Autumn Has Arrived

On another day where showers outnumbered sunny intervals, we waited until a limited period of respite before taking an afternoon forest drive.

Here I engaged in conversation with another farmer, also a commoner giving him pasturage rights for his animals. I had seen him shooing away a solitary pony from his two highland cattle. He explained that he had done this because the interloper had been taking the food he

had put down for the cattle. This man had bred his bovines for 60 years in order to keep the breed alive. He has 48, just three of which are free in the forest – these two and a white one.

By the time I returned to the car the blue sky above had turned as cloudy as that above the tree alongside Holmsley Passage and a brief heavy shower ensued.

On the approach to Bisterne Close an occasional pool had filled and was reflecting the surrounding woodland. So squelchy was the area underfoot that it was unsafe for me to venture to far in, either there or alongside the close where

until they had made their way through to a verge further along the road, I needed to photograph ponies from a distance,

and a couple of woodland scenes.

Jackie photographed me making my way towards the ponies.

These were my own pictures of the group;

and this one of Jackie’s, who also pictured

proof that autumn has arrived.

This evening we all dined on bangers and mash; fried onions, cabbage, carrots and gravy. The bangers were a mix of fat meaty herbal sausages and tasty chipolatas. The mash was very creamy. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Garnacha from another bottle.

70 comments

  5. What wonderful autumn-y photos, Jackie and Derrick!
    Isn’t autumn amazing! The scenes, colours, smells, tastes, temperatures, hearing the wind! 🙂 Autumn ignites all of our senses! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
    PS…“Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release…it’s what the trees do.”

    “Never jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.” – Linus (Charlie Brown) 🙂

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  13. Yay for autumn! The cows, ponies, and Jackie’s orange/gold leaf are beautiful. I’m glad you’re staying away from the squelchy places.

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  14. Moving on from the devoted farmer through the squelchy woodland, I quite enjoyed the images of ponies and your determined walk towards them. Jackie’s Autumnal declaration is valid to the core.

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  17. Beautiful photos by you and Jackie. I can’t pick a favorite.

    Is there a reason why three of the farmer’s cattle wander free? Something about those three or only three at a time?

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    1. An interesting question, Merril. There wasn’t really an opportunity to ask that. The conversation went on to the man’s lifetime in the area. Thank you very much from us both.

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  25. The Highland cattle are very handsome. Looks like they are finishing up small piles of grain the farmer put down for them.

    The foals have grown big! Still mostly long legs, but the rest of their bodies are catching up. Beautiful forest scenes from both of you, and I especially love the bracken and upturned oak leaf catching the sun. Both calling cards of autumn.

    Are the pigs still out band about? 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much from both of us, Lavinia. The pig warning signs are still up, but we haven’t seen any in the last few days, although we haven’t been near their territory much

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  26. Wow! Gorgeous captures of the animals and the autumn leaves. Our autumn leaves are falling fast, and not to my liking as I enjoy the lovely colors.

    Reply

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