I have now received the money from Mum’s frozen bank account. No-one appears to have thought to inform me until I opened my on-line banking to pay a bill and noticed that there was rather more than expected in that – almost a week after it had been transferred. I had also been sent cheques representing Premium Bond winnings, so one of today’s various administrative tasks was to pay those in. I also paid the coming year’s car tax.
Then Jackie and I went for a forest drive.
We stopped on Rhinefield Road where I photographed neighing ponies and
wandered among the woodland, which,
among decaying broken and mossy trunks, nurtured fresh ferns replacing last year’s dried remnants.
The forest floor, with sections soggy or crunchy harboured a generous mix of old and new.
From Bratley View two spectral dead trees still stand against the sky while those with flourishing foliage adorn the living landscape. Last year’s controlled burning gorse will now rejuvenate among the ferns.
Outside Brockenhurst an adult pony grazed nonchalantly whist her offspring held up the traffic.
Another young foal, investigating mossy posts and bright buttercups, was less keen to wander.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s excellent cottage pie; firm carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Shiraz.
Finally a light at the end of the tunnel! Good to see your Mother’s estate finally being wrapped up.😊
Thank you very much, AnneMarie
These photographs are simply beautiful!
Thank you so much, Anne
Those little foals are adorable. The buttercups look like flying sparkles in some of the photos.
I’m glad you got your mom’s estate settled. I don’t think my mom’s is yet. 🙄
Thanks very much, Merril. Your Mom’s is taking a time
It is. I have to ask my sister about it.
Countryside looking very lush
Thanks very much, Sheree
We’re so thankful that the estate is settled. And, the woodland photos are magical, and of course the mare and foal are just adorable. Thanks for sharing, Derrick, and pass on our best to Jackie!
Will do. Thank you both, Maj and Sher
Congratulations on a charge well done. Love the foals and ponies
Thanks very much, Pat
The foal is so cute! I’m glad that your mother’s estate is now settled, Derrick. Relief for you and Jackie. We don’t pay a tax on our cars here, but you must purchase a small sticker for the license plate and have a smog test before getting your new registration.
Thanks very much, John
That’s a very large tree to have been blown over !
Yes. There are many such, John. Thanks very much
Oh, yay on the good estate news! 🙂
And yay on the neigh-ing ponies! 😀 (Get it?! Yay! Neigh! HA! 😉 😀 )
Oh, that little foal! What a sweet-cutie! 🙂
Lovely photos of old and new!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…I enjoy firm carrots. 🥕 I don’t want them to be “sentimental” like the mushy peas. 😉 😀
You had me smiling throughout these witticisms, Carolyn. Thanks very much XX
I’m happy to hear your mum’s estate is settled. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos, Derrick.
Much appreciated, Jill
Paying in premium bond winnings is a novel experience these days since they cut down the number of prizes. I liked your set of woodland pictures a lot today.
I’m pleased, Tootlepedal. Thank you very much
I’m happy for you that everything has been settled in that department of your mother’s estate.
mmm… maybe buy yourself a nice new camera or lens for your current camera. And something special for Jackie. 🙂
Everything looks so green in your photographs. The horses and ponies stand out amidst the landscape.
I can almost smell that cottage pie. I’m going to see if we can bake one in our outdoor oven/stove. 🙂
Have a pleasant evening.
Thank you very much, Chrissy X
Dealing with so much stuff … and then embracing the letting go of it all. Quite a journey Derrick 💕
Thank you so much, Val X
Beautiful ponies! I don’t think I could let that foal stay in the road, though mom might tell me it’s none of my business. I love the woodland photos. Your close ups give glimpses of a wonderful and fascinating world.
Thank you very much, JoAnna. At this time of the year drivers must expect the foals in the road. I’m pleased you liked the close ups
Your chronicles are also an intense study of the woodland in its various phases of existence. Ponies seem to be thriving in the neighbourhood.
Thank you so much, Uma
I particularly like the first three photos in the landscape series starting with the spectral trees.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
It must be a relief to sort out all the financial foo of an estate, even if I’m sure it is emotional here and there. Lovely photos of that new foal – I wish it a good life ahead. Oh, I have to tell you. At the store the other day, I saw Hoegaarden on the shelf in the beer section, and I thought of Jackie. I opted for a local brew, but one of these days I pledge to expand my experiences. 🙂
Thank you very much, Anna. 🙂
If your snail mail is as decimated as ours, the official letter referring to the deposit will arrive in a week or two. I don’t imagine that is a wrap on your mother’s estate yet. I guess there are redistributions, etc, yet to do. The other night we watched an interview programme on inheritances. Some very intriguing stories on the mix. One was an a executor who said the process had cost two years of her life, and very nearly her marriage and job too.
I can well believe it, Gwen. And ours was pretty straightforward. Thanks very much
I enjoyed your photographs. This is such a lovely time of the year.
Thank you very much, Sherry
Beautiful – just beautiful. The ponies among nature’s latest forest artistic creations.
Thank you so much, GP
I love the mix of old and new forest growth, as well as the foals. Ferns are among my favorites, and something I rarely get to see, so I especially enjoy it when you include them.
Thank you very much, Linda. I will remember that
Such beautiful scenery and the foal is so cute. I’m glad there’s progress in your mother’s estate/
Thanks very much, Eugi
Those are beautiful and uplifting photos from your forest drive, Derrick and Jackie! The underside of uprooted trees is a whole ecosystem in itself. I remember exploring those as a youngster. In the swamp in back of our house, small pools formed where the trees once stood. I remember finding frogs and turtles in them. The backdrop of tree roots and clinging soil made a wall for ferns, lichens and mosses to grow on.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia. What a wonderful place to explore as a child
It is a particular sweet feeling to pay bills while there is plenty in the account. I remember once having received a very large deposit, the same day I was informed that I needed new tires on the Jeep. It felt good to be able to pick out exactly the new tires I wanted and have them installed, right then and there, with no worry at all. Your forest photos appeal to me; the patterns of dead leaves, a crooked tree trunk, new shoots of grass, spectral trees above a misty forest. It’s all magical. Thank you.
Much appreciated, Crystal
Always nice to get an unexpected windfall.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Your headliner photo of the colt and mare is wonderful!
Thank you very much, Judy
Oh, precious photos. The header of the babe and mom and the buttercups is my favorite!
The estate settlement must be a bit to process. It must bring a sense of finality to your beloved Mum’s passing.
Hugs to you, Derrick.
Thank you so much, Jodie X
xo
Gorgeous photos Derrick! That forest is really magical!