Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Posted by
Sille Bliss
For the past 5 years I've always loved and looked forward to the English summers... jotting down a list of outside activities, places to visit, parks and pubs to sit out at with a nice cold pint of cider. Feeling that hot sun on my face with the perfect breeze just enough to cool me down, I could sit in the sun all day in England. But then, this year happened. It was freaking HOT; I mean like Houston-hot, a-holiday-abroad hot, and not exaggerating hot, it was hell HOT. And it lasted months, not a couple of weeks which I probably could of managed, probably... probably not. But still, a good 2 months hot. And it would of been all fine and dandy if it was Houston because I could of hid inside the house with my blasting AC. If I needed to go somewhere, well you know how we do - we go from house AC to car AC to store/shop AC, and we're good! Summer? What summer?! But here in England, there was nowhere to hide.
Check out this photo of Dorset last year vs Dorset this year during the heatwave and no rain. You can see how serious this actually was.
As I said in the past, a lot of places in England do not have AC; and our home, like 99% of the homes in Britain do not have AC either. What for? We only have a mild 2-3 months of summer, a standing fan does the job just fine. But nope, not THIS summer, our fan was crap! It was like that time all the electricity went out in Houston for a couple of days because of Hurricane Rita and all we had to cool us off were old album covers that we used as hand fans. OK, it might have not been that bad because there is no humidity here, but at the time it sure did feel like it.
So instead of my little list of outdoor activities, I was online searching for shops where I could order another standing fan to put in the bedroom because the one we already had was worthless. Obviously everyone was feeling the same as we were because no stores ANYWHERE had any more fans in stock. The ones I did end up finding were sold for stupid prices that I refuse to spend money on, same for the air conditioning. So my hard-headed ass chose to suffer and wait out the horrible uncomfortable gross nights.
Now don't get me wrong, the days were OK. It's OK if you are outside, it's actually quite lovely. The beaches were packed with sunbathers, the quay was full of holiday makers, parks full as well. But if you had to be inside - forget it. The double glazed windows do not help the situation either. So we did manage to get out a few days and they were always nice - windows down, AC on, that's how I do. I must say I did and for now still do enjoy going swimming and not have to worry about blow drying my hair after because it's too cold and I might get sick. That has really been nice and something I was really looking forward to this summer (hashtag thelittlethings). Wearing flip flops, tank tops and shorts, having ice cream cones on the quay... some things you just have to do and will always love. It's especially really cool seeing all the excited tourist enjoying themselves, knowing they chose to spend their summer holiday in the town where you live. Sorta makes you feel blessed and proud.
Poole Quay
One of the biggest highlights of the summer and maybe the only highlight was that Steve and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. Yes! Five years, just like that! Where did all that time go? I have no idea. I've been a married woman in love for 5 whole years! Still pretty damn happy, still feeling like newlyweds... honestly, who said married life was hard? I'm not even being funny about that question. Steve and I talk about it all the time and don't get how people say marriage is hard work. What??? How?? *shrugs* Who knows, who cares. I'm just so happy and pray that we have another amazing, healthy 5 years and more together.
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| 5 Years of Sille Bliss! <3 |
Because it is such a special anniversary - the big 5 - we decided to celebrate all year long (because we're silly like that). We started off with the first month we met - April. We planned a very romantic and relaxing holiday on the island of Zante in Greece and what a memorable holiday that was.
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| Zante Greece 2018 |
For our official day of marriage in July, we celebrated with a romantic weekend out on the town doing what we love - afternoon tea (of course), the cinema and food. We also spent one evening on a cruise from the quay to Wareham which was so fun. We've done cruises around Poole harbour before but this was territory we've never been by boat which made it all the more exciting.
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| A romantic movie for the most romantic day - The First Purge |
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| We can't have any celebration without an afternoon tea! |
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| Poole to Wareham cruise |
And the year is not over yet, we still have November to celebrate the month we were married in church. That will be another destination celebration! Location TBD.
So all in all, yes I've complained a lot about this summer's heatwave, and if you know me well, you know I do love a good rant. But the fact is, if you ignore all the sweaty hard to sleep nights, I really did love it just as much as everyone else did. It was much needed after our coldest snow winter ever back in March, which I must add, was pretty freaking amazing in itself as well... and with that and everything else that has gone on, not only has the summer been pretty unique but so far it's really been an amazing year and I'm just ready for more! x,s
Posted by
Sille Bliss
I hate when winter starts to slowly creep in for the season... you start to instantly feel the cold in the air. Just when I'm getting use to wearing my sleeveless tops and flip flops, even running outside barefoot, suddenly all that is gone. I start to dread it, thinking about how long it will be when I'll be able to wear and do these things again. Now once I've gotten over that sadness and I'm dealing with it, it's a whole other story. I begin to embrace the coldness, the shorter days and extremely longer nights, I start getting excited to wear my cozy jumpers and my many jackets & coats I've now accumulated since living here, as well as my many cute scarves and hats. So then I start to enjoy the winter... but then after about 4 months of the blistering cold, constantly having to layer my clothes just to run to the shop, wearing double the socks and leggings under my jeans, I'm just soooo ready for spring and I'm back to hating winter all over again. That's my love and hate relationship with winter since I've been here, and so here we are once again with another long cold winter.
Another photo I do not remember where we were coming from. But the sun was setting and we were just passing Salisbury cathedral. This was a lucky shot and how amazing it was. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK.
Spending time at home right where I belong...
But not on this day, we had to go out to Reading. My first time here and did a little shopping and walking around but I was too cold and a bit sleepy so I headed back to the car ASAP.
Back home, relaxing... :P
Soon we were back out on the streets, the busy streets of Poole a couple days before Christmas in the town center... sounded like a bad idea but we had to go and it actually wasn't that bad at all and quite festive! :)
The day before Christmas eve we were in Weymouth to drop off some things for a client and OMG was it packed!! People everywhere, cars everywhere, it was nuts! I didn't want to get out of the car but our favourite little baker is there and we had to get something for breakfast.
Doctor appointment and a chance to wear my newest jacket :)
Christmas came and went. It was great as always and the same with new years! And another year bites the dust!
2016 was a great year thanks to God! Our family was healthy and our lives full of positivity and love.
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| December 1st - yes, really. |
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| I think this is a start to a very cold and long winter.... I hope not though. |
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| That's probably as much sun as we will be getting for the next 3 months :P |
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| Stocking up with books at the library... we plan to hibernate for the winter. ;-) |
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| Heading to Exmouth, Devon - 12 Dec 2016 |
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| Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth - 12 Dec 2016 |
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| This was one day in somewhere in Dorset heading to Devon |
Another photo I do not remember where we were coming from. But the sun was setting and we were just passing Salisbury cathedral. This was a lucky shot and how amazing it was. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK.
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| Salisbury Cathedral - 14 Dec 2016 |
Spending time at home right where I belong...
But not on this day, we had to go out to Reading. My first time here and did a little shopping and walking around but I was too cold and a bit sleepy so I headed back to the car ASAP.
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| Reading, Berkshire - 21 Dec 2016 |
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| Saw this van in Reading, loved it! :) |
Back home, relaxing... :P
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| My first taste of mulled wine for the winter! |
Soon we were back out on the streets, the busy streets of Poole a couple days before Christmas in the town center... sounded like a bad idea but we had to go and it actually wasn't that bad at all and quite festive! :)
The day before Christmas eve we were in Weymouth to drop off some things for a client and OMG was it packed!! People everywhere, cars everywhere, it was nuts! I didn't want to get out of the car but our favourite little baker is there and we had to get something for breakfast.
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| Bacon and cheese |
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| Weymouth, Dorset - 23 Dec 2016 |
Doctor appointment and a chance to wear my newest jacket :)
Christmas came and went. It was great as always and the same with new years! And another year bites the dust!
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| New Year's Eve - 31 Dec 2016 |
2016 was a great year thanks to God! Our family was healthy and our lives full of positivity and love.
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| Beautiful sun rays over Poole |
Posted by
Sille Bliss
I was just thinking... I am constantly, have been constantly taking photos since I was a teenager in high school. Taking pictures of my friends and I, special occasions with my family, I still have them now. I have always had a love for it, but I started to gain more love and respect for it when I started traveling in 2004. Being able to take a snap shot of what I thought was beautiful, and keep my memory of it in a photograph was amazing. I just had the eye for things and wanted each photo to be the best they could be. I'd like to think I've learned a lot since then, and I love it and enjoy it more than ever now.
One thing I have done since the years have gone by is cut myself short of how good my photography really is. I've never considered myself a photographer, I would not have dared say it. I haven't taken any photography classes and I definitely do not have a professional camera that I use. But photography is art and I realized you don't need those things to be good at something that comes natural.
I do not think my photos are perfect and I know there are still many things I can learn and do better. But with all that I've already done, with all the positive feedback from people on my work and for as long as it has been, I think I am really good. Much better than others I've seen who claim themselves to be "photographers" and actually make money off of it, surprisingly.
I've also realized that just because a person owns an expensive camera and have taken a couple of photography courses in school, definitely doesn't make them a photographer.
So my point is, from this day onward I am going to proudly let people know that I AM a photographer. I have earned and deserve that title. Doesn't matter whether it's professional or amateur; it's all photography and I've done a lot of it. :-)
To see some of my photography CLICK HERE to visit my Pinterest board.
And first on the list (when I get a chance) I need to chance this board name from My Amateur Photography to just MY Photography! Yeah! ;-)
One thing I have done since the years have gone by is cut myself short of how good my photography really is. I've never considered myself a photographer, I would not have dared say it. I haven't taken any photography classes and I definitely do not have a professional camera that I use. But photography is art and I realized you don't need those things to be good at something that comes natural.
I do not think my photos are perfect and I know there are still many things I can learn and do better. But with all that I've already done, with all the positive feedback from people on my work and for as long as it has been, I think I am really good. Much better than others I've seen who claim themselves to be "photographers" and actually make money off of it, surprisingly.
I've also realized that just because a person owns an expensive camera and have taken a couple of photography courses in school, definitely doesn't make them a photographer.
So my point is, from this day onward I am going to proudly let people know that I AM a photographer. I have earned and deserve that title. Doesn't matter whether it's professional or amateur; it's all photography and I've done a lot of it. :-)
To see some of my photography CLICK HERE to visit my Pinterest board.
And first on the list (when I get a chance) I need to chance this board name from My Amateur Photography to just MY Photography! Yeah! ;-)
