Author: Louise Bunting

Louise is a writer, poet and photographer who feels most at home when out and about, watching, photographing, and writing about the flora and fauna to be found along the lanes and in the meadows of her local area. She can happily spend hours lost in a field full of wildflowers.

The Lady’s Advice

02/04/2017

  The Lady’s Advice “You need to hold your head up high, child,” the lady said, lifting Gilli’s chin with elegant fingers. “Keep your spine straight and your shoulders back.” “I can do that.” “Act as if nothing anyone says or does bothers you. Confidence is essential. You must remain cool, calm and collected at all … More The Lady’s Advice

Dark Clouds

31/03/2017

dark clouds gather, brooding promise of stormy days ahead * fear tangles clutching tendrils in your chest * breathe * just breathe  * look for the bright horizon, for the glimpse  of sun through clouds * remember the light will continue to shine, even when hidden from  view

Inner City Green

28/03/2017

rain washed greenery amidst an urban landscape tools laid down to rest as the day fades This post is for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. This week’s prompt is It IS Easy Being Green. The photos were taken over the allotments (community gardens) near my sister’s home in Lincoln (UK). It’s nice to have some greenery in the … More Inner City Green

Victim?

24/03/2017

Victim? she felt sick seeing him there performing his songs as if he didn’t have a care in the world after everything he’d put her through everything he’d done to her and to those she loved seeing him so blithely carefree set her guts to roiling * she carried the knife in her bag for protection … More Victim?

Silenced

11/03/2017

Silenced It seemed an age since music had last filled Abigail’s home. The piano remained covered: its melodies smothered by leather; its keyboard untouched. But it hadn’t always been so. Once, joyous refrains had resonated throughout the building. Music had been her life. Her passion. And Robert’s, too. Their skillful playing had filled concert halls around the globe. Their life together … More Silenced

Boundaries

06/03/2017

boundary lines marked containing Earth’s wild spaces guardianship claimed This post is for Cee’s Black and White Challenge. This week’s theme is Letters A or B, and I decided to show pictures of some of the boundaries of the meadow and wooded area. Both the first and last pictures show newly erected boundaries, as management of the wooded … More Boundaries

February 2017

05/03/2017

February arrived at the meadow and the little wooded area beside the stream, enticing nature to quicken as the year edged slowly onwards… (Remember to click on the galleries for better views of the pictures!) As youthful sunlight grew bolder, caressing the earth with an enlivening touch, new life began to stir amidst the leaf … More February 2017

Visions of Unicorns

04/03/2017

She loved to watch the unicorns as they took their ease amidst the meadow flowers. They shimmered with an allure that drew her eyes time and again. And if no one else could see them – well, that was their problem, really, not hers. This post is for Sonya’s Three Line Tales. This week’s prompt is … More Visions of Unicorns

Testing Times

03/03/2017

Testing Times Gretnya gripped her husband’s hand, writhing anxiety choking her as the final calf was led into the testing area. Please, she prayed to any deity listening. “It’ll be fine,” Brindel said. “This time it’ll have worked, you’ll see.” The tremble in his voice contradicted the confidence of his words. She squeezed his hand tighter. The … More Testing Times

Beside the Lake

27/02/2017

Follow the lane as it wends its way through craggy hills, sodden earth beneath your feet and deep waters at your side. With each step feel your cares tumble loose, descending like scree into the lake’s inky depths. This post is for Cee’s Which Way challenge. The pictures were taken at Wastwater – the deepest … More Beside the Lake

Reach for the Light

18/02/2017

He’d spent too long reaching for the light – forever striving towards an unobtainable ideal. Anchored within the pitchy depths of perceived reality, nothing ever attained the perfection to which he aspired. But it was time for him to acknowledge: the light already burned within him, and it always had. This post is for Sonya’s Three … More Reach for the Light

Ivy Heart

14/02/2017

nurture an ivy heart: ever thriving in defiance of adversity, veins aglow with faithful affection, binding for eternity

Sweetheart

11/02/2017

He’d seemed like such a sweetheart. He’d brought her flowers, held her hand, and kissed her with a passion that whispered ‘forever’ into her dreams. But then he was gone, leaving nothing but the scattered crumbs of her broken heart in his wake. This post is for Sonya’s Three Line Tales challenge. This week’s photo … More Sweetheart

Solitary Watcher

07/02/2017

lonely gaze watches abandoned to solitude awaiting friendship This post is for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. This week’s prompt is solitude. I photographed this jackdaw when we were in Cornwall last summer. It was sitting all on its own in a tree in the middle of Tintagel village. Jackdaws are very social creatures, seen more often … More Solitary Watcher

Career Choices

04/02/2017

His life had been mapped out from the minute he’d been born. His parents had never listened when he’d expressed his preferences; they’d claimed to know what he needed in order to be successful. But he didn’t have to listen to them any more – his life was his own, and no one else’s. This post … More Career Choices

Puddle Splashing

03/02/2017

Puddle Splashing “What are you doing?” Mikey pulled a face. What a daft question. “I’m splashing in puddles, of course.” He was tempted to add ‘silly girl’, but Mummy said he should be nice, even when he didn’t want to be. “Why?” “Because it’s fun.” He leapt towards the next puddle. “Can I have a go?” … More Puddle Splashing

January 2017

02/02/2017

As the midwinter celebrations fade into memory, the new year settles into a haze of grey monotony – a progression of days shrouded in obscuring mist. But even amidst the gloom, an allure can be found if you open your eyes to the sight. Light will filter through even on the dullest of days. (Remember to … More January 2017

Happy Families

26/01/2017

Happy Families It was supposed to be a celebration. David drummed his fingers on the tabletop as his siblings exchanged barbs. Couldn’t they make an effort to get on? Just one evening was all he asked for. But no – they couldn’t even maintain the facade of a happy family for a few hours. He gritted his teeth. … More Happy Families

Graceful

24/01/2017

History’s enigmatic weight settles, cloak-like, upon your shoulders as you walk beneath the graceful arches. The weathered stones may be mere remnants of times past, but still they stand, elegant and proud, marking the route along which devout men once walked. As the wind dances around the columns you can almost hear the sound of male voices … More Graceful

Deep Water

21/01/2017

He hadn’t intended to cause such an abysmal mess. It had just been a prank: just stupid, childish folly. But, as blaring sirens grew steadily closer, he knew he was in deep water – and he had no one to blame but himself. This post is for Sonya’s Three Line Tales challenge. This week’s prompt is by Sean Tan.

The End?

20/01/2017

The End? “It’s finally over.” Jonin’s voice held a mixture of relief and sorrow as he gazed at the courtyard below. Helleni hummed her agreement. Leaning into his embrace, she watched in satisfaction as the final cobble was laid. Only they and the workmen were aware of the crypt hidden beneath the stones – and no word of … More The End?

Recurring Nightmare

16/01/2017

Her nightmare was always the same. The table was set and decorated, but something about the scene felt wrong… Only the sound of the doorbell caused realisation to strike – Mother was coming to dinner, and the tablecloths hadn’t been ironed! This post is for Sonya’s Three Line Tales challenge. This week’s photo prompt was … More Recurring Nightmare

Time to Leave

13/01/2017

Time to Leave The boats were full, despite the lateness of the day. Ingrid paused, her foot poised on the gangplank as she looked back at the town. Her throat tightened as tears threatened to fall. How could she leave? The place was central to all of her memories: she’d married Jimmy in the church on the market place; … More Time to Leave