Blogger's Block

It is a known fact that writers sometimes suffer from writer's block.
So it seems only natural that those of us who have blogs can experience a similar feeling.

After writing a recent entry entitled "Why Blog?". 
It did seem that I had lost my own enthusiasm - even though I know that I write here
for myself above all, but also for any others who care to come this way.

With the convenience and rapidity of computers, the art of letter-writing
has become a thing of the past.
It seemed to happen overnight if I judge by the stashes of beautiful writing paper  
I still have in my cupboard.

Last year, I took out that pretty stationery and started writing letters again.
They don't need to be long, but they do need to be thoughtful and caring.
I can imagine how nice it must feel to receive a pretty envelope containing a few personal words
in the post-box among the usual bills.

I certainly haven't experienced any blockages in taking photographs
and have been enjoying taking still-life images, 
like this tiny exotic perfume bottle, offered to me by my son many years ago.
A souvenir from Sharm El-Sheikh on the edge of the Red Sea in Egypt.

I've been playing with depth of field and colour and enjoying the effects.

Black and white photography can be really interesting 
and is especially suited to abstracts

or capturing light and shadows in my home in the morning sun.

During the whole of February, I've been taking daily self-portraits
as part of a gathering of other ladies.
This is a challenge as the years go by, but it's all part of our acceptance journey
of embracing the changes that inevitably take place.

So without waiting any longer to be inspired to make the best blog entry ever,
perhaps the everyday happenings are enough
and I'm just being hard on myself or too much of a perfectionist!

We've been going through a Siberian-like cold snap through this latter part of February,
but after a few snowfalls tomorrow, things will start warming up again.

March is definitely coming in like a lion! 
So I think we deserve some beautiful tulips - to remind us that spring is on its way!



Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Tiny angel decorating a heart-shaped jewellery container
a gift from my grandson.

Inspiration is not something that can be forced.
Sometimes it comes through something we may see.
It grows and unfolds within us in moments we do not choose at all.

We look and look and cannot see..
and yet the treasures lie within
waiting to manifest themselves.

Inspiration can be as elusive  as a shadow on the wall.
Fascinating and yet fleeting.

Being in nature is certainly inspiring
as we observe the beauty all around us in the tiniest detail
like this lovely lichen on a tree trunk.

Flowers inspire me to take photographs and stimulate my creativity

Their fresh bright colours are especially welcome during the winter months.

Pansy rescued from my window-box just as it was starting to snow.

It could be said that inspiration is rather like the growth of a flower,
starting from a tiny seed in the earth
which grows and is nurtured and blossoms
and cannot be contained
It simply has to come into being.

***

The ancient Greeks thought that inspiration came from the Muses.
The Muses are the inspirational goddesses of Literature, Science and the arts 
in Greek Mythology.
They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry,
lyric songs and myths that were related orally for centuries in these ancient times.