Category: nature

Posted in Challenges, nature, On the wild -side., Photo challenges, photography, Summer, The sun is out, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wordpress

Dense: WordPress Photo Challenge.

Posted on by dorne whale

A public footpath winds its way over to the ash tree on the horizon and down the other side of the field. In the summer months the path is claimed by nature. Monster nettles, that leave you with more than a slight rash and hogweed make it a safe, wildlife corridor for creatures to raise their young – undisturbed!.

Wildflowers crowd the banks of our local river the Derwent.

A fabulous summer storm brewing with the dense clouds preparing to drench the fields and anyone wandering around beneath.

WordPress ask us to focus on Dense this week.  https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/dense/

Click on the above link to see the other entries.

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x

 

 

Posted in Blogging, Challenges, nature, Photo challenges, photography, spring, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wordpress, Yorkshireland

WordPress Photo Challenge: It IS Easy Being Green!

Posted on by dorne whale

This week WordPress asked us to post on the subject of It IS Easy Being Green!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/it-is-easy-being-green/

For me… that IS easy as green is one of my favourite colours.

I drive a green car, have a green front door to our cottage, have green/blue eyes, have  some green walls and I wear a lot of this wonderful, relaxing colour.

Simples!

Spring in springing in my part of Yorkshireland. Although it changes frequently. So, yesterday we spring had arrived and heat. Sunday lunch was taken outside and a bit too much wine was drunk.

Today, a washed – out grey sea of clouds is hanging persistently above our heads. The coats are back on and the garden parasol is not required to shield us from the sun. In fact the sun is nowhere to be seen.

Hey ho… such is life!

But, the trees and landscape are waking up. Fresh green buds are unfolding and that virginal green will soon be everywhere. A green of hope and expectation. Gradually, it will turn to darker shades of green as the summer sets in and then in the fall the greens, oranges and yellows will combine for one glorious, last show. But, that’s for another blog post.

Click on the above link to check out the other takes on this great subject.

Time I wasn’t here. I wish I could be here more, but times are a bit more challenging these days and I’m not very good at juggling! But, I’m practising and practising. And I never give in!

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x

 

 

Posted in Challenges, nature, Photo challenges, photography, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wordpress

Make a wish: my take on the WordPress photo challenge.

Posted on by dorne whale

 

 

Choose a star, a cloud, a tree, a sunset, a bird, a butterfly… in fact just about anything that appeals to you and grabs you by the heart.

Make a good, true wish and write it down on a piece of paper.

Don’t make anyone your sex slave or poison anyone… save that for your story – writing!

Burn a candle as you write your wish. ( Please be candle safe and don’t set your home on fire.)

Fold the paper up and keep it with you at all times. ( Ideally on your person – but not there!)

Think about it often and just as you’re drifting off to sleep.

But, don’t break the magic and tell anyone about your wish. ( They’ll probably think you’re mad anyway!)

Wait for the magic to happen!

If it doesn’t happen…

  • It wasn’t meant to be
  • Things like that are actually illegal
  • No – they don’t belong to you
  • You need to be more specific
  • Try again… and untie them… immediately!

This is my take on the theme of Wish – this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/wish/

Click on the link to check out the other entries. Allow yourself plenty of time to read and enjoy.

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x

 

 

Posted in Challenges, nature, Photo challenges, photography, Scarborough, Scarborough, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wordpress

WordPress Photo Challenge: The Road Taken.

Posted on by dorne whale

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So, when I’m out with the daisy dog I’m thinking and making my plans. It’s my time to get a hold of myself and methodically wade through life’s mess and confusion.

Most mornings I climb the hill opposite our cottage. We’re not talking a mountain here. The climb is gradual in places and more challenging in other parts. I believe the act of pushing up the hill pushes the fresh air through my stuffy, bunged up head and may be beneficial in helping to calm down my daily headache/migraine. My aching leg muscles ache for a healthy reason!

At the top of our climb, the hound and I are afforded, if the day is clear, wide views of our part of the valley. Looking southwards you can see the Yorkshire Wolds ( much-loved and painted by the artist David Hockney).

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To the far south – east are the cliffs, just below Scarborough bay.

With vistas like this I am pulled headlong into their magnificence. The skylarks warble high above me and clouds chase each other across the huge skies. My thoughts silenced: I am at once with nature. The Daisy dog watches for anything that moves in the fields.

Then we start the descent down to the valley. My thoughts and goals become more positive and achievable. I could walk forever on this: the road taken.

This is my entry to this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/the-road-taken/

Click on the link to see the other takes on this subject.

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x

Posted in Animals, Challenges, nature, On the wild -side., photography, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wordpress

Against the Odds: WordPress Photo Challenge. Roe deer.

Posted on by dorne whale

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So – I’m out with the Daisy dog (a retired racing greyhound) in what I have christened the magical valley. Not a very original name and I really must come up with something more imaginative. I can guarantee that I will spot something rather special when I amble down to it… through the glorious, thick mud at the moment.

Just a few of the things on my spotted whilst walking in the magical valley  are:

  • Goshawk
  • Red Kite
  • Barn owl
  • Kestrel
  • Hare… one – the size of a small dog
  • Rabbit
  • Rat
  • Pheasant
  • Deer
  • Buzzard

And a cast of thousands.

Back to the subject in question… Against the Odds, which is this week’s topic for the WordPress photo challenge https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/against-the-odds/

As the Daisy dog and I stand in the valley I spot two female roe deer in the trees, just above us. I scramble for my phone, with said dog straining on her lead to sniff at yet another blade of grass. I have to quickly delete some images as I’ve rather cleverly filled up the memory. ( What really?  Now of all times?) I wholeheartedly expect the deer, who are well aware of our presence, to move on at any moment. They don’t and I manage to get some shots… of their bottoms (white)

Does my white bum look big in this?
Does my white bum look big in this?

and their heads… seemingly growing out of the trees.

An unusual tree.
An unusual tree.

I curse the fact that I haven’t got my proper camera with me ( better zoom), but hey … I’ve managed to grab some shots of them.

On cue, they bound off over the hill and the Daisy dog and I amble back home. Inside I’m skipping and doing cartwheels!

I’d say the chances of me getting any shots of those two beautiful animals was Against the Odds!

If you want to check out the other entries for this challenge, just click on the link above.

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x

 

Posted in Animals, Arty -farty!, Challenges, nature, photography, Wordpress

Solitude: WordPress challenge.

Posted on by dorne whale

 

The folk at WordPress are asking us to give them our definition of solitude, for this week’s challenge https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/solitude/

Here’s my take on it.

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I value time spent alone, with my own thoughts. I guess I’m lucky in that I can find my solitude in a room full of people, or a busy environment, if I choose to. I just retreat into myself. Quite literally in a world of my own.

But, to get myself a really big dose of solitude – nature is my addiction.

 

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Whether I have an hour to roam around, or a snatched five minutes, nature works her magic every time with me.

Solitude to me is that sense of truly being connected to your body, soul and mind. The three can so often be off in different directions. To fuse them together brings with it a sense of solitude and peace. A heightened sense of just being… a pretty cool fix, I think.

We enter this world by ourselves. We live alone with our thoughts and we depart this world by ourselves.

Solitude is a gift.

I’m looking forward to seeing what other folk come up with… click on the above link to see for yourself.

Thanks for dropping by.

Dorne x