Highlights of 2021 – Thank you for the Love

macro shot of a pink rose

First of all we want to say a warm-hearted thank you to all of you who visited, commented, inspired and prompted us with photo and poetry challenges. It has been another extraordinary year with beauty and loss, where kindness and magic was still to be found when we were ready to see it.

As in previous years, I am delighted to share a gallery of the posts you liked the most, season by season.

Winter

The most popular posts this season were Sunlight on her Wings (a haiku later featured in EarthRise Rolling Haiku Collaboration 2021), A Dash of Dazzle, Special Moments (featuring a tanka first published in Ribbons), Softly Softly, Happy Homecoming and Violet Ray.

close up of a goldfinch munching on lavender seed heads in Winter
three oystercatchers near the tidal surf and shingle
a swan family swimming towards us on the river in winter
two swan parents in the river with their eight-month old cygnet
macro shot of the top of a closing purple crocus flower
faint green aurora just above the mountains across the water with a lighthouse and pier
Spring

Spring gave birth to many beautiful and creative initiatives where we could meet virtually and lift each other’s spirits.

In April 2021 Placing Poems invited poets to write about real or imagined journeys away from the stifling realities of the pandemic to create a poetic cartography of adventures for everyone to enjoy.

I am honoured and delighted that my poem Presence was selected for inclusion. You can find it on the map when you scroll north and click on the marker for the Cairngorms National Park. Presence was the most popular post in Spring and became the most popular post of the year.

Other popular posts in Spring were Natural Healing, Welcome to the World, Gold in the Shadows, Wonderful World (featuring haiku first published in the Asahi Shimbun, Autumn Moon Haiku Journal and Sharing Our Horizon) and Lily of the Valley.

a swan family on the river with six cygnets
green leaves covered in raindrops on a mountain trail
rings forming inside a woodland stream
Lochan Mor in late spring with reflections and shadows
close up of fresh green growth in a fir tree
lily of the valley in bloom
Summer

Travel restrictions were lifted and tourists flooded into the Highlands. We decided to stay close to home to avoid the crowds and enjoy the magic of familiar places.

We also wanted to protect our area’s natural beauty for future generations and started the Tranature Grove with Trees for Life. The trees in our grove are carefully planted in protected sites in the Scottish Highlands where they will create homes for wildlife and forests for the future.

The most popular post in Summer was Caring for River Wildlife, featuring the calendar I contributed four photographs to in aid of our local wildlife trust. Other popular posts this season were Red Rose (featuring a tanka first published in Ribbons), The Changing Season, Dandelion Clock, Colours of the Setting Sun and A Postcard from the Country.

a mandarin duck in the shallows of a tidal river
close up of leaves
still life composition with a red rose on a breakfast plate
close up of a weathered wooden bridge
macro shot of a dandelion clock
sunset with part blue and part orange sky
Autumn

Autumn started off warm and offered some glorious walking days where the colours were just beginning to change. A new calm had returned to the area and it was a joy to be out and about.

The most popular post in Autumn was Weathered Wood (featuring a haiku first published in Haiku Dialogue). Other popular posts were Garden Gold, A Serene View, Community Spirit, Stars on the River (featuring a haiku first published in The Bamboo Hut) and COP26 (featuring a haiku first published in the Asahi Shimbun).

close up of weathered wood on an upturned tree stump
macro shot of a leafcutter bee on corn marigold
a view of a frozen Lochan Mor through the trees in bright sunlight
a hand-painted wall tile with a leaping dolphin at sunset
a fast-flowing river seen from above through the trees
a haiku poem by Xenia Tran about COP26 with an image of low clouds between mountains with pine and heather

Thank you for walking along with us here.

If you want to read more about our year, feel free to check out the 2021 highlights on our sister blog Whippet Wisdom.

We send you our warmest wishes for a healthy and happy 2022 – may your year be filled with joy, peace and wellbeing!

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #180: Favorite Images of 2021

Author: Tranature - quiet moments in nature

The stories, poems and photographs on Tranature are the original creative work of Xenia Tran, inspired by the natural surroundings of the Scottish Highlands.

45 thoughts on “Highlights of 2021 – Thank you for the Love”

  3. Thank you for all the beautiful moments you have shared with us throughout 2021, Dear Xenia! Looking forward to those that may come in 2022. Sending Much Love and many Blessings from my Heart to yours, Betty 💞

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Betty and for walking along with us here 💗 Sending blessings and love from my heart to yours 💞 and may 2022 bring you much joy, peace and good health too! 👼🍀 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Laurie, it was such a joy to see the swan family on the river 💛 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear friends and a Happy New Year to you too! 💖🍀🐕 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy 💚 and a peaceful rest of the evening to you too from all of us here 🤗💕🐕 xxx

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  7. A lovely recap of the year Xenia, filled with some wonderful achievements – including of course your Trees for Life – I love that idea! Your eye for wildlife is especially well-honed, which I guess isn’t a surprise to anyone considering your love for your two four-footed children! All the best to you and yours in 2022.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Tina and for hosting this lovely challenge throughout the year 💗 All the best for you and your family in 2022 too 💖🍀 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Karina, I look forward to seeing more of your lovely nature photographs too this year 💚🌺🐝

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Martha and much love to you, Bear and Teddy from all of us here 🤗💕🐕 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Anne, it is a real pleasure to share. Wishing you a blessed 2022 and please give sweet Biasini a big pat from us all 🤗🧡🐴 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Eliza and for sharing your beautiful photographs with us too. Much love to you and yours and wishing you a blessed and joyful 2022 🧡🍀

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  14. I am so glad to meet you and to be in here, you are so beautiful person (I can see your beautiful spirit in your poems) and also you are amazing photographer, it is great touches for me. Thank you dear Xenia, Happy New Year, Love and Hugs, nia

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and your support dear Nia and a very Happy New Year to you too! Love and hugs back from all of us here 🤗💞💜💞 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Anita, the goldfinch feeding on the lavender seeds was a real treat to see. A beautiful 2022 to you too! 💖🍀

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Sylvia and a Happy New Year to you too! 💖🍀

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  18. Congratulations to marvelous achievements and beautiful photography and writing thoughout the year, Xenia! You really make things happen and share it with us. ♥♥♥

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Ann-Christine, it’s a joy to be able to contribute and share these moments throughout the year 💞💛💞 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Hammad, there was so much to be grateful for! 😊 Wishing you a blessed 2022 too 🙏

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