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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 12h

Across the street, beside the Lumberyard Art Center (which I posted interiors of earlier) is the Tom Swan garden. A place beyond home and work where I spend a great deal of time. My "third place." #BlueSkyArtShow #3rdPlace #BNWmacro #ClassicMono #EastCoastKin #photography #flora #lily #UrbanGarden

Extreme closeup of a yellow lily in black and white. Only one petal is fully visible as it curves away from the center and curls downward on the right. Sunlight is casting shadows of the pistil and stamen on the petals to the left.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 19h

#BlueSkyArtShow #3rdPlace Someplace I frequent besides home and work. Our community turned a century-old lumberyard into an art center with a gallery space, central hall, classrooms, and a catering kitchen. In the heart of downtown. #photography #ClassicMono #EastCoastKin

Black and white image of a gallery wall with five graphite drawings hanging above a chair rail and wainscotting. There is a low bench to the left.

Black and white photo of double panel doors open to the gallery space beyond. There is a stand with guest book to the right.

Black and white photo of the central galley showing the original architecture of the lumberyard which once allowed vehicles to drive through and load building supplies. Above are multiple open crossbeams and upper windows letting in sunlight. Below are doors to the gallery space and catering kitchen, and double doors in the back that lead to what will become a live theater space.

From inside looking out the glass double doors that lead to the street. The doors are surrounded by additional floor to ceiling windows.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 21h

Alan's #BirdOfTheDay is #Black&Red. A red-bellied woodpecker searching out insects. The actual amount of red on their underside is minimal, but they have a lovely red cap. #photography #wildlife #ECK

A woodpecker with narrow black stripes on its back and wings and a bright red 'cap' above its eye and down its neck is clinging vertically to rough bark on a large tree trunk.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Our largest local #butterfly, the #GiantSwallowtail feeding on a coneflower. The topsides of their wings are predominantly black with yellow accents, and the undersides are the opposite. So delicately beautiful. #FlyDay #EastCoastKin

A giant swallowtail butterfly is standing with its wings folded up on the spiny central disk of a coneflower. The body of the butterfly is soft yellow. The underwing is predominantly yellow with thin black lines that outline a series of yellow spots in two rows up and down the wings. The center disk of the coneflower is orange with multiple drooping pink petals. The background is green lawn in soft focus.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For Helen's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #BestBeaks I'm hearkening back to my fav molting #cardinal dad. He was so attentive to his young one. That bright red beak certainly stands out from the black face. #photography #wildlife #ECK

Closeup of a bright red male cardinal standing on a large boulder. He is sideways to the camera but his head is turned toward us. His topknot is missing and his feather look a bit scruffy. The background has soft-focus greenery and flowers.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

In their day, the parts inside and outside this box did a pretty remarkable thing. For the #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekMForMachinery. "One ringy dingy..." "Is this the party to whom I'm speaking?" #photography #ECK #CrankPhone #RememberPartyLines #EavesdroppingOnYourNeighbor 🤣

Photograph of a vintage telephone. A large wooden box with two bells side by side near the top. In the middle, the large round microphone extends toward the camera and is the only thing in clear focus. On the left, the earpiece rests in its cradle as the cord dangles down and back. On the right is the stem that once held the crank. At the bottom is an angled shelf once used to hold phone books, etc.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Atlantic Birding set today's #BirdOfTheDay to #Black&White. This #raven was keeping an eye on me as I took a walk. It even followed from treetop to treetop for a bit. #photography #ECK #wildlife

A raven sits on top of a slender dead tree branch that rises vertically alongside two others. The bird is tilting head down with its tail feathers spread wide and its wings tipped up.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As I topped the stairs in the #TateModern art museum in London, I turned to see what I thought was a work of art. And then the restaurant-goers on the other side of the frosted glass moved. #HumansOfBlueSky #UrbanGaze #photography

A dark landing at the top of stairs with access to elevators. The far wall is floor to ceiling frosted glass. Behind the glass are two high-top tables with two people sitting at each one. Their dark figures are blurred and vague.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"Lolly" - I researched, and most likely a jaw injury caused her lazy tongue. Even so, I saw her two years in a row, the second with a yearling. She was snatching up leaves from the lawn when she saw my movement in the window and looked up. 🤣 #photography #wildlife #MuleDeer #ECK #humor

Closeup of a mule deer face looking at the camera. Her tongue is hanging out of the left side of her open mouth, and there is a leaf stuck to the end of her nose. I saw her two different years, and looked up what might cause her tongue disorder. I worried she would not do well, but the second year she was back with a yearling.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We had a recent vintage and muscle car show downtown. For the #AlphabetChallenge #WeekMForMachinery and #ColorADay #RedWed. Bonus self portrait in the fender of number two. #photography #EastCoastKin

Extreme closeup of the front of a vehicle painted bright red. The front angles down into a V shape with a chrome "8" resting in the middle. Behind are openings that allow a view of some of the internal parts such as the radiator.

Extreme closeup of the front of a vehicle painted bright red. Angled from the side, the closer vintage headlight rimmed in chrome is in focus while the distant one is blurred. On the far left, there is a reflection of the photographer in the fender.

Extreme closeup of the front of a vehicle painted bright red. An older classic car with chrome headlights suspended on a rod that stretches from fender to fender in front of the radiator grill. Shot at an angle.

Extreme closeup of the front of a vehicle painted bright red. The image is centered on the back of the driver's side mirror. The lower part of the chrome mirror is reflecting the bright red of the driver's side door below it.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Rob's end of September challenge for #BirdOfTheDay is #BestOfTheMonth. Since most of the bird population has abandoned us in my area, it comes down to my morning #crows. 1) Murder and 2) Liftoff. #photography #UrbanWildlife #ECK #ViewFromMyWindow

Three crows are standing on a sidewalk after the rain. Two are sipping water from a tiny puddle. The view is looking down from a second story window, and there are soft focus trees in the upper foreground. Monochrome photo.

Two crows are at the top of the front facade of an old lumberyard turned art center. Only the upper portion of the building is visible, and has a few Christmas lights along the right edges. Left of center, one crow is standing on the facade while the other had just lifted off. Its wings are spread wide, and its legs are hanging down.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

For the #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekMForMachinery, I'm offering the works of two beer companies 4,800 miles apart. First, the retired vats at the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam, Netherlands, now a museum. Second, Tommyknockers microbrewery in Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA. Cheers! 🍻 #photography #ECK

From the second floor looking down on massive copper vats with large copper chimneys set against a room covered in off-white tiles. There are a number of tourists checking out the machinery involved in brewing large quantities of beer.

Black and white photo of three smaller stainless steel vats in a moderately-sized room. A half wall holding potted plants separates the out-of-frame restaurant that serves fine dining along with the beer brewed at Tommyknockers in Idaho Springs.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Rob has chosen the #BirdOfTheDay theme as #EFG. This female #Goldfinch is checking out the competition at the bird feeder. I don't think she needs to worry. #photography #wildlife #ECK

A female goldfinch is clinging to a loop above a bird feeder holder that is made of a green curved rod. Opposite her is a decorative metal bird, and they are face to face. The background is soft focus grass.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Helen's #BirdOfTheDay is #BokehBirds. Birds with soft focus backgrounds, and bonus points for bokeh balls. This #robin was trying to cool off on a very hot day. #photography #wildlife #ECK

A male robin with a bright orange breast is standing on a large limb, his head turned to the left. The feathers on his head are spiked up and his beak is open as if panting in the heat. The background is soft greens and browns with several "bokeh" balls (soft focus circles) around the bird's head.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This weeks #AlphabetChallenge is #WeekMForMachinery. Sheena didn't say it had to be in working condition. 🤣 (And a bonus cat in the mix.) #photography #ECK #SeenBetterDays

A broken down wagon barely holding together. Two wood-spoke wheels seen from an angle. The wheels and hubs are rimmed with rusting metal. The floorboards of the wagon are loose and scattered, some falling apart completely.

A photo of one of the wheels face on. At the lower left is a gray and white cat sitting in the shade of the wagon.

The wagon viewed from a distance, showing the rotting boards that no longer are attached to the frame. The metal on one wheel is falling off of the wood. The wagon is surrounded by dried yellow grasses.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

While visiting San Fran's MOMA, my son stepped up to a Rothko to give it a stare. I noticed his torso disappeared into the painting, while the museum brochure brought a touch of orange out of the frame. #ColorADay #OrangeSun #AlphabetChallenge #WeekLForLookingIn #OneWithTheArt #ECK #photography

A young man in blue jeans and navy sweater is standing in front of a large Rothko abstract with orange and navy rectangular fields on a brown background. The man's sweater blends into the navy field at the bottom, while his head juts up into the larger orange field. In the man's hand is a museum guide with an orange cover that is hanging at this side, crossing the bottom of the painting's frame.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Atlantic Birding has set today's #BirdOfTheDay as Seabirds, and the alt as #Airborne. I was so tickled to catch this shot of a crow taking flight. Rather comical, those scrawny legs. #photography #UrbanWildlife #ECK

From a storefront rooftop, one crow is standing on a ledge while the other has just taken off. The bird in flight has its wings spread wide and is tilted left. It's thin legs are hanging straight down from its body.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

From a photo shoot some time ago. The young lady is off to college now. As much fun as she was having then (her own pose), she hates this photo now. Hopefully, she'll appreciate it again when she's older. #AlphabetChallenge #WeekLForLookingIn #photography #ECK

A young girl with short red hair is peeking through a handle of curved iron atop a gate.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Waiting for someone to open the door. This cat must have had a home nearby, but spent most of his time on campus, getting treats and head scratches from students. He'd show up in the occasional classroom. #Caturday #HonoraryAcademic #BakerUniversity

A yellow and white cat is sitting on a step, looking back as if waiting for someone to let him in the green door of Mabee Hall, Baker University's historic building that houses the departments of Business, Psychology and Sociology. It is also home to the athletic director and physical education department.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I wonder what wattage of bulb turned the upper part of this shade black. Looks like a fire hazard. 👀 #BlueSkyArtShow #Lights #AlphabetChallenge #WeekLForLookingIn #photography #EastCoastKin

Looking in from the bottom of a lamp shade at the harp and bulb. The shade is orange, but has turned black around the top. There is plastic covering the fabric, so the light from the bulb is reflecting in strange patterns on the shade.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Rob's #BirdOfTheDay themes are #Pairs and #Green (in the background). These were two of a half dozen #magpies scavenging in the yard and calling out to there cohorts. #photography #wildlife #ECK

A pair of black and white magpies are standing next to each other in the grass and facing left. Both have their beaks open. Behind them are the the spiky leaves of a yucca plant.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Today's sunrise was overcast and drizzle. Oh, but yesterday...! 😍 Had a busy day and couldn't sort through until this morning. It was softly spectacular. #photography #sunrise #ECK #EasternKansas #ViewFromMyWindow

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

From a few years ago. This area of Colorado is desperate for more moisture these days. Here's hoping. This particular morning, fog rose from a fresh snow as the sun came up. #Scape #ForestFriday #ColorADay #BWFri #ClassicMono #ECK #MountSopris

Black and white photo of the edge of a yard covered in snow. There are two trees -- one standing tall on the left, the other bent in a semi circle near the center. Behind is a mountain valley leading up to Mount Sopris in the distance, shrouded by light fog. There are broken clouds in the sky above.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Rob set the #BirdOfTheDay theme as #Borbs and the alt as #Brown. Wild Merriam #turkeys seem to fit both. Such big bodies and teeeeny little heads. #photography #wildlife #ECK

Seven wild turkeys are gathered on a gravel road next to a lawn. Six are searching the gravel for insects and seeds. One is looking at the grasses growing on the far side of the road.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Once again, I will be performing some of my work at the Spoken Word event in Baldwin City, Kansas. Oct. 9, 7:00 p.m. #reading #LumberyardArtsCenter #LiteraryEvent #prose #poetry

Image is a flyer for the Spoken Word: A Literary Performance event. A light green background with graphics of a pair of hands holding a book and of a microphone. At the bottom is a list of fourteen featured artists.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This tiny urban garden is across the street from me at the heart of our downtown. I've taken literally thousands of photos there, mostly of butterflies and bees, but a fair amount of other insects and birds. #UrbanGaze #ColorADay #YellowThu #photography #ECK

An image of lush foliage in a compact space. There is a brick path at the bottom, and the hint of a brick building behind a dark green hedge. In front of the hedge is a tall, pyramid-shaped, bright yellow trellis waiting for a vine to start climbing. To the right is a large boulder beneath a small blue spruce tree. Closest to the viewer are hanging limbs from a tree in shadow with a stone bench below.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Helen set the #BirdOfTheDay at #TheDivers or alt #BirdStare. Since I don't spend a lot of time around water, I'm going with this #thrasher caught wandering our local uni campus. Well,...who caught who? #photography #urbanwildlife #ECK

A brown thrasher with a white belly covered in dark short streaks is standing on a concrete wall and staring at the camera. Behind it is a dark green hedge with bits of fall color.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLForLookingIn Interesting juxtaposition of the century-old lamp post and the modern lighting in a classroom of the local university science building. #photography #architecture #ECK

A double window in a pale gray limestone building. Outside is a classic lamppost painted green with a frosted glass shade on top. Inside are several contemporary round light fixtures.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Caught an #AmericanKestrel pair hanging out in my little downtown a couple of springs ago. (I omitted the more amorous photo. 👀) For Atlantic Birding's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #Raptors. #photography #wildlife #ECK

Looking up at an American Kestrel pair sitting near each other on a bare limb with smaller bare twigs reaching into a blue sky.

The kestrel pair are sitting some distance apart, with the male turned away to preen his feathers.

The kestrel pair is sitting several feet apart and both looking off to the left.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This week's #AlphabetChallenge is #WeekLForLookingIn. Our local EdwardJones office and downtown trees decked out for the holidays last Christmas. A warm light on a cold night. #photography #ECK #UrbanArchitecture #SmallTownCenter

Night shot of the front of a Victorian-era office building. The surrounding building is dark with scattered lights in the local trees. The center is a set of tall windows framing a warm interior of a brick wall on the left, pressed metal wall behind desks, and a hallway leading back on the right. There are strands of lights hanging down from each window, and a silhouette of a wreath on the door. Above the windows is the brightly lit EdwardJones sign on the exterior of the building.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Autofocus totally missed the mark on this one, but for some reason, I love it. Makes me laugh every time I see it. For Rob's #BirdOfTheDay #Redheads, a female #cardinal tending to her nest hidden in the hedge. #photography #wildlife #ECK

A female cardinal is sitting atop an evergreen hedge with dappled trees in the background. The depth of field is very narrow, so the foreground and background are blurred. The cardinal is just enough back of the thin line of crisp evergreen sprigs that she is blurred a bit. She's staring into the camera.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Alan is calling for #LightAndShadow in today's #BirdOfTheDay theme. Dappled light through the leaves highlights the eye and beak of this #robin. #photography #wildlife #ECK

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Sorting through more #bumblebee photos and found one of the sharpest "in flight" pics I've ever captured of a bee. Love their little fur coats. #photography #ECK #wildlife

On the left is a purple petunia. Hovering just right of the flower is a bumblebee in flight with its back to the camera. Its back legs crossed, its wings spread, and its antennae visible from the far side.

The bumblebee is sitting at the opening of the petunia, gathering nectar.

The bumblebee has just moved to the edge of the flower and is preparing to take off.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Went chasing critters again today. Saw #bumblebees and no honeybees, and very few butterflies. So sad (and worried) that there aren't more insects of every kind. But this was a special moment. #photography #ECK #wildlife #CommunityGarden

Photo of a bumblebee on a soft lavender-colored flower, and another one flying in from behind.

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Melinda B Hipple, author&artist @melindabhipple.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#MountSopris in the Crystal River Valley. In five weeks, I will be staring at this amazing view again for a month. It never gets old. #Stunday #sunset #OrangeSun #Colorado #EastCoastKin #photography #HouseSittingGig

A view looking up the Crystal River Valley at sunset. The landscape is dark with only a hint of light reflecting off of the river in the lower right. Mount Sopris, dusted with snow, rises into the sky. The clouds and the snowcaps are bright orange from the setting sun out of frame to the right. There is some blue sky still visible.

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