A small break just for two of us. Take #1.

This is my favorite time of the year and I never miss my chance to enjoy the delicate green noise of awaking nature. The first scent of wildflowers, the hum of bees and insects and birdsongs, everything that I miss so much. It also helps me deal better with stress, uncertainty and all negativity in the last couple of years.

It was a day when my husband was not supposed to go to "work" or to be on duty or out for a mission and I proposed to spend it together out of the city and to visit a small and picturesque lake that we planned to see plenty of times but it never happens. I also had a few saved locations nearby. This turned into an interesting and long route, and we had to get up early. I set up my alarm for 6:30 am, but I forgot that it was also Sunday March 31th, the day when we switch to summertime so in fact it woke us at 5:30 am - very early. So the cup of coffee was the must but we thought it was a good idea to pick up some meal to have breakfast at the spot, in nature.

The road went through a forest. First, it was transparent - bare trees and last year's fallen leaves. But it was beautiful even though.

And when I saw the hills covered with corydalis, I couldn't help myself. We stopped the car in the middle of the forest, I got out and ... I realized that the last time I was in nature at this time of the year was a long time ago, before the war. Actually, during these two years, I was in nature only 2 or 3 times. It's so sad, considering how I live. So I was just thrilled with the view, and scents, and sounds. I felt genuine children's joy.

There is an idiom in the Ukrainian language - "to trample a corydalis", which means to live, to walk on the earth.

Tiny fern sprouts.

If my husband had not reminded me of the purpose of our trip, I could have been stuck there, I swear.

This is it, a small wooden lake surrounded by high hills overgrown with prickly bushes and trees. Breakfast time! Or rather a brunch, considering the time of the day.

Our Nissan X-Trail has one great and useful feature - a large trunk that opens upwards. We use it as a bench + umbrella. Due to the early start, we did not take any seat pads or a mat or travel chairs although we have them all.

We worked up such an appetite! Everyone knows that food in nature is the tastiest even if it is bread, egg and cheese salad, some greens and fresh tomatoes. Now we can relax and enjoy...

Perhaps it looks more picturesque in summer when the greenery of trees makes the water look green too. But there are lots of people too while in early spring there were just the two of us. No, sorry, we had one guest - a big black dog came over to check what we were eating. :D

After a while, we decided to check out the opposite side of the lake. There was a kind of path and our SUV could make it.

In the spring, birds are looking for a mate to build a nest. I spotted a couple of white herons on the lake. And a few cormorants. On the way to the lake, a white swan flew over us. I prefer when birds fly over me more than barrages of ammo or rockets.

Nick is not Nick if he will not come down to the water and touch the water with his hands, at least. It became a kind of ritual. 😄 I was so happy about everything around that I didn't mind going here and there and everywhere. It was so nice and quiet and I always wonder why people need loud music when they are in nature.

Water gradient...

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And flowers... Violet and blue primroses. I started to think that I would never stop photographing them.

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I thought this was a bee but it turned out to be unknown insect with a long nose or whatever. Hehe. Having brunch as well.

Another observer is hiding in the grass disguises itself as old, withered leaves.

We planned to see another unexplored corner of Ukraine, so it's time to move on.

On the way, we've come across a few fascinating places.

Like this old traditional Ukrainian house. I saw only 2 of them so I can't say if this is a village or a little settlement but it is inhabited! The door is open so someone lives here. Besides, the yard is clean and well-kept, the fence is in good condition. The roof is made of reeds, which grow everywhere here. Such a house keeps a pleasant coolness even in the summer heat. And it smells ... special inside. A small of memories and childhood...

At that moment, I was unaware of the likely the same house that was waiting for my visit on the route ahead.

The house across the road is a bit "modern" meaning it was constructed later. Its residents are just working around the yard.

On one section of the road, we drove along the bank of a reservoir on the Dnipro River. The water was so calm and still that if it weren't for the riverbank at the horizon, the border between the great river and the sky would have dissolved into the air...

This place captivates and I wish I could stay in this moment much longer...

Fishermen also seem to like this place.

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This is all for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
@zirochka