This weeks WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Path…
One afternoon in early March I was feeling decidedly listless. I wandered aimlessly round the house and garden looking for inspiration, but I was uninspired. Fortunately, I don’t experience many days like this as I am a “creative” person by nature and usually there are not enough hours in a day let alone waste them moping around feeling sorry for myself! However, on this particular day I felt homesick and missed the family. Not even my beloved computer could relieve my restless spirit!
In desperation I decided the best idea was positive action! I would take my camera for a walk, escape the confines of the house and find peace and tranquillity in nature. My aim – to photograph wild flowers which I would then attempt to paint on my return home using watercolours or acrylics. I was not disappointed when arrived at the end of the path as I was rewarded by an amazing wild garden of flowers which I named “God’s Garden”
I studied the many delicate flowers such as the tiny yellow blooms which resembled daffodils growing in just grit at the edge of the cliff and wondered what they are.
Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after several hours spent at one with nature, I returned home.
As I wandered indoors feeling totally rested and at peace with myself and the world I was immediately greeted by Mr Piglet who fired questions at me like rapid machine gun fire.
“Where on earth have you been?”
“You’ve been gone hours”
“What have we got for dinner?”
“What time’s dinner?”
“I’m hungry”
“I’ve been worried about you”
“hmmm” I sighed…as I pondered “Yes, aliens abducted me and transported me to a magical place”
How do you overcome listess moments?
There are many beautiful unspoilt clifftop and country walks in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina on the West Coast of Portugal.
“Just” some of my favourite “path” photos by fellow bloggers
Phrogmom’s Weblog
Enjoy Creating
Walk A Mile In My Shoes
cachandochile (Chile)
Piglet in Portugal 
Love your photos from this walk – just gorgeous! Such a beautiful place to live! 🙂
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You have captured the path that speaks to me, calls to me…” Come… I have things to show you..”
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Hi Maggie,
The path leads down to the cliffs edge. There are stunning views of the coastline
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Thank you for sharing this beautiful photos ! 🙂
There is nothing better than enjoying a nice walk in the nature when you want to clear your mind, just you in front of the beauty of the place. I like to do the same when I can but it’s quite difficult to get some beautiful quiet places like this near Paris… So thanks again for sharing yours !!
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Hi, thanks for your reply. To see the wild flowers and their names you could try typing a search – 182 flores do campo Valter Jacinto –
I prefare your choice of beaches.
I look forward to your next blog.
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Hi Pip, I found your blog whilst researching – I am moving to Portugal shortly and looking forward to taking similar walks. I love the pics. you should take a look at the photos of 182 flores do campo no Algarve by Valter Jacinto on pbase.com. It has lots of photos of the local wild flowers with their names.
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Hi Mini and welcome,
Great photography …and I’ve also just found the birds but cannot find the flowers. the walks in the western algarve are great!
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Well, after a listless moment you had a great walk and managed to take so stunning photographs, so you were not listless for long
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ITs amazing how you can lift your mood when you focus on the simplicity of nature
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Beautiful place to wander to.
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Hi Shell. I’m in the UK at the moment and I do miss this special place…
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I came to visit…no new post!
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I ain’t got any cake to go with my afternoon cup of tea either 🙂
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Real life has a way of dispersing our contemplative moments.
I don’t know what I do when I’m listless? I’ll have to think about that.
If I’m worried, I often take on an organizational project, like a closet or the basement. Always a good distraction.
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Hi Christine,
Sounds like a good plan to me!
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I love it, “God’s Garden”! Beautiful photos AND I loved your little thought of being abducted! Hehe 🙂
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Hi Sharon,
Aliens…
when you stand in the middle of nowhere and reflect on the beauty of nature around you it does seem like you have been transported to another place away from the stresses of life.
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Gorgeous photos, and what a great story to go with. 🙂
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Thanks Jo, I enjoy telling a story to accompany my photographs. Hopefully it helps to bring them to life 🙂
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Perfect. You have the most enchanting thoughts and stories. Your photos are beautiful. I enjoyed this very much!
I’m not sure what the little yellow flower is, but it sure is pretty and charming. 🙂
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Hi Ec,
Hortophile confirmed
“Those little yellow guys are definitely narcissi (as daffodils are). They remind me of a narcissus we sell at the garden centre called Yellow Hoop Petticoats. “
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Tsk,tsk,tsk….hunger before worry!!!!
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Thank you Granny! the pathway to a man’s heart is to his stomach.
LOL 🙂
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PiP, What an enjoyable read with beautiful flowers, to boot. I so relate to your experience of never having enough hours in the day and your ability to be rejuvenated with a trip outdoors, camera along for company.
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I think your new home in the middle of the woods is magical! You will certainly be at one with nature…are there any bears where you live?
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I love photos of paths, especially when they disappear into the horizon. Thanks for the lovely photos, PiP!
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Beautifully written PiP, its those moments for realization why we are so fortunate to live in God’s world. I love “God’s Garden” it is awesome. I too like to walk the trails for seeing the beauty and feeling the breeze of the beauty of earth’s rewards.
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As you walk surounded by nature it’s amazing how it can change your mood. God certainly blessed this walk with so many wild flowers. In fact, I think I will make a monthly post featuring some of the different wild flowers I discover so as to keep a diary on my blog.
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You’ll never believe this Pip but only yesterday I put a new poem (which I wrote years ago, to be honest) on my website and it’s called God’s Garden! Weird! I just had to write and let you know. Great minds eh? Like the photos very much and the background story. Here’s the link if you feel like reading my poem:
goo.gl/suZs0
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It is a beautiful poem! I wish I could write poetry to express my feelings…
I don’t know why but I’ve always thought of wild flowers as “God’s Garden” great minds 🙂
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Beautiful post and path! 😀
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Thanks Nancy! I enjoyed writing this post as it reminded me how the simplicity of nature can sooth the spirit
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PiP definetly a change of scenery is good for listlessness or better yet a chocolate treat of some sort…
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CHOCOLATE…I dream of chocolate 🙂 Actually over the brow of the hill was a chocolate shop and I sneaked off to eat a few bars!!! LOL The flowers wer just a decoy 🙂
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I’m glad you found a creative way to take care of your needs, PiP. A camera as a friend? Good idea, and I’m also glad you shared your idea and adventure with us.
Cyber hugs across the pond!
—Jan
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Hi Jan,
Appreciating the simple beauty of nature is a great way to clear the mind and find peace.
{{Hugs}}
PiP
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Those little yellow guys are definitely narcissi (as daffodils are). They remind me of a narcissus we sell at the garden centre called Yellow Hoop Petticoats. Very sweet!
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Hi Hortophile,
Thanks for the confirmation. Seems a strange place for them to grow. I wonder how they arrived there?
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Wow Pip- Is that path/walk near your house? How wonderful to just walk out the door and have a whole world of nature there to lose yourself in (obviously words of a somewhat reluctant city dweller!). What a great way to sort out your funk. Bet you had some great conversations with yourself along the way too!
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Hi Margaret,
there are many beautiful paths such as this near our house as we are fortunate enough to live in natural and as yet unspoilt location.
I certainly did give mys self a good talking to along the way. 🙂 I could not live in the city I would die inside. I loved the photos of the farm and your country walk and weekend retreat. Your path photo was stunning!
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I loved the path and all the flowers. Wonderful post. Thanks.
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Thanks Cecelia,
they certainly cured the blues…
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beautiful pics PiP! I love taking nature walks.
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Hi Stacey,
the pictures unfortunately do not do the flowers justice. Nature is wonderful, but sometimes difficult to capture the moment.
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There you are!! You found those wild flowers, beautiful path. I´m not into the habit of going off somewhere on my own if I´m feeling blue, as I would even more lonely…I just do some crafts, painting, it´s very calming. Have you painted that picture of the wild flowers?
How was the family visit?
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Hi Sami,
I was not alone I had my camera 🙂 No I did not paint the pictures, but I will do. 🙂 In fact, I have not painted anything this summer 😦 It may be raining the next time I feel listless, so I can look back on these.
Family visit went great but I miss them so much. Already planning the next time I can see them 🙂
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Beautiful PiP! I love the path you followed and those wild flowers are simply divine. Good for you! 🙂
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Hi Eliz,
The path of peace and happiness…
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Beautiful!
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Yep, it is certainly that 🙂
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