Here are some of my favorite photos of gifts from the Mother….
Category: Art is in the eye of the…
Photo a Week Challenge–Beauty 4-18-19
Ah, such a subjective theme.
In this context, we’re talking visual beauty…that we can capture with a camera…or at least, try to capture.
Maybe it’s because of my father’s lessons about being able to find something amazing to look at anytime, anywhere. (I just wrote this story about that.)
https://chosenperspectives.com/2019/03/19/v-j-s-weekly-challenge-40-things-my-father-said/
Or maybe it’s because I have spent so much of my life around people who are blind, including several up close and personal relationships, in which I was often called upon to describe something beautiful with words. (I often fell woefully short. I mean, YOU try describing an Abalone Shell with words!) Maybe my awareness of visual beauty just became heightened.
In any case, in my world, absolutely anything qualifies.
So picking photos for this topic is a challenge. I’m going to go photograph the first thing that came to mind (mostly because my son and grandsons just brought me souvenirs from their Spring Break trip to Hawaii).
Be right back. (7:22 AM, 4/20/19)
I’m Back. 9 AM. That was both a fun and frustrating experience. Delightfully fun to experiment. And frustrating to realize there is just no fully capturing the amazing beauty of an Abalone Shell…at least not with my camera equipment.
Of course, this post made me research the history, meaning and healing properties of the Abalone shell. What an amazing gift from Nature! Here’s one site.
https://www.energymuse.com/abalone-shell.html (this is basically an ad for jewelry, but full of info about the shell.)
And don’t even get me started on “creation”. I mean, the Abalone Shell! How in the world??? WHY in the world? Who first discovered the beauty hidden behind that “ugly”, rough exterior?? ETC. ETC.
Thanks for this Challenge. What a delight!!
https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2019/04/18/a-photo-a-week-challenge-beauty/
Cee’s FOTD (flower of the day) theme—COLOR!
Even though this post is my Flower of the Day (well, Flowers of the MONTH), I was inspired by Debbie Smyth’s “A Rainbow of Doors”, a wonderful collection you should go see!
Here’s my “Rainbow”:
And even with all those flowers, my personal favorite is still the Primrose. Truth be told, it’s because they are the most difficult for me to KILL! 😉
Flower of the Day (FOTD) Challenge
Square Spikiness for March…interesting challenge
As soft as the one on the left looks, it’s quite Spiky! As for the one on the right, I can’t say.
Both of these are quite spiny and spiky…ouch!
PS Sorry for the Featured Picture at the top. I should have warned you about the X-Rated carnage of that shot of a murdered tree.
Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge, Week 5
I have not looked through all the former “pull up a seat” photos posted so maybe this “seat” has been done before. (By the way, THIS seat was just photographed two days ago, in the dead of winter here in the Northwest!! My Primroses think it’s SPRING!!!)
Anyway, here’s my story!
Many years ago, we had to replace a broken toilet. In the 3 days time this old “throne” sat hidden (we thought) out by the side of the house, waiting to be taken to the dump, our only mean neighbor reported us to the City for having an unsightly yard. (I was not her first “target”. Several others had been on the receiving end of her ire before.)
It’s not like we live in a gated community with a HOA (Home Owners Association) or anything. Our street was still in the country, with horse ranches until not that long ago. And, you had to come all the way onto my property to even see the toilet.
Anyway, the city launched a “public nuisance” charge against me, gave me three days to remove it, and threatened a $500 a day penalty if I did not.
Well, that just pissed me right off.
SO I researched, found some Architectural Digests and various landscaping design articles using old claw-footed bathtubs, and yes, toilets, as Yard Art.
I planted the bowl and tank of the former throne with lovely, long-stemmed flowers, alive with color, and placed the toilet prominently in my front yard for all to now see.
I put a bathroom reading style magazine rack right next to it with all the articles demonstrating clever uses for old toilets.
The City was stumped and the neighbor was furious.
I left it there for 3 whole weeks, just for good measure, and only removed it out of respect for all my other neighbors who now had to see it every day.
Hey, I am a proud Child of the Sixties. Do I know how to protest and rebel or what?
For your listening pleasure but be warned, this video has harsh images from the times back then…(only one I could find)
Photo Challenge of places we sit…or might sit…or art about sitting
SongLyricsSunday 1/20/19 theme “Cry”
https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2019/01/19/here-we-go-again/
SongLyricSunday is changing but I still love the challenge of finding a song each week to share. This week the first one that came to mind had just been chosen by another responder to the challenge but I listened to both and found them different enough that both are worth the time!
I am a little biased however…..I do love Ms. Baez so…
Cry me a River by Joan Baez
Lyrics
Now you say you’re lonely
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Now you say you’re sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried, cried, cried a river over you
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried, cried, cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now you say, you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
‘Cause I cried a river over you
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
‘Cause I cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, remember, all that you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
While you never shed a tear
Remember, remember, all that you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now, now you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry, cry, cry me a river, cry me a river
‘Cause I cried a river over you
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry, cry, cry me a river, cry me a river
‘Cause I cried a river over you
If my pillow talk, imagine what it would have said
Could it be a river of tears I cried in bed?
So you can cry me a river
Daddy, go ahead and cry that river
‘Cause I cried, how I cried a river over you
How I cried a river over you
Could it be a river of tears I cried in bed?
So you can cry me a river
Daddy, go ahead and cry that river
‘Cause I cried, how I cried a river over you
How I cried a river over you
Songwriters: Arthur Hamilton
Cry Me A River lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
A Photo a Week-Horizon 1/3/19
I am blessed…well, maybe cursed…with the ability…well, maybe the compulsion…to find something spiritual and horizon-broadening in almost everything I come across.
Recently we had this wonderful mini-vacation in an Air B and B, with a spectacular view of the horizon.
I took so many pictures the first few days but it wasn’t until I started editing one of the photos that I discovered something amazing.
The mist eventually cleared to reveal THIS!
I had not even realized that the place we were staying in had basically the exact same horizon view as the one from home…the Olympic Mountain range!!
Downtown Bellevue with the Olympics rising up behind!
I’m still working on what that actually means…something about awareness, appreciation, patience with the weather, and of course, perspective.
Another favorite horizon experience is the one I have when driving between our two homes. It’s close to a five hour drive and friends groan on my behalf when I tell them how often we go. I just don’t get how anyone can not love this drive. The variety of horizons alone make the trip a visual feast for me. There is such a dramatic change in topography along the way and as many times as I’ve driven it, I am still delightfully surprised to come around a corner or up over a hill, only to discover again, a spectacular horizon view.
Lastly, way too early one morning recently, when I couldn’t sleep any longer, I decided to go to a local Blueberry Farm and lake to watch the sun climb up over the horizon. I was thrilled with the unexpected view and took way too many photos. I hope you enjoy this slide show.
https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2019/01/03/a-photo-a-week-on-the-horizon/
