All posts in category nature

Snow days

This weekend we were covered in a blanket of snow. As I watched the flakes float down past the window, I thought about how the mood the snow created felt different to how snow should. Usually when I think about snow, I imagine children laughing and playing, throwing snowballs and building snowmen or I imagine a Christmas are scene where the snow covers a thatched roof laced with fairy lights – all twinkling and magical.

But this snow seemed to create a more melancholic mood. The sky turned grey, the birds disappeared and a stillness settled. The snow covered bare branches and made the landscape seem desolate and eerie. It made me want to stare in the distance and think about life and love. Just shows how much weather can affect our mood.

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What mood does snow create for you?

Victoria

xoxo

26 Comments
by Victoria-writes on January 21, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Musings, nature, Photography
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Posted by Victoria-writes on January 21, 2013

http://victoria-writes.com/2013/01/21/snow-days/

Autumn arrives

 

Tree outside my window in autumn

The temperature cools spreading a chill through the air

The leaves sway in the breeze

Transforming our world from green to red, orange and yellow

Our cheeks pink and glowing

Scarves wrapped tightly around our necks and jackets pulled across our chest

Pumpkins carved, fireworks lit and chestnuts toasted

Kicking the leaves from the path with your boots

Crunching and crackling underfoot

Possibilities arrive with the change of season

Breathe it in, make your wish

And leave the memories of summer behind you.

What does autumn mean to you?

Victoria

xoxo

26 Comments
by Victoria-writes on August 31, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Musings, nature, Poetry
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on August 31, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/08/31/autumn-arrives/

Weather vs Mood

I’m often struck by how weather affects my mood. Usually I smile at how fiction from other countries portray England as always being wet – lately though, this is spot on. It seems like it’s endlessly raining. And it’s pretty depressing.

Writers and film makers often use weather to convey mood. Whether using rain to tug at our emotional heartstrings or a storm to create suspense or fear or warm sunshine to let us know the characters are happy. But they also use it in the opposite way – hang the sun jar a character who is upset or depressed or having characters who have just fallen in love kiss in the rain (though I’ve never understood the appeal of that!)

I often wonder if people living in warm sunny places are happier than those of use who live in a country with unpredictable weather. I mean, you can plan days out without contingency plans, you probably get less colds and coughs, and you don’t need to buy a coat that makes you feel like a sump wrestler. Conversely, I bet those who live in the warm miss the seasons and fantasise about playing in the snow. We usually want what we can’t have. But I’m sure all of us have discussed the weather in relation to our mood and have had weather in a story make us feel something.

As I’m writing this, a hint of sunshine is appearing through the clouds. Suggesting new possibilities.

I like the sound of that.

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!” 
― Dolly Parton

Does weather affect your mood? Do you like how writers and film makes use weather to make us feel something?

Victoria

xoxo

24 Comments
by Victoria-writes on May 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in inspiration, Musings, nature, Writing
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Posted by Victoria-writes on May 15, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/05/15/weather-vs-mood/

Birthday day trip

Tuesday was my 29th birthday. I’m dangerously close to 30, sounds far too grown up! My mum and I took a day trip to Hampton Court Palace. It was a gorgeous sunny day and all the daffodils were in bloom so it felt very spring like.

The wilderness gardens:

Posing with the flowers:

The formal gardens:

Victoria

xoxo

 

36 Comments
by Victoria-writes on March 23, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in nature, Personal, Photography
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Posted by Victoria-writes on March 23, 2012

http://victoria-writes.com/2012/03/23/birthday-day-trip/

The end of summer

I read in the newspaper today that this has been the coldest summer for many years and it did not surprise me. Any pretence of summer has faded into grey and breezy days with the promise of autumn ion the air. The trees are starting to turn orange already. Sigh. Autumn means back to school time. Everywhere I look are deals for stationery and school uniforms. I remember those days well – you’d arrive back after the summer and all the boys would have grown by like two foot and everyone seemed much older. I used to wish those school days away but now I wish I could back – school was far better than work!

I’m reminded by these lines from one of my favorite films You’ve Got Mail:

I love New York in the fall. It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of sharpened pencils if I knew your address

It really felt like autumn on Sunday when I went shopping and got my first pair of boots of the year. I knew I had to buy them when I saw them as they all sell out and I have to admit I do prefer autumn outfits – I more of a boots person than flip flops for sure and my pretty impressive collection of scarves can come out of the wardrobe.

My only disappointment in seeing the turn of the season is thinking how quickly this year is flying by and that Christmas is fast approaching eek!

What do you like best about autumn?

Vix

xx

28 Comments
by Victoria-writes on August 30, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Musings, nature
Tagged , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on August 30, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/08/30/the-end-of-summer/

I wanna be where the sunshine is

Today I refer back to my post no kissing in the rain as the weather is hideous here in London. British weather is so weird – Saturday we have a really hot, sunny day and I actually got a bit burnt and then yesterday the rain came and a chill was in the air. This morning, I got drenched on the commute to work and brought out my hooded parka – it’s summer people!!

I really wish I could move somewhere with constant weather - nice and warm and sunny with no unpredictably. A place where you can actually plan things to do and not have to call it off at the last minute because it’s suddenly decided to rain.

A place like this …

Instead of this …

What’s the weather like in your part of the world – any tips for where I should move?

Vix

xx

45 Comments
by Victoria-writes on June 6, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Musings, nature
Tagged , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on June 6, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/06/06/i-wanna-be-where-the-sunshine-is/

Our Mediterranean Garden

Yesterday we stocked up on some summer plants to add to the garden. We have brought some iron bits and painted them white, added a mirror to make it look bigger and brought some new pots for the palms. We’ve also got a bench to add once it’s spray-painted white (currently cream). Take a look around …

All we need now is the sunshine :)

What do you guys think?

Vix

xx

46 Comments
by Victoria-writes on May 16, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in nature, Personal, Photography
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on May 16, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/05/16/our-mediterranean-garden/

Spring is here

March has arrived, which means spring is on its way. This makes me happy because the days get longer and lighter, the weather should be warming up and March is my birthday month yay!

Spring also makes me think of these lovely things ….

What do you like about spring?

Vix x

20 Comments
by Victoria-writes on March 3, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in My fave things, nature, Special Days
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on March 3, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/03/03/spring-is-here/

No Kissing in the Rain

Waking up to a grey, cloudy day and hearing the patter of heavy rain on the roof, fills me with glumness. There’s no joy in the rain – it means umbrellas and hoods, frizzy hair, wet jeans and waterproof shoes that inevitably turn out not to be waterproof.

When I wake up to the rain, my smile fades. It puts me in a melancholy mood instantly. When it rains my commute to work is always more problematic - suddenly people fill public transport and said transport shuts down amid the chaos. If it rains at the weekend, all I want to is curl up and watch a film, knowing that the horrible weather is far away from me, locked outside, forbidden to cross my path.

Singing in the Rain? An iconic picture, an iconic film that suggests rain can make you dance and sing and smile with love and happiness. I don’t think so! It makes me want to hide under cover and moan.

Despite the fact it rains constantly in England, we all grumble about it. We all talk about it. It’s like a huge surprise when it happens even though rarely a week goes by without it. We love to discuss the weather – it’s part of our Britishness. Probably because it’s always so bad and yet we all have hope it won’t be. That we will get 5 days in a row of warm sun and be able to do all those things people who live with better weather can do – barbeques or picnics, sunbathing, trips to the seaside or park, eating strawberries and cream or having that elusive party in the garden.

Yet for some rain suggests romance. How many films or songs out there describe the above scene – kissing in the rain. A man rushing to you in the rain and declaring his love. Standing outside your lover’s home in the rain to show how much you want them.

Sorry but if I want to kiss my soul mate, I don’t want frizzy hair or soggy shoes. I don’t want to worry about slipping in puddles or cars splashing us as we stand on the pavement smooching.

Rain is not romantic for me. Rain is a pain (sorry couldn’t resist that one!). As long as I live in England, I will not only have to put up with the wet stuff but listen to countless people say – “goodness, isn’t the weather terrible today?!” Just don’t try and kiss me in it please!

I hope it’s sunny where you are,

Vix x

23 Comments
by Victoria-writes on February 23, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Life, Musings, nature
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on February 23, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/02/23/no-kissing-in-the-rain/

Butterflies

I love butterflies. If I can buy something I need with butterflies on I will – like my duvet at home or even my compact mirror. Even the home page of this blog has a line of them! And if I was ever brave enough to get a tattoo, I would get a butterfly.

I’m not even sure why I like them so much. Maybe it’s because they’re beautiful and fragile or that they represent spring and summer or that they seem so free.

They suggest life to me.

Hopes and dreams.

Endless possibilities.

Mariah Carey – Butterfly

Spread you wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly                                                                             Fly abandonedly into the sun
If you should return to me
We truly were meant to be, so spread your wings and fly
Butterfly

Is there an animal / object that you’re always drawn to?

Vix x

25 Comments
by Victoria-writes on February 18, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in My fave things, nature
Tagged ,

Posted by Victoria-writes on February 18, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/02/18/butterflies/

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