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I was banned from the kitchen this morning in order to allow Richard to catch up on his largely snowbound day yesterday.
Rain and a slight rise in temperature had brought about the beginnings of a thaw, so Jackie drove us into the forest on roads that were no longer icy.
They were rather more slushy;
ditches, like this one with a birch perched on its bank, were still iced over;
and snow, still lying beneath trees, streaked the moors.
Rain falling from a leaden sky made heavier the coats of drooping ponies trudging across the roads.
A pair of grey snowponies, hoping for cosy scarves and carrots, had not yet begun to melt.
At Bransgore we lunched at The Crown Inn, of the Vintage Inn chain. We both enjoyed our meals. Jackie’s was pizza diablo with chips; mine, also with chips, was rib eye steak with peppercorn sauce, tomato, onion rings, and green salad. Jackie drank Amstel and I drank Razor Back, still known as Ringwood’s Best.
Outside Bransgore, on our way home, we noticed a sheep trying to supplement its wool with a straw shawl, whilst neighbouring alpacas grazed.
Richard had not been idle. He had fitted most of the cupboard doors,
continuing with them and adding the hob before leaving a little later. The dishwasher door display is projected onto the floor.
This evening’s meal consisted of instant minestrone, chicken tikka, and tomatoes.
92 responses to “Snowponies”
Your Kitchen is looking great! Richard is doing a fabulous job!
Many thanks, Gary. He most certainly is
Aw, I wish the ponies had somewhere cozy to go. Luckily, we only have stray cats around here (which we are compelled by our souls to shelter, feed and sterilize). We’d be broke if we had ponies.
When it’s really bad they disappear into the forest. A few years ago we had almost constant rain for two years. By this time then, all their ribs were sticking out. Thanks a lot, Jodie
Just thinking – it seems like lunch has been your main meal lately – are you liking that? I have often thought my body would prefer that. The working all day precludes it – but a big farmer’s lunch and then a light supper in the evening would be my choice.
I’m with you, entirely, Jodie. Its what I grew up with, but the Culinary Queen prefers it the other way round. Many thanks. Solidarity, innit?
: )
What gorgeous photos and the kitchen is looking fabulous!
Many thanks, LDW
Gosh, I can’t believe how quickly the kitchen is coming along. It looks fantastic, Derrick…so does that pizza Jackie ordered. 🙂
Looks a darned sight better than that tough steak, has to be tough , they issue serrated edged knives, with which to carve.cut it!
Shame about that steak, it looked terrific! 🙂
looks can be deceiving
It was
Juicy medium rare it was
Many thanks, Jill
Kitchen coming along nicely.
Thanks a lot, Pamela
Gorgeous horses but looks a tad chilly!
It was, actually, Cindy – just above freezing. Thanks a lot
Well, weirdly enough, in Southern California it has been below freezing for many nights now. California plants don’t like this, even a bit!
Ours, now we have had a thaw, seem to have perked up
Kitchen’s coming along a treat, ain’t it? Loved the shots of the forest and the ponies in the snow. The steak looked pretty good – though I can’t wrap my head round a salad with one and I’d be inclined to have more than one pint of ringwood’s.. 🙂
Many thanks, Mike. More than one at lunchtime doesn’t do me much good for the afternoon 🙂
The kitchen is really taking shape. I love that color of the cabinets. It’s calming.
Thanks a lot, Paul. It is the colour recommended for psychotherapists’ counselling rooms
Impressive photographs again, Derrick . I love the one of the two alpacas.
Thanks very much, Roland
Is that an electric cooktop? Surely with all the expense you’d have gone one step further and installed GAS, the Culinary Queen is certainly deserving of gas!
Induction hobs are even better – and we have no gas in this area. Thanks a lot, Brian
The first hotel where I cooked had induction hobs, no gas. I much prefer gas,
Hang on it wasn’t induction it was an oil fired stove and ovens. Haven’t used induction, sounds interesting
I felt like you do about electric hobs BUT then I discovered Induction Hobs, they react like gas, instant heat and they can be turned down instantly too! Look how easy it is to clean just a wipe with a cloth even the control knob is held in place by magnets and lifts off!! I would chose induction over gas now, even if I could get gas I would prefer induction, it is all done with magnets apparently and is cheap to run.
Interesting! Is the oven induction, too?
We don’t think so
Looks a damned sight easier than electric ,I thought at first glance that it was an electric cooktop that was installed, I wouldn’t mind giving it a go sounds easy and interesting Thanks jackie 😀
That kitchen is certainly coming along. Wonderful snow pony pictures!
Many thanks, Laurie – they were worth going out for 🙂
Jackie looks so happy! 😀 … put a grin on my face, she did.
I’m pleased, Widders. Thanks a lot
I am very happy, now to learn how to use all this hi tec stuff! Still a bit scary.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never look back. 🙂
Very true
Thank you for making us a part of this beautiful reincarnation of your kitchen. But then Prospero is still not done!
🙂 Many thanks, Uma
The snowponies look magical; so does the progress in the kitchen.
I am amazed at what you can put away at lunch!
No breakfast, and just a snack later. Thanks a lot, Mary
Nice try, attempting to make us think you are eating healthily, but that’s not a salad, it’s a garnish. 🙂 The rest of it looks excellent, and, having just eaten a bowl of bran flakes, I am now craving proper food. Sigh…
I feel for you – that’s rough(age). Many thanks
Got it in one – I’m certainly not eating it for pleasure. In fact, I should probably refer to it as ingesting. “Eating” implies a level of enjoyment that doesn’t exist. 🙂
aarrgghh
🙂
When I see your beautiful new kitchen I think of:
burnt toast, overboiled cabbage, dry roast, undercooked beans, too salty stock… the list goes on and on. Ooops! I was thinking of my own kitchen… What feasts are in store in yours!! (This is an exclamation and not a question!) I can’t wait to visit!
Very many thanks, Bruce. I never know what punctuation to put at the end of such a “what….” sentence
I like to put an exclamation mark because it riles all these autocorrecting programmes devised by rule prudes.
Good advice. I’ll follow it 🙂
Beautiful horses 🙂🙂 The snow looks pretty. Lovely photos dear x x
Thank you very much, Capili
Your welcome 😄😄 x x
The kitchen is really taking shape now. I love the colour – and Jackie’s joy as she takes it in. Lovely snow ponies too. I imagine all our wildlife is appreciating the rise in temperature. Our birds certainly are. Come to think of it, so are our cats (who refused to leave the house on the coldest days).
Many thanks, Sandra
A lovely post.
I want a pony!
Many thanks, Clare Marie 🙂 Wish I could send you one
Love the shots with the ponies in the snow
Thanks very much, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick 🙂
It seems like your kitchen renovation is being done quickly–though I’m sure it seems like it’s taking forever to you and Jackie. It looks wonderful! The photos of the ponies are beautiful, but I always feel so sorry about wild animals out in the bad weather.
Many thanks, Merril. We know it is incredibly quick
The kitchen is looking fab too
Thanks a lot, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Kitchen is looking lovely Derrick love the colour x
No hope of catching up this time, so I am just jumping back in. 🙂 The ponies are always a welcome sight. Our snow here did not last very long at all.
Your kitchen is coming along nicely! Give my best to Jackie, too.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. You picked a good one
How lovely the photos of the ponies in the snow, with their thick coats I’m sure they enjoy the cool weather. Beautiful photos.
Very many thanks, Agnes
Those two alpaca – almost a B&W photo – look great.
Thanks very much, Paol
I felt for the animals in the snow storms Derrick. Love the photos . 🙂
Yes, they do look a bit cold and wet. Better for them now. Thanks very much, Sue
Your welcome, have a great week 🙂
Very brave of you to have ventured out. the animals do look cold, poor things. What a wonderful kitchen to come back to from out of the cold.
Many thanks, LL/PS
Beautiful pictures!
Thanks very much, Robbye
You very welcome!
Blessings~
I am always amazed by the ponies! The kitchen looks so nice!
Thanks very much, Lynn
The beauty in your choice of cabinet doors as lighter in color brightens up the space, Jackie! Sunny kitchens are so nice!
The ponies and alpacas looked warm enough, but the goats seemed a little less furry. Maybe a coat or blanket over their backs would work? Of course, goats probably would nibble on whatever you put on them. 😀
Speaking of nibbling, your ribeye looks great! Glad the commenters were mistaken and it was tender! I’m almost finished for the night.
Today, we “lost” an hour due to Daylight Savings Time.
Thanks for such a full catch-up, Robin. Our lost hour is to come soon
Oh! I just loved those ponies! So very different! I never see anything like that where I live.
Thanks very much, Cathi