Part of Mum’s deal at Woodpeckers Care home is that she can entertain guests to lunch once a week.
Elizabeth, Jackie, and I were her visitors today. My meal was Cajun chicken with Lyonnaise potatoes, carrots, and curly kale; the others opted for gammon. Mum chose stewed apricots with ice cream for dessert; the rest of us enjoyed plum crumble. We were served in our own quiet room. Service was friendly and efficient. The food was very good.
Afterwards, Jackie and I took a trip around the forest.
It is not unusual to see requests for information about hit and run accidents involving ponies. This, featuring a Shetland on the road to Beaulieu, was one of two we passed today.
Although much of it has been cut back by now, blackthorn has proliferated in the hedgerows for several weeks now.
As we rounded a bend on approaching East End we were struck by this fortuitous juxtaposition of maple and photinia.
Nearby one of a group of basking cattle suckled her calf which was enjoying its own lunchtime.
Donkeys were hard at work trimming the village’s hedgerows.
More cattle were serving themselves to lunch from the verges of Tanners Lane.
Beside Sowley Lane a flamboyant cock pheasant flashed across the road and fled beneath barbed wire fencing.
Another merged into hay stalks among scavenging crows beside a field of rape, many of which
are beginning to slash the landscape with sunlight.
More of the more colourful birds foraged in
this historic field with its
views across The Solent to the Isle of Wight.
This evening we dined on spicy Diablo pizza with plentiful fresh salad. Jackie drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc and I enjoyed Maipo Valley Carménere 2016 from the Majestic Definition range.
Was very sad to hear of the ponies that have been hit, but you have warned me about that in the past.
Your mum is not only looking very well, but also quite happy!
Glad to see history got a mention at Oar Point!
I thought you might find that history interesting. Thanks very much GP
So sad that some drivers are too impatient to mind the dear ponies. 🙁 Your mom’s care home sounds great; more like a hotel where the food is concerned. Wonderful photos again, Derrick. 🙂
Very many thanks, Sylvia. Sometimes I wonder why people come to the New Forest – they chuck litter about, too. Hopefully in the minority, though. It is an excellent care home
I keep being impressed by the quality of home where your mother resides. No wonder she looks so well!
Very sad about the poor pony, but your landscape photos are wonderful, as always, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Dolly. Just fished this out of Spam
My pleasure, Derrick. Spam happens all the time.
It does. I check daily
You are very organized, it seems. I get busy and forget, or get so busy that I don’t have a chance to read blogs I enjoy reading, your included. Sometimes it takes several days to catch up, for which I apologize.
No apology needed, Dolly. I’m always pleased to hear from you
Joining mutual admiration society…
Thank you, Derrick!
🙂
That’s so sad about the ponies, Derrick. What’s wrong with people? They are just tooooo important to wait…oh brother! Aw…your mum looks so sweet. No doubt, she’s a wonderful hostess. Thanks for the wonderful photos!
Many thanks, Jill. Mum has not looked so well for months – and she’s put back a stone and a half in weight. So many drivers are far too selfish
I was struck by the lovely autumnal hues of the maple and then confused by the suckling calf – sometimes I forget we are on opposite sides of the globe. I guess that is some kind of red maple. How lovely that your mum can entertain guests over a meal and in private – that is a really lovely service for the rest home to provide.
Thanks very much, Pauline. I’m pleased the suckling calf picture puzzled 🙂 The home is really excellent
This is a lovely post, Derrick. It sounds like you a pleasant and delicious lunch with your mom. That place sounds wonderful!
It is so sad about the ponies. I can understand how someone could accidentally hit one, but just to take off like that. As Jill said, “what’s wrong with people?”
The flora and fauna are beautiful, including the slashing rape. And your dinner sounds good, too! 🙂
Very many thanks, Merril. I’m pleased you liked it. The atmosphere in Woodpeckers is very good – caring and friendly all round. Animal deaths usually reach three figures in a year – people disregard warning notices, speed limits, and just don’t look
So sad.
So good to see your Mum smiling…and all of her visitors smiling! What a lovely time and good memories made! 🙂
That is so very sad about the ponies. And sad that people would hit them (accidentally, I hope) and then just take off. 🙁 We have elk, deer, antelope, etc., that cross the highways here and we always stop to let them take their time.
The pheasant photos make me think of Lucky. 🙂
That last photo has such beautiful layers of Mother Nature and her colors!
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn. Lucky comes no more. I’ve heard of people complaining about damage to their cars, but not concern for animals. We have certainly found the place for Mum. X
I’m so glad. It’s a relief to know your Mum is in safe happy place. 🙂 I felt the same way with my own Mother and my Mother-in-law.
That meal at Woodpeckers Care Home looks fantastic! A wonderful service to provide for families.
It was pretty amazing. Thanks a lot, Laurie
Excellent pictures all round. It is much better to have donkeys to trim the hedges rather than men with flailing machines.
Indeed, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much
What a wonderful idea, for mum, to entertain for meal, at least once a week, joy all round Derrick…
It’s a good place, Ivor. Thanks very much
Good aged care places are hard to come by..
Woodpeckers seems to have been worth the search. Good to see your mother doing well.
Many thanks, Oglach. She is well settled and her house is going on the market
I wouldn’t mind partaking of that lunch!
It was good. Many thanks, Leslie
What a profusion of life you saw today. Lunch looked pretty good as well.
It was a good day, Judy. Thanks very much
You certainly live in a lovely place, Derrick.
We are so lucky. It has only been a national park for about a decade. Thanks very much, John
Good to see your Mum looking happy and health Derrick, i’m sure that is a relief to you also. 🙂
I always fear the worst seeing your photos of the ponies and donkeys on the roads and knowing the ‘skills’ of today’s drivers, where virtually everything is done for them and there are so many distractions from doing what drivers are supposed to be doing – driving (with care and attention!)
Autonomous vehicles can not come soon enough for my liking.
Love the blackthorne photos. Why is it that so many of the worst ‘pests’ in flora are also some of the prettiest things in nature??
All great photo’s – as usual! 🙂
Very many thanks, Bob. The animal deaths are very sad – and hugely annoying
Jackie doesn’t look impressed with her meal!
Thanks very much, Andrew
Your beautiful photos just made my day.!!!!!!!
I’m pleased. Thanks very much, Efi
What a pleasant lunch with your mother. Enjoyed the scene of your drive, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Amy
God bless.
That is a splendid home your Mum is in. It’s sad to learn about such callous killings far from the madding crowd. We humans never seem to learn. Great shots once again, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Uma. The killings are both sad and infuriating
Tha maple and photinia combination is fortuitous, I agree. I’m glad your Mum has settled in and still has the chance to entertain. That must mean a lot to her.
After the anxiety of finding the right home for your mother its heart-warming to see her settled, and putting on weight. I haven’t heard of any homes here that have this type of dining set-up, nor would anyone want to eat their food who wasn’t forced to. Our on-site aged care was originally set up to cook in the kitchen but when the first operator went bust, the next one supplies all meal from a central caterer and they only get re-heated on site.
Thanks very much, Gwen. We have those here, too. Mum’s gone from 5 1/2 stone to 7 since 25th February
Derrick,
Your Mom looks like she has adjusted well to her new place.
She has exceeded expectations, Gary. Thanks a lot
Derrick, your mom looks so well! She’s clearly pleased to be able to host such a lovely luncheon for her family. What an absolutely BRILLIANT feature of her new home.
So sad about the ponies. We often see dear that have been hit – but they dart out at night and it’s hard to avoid them. I’d think the ponies would be avoidable. Good that the government puts up signs and takes it seriously.
That calf looks nearly as big as his mum!
Thanks very much, Jodie. Some of those calfs look like teenagers. The care home is pretty amazing.
: )
Wonderful to hear the progress, Derrick. Love the beautiful winding roads. These donkeys were well captured.
Thank you very much, Amy
Your Mum is looking well, Derrick. She must be likes the Home.
She does. We are all quite relieved, Inese. Many thanks.
Eat! eat! eat! I’m beginning to think your life revolves around what’s on the table and what’s in you stomach, you surely love your food, seems like it runs in the family
Your mother seems ready to tuck right into hers.with a vengeance
Thanks very much, Brian. Mum always gave us a good dinner even when there wasn’t much available for other meals
Such a heartwarming post, Derrick! <3
Thank you very much, Dina
Apart from the poor ponies … So sad. There’s so much roadkill on our country lanes here in Norfolk, it breaks my heart.
Yes, indeed. Our lanes were not made for cars. Thanks very much, Dina