The lovely Sara from Me and Orla wrote a post about being a "webtrovert" over a year ago--sidenote: look how long it takes me to absorb things on occasion. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the terms introvert or extrovert; the former finding themselves more energized by time alone and the latter more energized by the company of others. Sara proposed a third option: webtrovert, a person who is energized by spending time online (only she spelled energized with a "s" because she's British!). I've often quipped to people that part of the reason I'm good at blogging (or "good online") is because I'm not a suited for in-person interactions. I'm told I'm not horribly awkward, but I often feel quite awkward and find even enjoyable social engagements to be tiring after awhile. Living in the countryside I think has rather exasperated the situation because instead of being forced to get better at social interactions, I can escape from most of them! But I clearly do like talking (in the form of writing) and sharing and connecting with others; otherwise I could just have set this blog to private or kept a secret journal on my laptop. I think the webtrovert option is a good descriptor of those like myself who enjoy being alone, but still crave some sort of connection and finding kindred spirits online. I've found so many lovely women who inspired me over the years through blogging; most I've never met in person but have made as deep an impression as anyone. However, in some ways I still don't feel true webtrovert either since even the enjoyable interactions online become wearying to me after a time, or maybe it's just the volume you get once you reach a certain level of visibility. Lately, I have been feeling very drained by virtual interactions, my inbox on Instagram is overflowing to the point of being overwhelming and a few bad apples in an overfull barrel of very good apples is tingeing harmless interactions with apprehension. Turns out even online I need a break sometimes from the social aspect! Still I quite like the term webtrovert because it concisely explains that phenomenon of the shy, private introvert who decides to plaster the web with photographs of their face and life. It seems like a contradiction, but for many of us, it works. Do you think you're a webtrovert as well?

Come springtime my blog is half fashion blog, half blossom watch! I love chasing down every variety of blossom in our corner of the country and documenting it before it's gone. These golden chain trees are one of the late bloomers in our region and oh-so-pretty. Their yellow, trailing blossoms seem to be dotting the countryside every where right now, the sunny days making their vivid color all the more powerful. This was actually one of the few sets of photographs we've taken where we were waiting for the sun to go away. Because there was really only one angle we could get due to the stone wall we kept hoping for clouds and dodging the sun to get our photographs! Shooting pictures in the middle of a bright day usually makes for very unflattering photographs and harsh shadows, so on those times we would normally seek out shady spots (like the woods or between tall buildings) or try to shoot with the sun behind me (the subject) for a softer look. But when you have a specific location in mind and only one angle you're more captive to the sun's whims! It's not often a problem in Ireland when it usually is a bit cloudy or grey, but lately the sun doesn't seem to want to leave us (and I'm not complaining!). So we snapped these pictures in brief pockets of time as wispy clouds diluted the sun's rays. It was worth the battle with the sun to get these lovely pictures of the golden chain tree; like so many of the best flowers they don't bloom for long and in a few weeks you would never even realize these trees held such majestic blossoms! 

When I shared some pictures of rapeseed oil fields previously I suggested they be renamed and asked what others thought they might be called. One person suggested "sundrops" and I really liked that name, so I decided to use it a bit myself. Because these fields really do seem to attract and hold the sunlight; amongst hills of green they're a beacon of vivid yellow. The perfect scene for a little slip of a dress and boater hat--although truth told, in summer everywhere is suitable for a boater hat in my opinion! I call this my "nightgown" dress because despite the pretty lace detailing, it's loose, voluminous shape make it appear like a some old-fashioned nightgown. Maybe something Wendy would have worn when flying to Neverland. But I love how billowy it is; perfect for hot days when something more fitted seems an impossibility. We also took our drone out on this trip--I love how dramatic the rapeseed oil field looked from above; a blanket of yellow with a lone stitch of tractor tracks running through it. I'm looking forward to more adventures playing with the drone this summer!