April 14, 2013

A-Z 2013 the letter M

My "M" word today is moon.

As a child I remember sitting breathlessly as each and every Apollo mission lifted off to the moon. All seven missions were successful.  Six missions landed on the moon, one only achieved orbit around the moon without landing; all between 1969 and 1972. The moon has always been special to me. It has always carried a bit of a mystique maybe my feelings resulted from growing up in the sixties maybe I'm just a romantic.

And then there was the cow, he jumped over the moon! He was some talented cow! Remember the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle? 

This beautiful glowing orb in the sky is the subject of many songs from every genre (to many to list).  There is Moonshadow (Cat Stevens), Moondance (Van Morrison), Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra) and then there’s Harvest Moon (Neil Young). I must admit I know the words to every one of these songs!

The (adult) books about the moon are too numerous to mention but let’s just say if you've have children you'll remember Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown) , I Took the moon for a Walk (Carolyn Curtis), Ladder to the Moon (Maya Soetoro-Ng) which are a few lovely storybooks for the little ones about the moon.




There is nothing better than a sunny day in my opinion, maybe going to the beach or even cooking out with one’s family; that to me is a perfect day. 

But when it comes to romance if I had to choose between the sun the moon, I believe the moon wins every time. There is nothing better than a nice moonlight stroll with your honey to set the mood for romance.

And did I mention many nights I have my camera and my honey when I'm outside under the moonlight? Please enjoy the moon as I see it from my house photographed by me; and I added two of my very favorite moon poems for good measure.



The Moon

There’s a new young moon
Riding the hills tonight.
There’s a sprightly young moon
Exploring the clouds.
There's a half-shy young moon
Veiling her face like a virgin
Waiting for a lover-


by Langston Hughes


The Moon is distant from the Sea

The Moon is distant from the Sea –
And yet, with Amber Hands –
She leads Him – docile as a Boy –
Along appointed Sands –
He never misses a Degree –
Obedient to Her eye –
He comes just so far – toward the Town –
Just so far – goes away –
Oh, Signor, Thine, the Amber Hand –
And mine – the distant Sea –
Obedient to the least command
Thine eye impose on me 

by Emily Dickinson


Fly me to the moon...opps sorry I'm getting carried away with myself! 


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33 comments:

  1. You are obviously quite passionate about the moon! You would likely have enjoyed the view we saw of it rising a week or so ago. It was huge and a bit pink as it rose above the horizon. I love it when the moon is huge like that.

    Happy M day--my post won't be up for a few hours.
    tm

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  2. Gorgeous pictures! I have kids, but I have to admit, I haven't heard of those books, other than 'Goodnight Moon'. I'll have to check them out.

    Have fun with a-z. :)

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  3. Jen, Absolutely stunning photos of the moon. Love that one through the branches. Thanks. God bless, Maria at Delight Directed Living

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Maria I appreciate you compliment.

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  4. As I was driving home tonight, my hubby asked what star was by the moon. I told him that it must be a planet because it was so bright and suggested he look it up because surely something would be mentioned. I thought maybe Venus. Nope, Jupiter!

    I had never thought of moonlit strolls versus sunset strolls. Both sound romantic. I don't know which I prefer.

    Check out my A to Z! Jen Hemming and Hawing Again

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  5. The moon has an aura about it that is mytsical and romantic, strolling by the light of the moon is a romantic thing to do. Love the pictures, they are fantastic.

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  6. Wow, Jen...your photography is AWESOME! I enjoyed the poetry and the list of reads. I was always fond of MoonPies, myself!

    I got a good LOL on your comment...SSS in the dryer.

    My Letter 'M'...Modern Marvels
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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    Replies
    1. Awesome! you're very kind Sue.
      Much appreciated :)

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  7. I love the night when the moon bathes the landscape in silver. I like to walk in the moonlight-I've been known to walk in the pasture and visit my horses under a bright moon.

    Enjoyed the pics and the poems!

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  8. Replies
    1. Thanks Stacy. It's hard to take a bad
      picture of such a beautiful subject!

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  9. Fabulous pics, Jen! I love the day shot with the budding tree branches! What type of camera/lens do you use? I'm a Canon DSLR girl myself! :) Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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    1. I use a Cannon too Angela. I swear I've never read the instructions either, just shoot on auto most of the time.
      The model is PowerShot SX40HS.

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    2. Wow, good for you! You have natural talent!! I use the "bigger" cameras where I can change lenses and still haven't taken such neat moon photos! Great job!! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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    3. Believe me, it's the camera!

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  10. I love the moon, too. I have so many moon and star jewelry pieces because of my fascination with the night sky. lol Fantastic photos.

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    Replies
    1. Actually I don't have any moon or star pieces! I might have to remedy that..mothers day!! Thanks Karen..

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  11. Whoa...those are gorgeous pictures!
    I like the moon too. I remember sitting on my dresser in my room reading books by its light. I love it when my son says "Mom! The moon keeps following us!" when we're driving

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  12. Thanks Kim!
    Did you explain to Chunky it's the same moon that used to be over your house when you were little? Freak the kid out!!

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  13. The Moon's a Balloon - and of course you can gaze at the moon and fall in the gutter. But there's nothing better than moon-gazing :)
    Happy A to Z-ing!
    Jemima at Jemima's blog

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  14. I remember the childhood rhymes, and oh, yes, I love that Emily Dickinson poem. The moon is fascinating, isn't it?
    Nothing like a clear night, with a full moon ... sitting in the backyard and just looking up there ... beautiful and inspiring.

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  15. We live in a rural area and at night without lights the stars and the moon are like its own show!

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  16. Oh how I love the moon (or hate it depending upon the tides..) I miss seeing the clear night sky. Don't get much of those in LA.
    Elliot
    We Are Adventure

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    Replies
    1. I't clear here Elliot without street lights or ambient lights from any cities or towns...
      To bad we couldn't bottle and take it with us when we're not home ;)

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  17. Love your moon photos. There's nothing like a bright, full moon!

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  18. Last night was a gorgeous moonlit night here. Moon was peeking out of some clouds with a bright star nearby all in the branches of our oak. No lights out here where we live, so we just stood outside watching the moon and stars and listening to the peepers on their second night out!

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    1. It was a pretty little sliver here too! Just a bit to small for my camera to get a good shot, but enjoyable all the same.

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  19. Magnificent photos of the moon! Excellent poetry pairings.

    Julie

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  20. Beautiful thoughts and photos! I caught a quick glimpse of a bright sliver of the moon last night as I ran outside for a moment, but it's been a while since I've done much moon gazing. I'll have to take the time soon. . .

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  21. I believe I commented on a moon picture of yours before. You have a view of the moon that I have never seen or that thought significant enough to capture. Very beautiful.

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  22. Great photos Jen. The moon reminds me of when I met hubby when I was 17 and on holiday by the sea.We walked in the moonlight and he told me how the moon lit my face and the stars were like my eyes,I thought he was so romantic but it was just his chat up line but it worked,lol.Love the moon in Turkey the sky is much clearer there and walking on the beach lit by the moon is lovely.

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