Weekly Photo Challenge: Serenity

This photo was taken at St Jame’s Park in London.  The mother Swan and her sygnet’s looked very serene gliding and preening through the calm, sunlit water…

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Selfie

I’m not a fan of the ‘selfie’ but I do like to enter into the spirit of things so have decided to post some ‘selfie’ reflections, neither intended… the first was taken at the Village Green Festival, where my eldest son performed live, singing and playing guitar, in a festival setting for the first time. The photo is a reflection of me through his sunglasses and in the second… I was aiming to take a photo of my Mutley dog in the boot of my car after a long romp over the rolling Dartmoor hills… she (and we) had a wonderful time!

I guess the camera is a part of my heart and  soul so any ‘selfie’ was always going to have the camera in front of my face! 

A reflection of me through my son’s sunglasses… I love the way the photo reflects again through the lens!

Mutley… who is also a reflection of me… she is a part of me.

To see other entries for this weeks challenge, click here!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Object #2(?)

I realised, when going to bed last night that I hadn’t included my Wish Angel in my first entry for the photo challenge! Mon Dieu… I hear you say!

My Wish Angel was a Christmas present from my Mum… she sits on my bedside table (my wish angel, not my mum!) and is the first thing I see in the morning (other than the alarm clock!) and the last thing I see at night (other than setting the alarm clock!) she makes me stop for a moment and remember to embrace the ebb and flow of everyday life but also makes me realise that there is more to life than setting alarm clocks are many possibilities to come, many directions my life can take… she makes me excited and calm about the future, she makes me smile!

My Wish for you, is that you embrace every ebb and flow…

That you feel the full breath of possibility…

That you listen to what is calling you…

…embrace every ebb and flow…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sea

This weeks photo challenge got me thinking about what the sea really means to me, how does it make me feel… there are so many emotions the sea evokes. When I have been away from it for a while, I miss it, I feel it’s pull… it makes me feel calm, peaceful, able to breathe deeply… renewed, alive, invigorated and full of life’s possibilities.  

The photo below was taken on a beach we had stumbled upon quite by accident (sometimes the best kind) whilst looking for a completely different one!  The perfect afternoon turned into a glorious evening with an amazing sunset which I couldn’t capture because my camera battery died!  Gutted and lesson learned!

I could sit for hours, listening to the waves breaking on the sand… staring out at the distant horizon… life and the world is beautiful!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Focus

The photos below were taken on a beach in Cornwall a few weeks ago.  I was focusing on the texture at the time but I think these go well with this weeks photo challenge theme…

The top of a post in the fence bordering the beach

Same fence… different post!

I love the texture that the elements have etched and carved into the wood over the years

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

This weeks photo challenge is the golden hour… that time of day when the sun is rising to herald new possibilities, when the air is fresh and the world is quiet… when you can breathe deeply, ready for whatever challenges or adventures come your way… or when the sun is setting, the air is warm but there’s a lovely welcome, gentle breeze and you close your eyes and exhale… reflecting on the day as it closes its sleepy eyes.

These were all taken on Dartmoor, Devon in Oct last year, one of my favourite places…

It was very early (and cold) but we were on a mission…

My Mum had recently gained a 2.1 in her degree and wanted to celebrate…

By greeting the sunrise on Dartmoor and toasting with Champagne…

We were rewarded with gorgeous rays of sunshine streaming through the clouds after having rain for most of the week and walked back down the hills somewhat merrier than we went up them…!

I love the steam rising from the hillside as the morning sun dries the rain-soaked earth…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Companionable #3!

Time’s running out… how could I not post a few photo’s of Mutley for the weekly photo challenge with a theme of ‘companionable’ it would feel so wrong of me not to!  Mutley is, after all, my constant companion… she is loyal, never judges, makes me smile and is always totally ecstatic every time I come home!

This is Mutley…

Loves anything that involves a stick…

… chewing on them especially!

The trouble with chewing sticks… they make your tongue dirty!

With one of her doggy companions!

Those pesky squirrels!

My beautiful companion, Mutley

Pigeon… In My Lounge!!!

I had just made myself a lovely lunch and a cup of green tea… everything was arranged and I was just about to get comfy to enjoy some peace and quiet… apparently not!

I heard some noise in the fireplace and upon inspection found some soot had fallen out and onto the rug… as I stood and watched, more and more kept falling down and out in front of me.  There was a few moments of nothing then again more fell out… Ohhh nooo… I looked at Mutley, Mutley looked at me… and promptly took off upstairs!  Fine protector she is!!!

I was left looking at the fireplace and said out loud “please don’t let anything dead fall out!” and then “actually, no, please don’t let anything live fall out!!!”  Literally two seconds later a pigeon landed unceremoniously in the fireplace and took flight into the room, missing my head by two inches as I ducked and ran for the door!  I flew for my camera whilst screeching to my son… “There’s a pigeon flying around the lounge!”

Doesn’t look too ruffled or dirty… all things considered!

My son arrived on the scene a little bleary eyed and dishevelled, having just woken up (he’s 17… say no more) armed only with an old childhood dressing up Spiderman glove, recently found in a loft clearout!

Spiderman glove meets pigeon, pigeon’s thinking ‘what the hell is that?’ and my son says… “Ah, can we keep him?!”

Flash back… to when he wanted a German Shepherd and promised to walk her and pick up her poop… Ha! Not falling for that one again!

Decided he doesn’t like Spiderman glove…

… and takes off only to fly straight into conservatory door!

Looking out of my blinds to freedom, whilst pacing up and down on the back of my sofa … and pooping on my hand stitched Indian throw!

Mutley… proved to be a bit of a ‘fraidy cat!

Of course after she realised it was only a bird, not something sinister and could hear it flapping around she tried her best to get back into the room, nearly tripping me up everytime I retreated with my camera when the pigeon flew in my direction… he had already proved he wasn’t great at navigating!

All wrapped up and ready to go!

Armed now with some more sensible gloves, my son managed after several attempts to throw my youngest son’s jacket over the pigeon so that he could pick it up and carry it out…

Making a break for freedom!

My son ducks to the left while the pigeon makes a break for it to the right!

I’m free, I’m free!

He looks a bit bewildered but focused on his destination towards the rooftops and hopefully away from chimneys… mine anyway! 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: The World Through Your Eyes…

Nature and animals are what inspire me most.  Being among nature and around animals always makes me feel calm, happy and peaceful… literally makes me feel alive, the only time I really breathe deeply.  I’ve always wondered what the world looks like through animals eyes so that’s why I’ve chosen these for this weeks photo challenge…

I couldn’t not include Mutley’s beautiful eyes… she looks dopey because she’s just been rudely awoken by my camera! Sorry Mutley! 🙂

This horse was in an enclosed field but I love to see them running free and wild!

Ah Swans… so beautiful and elegant

This little squirrels eyes were only interested in where the next nut was coming from!

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves

Swans are so elegant and beautiful… I chose this picture for this weeks photo challenge because of the graceful curves of the Swans head, neck and body… the curve of the lake and also because of the curved wingspan and tail feathers of the pigeon flying over it!

I think this is ‘Mr’ Swan, he seemed to be enjoying posing for the camera! If you look in the background you can see ‘Mrs’ Swan approaching with the Cygnets!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting…

I love plants but I’m useless at keeping them alive!  My daughter bought me an amazing Orchid which I have affectionately (and in the interest of positivity) called ‘Possibility’ 🙂  I thought I would take some photographs of Possibilities amazing blooms because they are ‘fleeting’ and if my luck hasn’t changed, I may never see them again!

So beautiful… at least if Possibility never blooms again (and I so hope she does) I will have captured them forever here.

Mutleys’ pic(s) of the day!

My Son was enjoying some of his leftover pizza for lunch, so Mutley assumed the position…

Oooh that looks sooo good…

… hot dog stuffed crust!? You’re killing me here!

… if I stare at it long enough it may levitate towards me!

The last piece of the last slice… must concentrate all efforts into looking as cute & adorable a puppy as possible!

 “I can resist anything… except temptation!”  Oscar Wilde

I think Mutley did a pretty good job of resisting… she was rewarded with a small piece of hot dog! 

Mutleys’ pic(s) of the day!

Tala (Mutley) quite likes all this blogging lark and has decided she would like a sideline to my blog… ‘Mutleys’ pic of the day!’  So that she can showcase all her wonderfulness!

Hmm this tastes good…

… doesn’t smell too great though!

Can’t you put that camera down for two seconds…? The stick’s not going to throw itself!!!  Humph…!

There’s a buzz in the air…!

Every year when I see the first Bee of Spring I get really excited… Summer’s on the way!  After, what seems like the longest Winter ever, I was more happy than ever to see this wonderful busy Bee collecting pollen from the blossom…

I heard the buzz before I saw the bee…

Bumbling about his busy afternoon…

perfect delicate wings…

My first bee of Spring… wonderful!

Mutleys’ pic(s) of the day!

Tala (Mutley) quite likes all this blogging lark and has decided she would like a sideline to my blog… ‘Mutleys’ pic(s) of the day!’  So that she can showcase all her wonderfulness!

This may look like just any old stick to the untrained eye…

… but today my stick is a flute!

What? … The music’s in my head… and it’s so mellow!

Mutleys’ pic(s) of the day!

Tala (Mutley) quite likes all this blogging lark and has decided she would like a sideline to my blog… ‘Mutleys’ pic of the day!’  So that she can showcase all her wonderfulness!

There’s nothing quite like a good stick for chomping on… once I’ve got it held firmly in place!

Phrrt phrrt… It’s just annoying trying to get the bark off of my tongue!!! Phrrt phrrt…

Happy & contented with my stick of the day!

Magical Dartmoor, Devon

The sun peeping through the clouds is one of those moments that makes you breathe deeply and smile…

… no matter how rubbish you might have been feeling!

… and all is right with the world.

Rushing water over bolders

From small acorns…

River Dart

Red berries!

Taking it easy for a moment

Dartmeet, where East & West of the river meet!

So green and shiny they look almost fake!