The Open Window - Scene & Story - July 2017

When I see this open window in the old stone house,

it reminds me of the importance of remaining open.

To open myself to new ideas,

to see things from another point of view

and to let the fresh air into my way of being and thinking.

Sometimes,

we need to reflect on how our life journey is unfolding.

Going out walking always helps me see things more objectively.

Every morning when I get up and a new day greets me,

I open the windows in my home

to feel the peace of the early morning and go on my balcony

to look up at the sky.

In the warm season,

I say good morning to all my flowers.

I say to myself

that whatever this day brings,

I will do my best to accept the events as they come to me,

not fighting the unexpectedness of how life happens,

but looking at things with new eyes 

and adapting to how they actually are

and not how I had imagined them to be.

An open window allows me to connect to life around me

and to live each new day with open-heartedness and acceptance.

***

Joining Sarah at Paisley Rainboots and Lee at Sea Blue Lens

for the monthly Scene and Story.

Silhouettes and Skies

A trip out into the country where I can enjoy nature

and a simple fence silhouetted against the sky and mountains.

Closer to home, in my neighbourhood,

the local church steeple rises above the buildings around it on the hill.

A little fluffed-up sparrow settles on a branch

of this young Gingko tree which still has a few leaves.

There's nothing quite like hanging seed-pods 

to gracefully adorn the cloudless sky.

A little colour this time of these pods ready to drop and swirl in the wind

like mini helicopters when they leave the tree.

I find they look so glamorous against the pink tones of a painted house.

Mr. Blackbird shows us his elegant silhouette 

perched on a branch of a beech tree in the park.

These are the tall poplar trees I walk past

every time I go to my nearest park.

When I see that a beautiful sunset is going to take place,

I drop everything and go quickly outside with my camera 

and climb to the highest spot I can find

to capture the silhouettes of the trees against the forever changing sky.

The leaves of the tulip tree are easy to recognize

and the low hanging boughs decorate the sky

and fill my frame.

One last look at the skyline which is now turning orange.

I've taken a vertical shot to exclude distracting things

like tall city chimneys and cranes!

There are still some private houses among the buildings

in my neighbourhood.

I love to see this one cut-out against the sky on my way home.

The lighting behind the poplar trees has changed a lot

since I first went out.

I notice that the lights have come on along the small bridge

I need to cross to get home.

Some days, 

it's really worth dropping everything

to seize the moment.

Don't you think?

I hope you do the same!