Tanka: Silver Rain

a smiling brindle whippet in a red jacket on a narrow forest path above the loch

silver rain
the forest floor
welcomes
the pine’s offering
of every moon-lit drop

© Xenia Tran

rain drops glistening on the needles of a pine

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Found in Nature

Puente Poetry: Gorse Blooms

a smiling brindle whippet running through the dunes in the spring sun

gorse blooms
where the sun glitters
across the bay

~ in gratitude ~

as if we knew one day
how you’d be there for me
and I’d be there for you

© Xenia Tran

morning sun glittering on the water of Findhorn Bay

While we were walking around Findhorn Bay in the sunshine it felt extra special to be here for each other, at this moment in time.

Below is a video showing the lyrics of Old Soul, a beautiful song by Colin MacLeod, featuring Sheryl Crow, which seems very fitting:

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Things People Visit

Your Daily Word Prompt: Grateful

Haiku: Mountain Hare

mountain hare
behind the stones
his own dusk

© Xenia Tran

Honorable Mention in the 24th HIA Haiku Contest (2022). A warm-hearted thank you to Toshio Kimura for selecting my poem and many congratulations to all the other winners.

a calm, retreating sea under a pastel blue sky with lilac strings of cloud

On New Year’s Eve we received a lovely surprise:

I am deeply honoured and delighted to be included in the European Top 100 Most Creative Haiku Authors in 2022. A warm-hearted thank you to Krzysztof Kokot for selecting me and many congratulations to all my fellow European poets.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and blessed 2023,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Eyes

CMMC: January Close-up or Macro

Tanka: Stag’s Roar

close up of a brindle whippet peering over a dry stone wall

smooth moss
covers the stones
within sight
a stag roars near the
sunny side of the mountain

© Xenia Tran

a hill in the distance with late heather in bloom

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Smooth

Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in September 2022 (bounded)

Tanka: Douglas Fir and Larch

close up of a smiling brindle whippet running through the grass in the forest

ah the bliss
when we come to this place
late summer
the chiming of cones falling
stays with us every year

© Xenia Tran

close up of leaves, needles and cones on birch and douglas fir

We are taking a short blogging break to enjoy the fine weather and will be back on Thursday 22 September 2022.

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful weekend ahead,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Tanka Thursday: When

CFFC: Nature

Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge: Trees

Tanka: All as One

Loch an Eilein Castle

a brindle whippet in a black rain jacket on a forest trail

light rain
on the crumbling ruins
grass and moss grow
in the shade of willows
all as one with nature

© Xenia Tran

castle ruins surrounded by trees and covered in moss and grass

Wishing you all a blessed Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Tanka Thursday: Ruins

CFFC: Man-made Items

Tanka: Grandmother Tree

a smiling brindle whippet running up a hill in the forest

loch shore –
lights glitter on the water
while we listen
to the grandmother tree
sharing glimpses of the past

© Xenia Tran

exposed roots of an ancient pine by the loch shore

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Tanka Thursday: Glimpse

CFFC: Connects You to the Present Moment

Tanka: Easy to Remember

Cairngorms National Park

a smiling whippet running along the sandy shores of a loch

so easy
to remember why we came
before we return
to the loch and forest
where nature’s beauty rises

© Xenia Tran

a smiling whippet looking back across the forest trail

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Tanka Thursday: Easy

CFFC: Reminds You of Nature’s Beauty

Haiku: Summer Cooling

a brindle whippet climbing down seaweed-covered rocks

cooling
as we run towards it
the turquoise sea

© Xenia Tran

tidal sands with seaweed-covered rocks under a blue summer sky

Wishing you all a happy Thursday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Jez Braithwaite’s Water Water Everywhere #135

CFFC: Would Make a Friend Happy

Haibun: The Puppy Within

a picture of a blue and brindle whippet puppy

Misty’s family came over for a visit this weekend and it was lovely to see them again. After a walk on the beach we went back to our house and they gave us this beautiful picture of Misty as a puppy that had been hanging on her late owner’s wall.

Misty is still very playful. She loves flinging her toys around the room as well as my slippers. Showing her the picture, she sniffs it and looks thoughtfully at her younger self. Then she turns towards the wall with pictures of our other dogs, where she is happy for us to hang it.

fruits of summer –
between blackcurrant bushes
forget-me-nots bloom

© Xenia Tran

a smiling brindle senior whippet in a dog bed with a green toy

Wishing you all a happy Monday and a peaceful new week,

with love from Misty and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Symbolizes an Act of Kindness

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge: Twin

dVerse Poets: It’s OLN Live