Excessive rain interspersed with splendid sunlight spells was the order of the day.
In the early gloom gluttonous sparrows from across the road commandeered the seed feeder.
A later downpour dropped puddles on our paths.
Bright sunshine left sparkling garden views
sporting long shadows.
After lunch we took a drive into the forest via Lyndurst Road,
still displaying autumnal burnished gold,
and mushroom omelettes on the verges.
Blending well with their environment a pair of Oxford Sandy and Black pigs snorted, snuffled, and slurped their sodden way
about the soggy terrain on which floated leaves fallen from reflected trees above.
I have to say that having my knees butted by snotty snouts smearing mucus on contact was somewhat disconcerting.
Pools like this one are spreading across the forest.
A wide one flanks the entrance to Honey Lane, Burley. Even in dry weather our Modus would not survive a trip slaloming the potholes in the lane itself.
A solitary rook stood sentinel at its usual post along the Burley Road.
Constantly changing light produced dramatic skies and landscapes.
A rainbow outside Burley suggested that arboreal gold does lie at its end.
A fast flowing stream bubbled across the ford on Holmsley Passage.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s hot and spicy paprika pork, boiled potatoes and carrots, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Cabernet Franc.
Beautiful photographs again Derrick, and I love how the garden looks after a downpour.
Thanks very much, John.
Your encounter with the pigs reminded me of wintery days with kindergarten inhabitants 🙂
Dashing about all over the place. 🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline.
Decidedly wintery! Love the photos of the porkers.
Thanks very much, Sheree.
Lovely set Derrick. Where are all the horses gone?
They tend to go into sheltered spots when it is raining, Rupali. Thanks very much.
Make sense.
I can imagine it being disconcerting. Fancy having to walk with a knee hanky at the ready! I loved your mushroom omelette description
Much appreciated, Susan. Many thanks
What a wet and soggy day! Love the landscape of the meadows and lanes. I feel like I’m there; thank you!
Thanks very much, Cindy
Those piggies look decidedly clean given their penchant for mud wallowing.
The surface water was quite clean, Jessica. Thanks very much.
I haven’t realized that wild pigs are so friendly with civilized humans. Love the rainbow with arboreal gold!
Thanks very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick
I liked the light in your set of landscapes towards the end of the post.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
It’s been pretty rainy where I live too! It made for some very pretty pictures for you – love all the fall leaves and that rainbow.
Thanks very much, M. B.
I hope you are mending well.
Slowly but surely! The tendon in my right hand took a bad strain from all the overuse, so that made things quite complicated for awhile. But I think that’s turning a corner finally, and I get a fresh cast on Monday too. So on the up and up I think! 🙂 That’s always so nice of you to ask! <3
🙂
Adored your photos of autumn colours along Lymington Road Derrick….
I agree with Ivor those autumn photos are wonderful and deserve to be framed.
What a pleasant and productive afternoon.
Thanks very much, Sue.
Thank you for the nature walk Derrick!
Thanks very much, Ribana.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a spotted pig, Derrick. Lymington Road looks lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much, Jill. That is an old, rare, breed – a variation of the Gloucester Old Spot. I got the road wrong. It’s Lyndhurst Road.
Always lovely to travel along with you, Derrick! Thank you for the great pics. 🙂
Thanks very much, Dorinda.
Always a pleasure, Derrick 🙂
I love how you captured The Artist named Sun! The Sun’s light made the drops, puddles, skies, clouds, plants, trees, etc, look so very beautiful! OH! and that rainbow! Great photos, Derrick! 🙂
Snuffly, snorty, slurpy spottypiggies smearing slick snout snot! 😮
I couldn’t think of any synonyms that start with ‘s’ and mean “EW!” so… EW!!! Ha! 😉 😀
HUGS!!! 🙂
Many thanks Carolyn. How about sows?
Yes! 🙂
Tree Sparrows have a brown top to the head and a conspicuous black spot on a whitish cheek. Having said that, both Tree Sparrows and Common Sparrows are listed nowadays as endangered species in this country and I only wish I had some to feed. The last one was we saw was in the winter of 2018-2019, a single Common Sparrow.
Thanks very much, John. I knew I could rely on you. Now amended.
Glutinous sparrows, foraging pigs, rainbows, and footbridges–simply splendid, Derrick!
(I’d be disconcerted, too.) 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Merril
Great photos, Derrick – the weather sure doesn’t deter you!!
Thanks very much, GP. You know me 🙂
Great photos Derrick
Don’t be disconcerted, dear Derrick. It’s all that rain that provides a lush green countryside come spring … and meantime, “slaloming” sounds like fun! And Cab Franc is a great way to end the day!
Thanks very much, Jan. I’m fine with the rain – it was the snotty snouts that disconcerted me 🙂
Ah – that’s understandable! But I love their spotted bodies!
Indeed
Happy thanksgiving.
And to you, Laleh. Thanks very much.
❤️🌹🙏
I agree with Tootlepedal about the landscapes towards the end of your post – heavenly!
Thanks very much, Clare.
‘Ginger’ pigs. 🙂
Yes. Thanks a lot, Widders.
I enjoyed the photos from your day, Derrick and Jackie! I especially love that rainbow you caught.
Thanks very much, Lavinia
There are too many favorites in this selection to point out them all!
Thanks very much, Liz
My pleasure, Derrick!
I do like to see an Oxford Sandy and Black. They are a very distinguished pig.
Indeed.