The Month of June

Even though the month of June has arrived, I still have some spring flowers

that I meant to share here in the month of May,

but I never found the right moment to do a new blog entry,

for that, you need the time and the right mood,

especially the latter!

The above scene is taken from the big tulip park in the town of Morges.

The aptly named Tulip Trees were coming into leaf.

I just love the fresh green of spring, don't you?

The fresh green leaves of the Tulip Trees against the blue of the sky.

We got to the park nice and early to enjoy the park with a minimum of visitors.

It had rained in the night, leaving big puddles behind.

In the heat of the summer, these big overhanging trees create very welcome shade.

The late blooming tulips were still on show and was sheer joy to walk among them

and see all of their beautiful colour combinations.

A walk along the lake in the same town of Morges shows the lovely plantations, 

like this beautifully shaped yellow tulip.

Pretty in pink with pink Forget-me-nots

A closer shot without the lake in view to see the opening petals even better.

Elegant red and white stand tall and proud.

Deep pink against the dark water.

A sailing boat with the Mont Blanc Mountain in the background.

Sunshine yellow flowers growing against the railings of a lakeside home.

The beautiful Irises were just coming into bloom.

Something a little different!

After a beautiful and long morning walk, we stopped for lunch on an outside terrace.

I just loved the reflection of my glass of red wine shining on the white tablecloth.

In the base of the actual glass, you can see the reflection of the blue sky!

This was my first trip of the year out into the country to walk alongside the fields

and in the woods above the town.

I can get there by taking a bus, the metro and another bus.

It sounds like a lot of travel, but when connections are good, 

this lovely area can be reached in about thirty minutes.

I love visiting when the dandelions are in bloom.

Here is a wider angled view showing the blue of the sky mixed with soft clouds.

I chose this photo as my header today.

I just love being in the country, the peace of it all and being so close to nature.

Aren't Dogwood flowers beautiful, both in shape, style and colour?

These grow in front of a school in the neighbourhood above mine. 

I love to visit them each year when they're in bloom.

Another point of view against a dappled background of sky and trees.

Walking through the small park to go back home through the quiet streets.

I used to take my grandson here often when he was younger,

there are such good climbing frames at the other end.

These are the pansies from my balcony-garden this year. They have been doing so well.

Now I'm back into the swing of doing a new blog entry,

I've decided to do them regularly during the month of June.

I have so many photos to share taken during the sunnier days.

We have had such mixed weather during May and now in June too!

I hope that you are enjoying sunny days

 and doing all the things you love to do at this time of the year!

My latest crochet work:

Four crocheted coasters for a friend's June birthday.

I love making coasters and mandalas in the form of doilies.

When they're for gifts, I choose the colours I think will suit the person who will receive them.

These chosen colours make me think of sunshine and blue skies.

Here is a link to the site where I found the lovely pattern:

Color 'n Cream

30 Days of Compostion: 16-30

Day 16

What's leaving the frame?

Showing only part of our subject can be very intriguing

and I do very much like the expanse of negative space.

What's leaving the space on my embroidery scissors?

Day 17

Creating Depth

By setting my focus on the pebbles in the foreground,

I create depth on the blue and white material in the background.

Day 18

Create movement.

The fountain in the park creates the movement,

both in the stream of water coming down, the splashes

and the concentric circles.

More movement

This little family cycling in the countryside where I was walking.

The little fellow in the front was pedalling nineteen to the dozen!

Day 19

Perfectly aligned.

This doesn't only mean things all lined up in a row. 

The photographic example given was that of 'harmonious composition'

and how not to have conflicting elements in the frame which could make for confusing viewing.

I find that the whole scene of greens and that gentle blue sky work so well together,

but what I really like is the soft zig-zag of hedges leading us to a lone tree on the hill.

Also, if you look at the foreground of hedges and trees,

they lead our eye up to the small chalet in the distance.

Day 20

Deliberately discordant

In contrast to the image above, the fallen basket of yarn and odd crocheted samples

seems rather inharmonious.

Day 21

Square format

The square shape of this house in my neighbourhood

seemed to fit into the square format very well.

Day 22

Single focal point.

I set the focus on the geranium buds on my balcony

and allowed the leaves to provide a soft green background.

Day 23

Tiny subject

I think that this one is my favourite. I do love tiny things and this little crystal angel

seemingly flying through the air fitted so well into her sparkly, starry sky!

Day 24

Complementary colours.

On the colour wheel, complementary colours are those opposite each other

like red and green above.

More complementary colours seen at my local Farmer's Market.

Green and red vegetables,

but also purple aubergines (eggplant) and purple chicory

and the complementary light and bright yellow of the peppers.

Day 25

Monochrome

Monochrome doesn't only mean black and white (or different shades of grey),

it can also means subjects and background in the same colour.

These are some yellow chrysanthemums taken on a background of  similar yellow material.

Day 26

Abstract

Meaning of abstract:

Relating to or denoting something that does not attempt to represent external reality,

but rather seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours and textures.

Day 27

Repetition

Plenty of repetition here with the steps themselves,

the repeated patterns of shadows and the railings.

Day 28

S-Curve

The curve in this path of the rock garden can be seen to form an s-curve.

Day 29

Eye Contact

The easiest way of obtaining this was by taking a self-portrait in a mirror in my home!

Day 30

Break the rules.

Some rules, like not having our main subject right in the middle of the frame,

can be easily broken when harmony is retained.

A country path,  right in the middle of the frame, flanked by trees, can create a harmonious image.

This is the last part of my 30 Days of Composition.

I have really enjoyed creating them.

The Cotswolds, England 2019

The heat this summer has discouraged me from doing frequent blog entries,

but now it's time to talk about my holiday in England.

I hadn't been back for three years and I was beginning to miss the unique atmosphere

of my home country!

The first part of my trip took me to the beautiful Cotswolds.

This is the area where my dad grew up with his parents and sister.

It is well-known for its rolling green hills and hedgerows

and houses and walls built in the beautiful honey-coloured Cotswold Stone.

I do love coloured front doors and was immediately attracted to this blue one in the photo above. 

Five-bar gates is another favourite

They're so welcoming as we look beyond them into gardens or fields.

I can't visit the Cotswolds without going to the village (though I believe they like

to call it a town these days) of Charlbury.

This is where my dad lived with his family and where he and his parents are buried.

I always take some flowers when I visit them.

Here is the familiar entrance to the lovely cemetery.

You can see a typical dry stone wall too.

Such a peaceful resting place with a view over green hills and grazing animals.

I think that I take a picture of this red postbox, set in the wall, every time I visit!

Behind the wall is the most beautiful garden in the village.

Full of roses and clematis and lavender and many other flowers.

The bees were very happy in this garden too.

The scent of the lavender was wonderful.

I even met the lady who lives here and complimented her on her wonderful garden!

She told me that she and her husband had retired here after working in London.

There are beautiful clematis in different colours against many of the houses.

This one is my favourite.

This one is my favourite.

We stayed in the small market town of Moreton-in-Marsh in the Evenlode Valley,

within the Cotswolds area in Gloucestershire.

The railway station on the Cotswold Line allows us to travel directly to London.

The journey takes about one hour and thirty minutes.

These colourful poppies were growing in the town.

We couldn't get to our favourite privately owned gardens opened to the public,

but you can see their beauty here:

An English Country Garden

I had got to know a fellow lady photographer through a photo site.

We decided to meet up in England where they live, not far from where we were staying.

Look at the fabulous view they have from their home!

The weather-vane on their garage

The view from the living-room

What a dream place to live!

There are a few neighbouring houses, but they are not too close.

You do however need a car to get anywhere for anything you may need.

No village shops within walking distance,

but perfect for daily walks in an idyllic setting!

We visited a church in the nearby town of Northleach

I did like the plain glass windows with a stained glass effect from the trees

and greenery outside.

I did like the decorated cushions, handmade using tapestry stitches. 

Each one in a different design.

Here is the entrance to the Gothic style church of Northleach.

Northleach is a market town in the valley of the River Leach

also in Gloucestershire.

Hollyhocks and Cotswold stonework

is what I love the most when I go to England.

If you would like to see more of Hollyhocks and Honey Coloured Houses,

you can read about a former visit by clicking on the title above.

Next time, I'll take you to London, for that was the second part of my holiday!

I hope that you are having a beautiful summer!