thursday’s special

Haibun: Autumn Equinox

We’re enjoying an Indian Summer. Here and there some leaves are changing colour, a few float along the stream into the pond. The only cygnet that remains is showing his first white feathers. His parents have changed their plumage too. The sun travels lower through the sky, wrapping our world in warmest light.

one last wave
before the muddy roads
autumn equinox

swan parents in new plumage on either side of their growing cygnet

Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday and a happy September Equinox tomorrow.

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5 – 1/30 s – ISO 200, f/4 – 1/250 s – ISO 160 and f/4 – 1/400 s – ISO 200.

Frank J Tassone’s Weekly Haikai Challenge #105: September Equinox

Paula’s Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in September (Yr 4) – Avian

Sunday Stills: Signs of Autumn

Haiku: Time to Paint

Peacock Butterfly

ready to paint
september’s butterflies
in the garden

macro shot of a peacock butterfly feeding on a magenta Duddleia

We’re delighted that this haiku is featured in Haiku Dialogue: Poet’s Choice, artist studio, Troutswirl, The Haiku Foundation Blog, 18 September 2019. A very big thank you to Kathy Munro for putting this edition together.

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/4 – 1/400 s – ISO 100, f/4 – 1/500 s – ISO 100 and f/4 – 1/1250 s – ISO 100.

Sunday Stills: Favorite Sport or Hobby

Paula’s Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in September (Yr 4) – Fluttering

Word of the Day Challenge: Love

Haiku: Ladies Bonnet

close up shot of blue ladies bonnet flowers and buds with raindrops

light rain
the stillness she adorns
ladies bonnet

The Ladies Bonnet flower is also known as Columbine or Aquilegia.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/2.8 – 1/250 s – ISO 100, f/2.8 – 1/320 s – ISO 100 and f/2.8 – 1/400 s – ISO 100.

Carpe Diem #1728: Columbine

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Paula’s Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in August Yr 4 – Adorned

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #60: Framing the Shot

Wordless Wednesday: Flowers in the Detail

macro shot of forget-me-not open flowers and buds

Thank you for all your good wishes before we went on our Summer break, we hope you all enjoyed your week too!

I’ll be catching up on my reader and wish you all a wonderful Wednesday!

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/4.5 – 1/1250 s – ISO 100, f/4.5 – 1/1250 s – ISO 160 and f/4.5 – 1/2000 s – ISO 160.

Wordless Wednesday

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #54: Detail

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Close-Up of Flowers

Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in July (Y4) – refulgent, nuances

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Gratitude

Haiku: Tranquility

rear view of the head and neck of a mallard drake, his feathers shimmering in the sun

tranquility
a mallard duck basking
in the sun

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/2.8 – 1/1600 s – ISO 160 and f/2.8 – 1/1000 s – ISO 160.

Carpe Diem #1638: Tranquil

Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: Sunshine

Paula’s Thursday’s Special: Pick a Word in April Y4 (resplendent, alluring)

Haiku: A Drop of Bliss

macro shot of rain drops inside young green leaves

water falls
between growing leaves
the pure land

Wishing you a very happy Monday and a wonderful new week,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/80 s – ISO 200 and f/3.5 – 1/125 s – ISO 200.

We are delighted that the above haiku has been included in the Haiku Foundation’s EarthRise Rolling Haiku Collaboration 2019. Our haiku Celtic Mist and Garden Buddha are also included. A very big thank you to Jim Kacian and all at the Haiku Foundation who helped put this project together.

Carpe Diem #1622: Kumano Kodo … CD Imagination

Paula’s Thursday’s Special: Pick A Word In March Y4 (inversion, circuitous)