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A Joyful Noise

salvia

I’ve got the blues

May 10, 2018 by Melodye Shore

I’ve got the blues.

And by that, I mean the campanula that’s spreading like a welcome mat across our front walkway. (Oh, my lucky stars!)

I’m talking, too, about this purplish-blue posy, irresistible to pollinators and photographers alike.

In my backyard garden, the Hawaiian Blue Eyes are just now peeking through the soil. Hummingbirds are swarming the Black and Blue salvia. And just a short distance from Chez Shore, these Pride of Madeira have rooted themselves into a jagged cliff that overlooks the deep blue sea.

I could sing its praises all day long, the color blue. It’s the hue that makes my heart sing–how about you?

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Posted in: writing Tagged: blues, campanula, garden, Hawaiian blue eyes, honeybees, Pride of Madeira, purplish-blue, salvia

Flight Plans: #AugustBreak2016

August 1, 2016 by Melodye Shore

Sunlight spreads itself across the neighboring hillsides, nudging the earth out of its slumber. A hummingbird glides easily between palm dates and salvia, chittering as it sips nectar, and I celebrate with her the sweetness of this new day.

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This is my first entry in the monthlong, collaborative photography project,  “August Break 2016,” a mindfulness activity that draws participants away from their daily routines and into the wider world. Inspired by a specific prompt, you snap a new photograph every day in August.  No need for fancy equipment, and you can bend the rules to suit your needs or interests.

I’m using Susannah Conway’s #AugustBreak2016 as an opportunity to practice something I’ve struggled with: capturing sharp images of hummingbirds in flight. I’ll also be spending lots of time at my writing desk, polishing up a special project. Each creative act, inspiring and informing the other…

Some of you might remember that I participated last year. Aside from the healthful benefits of venturing outdoors, those photography outings had carry-over effects on my writing, all for the good. Focus. Experimenting with light and dark. Seeing things from different angles, and expressing myself in new ways.

If this sparks your own creative urges, I hope you’ll grab your camera and join us!

Posted in: #AugustBreak2016, August Break 2015, birds, Flight, flight plans, mindfulness, morning light, Photo Challenge, Photography, photography challenge, Susannah Conway, writing Tagged: birds, flight, flight plans, hummingbird, mindfulness, nectar, palm fronds, photography, salvia

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