2019: A New Year is Here

Starting the year with an explosion of colour!

The fairy on the Christmas tree spreads her magic over my home.

This charming globe and Christmas decoration

contains a personalized message:

'Joyeux Noël Maman'

(Happy Christmas Mummy)

from my daughter this year.

In the deliciously calm days after Christmas,

I love to create a corner of comfort for myself.

The Christmas garland is still on the wall,

Two beautiful cards from my children sit on the little table.

A new crochet project has been started,

that's always so exciting.

A new book and a cup of Rooibos tea!

What a perfect way to spend the first day of the new year!

A new candle, from my son, was lit for the first time on Christmas Day.

It's a warm and welcoming flickering flame which I can see from my couch.

Pretty dried flowers have been incorporated into the candle's shell which are protected

from the flame.

My December Amaryllis plant is still blooming beautifully and is giving me

so much pleasure.

I love taking macro shots of the wonderful details.

This sweet arrangement came home with me when out shopping.

I love the little clock decoration to celebrate the New Year

and the pale pink hyacinth opens a little more each day!

There have been brisk walks every day.

I captured this early sunset from the little park very near where I live.

I love this setting sun which reminds me of the return of the light

and how our days are slowly getting longer

by about a minute each day.

These beautiful bare trees, taken in my neighbourhood, charm me

with the simplicity and beauty of their shapes against a pastel sky.

I love the nest too!

I chose this photo to make for my January blog header.

A tiny crystal snowflake hanging in front of my window,

reminds me that winter is still here and perhaps we shall see some snow very soon!

The natural lighting of pale lilac tells me also that spring will come soon enough

and all the flowers are merely preparing their apparition for warmer days.

It is so easy to lose sight and forget a previous blog header,

so I would like to add the December one here

as a reminder of the days when the warming glow of candles is so welcome and nurturing!

I hope that you are enjoying this first day of the New Year!

I wish you good health and contentment and much gratitude for all those things

that we are fortunate enough to enjoy.

Simple things like a roof over our head, a comfortable bed and a heated home.

The Treasures in my Neighbourhood

This early morning scene takes my breath away!

Continuing my slow and mindful walks in my neighbourhood,

I was thrilled to see this beautiful clear sky on Saturday.

The crescent moon was just lovely

and the branches seemed to want to retain it a little longer.

It was around 7.30 am and the horizon behind the mountains,

was taking on a pink hue.

I had decided to walk downtown and have breakfast out, always such a treat,

before doing my marketing!

An afternoon stroll up the hill towards some fields,

made me notice these curly seedpods.

The trapped red-brown leaf, caught in their tendrils,

matched the colour of the pods.

Just a little further up the steep hill, I noticed the delicate details of this mossy branch.

This morning, the sky was a little hazy and had taken on an orange pink colour.

The street lights were still lit up.

Although I live in the upper part of town, I can still enjoy the beauty of nature.

I stood in the middle of the road to eliminate all buildings!

When we really look for it, there can be so much beauty wherever we live,

even in a town environment.

It all depends which way we look.

My goal this year is to seek out all the loveliness I can find

and as close to home as possible! 

Slow Living

Admiring the elegant green needles on this pine branch and the

fluffy fresh snow,

my thoughts turn to how it is so easy to fall into a pattern of a frenetic

lifestyle in the fast lane.

Taking the time to notice how nature creates beautiful still life

arrangements, like these seedpods, leaves and moss fallen after the last snowfall.

Slow living is all about taking the time to savour and fully engage with life.

Just as snowfall slows down nature.

Mindful walking brings our attention to small details.

It makes us more aware and connects us to the present moment.

I noticed these beautiful reflections as I meandered where my steps took me

on my walk.

This scene made me think of the seaside. The wet sands, 

the receding waves leaving shiny reflections of the blue sky.

In fact, this scene was created by melting snow on a country road.

We notice more when we slow down. 

We take the time to see the splendour in the simplest things.

If I had been rushing along, preoccupied in my thoughts, I wouldn't have noticed

the shadow of a tree on a house as I walked up the hill away from the town centre

to be closer to nature.

Further up the hill, I saw how the trees were reflected in the windows of this wooden house.

Looking down, I paused to enjoy the sight of this tiny feather joined by a fallen leaf

on the paving stones. The naturally artistic arrangement was certainly worthy of my pause!

Finally I get up higher where I can see tall trees in all their majestic winter beauty.

This beautiful old oak with gnarled and twisting branches

stretching out to embrace the blue of the early February sky.

The days are getting longer

and all my senses are awakened as I hear the first birdsong of the year.

Sometimes we cannot get out into nature, but we can bring some into our home.

I picked these Chinese Lanterns from a pot on my balcony.

I marvelled at the lacy patterns and structure on their surface.

Noticing how abstract art can be created by gazing at ice-cubes in a bowl.

Some shiny marbles near the window drew attention to themselves in the light.

A tiny narcissus flower in a pot in my home is just coming into bloom.

I like to take the time to enjoy the beauty in shape, texture and colour.

I know that for many people, life is hectic.

The fact of going out to work each day and constantly looking at our watches

is all part of life in the fast lane

and often after work there are meals to prepare and children's needs

to be seen to.

But it would be so beneficial to take just a few moments, if we cannot manage more.

To include perhaps 15 minutes in our day to just to be

instead of constantly conjugating the verb 'to do'.

Early mornings can be used to bring calmness into our lives

Deep breathing exercises do wonders to relieve stress.

Getting up earlier to enjoy peaceful moments

before the rush of the day begins.

I have been meaning to have one day a week when I switch off everything.

That means my computer, my telephone, the television and the radio.

One day and one evening of the week where I can enjoy

the simplicity and quiet without all these distractions and noise.

It will be my goal during this month of February.

Do any of you offer yourselves this special day of peace during your week?

In the meantime, I welcome the quiet moments, going about my everyday occupations

slowly and mindfully (most of the time)!

This includes the preparation and the eating of a meal

and sitting down at the table to eat.

Immersing ourselves in nature , especially for us town-folk, is so beneficial.

Going to the park or taking a bus out of the city

into the peaceful environment to enjoy the trees, the plants and listen to birdsong.

At the end of each day, it's good to observe how I have lived this day.

Have I been rushing from one thing to another

or have I taken the time to slow down and really live

the precious moments as they constantly arise and pass?

It's never too late to finish the day with 

a little personal time to unwind. 

This doesn't mean constantly checking our mobile phones

or switching on the television!

The Slow Movement is being mentioned more and more.

Are we really listening?

It's time!

***

A Country Girl at Heart

I love all seasons in the countryside

but autumn brings warmth to my heart

and fresh air on my face!

At this time of the year, it's wise to grab the beautiful days as they appear.

Another little train journey

but on a country train this time!

My destination is 'Apples'

and you can see the name painted on the carriage.

Through the train window, I saw the vineyards slowly turning yellow.

The train stops at every little village

I love it!

Here's the village station with a fresh coat of green paint.

Now the walk begins

past pastures and trees and grazing Swiss cows!

A tractor

busy sowing seeds in the freshly turned earth.

I'm heading towards these lovely woods.

I love the feeling of space

adore the silence

and the lack of crowds...

Some leaves have started to fall and decorate the slopes.

Moving forward

Down a little and up again

Going round one bend towards a range of low mountains

Up higher just before the entrance to the forest

A soft path through the trees

surrounded by nature

not a car to be seen or heard.

Coming out of the woods towards glorious fields

Down the hill towards the village again.

This time on a backdrop of the Alps with the lake below.

The little three-carriage country train

which has just come from the village of Bière

(which really is the French word for 'beer')

Goodbye Apples with your green-framed station clock!

I notice a sign up inside the train

This one advertises a Train Fondue

Now that's given me an idea for a future outing!

***

I am definitely a country girl by nature,

but since giving up my car this year,

I have learned to appreciate the practical side

of living in a town... although I often yearn for the calm of the country

I know I can get there very easily by train and by bus.

The public transport is excellent here

and very reliable.