Summer Glow

The first roses in our communal gardens have bloomed just in time for the start of June and Summer 🙂

We have many rose varieties in our gardens so I’ll try to get a photo of each of them, during the summer, to show you all the different flower shapes and colours.

There are some fabulous Rose Gardens around the world. Here in the UK, June is the month to see them at their best. The Jubilee Rose Garden at RHS Wisley is stunning and The RHS has a list here of others you may want to visit.

Moonlight Shadow

Daily Prompt: Weaving the Threads

Draft a post with three parts, each unrelated to the other, but create a common thread between them by including the same item — an object, a symbol, a place — in each part.

Photographers, show us SHARING.

Today, following The Daily Prompt, I’ve created a photomontage for you that shares elements of superstition and symbolism.

There are three different photographs of mine included. My photo of the day, Pixel sat on the windowsill. Black cats are symbols of good luck, bad luck, magic and many other superstitions, depending on where you are in the world.

The moon is a symbol of magic also. It was once worshipped as a god or goddess and is often linked to the feminine. Of course it is also symbolic of insanity and of transformation.

Butterflies are symbolic of the soul, transformation and love. They can be seen as omens of both good and bad luck, again depending on where you live in the world.

So there you have it, three seemingly unrelated images, connected by shared symbolism to create a whole!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This is my friend Sam and her two children, Mylie and Zach.

We often all go to RHS Wisley Gardens as it’s a great place for me to teach Sam photography and there’s just loads for the children to do!

We also have a long-term portrait photography project on the go and this photo is a part of that.

For several years now I’ve been taking pictures of Sam, first with just Mylie and later also with Zach on this one bridge over the pond, by the meadow.

It’s a lovely way to watch the family grow alongside the changing seasons, plants and colours at the gardens.

I really hope that the children will come to treasure this collection of pictures. Also, that when they get into their teens and beyond they’ll still want to come to Wisley and carry on the tradition.

Retro

We came back from Manchester today, straight to a gathering for some of the people involved with The Phoenix Cultural Centre here in Woking.

Our first centre/shop opens this Saturday, June 1st, 14.00 – 17.00 at 27 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey.

This will be a great community centre for music, art, writing, spoken word, learning, cafe clubs, photography, crafts and so much more too 🙂

Today’s photo is something rather lovely in the shop that caught my eye today. How wonderful to hear some vinyl again!

Lost In A Good Book

Sadly, it’s our last night here in Manchester! It has been just wonderful to be with Rachel, Joe and baby Nate.

I brought a few bits and pieces up for Nate and this alphabet book seems to be a huge success 🙂

I think that may have something to do with the fact that he can chew on it and it makes a good rustling sound!

He does seem to like the brightly coloured pictures too and so does mummy.

I shall be sad to leave tomorrow and hope we can all get together again soon! Simon and I must get back to our own little boy though. Yes, the small, black furry one called Pixel 😉

A Magic Weekend

Magic for more reasons than just the Super League Rugby and seeing my best friend!

Going to the Rugby with Nate, for his first ever game, was real magic 🙂

He had loads of fun and cast his own magic spell on everyone who met him today!

Meeting My Nephew

So here I am in sunny Manchester and we’ve had a lovely day out at Arley Hall and Gardens.

Rachel and Joe have a truly gorgeous little boy in Nate. Full of smiles and giggles, his bright, blue eyes speak volumes to you. He’s so interested in everything and everyone around him and very expressive too.

Just 6 months old, he’s definitely about to start crawling, pushing himself up on all fours! His parents are going to be exhausted trying to keep up with him soon enough 😉

Tomorrow we’re all off to the Rugby League Magic Weekend. Nate’s going to love it I’m sure! Rugby, whether League or Union, always has such great crowds, a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of action.

That Friday Feeling

It’s raining outside but nothing can dampen my spirits today!

We’re off on a road trip to Manchester to stay with my best friend, Rachel, and her family.

Yes, FAMILY, I can say that now for Rachel, as last year she married Joe and nine months later Nate arrived!

I can’t wait to finally meet him 🙂

So I’ve painted a picture with my camera depicting the warm and colourful glow in my heart today.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Balance

After the rain
The leaves embrace
Translucent beads of life

Daily Prompt: Green-Eyed Monster

Tell us about the last time you were really, truly jealous of someone. Did you act on it? Did it hurt your relationship?

Photographers, show us something GREEN.

Well, after the prompt today, I have to admit to you all that I was recently exceedingly envious of the photo, blogger, Paul Davis, captured entitled “Poise“!

In answer to today’s question, yes, I did act on it! This is my homage to Paul’s image. With a little Haiku thrown in for good measure 😉

Time Vortex

So very tired today!

When I’m this tired it’s hard to think straight.

Strangely enough, on days like this, my subconscious seems takes over and enables me to create something I probably never would have thought of doing on any other day!