Blue Skies

Blue Skies, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

It's hard to feel blue when the skies are so blue. Branches reach up to the sky in celebration. February days, with pristine snow and bright sunshine are the best of winter. The heaviness of the long dark nights is lifting as days are noticeably longer.

Winter Finery

Winter Finery, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I cling to the sunshine and the joyous blue skies as around me there are people who suffer from the blues. Funny that blue can mean sad when this vibrant sky screams delight. I bundle up in my many layered winter outfit to gawk at winter's finery. Trees clad in bridal white, lawns covered in sparkling diamonds - they grab the sun's rays to defy the biting cold.

Blue Carpet

Blue Carpet, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Photo April 22 (Earth Day)
One of our early spring flowers are the scylla. They spread where they please, popping up in unexpected places. Here they carpet the lawn. In other places, single flowers stand defiantly where they will. When they die off, a simple mowing of the lawn removes all traces, yet each year they grow again, reminding us of their invincibility.
Earth Day - the day to celebrate our blue planet - let's hope that it is as invincible as these blue flowers as man continues to treat it with disrespect. When will the politicians wake up to the fact that short term economic gain without thought to the environment can have devastating effects on our planet. We are selling out our children's futures.

Blue Orchid

Blue Orchid, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I have never seen a blue orchid before - this one has just been added to my collection of orchids - a valentine gift. So many people feel blue on Valentine's Day. I've had my share of partnerless years, though now I am fortunate to have a wonderful man in my life. . It's time to reframe Valentine's Day to make it more about love in a more generic way. Celebrate with a friend - friends are one of the more important relationships we have. Celebrate with a child who still sees everything with open-eyed wonder.

It's the old glass half empty vs glass half full. If we focus on the many positives in our lives - the many relationships that make our life full, then Valentine's Day is just another day in the year when we have the opportunity to share love with others.

Happy Valentine's Day to all my virtual friends who have brought a special richness to my life.

Apr 5/10 Blue Blanket

Apr 5/10 Blue Blanket, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Nothing says spring to me quite like scylla. They blanket whole lawns and spread where they will. Their bright blue colour is a welcome change from the whites of winter and the sepia of early spring.

If blue is hope, then scylla personify it - dancing across the landscape leading us to the time of the earth waking up.

Daily shoot: Blue is the color of sky and water. Many call it the color of hope. Make a photo with blue and what it represents to you.

Mar 8/10: Blue Skies Over the City

Mar 8/10: Blue Skies Over the City, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Blue skies over our sun-washed city. Glorious happy blue heralding spring weather. Boots sit at home and my feet feel light in shoes. Funny how in fall these same shoes feel heavy after a summer of sandals. It's hard to feel blue in this weather. The birds have started their springtime symphony. It's transition time as the weather may yet swing back to winter. But the sun is out and the weather man announces more all week.


Daily Shoot: Take care of the Monday blues by picking up your camera. Make a photograph dominated by the color blue.

Jan 11/10: Cobalt blue

Jan 11/10: Cobalt blue, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The Daily Shoot's theme today was your favourite colour. My thought was favourite for what? I have always loved this cobalt blue, but would not paint my walls this colour - too confining. I need light airy shades around me. I love the dramatic oranges of yesterday's sunset but wouldn't dress in them; they would make me look sallow. I love bright clear colours to wear, but wouldn't upholster my furniture in them. Every colour is a favourite for a different purpose.

But blue does work well in flowers too

Daily Shoot: What's your favorite color? Make a photo dominated by your favorite color today and share it!

Day 110: Unruly Flowers

Day 110: Unruly Flowers, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I love these blue flowers. They spread wherever they like, perhaps assisted by the local squirrels. They don't stay within the lines of the flower beds but proliferate as they please, cutting a swath over lawns or popping up in odd places.

These scylla are among our first flowers; their splashes of blue a welcome change after months of white.

Day 30: Feeling Blue

Day 30: Feeling Blue, originally uploaded by susanvg.

My eyes are now trained for looking and the result is sometimes frustrating. I was driving through the city today with my son - doing messages and passed so many photo ops, but could not stop. So, once home, I looked around for something that reflected my mood - a little bit blue.

However, in looking at the photo I saw an inner glow and peacefulness. The bowl is one I love - the crackled glass reaching up to the smooth rim. Taking time to look also gives time to reflect. The blues don't have to be down. Blue winds through many moods from the exhilarating brightness of a February sky to the serenity of a still lake. Taking time is what this project is all about - time to look, time to stop and time to think. Feeling blue is not bad at all.