Because it’s not the big goals and successes in life that bring true happiness, but the little joys that you choose to notice each day.
Spider of the week. Zygiella x-notata – the missing-sector orb weaver. What a beauty!
![Little Joys: spider zygiella x-notata](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-zygiella-x-notata-spider-wildlife-nature-1024x735.jpg)
She’s been living at the back door all winter, guarding eggs, and we’ll let her stay in her little corner until the weather warms up.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-nature-wildlife-spider-eggs-1024x779.jpg)
Misty morning.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-nature-winter-misty-morning-1024x700.jpg)
A very good sandwich. Sod the BLT, mine’s a BAT – bacon, avocado and tomato.
![Little Joys: tasty bacon avocado tomato sandwich](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-bacon-sandwich-food-1024x768.jpg)
I’ve done lots more editing this week.
![Little Joys: "omit needless words"](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-creativity-editing-tips-1024x752.jpg)
My echeveria is flowering.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-nature-winter-houseplant-flowers-1024x768.jpg)
We had more hoar frosts – beautifully modelled here by ivy berries.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-hoar-frost-ivy-berries-nature-1024x768.jpg)
Morning walk. I’ve got really out of the habit this winter, but I must get going with daily walks again!
![Little Joys: walking in nature on a beautiful morning](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-beautiful-morning-1024x768.jpg)
It was a really gorgeous day!
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-nature-walk-1024x768.jpg)
New shoots on elder. Spring is coming…
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-spring-shoots-nature-elder-green-1024x819.jpg)
Snowdrops.
![Little Joys: winter snowdrops](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-nature-walk-snowdrops-winter-spring-1024x774.jpg)
Look up!
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-winter-trees-blue-sky-nature-768x1024.jpg)
Red sky in the morning.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-red-sky-nature-1024x777.jpg)
Frosted phlox on pond rocks. Try saying that three times quickly!
![Little Joys: frozen pond and frosty plants in the garden](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-frozen-pond-frosty-plants-nature-garden-768x1024.jpg)
Good excuse not to do some weeding, I reckon.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-winter-nature-garden-frosty-weeds-1024x687.jpg)
Spider of the second half of the week! Immature steatoda grossa (probably).
![Little Joys: spider steatoda grossa (probably)](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-wildlife-steadota-grossa-1024x779.jpg)
Bought these two brilliant books, which I’ve been wanting all winter. ‘Winter Trees‘ and ‘A Field Guide to Bryophytes‘ (that’s mosses and liverworts).
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-new-books-wildlife-identification-1024x785.jpg)
Wonderful weekend dinner of pan-fried Piper’s Farm turkey steaks, roast potatoes and parsnips, buttered cabbage and delicious mashed swede.
![Little Joys: Pipers Farm turkey steaks](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-food-roast-turkey-1024x737.jpg)
Really vivid blue lichen on a tree at the community garden. At least I think it’s lichen… I’ve had so much trouble trying one like it online, I’m forced to wonder if it’s really just paint… But I think it’s lichen! It’s in a really weird out-of-the-way place and very contained if someone was just making mischief with paint!
![Little Joys: mysterious blue lichen on town centre sycamore tree](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-lichen-blue-966x1024.jpg)
It’s been a good week for spiders! This nurseryweb spider doesn’t belong indoors at all – I guess she got lost.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-spider-identification-1024x789.jpg)
First light.
![](https://contactwithcreation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/little-joys-light-1024x752.jpg)