Little Pleasures + Have a Lovely Weekend

A peaceful walk around a lake. {It doesn't matter what season you visit. It's always beautiful.}
Photos with a twist.
A visit to Duck Island Cottage. Swiss Chalet for a British Bird-Keeper,  St. James's Park, London, UK.

{This pretty cottage was built in 1841 as the home of the bird-keeper in St. James's Park.
It also had a club room for the Ornithological Society of London, which once helped to look after the park's ducks and geese. The design, like a Swiss chalet, was intended to be the contrast to the grand architecture of government buildings nearby.
The cottage has been altered several times and its use has also changed. It was once a store for bicycles confiscated in the park but it is now used as offices.}


Dandelions are easy to love and always make me smile..
Chocolate Birthday Cake.
My hot, steamy cup of coffee is part of my morning ritual. Sometimes it seems like my brain can't function without it.
Chocolate Chip Muffins.
 Ride  a bike!

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." Albert Einstein.
With all this wintery weather, I am in need for some colour. Nothing can brighten up winter like a bunch of beautiful flowers.

"To show a child what once delighted you, to find the child's delight added to your own-this is happiness."
JB Priestley

They say it's the simple little things in life that make all the difference.

My dears, what are your simple pleasures? I'd love to hear.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend! xx

Update: I hope everyone up in the north is warm and safe from the storm Nemo.

89 comments:

chica said...

Lindos momentos e deles destaco o girassol! beijos,chica

Hilary said...

My mouth watered when I got to the cupcake photo... oh my. All lovely shots, Betty. Yours always are.

MadSnapper said...

all of these are little pleasures but big in my book.. that cake is awesome and the swan makes me happy

Momma Fargo said...

Absolutely inviting! Your pics make me want to take a garden walk and then relax with a good cup of coffee or tea. Have a great weekend, Betty!

Riitta Sinikka said...

♥ Beautiful photos! Happy Weekend! xxx Riitta

It's me said...

Beautiful....enjoy a happy weekend.....love Ria...xxx...

Lynn said...

Your blog always makes me smile! Love that cottage - I'd love to move in. :)

rainfield61 said...

It looks like you have had a lovely day.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

How wonderful, today you have shared photos of some of my very favourite things.
Wishing you a good weekend also.

tinajo said...

Have a lovely weekend as well, loved these pics!

Reena said...

Delightful ... enjoy your weekend!

TexWisGirl said...

so much beauty and joy in these. LOVE the tree in reverse. and WANT me a muffin! :)

Chatty Crone said...

I love that cottage and the chocolate chip muffin. A simple pleasure to me is reading.

Sylvia K said...

Great, fun post for the day, Betty! Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Fabulous photos, Betty... Your photography just keeps getting better and better.... Yeah!!!

Love that cottage... Too bad that Birders in that area can't claim it --and turn it back into a Bird Study and Gathering area...

Think I could smell your muffins from HERE.... YUM.

Have a tremendous weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Leovi said...

Yes, I like those pretty lights and shadows in all, but each with its own particular charm, beautiful compositions. A hug.

Craver Vii said...

You have some wonderful pictures here, and I like the feelings they evoke. (I'll forgive you for making a dandelion look pretty, even though they kill my beautiful lawn.)

Simple pleasures? For me, that would be letting a Dove dark chocolate square melt on my tongue as my taste buds meticulously study and savor the experience. I do the same with a sip of dry red wine.

Ever since grade school, I have been fond of being leaned upon. Back in the 4th grade, it was when a pretty classmate rested her head on my shoulder during a long bus ride. Now, my wife does the same, and even our pets like to jump on my lap and be held while I watch a DVD at home.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Absolutely beatiful.

One of my simple pleasures is sitting at my computer on a Saturday morning when there is no time constraint, sipping coffee and typing all the stories that have collected in my head.

Have a great weekend!

sky-blu-pink said...

As always such beautiful photographs! The negative ones I love!

Nancy said...

That little cottage is too sweet! And love your dandelion macro.

Happy weekend Betty!

A Cuban In London said...

I definitely like the twist of the second photo! :-) Spooky. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Mari-Pi-R said...

Un feliz fin de semana, que encanto de él, me gusta la visita a Duck Island Cottage.
Un abrazo

Kelly said...

What a charming cottage!

One of my favorite simple pleasures is a hot cup of tea. Mmmmm!

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Such lovely photos! I agree - simple pleasures are the best. Lately I've been making my own homemade granola and eating it for breakfast with pomegranate seeds, banana, nuts, chia & hemp seeds. Starts my day out right and makes me look forward to breakfast. Of course spending time with my chickens and other animals tops the list as well :)

Anonymous said...

Exciting visit to Duck Island Cottage.
Great explanation of this beautiful landscape.
Wonderful Weekend.
I have not much time, but I love your blog and I always visit him.
Hugs and kisses.

Anonymous said...

The danelion is so pretty. Such detail. Wow!

Good work!

Giga said...

Życzę wspaniałego weekendu i dziękuję za śliczne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam.
Have a great weekend and thank you for the beautiful pictures. Yours.

ΑΘΗΝΑ said...

Amazing photos!My simple pleasure is to see the sun every morning.

A said...

I love the color and tones of all of these. The contrast in the first couple photos is amazing

dianne said...

A wonderful collection of photos dear Betty, my favourite simple pleasure is the cool of my garden in the very early morning.
hugs
xoxoxo ♡

eileeninmd said...

Love your post of your favorite simple things. Coffee is definitely one of my favorites. Lovely images! Have a great weekend, Betty!

Riot Kitty said...

Great texture! I love dandelions too. I don't understand why they're called weeds, they've always been lovely to me.

Cloudia said...

sweet, the last shot was amazing!



Sending YOU Aloha
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >

diane b said...

Interesting shots. The white tree has me bamboozled. Reading in bed with rain pitter pattering on the roof is one of my little pleasures in life

Rui Pires - Olhar d'Ouro said...

Encantadoras fotos! Fascinam o olhar!
Bom carnaval!

Anaximandro said...

Una entrada muy variada. Si tengo que elegir, me quedo con las dos primeras con su acertado blanco y negro.
Un abrazo.

Unknown said...

σου εύχομαι και εγώ ένα πολύ πολύ όμορφο ΣΒΚ Μπέτυ μου.Τι τέλειες φωτογραφίες....ειδικά η πρώτη είναι εντυπωσιακότατη!!!!
πολλά φιλιά

Pat said...

great photos! Love the negative of the tree!

I watched that movie you had recommended, "The Lives of Others". Wow - fantastic! Thanks!

Magia da Inês said...

º° ✿彡
Olá, amiga!
Belo post. Amei a primeira foto a pesar de todas estarem lindas.
Bom fim de semana.
Beijinhos do Brasil.
✿ °•.¸
¸.•°♡⊱彡

DIMI said...

Τί πανέμορφη ανάρτηση καί υπέροχη η βόλτα πού μάς πήγες αγαπητή μου Μπέττη!Φανταστικές όλες οι φωτογραφίες σου!Πρωινό ξύπνημα χωρίς καφέ,δέν γίνετε!!Συμφωνώ!!Καλό Σ/Κ φίλη μου!Φιλάκια!!

maya =^o^= said...

φανταστικές φωτογραφίες!!!!!στο δεύτερο σου μπλογκ δεν μπορώ να αφήσω σχόλια γιατί δεν βρίσκω που είναι το γκάτζετ για τα σχόλια!!σε ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ για τα καλά σου λόγια και για την επίσκεψη σου στο μπλογκ μου!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 να περνάς υπέροχα!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vores have said...

Nice pictures you show. Wish you a good Sunday :) Hanne Bente www.hbt.finus.dk

Rose said...

Oh, wow, I like these...specially the second one. On Thursday evening there is a meme that opens up at Life According to Jan and Jer called Friday's Fences...you should link this to it. I don't always get to participate, but it is fun when I do.

Modern Mom said...

Lovely shots! Hope you'll find time to visit my entry.

ANRAFERA said...

Muy buena fotografías Betty.
Que tengas una feliz semana.
Un abrazo.
Ramón

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful shots on everything, my favourite is the Duck Island Cottage, superb.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

You really have a way with a camera, Betty! Beautiful shots!

Tina´s PicStory said...

wonderful pics! love the white tree :)

Leovi said...

  Yes, no doubt I love chocolate, felizcumpleaños. Beautiful photo. A hug.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful shots. Love that fluffy dandelion!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I really like that these are in black and white. They're especially impressive this way.

Hugs to you, Betty.
xoRobyn

michael said...

Loved these pictures.

Hope you had a great weekend:o)

Misty Pines Homestead said...

That is such a cute chalet.I like the old houses like that.The muffins look good too!

Betty Manousos said...

welcome on board, annnightflyer!

Fernando Santos (Chana) said...

Olá Betty; Excelentes fotografias....
Cumprimentos

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Your photos are so stunning!

George said...

You've got some great photos in this post. I really like the second and fourth pictures. Both are absolutely beautiful.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow, your photos are amazing!! The nighttime one is totally cool. And the amazing cottage and the up close dandelion. I have seen you around commenting on my friends blogs for a long time, thanks for visiting me!!

Pat Tillett said...

Really nice photos Betty! At first glance I thought that swan was playing tennis...

Liz Mays said...

I love that second one with the illuminated tree.

Debbie said...

oh what lovely images, each one so special and joyful. i did have favorites, but it kept changing as i read....

i loved the tree and the sweet little cottage (cool that you had the history), the cake was awesome but my favorite was the bike. i love photographs of my favorite mode of transportation!!

thanks for the visit and the very sweet comment!!

Diane AZ said...

Sweet pictures, Betty, I especially love the dandelion and purple bike! My simple pleasure is to walk outside when the weather is nice. :)

EG CameraGirl said...

Dandelions make me smile too. :)

imac said...

Very creative photos my friend.

Ellie said...

What a lovely set of pictures and you are right the simplest pleasures are sometimes the best. :)

Georgia said...

My simple pleasure is a walk in the woods. As simple as that.

Wonderful photo of that bike!!

Lasse said...

Hi Betty! Beautiful post and captures !

Cezar and Léia said...

wow a fine selection of images. I'm enchanted by the second shot, very impressive!
Léia

A Cuban In London said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you, too! -)

Greetings from London.

DIMI said...

Happy Valentine's Day dear Betty!!Περαστικά καί γρήγορα καλά!!Φιλιά από Ελλάδα!!
Dimi..

Cloudia said...

Gosh you are a lovely blogger and true heart!




Thanks for YOUR aloha that I know you share every day.


magda said...

Περαστικά σου αγαπημένη μου φίλη, κρύωσες...
Τι όμορφες φωτογραφίες!
Σε ηρεμούν, μόνο που τις βλέπεις!
Όσο για το βίντεο αυτό, κλαίω όταν το βλέπω.
Με συγκινεί πολύ, γιατί μια αγκαλιά, είναι φάρμακο!

Σου στέλνω κι εγώ το βίντεο μου με τα καλύτερα από τις Cinque Terre.
Σου εύχομαι να πας, είναι υπέροχα!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PYeIUr2EGE

Σου στέλνω μια ζεστή αγκαλιά και πολλά φιλάκια, για να γίνεις καλά!
Σου εύχομαι καλό Σαββατοκύριακο και πολλή αγάπη γύρω σου!


Elizabeth Edwards said...

glad you linked up to FF ... such great architecture & views. ( :

Jan n Jer said...

Lovely photos...love the cottage...so charming. Welcome to FF

DeniseinVA said...

A lovely post, and I do hope you're feeling better by now.

barbara l. hale said...

Wonderful series of photos!

Rajesh said...

Wonderful captures.

Phil Slade said...

Hope your cold goes soon Betty. Try a spot or two of amber liquid in the brew.

Unknown said...

...hello Betty, I hope you have spent a Valentine's Day under the covers. Me too, I was warm next to the fireplace. Here I have dropped a lot of snow and very cold. your photos are always a pleasure to enjoy. A warm hug ...

Claudya Martinez said...

I always enjoy your perspective...in photos...on life...

Nevine Sultan said...

My dearest Betty,

I'm so saddened to know you're not feeling well. I hope you get better very very soon. And, I hope you enjoyed a beautiful Valentine's Day! :-)

I have so missed your photos... all of them beautiful... always.

May your days be filled with joy... and healing, my dear!

Lots of love and hugs,
Nevine

Rick said...

Hope you're feeling better when you read this, Betty. No fun being down with a bad cold.

Love that 2nd shot btw.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Unknown said...

Such gorgeous pictures doll!!! Very talented! You have a really nice blog hun and it would be nice if you could come over and check my blog out as well and maybe we could follow each other!
Aimee
www.new-yorkdoll.blogspot.com
xxx

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Cutie, Just stopping by again to say HI. We were in Arkansas all last week --and had a marvelous time. Am trying to catch back up with my blog friends.

Sorry you have been under the weather. Hope you are better now.

Hugs,
Betsy

RIZALENIO said...

Wonderful, lovely photos. Happy weekend! :)

michael said...

I love your awesome photos!!

Ashley Newton said...

Beautiful moments you share!
Hugs.

Betty Manousos said...

thank you all for the great feedback! xo

Betty Manousos said...

glad you liked the photos.