Where Are the Stories?

She looked out through the confines of where she was hiding.

She knew the world was waiting for her to make the effort, to take the first step.

There were other human beings out there, living life.

Was she living hers? 

She wasn't sure anymore.

She sometimes felt like a little mouse in a cage,

going round in circles, but not exactly getting anywhere.

How had that happened?

Was she doing anything to change that?

She tried looking at things from another point of view.

She felt an inner smile bubbling up from deep within her

and she felt her confidence grow.

"What strange creatures we are", she said, almost out loud.

"We allow ourselves to be influenced by mere thoughts that we have created."

She felt her face becoming relaxed and her breath came slower and calmer.

She could feel the sparkle coming back into her eyes!

There was even a feeling of lightness about her again.

She smiled and knew exactly what she had to do

and felt a tingling of excitement at the sheer thought of it...

This is a fictional story.

***

I did my first self-portrait course five years' ago when I turned a big birthday.

It was quite a challenge, but I so enjoyed the story-telling

and the role-playing we did.

That course was called "Now You".

This year, I decided to do another self-portrait class, to celebrate another birthday!

They do seem to come round rather quickly, don't they!

This time it's with Vivienne McMaster.

She's so encouraging and full of fun.

You can see her website here

***

Today is Sunday

and it's a perfect day for relaxing in the sunshine.

First of all, I just need to show you this gorgeous blossom in my neighbourhood!

After an early morning walk,

I had breakfast on my balcony and then read for a while

enjoying the spring flowers in my window boxes and pots.

Campanula or Bell flowers, just beginning to bloom.

I came across this advertisement for a film I would like to see.

I read the book, which was really good, sometime ago.

I've been having fun with double exposures, so here is one with my grandson!

He gave me permission to use this photo of us both.

See you all soon!

An Explosion of Petals

These photos are taken from a lakeside park in the town of Morges.

Every year there is a magnificent Tulip Festival.

The choice of flowers is immense and I had to choose just a few of them here.

Some of the centres of the flowers quite take my breath away.

The flower photos need no accompanying text,

just scroll down and enjoy them!

The fresh green leaves of spring are reflected in the water

The faraway view was a little hazy, but if you look directly above

the post on the left, in the dip in the mountains,

the well-known Mont Blanc mountain can be seen.

This is the main path which goes alongside the lake and all around

the whole park.

I rather liked this very unusual green tulip.

Fresh green leaves which have just unfurled

Today, Sunday, there were barrel organs and singers dotted around the park

giving a very joyful atmosphere!

These were my favourites!

Five Things I Love about April

1. The meeting of the seasons:

I love how lingering winter and spring mingle together to create their contrasting beauty.

The last snowfalls and flowering magnolia are a lovely example here.

2. The lakeside

 Dreamy walks along the lake at times of the day when there are as few people as possible!

Don't you love this amazing metal sculpture of a wave of little fish?

Here is a close-up.

3. Nature waking up

The spring flowers which start to bloom just everywhere. I love them all,

but there's nothing like daffodils to represent spring awakening!

Deep pink Hellebore

sometimes known as 'Lenten Rose' or 'Winter Rose'

Grapes of tiny flower buds which hang so gracefully on the branches.

4. Getting out into nature

From where I live above the centre of the town, I can easily get public transport

by bus and metro, up to the fields and the woods to enjoy the wide expanses,

the green fields and wooded areas

with just the sound of birdsong and the breeze rustling in the trees.

5. The longer days

When I can enjoy early morning walks before breakfast 

when all is still quiet and then again in the evenings after supper to hear the blackbird singing

in the trees in my neighbourhood.

There are many other things to appreciate during the month of April

and I'm sure you have your favourites too!

Easter Day!

Tulips and chicks

with a grey start to the day,

but there are already sunny spells this morning

 and it should be lovely this afternoon!

Hot Cross Buns were eaten on Good Friday

and this morning too.

Quite delicious with butter and homemade marmalade!

Just the other day, I made some natural organic lip balm

using Shea butter, almond oil, beeswax and lavender essential oil.

It's beautifully nourishing for night-time or during the day.

I put the tiny pots into little sachets for gifts

and gave two of them to my family this week.

Such a joy to see primroses popping up in all the gardens on my afternoon walk!

I love writing with a fountain pen

and I have notebooks where I like to write phrases and quotations

and sometimes poems.

I recently wrote these powerful words by Gandhi.

I hope that your day will be a lovely one!

***

Crochet pattern from:this site

What to Do on a Rainy Day

There are so many things I love to do on a rainy day!

Crochet is one of them - and I recently finished my spring wreath for the front door.

It makes me feel welcome when I come home

I love to capture nature abstracts

like in the harmonious curves of the petals of my Amaryllis.

Photography is something we can definitely do on a rainy day, even inside!

Bringing home a basket of three daffodil bulbs was like bringing spring sunshine

into my home.

No need to resist capturing them from every angle!

Just drink in their yellow beauty until the sunshine and blue skies return.

Sit down with a big cup of  a delicious warm drink.

This one is a ginger and lemon infusion.

Why not practice some fun self-portraits.

My favourites this week are double exposures!

Oh yes, and another thing to do on a rainy day!

Make a new blog entry!

Instead of  wanting to make everything incredibly perfect,

just do things the way they are today

and that is enough!