Apr 15, 2015

Small Pleasures with Annie West

We talk about the need to celebrate the good things that happen in our lives and over the last few years I've made a conscious effort to do just that. The celebration might not be large scale with bubbly and a big meal. It might be a coffee date with someone I care about or a walk in the sunshine or a morning reading. I was musing about the importance, not just of celebrating, but of appreciating the smaller things in life that make me feel good, when I went searching for a photo I'd taken on a trip. In the process I noticed this series of photos I'd taken on the same day. They weren't of anything big and impressive (like the photo I'd been searching for) but they made me smile. They took me straight back to the pleasure I felt when I took them, the delight I felt at what I saw. So here are a few of those small pleasures.
 
Just looking at this window makes me want to curl up on a window seat and pretend to read while actually just letting my mind drift. I like the light from the water (there's a moat outside) on the ceiling.

Speaking of ceilings, isn't this just lovely? I know it's not simple. It must have taken a whole lot of work to do this, but I suspect a lot of people didn't even bother to look up and see how marvellous it was.

And when I looked down I had to smile. Some dog had walked across the hand-made tiles before they were set. When I walk by the lake there's a cement path which has tracks made my a bird meandering along it, taking its time looking for tidbits. I love those prints!

And look at the way the light plays on the floor - I love it.


I also love curves, particularly in buildings. This has such a lovely sinuous shape.
 
I also love mythological creatures. At first I thought this was a dragon but maybe it's a salamander. I don't really care - he just caught my eye.
 
I've always been a sucker for feeding waterbirds. Aren't these gorgeous?

And who has a tower in their garden wall? I spent ages trying to work out what it was. An outdoor loo? A guardhouse? A garden shed? An impressive dog house?
 

I'm so glad I came across these photos. They made me remember not only what this place looked like, but also the quality of the light and the scents and the sheer delight of being there. It's reminded me to take stock of the small delights that make life so good, like the smell of freshly ground coffee, the feel of autumn in the air, the magpies warbling early in the morning, fresh-mown grass, laughing so much you have trouble stopping, or having a friend call you long distance just because they were thinking of you.
 
What are some of your small pleasures? What's making you smile right now?
 
In a shameless brag I have to add the fact I'm also smiling about these two - my April book 'The Sheikh's Princess Bride' which I adored writing, and my first ever anthology of three stories all by ME(!), called 'A Royal Scandal' out in May.


28 comments:

  1. Hi Annie

    What a lovely post and I so agree that we should always take time out to enjoy and celebrate even the small things in life at the moment it might be silly but I am enjoying not having to rush to get kids ready for school because of school holidays and relaxing and reading more in the autumn sun that is coming through the windows :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Helen, I think those days when rush isn't necessary are an absolute blessing. I don't think that's silly at all. I'm with you - I love the autumn sunlight. So very nice.

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  2. Annie, what gorgeous photos. The memories for you are priceless.
    My small pleasures are stolen time with a good book, listening to the birds and hearing my wee grandson asking to talk to Granny Sue on the phone.
    And mega congrats on your two new books. Awesome, Annie.

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    1. Sue, what a thrill it would be talking to your grandson on the phone. So special! Hey, good books and birdcalls are on my list too.
      Thanks for the congrats on the books - I'm so pleased to have these ones out.

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  3. I finished a book on Sunday night and I am grinning like a loon :-)

    Love the pics, Annie. I love looking back at old photos snapped on holidays. I love the nostalgia!

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    1. Amy, you deserve to grin. That's fantabulous!

      I was surprised how much I liked these pics, Amy. Yes, old holiday pics are such fun. I get sidetracked by them when I should be doing something else.

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  4. Gorgeous pics, Annie. They're making me want to get out all of my old happy snaps. Mind you, I wouldn't describe your two April releases as "small" pleasures. :-)

    At the moment I'm enjoying these lovely sunny days we've been getting (amidst the rain) and the cooler temperatures. And leftover Easter eggs. :-)

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    1. There's something special about digging out the old pics, isn't there?

      Yes, these last lingering warm days are so fantastic, and the occasional sound of rain on the roof. Lucky you with Easter eggs. Let me know if you need help clearing them up.

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  5. Annie, I love this collection of great pictures. I had to laugh at the doggie prints in the handmade pavers... I wonder if the culprit was caught in the act!

    Hey, you should brag and be completely shameless about your fab books out right now. Wow on an Annie West anthology of 3 stories! That is ultra cool! And I've just finished The Sheikh's Princess Bride - I'm so glad you wrote Samira's story! I wanted to know if she got her HEA! It was perfect! (happy sigh)!

    Making me smile right now are the 4 litres of Italian meatball soup in the freezer - only need to make another 4 litres and we'll be ready for our camping weekend with friends in a few weeks!

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    1. 4 litres of Italian meatball soup? I'm impressed, Sharon. Sounds like you're going to have a yummy weekend.

      Yes, the pawprints were fun, weren't they? I wondered how long ago the pavers were made - modern or very very old.

      Glad to hear you enjoyed The Sheikh's Princess Bride. I found I just had to write Samira's story after seeing her in The Sultan's Harem Bride - my curiosity got the better of me. As for the anthology - I'm definitely going to celebrate that!

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  6. Annie, you really do have an artist's eye. Those photos are beautiful! My small pleasure usually involves coffee - either the cup of that my beloved brings me every morning in bed, or the one I share with my girlfriends during the week. P.S I LOVE the look of your anthology!

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    1. Barbara, coffee is like magic, isn't it? Wonderful that you get coffee in bed each morning. What a man!

      Smiling here - I love the anthology pic too.

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  7. I have a decorative collection of teaspoons from my travels. going through them always makes me smile and remember that particular holiday. Sometimes it was the only memorabilia I could afford and even although times are (usually) better now, I am always terribly disappointeed if I go somewhere new, and they don't have teaspoons which happens quite often these days. They have out of favour as memorabilia right now.

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    1. Laura, what a lovely way to remember your trips. And they're so portable too! My parents have a lot of teaspoons commemorating places they've visited in Australia. I used to love choosing which ones to pull out when we had guests.

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  8. Annie, your photos are beautiful - I agree with Barb, you do have an artist's eye. I adore going through photos and remembering, not the place or the time, but how I felt in that moment. And right now I am enjoying the joys of a large extended family, putting all else aside, and making time for coffees and lunches and just spending time while various rellies are visiting. I do love April.

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    1. Thank you, Bron. I liked those photos and it's great to hear that you did too.

      Your family time sounds absolutely terrific. Isn't it nice to put other things aside sometimes and concentrate on being together? Enjoy!

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  9. Annie, what a lovely post. It's important to slow down and enjoy small pleasures, and looking at photos is a great way of doing that- all too often I just download them to my hard drive and forget about them. However, the other day was my son's 17th birthday and I went to my big old box of 'real' photos and had some lovely nostalgic moments rifling through the pictures of my boys as little kids- remembering the fun we had and the mischief!! Thanks for reminding me to keep on doing this. xx

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    1. Oh, Louisa, that would have been such fun. Whenever I do that I end up spending far too long because I get sidetracked on old photos. Love them! I hope the 17th birthday was lots of fun.

      Yes, here's to remembering to take time out for these things!

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  10. 'The Sheikh's Princess Bride' and 'A Royal Scandal' look fantastic, Annie. And I love all your photos.

    Small pleasures...I love walking on the beach with my puppy and my family!!

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    1. Jenn, that sounds so very, very pleasant. Walking on the beach is a seriously good way to de-stress and being with the family too - excellent!

      Thanks so much. I must say I'm proud of these books.

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  11. Annie, what absolutely gorgeous pictures. I particularly like the ones of the light on the old stone floors and ceilings. And you're so right about that window seat calling! How lovely you found the shots. It's the most glorious day here after a stinker of a summer - but it's still warm enough to swim (OK, it's cold when you first get in, but once you're used to it, it's so refreshing). Autumn really is lovely on the Sunshine Coast. I think it's my favourite season here.

    Congratulations on the Sultan's Harem Bride and the Sheikh's Princess Bride. They're both such fabulous stories!

    Oh, and do you think it might be a dovecote, that unidentified building? It's the right shape.

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    1. Hi Anna. So glad you like the photos. Yes, the light through those old windows was lovely and I so enjoyed the patterns it made. Sounds like autumn is terrific where you are. It's been incredibly hot here but I gather that's about to change tomorrow.

      Hm, a dovecote is an interesting suggestions. Suspect it would be taller from the others I've seen.

      Thanks for the congratulations! I'm very chuffed, as you'd imagine.

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  13. Hello Annie, these photos are very beautiful. The best memories for me are those of my wedding day, those when I was a child and was expecting the arrival of my grandfather, because had always many sweets and gifts to give me.
    Franca

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    1. Hi Franca,

      Thank you. I'm pleased with the photos!

      What lovely memories. Special gifts from grandparents are something we remember, aren't they?

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    2. It's true Annie, are unforgettable memories.

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  14. You are so right, Annie.

    It's so easy to get bogged down with life that we often forget to stop and enjoy the moment. There are times I'm running or playing board games with the kids or just sharing a moment with hubby that I really stop now and smile and think, wow, this is awesome. I'm so lucky. I don't do it nearly enough, but I'm trying to do it more than I used to.

    Thanks for your post. It was a great reminder for me to keep on trying.

    Michelle

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    1. Hi Michelle,

      Aren't those sudden moments wonderful, when you realise how very, very lucky you are? I don't stop nearly enough to appreciate them as I should but I'm trying to. Usually I find it's not because of something 'big' but because I realise how great some of my 'every day' moments are. Good on you, Michelle!

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