Hi Everyone,

I've found myself in Spring cleaning mode over the Easter holidays, both physically & emotionally. The physical side was entertained by the re-decorating of my bathroom (a job which-as always!-took alot more work & time than expected!) The emotional side is a little more complicated. The proverbial "out with the old, in with the new" is difficult to apply when the old ups & leaves of its own accord without our willing it to do so. Some things are beyond our control or understanding, but we still have to find the strength to dust ourselves off & start again. So what do we do when we feel zapped of the energy to try?! Well, I went on a treasure hunt round my local nature reserve, armed with a good pair of wellies & my camera to recharge my inner batteries. What a wonderful morning I spent and well worth the mud & nettle stings!

(If you've had enough of reading, now would be a good time to skip ahead to my 'photography' gallery to see some of the Treasures I found!)

When I got there I asked the Fae to help me find certain things I realy wanted to photograph. These included; Bluebells(because I haven't seen any yet this year), Mushrooms/Toadstools, a Snail & a spider's web. After careful listening to the little whispers I was led away from the path and very soon found my 1st Bluebell!

So excited from my discovery I tried to quiet my thinking mind and listen to where the Faeries wanted to take me next. So glad that I'd worn my wellies, I waded through mud, climbed over old fallen trees and under low branches, taking pictures of new spring buds & leaves along the way. Then I was drawn towards an area overgrown with brambles & stinging nettles. I said to the Faeries, "please don't let me get prickled or stung, today I just want the good stuff". They swiftly replied, "that is the good stuff" & laughed at me! I didn't get the joke, but followed the route they told me to take, nearly having my boot sucked off of my foot where it got stuck in the mud! (making a very satisfying squelching sound as I retrieved it!!) When I got to the little opening, where I could finally stand without having to hold onto something, I couldn't see what it was I was meant to find. Then just as I turned to try & find my way back, I noticed these, hiding amongst the nettles, growing low to the ground on the side of a fallen tree trunk:

Having to get myself at aukward angles to try & get the shot, I got stung on the back of my finger, on the hand holding the camera ( more whispers of Faerie Laughter!) But what a great picture! I was so happy to find these timid little treasures that I realy didn't mind the sting. "See, the good stuff!" I hear, "Yes ok, I get it now! Very funny!" I couldn't help laughing along, which brought to my attention that I haven't forgotten how to laugh! (May sound silly to some, but when you've been feeling down, laughing is a real gift). I thanked the Faeries and followed their lead onto the next place. We crossed back onto the path ( where I subconciously noticed a new litter bin had been placed that wasn't there before; A nice one made of cut up little logs of wood so it didn't look out of place in its surroundings), and then back off it again, into the mud and bramble! I was wondering what I would find this time, my snail perhaps, or a pretty spider's web, then I noticed them. A big green plastic bottle & a  small childrens juice one. The Faeries wanted me to pick them up and put them in the bin! Fair trade, I thought, as they'd shown me where to find what I was looking for.

I continued on with my walk in this way, (for far longer than I had planned to) feeling the companionship of the Fae & Nature itself, sharing with me its little treasures. Secret treasures that would be missed by so many of the people that passed by on the path, never stopping to take a closer look.

I want to share some of those with you here, so I have put them up in my photography gallery. Most of them are very close up shots of small & sometimes tiny subjects. Next time you are out on a walk, stop & get close and discover the intricate beauty in things that you perhaps wouldn't even notice from far away.

Faerie Blessings

Amanda