flowers

Six word Saturday

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The beginnings of an English Summer

Love them or hate them, you can't ignore a windmill

Love them or hate them, you can’t ignore a windmill!

Even a traditional one

Even a very traditional one

Everywhere you look, there's blossom!

This year, blossom is everywhere

And the goslings are thriving

The goslings seem to be thriving

Tulip power!

And tulips rule!

The boldness of the iris

Irises are exotic

Lace curtains of

Wisteria form lovely curtains of lace

The fragrance of lilac

Lilac is fragrant

Whiter than white!

And white blossom scintillates!

On the Moors, flamboyant colour

On the Moors, flamboyant grasses wave

And in my own garden

And in my own garden, something pretty appears

Despite my head still being full of visions of Poland, my days are spent gazing at a very English landscape.  Already this year I’ve had breakfast in the garden, one of my favourite aspects of Summer.  It’s still only May, and a Bank Holiday weekend, so I shouldn’t be too despondent if the rain has arrived.  There’s still plenty of promise, don’t you think?

Share your week on Six word Saturday.  Cate at Show My Face will be happy to explain the rules. Rules?  What rules?  Click on the logo for an explanation. 6wsButton

Six word Saturday

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A hope for peace and harmony

Each morning the beauty of the sky greets us

Each morning, the beauty of the sky awaits us

Unasked, the flowers turn their faces up to us

Unasked, the flowers turn their faces up

With all their shy beauty

With all their shy beauty

Flamboyance

Flamboyance

And delicacy

And delicacy

Each year they awaken and delight

Each year they awaken, to delight

Peeping out of their pots

Peeping out of their flowerpots

Or maybe we've brought them inside to enjoy

Or maybe we’ve brought some inside, to enjoy

Before the sun sets

Before the sun sets

With maybe just a hint of rain

With, maybe, just a hint of rain

And drains the colour from our world

Before the colour drains from our world

It is so simple, isn’t it?  So beautiful.

My wish for you at Easter is peace and love, with not too many raindrops. (and certainly no more snow for my Stateside friends!)

I almost forgot to link to Cate at Show My Face.  Even on Easter Saturday you can still share your six words.  Happy Easter!

 

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Tiptoe through the … snowdrops?
Fragile and beautiful

Fragile and beautiful

I’d better get a wiggle on!  Last Sunday I went on a snowdrop walk, but it’s March already and there are crocuses everywhere.  Soon, those tulips will be along.  Or is that wishful thinking?

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A yellow straw trail sounded much better than slithering in the mud, as I had on previous years. The sky was looking ominous and the Community Hall was already full of tea slurpers.  I had the snowdrops all to myself!

It was all done rather delightfully, with random snowdrop “facts” breaking up the sea of green and white.  You can pause the slideshow if you need to, to read them properly.

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Greatham , a small village 3 miles south of Hartlepool, is the site of the Hospital of God, founded in 1273 by the Bishop of Durham.  Originally the hospital was founded to aid the poor, but it became over time “a house of entertainment for gentlemen”, according to Wikipedia.  I’m not sure if this is a euphemism, but certainly the grounds are very grand, and contain the chapel of the parish church, St. John the Baptist.  The main building now functions as a nursing home.

It is a lovely building
But you can see the rain wasn’t far away!
The blossom was barely clinging to the trees

The rain made me scurry for the car.  Another triumph for the waterproof jacket!  But not before a quick shot of the Corn Lady on the village green.

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No wonder she looks grim!

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Time to send a Spring bouquet!

Daphne (or so my husband tells me)

Daphne (or so my husband tells me)

A lilac hebe (I think!)
A pretty-in-pink primula
Early blossom
More of the daphne
And the blossom
The prettiest iris
I just liked these!
Forsythia through the fence
One last spray of daphne
The hydrangea head- a vestige of Winter

And who shall I send it to?  Why, all of you, of course, but with a special thought for friends who are having a hard time right now.  I hope the flowers help to lift your spirits.  I wish you all a joyful weekend.  Keep smiling!

The spirit of Spring looks down?

The spirit of Spring, looking down?

Don’t forget to link to Cate with your six words, if you can.

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Flowers for Jake!
Flowers in bread oven

Flowers in bread oven

You have to smile, don’t you?  Whenever I’ve done one of Jake’s challenges, I’ve always sang along to myself as I selected the images.  Don’t ask me why, but it’s become a habit.  I didn’t spot this challenge till late in the week so even by my standards it’s a bit late for a Sunday Post.

What am I singing?  Well, I was humming away to an old tune “Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing”…  I don’t know if you know it, but when I got to the line “gone to graveyards everyone” I realised what a very sad song of war it is.  And that just won’t do.  So, determined to make you smile, I’m singing the Move’s “Flowers in the rain”.  Far more appropriate for many of us, I’m sure you’ll agree?

Yes, it rains in the Algarve, but it's still beautiful!

Yes, it rains in the Algarve, but it’s still beautiful!

I think I may have seen these in England, too

I think I may have seen these in England, too

It's always amazing what you can find in the hedgerows

It’s always amazing what you can find in the hedgerows

Just growing completely wild and beautiful

Just growing completely wild and beautiful

Or tamed in the landscape

Or tamed in the landscape
I found this pretty fellow shining in some bushes

I found this pretty fellow shining in some bushes

But I always love a "pop" of colour

But I always love a “pop” of colour

So we'll end in the rain. This might be the guy for me!

So we’ll end in the rain. This might just be the guy for me!

As ever, I hope you enjoyed my singing.  You’re quite lucky not to be sitting here in the front room, with me! Please give Jake a little of your time and attention.  His graphics are totally inspiring (unlike my singing).

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Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-bannerTime to see RED?  Not really!

 

IMG_0288If you asked me what my favourite colour is, I’d probably say red.  But when I look back through my photos I find that they are predominantly blues.  Often the reds are a wine colour, like the leaves from my Virginia Creeper, above.  Or I’ve used the red as an accent colour, like my favourite dress, which is white with deep blue and red flowers on.

Saltburn Cliff Lift is definitely red..
Doesn’t this small ladybird wear red beautifully?
My home town’s symbol, proudly red.
Hartlepool Headland with a good splash of the colour.
Is crab red when it’s cooked?
The hottest of red hibiscus!
The jewel red in a stained glass window always leaps out at me.
Got to squeeze in a battered old red Tavira door.
Our royals, resplendent in red!
I thought this rose was red, but isn’t it coral?
Striking red metalwork on this tearoom windowsill.
Romantic red at Riva del Garda.
This dahlia looked red as could be to me, but here it’s looking pink!
Icecream, anyone?
And it isn’t possible to have icecream without my red haired lady!

I can have endless arguments with my husband about colour, but it doesn’t really matter.  It’s all beautiful, isn’t it?  No need to see red at all!

Thanks for humouring me this Saturday.  Hope your weekend sparkles, whatever shade it is.  Many thanks to Cate at Show My Face.  Hope she’s feeling better this week.  Do click on the logos or the link to join in.

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Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-bannerWhiter than white- the theme continues.

The frock in reverse

Will I ever tire of seeing this frock?

Lisa tells me that she’s worn it three times so far, including once at Carnival in Venice.  That’s not bad going for a wedding dress, is it?  I’ve been dusting off a few white memories myself.

How lovely is this dahlia? It's a huge bloom!

How lovely is this dahlia? It’s a huge bloom!
If you click on a photo below it will start the gallery rolling.
Symi 1 in Rhodes harbour
The simple beauty of wild cistus on the hillsides of Portugal.
Beautifully framed white doors.
Who’s whiter than Snoopy? (and do you remember Flat Ruthie?)
A handsome caballero on his white stead
The blue and white of the azulejo
Pretty Guimaraes, European City of Culture 2012
The white village of Sanlucar de Guadiana, on the River Guadiana
Keeping watch over the Guadiana from the opposite shore
Side saddle and elegant whites.
A small boy in Greece
Speaking of elegance, I did love Chania in Crete
Wall niches in the Algarve.
My delicate white hellebore
Our garden last Winter (I hear there’s going to be lots more soon?) Dreading it!
Can anything beat a rose for loveliness- even a fading one? (like my memories)

I’ve become a person of few words on Saturdays.  Have you noticed?  My husband loves the peace and quiet, but more than that, it seems to fit better with Cate’s challenge.  Thanks for indulging me.

Visit Show My Face to share your six words and read a few others.  It won’t take long!  Just click on the header or the link.

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Six word Saturday

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Not enough week- too many challenges!

imagesCA3IIGP0So, I’m going to do “a challenge within a challenge”.

PINK! 

How boring, I thought!  That means girly things, flowers and sunsets.  But you know from last week that I love flowers and sunsets.  It’s two years this week since my first post and in all that time I’ve only done the CBBH Challenge four times, though I love Marianne’s work at East of Malaga.  Time to up the numbers!

Pretty pink, in Silves

Pretty pink wall, in Silves, the Algarve

This is the flower I keep seeing everywhere at the minute
Pink perfection, the hydrangea
Or it’s paler friend
This guy is just about finished in our garden
But there’s always plenty of pink shrubbery
Two shy little pinks
The subtlety of these tiny pinks with their protective berries
But for pure flamboyance!

Enough of the flowers.  How about some girly things?  As usual, click on any of the gallery photos for close ups and my cheery commentary.

Anyone got a birthday today?

Anyone got a birthday today?

Such a cute purse!
Sophisticated lipstick holder?
Little girls have such lovely choices these days!
And matching sneekers?
Are you a Minnie fan?
Pooh is gorgeous for tiny tots!
I guess I have to accept it- Winter’s coming

Which sunset to finish with?  That’s the question!

Do you like this one, reflected in the puddle?

Do you like this one, reflected in the puddle?

Or the drama of this one?

Or maybe the drama of this one?

Well, I guess that’s enough pink to complete this challenge, and hopefully entertain my Six word Saturday readers too.  Thanks, Cate, for double hostessing!

With her challenge, Marianne traditionally invites you to introduce two bloggers whose posts you have commented on in the past month.

I have been following Richard at A Bit of Culture since he started his blog, and long before that with his superb, informative articles on Simonseeks.  Go and say “hi” for me!

Having accepted that Christmas might just be around the corner, I thought you’d like to see Cath’s beautiful craftwork on Lizzie Rose Jewellery.  She likes Portugal too, so we’re bound to be friends.

Naturally, a pink logo to finish!  Don’t forget to visit East of Malaga.

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Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-bannerSAD victim? Trying not to be!

Sad cloudThis is the time of year I dread, so I’m taking every opportunity to revel in light, beauty and colour.

Is anything as beautiful as a sunset?

Is anything as beautiful as a sunset?

Ever changing moods but constant beauty.
Even when there’s a little rain
Follows the sunshine.
The glory of God washed all across the skies

And there’s always beauty to be found in flowers.  Click on an image and smile.

Be it a bouquet
The blush of a hydrangea
Ever lasting chrysanthemums
Or the perfection of a rosebud
And the pure flounce of a poppy.

So, no reason to be SAD yet awhile.  Share your thoughts with Cate at Six word Saturday.  It’s a friendly place.

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Say it with flowers

My walk into town took me twice as long as usual yesterday.  The camera just wouldn’t stay in my pocket!  So I have a small bouquet to present.  What better way to tell someone you love them?  These are for my daughter, Lisa.

Exotic suits her perfectly- reminds me to ask, how’s Ron?
She’s always liked dark, velvety flowers.
But rhododendrons are hard to beat
I couldn’t resist this swirl of colour?
But what about this pretty little lady?
Hiding in the shrubbery
Look at the lovely faces on these
And these guys are so sweet
For my mam there was nothing like a rose
I could fill a gallery just with these
For me, colour perfection.

I hope she likes them.  And that you do too, of course.  Let’s share some of nature’s magic.  Click on a flower to start the gallery rolling.