Jackie spent much of another very hot morning watering plants; I rendered some assistance with this, but mostly concentrated on dead heading and weeding down the Back Drive.
Before lunch I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2022/07/10/tower-blocks/
Afterwards we took a forest drive.
Along Sowley Lane we followed a tricyclist approached by a motorcyclist and bicyclists whom he acknowledged.
From St Leonard’s Road, with its dry verges,
beyond browning fields we had a clear view of the Isle of Wight and yachts on the Solent.
Tails twitching, cattle clustered, probably as protection from the irritating flies, in a field along Lodge Lane. One bothersome bovine, attempting to mount others, was repeatedly rebuffed.
Sunlight dappled treelined lanes like this unnamed one, which is why vehicles often keep their lights on as they constantly drive from darkness into light, and vice versa.
Among the moorland heather, gorse, and brambles, ponies – also coping with flies in the heat which seems to have exhausted a sleeping foal, consumed their vegan lunch.
After our trip we watched the Wimbledon men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios.
Our dinner this evening was similar to yesterday’s except that the Nando’s sauce was Peri Peri Lemon and herb with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Swartland Shiraz 2020.
Great photography as always, Derrick. 👍🏻
Thank you very much, John
Always a pleasure to be by your side (it seems) through your photography. Looks dry there as it is here in the Massachusetts area – we’re in a mild to moderate drought. And always fun to see what I suspect is a bit of my homeland, as my last name is WIGHT.
Thank you very much, Pam Wight 🙂
The lanes look so cool and green compared to the parched-looking grass. Our cars have lights that stay on all the time (not my husband’s old car though). That little foal looks exhausted.
Thank you so much, Merril
That is a great gallery of Holstein heifers, Derrick! The mounting behavior is not at all uncommon for yearling cattle. Once they drop that first calf next spring or summer, they’ll be ready for production!
You. Altered the lazy days of summer beautifully, Derrick 💛
Thank you very much, Val X
There is always one in the cluster that behaves like that! 😉 😛
The cluster of cattle seem pretty content and they are creating a beautiful B&W masterpiece.
Love the shady lane!
Hope that precious foal got a good nap!
Oh, those pesky flies! 🙁
(((HUGS)))
Thank you so much, Carolyn
Over the past four days we’ve had a lot of heavy rain and storms. I’m ready to dry out. Great shots today!
Thanks very much, Jill
I was trying to work a joke about a bum steer into my comment but I mercifully gave up.
That’s a relief, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much
The solent between the Isle of Wight and mainland looks reasonably narrow Derrick .. how wide would it be?
Between 2 1/2 and 5 miles, Ivor. Thanks very much
Thank for that Derrick
Poor animals. I feel for them. Hope the garden holds up.
Thanks a lot, Pat
I’m sure flies are a left-over plague from Moses and Pharaoh Ramses the 2nd’s days in Egypt.
Thank you very much, Chrissy
I love the photo with the view of the Isle of Wight! I saw a very similar cluster of cows on a scenic drive today.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I like the dappled lanes. Hope you get some good rain soon where needed.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
The little foal looks exhausted in the heat. Flies are a real problem in summer. I don’t know if you have ones called horseflies and deerflies over there. They are biters and blood drinkers, and their bite feels like they are drilling for oil.
We do have horseflies, Lavinia. Fortunately I don’t know what their bite feels like 🙂 Thanks very much
You are such a wanderer, Derrick. Admirable in such hot weather…
Thank you v very much, Judy
Even a lovely day can get a little too hot on occasion!
Thanks a lot, John
Everyone’s looking a little ragged in the heat
Thanks a lot, Sheree
Last summer, we had a group of young heifers up here. One of them was forever attempting to mount the others, but then, it began standing by the top farm gate, continually mooing.
Liam, the farm manager, told me the heifer wanted a bull, and there was one in the fields over the lane with a group of older cows and she could smell it! I assume this meant the heifer was in season, but unfortunately for her, she was still too young and would have to wait until the new year.
Thank you very much for this enlightenment, Sue
Derrick, forty six years of living on a farm and it was new to me too.
Your photos of the Holsteins made me homesick for the dairy farms of my midwestern upbringing. They’re such handsome cattle, as well as being photogenic. They always remind me of classic couture: the little black dress with a string of white pearls.
Thank you so much, Linda
Great pics of the sleeping foal and the cattle cluster.
Thank you very much, Eugi
The club of clustered cattle looks interesting. The dappled roads looks inviting. Motorists keeping the headlights on are acting smartly. Flies are one of the most pesky pests invented by Mother Nature —the exhausted, fast asleep foal is proof enough.
Thank you so much for these comprehensive comments, Uma
Great photography Derrick! I like the cattle especially!
Thank you very much, Aletta
Looks warm and sunny. We have been having non stop rain over here. The monsoon has hit us.
Thanks very much, LL/DP
The flies can really be nasty and tiring 😁
Thanks very much, Ribana
Another scenic drive! That herd of cattle looks particularly healthy.
Thank you very much, AnneMarie