On another sunny, bright, and cold day a brisk morning foray into a garden somewhat
iced up, as on the surface of this water-filled trug,
revealed our model pig celebrating his escape from crushing by the recently fallen tree by casting his shadows across the patio paving.
On the rooftop, the jackdaws are vociferously laying their customary claim to nesting rights in the disused chimney pots.
This afternoon we took a forest drive to Bisterne Close and back.
The decorated post box in Wootton Road now celebrates New Year.
The water-filled woodland as we turn into the close reflected the low sun peering through the trees.
The woodland floor is now dry enough to crackle the leaves, yet still fresh enough for mossy roots.
Ponies wandered freely;
one enjoyed a roll in the leaves, rising in the usually ungainly fashion and wandering off, oblivious of the coat of leaves it now wore.
I spotted Jackie photographing the woodland some distance off and only later realised that she was intrigued by wondering how this hollowed trunk could remain standing.
More sunlight reflections bounced from the icy surface of the close’s seasonal pool.
This evening we all dined on Jackie’s tasty beef pie; boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower and broccoli, and thick, meaty, gravy with which the Culinary Queen finished the Spanish rosado and I drank Carménère Reserva Privada 2022
Love that green moss on the base of the tree. It really pops! The horses are lovely and that last photo is just beautiful.
So do I, it looks like feet
Thank you both, Dale and Sylvie
Thank you so much, Dale
Oh boy, dinner sounds so delicious! I would love to try Jackie’s food! The ponies are so cute and I love how someone is always changing the decorations on the post box. ❤️????????????
Thanks very much, John 🙂
You’re welcome, sir! ????
Love the anonymous crocheter. Marvelous 3-D renderings. When I first read your title, I thought you had gotten healthy enough to feel frisky. Photos are marvelous and I’m ready to pull up a seat at dinner. I’ll bring some wine. 😉
Thank you so much, Pat. I’m pleased you didn’t miss the title 🙂
These are such lovely photos, and I love how someone decoraes that post box–how cheery and clever!
Thank you very much, Donnalee
At first I thought the pig on the patio was real! I really like Jackie’s second hollow tree photo. She’s captured its sculptural quality. I also really like the last photo. The reflection of light drew me in.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
The piggy and his shadow are cute! 🙂
All your photos today are wonderful! The pony portraits are spectacular! Love the leaf-coat! 🙂
Ha! Your title captured me in. I wondered who was rolling in the leaves! (wink, wink) Here we could roll in the snow today. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I’m please you got the title Carolyn. Thank you very much XX
Some trees are amazing Derrick, and a great photo of that hollowed out tree.. Keep warm in this icy blast.. 🙂 xx
Thanks very much, Sue X
The pony rolling in the leaves is cute, yet I am most impressed by the last reflection photo.
I hoped you would like the almost monochrome nature of that one, Dolly. Thanks very much
‘Ponies in woodland 1’ was my favourite of the day. We have some hollow trees like the one that Jackie spotted and whihc are still flourishing. They defy common sense by remaining upright.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal. Your favourite picture was snatched as I entered the woodland – I was lucky to get it in focus
Good to see you are having some sunny weather, albeit quite cold Derrick
Thanks very much, Ivor
So many wonderful photos. It’s great you’re feeling better and the weather cooperated. I particularly like the header, the last photo, and “the Jackie series.” 🙂
Thank you so much, Merril. Yes, the post serves as a health update
Well done! 🙂
What a fabulous selection of Forest life. I loved the way you were being watched.
And I half expected to see an unborn baby in the last image. It reminded me of the many baby scans that have come my way over the years. 🙂
I hasn’t thought of baby scans, Sue, but I see it now. Thank you very much
That is a very hollow tree. I share Jackie’s wonderment. For a moment I thought you had been invaded by wild boar – it’s a grand model of a pig.
Thanks very much, Quercus
I always love the shaggy woodland ponies and the mossy roots. The hollow tree looks like a sculpture. Cute pig statue. 🙂
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Apart from the gradually lengthening days, it is excellent to learn that you have obviously felt up to an outing. It is good to see your ponies and scenery again.
Thank you so much, Anne. I thought the post was as good as a health report 🙂
I look forward to reading about your yummy meals! (It inspires me to think a bit harder about what I should make for myself. Fixing meals for one, it is too easy to make too much food, leading to two, three days of the same thing or putting leftovers in the freezer, where they end up forgotten till I end up putting them in the trash.)
Thanks very much, Doug. Jackie’s stewps take care of leftovers
Those tend to be some of the best meals! I like reconfiguring leftovers into something new myself since I tend to get tired of the same thing after two times.
It looks like a beautiful day for a forest drive, Derrick and Jackie. The ponies look woolly and content foraging in the winter sun.
I am glad the model pig was unscathed. These storms coming through are something! We lost Internet and phone in yesterday’s storm and finally got it back tonight.
Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia. I am pleased you got your power back. One blessing for us is that we have kept ours throughout.
It went out again until Wednesday late afternoon, and we had a prolonged internet outage and reduced cellular service that did not resolve until Thursday morning. I am slowly catching up.
You are doing well
You live in a storybook fairytale forest for sure!!!!!
Charming mail box!
Adorable ponies!!
Is that your pet pig?
It is a model made of fibreglass 🙂 Thanks very much, Sweet
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Amazing photos, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Chrissy
Beautiful photos with cute subjects 🙂
Thank you very much, Riba
Love the photos as usual Derrick but I Iike that New Year offering atop that post box, look at that piggy freely wandering too.
Thanks very much, Arlene
Oh.. what a lovely post, I love the ponies wandering freely and the light shining through the branches and on the surface of the water! And I think I learned a new word, jackdaw.. I for one called them crows, but happy now I know this new name for them too, a smaller type of crow, if I got it right 🙂 I used to photograph them all the time on the rooftop of a block of flats next to my window and in the trees next to my balcony, your photos with them against the blue sky are great!
Thank you very much, Nicole. The grey head distinguishes the jackdaws
The slow march into Spring begins?
It looks like it. Thanks very much, John
The hollow tree trunk looks wonderfully eerie and love how the ponies roam freely – the white one looks almost mystical from a distance! The inventive crocheter has caught the start of the year beautifully!
Thank you very much, Annika
That roll in the leaves is adorable!
Thank you very much, GP
That leafy horse made me smile. And the shimmering light on the water is one beauty of a picture.
Thank you so much, Laurie
What a great day to get out and about … and have a fool in the leaves!
Thanks very much, Val
Is it me or do those tree trunks have moss growing on them up to what looks like a very specific height and no further?
I think you are right, Widders. That is interesting. Thanks very much
Fabuleux, as they say over here
Merci beaucoup, Sheree
That’s a truly amazing last photo.
Thank you very much, Gary
I’ve missed some of your posts while in this CA road-trip. God to be enjoying your scenes again. You & Jackie do such a good job sharing your gorgeous area. Today I especially liked the sunlight reflections bouncing from the icy surface of the close’s seasonal pool. And of course the ponies. Always love them. Thanks for your faithful sharing!!
Much appreciated by us both, Jan
A fun grouping. As always, those rascally ponies capture my attention. I thought the hollowed out log was an elepant at first glance…!
Thanks very much, Cynthia