Day 7 - Vibrant

Today I was inspired to do something a little different!

I was looking for something bright and colourful and vibrant

and preferably abstract!

I saw just the thing on my balcony 

and made a collage of the different elements.

I hope it brings some joyful colour into your day!

This is SOOC (straight out of my camera)

There have been no manipulations or Apps

and I don't use Photoshop.

Happy Saturday!

Day 6 - Lavender

The essential oil of lavender has a sweet, floral-herbaceous scent,

and balsamic-woody undertones.

There are many uses for Lavender and it is know to be

soothing, sedative

calming, balancing

relaxing and purifying

and it also has curative qualities.

In classical times, The Greek and Roman civilizations already knew the virtues of lavender.

Its essential oil, a refined product obtained by distilling, is often called 'blue gold'.

Put some lavender flowers in a pomander like I have,

or in tiny crocheted sachets to perfume your drawers and cupboards

which I made in 2014 to give as gifts.

The idea for these heart sachets came from here

in Apple Blossom Dreams

I used an existing heart pattern that I already had.

Day 5 - Remembering

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,

the master calls a butterfly."

Richard Bach

***

Remembering a special loved one whose birthday is on July 5th.

Day 4 - Sunlight and Shadows

Gentle morning breeze

The golden rays of sunshine

through the open door.

Early mornings,

my favourite time of the day.

I open all the French windows to let in the early birdsong

and wait for those first rays of sunhine

which fill my home with glorious sunlight.

Day 3 - Bokeh

The streaming sunshine

After the early morning rainstorm

Brought gifts of bokeh.

The night air was heavy and humid and my fan on the chest at the end of the bed

 was set on 'silent night'!

How wonderful to be woken up by claps of thunder and flashes of lighting

and then hear the rain bouncing off the pavements.

The air felt fresh and breathable again!

A later morning walk right after the rain

and these Larch tree branches looked so lovely in the sunshine.

Let's hope the cooler temperatures won't rise too quickly again.

We'll have to wait and see!

Day 2 - Clouds

"Dark clouds become heaven's flowers when kissed by light".

Rabindranath Tagore.

***

This is the view I had in my street when I went outside early this morning for my walk.

The best time for walks, during this very hot spell,

is between 5 and 7 a.m.

It was 33 degrees Celsius  on Sunday and it promises to be the same today.

Clouds are being blown over from the Atlantic Ocean via Spain.

We may get a few storms in a day or two with temperatures dropping a few degrees.

Let's hope so!

Photo Journal July 2018: Day 1 - Summer

I thought I would enjoy doing a daily photo journal here during the month of July.

I know that some people like to follow photo prompts.

They can be helpful, 

but I prefer to have the freedom of creating my own as I go along!

I would love you to accompany me on this summer's journey

and I will enjoy following you on yours!

Although the summer season has already started, 

July and August really feel the most representative of summer to me!

There is the mounting heat

The buzzing of the bees

A quieter city with people going on holiday

Very early morning walks before the heat builds up

Straw hats

Good books and taking the time to read them

Cold and refreshing herb drinks

Relaxation.

This morning got me out of bed before 5 am!

I opened all the windows of my home to freshen the air and cool my apartment down.

Then a lovely morning walk between 6 and 7 am.

Back for breakfast on my balcony

and now a new book to read outside.

All this spells SUMMER to me!

***