As Graceful as a spring flower

Ben over at the daily post has chosen ‘Graceful’ for this weeks photo challenge, this is what he said.

Gracefulness is a tricky quality — it manifests itself as an effortless, subtle harmony between a subject and its environment.

Personally, there are few things I find more graceful than spring flowers. During the dark months of winter, I long for little signs that they are beginning to emerge from the earth, or burst from seemingly dead twigs. It makes my heart sing when I spot new growth.

grace2Of course there are always the hellebores, generous and voluptuous as they parade in the shade.

grace3Some tilt their heads to any flash of sun they can, while others, more shy, make you bow down to greet them.

grace5A little later, the wonderfully graceful Acers arrive at the ball, stylishly clothed in tropical pink and lime green, effortlessly attracting attention.

grace4Tulips are so cheerful and bold, this one looks excited, like it’s waving it’s arms to the world, shouting ‘look at me, look at me, I’m doing my spring dance!’

grace1Anyone who knows me would guess that this last pic, of the first flower of the year isng flower my favourite. Faithfully, every January the snowdrops reappear like little virgins in tutus, surely the most graceful of all!

Are you posting something graceful this week?

 

 

Weekly photo Challenge: Names

I’d like to know the name of the hen that laid the eggs I eat, as Michelle does. She’s asked for names for this weeks challenge, not as easy as it would seem.

I’ve only managed to find one boat and it’s too cold to got out to photograph any more.

name2The much photographed Lively Lady has been fishing out of Beer for many years.

name1Now isn’t Drang an odd name for a street? It’s in Padstow, Cornwall and there’s a gallery with the same name.

name3The D’Oyly Carte’s were the family behind Gilbert and Sullivan, this Iolanthe poster is at Coleton Fishacre, a National Trust property that was once their home.

Join the weekly photo challenge here.

Weekly Photo Challenge, Anticipation

This week, share a photo that says anticipationA candid shot of your niece, eager to blow out the candles on her birthday cake. A photo from the trip you’d long dreamed of. An image of something you hope to have one day, or something that was worth the wait. For those who celebrate Christmas, how about a photo of the stockings hung by the chimney with care?

Right about know, Santa is getting ready for the busiest night of his year, a bit like year end in my office. I’m sure the elves are working their socks off and Mrs Claus is planning to make the biggest packed lunch ever, she doesn’t know how many mince pies her husband eats on his journey.

One of Santa’s very important helpers, Vixen, in anticipation of next Saturday, is getting as much rest as possible, snoozing in the barn.

reindeer-copy

Michelle created this weeks challenge, see her cute cat anticipating mice for dinner.

New Horizons

The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change

Maya Angelou

This weeks photo challenge at the Daily Post has been set by Krista, very timely in these last few weeks of a turbulent year.

Here in my photo, some are strolling, some swimming towards, some catching a wave away from the horizon.

How about you, will you stride towards the future with positivity, or wallow in a mire of indifference?

 

Magic or myth?

The village of Tintagel in Cornwall has long been associated with myth and magic. This is after all where the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the round table originates. One legends says that the infant Arthur was thrown onto the beach at Tintagel and rescued by Merlin, beside whose cave Arthur landed.

Perhaps in a village where, if you keep your eyes open, Merlin may still be seen, a sword really could be pulled from a stone by magic, but only by a rightful king.

Mirror

The weekly photo challenge, I can’t believe it’s Friday again, but I’m really happy as I have two weeks leave now.

Jen H chose Mirror as the them for the challenge this week, and left us to interpret it in any way we like. I went to Bystock Ponds last weekend, and it was a lovely day for reflections, here’s one of my captures.

mirrorYou can join in here!

Morning in the Algarve

Imagine your typical morning. You might picture your favorite coffee mug. A streak of sunlight coming through your bedroom window. Or the roosters in your backyard that sound off at 5 am. Or a photo from breakfast of a pastéis de nata, a delicious Portuguese egg tart pastry, while on holiday in Lisbon?

This is Cheri’s challenge over at the Daily Post. Well, I can’t do Lisbon, but I can do pasteis de nata, in Vila Real de Santo Antonio!

por3While I was there, a peaceful morning called me to the riverside.

And here’s a blue sky Tavira morning

tav1and a low morning tide is good for harvesting shell fish in the Gilao river.

tav2You can join Cheri’s challenge here, and see lots of other entries that will inspire you.

Narrow Boats

As most of you know by now, on Wednesday I had the good fortune to meet Jo and spend a really lovely day with her in Birmingham. We wandered, joined part of a guided tour and wandered some more. We were both really taken with Birmingham, and had lots of favourite bits, Jo’s most definitely the canal with it’s narrow boats, also one of mine, about equal with the library. So, when I saw this week’s Photo Challenge, I knew I had my photos, maybe Jo will choose the same.

Gas Street Basin with great company, add sunshine, and a glass of something white, sitting outside of a hostelry found by my gorgeous friend, a perfect way to while away the day.

 

 

I’ve waited patiently

For these tiny house leek flowers to open. Each flower is just two centimetres across from petal to petal, and the detail is a masterpiece of nature.hl2

 

hl1

 

hl3Taken this morning before the sun was too bright, I think they were worth waiting for. You can click for a bigger view.

If you like photographing details, Jen H would like to see, over at the Daily Post.