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.}
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.
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." Albert Einstein.
"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.
Lindos momentos e deles destaco o girassol! beijos,chica
ReplyDeleteMy mouth watered when I got to the cupcake photo... oh my. All lovely shots, Betty. Yours always are.
ReplyDeleteall of these are little pleasures but big in my book.. that cake is awesome and the swan makes me happy
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely 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!
ReplyDelete♥ Beautiful photos! Happy Weekend! xxx Riitta
ReplyDeleteBeautiful....enjoy a happy weekend.....love Ria...xxx...
ReplyDeleteYour blog always makes me smile! Love that cottage - I'd love to move in. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you have had a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, today you have shared photos of some of my very favourite things.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good weekend also.
Have a lovely weekend as well, loved these pics!
ReplyDeleteDelightful ... enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteso much beauty and joy in these. LOVE the tree in reverse. and WANT me a muffin! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that cottage and the chocolate chip muffin. A simple pleasure to me is reading.
ReplyDeleteGreat, fun post for the day, Betty! Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos, Betty... Your photography just keeps getting better and better.... Yeah!!!
ReplyDeleteLove 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
Yes, I like those pretty lights and shadows in all, but each with its own particular charm, beautiful compositions. A hug.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.)
ReplyDeleteSimple 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.
Absolutely beatiful.
ReplyDeleteOne 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!
As always such beautiful photographs! The negative ones I love!
ReplyDeleteThat little cottage is too sweet! And love your dandelion macro.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend Betty!
I definitely like the twist of the second photo! :-) Spooky. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Un feliz fin de semana, que encanto de él, me gusta la visita a Duck Island Cottage.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
What a charming cottage!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite simple pleasures is a hot cup of tea. Mmmmm!
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 :)
ReplyDeleteExciting visit to Duck Island Cottage.
ReplyDeleteGreat 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.
The danelion is so pretty. Such detail. Wow!
ReplyDeleteGood work!
Życzę wspaniałego weekendu i dziękuję za śliczne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend and thank you for the beautiful pictures. Yours.
Amazing photos!My simple pleasure is to see the sun every morning.
ReplyDeleteI love the color and tones of all of these. The contrast in the first couple photos is amazing
ReplyDeleteA wonderful collection of photos dear Betty, my favourite simple pleasure is the cool of my garden in the very early morning.
ReplyDeletehugs
xoxoxo ♡
Love your post of your favorite simple things. Coffee is definitely one of my favorites. Lovely images! Have a great weekend, Betty!
ReplyDeleteGreat texture! I love dandelions too. I don't understand why they're called weeds, they've always been lovely to me.
ReplyDeletesweet, the last shot was amazing!
ReplyDeleteSending YOU Aloha
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >
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
ReplyDeleteEncantadoras fotos! Fascinam o olhar!
ReplyDeleteBom carnaval!
Una entrada muy variada. Si tengo que elegir, me quedo con las dos primeras con su acertado blanco y negro.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
σου εύχομαι και εγώ ένα πολύ πολύ όμορφο ΣΒΚ Μπέτυ μου.Τι τέλειες φωτογραφίες....ειδικά η πρώτη είναι εντυπωσιακότατη!!!!
ReplyDeleteπολλά φιλιά
great photos! Love the negative of the tree!
ReplyDeleteI watched that movie you had recommended, "The Lives of Others". Wow - fantastic! Thanks!
º° ✿彡
ReplyDeleteOlá, amiga!
Belo post. Amei a primeira foto a pesar de todas estarem lindas.
Bom fim de semana.
Beijinhos do Brasil.
✿ °•.¸
¸.•°♡⊱彡
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!!
ReplyDeleteφανταστικές 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice pictures you show. Wish you a good Sunday :) Hanne Bente www.hbt.finus.dk
ReplyDeleteOh, 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.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots! Hope you'll find time to visit my entry.
ReplyDeleteMuy buena fotografías Betty.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas una feliz semana.
Un abrazo.
Ramón
Beautiful shots on everything, my favourite is the Duck Island Cottage, superb.
ReplyDeleteYou really have a way with a camera, Betty! Beautiful shots!
ReplyDeletewonderful pics! love the white tree :)
ReplyDeleteYes, no doubt I love chocolate, felizcumpleaños. Beautiful photo. A hug.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful shots. Love that fluffy dandelion!
ReplyDeleteI really like that these are in black and white. They're especially impressive this way.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you, Betty.
xoRobyn
Loved these pictures.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great weekend:o)
That is such a cute chalet.I like the old houses like that.The muffins look good too!
ReplyDeletewelcome on board, annnightflyer!
ReplyDeleteOlá Betty; Excelentes fotografias....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
Your photos are so stunning!
ReplyDeleteYou've got some great photos in this post. I really like the second and fourth pictures. Both are absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow, 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!!
ReplyDeleteReally nice photos Betty! At first glance I thought that swan was playing tennis...
ReplyDeleteI love that second one with the illuminated tree.
ReplyDeleteoh what lovely images, each one so special and joyful. i did have favorites, but it kept changing as i read....
ReplyDeletei 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!!
Sweet pictures, Betty, I especially love the dandelion and purple bike! My simple pleasure is to walk outside when the weather is nice. :)
ReplyDeleteDandelions make me smile too. :)
ReplyDeleteVery creative photos my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely set of pictures and you are right the simplest pleasures are sometimes the best. :)
ReplyDeleteMy simple pleasure is a walk in the woods. As simple as that.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo of that bike!!
Hi Betty! Beautiful post and captures !
ReplyDeletewow a fine selection of images. I'm enchanted by the second shot, very impressive!
ReplyDeleteLéia
Happy Valentine's Day to you, too! -)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Happy Valentine's Day dear Betty!!Περαστικά καί γρήγορα καλά!!Φιλιά από Ελλάδα!!
ReplyDeleteDimi..
Gosh you are a lovely blogger and true heart!
ReplyDeleteThanks for YOUR aloha that I know you share every day.
Περαστικά σου αγαπημένη μου φίλη, κρύωσες...
ReplyDeleteΤι 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!
glad you linked up to FF ... such great architecture & views. ( :
ReplyDeleteLovely photos...love the cottage...so charming. Welcome to FF
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, and I do hope you're feeling better by now.
ReplyDeleteWonderful series of photos!
ReplyDeleteWonderful captures.
ReplyDeleteHope your cold goes soon Betty. Try a spot or two of amber liquid in the brew.
ReplyDelete...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 ...
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your perspective...in photos...on life...
ReplyDeleteMy dearest Betty,
ReplyDeleteI'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
Hope you're feeling better when you read this, Betty. No fun being down with a bad cold.
ReplyDeleteLove that 2nd shot btw.
Hope your week is off to a good start.
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!
ReplyDeleteAimee
www.new-yorkdoll.blogspot.com
xxx
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.
ReplyDeleteSorry you have been under the weather. Hope you are better now.
Hugs,
Betsy
Wonderful, lovely photos. Happy weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your awesome photos!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful moments you share!
ReplyDeleteHugs.
thank you all for the great feedback! xo
ReplyDeleteglad you liked the photos.
ReplyDelete