Showing posts with label candlelight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candlelight. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Spirit of December

Here we are in the last month of the year!
How did that creep up on us?

The days are so short now and night comes earlier and earlier.
The lighting is sometimes so grey and dull that photography becomes a challenge.
Candlelight sets the scene early mornings and early evenings!

There have been sunny days with blue skies and I always go outside to take in the beauty.

There have been many rainy days too and walks with my umbrella.

The park benches are collecting fallen leaves

The leaves in my basket of strawberry plants have turned beautiful colours.
At the beginning of the month, there were still tiny flowers and green strawberries
that will not longer ripen.

One day, I walked down to the big park Mon Repos
and did capture these beautiful beech leaves before they joined all the others on the ground.

Next year's buds have already formed as the last leaf on a young tree still holds on.

In November, I took a very interesting course called:
with Kim Manley Ort.

One of my favourite exercises was to go out with our camera and take a photo every ten steps.
The above collage of four photos is part of one such outing.
It was raining and I was holding my umbrella.

The photos are as follows, going from the bottom left clockwise:
A wall at eye-level with ivy and fallen leaves
A Sequoia tree trunk which looked amazingly like a man's profile
The wet road as I crossed to go to the park with car lights shining on the wet surface
Drops of rain still clinging to the wire barrier as I left the park.

The exercise suggested stopping after every ten steps and observe
looking up and down and all around.

I was fascinated to see this lovely green moss and how it had even grown a little
green 'button' in the hole of a piece of metal on the paving stones.

I was preparing some Christmas decorations and noticed this out of focus golden glow
out of the corner of my eye.
I turned my head and took the photo with the soft focus as I had seen it.

The golden glow came from tiny golden bells put onto a little silver dish
so they wouldn't roll away.

One morning, I walked into my bedroom to see tiny and magical dots of light and shadows
playing on my bookcase and wall and on the miniature chest of drawers
a souvenir from my father.
I just love moments like this for they're so fleeting.

I have been busy making crocheted gifts.
These are envelopes made for paper napkins.

More candlelight to observe as I noticed the twin flames reflected in the glass front of
my chiming clock.
That little angel moves around, doesn't she?
But now she's permanently on the small round table next to my couch
next to the candle holder in the shape of a waterlily!
You can see them both in the very first photo.

Can you see the tiny little heart that formed on the candle wick when I blew out the candle?

When we take the time to look around us and notice tiny details
we bring joy into the moment.


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

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.