~ Happy Face ~ WPC 3 + In a Vase on Monday ~

Viola, violet and pansy blossoms always seem to be smiling when I look in their velvety faces. They remind me of the wonderful song from “Bye Bye Birdie,” Put On A Happy Face.

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In a Vase on Monday, is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.

This week’s photo challenge gives us the option to share a photo that captures the beauty of morning or evening half-light, or a photo inspired by a favorite poem, verse, story, or song lyric. As a young person, whenever I felt afraid “…I’d hold my head erect, and whistle [or hum] a happy tune…” (Rodgers and Hammerstein). As an adult I find when I present a warm, smiling face to the world, spirits are elevated. In the darkness of winter, I remind myself to “brush off the clouds and cheer up…” 

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Put On A Happy Face, composed by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams

Gray skies are gonna clear up,
Put on a happy face;
Brush off the clouds and cheer up,
Put on a happy face.
Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy,
It’s not your style;
You’ll look so good that you’ll be glad
Ya’ decide to smile!
Pick out a pleasant outlook,
Stick out that noble chin;
Wipe off that “full of doubt” look,
Slap on a happy grin!
And spread sunshine all over the place,
Just put on a happy face!
Put on a happy face
Put on a happy face
And if you’re feeling cross and bickerish
Don’t sit and whine
Think of banana splits and licorice
And you’ll feel fine
I knew a girl so gloomy
She’d never laugh or sing
She wouldn’t listen to me
Now she’s a mean old thing
So spread sunshine all over the place
Just put on a happy face
So, put on a happy face

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~ Color Your World Robin Egg Blue ~

What a fun project for Easter Sunday afternoon — looking into my archives for pictures featuring the color of a Robin’s Egg!

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Hope you enjoy!

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~ Weekly Photo Challenge – Half Light ~

I’m looking through poems, thinking in song lyrics and haven’t yet put together a complete response to this week’s photo challenge. In the meantime, here is one of my favorite photos of dawn from Cabin 1, Beach Haven, Orcas Island.

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Half-Light

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~ Sun Dance ~ Weekly Photo Challenge – Dance 2 ~

“Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are.

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“The job of your voice is not to seduce or flatter or make well-shaped sentences. In your voice, your readers should be able to hear the contents of your mind, your heart, your soul.”  Meg Rosoff

~ and sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words ~

Dance

 

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~ Wordless Wednesday + Color Your World – Razzmatazz ~

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~ Tuesday Two by Two + Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day March, 2016 ~

Thanks to John Viccellio for leading me down some new garden paths! Today is Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day, sponsored by Christina at My Hesperides Garden.

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February 19, 2016

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March 22,2016

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a long-time favorite of mine, since it is perennial, with early spring blooms and thrives in my shady gardens.

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~ In A Vase on Monday: Early Spring Mix ~

In an effort to spice up my posts, I’m trying out new challenges. This one, In a Vase on Monday, is hosted by Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. Daffodils though still bright, are looking rag-tag from the wind and rain they’ve endured, and tulips are up but not yet blooming.

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Thick displays of Camelia blossoms still cover both my shrubs, and dear Helebores keep looking pretty even as they age! Red-flowering currant adds a little airiness to this informal wall vase.

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~ Cormorant Deference Dance ~ Weekly Photo Challenge – Dance ~

A Double-crested Cormorant riding driftwood in the tide performed a series of submissive moves, as it approached and passed a dominant Double-crested Cormorant.

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Notice how stark still the dominant bird remains upon its stationary float. This happened quite a distance out in the bay from where I stood, so the shots are cropped, and I increased saturation.

Dance

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~ Kitchen…Items – Cee’s B&W Challenge + WPC – One Love ~

My mother gave me this mixmaster for a wedding gift. Whenever I use it, I am filled with the love of home cooking she instilled in me, and the love she gave so generously to Dad and their four children.

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Oatmeal-raisin cookie dough in the bowl!

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One Love

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~ Color Your World – Purple Heart + Cee’s Odd Ball PC ~

Someone was having fun! Now that someone is me!!

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I saw this as Creighton drove us into Ilwaco, Washington on our way to the Long Beach Peninsula.  Later I made a point to go back and snap some shots!

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