Out and About

Mother swan and her four cygnets

Always so touching to see on the lake.

The month of May seemed more rainy than usual with rather few really beautiful days,

but I did get out and take photos when the weather was sunny and dry.

So I have some photos from the sunny days in May that I still would like to remember

through my blog!

These water Iris were just starting to come into bloom.

Mother's Day is on the second Sunday in the month of May

and I received this beautiful bouquet from my son.

I met up with my daughter and grandson.

We had a lovely lunch together at home and then went for a walk down by the lake.

The Lilac bushes were in full bloom in my neighbourhood and my evening walks

were filled with their fragrance.

The deep purple flowers seemed to have a particularly lovely scent.

On one of the sunny warm days, it was lovely to walk along the edge of the forest

for coolness. The moss was so prettily illuminated by the filtered sunlight.

I do love to see the Chestnut Trees in flower.

I love collecting conkers too in the autumn!

Birthday collage.

My birthday falls in the middle of the month of May.

Three of my birthday cards, a gorgeous Peony flower and a picture

by Loretta Grayson entitled "Still I Rise"

I love her art.

Some beautiful pastel roses in memory of someone important in my life

for May 27th.

The Rhododendrens have put on a beautiful show of colourful flowers

They look especially lovely against a blue sky.

Or behind some railings.

The Dogwood flowers stayed in bloom for a long time.

I love seeing red poppies growing in the long grasses.

I even passed some sheep enjoying the luscious long grass when I climbed the hill from the station

to visit my daughter who lives out of the town centre.

A collage of my balcony flowers:

Blue Campanula, Daisies, Asters, Osteospermum, Bidens and the tiny lavender stalks

not quite in bloom.

My latest crochet project which is a lovely pattern from

Apple Blossom Dreams

It is called 'Mitered Blossom Dishcloth,

but I think it makes a really pretty mug mat.

The loop can be useful to hang it up on a hook in the kitchen.

A May Birthday

I've always loved having my birthday in the month of May

It's in the springtime which is my favourite time of the year.

Rituals are created

and the main one consists of having breakfast out!

If the weather is warm and sunny, an outside terrace down by the lake

is the very best place to be!

A basket of assorted breads and croissants,

a freshly squeezed juice and a good coffee.

If a pretty birthday card is presented, it is put on show like this one.

Here is my favourite birthday breakfast outside terrace under white parasols.

It's at the Hôtel d'Angleterre.

After a leisurely breakfast,

a long walk along the lake in Ouchy

admiring water reflections on the way.

The weather-vane shows that a light north-easterly wind is blowing

and that's just perfect to keep the clouds at bay and the weather fine.

A beautiful steam-boat glides by on tranquil waters.

I laughed to see the formation of fluffy white clouds

 as if they were escaping from the boat's chimney!

We walk past sandy beaches and see the outline of the mountains

on the French side of the lake.

Just the right amount of breeze for this little sailing boat.

The furthermost tip of the coastline is where we're going to have lunch

in the village of St-Sulpice.

The walk from Lausanne takes about two hours at a leisurely pace.

This is the view from above the village

before taking a bus and metro back home again.

A special birthday cake that was waiting for me:

Chocolate Truffle with fresh raspberries within the mousse-like filling!

It wouldn't be the month of May without my favourite flowers:

Lily of the Valley

Hydrangeas

and  gorgeous peonies.

If your birthday is also in the month of May

perhaps you love these flowers too.

If not, I'm sure you have favourite things from your month of birth!