Images of the moment, the simple things

There are constantly things I see around me which are so "of the moment". They are just so exciting to spot and enjoy. They allow many happy memories to bubble up to the surface and other new ones to be laid down. On occasions they are like spotting old, familiar  friends from the past and at other times they are just there for once in a moment, then gone.

 We are all so busy living our lives that sometimes it's just good to take a look around us at the simple things that bring us pleasure. Some are small material things, but many are there for free, if we stop and open our eyes. I try to do this regularly as I think it helps me be grateful for what I have. It is also a great thing to do after a tough day at work. My day job at times is very hard but very satisfying. The simple things put my life back into perspetive after seeing all the difficulties I find my patients face. They help me to stay strong, focused  and be of some useful, positive help to them. I also think it keeps me sane for my dear Hb. It is also such great fun!

These have been some of the ones I have found over the last week or so and I captured my "images of the moment" with my new camera......

The iconic Cadbury's creme egg..now personally I don't like them, they are just too sweet, but my darling daughter has a definite addiction to them. As soon as they appear in the shops she has a regular intake of them. When she was over for her birthday recently I bought one for her and before I even mentioned there was one on the side for her she spotted it like an eagle eyed vulture and swooned as she virtually inhaled it. I can never see a creme egg without smiling and thinking just how much she adores them!

I also received something special in the post (a secret for the moment) with the sweetest card, which made me smile so much, yes friends are the best!

Billy loves watching ladybirds doing just this as he dozes in the sunshine in the garden in the summer.

Now here is an image of the moment which makes me salivate - I took this photo at lunch time on Saturday......it is no more as I ate it pretty quickly!

Oh my.....hot cross buns...but only the ones which our local baker Markus bakes. Markus' family have been baking bread and cakes in our local High Street for over 100 years and even today people queue to buy his produce. There is nothing quite like real on site baking. We have known Markus since we moved to the area in 1983 and he has seen my children born and grow up. His Dad retired a few years ago and Markus now has his own son who I really hope continues with his family business. When my daughter was doing her GCSEs many years ago she had to produce some coursework for her Food Technology. Markus allowed her to visit one night to see how he and his 2 helper's produce the baking. It was so fascinating and something she never forgot. He even paid for her to design a poster for the shop using some of the photos she took which he had up for many years as few people really understood that he truly works on site.
He only produces hot cross buns for a few weeks before Easter and I then have to wait a whole year for another one. They really are the best!

I also own a pretty little pot which my Hb bought for me many years ago at the Covent Garden, London craft market. I call it my "Season's Pot" as it features scenes of each of the 4 seasons. I have this pot in my kitchen and I display the face towards me showing the  particular time of the year. I was delighted this week to turn my pot away from winter and show this side..

I also planted up the chili seeds I bought a few weeks ago into the bargainous £2 mini propagator I found. It is sitting in the sunshine on my kitchen side.

I have a peep through the side every morning to look for the first stirrings of my seeds....it's like waiting for news of a baby's birth.

I also have witnessed my potted acers bursting into leaf in the garden.

The new spring colours in these delicate leaves are so bold and beautiful.

Down at the Ponds  further signs of spring are appearing everywhere. If you look closely (click on them to enlarge) there are 2 ducks in the bushes beginning to build their nests

And our busy, feisty coots and moorhens are gathering together an assortment of twigs to make their nests too. Over the coming weeks I love watching them sit on their eggs and then the dear chicks emerge and take their first swim. I shall keep an eye on their progress and see if I can capture that moment in April/May.

We also witnessed the "super moon" at the weekend where the moon was the closest to the earth  for 20 years.

We were over at my parents that evening and spotted the moon through the trees in their garden..

It was a clear evening so the view was perfect. I love the way the branches are silhouetted in front of the moon in these photos.
That is a moment I will not see again for many, many years but it was one that I really savoured.







I wonder what are your "images of the moment? Try just looking around and seeing the little things that really do give us pleasure. Sometimes they are around for some time, others just literally for that moment. Whatever they are I hope you find some to smile at and they bring you as much pleasure as mine brought me.

Sending you some of the wonderful  sunshine we have been enjoying this week, wherever you are.

Bye for now,

Jane x