It’s been so hot- I think the temperature has affected my photo editing!
Summer Heat
Definitely Pink
It’s summertime, thank goodness- and there is always something to photograph in our yard. If it isn’t a rose, it’s a dahlia or a honeysuckle or a daisy!
Words to Live By
What a great message!
Spotted in Bisbee.
Blast from the Past
When we were in Bisbee a week ago, we took a little side trip to Lowell- once a mining town, and now part of Bisbee itself. It was fun to look at the old cars and buildings; below is the old police department.
Sundown
It was almost sunset in the desert, but the sun was still fiery hot. This was taken after dinner outside the house where we stayed in Oro Valley, Arizona for my birthday.
Peek-a-boo
While everyone around us was watching the hummingbirds at the feeders, I happened to turn around and spot this little guy on the pole behind the group. He looked at me, I looked at him. He was very cute! My bird app tells me he was a white-breasted nuthatch.
Birders
We went away last weekend to celebrate my birthday! We headed to Oro Valley to a beautiful VRBO and took trips every day to various areas within a couple hours from where we stayed. In 2020, our photo group had to cancel our planned trip to Sierra Vista, so we did a general reconnaissance trip of the area for when we eventually do a photo trip again.
The morning of the first day, we visited Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon and did a little bird watching, which was a lot of fun. A big attraction was the hummingbirds. As various birders came in, they excitedly asked if the Berylline had been spotted yet- a hummingbird that I, of course, had never heard of or seen. It evidently had been making regular appearances at a particular feeder, but it was not seen during the morning we were there. The broad-billed hummingbird below was not at all shy and was a constant visitor to the feeder near us.
Other birds we saw included acorn woodpeckers, pine siskins, black headed grosbeaks, scrub jays, and a white-breasted nuthatch. Remembering bird names is always a challenge for me- thank goodness for my iPhone apps.
We continued on to Tubac for a delicious Mexican lunch and a bit of gallery browsing. A great day!
Gull
It’s just a gull- not an unusual sight at the beach (understatement!)- but it was so nice to be able to take a picture of one. So here he is!
Bright Beauties
Spotted in Southern California
A Day at the Beach
Well, the people in the photo were having a day at the beach. I was having lunch with my husband and son at a restaurant across the street from the beach- but I managed to snap a half dozen photos while they talked sports. This is Huntington Beach- Surf City U.S.A.- a great place to take photos. And I’m still experimenting with my color textures- this one is more subtle.
Ocean
Here is another ocean image taken at the same time as the one from a few days ago. I’ve been experimenting making colorful textures (a total departure for me) in an attempt to create a different painterly look than usual. I like how they blend with ocean and beach photos.
Lunch at the Beach
On our first day in Southern California a week ago, we met up with our friends, Nevin and Darrell for lunch at Ruby’s in Newport Beach. It was our first time meeting up with friends at a restaurant since the pandemic began- and it felt so normal! We talked and laughed for over an hour- sharing news of kids, favorite TV shows to binge-watch, makeup tips (LOL!), and anything and everything! As I said, NORMAL- and normal felt so good!
Matt and Caleb
During last week’s visit, three year old Caleb was constantly in motion it seemed, but here is a quick shot of him sitting on his dad’s lap. Such a cutie!
Together Again!
After 16 months of bring apart, we were able to safely get together again with our son and his family in California! Three year old Caleb has grown a lot in the last year- it was so wonderful to get to know him all over again! This photo was taken at the park where Caleb plays every day.
In July we will go to Alaska to visit our daughter’s family- we are so excited to be able to resume our grandparenting lives again!
Springtime Beauty
We have so many flowers in our yard right now, thanks to Lonnie- it’s hard to choose what to photograph!
melinda anderson photography 