Winter joy
When winter gives you freezing cold temperatures
And lots of snow,
The best thing is to embrace it
And smile —
And meet it with wonder and joy.
For more smiles, please go to: Our World.
Let the joy flood in
Perhaps it’s just an ordinary leaf —
Dried up and ready to be thrown away.
But then again, perhaps not.
It’s a golden feather
And a dazzling heart.
After all, the holes are there to let the joy
And the light flood in.
For more different points of view, please visit: Our World.
And joining up with Skywatch too.
The joy of dogs
Indulge me as I revel in the joy of dogs.
(This is our dear Oscar – gone but not forgotten.)
They know how to live life
So fully and happily and goofily
(Life is better with a bit of silliness in it and Simson is our little goofball.)
They know how to greet friends
With open paws and make them feel appreciated
(This is Alba, a friend’s dog.)
And they know that a smile and some snow
Is the best cosmetic in the world,
(Just like our Ruby).
For more joyful posts, please visit: Our World.
The elegance of winter
A couple of weeks ago, we had a lovely snowfall
And I got to enjoy berries wearing a Santa hat.
The dried seed pods
Glowed like lace in the sunlight
And delicate diamonds
Glittered on slender stems.
Even the snowballs on the frozen lake
Looked like pearls.
But my favourite sight – as always –
Are snowflakes of joy.
For more elegance, please visit: Our World.
Small beams of joy
It’s been gloomy and grey here
And I’m sad to see winter trying to say farewell.
But sometimes, all you have to do
Is look up (and hope you have your camera with you)
And appreciate the rays of light where you find them.
For more joyful beams, please visit: Skywatch.
Frosted breath
It was the end of October
And the frosted jetty floated in the rising sun.
A glowing Ruby
Was ready to play in the golden light.
The frost turned her breath
Into a white beard.
Grass crunched underfoot —
And the diamond-studded earth
Made a lovely canvas for a meeting with friends.
After all, happiness is a frosted dog!
For more warm stories, please visit: Our World.
The circle of life
Those of you who follow my dog, Oscar, or me on Facebook already know that Oscar is no longer with us.
We had to say good-bye to our dearest friend on Friday as his osteoarthritis left him unable to walk.
After so many years of unconditional love from him, it was our turn to show him our love and let him go.
He dived into his last sunset at the vet’s on Friday morning, surrounded by so much love. (He was nearly 12 years old.)
He fell asleep peacefully in my lap, with the rest of his family at his side.
I know he touched the lives of so many of you – even though you had never met him.
It warms my heart that you could see his gentle soul through my photos.
It’s a measure of the love he shared and the life he led – that he connected with so many people around the world.
He lived fully in every moment; he loved widely and generously.
That’s the best way to live — and his best legacy.
Please forgive me if I don’t visit you this week. But I want you to know that your warm wishes and love are a source of comfort to us.
For more love, please visit: Our World Tuesday.
Honey glow
I don’t seem to be able to get enough
Of our late evening honey glow!
It pours like warm syrup
Over water and jetty.
It bathes Oscar
As he enjoys the view;
And dances on golden feet
Over the lovely clover.
(I lay down in a patch of nettles to take this photo!)
For more honey, please visit: Skywatch.
Making a splash
Please indulge me as I carry on with Oscar’s birthday tribute:
He turned 11 at the weekend, which is a good age for a dog his size.
Whatever he does, he does wholeheartedly —
Seizing the moment
And filling it with joy.
A lesson we could all learn from.
For more wet dogs and other tails, please visit: Our World Tuesday.
Ode to autumn
Leaves quietly cover a forest path.
Oscar leads the way…
Around the bend, we come across the perfection
Of clouds, warm stone church and the flaming torches
Of the trees.
The churchyard is ablaze with colour;
Leaves crunch underfoot.
The warm red of the priest’s shed
Matches the leaves.
Time to head home
Under the canopy of a dramatic sky.
Oscar is more than happy with his walk —
For this is the radiant joy that is autumn.
For more fall foliage and other stories, please visit: Our World.
Who says what?