Every outing is a learning experience.
– Drew Pomeranz
What happened on Your last outing? Did you meet a friend or did you go shopping? Or maybe you just took a walk in the beautiful weather? What made you take out your camera? We’d love to know!
For a couple of days now, Spring has taken giant steps forward, and we see cranes and starlings – even the little wagtail is here. She used to come punctually on the 4th of April – but nature runs faster and faster… and well – she is already here. And she’s welcome.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
– Rainer Maria Rilke
Spring is of course the main inspirer to take out my camera these days, but little outings can bring new and different things to tempt your lens – even things you did not expect when you left home!




The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.
– Gertrude S. Wister
This time I was looking for the little anemone hepatica – and I know where to find her. These anemonies are the harbingers of Spring, and their colours vary from indigo over light purple to very light blue. I love taking photos of them as they are reaching for the sunlight. In fact I almost take the same photos every year… maybe you recognise doing something like that too?
I feel a physical happiness when spring is coming. – Halldor Laxness
Milo is not that intrigued when I bring my camera, and he is not interested in either posing or the flowers. Rather a roll or two in the leaves – Not on the anemonies, Milo!!!

I also visited a newly found friend. I met her through an old friend of mine, and we have spent a couple of hours painting together. Now we were invited to her home, and the location of her house turned out to be a dream surprise.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.
– Loren Eiseley
As a child I always dreamt of having water running through my garden. It doesn’t have to be a river, a brook or creek would have been perfect. The pure harmony of the sound is soothing to every human ear – and I guess to nature itself.
Cats rule the world. – Jim Davis

Yes – I fell in love with her cat, Morris.
A real beauty – but a fast and cunning hunter as well, I learned. Cats are, of course, but he must have held some kind of record…


When my friend told me that Morris had caught five squirrels in a few days, and killed her garden robin and a wren… I was happy to have taken my photos before I knew about that. He was good at posing though –
Talking about posing nicely – the hectic love affairs going on in the pond made me sit down for a while to watch the multitude of frogs – I guess there where more than a hundred in that single spot. I caught this one smiling, while guarding its offspring… Who knows, one of them might be a prince? I can easily resort to fairy tales these days to forget about the craziness of this world.

So, what did I learn from my outing then? Good friends are priceless, Spring glory makes me happy and alive, I still love cats – and I agree with Cameron Diaz:
I’d kiss a frog even if there was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs.
Last week we had Egidio guiding us through Wild Life – thank you for all your exciting wild wonders, a treat every one of them!
Now I am looking forward to seeing your outings and what they brought! Link to my post and don’t forget the Lens-Artists tag. Next week Anne will be your host – please go to her site and get inspired!
The spring flowers are so gorgeous, Leya. And I love that cute place that your friend has. I would be in heaven to live in such a peaceful and serene place! Here’s my post for this challenge – rather late – https://offtopicmusing.wordpress.com/2025/04/20/seen-on-my-last-outing/
Thank you so much – the anemonies have such a lovely colour – and they are the first wild flowers in Spring. ♥
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Wonderful photos … handsome Milo and naughty Morris! Enjoy your spring ..
Haha, yes – you too! I guess there is full Spring with you as well?
No we are enjoying autumn … such a beautiful season 😊
Aha – of course! And yes, it’s a beautiful season!
Gorgeous photographs Ann-Christine and I love those beautiful purple flowers! 💜 My belated contribution for your lovely challenge is here: https://tranature.com/2025/04/13/the-seals-of-forvie/
Thank you for taking the time to post!
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And just in time …. here’s mine https://margaret21.com/2025/04/12/from-marfield-to-masham/
♥
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Wonderful post and what a lovely idea. Love those anemone hepatica. And I agree good friends are priceless.
Thank you, Karina. Beautiful nature and good friends are what we need in these difficult times.
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My contribution
https://philosophyvia.photos/2025/04/11/hill-thrill-%f0%9f%98%8e%e2%9b%b0%ef%b8%8flens-artists-challenge-343-seen-on-my-last-outing/
Thanks!
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Absolutely loved this, AC!
Nature, frogs, flowers, cat drama, and camera joy — that’s a five-star spring day right there. Also, big yes to photographing the same flower every year like it’s a celebrity. Morris might need a squirrel intervention though 🐿️😅
Thanks for taking us along. Planning to join the fun, to day evening.
Philo
Thank you – looking forward to seeing your outing!
Thankyou, AC.
Here’s mine for the week
Thank you!
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Great idea for a challenge!
♥ Thank you!
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Great challenge, and as usual, you have shown us some lovely images. contrary to what I thought, I did actually go out to the park on Tuesday and took quite a few images so here’s my post: https://suejudd.com/2025/04/10/lens-artists-challenge-343-seen-on-my-last-outing/
Thank you so much, Sue!
😊
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The smiling frog was a charmer. Not a Prince though, maybe a Princess???
Maybe!
What an enchanting and inspiring post and challenge, Ann-Christine. The pictures are all wonderful, as are the quotes and words. I love Milo and Morris with their unique personalities. I also appreciate that you mention the educational element of every outing. Often we might not be aware of it, but it’s always an amazing learning field.
Here comes my humble contribution:
Thank you! I hope it is a challenge for us all to find possibilities to join in.
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Morris is a beautiful cat. He looked like a great model for your photographs, Ann-Christine.
Well, he was more cooperative than Milo…Thanks!
Anne-Christine, what a beautiful post. The quotes go perfectly with your amazing images. I love the way you captured the personalities of Morris and Milo. I love the frog, too.
Animals, animals – but they are great! Thank you!
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Ann-Christine, I must have changed my post twice before I settled with my Sunday morning hike. Here it is:
https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/finding-beauty-in-small-native-blooms/
This challenge gave me such inspiration. Your photos and ideas are great!
Thank you, Egidio! Glad you finally was happy with it!
I couldn’t see the comment box on your site Egidio, just wanted to say how beautiful your flower photography is – shame that Lindheimer’s paintbrush was covered in what looked to be black aphids. I wonder whether you follow Steven Schwartzman who photographs the native flowers in Texas.
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/
Jude, I’m so thankful for the link you sent. I do not know Steven. He lives here in Austin. I just subscribed to his blog. About the Lindheimer’s paintbrush, what you see is dirt. We had rain last week and the black prairie soil added some dirt to the flower (it was just a couple of inches from the ground). I thought about cleaning up the black spots, but opted to leave the flower as is.
Love that first image of the creek!
Thank you! It’s a favourite place!
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Couldn’t resist coming back. And there are so many great posts here to read! Have a lovely week, Ann-Christine xx
https://stillrestlessjo.com/2025/04/07/jos-monday-walk-marinha-to-benagil/
Haha – you are welcome, Jo!
Frogs are fine, but I’m fonder of flowers. Seriously though, some lovely photos you have.
But your challenge comes at an unfortunate time, since the temperatures around me have gone upward of 40 degrees this week. So instead of an outing, I’m giving you my latest inning: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/bags-groove/
I must agree on flowers and frogs, I.J…and i greatly appreciate you sending an inning!
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What an amazing post–both the photos and the commentary. You do live in a wonderland!
Well, I can’t complain much! I believe many of us do live in wonderlands – and much depends on what you have on your own doorstep.
https://angloswiss-chronicles.com/2025/04/06/lens-artists-challenge-343-seen-on-my-last-outing/
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What a lovely post A-C. Love the hepatica especially, gorgeous photos. I once tried to grow them but wasn’t successful. Your new friend has a lovely home and location and I would say cat, except I hate it that cats kill wildlife. My last outing was very local, but I’ll put a post together for you soon.
Thank you, Jude! Yes, I love those hepaticas, and I will never stop photographing them… And I am looking forward to seeing your post!
Mine is up now.
♥
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What an amazing place Ann-Christine – and a new friendship as well. What could be better than that?! Loved all of the images, the bucolic home on the water, the adorable (if treacherous to other wildlife) cat, and most especially the marvelous image of Milo. Wonderful challenge and post!
Thank you, Tina – I had to vacuum for half an hour when we came home again. His coat collects leaves and everything he rolls in…
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Well, you had a lovely last outing, as you say, friends are priceless and that day brought you plenty of great images love the anemones
Thank you, Sue – that was a great day.
Spring in your part of the world is especially beautiful – I love those anemones 😍 I know what you mean about taking almost the same photos every year – for me that means blossom and magnolias!
Your theme is timely as we had an outing just two days ago to explore a new (to us) part of London: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/history-and-nature-in-lesnes-park/
Well – then we mean the same thing!
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Looks like it was a pleasing walk. I especially like the cat and frog photos. The cat one has great framing and the frog… well, I like frogs. Cute little creatures.
Here’s mine:
https://stupidityhole.com/2025/04/06/marlborough-hotel/
Thank you – I love frogs! Happy you like them too.
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Reading your post, first thing on a Sunday morning and I’m swept away by the photos and this idyllic world your words have created. Out here, our spring is already threatening to turn into a full blown merciless summer. So you can imagine how fairytale like Sweden looks to me now, Milo and the majestic feline included. Also a stream running through the garden, incredible!
Sheetal – summer already? Yes, everything is speeding up, isn’t it? This time of the year I always wish for a slowing down…make this beauty of delicate spring last!
A lot of cute Ann-Christine. I love the little anemones that frog and Milo 😀
Thanks, Brian! The dishevelled dog of mine…love him of course even if I must (should) clean the house every day. The frogs are so sweet, aren’t they?
Your last outing offered many photo opportunities, and your results are simply beautiful. I must say, that in his last picture, Morris does have an evil look, but I bet he’s just a pussy cat!
Well, I don’t know him that well, but, hopefully he is that pussy cat!
😁
A delightful theme as the weather becomes gentler – I did not venture far beyond my lake…
https://followyournose.me/2025/04/05/a-few-last-outings/
The closer the better…
Those purple flowers are very lovely
Thank you – very much longed for in spring.
What a wonderful challenge, Ann-Christine. And what a wonderful outing you, had. Great photos! Great memories!
Thank you, Donna! It is so good to find joy in the little things – and that is more important the older I get.
Great photo Ann-Christine, looks your last outing was really enjoyable. I don’t know what I’m going to do, I haven’t been out for a couple of weeks and I’ve already posted those photos. My next outing will be too late for this. I might have to give it a miss or think of something else.
Oh, I’d be happy if you could find something from long ago too! Everything from Australia is very special. Even if you maybe don’t find it special as you see it every day. Hope to see you!
Oh, darn, Ann-Christine! My last outing was to a wonderful Fado concert in a local church, and then supper. I didn’t take a single photo. Just absorbed the atmosphere. Maybe tomorrow… xx
♥♥♥♥♥ Concerts can be very captivating – no time for photos!
This entire post made me happy, A-C. I especially love those beautiful little flowers. I’m enjoying a bit of spring in Southern California right now, but when I get home, it’s supposed to be in the 90’s (Fahrenheit) even though that’s still spring. 😫
Thank youy, Janet – yes, their colour is amazing, isn’t it? I’m glad you feel a bit of spring too! 90’s? That doesn’t sound like spring to me!
Wonderful shots of such a nice outing you had Ann-Christine 😀! I wish I met artistic people with whom I could paint too…
But, here’s my set, freshly collected today:
Yes, an enjoyable outing it was – it doesn’t have to be far away…
Love the cat, I bet it has personality!
He had indeed!
A great challenge and what lovely photos. I want to hang one of those anemone shots and the frog too on my wall! I went on two lovely springtime walks in the Dales this last week, and unusually, took hardly any photos on either. What was I thinking? Must Try Harder!
♥ You are welcome any time!
I love the frog and so does my son, I always share with him any frog images as we never see any around here. This is a wonderful post, Ann-Christine, I think one of my favourites of yours. There’s so much hope, it brings a warm feeling to my heart.
Here is mine:
I’m happy to hear that the post sounded positive, and so happy you (two) too love frogs! I think frogs tend to bring out smiles in almost everyone!
Why no frogs – aren’t there any ponds? Or too many birds eating them?
I have no idea, Ann-Christine. We just never see any and it’s not lack of trying!
♥
But found some today, in Lisbon 😀
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Milo reminds me of the dog we had for 16 years, even though they are different breeds. There is nothing like the love of a pet, it’s unconditional!
True, so true – I was without pet for one year only in my whole life, 67 years. And that year was a lost year.
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I love this theme. I love these images!
The frog is wonderful, lovely images of spring, your friend’s house is gorgeous, a great frame for the cat, and of course… Milo.
Thank you, Dawn, so happy you liked my outing! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s outings!
Me too.
Your spring is a bit ahead of ours. Anemones are not yet bloom here, they are lovely. Milo is adorable, and Morris is one handsome cat. A great post and a promise of spring.
Thank you, Ritva! Wish I had a cat…too.
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Beautiful flora and fauna images! I love the anemones and Morris’ photos!
My contribution is here
Thank you, Marina! I do wish I had a cat…but my husband won’t let me. He was born and raised at a farm, and his sister had cats all over. Peeing in his books. He cannot get over that!
oh, my….. 🙂
;-D
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Great theme, great photos. Love the photos of Morris, but Milo still takes the cake. 👏🎂👏
Mine: https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2025/04/05/lens-artists-challenge-343-seen-on-my-last-outing/
♥ I will tell him…