Easter 2017

An Easter poem

Golden daffodils

Pastel blossom

Tiny parasols opening on the chestnut tree

A lovely Narcissus bathing in the sun

Tiny eggs

and more blossom

one can never have enough blossom!

Spring green pleated leaves just unfurling

and a field of cheerful daffodils

A nest of feathers, new this year

and blue ones too from other years

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter with sunshine and flowers

and chocolate bunnies too!

Looking on the Bright Side

In the normal course of everyday life,

there can be times when we may feel discouraged, disappointed or saddened.

We often have our mind set on something in particular which falls through,

making us feel let-down.

Allowing the difficult moment to pass, 

and creating the necessary space or distance between our emotional response

to an actual situation, allows us to dedramatize things as we see them in the moment.

In other words, letting the negative feelings fall way when things don't go as we'd hoped.

From that moment on, we're able to reconstruct a situation

without labelling it as good or bad.

Turn the page, rewrite the story, create something new and

accept what has happened, or in some cases, what has not happened.

This is all about looking on the bright side of things and adapting to new situations as they arise.

When I look at life, which is a mixture of light and shadows,

I can see that the shadows help us better see the light.

"The darker the night, the brighter the stars"

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

February is here with longer days and more light.

The florists are selling little pots of spring bulbs which bring joy into any home.

This last little narcissus flower smiled at me bringing me sunshine into my day.

Bunches of tulips are available in beautiful warm shades

just waiting to fill my prettiest vase.

and it's a joy to capture their lovely lines with my macro lens.

 These days, I'm watching four hyacinth bulbs develop in a little box.

I love these buds getting ready to unfold.

So happy soaking up the sunlight in front of the window

and opening a little more each day

bringing colour and happiness into my life.

Besides photography, crochet always puts me in a marvellous mood.

Joyful colours, the act of creating something new,

sometimes to make gifts, sometimes to decorate my little home.

I made this colourful heart-shaped wreath a couple of years ago.

Right now it's bringing cheerfulness to all who pass and also for me

every time I come home!

So if you're feeling just a little glum today,

for whatever reason,

just stand back from it all

breathe slowly and deeply

and create a new situation for yourself.

It works every time!

This time last year, it was snowing.

See HERE

Slow Living

Admiring the elegant green needles on this pine branch and the

fluffy fresh snow,

my thoughts turn to how it is so easy to fall into a pattern of a frenetic

lifestyle in the fast lane.

Taking the time to notice how nature creates beautiful still life

arrangements, like these seedpods, leaves and moss fallen after the last snowfall.

Slow living is all about taking the time to savour and fully engage with life.

Just as snowfall slows down nature.

Mindful walking brings our attention to small details.

It makes us more aware and connects us to the present moment.

I noticed these beautiful reflections as I meandered where my steps took me

on my walk.

This scene made me think of the seaside. The wet sands, 

the receding waves leaving shiny reflections of the blue sky.

In fact, this scene was created by melting snow on a country road.

We notice more when we slow down. 

We take the time to see the splendour in the simplest things.

If I had been rushing along, preoccupied in my thoughts, I wouldn't have noticed

the shadow of a tree on a house as I walked up the hill away from the town centre

to be closer to nature.

Further up the hill, I saw how the trees were reflected in the windows of this wooden house.

Looking down, I paused to enjoy the sight of this tiny feather joined by a fallen leaf

on the paving stones. The naturally artistic arrangement was certainly worthy of my pause!

Finally I get up higher where I can see tall trees in all their majestic winter beauty.

This beautiful old oak with gnarled and twisting branches

stretching out to embrace the blue of the early February sky.

The days are getting longer

and all my senses are awakened as I hear the first birdsong of the year.

Sometimes we cannot get out into nature, but we can bring some into our home.

I picked these Chinese Lanterns from a pot on my balcony.

I marvelled at the lacy patterns and structure on their surface.

Noticing how abstract art can be created by gazing at ice-cubes in a bowl.

Some shiny marbles near the window drew attention to themselves in the light.

A tiny narcissus flower in a pot in my home is just coming into bloom.

I like to take the time to enjoy the beauty in shape, texture and colour.

I know that for many people, life is hectic.

The fact of going out to work each day and constantly looking at our watches

is all part of life in the fast lane

and often after work there are meals to prepare and children's needs

to be seen to.

But it would be so beneficial to take just a few moments, if we cannot manage more.

To include perhaps 15 minutes in our day to just to be

instead of constantly conjugating the verb 'to do'.

Early mornings can be used to bring calmness into our lives

Deep breathing exercises do wonders to relieve stress.

Getting up earlier to enjoy peaceful moments

before the rush of the day begins.

I have been meaning to have one day a week when I switch off everything.

That means my computer, my telephone, the television and the radio.

One day and one evening of the week where I can enjoy

the simplicity and quiet without all these distractions and noise.

It will be my goal during this month of February.

Do any of you offer yourselves this special day of peace during your week?

In the meantime, I welcome the quiet moments, going about my everyday occupations

slowly and mindfully (most of the time)!

This includes the preparation and the eating of a meal

and sitting down at the table to eat.

Immersing ourselves in nature , especially for us town-folk, is so beneficial.

Going to the park or taking a bus out of the city

into the peaceful environment to enjoy the trees, the plants and listen to birdsong.

At the end of each day, it's good to observe how I have lived this day.

Have I been rushing from one thing to another

or have I taken the time to slow down and really live

the precious moments as they constantly arise and pass?

It's never too late to finish the day with 

a little personal time to unwind. 

This doesn't mean constantly checking our mobile phones

or switching on the television!

The Slow Movement is being mentioned more and more.

Are we really listening?

It's time!

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