Sunday, June 20, 2010

Small Wonders

This is a scheduled post. I'll be home to answer comments and visit your blogs soon. Until then, I'm up at Frank's family cottage - hopefully taking more photos.

Another walk. Another day. Another series of images which caught my eye. This time - small wonders.


"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones." ~Jean Webster
A lovely butterfly lit upon a stone slab and posed nicely for me. How could I not snap its photo?




"As we become curators of our own contentment on the Simple Abundance path... we learn to savor the small with a grateful heart." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach
A mother and her two baby goslings taking a swim in Lake Ontario




"All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small." ~Lao-Tzu
My sweet neighbour Lily's tiny hand.




"You'll come to learn a great deal if you study the Insignificant in depth." ~Odysseus Elytis
Tiny berries beginning to ripen.




"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." ~John Wooden
A tiny seed caught my eye as it sat atop the railing at the dock of our small local pond. I wonder if it's found someplace to take root by now.




"For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great." ~Jose Ortega Y Gasset
Hard boiled quail's eggs. They were a part of our lobster dinner a few weeks ago. They tasted just like chicken eggs to me but looked a lot prettier.




"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
This tiny sparrow was chowing down on a small winged insect. You might want to click on the photo to see it.




"Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon." ~Booker T. Washington
One of the miniature roses in my front garden. This was a thoughtful birthday gift from my younger son last year.




"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A tiny bug investigates a daisy.


I'll be back again soon. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by.

44 comments:

Kat said...

The quail eggs and the mini rose shots are my favs. GORGEOUS! :)

Anonymous said...

Not only do you take fabulous photographs, your descriptions of them are great too :0)

LadyFi said...

I so agree with you - there is so much wonder in the small things in life!

Gorgeous photos as usual.

Brian Miller said...

between the little dandelion puff and the kids hands...some cool shots hilary! hope you are having a blast...

Sueann said...

What beautiful photographs, Hilary!! Loved the quail eggs...gorgeous!
The quotes with the pics were perfect!
Hugs
SueAnn

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Enjoying your post is a great way to start my Sunday. Thank you for sharing these small wonders.

June said...

My favorites of all these wonderful pictures:
1. berries - love the colors
2. goslings - peaceful
3. seed - delicate yet strong

DJan said...

Those quail eggs are amazing, and I do so love that little seed...

Unknown said...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. All of the pictures are super. I especially love the neighbors little hand! That is the most precious thing.

I can't wait to see your new pictures. I know you are having a wonderful time snapping away!

Daryl said...

Love these .. so sweet so much promise

CiCi said...

That is a tiny insect that is lunch for the sparrow. I look forward to the pics you bring back from Frank's place.

Zuzana said...

Beautiful. It is always lovely to get the privilege to see the world through your eyes. And through your lens.
Hope the weekend at the cottage is relaxing.:)
xoxo

ellen abbott said...

Love the tiny seed with the whirly top.

Pseudo said...

I love your photos. The quail eggs look like candy.

ds said...

These are all wonderful, and beautifully described. My favorite is the baby's hand. Such large ideas (hope, future, family, love) held in such a small "container."
Trust you are enjoying your getaway!

Maggie May said...

I always look at a babies hands and feet and wonder about the miracle of new life!
All the other things too..... but especially the baby!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Tabor said...

Lovely tour. Have fun at the lake!

Don said...

These are wonderful quotes and photos! I'll be back.

larkswing said...

Great shots, but the seed is soooo good!

Karen said...

I just have so much fun looking at your lovely pics. Even the tiny seed was extraordinary.

Unknown said...

You always make me appreciate life when I visit here.
Thanks Hilary, and I hope you are having a fabulous time at the cottage with Frank.

Kathleen said...

I love how the tiniest thing cannot escape the attention of Hilary. And the quotes and your observations are perfection. Thank you for another lovely walk!

messymimi said...

Oh, to have your eye -- then I wouldn't just always look without seeing, as is my unfortunate habit.

Anonymous said...

I thought of you as I attempted to photograph some very busy bees in my lavender patch.
Hope you are having a wonderful time at the cottage!

Joanna Jenkins said...

I would love to follow you around on a walk to try to see the same things you do. Your attention to detail amazes me.

Cheers,
jj

Ed Pilolla said...

that butterfly really looked like it was posing. perfect light. dig the up-close of those quail eggs.

ethelmaepotter! said...

I adore these nature walks with you - you always point out the smallest details and find the beauty in mundane objects.

"You'll come to learn a great deal if you study the Insignificant in depth." Beautiful! And that butterfly is gorgeous!

Leah J. Utas said...

Beautiful. There's something Seussian about that seed.

Mental P Mama said...

It is, indeed, the tiny things that make life so special...

Dianne said...

Lily's hand is so wonderful
there is so much in a baby's hand - trust, hope, love

and the little seed! looking so fragile yet strong

poetry thru photography = Hilary

Cloudia said...

wonderful shots






Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Sniffles and Smiles said...

As always, dear Hilary, your photos are simply exquisite! I especially love the shot of the seed and the rose...but it is ALWAYS hard to ever pick a favorite...And I love all the quotes...I'm going to take-away many of them with me...to reflect upon throughout the week! Beautiful post! Love, Janine XO

Indrani said...

Terrific shots Hilary. I love your perspective in each of the shots. :)

Cricket said...

Very nice. I think I'll take the boys to the park today... we can look at the real thing. Summer vacation begins today. For them, that is.

Love the seed.

I'm thinking something sunny and cheerful. Maybe Three Little Birds.

Hope you had a great time.

Unknown said...

Your photos wed to honest insight spoke to me, Hilary. lol! :)

Nancy said...

I loved savoring each and every quote that matched the picture so perfectly. What a sweet little hand. I love sweet little hands, all chubby and warm.

Cheryl Kohan said...

Just fabulous captures. The tiny hand is very special and the quail eggs are something I've never seen before so that is a treat. But they're all great...that goes without saying.

Grayquill said...

A Wooden quote, that's good. Here is another of his, Don't use what you can not do to avoid doing what you can do...Okay, it might not be the exact quote but I think it is close.
Great pictures. The small things do matter.

photowannabe said...

Small wonders that translate into huge enjoyment.
Love your blog Hilary.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Hilary: Why those are just wonderful captures from your life.

steviewren said...

Hilary, your eye for detail is fantastic! Love those chubby baby hands.

Sandra said...

Every one of them, perfect. Hope you're having a nice vacation, Hilary. :)

Bossy Betty said...

Love those quail eggs! SO great!

Hilary said...

Thank you, each and every one of you for such kind words. I will be around to your blogs in the next while. Welcome to a couple of new faces. I so appreciate your visit and I'm looking forward to returning that call. You folks are so wonderful to come around and comment even when you know I wasn't around to read it at the time. I have of course savoured each and every one of them since my return. Thank you SO much.