Friday 31 December 2021

Happy New Year!

 Hello friends!

I hope you all had a merry Christmas and relaxing lead up to New Year. Here in Bluebell Oaks it has been very hot! The villagers are all trying to keep cool by seeking shade and spending time down by the River Ripple (stay tuned for an upcoming story), paddling and swimming. 

My favourite place to take photos of Sylvanians has always been outside! I love nature and I feel I am better able to capture their connection to nature too when outdoors. There is never any stress over backgrounds or lighting, just capturing the scene as it really is, and for me, that freedom is the most enjoyable part, as well as showing the Sylvanians in their 'natural habitat'. This evening I decided to take advantage of the summer sunsets we've been having as some of them enjoyed New Year's Eve. 

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None of the Sylvanians in Bluebell Oaks go in for parties or wild celebrations on New Year's Eve. Instead, traditionally it has always been a quiet time to spend with loved ones, counting your blessings and enjoying the beauty of nature, which isn't hard to do as New Year is always in Midsummer here!

Heath Buckley relaxed with his baby son Oscar as the sun slipped over the fields. The year had been a typical busy one for the Buckleys, but enjoyed and appreciated nonetheless. With six children in the house, there is never a day that goes by without laughter and joy. 


Briar Wildwood took a quiet moment to reflect on the passing year. Her art business has grown more over the last 12 months and there was even rumours that one of her paintings might be selected to be displayed in the National Gallery. 

Though it is just the turning over of another day, one of the things Briar likes most about New Year's is that it is a chance to stop and reflect on what you have achieved and everything you are grateful for. There is much to be thankful for, she thought as she admired the golden sunset.


And I am grateful to you, too, each of you for reading my blog or leaving comments, despite my terrible lack of posting! I hope to change that this upcoming year. 

Barley and the rest of the villagers of Bluebell Oaks plan to be back in 2022 with more adventures and stories!


A very happy New Year to you all, and best wishes for the future, from me and everyone in Bluebell Oaks!


"Every second brings a fresh beginning;
Every hour holds a new promise;
Every night our dreams can bring hope,
and
every day is what you choose to make it."

12 comments:

  1. Great to see your blog. Happy New Year to you Kelsie and all the villagers at Bluebell Oaks.Such beautiful sunsets and each sunset gives thanks for a lovely day and fresh hope for tomorrow. It is inspiring to be able to spend time in nature. I hope the coming year brings you all you hope for and Bluebell Oaks continues to thrive. Love n hugs xo

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    1. Thank your for your kind words! I'm happy you enjoyed this post and the photos! It's always great to stop and take in the beauty of nature.
      I hope you have the best year too! x

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  2. Happy New Year Kelsie! I hope 2022 is a great year for you, and for the citizens of Bluebell Oaks.
    Your photos for this post are lovely. You are right - backgrounds and lighting issues are such a constant drama when photographing Sylvanians. I should take them outside more often too!

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    1. Hi GreyRabbit! Thanks for your comment! I wish you the very best year too!
      It's great fun photographing Sylvanians outside - I would definitely recommend it! I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds indoor photography a bit stressful!
      Hope you are doing well and coping with the summer heat! It's really hot here so I was thinking of you over in Australia!

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  3. Dear Kelsie,

    This is such an inspiring and poetic post. The pictures are beautiful and I agree that outdoor photography with Sylvanians is one of the best ways to truly bring out their connection with nature and their wholesome values celebrating family and friends.

    I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that the New Year brings joy and happiness to you and your loved ones in New Zealand/Bluebell Oaks.

    Best wishes,
    Emilie

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    1. Hi Emilie! Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed this post! Reading all the lovely compliments always encourages me to keep blogging!
      I hope you have an awesome 2022 as well, for both you and your family! :)

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  4. Happy New Year Kelsie!
    I'm so glad to see a new post on your blog and how it reiterates the closeness of Bluebell Oaks' residents with nature.

    Those sunset photographs are beautiful; the warmth of the setting sunlight catching the faces of your Sylvanians is very artistic. I particularly love the one of Briar.

    Stay safe and well.

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    1. Thanks Jackson!
      I spend alot of time in nature myself, so I love writing about or showing how the Sylvanians value and interact with it. Glad you enjoyed!
      I wish you all the best in 2022! Take care!

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  5. Hi Kelsie,

    Happy New Year!

    Thanks for this wonderful post!

    I love how Bluebell Oaks´villagers spend New Year´s Eve. We usually associate this evening with parties and celebrations but it´s heartwarming and inspiring to see how they have a quiet and relaxing time in nature reflecting on the passing year and giving thanks for the good things in life.

    We all have lots of things we should be grateful for and sometimes we just take them for granted.

    I always enjoy your pictures in real nature. Once again, this time you chose the perfect setting for this post. The sunset pictures look amazing!

    I hope you had a lovely time at Christmas and I wish you all the best for the New Year!

    Hope you find time and motivation to keep blogging in 2022.

    Have a nice day!


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    1. Thank you Cutata! I'm so happy that you like my pictures!
      You are so right- there is so much to be grateful for! I find the more you cultivate a sense of thankfulness the more you realise just how much there is to be grateful for!
      I hope you have a great 2022! All the best!

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  6. Hi Kelsie!
    Here I am, commenting on your New Year's post on March! So sorry, but things have been complicated ever since the pandemic started. Two years now!
    I loved this post! Beautiful, soothing pictures of nature and lovely messages of contemplation and hope for the new year. I'm looking forward to reading your new posts and I'm hoping to get back some of my motivation to write stories about my Sylvanians as well. Just yesterday I finished taking pictures for a new story, so I'm getting there!
    Have a wonderful day.

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    1. No worries at all Ayrell, and you certainly don't need to apologize! I completely understand. It has been difficult but we're all in it together.
      Thank you so much for your lovely words - reading the comments is always so encouraging. I'm hoping to get back into blogging this year and I hope you can find motivation too. You craft your stories so well and weave so much depth into your characters. Take your time and I'll look forward to your new story!
      Thanks for commenting!

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