photo challenge – Hummings from Paradise

chaos, Colombia, Colombian life, expat life, friendship, Grief, Hurricane, mother nature, photo challenge, photo challenge, Signs of the Universe, Uncategorized, Waiting

The World Waits with you Florida!

Posted on September 9, 2017 by hummingsfromparadise

DC 8 chairs — This photo is so cool because you can see people waiting outside the windows

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/waiting-2017/

I awoke this morning early to the sound of rain. I love to hear the soothing sound of the raindrops as I lay in bed. Then I remembered that my home state of Florida is being hit by monster storm Irma. So I am waiting along with the rest of the world for the aftermath. The storm has downgraded to a Cat 3, but you have that storm surge and the possibility of regaining strength as it heads back over the ocean to the Keys. Please get to a shelter and be safe! I am watching from Colombia in my Bed and Breakfast hotel Villa Migelita. I am here for anyone who is without a home after the storm. All you need is a passport, no Visa needed for up to 3 months. I am offering my place for just my costs to anyone who needs a place to stay while repairs to your home occur, or until the electric comes back on. We have temperatures in the 50’s at night and up to the high 70’s Fahrenheit at my Villa. We do not use air conditioning at Villa Migelita. No need. If you don’t want to live in that heat of Florida without power, you can get a flight to Cali, Colombia and stay here. I remember very well the after effects of hurricanes as a native Floridian. It is hell. Literally. Also I will give food and shelter at such a reasonable cost, home cooked meals, maid service, laundry and free wi-fi. Remember I am a direct flight to Miami from Cali. I am here, I am ready and I am waiting to help. Villa Migelita has the American flag flying and the Colombian flag beause we all support the USA in this terrible time of super storms hitting without normalcy

Butterfly video and photos 008 — Both flags fly at Villa Migelita

You can have a wonderful experience in a perfect climate without stress, and I will be here to support and help in any way I can. Michele

Alternative Lifestyle, Colombia, Colombian life, Color and Colombia, corners, expat life, friendship, minimalism, Perfection and Peace, photo challenge, Uncategorized

Corners are Intersections of the Soul

Posted on August 23, 2017August 23, 2017 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/corner/

Pacific coast festival 017 — Two people converge

This photo says be you, be happy, enjoy any moment in time when you feel happy, Chat, share secrets, laugh, whisper, live in the now. Celebrate life, celebrate being unique. Celebrate you. Celebrate friendship, develop culture and travel experiences. Don’t allow the negativity of the world to undermine your happiness, nor allow any person to change the way you feel, act or think. This photo conveys to me a shared moment in time. An innocent moment that we all can achieve, if only we stopped comparing ourselves to others. We can never live perfectly, but we can try to live peacefully. This photo captures that.

camping, Colombian life, expat life, Order, photo challenge, photo challenge, Uncategorized

Order in Colombia

Posted on June 7, 2017 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/order/

Camping photos — Such perfect order of my animals looking at the camera

Like always, I am going to share some favorite photos I have taken in Colombia, my new home and country. As an ex-patriot, I enjoy my life in this country that is so full of color and beauty. With that I say: ENJOY. PS: We now offer camping at Villa Migelita.

Medellin 036 — Order in the barrios of Medellin and a little chaos too

Lisel y Nicole — My housekeepers twin girls, I bought the headbands to tell them apart.

Perfect order of flowers growing on a roof in a Colombian park

animal rights, Colombia, Colombian life, Color and Colombia, expat life, nature, Nature Symbolism, photo challenge, Uncategorized

Earth Day

Posted on April 19, 2017April 19, 2017 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/earth-2017/

Earth day is April 22, a favorite day to me. The Earth is substantially more than just us humans. It is every little creature that surrounds us to bring our ecosystem in sync. Look at my cover photo carefully. You will see the tiniest little wasp.

Ducklings and wierd catapiller 021 — The arrow points out the tiny wasp on the Canna Lily

Without bees, wasps and all insects we would not have flowers. We would not have pollination, we would not be alive on Earth. So when any of us use products from Monsanto, or any poisons we are killing the Earth. We are destroying the planet for future generations. These little insects that bother us are very important links to the salvation of the Earth. They are an important part of the chain of events that allow us to live on the planet Earth with water, air and food.

So when I take my photos of nature I always keep in mind that all of nature is intertwined. We humans are not superior to any animal or plant that lives in this Universe. Remember that when you see the ice melting, the water being polluted, and the fish dying in the oceans. We humans are the murderers. We are killing this planet with greed to make money. We are the ones who can stop this before it is too late.

Colombian life, Color and Colombia, expat life, photo challenge, Uncategorized

Close up and Personal

Posted on April 15, 2017April 15, 2017 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/surprise-2/

Pictures can share more than words. I have always said the eyes have it. Enjoy!

nature, Nature Symbolism, photo challenge, Uncategorized

The Magic of Nature

Posted on November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/magic/

Whenever I do these photo challenges I always look to my favorite subject. Nature. I can find magic every single day I step outside and look around. Sometimes, even in my house. The butterflies and hummingbirds have free rein in my house. In Colombia we leave our doors open in the main areas off the balconies. They enter sometimes, and I rescue them. The cover photo is the Owl Butterfly of Colombia on a wall in my kitchen. This video shows the encounter which was magical. Colombia has a slogan Magical Realism. The photos I am sharing will show this to be true. It is magical to live in this beauty.

butterfly-in-the-morning-hike-on-top-of-mtn-014 — A beautiful butterfly on a hike (there are two see if you can spot the other)

A full moon over the mountains is enchanting no matter where you live. But there is something mystical about this picture that is a bit eerie in a good way.

the-moon-and-construction-034 — Full moon in Colombian mountains

dogs-flowers-bird-009 — The light reflecting through the center of this flower is pure beauty and magic

Finally this photo of me on a trip to Bogotá is spiritual in a way that brings to mind otherworldly images. It was taken without any filters, nor did I use any photo shop. It just is one of those photos that when you go through your images you do a double take.

bogota-063 — Street art in Bogotá, Colombia

Colombia, Colombian life, nature, Nature Symbolism, Uncategorized

The Brilliance of Nature

Posted on October 21, 2016October 21, 2016 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/shine/

My cover image is an iguana that looks like it is an extension of a leaf from a plant. I believe it personifies how easily the light can change the way we see things. I only saw this iguana because my dog was barking. I went to look and there was this beautiful iguana.

When I hike the butterflies are everywhere. Sometimes you can miss them because they blend in with the nature around them.

butterfly-and-iguana-015 — This butterfly blends in with the rocks

A tree stump with the beautiful Blue Tanager of Colombia. The sun was setting and the flowers of Colombia are so brilliant, I could easily think this gorgeous bird was a bloom of a plant.

pictures-near-vets-house-018 — Azules pajaro de Colombia

Then there are the actual flowers on my farm and bed and breakfast Villa Migelita. The way they grow so beautifully reaching towards the sun.

misc-farm-025 — A new sunflower opening to the sun

This photo of my dog Orion stretching is wonderful, you might focus on him and miss the landscape that is in the background, highlighted by the late afternoon sun.

misc-farm-042 — The sun going down in the background highlights the foliage

Finally as the sun goes down at Villa Migelita itshines upon the ducklings, you have to look carefully or you could miss them in this picture of activity.

Colombia, Quest, Uncategorized

Pericos, a Park in Colombia

Posted on September 24, 2016 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/quest/

These photos are from an incredible hike I took in a park here in Colombia called Quebrada Perico, near Buenaventura, Colombia. It is the definition of a quest and one of the most difficult hikes I have ever done. It is a climb up waterfalls, mountains and natural pools.

baude-climbing-up-cascade — My friend climbing up a small waterfall

pericos-and-bird-videos-033 — hiking through this

Adventure travel does not do justice to the beauty and bio-diversity of Colombia.All of the images above are from a day filled with memories and adventure. The country of Colombia is full of fun and excitement. Every department has so much to offer.

Uncategorized

Let Your Morning Become Your Soul

Posted on August 6, 2016 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/morning-2016/

My morning is about my animals. I have dogs, cats, a parrot and two ducks. They are always waiting for me to come down in the morning to feed them. They have a routine, and that routine is part of me. I never sleep in since my daughter passed away, and it is with great pleasure when I look outside and see them waiting. My dogs have their own house with their dog beds to sleep in at night. My parrot has a cage with the door always open. All my animals live a free life. My ducks are even there in the morning reminding me they need corn in their bowl. They are all part of my soul here at Villa Migelita. It is delightful for my guests to sit and have breakfast while my parrot Luci sits outside on the window looking in at us. She is quite social and puts on quite a show for everyone who visits. She loves to be part of everything.

Morning and Luci is watching

Her antics

I see you

Luci wanders and sits waiting

Luci, Poco and Corazon

My mornings are my favorite time of day. I feel the vibrancy of all life and the Universe through the love of my pets. They uplift me, they give me my will to make myself a better person. I try with every part of my being to live up to what they share with me, unconditional love. Nature and all that it offers is part of my spirit. Nature and animals define me. I live to feel their love. With that I sign off with the requisite picture of the sunrise, but one that is amazing. A hummingbird in the sky.

hummingbird in the sky cloud — A hummingbird in the sky for all to see.

Uncategorized

Opposites do Attract

Posted on July 1, 2016July 1, 2016 by hummingsfromparadise

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/opposites/

Nature. So many opposites are always confronting me. There are the hummingbirds who are all different species here at Villa Migelita. They are definitely opposites! Even if they are the same species. They fight and fight each other all day long…and if there is a wasp they hover around it until they can find a time that is safe to land for their precious nectar.

Then there is the animal and human connection. However, we co-exist so beautifully. I love this photo that I took recently. Love is in the air!

Then there is my bird Luci who is a total and completely fearless little being. She has clipped wings but that doesn’t keep her from being mobile. She is always terrorizing my dogs…sometimes she stands where they leave to go out to the yard and bites their feet when they pass…they run from her. It is really funny. I wake up every morning and smile when I see big Orion run away from her.

How about age? Here is a photo of me dancing with a man that is part of my family who is now 104 years old…amazing really. He still dances and enjoys life with zest…I could be his granddaughter!