Scene & Story: December 2017

My neighbourhood

Now when you live in the town, 

you have to look that little bit harder to find beauty

away from all the buildings and busy streets.

So I decided to make that my mission, I would look out the beauty

in my own neighbourhood!

I started off by walking more slowly and seeking out nooks and crannies

which I had never thought interesting before.

I chose different times of the day for my walks, so that I may see things in different lighting.

I started to look at things from another point of view,

as if seeing them all for the very first time.

The winter months had revealed all sorts of new things to notice

because hedges and trees were without their leaves

and there was simply more to see!

One day, I came across this partially hidden garden,

I had never taken the time to really notice it before -

maybe I was always walking too fast to get somewhere else?

I took lots of different shots, from different angles and on different days.

This is the image I finally chose because it perfectly captured the atmosphere

I wanted to convey.

The little lantern seemed to be the main subject.

enhanced by the red berries which acted as an embellishment

and the lines of the branches seem to bring it all together

as a whole.

Although I first discovered this garden in December 2017,

I know that it has encouraged me, in this New Year,

to continue seeking out the hidden beauty in unusual places 

and what better place to start than in my very own neighbourhood?

***

Linking up for Scene & Story

for the very last time.

This has been the wonderful project of Sarah and Lee

who had the grand idea of starting these monthly gatherings.

I shall miss these gatherings very much,

but I know I shall continue writing stories!

***

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!