This poor #robin was suffering intense 100+ heat, literally panting to cool off. His ruffled feathers also allowed heat to escape from his head. For the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #headshots. #photography #wildlife #nature

#MountSopris for #scape day. I have the privilege of house sitting for six weeks each fall while staring at this amazing view out the window. Couldn't be luckier. #photography #ColoradoUSA #sunset #CrystalRiverValley

For the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #WingsWideOpen, this busy #hummingbird was filling up on the last of the fall nectar before heading south. Oct 2025, Carbondale CO USA. #photography #nature #wildlife

From new bride to Rosie-the-Riveter to mourning one of her own in #WWII. When my mother died at 87, we found diaries and letters we did not know existed. Home Front is a deeply personal story from both sides of the war effort. This book is to honor her sacrifice. #nonfiction #novel #author

My first novel was based on five characters, one of whom was the catalyst for some pretty dark stuff. After I'd finished writing his thread, I brooded for a month over the ugliness I had to conjure. Not as dark as some fiction, but still creepy. #novel #sciencefiction #author #melindabhipple

. between birdsong . . . the clatter of a plastic cup . #haiku #senryu #Japaneseshortform #not575 #linkandshift #haijin #melindabhipple

#Monarch Migration 2016 for #stunday. Had as many as six of the regal #butterflies working the tiny urban garden across the street that day as they took a break from flying south. It's heartbreaking that I see so few monarchs in the garden these days. #photography #wildlife #melindabhipple

Two graphite drawings done from photos taken in the same session. My ex and my son. The quote in the second piece: "My son asked what I had lost in Viet Nam. I told him 'my innocence.' Later, I realized he had given it back to me." #drawing #blueskyartshow #graphite #melindabhipple #portrait

Dad bringing home the bacon. Got to watch the parents for several minutes as they scavenged food for this fledgling. #BirdOfTheDay theme #robins #photography #wildlife #nature #parenting #melindabhipple

Another stunning sunrise from my window. #sunrise #photography #EasternKansas #ViewFromMyWindow #melindabhipple

. scolding her dog . . . the echo of her mother’s voice . [From #strawberrymoon coming soon from Imperium Publishing.] #haiku #JapaneseShortForm #not575 #linkandshift #poetry #melindabhipple

Just Passing By: for #WaterWednesday A pond on a nearby campus is the recipient of many a student's goldfish at the end of the spring semesters. They can reach nearly a foot long in the confined space. This dragonfly was keeping an eye out. #photography #melindabhipple

Merriam wild turkeys scavenging through the yard for the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #LinedUp. Carbondale CO USA. #photography #wildlife #melindabhipple

#BirdOfTheDay theme #Breezy. Two wild Merriam turkeys taking a break on the lawn. The wind picked up substantially and ruffled some feathers. #photography #wildlife #Colorado #melindabhipple

#BirdOfTheDay theme of #Raptors. This #BaldEagle was hanging around the Crystal River in #Colorado. #photography #melindabhipple

Happy Mother's Day. #muledeer #motherandchild #wildlife #photography #stunday

Thunder On the Bricks: a classic souped-up car show. We had a beautiful day for it. They rumble in over three or four hours in the morning, but once the winners are announced, they're gone in 30 minutes. 🤣 #photography #classiccars #melindabhipple

Into bad puns? Ant Trails just might be up your alley. Follow the "antics" of these scavengers as they go on a hunt for a pizza crust. And look for the word "ant" alone or hidden in other words 58 times. #booksky #children #youngadult #author #illustrator #melindabhipple #imperiumpublishing

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #photogenic. A red-tailed hawk in light snow. I'd been watching him from the kitchen window and had my telephoto trained on him. He eyed me for a bit and then took off. #photography #hawk #wildlife #melindabhipple #elkmountains #colorado

#Miniature watercolors donated to the Lumberyard Arts Center's "Chocolate Auction" over the years. From the "Kiss" series. I miss that event held Saturdays before Valentine's. "The Kiss" "Seal with a Kiss" "Kiss Me, Too!" "KISS" "Kissin' Cousins" #watercolor #artwork #blueskyartshow #melindabhipple

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #InMotion. A Merriam's turkey strutting through the yard. Carbondale, CO USA. #photography #wildlife #melindabhipple

. strands of seaweed on the beach we tell stories of dragons . [From #strawberrymoon coming soon from Imperium Publishing.] #tanka #JapaneseShortForm #poetry #melindabhipple

A magpie taking a break in the Colorado mountains. I loved the contradicting angles of this shot. #BirdOfTheDay #black #photography #wildlife #melindabhipple

#WindowsOnWednesday #HeinekenBrewery #Amsterdam #photography #melindabhipple

For the #birdoftheday theme #dappled. A #fledgling robin waiting for mom/dad. One of the parents was not far away. #photography #robin #wildlife #urbangarden #melindabhipple

#MountSopris #MountainMonday #photography #landscape #colorado #carbondale #melindabhipple

That perfect few moments in a cloudless sky between pure indigo and pastel peach when the horizon seems to catch fire. That same color as the robin's breast that sings me awake each morning. #sunrise #photography #blueskyartshow #melindabhipple

"The essays will have you laughing out loud one minute and holding back tears the next, all while wishing you could have experienced these stories firsthand." — Casey Wright #bookreview #booksky #author #memoir #melindabhipple #imperiumpublishing

🎶 "It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood A beautiful day for a neighbor Would you be mine? Could you be mine?" 🎶 #sunrise #photography #melindabhipple

#BirdOfTheDay #BeautyInBrown This barred owl was hanging with its partner on the local golf course. This one was braver than the other and let me get fairly close. #photography #blueskybirds #melindabhipple

. robinsong do you understand a whit of it little wren? . #haiku #senryu #linkandshift

. writer's opus in a bottle of ink the first word . This is the #haiku that inspired the title for my first book of #JapaneseShortformPoetry published in 2020. The poem demonstrates the concept of "narrowing focus." #linkandshift #not575 #haijin #poetry #author #melindabhipple

Breathe.....

The FBI case against the Southern Poverty Law Center basically says that if you donate money to the SPLC, then they use some of it to pay informants to infiltrate white nationalist organizations to uncover stuff like this.

A day late for UNESCO's #WorldBookDay. Reading was always an escape and solace for my inner child. Though it took far longer than I'd hoped, the dream of authorship finally came to fruition late in life. Now I can't stay in my lane. 😆 #author #blueskyauthor #melindabhipple #ReadingIsFUNdamental

A #graysky for today's #blueskyartshow. Taking what little color saturation there was down to zero intensified the mood outside my window. Still love this view, though. #photography #monochrome #meindabhipple

Honored to have a senryu spotlighted in this week's Fallen Petals. Thanks, Sean.

#NASA's Artemis II photo of earthset should inspire us all to take care of the only home we have. #EarthDay2026

A very localized spot of color this morning, but pretty. #sunrise #photography #EasternKansas #melindabhipple

TOMORROW NIGHT, APRIL 21ST: I'll be speaking at the Burlingame Kansas public library and peddling books, including my newest release "Three Minutes of my Time." Event starts at 7 p.m. 📚 Could also be a good night to stop in #TheDen for dinner. 🥘🥂 #authortalk #burlingamelibrary #melindabhipple

Wandered the neighborhoods a bit yesterday. This male American robin was very cooperative. #birdoftheday #robin #photography #melindabhipple

. pandemic the echinacea blooms anyway . . heavy rain the steady pour of vodka . [From "in a bottle of ink" 2020, Imperium Publishing] #haiku #senryu #Japaneseshortform #linkandshift #not575 #haijin #poetry #author #melindabhipple

It was John Roberts, in the library, with the candlestick. He bludgeoned democracy. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/supreme-court-shadow-docket.html?unlocked_article_code=1.b1A.FxoT.q8DznIwJdMNM&smid=nytcore-ios-share #SCOTUS #supremecorruption #goptraitors #GOPSedition […]

. bitter wind last night’s snow falls a second time . [From "strawberry moon" coming from Imperium Publishing in 2026] #haiku #internationalhaikupoetryday #Japaneseshortform #linkandshift #not575 #haijin #poetry #author #melindabhipple

A little feed cleanse. Melon-colored morning. #sunrise #photography #melindabhipple #blueskyartshow

Just discovered #PortfolioDay. It's been a while since I've drawn a portrait for commission, and I have to admit that my focus is currently on writing. But I can get lost in the detail of a graphite piece when I fully connect to the subject. #blueskyartist #drawing

. shattered glass a web of moonlight . [From "in a bottle of ink" 2020, Imperium Publishing] #haiku #Japaneseshortform #linkandshift #not575 #haijin #poetry #author #melindabhipple

For #stunday - A predawn silhouette of lacy trees against a starry sky with #Venus the brightest spot in the upper left. From 2023, Carbondale, CO USA. #photography #melindabhipple