies along the forded stream (which I first read as folded š), and the little boy with his fishing net on Forest Road. It looks like a beautiful day for families and ponies.
It was a splendid day for them, Merril – eventually – overcast until mid-afternoon. Thanks very much.
You’re very welcome.
The forest is looking healthy and spring-like, and the game looks like a lot of fun — I believe I found the ball in 3 photos!
Well spotted, Janet. Thank you very much
Hi Derrick. That is indeed an impressive manuever by the truck driver! Also I love the picture of the little boy with a fish net. Having raised all boys, it brings back memories š
Thanks very much, Barbara. I’me pleased to have revived those memories
A forest drive makes any day better. Go ponies!
A forest drive makes any day better. Go ponies!
Thanks very much, Pat
I’ve never seen a horse trailer that big, or so nice. It looks like a tour bus for a rock band! Lovely photos today, Derrick. Dinner sounds yummy!
Thanks very much, Jill. I’ve never seen such a trailer before, either.
That is the largest horse conveyance I have ever seen! My favorite picture out of today’s group is Landscape. I love the muted color palette.
Thank you very much, Liz. I’ve never seen such a horse conveyance before, either.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
So many wonderful photos, Derrick! It’s so nice to see people out and about, Covid remembered. That’s a nice-looking truck, I am not familiar with the brand. I used to drive a tractor-trailer as we call it.
Thanks very much, John.
Judging from the size of the lorry, that’s one hell of a packet of mints inside it !
Looks like a simply splendid Bank holiday.
Thank you very much, Sheree
Spotted the ball (s!)
Those beautiful ponies look so serene as they carry out their traffic calming duties š
Thanks very much, Emma. They really do own the roads. Well spotted
A lot of the foods you mention are things that we eat in the United States, as well, especially in nice restaurants (although much of yours is made by your talented wife). But mushy peas is not something that I ever see anyone eat here. Are they offered a lot as a side dish at restaurants?
Just with fish and chips, Luanne. Thanks very much
At least that’s a healthier addition!
Buttercups! Just the word makes me feel warm and cuddly inside. SPRING!! And I found the ball. :–)
Well spotted, Pam. Thanks very much
Lovely photos! I spotted the balls! Tres! Are there more than tres?!
Great air-borne action shots, Derrick! š
That big polo horse box/truck IS impressive!
Seeing daises always makes me smile! š
My favest-fave photo today is the last one…so sweet! He looks ready for anything! š
OOH! I love mushy peas! And firm peas! And perky peas!
(((HUGS)))
PS…in two of the cricket photos is there a bigger ball by that lady-in-the-black-pants feet?! Ha! Whatever it is it looks like it has a face! š® š
Very well spotted, Carolyn. Just one tennis ball. The bigger ball is a football. We had passed the little boy a while back and wondered where he was going with his net. Thanks very much š X
Yes, I wonder what he was hoping to catch in his net. š
It is cold and rainy here today, and I have enjoyed your sunny forest drive, Derrick and Jackie. I spotted the ball in the three photos after some searching. The photos would not enlarge for me.
The ponies look like they are still shedding winter coats. The littlest ponies are so adorable and full of character. š
Thank you very much, Lavinia. Well spotted, especially as you couldn’t enlarge the pictures.
In #1 the ball is in the air above the woman in white. In #2 it is much higher, almost lost in the foliage, but not too difficult to spot if you follow the focus of the players. In #3 it is low, between the man walking towards us and the young mother in black.
Thank you so much, Dolly. Very well spotted
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I always enjoy your woodland and pony photos. I wonder what ponies are in the truck and where they’re going.
They must have been Polo ponies. The registered office of the team is apparently in our road, which I hadn’t known. Thanks very much, JoAnna
Polo ponies makes sense. I wouldn’t want them to take the wild ponies.
Spotted those balls! And the spotted pony. š
Well spotted, Laurie š Thank you very much
Splendid drive
Thanks very much, Yvette
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Your photographs convey a feeling that all is well – wonderful.
Thank you so much, Anne
There were times when I could see two balls and in one photo, three. Was there just one ball?
There was just one tennis ball, but in number one a football at the feet of the woman in black leggings. I can see why you may have seen what looked like more in the gaps in the leaves. Well spotted, Judy
I spotted the ball 3 times. Does that mean I win the pony grassing behind the players?
I wish that could be your prize, GP. Thanks very much
The group enjoying tennisized cricket is clearly having a lot of fun. Here are my answers for the spot the ball contest: Image 1: The lady in white is about to catch the ball which is in the middle of the frame but slightly off to the right. Image 2: if three horizontal grid lines were to be placed dividing the frame equally the ball is at the base of the top third section and nearly in the middle in the trees. Image 3: the ball is towards the left in the bottom trisection of the frame.
Very well spotted, Uma. Thanks very much
Wonderful to see natural verge side hedge trimmers munching .. Much better seeing a four-legged instead of a petrol motor council appliance Lol.. Great as always Derrick.
Thank you very much, Sue
Beautiful photos of the ponies! I spotted the ball in two photos!
Well spotted, Eugi. Thank you very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
The post is beautiful and the photos are amazing!!!
Thank you very much, Luisa
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I just added your blog to my following after having many disappear from my feed. I will enjoy slowly catching up with your neck of the woods, including the ponies. Here I have visited with wild ponies in Maryland. They have the right of way there and are not tame, despite peoples’ insistence on approaching them as if they were.
This is another coincidence. The same is so of our ponies – and visitors who ignore warnings. I have been unsuccessful I following you
That is odd. I thought I had a follow button on the page. I will check this out.
Thanks for posting. I always learn new words from your post.
Thank you very much, Eunice
Quite difficult to spot the ball š
Thank you very much, Ribana
I hope the meal was good, I am always disappointed by oven fish and chips.
They don’t beat the hippie, but are not too bad, and easier
Were the peas supposed to be mushy? š§
Yes. They are prepared that way to accompany fish and chips š Thanks very much, AnneMarie
I see! I will have to look that up. We are having fish and chips for supper. š
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Hi Derrick, the ponies are lovely, even if they do block the road. I thought the water buttercups were flowers in a field. You can seen anything of the pond at all.
Thanks very much, Robbie