Awareness

"Awareness is like the sun.

When it shines on things

They are transformed."

 Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhist teacher and Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh left this life very recently.

He was 95 years old.

His teachings held so much wisdom and I have several of his books, like the one above.

There are so many beautiful quotations in his books:

" Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful."

On the table, you can see my Tingsha bells, or cymbals. 

I have had them for many years and love their sound.

Just listening to them gives me a feeling of peace.

If you would like to hear these bells you can do so on this link:

Tingsha Bells

My bells are the 3-inch ones with a slightly deeper sound.

I am not Buddhist, but their teachings resonate with me.

When we set a pretty table for breakfast, we eat more slowly and consciously

and appreciate each mouthful.

This morning I made an apple muffin made with almond flour.

Being in nature and literally becoming part of it through my shadow!

The Witch Hazel is a welcome sight while the spring flowers are still shy of blooming

after a return to colder temperatures. 

As I was walking back from the shops yesterday, I looked up to see this lovely

cloud formation, momentarily hiding the sun, but we can see some discreet

sunrays slightly above and below the cloud.

I am taking part in a private self-portrait group and this week,

our challenge was to take silhouettes. 

When I was walking in front of my glass-fronted bookcase, I noticed

my silhouette against the window.

I bet you didn't know that I lived in a bookcase in my spare time!

Another bookcase photo, with my focus on the frame and the contents, but less on my silhouette,

making it look more dreamy and contemplative as if I were looking out of the window.

I found it interesting to note that the shadow of my head highlighted the gold writing

of a book entitled 'A New Earth' by teacher and author Eckhart Tolle.

Space, lightness and simplicity.

Have you noticed, that when there's too much going on,

we just need to create some space around us. let in the light and return to simplicity.

Finding my centre

Space, lightness, simplicity

Show be how to be.

I hope that you are finding lightness and laughter in your own life,

remembering that our smile makes life more beautiful, both for others and for how we feel inside.

On Remaining Positive

Here we are in the second month of a new year.

Not much has changed.

The pandemic is still rampant worldwide

and we need to find every way possible to remain positive and safe.

Having colourful plants and flowers in our homes is certainly very uplifting.

Going for daily walks, whatever the weather.

Good for our minds and bodies.

I particularly liked walking in the snow when it came!

This was an invigorating walk alongside the torrent in my neighbourhood.

This part holds a plantation of trees sold at Christmas time.

This map shows where the water takes it source as a small stream way above the town,

it gets wider as it travels down towards the lake. It runs over a distance of 8km.

Right now it takes the form of a torrent  because of melting snow

and plenty of rainfalls.

I tend to look up quite a lot of the time during my walks, searching for mountain tops

between the buildings and sometimes a single bird on a tree

makes us feel joyful and glad to be alive!

The winter-flowering Viburnum is looking so lovely and springlike.

So pretty when seen close-up

This one too against a background of grass which I used for my February header.

As I was coming back home from this particular walk,

I had a sweet brief encounter with a young lad, of about nine or ten, on his skateboard.

He looked up with a smile and said: "Hello!" to my silly masked face!

What a darling...

It made my day!

"Hello", I said back to him!

Human connection

is everything!

It's good to remember this and also think of initiating it too!

Reading is something that I have been doing even more of lately.

I've just started this book.

Reading brings us out of ourselves

out of our minds

out of possible ruminations about things.

It certainly opens our horizons.

I've been making these crochet hearts.

I just need one more before I make them into a garland.

The first hyacinth bud opening on my four hyacinth bulbs in a little box

Here they are opening more and more flowers in the morning sunshine

I love taking macro shots of these tiny blooms

I like the touch of green still on the unopened bud.

A Swarovski crystal star hanging in front of a Christmas card

brings in some joyful colour.

I still have the cards from my children and grandson on display.

They make me feel happy!

Cooking and trying out new recipes is also a way of remaining positive.

The photo above shows my individual apple and cinnamon mug muffin.

It's made with almond and coconut flour.

Delicious!

Baking bread has been part of my life for a long time, but when I swtiched

to eating gluten-free, it became more of a challenge.

I finally found a mixture of flours which worked

and here is my latest loaf, still warm from the oven.

Cloud gazing.

I see an Easter bunny jumping over the clouds in the lower centre.

I feel sure you can see him too!

The first tiny Narcissus opening in my box of spring bulbs!

We only need to look at nature to be reminded that life carries on

whatever else is happening around us.

Let's remind ourselves each day of all the positive things in our lives,

despite Covid-19.

I had my first vaccination in January and will get the second in three weeks' time.

The only way to stop this virus from continuing to spread is to get vaccinated.

In the meantime, we continue with our masks and hand hygiene and social distancing.

The most challenging part for me, and for many others also living alone,

is the lack of social contact.

Giving phone calls to friends in a similar situation is helpful.

Keeping in regular touch with family members is so important too.

I hope that you are finding lots of things to remain positive in your own life.

Remember:

- the daily walks

- reading good books

- watching uplifting films and documentaries

- cooking and trying out new recipes

- phoning or writing to friends and family

- if you have hobbies, do them...

I love doing crochet, crafting and photography

and buy yourself some flowers!

All the tiny things we can do make a world of difference!

Now all I have to do is practice what I'm saying here!

Learning to Live Differently

Beautiful sparkles down by the lake one Sunday morning

before everything changed

with the arrival of the Covid-19/Coronavirus.

People were still taking public transport and mixing with friends in groups

Going out freely with my camera to capture some wild plum blossom

On my last day of freedom, I came home with two little pots of Primula

Before planting them on the balcony, 

I arranged some little flowers in my favourite circular vase.

Tulips came home with me too, the last ones before a strict lock-down

especially on people over 65 who are more at risk of catching the virus.

I'm not going to talk a lot about it here.

We all follow the news and know the devastating effects.

Switzerland is very hard hit and there are now over 8000 cases.

The more people stay at home, the less the virus will spread.

Asparagus has appeared in the shops

and that's a sure sign of spring!

Being confined in my home, I have a great deal of time to make delicious recipes,

read, do masses of crochet and choose uplifting films or comedies to watch on Netflix!

Here is my breakfast; French toast, cooked blueberries

 served with a spoonful of coconut yogurt.

I've been baking bread again too

This one is a gluten-free version and very delicious

Being confined to my home, I have set up a plan of exercises to remain supple

which I do twice a day.

I'm also fortunate enough to have a balcony

 and can take fresh air several times a day

or sit outside and read when the spring sunshine is warm enough!

The first day of spring this year will certainly be one that none of us will forget.

I have some tiny violas growing in three of my window-boxes

and can see them from each room of my apartment!

A new habit:

Ringing my Tingsha bells every evening at 9 pm, when lots of folk in my neighbourhood

go outside to shout and applaud for a few minutes.

It's to thank all the medical staff, doctors and nurses

who devote their lives to try and save as many people as possible from the Covid-19.

I also include everyone who is working to help us all survive:

the farmers who produce our food,

the delivery services which deliver it,

the postmen and women who sort and bring our mail,

the pharmacies which remain open

and the post-office workers,

and the men who pick up our dustbins twice a week.

There are so many devoted people out there.

They all deserve recognition and our appreciation.

The spring flowers are in bloom everywhere, even if I can't see them.

These Forget-me-nots were photographed before lock-down

exactly one week ago on Tuesday 17th of March.

A little sapling growing in the grass separating my building from the one in front.

So lovely to see everything come alive again.

The grass is dotted with primroses.

Do you remember the start of this blanket?  I have named it

"January Sunrise"

You can see the photo of that sunrise which I took from my balcony.

I started the project on January 1st this year and finished it six weeks later.

Here it is finished!

I have several crochet projects on the go and I'm trying out a new stitch for the first time

It's called: 'Corner to Corner' and is really fun to do

especially in this self-patterning yarn which makes it more interesting.

Not my usual colours, but very cheerful and Springlike!

Since no one can shake hands at the moment, I thought it might be a good idea

to practice a 'Windscreen-wiper wave'!

So hello to you all!

I hope you are staying safe and respecting the advice of the country and area you live in.

Another crochet project which I started in January

which had been momentarily put on one side:

This is called 'Spring Garden'

and I love using these lovely colours which make me think of spring flowers.

There are different sources for this particular pattern

and the one I am following is from Lullaby Lodge.

Isn't it beautiful?

I will be putting up more crochet flowers from the 2020 Flower Challenge in my next posting.

I hope you are well and adapting to this new and different way of living

We cannot change the course of events, but we can change how we approach them.

"You have power over your mind - not outside events.

Realize this and you will find strength."

Marcus Aurelius

Stay safe

Keep optimism shining in your heart

and only take one day at a time!

Boxing Day

When my brother and I were younger.

Boxing Day was the day we had to write our thank-you letters

for the Christmas presents we had received.

It was also a day to relax with no hassle in the kitchen

as there were always enough delicious leftovers to see us through the day.

Today, my daughter and grandson came over for lunch

and to exchange presents.

I seemed to spend the whole morning in the kitchen

but the meal was good  and  made all the work worthwhile.

It's traditional to make mince pies over Christmas

and they are served warm, fresh out of the oven.

When I was on my own again,

there was all the washing up to see to.

I do not own a dishwasher.

That job seemed to go on for a long time.

Now I'm getting used to the contrast of having visitors over

and getting back into routine of being on my own again.

I don't dislike the solitude

as it enables me to really be me

to get in touch with who I really am at my core.

However, I do enjoy the company of other folk too

and sometimes it's really nice to be invited 

and not always be the hostess!

I do notice that many people prefer to be invited rather than invite,

have you noticed that too?

So on this Boxing Day,

I shall put up my feet, pick up some handiwork

and look at a recorded film.

I also have a new book to start

which is waiting for me on my bedside table!

I hope that you are enjoying a more peaceful aftermath of Christmas.

It feels so good, doesn't it?

September Delights

Nature reminds us that the autumn equinox is fast approaching.

The berries are ripening and the leaves are changing.

We are getting more rain after a very hot and dry summer,

but everything looks so fresh and colourful, thanks to the changing of the season.

Fallen leaves are starting to appear everywhere

Seedpods are forming on the flowers, like on this cone flower.

Lichen and fungus are growing on tree trunks

showing us their own kind of beauty

Raindrops glisten

A recent walk down by the lake shows the late blooming flowers

A tiny aster blooms on my balcony

The last dahlia buds have opened in the last few days of brilliant sunshine

and an autumn rose blooms in a neighbouring garden.

But the plums are ripe and perfect for making tarts,

like this traditional one I made yesterday, for the Jeûne Fédéral holiday,

which is always on the third Monday of September

in the canton of Vaud where I live.

The collage shows the different stages of the tart making.

The plums are dark purple in colour. They need a little sweetening

with Sucanat, a natural brown cane sugar.

I make my own shortcrust pastry from a recipe by Julia Child.

I hope that you are also taking pleasure in the joys of the season!