The New Forest

I don't know if there will ever come a time when we drive through the New Forest and I don't feel a child-like thrill to see ponies, horses and cows grazing on the side of the road.  I don't mean they're grazing on the side of the road in the way those of us from the states are used to - behind fences - no, these are free to wander and graze.  So you'll often see something like this mare and her foal.

I was asking Matt if he ever actually saw pigs in the New Forest or did they hide out a bit deeper, off the road and not ten minutes later we found this trio munching acorns off to the right. 

I loved their snorty sounds and the way their giant ears covered their eyes.

The New Forest was created by William I in 1079 as a hunting ground for deer.  The commoners have since then had rights to, amongst other things, turn livestock out in to the forest.  I can't say that I understand it much past that but I did read an interesting article the other day in Country Living, I think, about how they round up the hundreds of horses in the fall for health checks and branding.  That must be something to see.

Parts of the forest landscape are hard to describe.  They're unlike anything I've seen in the states.  The best description I could come up with was what would be created if the Great Smokey Mountains and the desert decided to get together and have a baby.  Lush and green but strangely dry looking at the same time.  Impossible to describe.

 

This is a view from Ashley's Walk and is the first bit of the New Forest that I really ever saw back when I visited in November of last year.  I remember that it was amazingly windy and that I snapped a few photos of a shaggy cow not too far off the path.  A horse ambled by us at one point, too.  I was also probably insanely nervous because I think it was only my second day with Matt.  It was really nice to walk on that same path today, less than a year later, as a married couple.  The weather was perfect when I took these photos but there were no cattle or horses along the path - just a few grazing off in the distance.

We did see a tiny herd of cattle as we were pulling in the car park, though.

 

We were also lucky enough to spot a deer grazing beneath a tree on our way back up the path.  She let us get fairly close before bounding off in to the brush.

 

Another breathtaking view....

 

And another...

 

And one more...

Seriously, I don't know if I could ever come here without my camera. 

Meeting New People, Seeing New Things & Being Out and About On My Own

I felt a little overwhelmed yesterday for the first time.  I really thought I would stay in "oh, I'm on vacation" mode for at least a week but, no, I woke up grumpy and a little...off.  Thank goodness for understanding husbands and happy pills.  I had actually forgotten to take mine for a couple of days which, I'm sure, didn't really help with the feeling of being overwhelmed. 

Some Sunday I'll take a photo of the Sunday papers here because the papers in the States just do not compare.  We picked up three yesterday and spent the morning relaxing in bed - my favorite way to spend a Sunday.  My original idea was to walk over to Starbucks by myself to meet the knitting group but I'd yet to go in to town alone and my mood wasn't exactly ideal for meeting new people so Matt and I walked over just so that I could say hi and meet everyone.  And by everyone I mean lots of people - for you Daytonians, it reminded me a lot of the early, crowded Brown Street days but with more seating.  Anyway, it was nice to finally put faces to Ravelry names and I really, really can't wait for the next meet up.

After Starbucks we drove out to Matt's favorite walk, Pepperbox Hill.  It was a little gloomy yesterday but I snapped a few photos as we walked up the ridiculously steep hill, around and back down again.

The cathedral, which is right across the street from our flat - I can see the spire from the window here on the third floor - is near the center there, a bit to the left.

 

 

 

This is the path back down Pepperbox Hill and the road that leads back to Salisbury.  

There's a folly here as well but we saved that for another visit.

So I mentioned that my original plan yesterday was to go in to town by myself but, when you get right down to it, I chickened out, right?  Well, I walked to the grocery alone today!  I have to admit, I took the long way at first to avoid crossing the road and then only crossed the road when the signal said it was okay or if someone else was crossing because I still can't get used to looking in a new direction and I'm sometimes not even sure where a car might be coming from.  Silly, I know.  I'm a bit paranoid, too, and felt like everyone could peg me as a non-native - especially the check out lady at Tesco who took a good long look at me more than once which made me feel like I was doing something wrong.  Even though the language is the same, things here really are very different.  And, of course, I completely forgot the diet Coke I walked there for but I did get the makings for salsa and veggie burgers for lunch tomorrow so it wasn't a complete failure.  

Anyway, lots to do.  One more box and the kitchen is completely unpacked!