My apologies for the long break in blogs, but having had eye surgery in both eyes, I have found it difficult to get used to the result. I did not wear glasses at all before, but now I need them for reading. I was not told before that one eye would be set for distance and one eye for reading. I still do not need glasses for long distances, but reading has suddenly become a pain, as my glasses are not immediately on hand. It was suggested that I tie them around my neck. As I am in and out of the house with gardening, that would drive me nuts. I am told my brain will get used to it after 6 months! My brain is getting older and more forgetful, so I have reason to doubt this story. I also seem to have an allergy to one set of eye drops that I am supposed to use!! Nevertheless, I will try to find more time to blog next year, especially with a visit to South Africa coming up 😉
I have so many photos not posted, but I will just add a few of the more interesting ones here now. I see I have repeated some photos, but they are ones I like so.......
A few from August....
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Pic épeiche. Female at a great distance.
European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Hérisson commun. Taken at night, a lucky shot!
Sunset.
Rosebud.
Sun jumping spiders (Heliophanus tribulosus) Araignées sauteuses au soleil.
August 28 - Our anniversary 44 years.
A few photos from September
Sunset
Elbow-striped Grass-Veneer (Agriphila geniculea) Crambus anguleux. Interesting character!
Great Tit (Parus major) Mésange charbonnière.
Melanocoryphus albomaculatus is a species of insect in the suborder Heteroptera, family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae, and genus Melanocoryphus. That is the best I can do; maybe it does not have a common name!
Common Copper or Bronze butterflies (Lycaena phlaeas) Cuivré commun ou Bronzé, and what I believe to be a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Abeille européenne. My favourite shot of the year I think!
Heliophanus tribulosus is a species of araneomorph spider in the family Salticidae. Again, this is the best I can come up with. It is eating a clear-winged flying insect, possibly a Chrysopilus modestus.
European mantis (Mantis religiosa) Mante religieuse.
As above.
A few photos from October
06/10/2025 Full moon.
Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Mésange bleue caught flying past the window!
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres. Plus a House Sparrow in the front.
Another sunset.
Blue Tit having a chat with me...
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Rouge-gorge.
and a few from November
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) Cactus de Noël.
Another Blue Tit......
taking a bath.
21/11/2025 snow!!!! European Robin. Rare for us to see snow here!
Christmas cactus, see above.
House Sparrows, Mr and Mrs. (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique. South African Soap Stone Elephant!
And finally, a few from this month of December
02/12/2025 Nearly a full moon, but the clouds would not go away!
It is spooky though :-)
The weather changed for a few days, and the sun came out.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with Hoverfly, possibly a Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) syrphe ceinturé.
Lawn daisy (Bellis perennis) Pâquerette. Plus a green fly!
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Petite Pervenche.
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Pinson des arbres.
Sunset,
House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique. Having lots of fun.
Happy, happy Christmas to you all and hoping that 2026 will be a good one for us all.
Cheers Diane.
As always, Diane, your camera work is spot on. I appreciate the care you take in naming them, too. Hopefully your eyes will adjust to their new normal without driving you batty in the meantime. I have no doubt it is a great frustration and I hope everything is back to normal before you head off for South Africa. All the very best for Christmas and The New Year. May 2026 be filled with joy and good health. What a pleasure it has been to get to know you over these years. With love, David
ReplyDeleteThanks David for the very kind comment. Apart form my eyes at the moment, it seems like I have caught the local flu floating around. Hopefully I can cope for the two of us on Christmas day, but I have to be better for New Year as we have friends staying over!! Thank goodness we have almost 6 weeks before we leave for RSA, and I hope N does not catch it from me!! All the very best for a fabulous 2026, Bisous mon ami, Diane
DeleteSo happy that you UPDATED the blog with so many amazing photos, Diane. The sunsets are just spectacular. Hope you are getting used to new eye conditions soon..Wish you and your hubby a wonderful and relaxing holiday season!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie, I am so far behind, but I will try to do better in 2026! Have a great Christmas and a healthy and great 2026. Cheers Diane
DeleteHi Diane - I've been very lax and slow ... I was so interested about your eyes ... strange to say the least. I do hope they come right ... I have glasses by the computer, on my side table, and a set in my bag ... but only need them when I'm working as such. Frustrating - but better to have too many than too few ... now being in the garden .......... that's for you to work out!!!! Sorry not helpful. I'll be back to see your wonderful photos, particularly the hedgehog ... have a peaceful and blessed time together - love the photo of the two of you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary. I only need my glasses for reading, not for anything else, so I do not need them hanging around my neck! I just find it very annoying, as I never needed glasses for anything before the op. Have a fab 2026, hopefully I will have time to blog from RSA, so looking forward to having a holiday!! Cheers Diane
DeleteLove the insect and bird photos. Especially like the anniversary shot. You both look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie for the kind comment. All the very best for 2026, I will try to do more bogs next year!! Cheers Diane
DeleteHello Diane,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post!! Amazing all pictures.
So cute to see all different birds and wonderful sunsets with great colors.
The small animal on picture 13 is really fantastic. So very special to see that one.
I wish you a wonderful christmas and hopefully you won't have too much trouble with your eyes anymore.
Big (digital) hug, Marco
Thanks Marco for your very kind comment. When I lived in Zimbabwe there were many of those praying mantis on the farm. They are huge there (17 to 18 cms long), and I used to keep my distance as they frightened me. These are almost cute only about 6 to 7 cms long. Wishing you all the very best for 2026, cheers Diane
DeleteHello Diane, I'm so sorry the cataract surgery had some surprising outcomes for you and that your reaction to eye drops was not so good. I hope you will adjust more quickly than expected. Most of all I send you and Nigel very good wishes for a beautiful and blessed Christmas season and a fantastic and enjoyable trip to SA.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny, I am still regretting having had it done at present but they have said it may take up to 6 months! We had a very quiet Christmas, but if New Year goes as planned, we have friends staying over night so that might be less quiet ;-) Wishing you all the very best for 2026,, Take care, cheers Diane
DeleteAs always, you've captured all the beauty and healing power of nature. Happy holidays,
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amalia and for the good wishes . I hope 2026 will be a good year for you. Very best wishes Diane
DeleteSorry to hear you have had a problem with you eye operations. I had it done earlier this year but I didn't have too many problems. I got sick of looking for reading glasses too. So I asked the optometrist if I could have glasses made that I can wear all the time. Reading lens is in the lower part and clear lens in the ypper part. They turn dark in the sun so I don't need sunglasses either. It works well I keep them on most of the time. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Love the photo of your anniversary. You both look so young and well.
ReplyDeleteThat would make sense if I could wear glasses all the time but I can't. My nose gets very red and sore despite having tried different shapes and nose pads. I have always had the problem. I only wear sunglasses if I really need to. I have never needed to wear glasses before, other than sunglasses, so I could control the situation with short time wear.
DeleteWe had a quiet Christmas, but we have friends staying over for New Year. Thanks for the very kind comment, I will be 83 in August, Nigel has 4 1/2 years to catch up with me ;-) Take care and all the best for 2026, t'other Diane
Tus fotografías son preciosas. Deseo que tus ojos se recuperen pronto. Felices fiestas y Año Nuevo. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteGracias, Teresa, por tu amable comentario. ¡Feliz 2026! Espero que mi vista mejore pronto. Un abrazo, Diane.
DeleteI always love your photos, and your take on the rosebud is lovely. I feel for you with the reading glasses. I have a pair for each room of the house and my purse. Sometimes I have to search, collected and redistribute them back to their correct resting places when I forget to remove them when moving between rooms. It's a real hassle. For over a year I wished I still needed to wear glasses, because my glasses had progressive lenses and I never had to hassle with reading glasses. Now I am resigned to how it is, but outside is still a hassle finding someplace to keep them when they are not needed. Good luck with finding some system you can work with as you begin your new year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yvonne. I am finding it a real pain as I have never needed glasses before, at 80+ it is taking some getting used to. I have a friend who has them permanently hanging around her neck like a necklace, but that would drive me crackers, as mostly i do not need them for anything other than reading. Happy 2026. Diane
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