Sometimes you just hit the jackpot. You hit one of those moments when all your stars are aligned and everything seems just perfect. You’re in a cosy bar, in good company. The barman is handsome and chatty (even if he is half your age!) And you are sipping on the most sublime drink you’ve ever… Continue reading Bacon Schnapps?! Yes, please!
We all travel our own road. Even when we travel with partners or groups, we each take different things from the experience. We enjoy quiet moments away from the group or playful moments with a friend. We notice different details - a stick that might entertain a dog, a feather that might adorn our hair,… Continue reading Nemo Girls [Nemo Mergikės]
The weather has turned distinctly autumny over the past few weeks. We went from blazing heat every day for most of July to wind, rain, mist and chilly temperatures just as August began. While a bit of respite from the heat is welcome, I'm not ready for autumn just yet! Chestnut trees are always the… Continue reading Autumn comes too early
I am as drawn to wildflowers as I am to wild animals. I find them intoxicating, dizzying, especially when they grow together in great numbers. They are feisty and strong, pushing their colourful heads up in the wildest of places. They nod gently in the breeze or sway violently if the wind blows strong. Somehow,… Continue reading Flowering Rushes
There’s something about sand that brings out the child in all of us. The moment your toes hit the warm sand, you are transformed – you are free! Free to kick and dig and run and dive. Free to bury your friends, or yourself. You are a kid again! Lithuania may have a short coastline,… Continue reading Big kids, little kids!
‘Already, I feel different, calmer, freer.’The Irishwoman who moved to Lithuania. June Molloy from Wexford is travelling the length of Lithuania’s longest river this summer. You can read the full article here. Details of our journey along the Nemunas can be found here. Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing,… Continue reading My article in today’s Irish Times
The soul of an evening is in the sky. That’s where the drama unfolds, if there is to be drama. Or the serenity, if she’s in a tranquil mood. Clouds drift softly, or fold themselves gently around the setting sun. At other times they move quickly, or form thick blankets that create a tapestry of… Continue reading Sunset Boulevard
Thirty years ago this year, I walked into Dublin's catering college for the first time, nervous and excited. It was a goal I had worked towards for many years and I couldn't wait to see what the coming years would bring. New skills, adventure, self-discovery and, of course, friendship. I had a wonderful time at… Continue reading Old Friends
Life is difficult sometimes. We make choices and think we're on the right path, but then life throws us a curve ball that knocks us off our path. A failed relationship. An unfulfilling career. Illness or injury. Or a global pandemic that keeps us away from friends and family and prevents us from doing the… Continue reading Revive your spirit on the Nemunas
It's hard to describe the peace and tranquility of floating on water, on a beautiful raft, down a beautiful river. Watching the bank slowly moving past, the wildlife undisturbed by the silent boat. The gentle bubbles on the surface of the water where it rolls over stones. The blue sky above, occasional clouds offering respite… Continue reading And We’re Off!
On this day eight years ago, I set sail from Rosslare in Wexford (Ireland) on a huge adventure - to travel through Europe in a small camper van, seeking out delicious food and wonderful scenery. That trip took me through England, France, Spain, Portugal, Switerland and Germany before arriving here in Lithuania. What was meant… Continue reading My Summer Plans – Sailing the Nemunas!
Hark, how blithe the throstle singsAnd he is no mean preacherCome forth into the light of thingsLet Nature be your teacherWilliam WOrdsworth I spend many hours in the forest and have been fascinated for some time by the song of a mysterious bird I could never see. It was reminiscent of a child's toy -… Continue reading Song Thrush
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. From "Walden", by Henry David Thoreau (condensed) I spend a… Continue reading Into the Woods
Spring came late in Lithuania this year. Winter didn't start in earnest until January, but it found its feet quickly and dug in hard. Snow fell on top of snow and temperatures held at about -19 C (-2 F) until the end of February. It was beautiful to behold, even if it cost a small… Continue reading Wildflowers
I envy animals sometimes. They live life in the moment. If they feel like eating, they eat. If they feel like sleeping, they sleep. And while they're alert for danger and will bolt if they feel the need, they return to their relaxed state very quickly. No need to dwell on that last danger. No… Continue reading Living in the Moment
"You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen...🎼" "Not again, Robert - WE'RE NOT REINDEER!" Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing, photography & daily life. You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter. You can view more of my wildlife photos here and here.
I find snow very soothing. It dulls sounds, softens light, quietens the mind. Having a dog is great for getting you out of the house and into the fresh air, even when the temperatures have fallen well below zero. I walk about 4 km each morning, and even though I regularly take the same route,… Continue reading Pale Morning Sun
One of the greatest joys of writing books for kids (or for any audience, to be honest) is getting positive feedback from readers. It takes a long time to write a book, and even longer to get it published, so hearing that people have read and enjoyed your work is extremely gratifying. A friend wrote… Continue reading Ask the Author – Millie’s Questions
I know lots of people are feeling "stuck" right now, with all the travel restrictions that are in place. I managed to make it to the seaside a few days ago. It was the first time I'd ever seen snow on sand and slushy ice at the water's edge. Between the sky, the sea and… Continue reading Stuck in Colder Weather
It was a swift ending to a long and fruitful life. One minute, she stood strong, leaves shivering in the gentle breeze, the next minute she was gone. Broken. Lifeless. All in about 15 seconds. When I stepped outside on Thursday afternoon, I was pleased to feel a breeze on my face. The weather had… Continue reading So long, and thanks for all the fruit
I've been watching the ducks down at our local pond since the start of April, following their journey. I think there are four drakes and three ducks. I certainly saw plenty of mating action in April and was really looking forward to seeing the ducklings emerge. I had spotted a few broken eggs on the… Continue reading Mallard with Ducklings
I've waited so long to take these pictures. I know they're not perfect, but when one of your favourite animals strolls out from the trees a few metres away, you take whatever photos you can get, regardless of the strong shadows. Red deer feature prominently in my middle-grade novel, Guardian of Giria, and I have… Continue reading Red Deer Hind with Calf
A gorgeous male chaffinch. It's a pity there is a branch partially blocking him, but there is still some lovely colour and feather detail. Beautiful birds. Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing, photography & daily life. You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter. You can view more of… Continue reading Male Chaffinch
There are days when I go out to take photos and seeing nothing of interest. Perhaps a few roe deer that run off as I approach or a fox skulking by a distant hedgerow. I regularly see birds, but most are small and skittish and have moved on before I can lift my camera. Once… Continue reading Bean Goose Migration
Driving through the countryside at the moment, the air is filled with the song of these tiny little birds. I scan the skies, I scan the fields, but they are so hard to spot. Finally, I see one. I sit and watch. I listen. It is magical. If you're not familiar with the beautiful song… Continue reading Skylark
Now that spring is here and the snow has finally melted, I am reopening my school & library visits. If you would like me to visit your school or library (here in Lithuania), please contact me and we can arrange a date. The presentation typically lasts for about one hour, but we can adjust this… Continue reading School & Library Visits: Now Reopening
Between the mists and the snow, the roads look endless. Oh, to drive forever on such roads, the crunch of snow beneath my wheels, the cold air pouring through the open windows as I dare not miss a single sight. The countryside is already beautiful, but under a thick blanket of snow, it is magical.… Continue reading Snowy Lanes
This great spotted woodpecker (didysis margasis genys) is still flitting around my garden. Isn't he gorgeous? Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing, photography & daily life. You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter. You can view more of my wildlife photos here and here.
Oh, the joy! Oh, the sweet, sweet joy! Finally, after years of searching and waiting, I got to see a wild boar in the flesh. But not just one boar – a whole sounder (group) of sows and piglets! And the experience was everything I hoped it would be! Norėdami skaityti šį straipsnį lietuvių kalba,… Continue reading Wild Boar Feeding Project, Tauragė (Lithuania)
I'm delighted to announce that "Guardian of Giria" is now available from Vaga bookshop in Tauragė! Su dideliu džiaugsmu pranešu kad nuo šiandien, "Guardian of Giria" galite įsigyti knygyne "Vaga" Bažnyčių gatvė 6. Tauragėje. Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing, photography & daily life. You can also follow on… Continue reading Vaga Bookshop, Tauragė
A common buzzard (paprastasis suopis) soaring above my garden. Look at that sky for the last day of October! Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on my writing, photography & daily life. You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter. You can view more of my wildlife photos here and here.
It appears our area is a congregation site for common cranes (grus grus) - thousands of them gather each autumn in the fields around our village, getting ready for the long flight south. They are a little skittish, so getting close can be tricky, but they are a magnificent sight to behold. Like what you… Continue reading Cranes in the Mist
Strictly speaking, this is a common frog, but that seems like too plain a name for a creature so beautiful, and one who looks so at home on the forest floor, surrounded by moss, twigs and other detritus. So I'm calling him a forest frog! Like what you see? Then please subscribe for updates on… Continue reading Forest Frog
It was very misty this morning and I didn't have a great sleep last night, so when I saw this guy on the garden fence I was certain I was seeing things. Unfortunately, he flew off before I could grab my binoculars. But later, when I went out to the bin, I spotted him again… Continue reading Hoopoe (Kukutis)
“I think you should drive,” Arūnas said. “No, no – I’ll walk. It’s just around the corner,” I replied. The weather was sweltering and I had just stepped out of my non-air-conditioned, sauna of a car – I had no desire to get back in. Besides, the market really was just around the corner. I… Continue reading Tauragė Vegetable Market
June Molloy 