The Shenanigans of Friends, Figs, Flowers, Food & Frogs

The wind changes.

Fresh southerly breezes bring with them a friend old & new.
 A multitude of elements - humour, food, philosophies - all line up to provide an experience full of feasts.

Gorge yourself and think not of the remorse of the day after.


So it was, that when Michael came to visit, we were all pleasantly dislodged from the regular grooves of our daily routines and in the presence of a 'gourmand of life' it was impossible not to enjoy, just that, life.

Reap what you sow

Hence came the preparation of a multitude of delicious meals (thank you Jane!) with the help of the Bio/ Organic/ Fresh/ Eco etc produce from our lovely little garden.Well if the world is going to end on the 28th Oct you might us well be prepared...


Every day we waited for lunchtime to arrive with abated breath. It had even been aluded to, to move the clocks forward in anticipation of the culinary sensations to come.

Food is a social thing in our household. Many wrongs are put to rights, world problems solved, new & existing philosophies ironed out and first and foremost eachothers' minds broadened.

'Broadening of minds'

Not surprisingly, all this verbal sword play, creates the most terrible hunger and once again more delicious food needed to be eaten.  Ah, such a hard life!

Paprika scented roast veggies

Luscious Pear Pie
with Berry drizzle

One minute here the next, gone...

Would love to say that all the fruit in the pie was our own, but never mind because meanwhile in the  background, the next meal has already been spotted...recipes of figdom tumble into our heads...

Fig. 1 & 2

Best dressed fig picker

While the girls busy themselves with glamorous cooking ideas for the next meal, the boys head out on testosterone fuelled bonding mission.

On a mission

 The waves may be small and a little messy, but you spot the occasional little barrel sneaking through and the water is warm, made more so by the howling onshore winds.

Yes, you look like a surfer, for real.

I really did wish that someone had bothered to bring our towels to the beach at this point.


C'est la vie, the trooper troops on.

'Dream time'

Having spent hours in the water, the boys found themselves in a familiar predicament. Hunger strikes!

I think you know what's coming...

Cheese & Onion Buckwheat slice

Plate continental

 Savoury & sweet...its actually a fantastically easy recipe. Gluten free, but a taste sensation and you can add whatever flavours you like to it...I found the said recipe perusing on the web.

I urge you all to try it out here is the link to the recipe:  Buckwheat Loaf 

The only thing I replace is instead of the 2 Cups groats, use other seeds, nuts or buckwheat flour to make up dry ingredients. The mix looks the consistency of cake mix, but that is the moistness you want. You can always leave it longer in the oven!

Seeing as how I have already managed to cover cookery, sport, travel in my blog why not go the whole hog I ask and include a spot of gardening. Jane, this bit is for you to show off!

Meanwhile, in the garden pretty things were bursting into view...

Glory of the white crown...

Rose bud

The truest definition of a rose...

Amongst the rustling leaves of the garden, by the light of dusk is the perfect time for a little serenade...

Jammin at dusk

Chris

Mikel

Play it by ear

So I am sure you can tell that over the last few days there has been an abundance of different stimuli bombarding our senses and it has been so nice to share it with you.

I loved every minute and remind myself how good it is to share things with other people, hopefully a smidgen of this is passed on to you too.

But before I can truly sign off I have to share this last section with the world.

Think the kooky 'happy' story at the end of the news on TV...

The headline would read something like this:

"''Toad's legs saved by Kiwi'' - Not on our menu says French house owners!"

One toad in the hand is worth two in the bush...?

Prince in waiting

Mama

She is 85 years old.

In her life she has seen many hardships and had many experiences, that we today are incapable of comprehending,.......but she has such strength, a stubborn determination and an openess of mind that she is able to understand the journey her grandkids are part of.

Peczuk Imrene/Kovacs Veronika;

My grandma;
My inspiration;
The link to my roots &
A link to a history that puts my life into perspective...

Boldog Szuletesnapot!

I know a picture speaks a 1000 words, but there are many words that are missing from this one that are planted in my memory...

...of her energy, looking after 5 naughty grandkids digging up the garden, as she waves the wooden spoon in our direction.

...terulj, terulj asztalka - a dining table never missing the most exquisite selection of home cooked dishes. Not to mention the pantry, which to this day is filled with delicious treasure.

...a generosity to her neighbours. Her door always open to help someone out or just welcome them in for a round of gossip over a bit to eat or drink.

...her hard working nature; growing & harvesting paprika with her family and looking after the pigs, chickens, ducks, geese & forever faithful dogs.

If it wasn't for her..., well there are many things that could finish that sentence, but I find it impossible to express in words.

All I know is that to this day I try to live my life as partly a reflection of hers. Her character, attitude and ethos will always be there in me, even if its halfway across the world in New Zealand & for that I thank her. 

I know I am not alone in wishing you a Happy Birthday Mama and have told you so over the phone when we spoke, only to be told that she has to get back to pitting the peaches for the jam she is in the process of making...

Oh boy, I thought, and immediately proceeded to tell her to take it easy, go slow and other such idioms, but you know what I realised, yes I am talking to my grandma who is 85 years old& she has always been like this, so will she change now...?

I hope not.

What I love...

People who keep pushing you to try new things...

'Unbeknownst to you...'

Passion in people, seeking out what they love...

'Decisions, decisions'



The warmth of morning light...

Morning Light

Power of nature...

One stormy night

Things grown in your own garden & also...very large sunflowers...

'Cream of the crop'

Sharing new recipes & new food...

'Grilled Green bell peppers in balsamic...yum'

...and finally...when photos just work..



The Bunker



This is by no means a definitive list, but after taking my big sister's advice;

 I am being grateful for things in my life every day...



Seeing is believing

I have often thought about what use a picture has. What does it do for us? Is there a meaning etched into its existence or can it just be pleasing to the eye for some unexplainable reason?

As the audience and viewer, do 'you' get what 'I', the photographer, was trying to convey? (if any...?)

Where do these particular images come from? 

 

'A drop long way from the ocean'

A million miles before these thoughts had even formed in my head came a lovely still morning, after a night of rain and yet again I was inexplicably drawn outside with my camera.  So began another shoot...    

     

'Rise above it'

The thing is... and I am the first to admit...emotions play a great part in taking that shot.  So even though external conditions may be perfect what you harbour in your inner sanctum has a massive effect on results.      

 Ok, so onto admission no 2., yes this could all be down to the fact that I am a female and intuitive to boot. I can freely say this, because I truly believe it gives me an edge... I love my analytical eye....roving...trying to find things never seen before...

So its an adventure then...? Into a visual scape hopefully not yet explored by the viewer?

'Acorn a minute...'

I hope so...there is nothing like seeing something for the first time or to be more exact, of seeing a 'thing' you have known in your life already that is presented in a new format before your eyes.  

'Undergrowth'

Don't get me wrong, I am not here to cater for everyone. That would be an impossible task, so like with all the other things in this life I create images that first and foremost appeal to me...and if you come and join me on the ride, great!

'In a haze'

Maybe its down to the technical elements of an image? Rule of thirds, compositions, focus, colour, light and dark. Yes we may all have heard of these things before and it's not to be dismissed, but these were not the things that were in the forefront of my mind as I was taking the shots.

For me its much more of an intuitive process, which has been fine tuned with every click of the button.

'pAcMAn'

..and before pacman took over

Beauty is a summation of the parts working together in such a way that nothing needed to be added, taken away or altered — ' Elio Carletti '

Perhaps Elio Carletti was right, it is when it all comes toghether in a perfect union of external and internal elements when both 'you' and 'I' can truly be happy with the visual results and lose ourselves in a subconscious tour of the image itself.

So even though I never intended to answer my initial query, I am happy to get you thinking about the processes that are continually working behind the scenes.

My hope is that all of these images take 'you' to your happy place as it does me...

'Motherland'

'Below'

'The net'

'Star'

'Under a bright blue sky'

'Yellow Brick Road'

'Scarlet fields'

'Abandoned'

'Entree'

'Cracks'

'Sunset'



'Pot Luck'

'la maison'

'Sunbeam'

'Warmth'

'eye to eye'

'Gilly 'horse whisperer' Ford'

'Black...Equestrian Beauty'

Till next time....