winter – Tranature

Haibun: Sanctuary

swans, grown up cygnets and mallard ducks in the snow-flanked river

The river bank and leafless trees are heavy with snow. Mallards, swans and cygnets mingle in the shallows. The sun is higher in the sky, her glow a little warmer. For nine months, this part of the river has been the cygnets’ home, their sanctuary. First there were seven. One of them, bright and brave, flew the nest nine weeks ago. Soon the remaining six will spread their wings to begin their own adventure.

winter wind
a flock of geese
stretches the sky

swan parents with their cygnets by the snow-covered bank of the river

close up shot of three fully grown cygnets by a snow-covered river bank

These are the last images I have from the remaining cygnets. They were chased away by their parents the following day and encouraged to make their own way in the world. It’s been a joy watching them hatch, grow and develop. We wish them all a healthy and happy long life in the Highlands.

You can read about the first cygnet leaving the nest in last year’s post Into the World.

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5 – 1/250 s – ISO 200, f/5.6 – 1/800 – ISO 400 and f/6.5 – 1/400 s – ISO 400.

Friendly Friday: Stay in Your Comfort Zone

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Sanctuary

Silent Sunday: Winter Landscape

a snow covered wooden bench beside the dunes overlooking the Moray Firth

snow covered bent grass, gorse and dunes overlooking the Moray Firth

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/60 s – ISO 640 and f/4 – 1/1000 s – ISO 100.

Silent Sunday

XingfuMama’s Pull Up A Seat Photo Challenge 2019 – Week 5

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #31: Landscape

Fishertown Rubaiyat

view through a snow covered lane in the Fishertown

The smaller lanes still pure with snow
where lanterns cast their final glow
the moon will blink before she sleeps
the blue sky’s here to steal her show.

The gritter weaves through narrow streets
winter’s flown here now and greets
the wood smoke curling into day
through chimney pots, their smell so sweet.

The fisher folk who used to stay
in homes along the coast and bay
would know how strong the wind can blow
the way life changes, when we play.

view through a narrow snow covered street in the Fishertown

view down a snow covered street in the Fishertows at day break

Frank at dVerse Poets invites us to write a Rubaiyat with a Winter theme and I’ve created an interlocking Rubaiyat following the aaba, bbcb, ccac format.

You can find an example of a ruba’i (a classical Persian quatrain with 13-syllable lines) in One More Glance on our sister blog.

Wishing you all a very happy Friday and a wonderful weekend,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5 – 1/20 s – ISO 1250, f/4 – 1/40 s – ISO 640 and f/5.6 – 1/100 s – ISO 640.

dVerse Poets: Poetry Forms – The Rubaiyat

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Fish

Wordless Wednesday: Winter’s Reflection

Dornoch Firth

Winter view across the Dornoch Firth, seen from the West

a barn and farmhouse beside birch and pine trees reflected in the water

View towards the East along the Dornoch Firth in Winter

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/4, 1/200 s, ISO 160, f/4.5, 1/60 s, ISO 200 and f/4, 1/500 s, ISO 400.

Wordless Wednesday

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #27: My Travels

Sunday Stills: Reflect

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Gentle

a fallen tree with the trunk split in two, covered in moss and resting beside the pine trees

gentle rain
life still blooming
on fallen trees

a tree stump covered in moss and surrounded by brown fern

close-up shot a tree stump covered in moss and surrounded by brown fern

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/2.8, 1/80 s, ISO 100, f/3.2, 1/60 s, ISO 200 and f/3.2, 1/80 s, ISO 200.

Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Gentle

Haiku: Winter Solstice

leafless trees, a pile of ancient stones and a stone bench silhouetted in morning mist with a hazy sun

in mist
twice the sunlight
on solstice day

sun breaking through morning mist and low cloud above the river Shin in Sutherland

Wishing everyone in the Northern Hemisphere a Happy Winter Solstice, everyone in the Southern Hemisphere a Happy Summer Solstice and everyone who celebrates Christmas happy Holidays!

We are taking a short blogging break and will be back next week.

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/6.3, 1/1000 s, ISO 200, f/5, 1/1000 s, ISO 160 and f/4, 1/1000 s, ISO 125.

Frank J Tassone’s Weekly Haikai Challenge #65: Solstice II

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Solstice

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #25: Reflections

Haiku: Winter Greeting

close up shot of icicles handing from fallen branches across the flowing burn

icicles bow
towards the tumbling burn
namasté

close up shot of icicles hanging from fallen branches across the flowing burn

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.2, 1/160 s, ISO 100 and f/3.2, 1/200 s, ISO 100.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #24: Seasonal

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #63: Quest for a New Masterpiece – Winter