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Friday, March 1, 2013

Frustrated This Week-Two of Thirty-One

2 of 31

Today is March 2nd, the Slice of Life Writing Challenge on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.  Looks like a terrific weekend!

          Tweet at #Slice2013!

          I've been frustrated all week, trying with my IPhone camera since the full "snow" moon, to take some beautiful moon shadow pictures to share.  My new house has lots of lovely old, now bare, and some evergreen trees and I have a wrought iron fence around my property.  Shadows are beautifully 'drawn' by the moon, but I can't get a good picture.  Results are blurry or nothing shows at all. I know, I know, I need a better camera! 



             I found a poem I wrote a while ago and thought I would at least remind everyone how inspiring the moon literature is that is available, in poetry and legends, and in short stories too.  I hope you can discover some, and then write your own!


The breeze blew the moon
into the branches
of a tree last night.
   It was a rose petal gone astray—
   no cheese at all! 





64 comments:

  1. Well, you are fast today! I love looking at the moon, but you are right, it is so disappointing to take a picture of it. Not nearly as impressive as the real thing! Loved your poem! "it was a rose petal gone astray"

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    1. Thanks Donna. I think this will be a goal, to find a camera that will take a great photo of the moon!

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  2. Love that second shot of the moon. I love the cloud cover - very similar to the photo I tried to capture .
    Lovely poem!

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    1. Thank you Beverley-the moon's light itself helps make the photo, but it's just not enough for the shadow work.

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  3. I love the line "no cheese at all!" and the photos - though maybe not what you had in mind are lovely and atmospheric!

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  4. I'll look for my own moon shadow pictures and words. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  5. Shooting the moon has always been a challenge for me... I'm better with sunrises :)

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    1. And I 'think' you have a good camera, Bonnie. Yes, I agree, sunrises work better. Thanks!

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  6. I know what you mean - I'll see this beautiful moon, attempt to take a photo, and then it always looks tiny and insignificant. Loved the poem.

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    1. Thanks, Katherine. I can now just imagine all these people all over trying to photo the moon!

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  7. Lovely play with words. Thank you for this image...and thanks also for all of the help you gave me setting up my blog and slice for this challenge!

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    1. Thank you Deborah! From now on, it should be easy! And fun!

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  8. I can feel you anguish at trying to take pics of the moon. I've tried many times, but somehow it never turns out. So enjoy the beauty in the moment and the image will remain. I think the best "moon shot" that I remember was when Michelle got married - it was a full moon, the evening was warm and they were dancing on the patio - the photographer caught them with the moon in the background (of course, he had the right equipment). Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Yep-the right equipment is the key! Now I'm on a quest! Thank you, Judy.

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  10. Ok, I love your poem and your picture Linda!
    Some things you could try (as recommended by one of my apple digi camp counselors when taking pics with your iPhone (turn on the HDR) and then crop the picture...here's a resource link to more about it
    http://www.macworld.com/article/1154308/hdrdosanddonts.html&sa=U&ei=Tf0xUdj8HtCB0QGjyIHoDw&ved=0CDcQFjAB&sig2=i347z1WR7h2leIkUaZzOxg&usg=AFQjCNG9zAQvyB_k04LWMtc1Zli6qGxPmg

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    1. Wow-thanks, Amy. I will definitely follow the link! I tried turning off the flash, but then there was nothing! Maybe this will work!

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  11. The moon does have power. My husband hates full moons, claims he can't sleep when it's full. I love your photos and poem. Watch the salesman face as you request a camera that can take pictures of shadows cast by the moon. I'll bet that will be a first for him. Good luck in your search.

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    1. Ha! That's a good point Elsie. I suspect I need a tripod & a camera with the capability of a long shutter speed. I am much more energetic around a full moon. Tell your husband I understand!

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  12. You know sometimes I think it is better when we can't capture an image. It forces us into the moment and alerts our senses. It makes us notice and as writers search for the words to describe. Your poem is beautiful and delights me as a reader as I form a mental image of a non- cheesy rose petal moon caught in tree branches.
    By the way I like the images you captured. I want you to be able to achieve just the photos you want, too. But until then I want you to know you've already captured something special in your words.

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    1. Thank you for the lovely comment, Kim. I know what you mean, but I just thought those shadows were so spectacular I wanted to share.

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  13. I love the humor in the last line of your poem--it completely surprised me in a great way! Beware the new-fangled cameras-- we have a high tech one but I miss my older Canon Rebel that is sitting in a drawer while I debate the cost of fixing it over the sadness of tossing it.

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    1. Well, with all my recent expenses, I won't be buying one soon, Melanie. I'll do some heavy research first. Glad to have surprised you with my poem! Thank you!

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  14. I like your pics and your poem. Sometimes it seems the beauty in nature is too elusive to be captured by our machines. Our words can often do a better job of it.

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    1. Hi Mardie, I know. As I said above, I just thought those shadows were so beautiful. I'll need to write about them!

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  15. Rose petal gone astray, love that! The moon, ever inspiring and illusive.

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    1. Thank you Margaret. I just love moon stuff, and I agree that it is inspiring.

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  16. What lovely pictures and words. Can I tell you how glad I'm going to be in touch with you and your musings and beautiful writing again this month? It is my fault I haven't done better the other 11 months, but I am really looking forward to some "Linda time" each day.

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    1. Thank you Karen. I think it will be fun to get to know each other better, too!

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  17. I like the connections. The photos are haunting.

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    1. Since I think of you as the great photo person, that's high praise, Ruth. Thank you!

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  18. Love the photographs - so much like paintings...

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    1. I'd love to have the skill to create those paintings, wouldn't you, Tara? Thank you!

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  19. Your photos are lovely. And the line: it was a rose petal gone astray. Fabulous.
    Happy Poetry Friday and happy SOLC.

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    1. Thanks Jone-busy in March for sure! I do love Poetry Friday!

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  20. I can never take good photos with my phone and Hadley's are always great. Love your poem as always. SO excited to get this party started and back onto a writing routine.
    Tammy

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    1. So, does Hadley have a good camera? Yes, this month will be a good one, I agree, Tammy!

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  21. The moon in Colorado has been gorgeous all week! You definitely captured it with your words, and I also love your second picture too.

    Carol
    P.S. Crumbs is not very far from my house. Not sure if there is somewhere to sit inside, but maybe when it starts warming up, we could meet for coffee and goodies!

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    1. Oh, yes! Then it will be a good reason for finding it! I'll ask my daughter if there's a place to sit. Yes, our clear skies make good moon views, but now I have to stay up late so it will come up over the buildings to the east for me. Different views here! Thanks Carol!

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  22. Love the first lines of this poem....perfect to go with your moon shots.

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    1. Thanks Deb-the moon is magical, & it's fun to think of everyone viewing it from wherever they may be!

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  23. We are beginning our moon unit in science soon. You just inspired in me a great project. Thanks! (BTW: I think the photos are great!)

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    1. Thank you! Look for a book titled Moon Journaling! It integrates all the curriculum areas-a wonderful unit of study. I've done a lot with moon study & it is just a delight!

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  24. Great poem...the last line was a surprise to me too! I love the balance of the "rose petal gone astray" with the "no cheese at all." Beautiful pictures! I think you are exactly right though, I've never been happy with a photo of the moo. Even when it's beautiful in the sky, it just doesn't show up on my screen in the same way. Sad!

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    1. Perhaps I need to write about its elusive qualities? It doesn't really translate through, does it? Actually I think artist renderings do better. Thanks Robin.

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  25. That is a sweet little poem! "the breeze blew the moon" and "gone astray" quickly create a sense of this massive thing being at the mercy of even greater forces. "Rose petal gone astray" -- imagery doesn't get better than that. Wow. And the cheese bit adds a touch of playfulness to the poem without at all detracting from the beauty and profundity of what's come before it (quite the opposite -- it creates a nice equilibrium within the poem). Brilliant piece! :) :)

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    1. Thank you for your wonderful compliments. I wonder if one does better when one writes about passions? I do love moon things, and have studied a lot about it with my students. Hm-m. A lesson to learn!

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  26. I love the moon. Never thought of the moon as cheese, but a rose petal--leads me to gaze more upon this shining night light. Thanks for a new direction on my views of the moon. Mmmmmmm.

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    1. Thanks Tam. I was brought up hearing stories that the moon was made of cheese, hence the reference. Glad you're going to re-see it!

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  27. I know how frustrating technology can be - but you have two beautiful moon photos here! Your poem, your blog post reminded me that I haven't read the children's book Owl Moon to my preschool class this year - I love this book. Thank you for this post, Linda!

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    1. Oh, isn't that the best book? I love moon books-mostly so dreamy & sweet. Thanks, Maureen.

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  28. It's really amazing to think how sometimes our technology just can't come close to capturing the beauty of nature. I know your pictures and thoughts are of the full moon, but I couldn't help but have Langston Hughes' "Winter Moon" pop into my head. If you don't know it, you can find it here: https://sites.google.com/site/poetrypalsfun/home/poems-we-are-reading/winter-moon-by-lanston-hughes

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    1. Wow-thanks Jennifer. Perhaps I have heard of it, but I don't think so. How great. I'll check it out!

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  29. Capturing the moon with any camera can be difficult! But you still captured a great pic with your camera and your words!

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    1. Thanks Michelle. I'm still going to go after those moon shadows too!

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  30. These photos are magical. I can relate to the frustration of not being able to capture a moment that is so truly beautiful that you never want to forget it, then it just doesn't really get captured. Love the poem too!

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    1. Thanks, Betsy-always trying for some new things, I guess.

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  31. What beautiful photography and I love the images the poem evoked. I'm looking forward to reading your Slices this March. :)

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    1. Thanks Julie. I will have lots of time this weekend, not so much later in the week. This is the time I wish I did have vacation, to read everyone's slices!

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  32. I have a love affair going on with the moon (and strong gusts of wind and light breezes and the sun.. ok with most everything then). I lovelovelove your poem, Linda. And while you still seem frustrated with your images, I thought they were beautiful.

    And yes I do take photos of the moon too with my iPhone camera and sometimes I send them to people I love who live faraway. I also have a friend who I'd SMS when the moon is particularly bright, it's just awe-inspiring isn't it. :)

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    1. We are in sync about the moon for sure Myra. It's a monthly gift, isn't it?

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