Clear blue sky and a camera

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds,  I would pick more daisies.

 Nadine Stair

Over the last few years, I've that found looking into a blue sky is the surest way to help lift my mood if I'm feeling low.  

The last few days have been gorgeous and have been heaven for me - the same day to day niggles still crop up, I still worry about my teenage son and his exams, work carries on with all the little petty annoyances that can arise when you're working closely with other people - but being able to look out and see blue skies, or go out with my camera and be under the blue sky means that none of those things weigh heavily on me .  I feel that I can face anything, go anywhere, do anything!  

Here are a couple of  pictures I took in the garden today, while making the most of the weather.

A snail safely camouflaged in a shady spot 

3 Cornered Leek looking good enough to eat

And to finish as I started, with bright blue sky

A sparrow looking for insects in the Buddleia.

Of course reality and cloudy weather reassert themselves, but the memories of blue skies and photographs that I 've taken can be almost as good, until the next blue sky appears, and my energy levels, enthusiasm and enjoyment of everything around me surge again.

Well, I've done it now!

I've read blogs, and commented on blogs, and admired blogs but for a long time I've resisted the temptation to join in by writing a blog. So, what has changed my mind? Two thoughts immediately spring to mind -

• I take a lot of photographs and whilst my family and friends are sympathetic, they are really at the point of viewing overload, so thoughts of a new audience are very persuasive (I also have a flickr page).
• I'm getting older and consequently the number of things I want to draw to the attention of others, express an opinion about, become sentimental about and just plain rant about is growing larger by the day

Actually the two main interests I have are reading and taking photographs. So really these will be the subjects that will be mentioned most often in this blog.

As this is the inaugural post, I will make it relatively short and just mention that currently I am reading Dracula by Bram Stoker for what is probably the third time. The first few chapters build up tension, suspense, anxiety and fear of a nameless terror - it's a great, great read.

For the photographic theme, here are a couple of pictures I took this weekend at Carnfunnock Country Park in Co. Antrim:






And one from my in-laws garden:




PS - to clear up any misunderstandings, my real name is not Griselda Pugh. This is the name of the secretary in Hancock's Half Hour radio show. She was played magnificently by Hattie Jacques. I chose the name because I love the character, however, as a recent photograph of me proved, it is growing more apt with every passing year!