I headed off the worst of the rising heat with an early dead heading session this morning, before Jackie and I set off for a sultry forest drive.
Beside dappled Holmsley Passage a splendid stand of Foxgloves could be spied through the trees. I wonder whether that ice warning sign will now be redundant.
The driver of ponies and trap on the equally brindled Bisterne Close pulled over for Jackie to drive past.
Marbled banks sloped on either side of Beechwood Lane where rooftop chimneys were discerned among lush undergrowth and a mossy log decayed on the verge.
Shade at the corner of Burley Lawn is at a premium on such a day.
A pair of ponies spooked by passing traffic risked losing their spot when they nipped across Chapel Lane and took their chances on the streaked tarmac.
Another troop, including a foal, heading for shelter were to be disappointed,
and forced to wait in the hope of chances of returns.
Further along stippled Chapel Lane cattle made do with the verge, occasionally spilling over to upset tourist traffic.
In addition to continuing his meticulous clearance of the gravel paths,
Martin this morning loaded his van with the bulk of the garden rubbish and took it away for us. He will do the same next week.
With the help of Wayback Machine I reinserted three missing pictures and added a header to the following post:
This evening we dined on Jackie’s first class beef and onion pie; potatoes sautéed with onions; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; firm Brussels sprouts; tender green beans; horseradish sauce, and meaty gravy, with which the Culinary Queen drank more of the Blume and I finished the Malbec.