Fine End of May

common daisy blooms in our lawn

I think I jinxed having a fine weather for the past month and a half by talking how pleasant it was for the start of spring. After my last post, we’ve had chilly mornings, gusty wind, steady rain showers and even short episodes of hail storm which made for a bleak chilly season. It seems from early spring, we fast forwarded to late autumn.

blue May sky

So in those rare days that the sun deigned us with its glorious presence, we tried to make the most of it. It always feels good to feel the sunlight on one’s back and arms. However, the brisk wind made it impossible to don sleeveless shirts and shorts. So we just contented ourselves with the sun on our face and enjoy its warmth under jackets and pants.

Now, it seems that the good weather is back with a vengeance *smile*. The temperature is almost summer-like with cloudless blue sky. A light breeze cools our sun-kissed skin every now and then. It feels really good to be outside after a harsh late winter and a dreary wet autumnal episode for the past several weeks.

newly sprouted leaves

I’m crossing my fingers that this time the fair weather is here to stay *smiles hopefully*

spring sunset

Silver White Winter

snow on our conifers

We had our first snow this winter today. As I suspected, our winter is a lot colder than usual : according to meteorologists, the temperature we’re having is way below the average for this season. We had a quite a warm, sunny and relatively long summer, so I assumed that winter will be really biting. The maximum temperature is around 0°C for several days now and is expected to continue that way for sometime.

Felix's "pawtrail" in the snow

Well, it might not be that cold compared to other areas, but the sudden drop from around 10°C (last Friday) to 0°C (last Saturday) can be quite a shock to one’s system, especially for someone who prefers warmer weather like me.


However cold winter might be, snow makes it less gloomy. In fact, it gives winter a romantic appeal, like what you see in Christmas cards or movies, with snowflakes falling and ponds and lakes turned into a natural skating rink. It would have been better if the sky is clear and with some sun. Well, one can’t have everything. Besides, I'd rather have snow than the depressing November rain.

Felix paw prints on our porch

But Felix (our cat) doesn’t seem to like winter that much, too. Usually, he spends a lot of time outdoors, except when it’s raining. However, I think today’s snow and below zero degree temperature was also a drastic change for him. When he had to make his rounds, he was only out for about 30 minutes at the most, then would come back to sleep on our sofa or bed.


And so that I can have photos of him for his first winter and first snow (for posterity's sake), I have to time it when he makes his tours. But he wasn’t that cooperative since all he wants to do is to make the trip and go back to the relative warmth of our house. But maybe he’ll get used to it in the coming days. As for now, he finds it more fun to play with Christmas balls and garlands by knocking them off our tree.

I think Felix is thinking "brrrr... I'd like to get this trip over with and go back inside"

Well, I just hope this winter wouldn’t be a long one. Having snow is great. But the cold weather and having to put layers of clothes before going out is another story. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind the temperature that much if there would be some sun to make the snow glisten like fine crystal powders *smiles*.

a warm fire on a snowy winter day

Wordless Wednesday : Dewdrops on a Spider Web

dewdrops on a spider web


In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.

- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), Parts of Animals

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

- Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947)

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty"

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.

- Aaron Rose (1969 - )

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So Long, Blue Sky

a fine October day

Sunny days outnumbered gray ones last October. But now that it is the wet, wet month of November, I think we’ve seen the last of blue skies and pleasant temperature for this season. although I sincerely hope not for I’m already missing it.


Well, at least I could try to console myself that the weather has been relatively clement for a longer period this year. And rain is good for the plants while the temperature is not yet close to freezing. We had almost no rain for about 3 months last summer and the garden needs a good amount of watering.


Besides, time flies fast. Before you know it, the gray sky will be clear again, and rain will be replaced by snow. It would be colder, but I think snow is lot more fun than rain. For the mean time, let me just say a temporary adieu to blue sky and sunny days.

Raindrops on my Head

raindrops on a leaf

Some trials are just like rain showers .They can get you wet and soggy, make the road you’re walking on muddy and slippery. But if you stand still long enough, the rain can take away the salt in your tears and wash away the smudges of mud on your legs and feet. And when it stops, your eyes are clear and your limbs washed clean. Then you can see everything more clearly. Things are sparkling as they catch the rays of the emerging sun, your surroundings take a more vivid hue and the air smells sweet and pure.

As The Leaves Fall

a spider web on a dewy morning

It seems this blog has been gathering cobwebs these days --- no updates. Well, with the extended summer season we had, and the seemingly endless things to be done or fixed, especially in the garden, there’s just not much time left to sit down and write something. Or if I had the time, it’s either I couldn’t come up with something to write or there are a lot of things I’d like to write about that I don’t know where and how to start.

autumn in the mountains

But the warm season has ended and we are now well under autumn, so I guess I have to "restart" blogging... even about mundane things, just to, at least, give me a sort of momentum in updating this site. And since it's autumn, I might as well start by talking about it.

oak leaves

I believe autumn is the best time to see the leaves' beauty --- there are less flowers and colors to compete with their allure as they turn from green to yellow then orange and finally to brown as they fall to the ground. Even with the drop in the temperature, summer seems to extend well to the first two "ber" months with the leaves' warm colors of orange, red and yellow in varying degrees. And with the morning mist, the air gets filled with a note of magic and mystery… as if an enchantress has cast a spell to make time stand still… even for just a moment.

misty morning in the Pyrénées

Well, autumn might herald the coming of the cold months, but it lends an atmosphere of nostalgic and enchanting beauty. I still prefer warmer days, but as far as ambiance and colors are concerned, I believe autumn is the most beautiful season of the year.

Fly Me to the Moon

one of the many facets of the moon

To commemorate the 40th year anniversary of man’s first step on the moon, here are a few photos I was able to take with some of the moon's irregular surface visible.

a nearly-full moon

When I was a kid, I would always wave to the moon believing that the man who lives there can see me… well, that is when I’m not imagining flying witches, mischievous goblins or other magical nighttime creatures bathing in the moonlight glow *winks*.

a full moon bathed in a golden glow

Cheers to the 24 men who flew to the moon and played among the stars *smiles*!

Down The Rabbit Hole

a short flight of wooden stairs along the trail of Gol ravine (Tevelave, La Réunion, France)

So where do I start with my stories about our holidays? Well, I guess the question is more about sharing photos rather than an account of what we did. But, of course, the pictures would be more appealing if accompanied by short anecdotes or captions. Well, I’ll try my best to at least give a short description and I’ll let the photos do the rest. I just hope they give justice to the beauty of the places we’ve seen.

young frond of a tree fern (called fanjan of the family Cyatheaceae)

I’ll begin with photos taken during our first short hike. It was in the Tevelave forest that extends from around 1500m to 2000m above sea level in the western part of La Réunion. There are many hiking trails in the area but we chose the trail of Gol ravine (sentier de la ravine du Gol) which leads to a view point of the village of Les Makes.

lichens growing on trees

One of the main floras in Tevelave is the tamarind trees. They are quite adapted to many of the forest areas here as they can survive cyclones and fire (which could happen when Piton la Fournaise, the active volcano of the island, erupts). Their survival is due to tamarind seeds capacity to germinate even after a long period of time and the flexibility of its limbs that prevents the trees from being uprooted / broken by strong wind and cyclones. Then, of course, there other curious-looking plants (and animals) endemic to the island that makes the area quite interesting for animal and plant lovers alike.

as the mist covers the forest

It was a wonderful hike as it was rendered cool by the towering trees that seem to form a natural arch, protecting one from the harsh sunrays. And because of its altitude, it is periodically covered in mist which brings an eerie atmosphere to the already mystical forest. I was thinking it won’t come as a surprise if one sees small winged fairies or elves peeping out from the thick foliage. And that would make the hike even more enchanting *winks.*

Longer, Warmer Days

sunrise seen from our window

I’m really glad days are getting longer now (marked by the use of daylight saving time which started around 3 weeks ago). I don’t mind “losing” an hour of sleep due to DST. After all, I feel like I’ve been asleep (and dispirited) during the cold months. Come to think of it, I think it’s better to really go in hibernation like some animals do during winter rather than having to get up and go through the motions of everyday life with your heart in your boots (I didn’t know this expression exist, but it does. And I find it rather a visual description of having low-spirits during winter). Well, that’s the way it is with me for I tend to be afflicted with the winter blues once the cold season sets in.


And if longer days are accompanied by a glorious sun, then it would definitely put me in a good mood. Ok, maybe not always but at least, I would be less cranky. The sun helps me see things in a better perspective. Maybe because it makes you see the brighter side of things, literally and figuratively… or probably due to the idea that you don’t have to stay cooped up inside the house. After all, the ambiance outdoors is so inviting with the warm golden sun, chirping birds and buzzing bees (and fluttering butterflies if it is a really nice day), myriad types of flowers blooming and the wonderful scent of the warm season.


Or maybe because I’m just a “sun-person.” Oh, I don’t try to keep myself meticulously tanned the whole-year round. I’m a sun worshipper in the sense that I love being warm, waking up to a bright, cheerful day and be able to go out... with just one layer of clothing (I find winter clothes cumbersome)! And of course, it’s an opportunity for me to try having a green thumb. I might not be born with it, but who knows, with practice, I might be able to make things grow without them dying in the middle of their life cycle *winks*.


Well, after the early arrival of spring and its sudden departure, I believe the sun has finally decided to come back, albeit timidly. And I’m optimistic it’s going to stay this time *cross fingers.* With longer sunny days and be able to have outdoor meals, take early evening short walks or watch the sun goes down with the lingering afternoon warmth, who would grudge about "losing" one hour of “night time”?