Today was fine and clear – perfect conditions for Elizabeth’s garden makeover.
On the way there we drove into Pilley along a lane dividing sheep from goats.
Jackie produced a few before pictures of the project before her battery died.
I photographed the work in progress, identification of the participants given in the galleries.
A splendid buffet lunch was provided by Danni, the Events Organiser, after which Isla mothered Jack.
Work, such as sawing up the fallen sumac and bed-making continued, while acrobatics were undertaken on the lawn.
It was then my battery’s turn to die, so Jackie and I returned home to recharge them both, after which we went back to Burnt House lane to join the others for Jackie’s chicken curry, savoury rice, samosas, and onion bahjis. Her delicious mixed fruit crumble was to follow, but I couldn’t eat anything more after the first course. I’m not sure who drank what, but I drank virtually non-alcoholic (0.5%) Adnams Ghost Ship.
I matched Jackie’s earlier before the work garden views with some afters.
After an early lunch Jackie drove me to The Grove Pharmacy at Christchurch for my second Covid vaccination. My appointment was for 1.00 p.m. We arrived at 12.30. I was back in the car at 12.46.
We returned home via Avon where I photographed two landscapes. The water meadows in the first are now very dry.
I have paolsoren to thank for an agility being one collective noun for goats. Not far from these landscapes we stopped in a lay-by to photograph a field full of goats and
a multitude of young kids running around; practising head butting; squaring up like smiling assassins; climbing on logs and tables; and generally demonstrating agility – even the creature butted off the table landed safely. As Jackie pointed out, the mothers just left their offspring to get on with the fun.
Pheasants wandered about roads and fields, like these in Anna Lane.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy hot pasta arrabbiata with tender runner beans. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Malbec.
Early on this bright, sunny, morning Jackie drove us to Ferndene Farm Shop where she stocked up on fresh provisions while I sat in the car with plenty of time to photograph
this colour-co-ordinated woman selecting six pots of tete-a-tetes through my passenger window. Each one was carefully selected by picking them up, carefully examining them, retaining some, and replacing others.
Afterwards we continued on a forest drive.
As I stepped out to photograph this beautiful landscape, I immediately came upon an unsightly spread of fly-tipping.
I looked down upon a pair of separated ponies grazing on soggy terrain.
Towards the Thorney Hill end of the road I again stepped out to photograph the landscape dotted with ponies who were very quickly to surprise me by following each other
up the slope, off the gorse-laden moorland and into the road along which they clopped past me to
drink at an extensive winterbourne pool.
Completely oblivious of the steady flow of traffic, further waves of ponies gathered from all directions with the one purpose of slaking their thirst.
At one point a trio of bays advanced through the gorse behind me. They were not going to stop. I realised I was standing on their trail beside the trough, and just had time to scramble off it, turn, and photograph the leader before they get their heads down to slake their thirsts.
Stragglers, through which vehicles slalomed their way down, continued to climb along the road, taking their turns to drink.
Once satisfied, some groups wandered off towards Thorney Hill; others remained to chew gorse.
Along Tiptoe Road I stopped to photograph a pair of kids on the far side of a field. As I returned to the car, their owner, the very friendly Lizzie Knight, approached and invited me in to make more photographs. Her pets were just four days old and independent enough to sample anything that looked edible. As always, clicking on any image will access its gallery, and further clicks will enlarge the pictures.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s flavoursome chicken and vegetable stewp and fresh crusty bread, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Mendoza Red Blend.
