The last Walk of 2007

Well its a dull day here in the New Forest. We went for a walk at Shatterford and it was very muddy. Missy had a great time with her ball and raffles and Taivas had lots of sausage so all the dogs were happy.
I hope 2008 is a great year for everybody.

Shatterford Bog

Taivas dances for say=usage

The last swim of 2007

Galloping ponies, Its hard to believe the stocky little foal below was born in 2007

I got a Wolf for Christmas!

Yes I really did! Kgosi is a Black Canadian Wolf , he has been adopted on my behalf and he lives in a secret location somewhere on the Welsh Borders. During the year I can make arrangements to go and see him. The Print of Kgosi is by Eva Dutton and you can see more information at Wolf Watch Uk

Frosty Misty and Sunny

We walked at Fritham this morning. On the top it was sunny with just a little frost and iced over puddles. but down in the little valleys we could see the mist. We walked down into the mist to the little stream known as Dockens Water and then back to the top and down the other side. We saw fallow bucks on both sides in the distance. It was magical walking in and out of the mist , but so hard to capture on camera.

Trees through the Mist


Reflections in Dockens Water

I wonder what they are whispering about

Mist in the valley

Christmas Holidays

We spent a quiet Christmas at home with the Dogs and Iain. The weather was very changeable with some bright frosty mornings and then a wet Christmas day followed by overcast days. We walked with karen and Taivas one day, and all the dogs had fun, in the mud. Now we are nearly into the New Year.

Christmas Day

Raffles and Missy had a good time.

Mogshade Pond

In the heather


Down by Highland water

A Cold Frosty Walk at Cadmans Pond

We had another heavy overnight frost. We drove up to Cadmans Pond to start our walk. It was very icy underfoot. The syn was shining through the trees and the forest was so pretty with the ground covered in a layer of frost. There were lots of people out walking and the dogs met plenty of friends to play with The little stream known as Dockens Water was frozen in some places My brother is with us for Christmas and he had to climb the trees. Back at the pond the ducks were a little discontent as it was frozen. Lots of small birds were flying around hoping for some titbits. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Mist rising

Frosty banks

reflections in the stream

Iain is here for Christmas and he has to play the fool!

Some one always has to climb and he is about to find out that its a long way down!

And guess who fell off!


The dogs pose

Very Frosty down by the stream

The little bluetits were looking for food

A bluetit at Cadmans Pond

Cadmans pond was pretty much iced up

The Ducks were a little disorientated and fed up


And on the way home look who we met!

A Cold and Frosty morning at Kings Hat.

The Beaulieu River at Kings Hat

It was very cold and frosty this morning, but the forest looks so pretty.

The dogs loved their walk and they were racing about. no chance of them getting cold. Fortunately there was no wind and with the sun it was pleasant walking.

The red stems of the dog wood were very pretty in the morning sun.

it was a very enjoyable winter walk.

Blashford Lakes again

It was very cold at the lakes, but plenty of activity around the feeders.
I like this little coal tit

and a puffed up finch

Here a Siskin is feeding, Blashford attracts large numbers , but this is the first time I have seen one on the feeders.

and finally a Chaffinch

A couple of Walks in the Forest

Missy just loves to play ball.

On Tuesday they were working at Pigbush and we could see the smoke from their fires a long way off.

Today we walked at Shatterford and we could still see the smoke from the fires at Pigbush in the distance. They are removing some of the unwanted growth from the forest.

We thought it was much warmer today but the puddles were still iced over.

We saw several groups of deer today, some in the woods and some in the open. Taivas went to herd this group up, but she knows they are likely to tell Rudolph if she misbehaves and then there will be no Christmas presents, so she put her Halo on and came running back when we called her.