Good morning and welcome to another brand new week. We've started it with drizzle here but the garden is thirsty at the moment so I'm glad the plants are getting a drink and I won't need to water them myself. The weekend has been jam-packed full of activity but we did break out for an hour's wandering and I picked up my camera for the first time in May - true! Though these pictures today are still from April, I have loads left to get through so this instalment is all the birds and beasties from a particular day. I adore the swan shots! Hope you find these enjoyable too.





Above, buzzard.
Below, chaffinch.

Wagtail?
Deer making a dash for it.


Bee
Hare

No, it's not a rabbit with giant whiskers. This poppet was in the process of [presumably] taking more bedding back to it's burrow.
Below, it's a blighted shot but it's the only one I managed of the orange tip butterfly and I've seen so many in flight but they just refuse to land!

Red admiral


Have a brilliant week, won't you?
Take care,
Sophie

Spring is the time of year when the most dramatic changes happen across to the landscape. From the darkness and starkness of the winter months breaks forth sunshine to warm the earth and the hearts of those folk who can't wait for the chance to get outdoors in the first rays. Over the last few months we've had some truly glorious days already and I make sure I acknowledge how grateful I am for each and every one of these. The energy of the countryside is infectious and spreads; galvanising me into rushing outside to bask in the new sights with my camera. Capturing my surroundings is a long-standing passion of mine and it's forever a joy to look back at pictures to reminisce or to re-live times long forgotten. Whether it's with a phone, SLRs or (Professional) Mirrorless Cameras the images captured are moments in time forever immortalised.

 Irresistible paths through the woods where the bluebells chime

 Early purple orchids


Looking back on the bright times and the fresh blooms is a luxury on the dark days, when the clouds hang low and the brewing storms threaten the peace. Each outing is another chapter, another episode, another opportunity to focus on the wonderful now. Wild flowers have stolen my heart wholesale. Water avens for example is a curious flower that is completely overlooked. It doesn't appear like a flower at all yet through photographing it and reading about it I've shone a little light on a hidden gem.


Above, blue spears of bugle
Below herb robert which is a wild cousin of a geranium I believe. So delicate.
Each one of my countryside posts encapsulates a single visit yet my blog as a whole progresses that little bit closer to covering more. Maybe none of the shots is a stand-out image, one to be blown up and hung on the wall, but as an ensemble they work to give an all round feeling of how it felt to be there in that snapshot in time. Yes, I'd like to up my game by buying a new camera now that mine is showing it's age and has suffered some serious use! The autofocus on mine is unreliable but I've had to use it a bit with the zoom lens. Something for the summer maybe, to plan a camera upgrade. Let's face it, I do get so much use, not to mention joy, from it that it's an investment in myself.



Speckled wood butterflies soaking up the sun
Masses of flowers on the forest floor. Lesser celandine, violets, ground ivy... I love the jumble of colour and leaves all fighting for the light.

Yellow archangel starting to show itself
Violets everywhere this spring.
It's privilege to be an observer of the tiny details. I collect moments snap by snap.

This post contains a sponsored link but all content is my own.

Take care,
Sophie

This is very much one of those rare occasions where everything fits together like a wonderful happy jigsaw puzzle; the sun shines and it's warm, my hair is looking just how I love it, the dress makes me feel in good shape, the oil seed rape is in full bloom and smells fantastic. One of those posts where I include far too many photographs because I'm brimming with joy and don't want to hide it away.


I love to support local businesses and was thrilled Norwich based Nova Silver got in touch again to collaborate. They have such a gorgeous range of jewellery, many of which are nature inspired which of course just pulls me in. Not only do Nova Silver have a really good website but they also have a store in Norwich so you can have a browse too. Pop in and see what catches your eye!
This is the Oak Leaf pendant necklace which is crafted in sterling silver and is just my style - thanks guys, very well chosen. Oak trees are considered to represent courage and power, so I'm told. Just think of all the years they stand tall and strong despite whatever is thrown at them. I'd like to add my own thoughts too. The concept of a little stubby acorn trodden in to a patch of dirt suddenly coming to life, sending up a tender shoot and unfailingly persisting with growth to become something huge and awe inspiring, isn't that a miracle? So oaks to me are a symbol of growth, of faith to take an idea and doggedly believe in it's potential. That no matter how small something starts, it can become so much more. And that's amazing. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.


The detailing is beautiful and at just £15 for the pendant (chains sold separately) it represents excellent value. You can even buy earring to match.

Too right I'm going to be cropping a few of these for new profile pictures!


Well here's to a fantastic spring and summer. I've got a great feeling this really could be something.

Thanks to Nova Silver for gifting me this necklace - all opinions my own.

Take care,
Sophie