Tag: #JulySquares

ROMANTIC BLUE IN JULY – Marilyn Armstrong

The blue romance of July is an icy river from last winter

On this very hot day in July, thoughts tend to turn more to cold showers than romance … but it will get better.

By Monday, the heat will break and then it will be a normal hot summer. Or, so we hope. Because the weather has not been anything like normal in quite a while and I wonder if it will ever be “normal” again.

An icy blue river in February.

JULY BLUES AND SUNRISE ON THE VERNAL EQUINOX – Marilyn Armstrong

July Blues and the Sky at Dawn – Vernal Equinox 

It was dawn on the day of the Vernal Equinox and I had not closed the shades. I usually do, but I forgot. When I woke up, it looked as if the room was on fire. The blue sky turned deep red and violet before finally, the sun came up. It was the most amazing sunrise I’ve ever seen. My friend called me to ask: “Did you see that sunrise this morning? It was amazing!”

Dawn – Vernal Equinox

And I keep a camera in the bedroom, just for this kind of event. I can only get these amazing sunrises before the leaves come out. After that, the trees hide the sky.

JULY BLUES ARCHITECTURALLY SPEAKING – Marilyn Armstrong

JULY BLUES #JulySquares

First of all, you always take pictures at an angle because buildings are tall and we aren’t quite that tall. You are probably taller than me, but I’m not a hard level to beat.

But since you brought up architecture, I figured okay, why not? Buildings are good and surely I’ve got some blue skies or blue shutters or blue something or other.

Amidst a near sea of pink, my selfie in the mirror at Garry’s barbershop. I’m dressed in blue and there are some other bits of blue here and there.

A blue photographer and one blue sky with a red neon sign.

And the neon sign by the Mendon Diner!

MORE OF THOSE JULY BLUES … Marilyn Armstrong

Stormy Afternoon in the Diner

It’s very hot. Not hot like “hot,” but even hotter than that. It may have cooled off a little because about an hour ago, I heard thunder while I was showering.

I quickly rinsed everything off because who knows if the power is going down? Bad enough to have the power go out — which means the water pump is not working — but having that happen while you are covered in conditioner and suds. Yuck!

The power has stayed on, though the cable has been dicey. But it’s ridiculously hot and the humidity broke 1000% early this morning.

I don’t mind the heat as much as the intense humidity which makes it hard for me (and every other asthmatic) to breathe. I keep hoping sanity will hit Medicare and they will find a way to make sure we have inhalers again.

I get “testers” from the doctor, but I use them only when I’m desperate. Which means if I’m not moving at all IN the house IN air-conditioning — and I’m still gasping for breath. That’s our fabulous medical care system at work.

That’s only a small digression. Because until the heatwave breaks, I really can’t go outside. The air is so humid, it feels thick. Not like real air. It feels like you are wearing it rather than walking through it. It doesn’t move. No breeze. It lays heavily on everything.

The heatwave will break in another few days or so we hope. Until then, I’m “inside woman”!

THE WILD BLUE YONDER – Marilyn Armstrong

Midway into the wild blue yonder

I have taken some “wild blue yonder” pictures too. Squared them up. And so, for the midpoint of this month of blue, a picture for #JulyBlues.

This one IS square! See? That’s what happens when you have more than one version of a photograph. Especially late at night!

I do a lot of my processing late at night, often while the television is on, supper is done, and I can keep one eye on the TV and the other on whatever else I’m doing. So apologies for posting the wrong picture. They are the same, just one is wider and the other more square.

Sorry!

SQUARE BLUE SPIDERWORT – Marilyn Armstrong

Finally, square and blue!

It took me a while to finally get the Spiderwort to show properly blue. This is the way I see them outside. They turn purple or violet when photographed and my job was to finally get the hue corrected. it wasn’t easy, but I did it. It sure took long enough!

JULY AND THE BLUES AGAIN … Marilyn Armstrong

Clapboard Steeple against a summer blue sky

This color sky is a summertime only sky. In the winter, we get more of a marine blue that has a hint of green. Almost turquoise. This deep, almost navy blue is from June through August. When it doesn’t rain, of course.

In September, it changes slightly and the sun has a more amber tone to it and the sky is just a tiny bit golden — the perfect time to take portraits. Everyone looks wonderful in the golden light of Autumn.

But this is full summer and the gold waits in the wings of the future.

Square steeple against a deep blue sky

And yes, in case you are wondering, I am constantly watching for the colors of the sun and sky. If you change where you live, the colors change again. In Israel, the sun was a brilliant yellow in a turquoise sky. Almost blinding it was so bright.