Grooming

This afternoon I finally managed to post completed forms to Mum’s Bank and to the Premium Bonds Centre in order to release funds for distribution to the legatees.

I popped them into the normally decorated box on Pilley Hill. No doubt the anonymous knitter is between tribute designs.

Buttercups and daisies carpet the bank behind the letter box.

Apple blossom blooms beside the lake,

which bears water buttercups and reflections.

Ponies, including a pair mutually grooming, occupied Bull Hill. Note that flies, on this heavily overcast, warmer, day have begun to descend on these creatures.

One cow alongside Beaulieu Road admired its reflection while across the road another undertook its own lonely grooming.

A group of ponies disturbing the traffic at East Boldre included one animal clearly too short to keep out of mud when entering a pool.

This evening Jackie produced a superb roast pork meal including crunchy crackling; crisp Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes; tasty sage and onion stuffing; firm cauliflower, broccoli and carrots; tender cauliflower leaves; meaty gravy, and Bramley apple sauce, with which she drank Hoegaarden, I drank Calvet Prestige Bordeaux 2020, and Flo drank water. Creamy rice pudding was to follow.

74 comments

  1. A very atmospheric series of pictures. I have never had cauliflower leaves, or not that I remember, but I like eating the raw ‘stump’. We used to clamour for the rights to it as children. The postbox and your good self make a very striking pairing.

  2. You’re looking pretty sharp posting your letter, Derrick.
    The ponies look beautiful in their summer coats, but the cow looked a bit lost.

  3. A feast to celebrate what is hopefully the end of an arduous task. Although we still have bright red post boxes in town, I doubt if anything posted therein would move from within … such is the sad state of our bankrupt postal system.

  4. Flowers, cattle and horse photos are great. However, the first image of grinning Derrick completing the last step in the process of probate is the most gratifying shot of today’s gallery. Congratulations, Derrick, to you and your family.

  5. Your expression at the mailbox is priceless. And the first pony seems to be giving you quite a look.
    So many beautiful photos of flowers and animals. I can’t choose a favorite.

  6. Sorry about the lack of mailbox decorations. Lovely afternoon’s picture safari. Another gourmet meal. You poor man. 😉🤣

  7. Sorry about the lack of mailbox decorations. Lovely afternoon’s picture safari. Another gourmet meal. You poor man. 😉🤣

  8. All beautiful photos! Ponies, cows, grooming cow, buttercups, reflections, daisies, apple blossoms, etc…but I must say the photo of you stole the show, Derrick! 🙂 Did you and the mailbox coordinate your clothing today?! Ha! 😉 A great photo by Jackie! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) to you and Jackie! 🙂 ❤️

  9. It’s nice that you took time to notice and photograph the cheering daisies and buttercups at the letterbox during such a momentous occasion. The water buttercups and reflections are magical.

  10. Derrick, you always refer to them as ponies which to me denotes a small or young horse. Some of the look pretty grown up. Educate me, if a pony is a young horse, what is an adult horse called?

  11. Your communication to the bank will carry the added charm of the celebrated post box. The abundance of apple blossoms makes for beautiful pictures. The ponies are meandering unhindered, bothered only by their sworn enemies, the flies.

  12. Loved the cow and reflection and lots of ponies and daisies.. Jackie’s evening meal, just up my street .. 🙂 oooh and creamy rice pud…. What a treat <3

  13. Wonderful photos of the ponies and I love the expression on your face at the mailbox. Perhaps, a sigh of relief was there too?

  14. Spring in the forest is a beautiful time of year! What is the temperature like in your area now? I am sorry to hear the flies are descending on the ponies already. The littlest ponies are adorable.

  15. I love that photo of you at the postal box. M guess is that your Calvet Prestige Bordeaux 2020 went really well with that roast pork. We have a neighbor coming with a shrimp quiche for our dinner tonight. Very hard to cook (and to type) with one hand!!

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