Suzy Barker

Greetings! I’m passionate about the natural world we inhabit; the written word; and photography. Oh, and I should mention – I’m an eternal optimist. My cup is always half full.

Menu Skip to content
  • Home
  • About

Month: December 2015

December 22, 2015December 23, 2015 Suzy Barker

Winter Solstice and Chickens

December 18, 2015December 18, 2015 Suzy Barker

When Does Winter Start?

December 14, 2015December 15, 2015 Suzy Barker

Monday Morning Rush Hour

Follow Suzy Barker on WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • It’s a brand new day – let’s make a real difference
  • Bridging the miles with technology
  • We are in control of our own destiny
  • Yesss, it’s officially Spring
  • Why dogs live less time than humans
  • Fair play vs fair game
  • Relics of war
  • First Nativity
  • Almost bare
  • Gluten-free fruit pie
Award Free Blog A

Categories

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 294 other followers

Suzy Barker on Instagram

This tree is one of a line of huge deciduous trees growing along our driveway. Today I noticed that there were large flowers on it that looked like water lilies, and I had no idea what they were. After a little research I now realise that this tree is a Tulip tree or American Whitewood (Liriodendron tulipifera), part of the magnolia family of trees. I've photographed the foliage of this beauty in all seasons and it's especially spectacular in the autumn, when it turns from apple green to shades of tan and golden yellow and its branches reach down and sweep the lawn. It seems these trees will live up to 200 years, and will only flower like this once they reach their late teens. I can only assume that this is quite a young tree as we've not seen these stunning flowers on it before. I think it beats the copper beech trees we have here with its special beauty. The postman in his van even stopped to take some photos of it when he delivered the post but he might have just been humouring me! 😊😊 . . #tuliptree #trees #lincolnshire #countryliving #gardens #splendid_trees #treesofinstagram #fiftyshades_of_nature #be_one_rural #inspiredbynature
36 years … . “I do,” is one of the shortest sentences in our English language and yet it carries a promise that's vast. Long-lasting love doesn’t happen by accident.  We don’t find ourselves holding hands after 36 years with the one that we love by pure chance. Love is deliberate, it’s intentional, it’s purposeful, and in the end it’s worth every minute that we give of ourselves to another. Marriage is a thousand little things – It’s giving up your right to be right in the heat of an argument. It’s forgiving another when they let you down.  It’s loving someone enough to step down so they can shine. It’s friendship. It’s being a cheerleader and trusted confidant. It’s a place of forgiveness that welcomes one home, and arms they can run to in the midst of a storm. It’s grace. It’s giving of yourself tirelessly down paths you’d never imagine to travel. Through sickness and pain, poverty and loss, it’s carrying the weight of another. It’s being the smile they see in the morning, and the body they hold close at night. It’s pure love. It’s standing together in the face of adversity. It’s riding alongside each other in a battle that threatens to tear down your marriage and seeks to grab hold of your faith. It’s strength under pressure. It’s listening to the heart of another and understanding their pain. It’s offering words of encouragement when they need it most. It’s walking hand-in-hand in the park, and a gentle kiss in the pouring rain. It’s laughing together.  It’s endless compassion. . (Quote – Darlene Schacht) . . #marriage #weddinganniversary #36years #ido #marriagevows #itsthelittlethings #athousandlittlethings #love #forgiveness #grace #compassion #strength #laughingtogether #adversity #family #happiness #bestfriend
Bees love the Meadow Cranesbill in our wild and overgrown field. Wondering if the bees visiting the field today will be flying back to Alan's hives just up the road. If so we could soon be enjoying Lincolnshire honey made from these very wildflowers. I really like the thought of that. . . #honey #bees #wildflowers #meadowcranesbill #shoplocal #beehives #lincolnshire #lovelincolnshire #lincolnshirehoney #be_one_rural #world_beautifulshots #love_rural #explore_countryside #countrylife #countryside #countryliving #country_features #capturingbritain_rural #rural_love #itsthelittlethings #thisprettyengland #englishcountryside #ig_countryside
Are we swimming or are we not? OK, let's do it ... . . #geese #hartsholmepark #lincolnshire #gaggle
Several shades of grey ... a very wet finish to Sunday's seaside trip. . . #lincolnshire #coast #seaside #sundays #rainydays #springrain
Just chillin' in buttercups . . . #buttercups #cows #farming #agriculture #lincolnshire #brilliantbritain #be_one_rural #world_beautifulshots #love_rural #explore_countryside #countrylife #countryside #countryliving #country_features #capturingbritain_rural #wildflowers #rural #picturetokeep_rural #englishcountryside #trb_rural #may
World Bee Day . (pic credit: Pixabay) Bees are so vital to the health of our planet that they have their own special day, to spread awareness about their significance. World Bee Day was yesterday, 20th May. I believe that every day is World Bee Day. This year WBD highlighted that 17 species of bees have been lost from Eastern England, 25 more species are threatened and 31 are at risk in the area, because of intensive farming, pesticide use, loss of habitat and climate change. The East of England is one of the richest regions for bees in Britain because of the diversity of habitat, however, there are only about 150 species still remaining stable. This is very worrying news. One third of the world's food production depends on bees. They pollinate 75% of leading global crops, including oilseed rape, apples, soft fruit, beans, courgettes, tomatoes and strawberries. Bees are vital for the preservation of ecological balance and biodiversity in nature. Scientific studies have proven that bees have become increasingly endangered, with the UN saying that over 1 million species face extinction. Right now, bees need us almost as much as we need them. So what can be done to help the bees? - Plant bee friendly plants like heather and daisies in the garden. - Leave sections of the garden wild and let the grass grow long to give bees shelter. - Putting out a small dish with a few pebbles and shallow water in it can help if a bee is thirsty. - There are special bricks you can buy with holes in them to place in walls to provide homes for bees. - Don't use pesticides as they are really harmful to bees. - Get involved and take action - see Friends of the Earth website for more info. #bees #worldbeeday #everydayisworldbeeday #earthdayeveryday #environment #pollination #foodcrops #nature #inspiredbynature #countryside #wildlifepreservation #respectnature
Daimler Barker Sports Special 1952 . . . #daimler #barker #sportsspecial #1952 #asundaycarpic #woodhallspa #woodhallspacountryshow #sundays #familytime #agooddayout #countryliving #lincolnshire #lovelincolnshire #countrylife #countryfair

Flickr Photos

Evening at the beachThe Ramblers' Church, Walesby, LincolnshireCastle FarmCold War relics
More Photos

Previous rants & raves

  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • October 2018
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • March 2013
  • September 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
Advertisements
Powered by WordPress.com.
Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy