Welcome to another Sunday Stills monthly color challenge! For me, the month of March symbolizes all things green, with spring and St Patrick’s Day adding to the mix.
Spring in Eastern Washington is a capricious character in 2023. By now I had hoped to be surrounded by green like you see in the featured image of me surrounded by sunflower plants. Instead, as more snow fell late last week, my potted young evergreens are surrounded in white, quite the opposite of my hope for early spring.
“The pine stays green in winter… wisdom in hardship.” ~ Norman Douglas

Surround Yourself in Green
“Green is a prominent color on our planet and can represent growth, healing, and renewal. To most people, green also represents well-being and tranquility.” ~ JENNIFER OKAFOR

A few years ago, I observed this lucky student who must have needed a rest after the stress of the first week of classes at Sacramento State University. Must be nice to have a hammock handy.

Indoor Green with Spring Décor
Some green décor helps me feel surrounded by green in time for St Patrick’s Day this week! Many of us “Sprang Forward” this weekend for daylight saving time. The mornings will be dark again, but the sun is higher in the sky and the evening light will stay longer. As the Earth tilts closer to the spring equinox, the sunrise moves more to the north each day–the front of our house faces due east.
This week, I captured how the morning sun pours in through the transom window above our front door. The sunlight beams right into our kitchen illuminating the counter and stove.


You can still see snow from the transom window in the above image. Here is what our backyard looked like on Thursday. Friday we had snowfall all day. Fingers crossed this is the last of the winter blast!

Early morning sunrise peeks through our young Ponderosa Pine Tree.

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
Oregon Road Trip
Road trips are a wonderful way to capture landscapes–probably my favorite form of photography.
Last week I took a road trip to Hood River, Oregon to help a neighbor purchase a puppy. We stayed overnight at a hotel on the Columbia River Gorge then drove across the Hood River Bridge to Appleton, Washington to check out the pups. My neighbor ended up not liking the puppies (I know, right??) but I needed a change of scenery and didn’t mind the 5-hour drive each way.


This image is from last September’s road trip with Marsha, as we drove along the Oregon Coast near Tillamook. Is that a lot of green, or what?

“Wilderness is a necessity… there must be places for human beings to satisfy their souls.” ~ John Muir
Back in Nine Mile Falls
The fine folks at our local auto parts store were featured in the local newspaper, written and photographed by yours truly. You can bet I was surrounded by green and the staff’s cheery faces!

Locals in Nine Mile Falls know spring is here when water is finally let out of the Nine Mile Falls dam. However, water won’t be released from the dam for another couple of weeks due to late-season snowfall.

“When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it.” ~William Blake
I was mesmerized the first time I saw the falls in 2021. So much so, I shared the above image with Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday challenge last week as inspiration for poetry. I loved WillowDot’s gorgeous poem included below:
Pure
Water spirits so alive and pure
Dancing in such glory
Mingle with the verdure
Between them they tell the story
Dancing in such glory
Earth and water lushly combine
Between them they tell the story
The mix is spiritual and divine
Earth and water lushly combine
An offering to Nature
The mix is spiritual and divine.
Two elementals true and sure
An offering to Nature
Spirit mists kiss as before
Two elements true and sure
Water spirits so alive and pure
Soon, our neighborhood will be more green than white!

“Nature in her green, tranquil woods heals and soothes all afflictions.” ~ John Muir
Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week
Each week I am inspired by my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I enjoy incorporating these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.
- Cee’s Flower of the Day
- Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
- Lens-Artists: Favorite Photography Style
- Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes: Green and Precious
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
This Week’s Featured Bloggers
Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared their GREEN photos. I add these all week as new links are posted.
- Your Blog Post Shared Here…
- Always Write
- Beachwalk Reflections
- Between the Lines
- Boz Bozeman
- Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
- Colleen M Chesebro
- A Day in the Life
- The Day After
- Easin’ Along Image shared in comments
- Equipoise Life Image shared in comments
- Graham’s Island
- Geriatrix Fotogallery
- Hugh’s Views and News
- Jacquie Biggar Author
- LadyLee Manila
- Light Words
- Light Words
- Loving Life
- Middleton Road
- Musin’ With Susan
- Natalie the Explorer
- Now At Home
- Quaint Revival
- NEW Queen of Treasures
- Philosophy Through Photography
- Roberta Writes
- Stevie Turner
- This is Another Story
- NEW Travelways
- Travel With Me
- Wind Kisses
- Woolly Muses
- The World is a Book
- Working on Exploring
I can’t wait to see how you interpret the color GREEN this week! Join me next week as we explore the theme “I’d Rather Be….”
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truly a conversation with nature . love all
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What a nice thing to say, many thanks, Ram 🙂
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I love that you spoke to Spring with your words, even though you still have snow. And green!? It does have a sense of peace for those who love nature. I love the photo of the sun through the ponderosa branch. The road trip was lush and no doubt reflective for you. People who love to drive find so much to see and think about while on the road. Thanks for the reminder… it’s Sunday.
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Thank you, Donna! I probably speak to spring with green words all year round, LOL! Most of that snow is melting now and I spied a few tree buds so spring is getting closer. Funny, my post was supposed to publish at 7am (New Pacific DST) but it went live at 6am. Happy Sunday and nice to be back in your time zone again! Any sign of a super bloom in your area?
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Oh man!!!! Superbloom is here!!! But peak is most likely a week or so away!
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Hopefully there will still be a show on April 5-6th!
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Should be.
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I do love spring and the rebirth of life. The Celt in me loves green 💚 and the colour always inspires me. I love your photos they speak reams.
Thank you so much for using my poem it is a favourite of mine,even though it is a new one💜
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I have the same Celt genes too, Willow! I don’t know what I would do without green in my life, LOL! Thank you so much for allowing me to share your wonderful poem!
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Terri, love this post and all the ways you captured green. I live in a community that starts celebrating St. Patrick’s Day early in March every year so I am surrounded by green everywhere I look right now.
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Thank you so much, Beth! I’ve been seeing a few St Patty’s day decorations around town here too!
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I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing green until I saw all of your photos! I love your smile standing in front of all of those sunflowers. So warm and happy! You’ve inspired me to hang on a bit longer…spring will arrive eventually. That’s a beautiful inspirational photo to go with Willow’s poem. Happy St. Patrick’s day to you this week!!
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Thank you so much, Shelley! My post arrived an hour early this morning instead of the “new” 7am Pacific DST–whatever–the notifications came pouring in–who needs to sleep after losing an hour? Spring is slow but it will be here for us northerners very soon! Happy St Patty’s Day and I’m off to read your post!
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You’re welcome! LOL on the time change. I was tickled to see your post when it arrived. I had been practicing for the time change (adjusting 10 minutes per day) so that the cats wouldn’t be too upset in their routine. It still doesn’t make it easy to lose an hour of the day.
We’re getting big fluffy white snow all day today. 😫 I can’t wait for spring!
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Sorry to hear, we may have sent our snow your way! I was outside in the 47 degree sunshine for a bit, but rain on the way.
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We had a day that looked like the snow globe was spinning and shaking! The snow flakes were huge. I’d take 47 and sunny…send it our way please 😆
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We are not likely to see much green before mid- to late April here in North Dakota. Hopefully your white will disappear soon!
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That 3-inch blanket of white really melted down in just a short time–a good thing, and rain on the way. I’m afraid to utter to the words “spring is here”…shhh…
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We got an inch or so last night, and I expect another inch in today’s forecast. Woof!!
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We must have sent it your way…sorry… 😦
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The falls pic is awesome – love the green it shows. The pic out the window with the bright green vase is excellent.
With green being so predominant in nature and with spring starting to spring forth (although Cincinnati received a smidgen of snow this morning), a your choice for March is perfect. Interesting that green being so evident in nature, yet green for clothes and decorating is trendy.
Lucky for me, I’ve done a beach walk about green – so I invite your readers to stop by. https://beachwalkreflections.wordpress.com/2021/03/18/52-green/
Hope all is well.
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Thank you, Frank! When that sunlight floods in from the window, it is stunning–I remembered that green vase and placed it up there last week–surely a sign of spring in the house! Hope spring arrives for you soon!
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Nature does love green. It’s the color of health and food (chlorophyl) innit. Thanks for these.
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Thank you, Jacqui! Happy to share all the green I can!
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Nine Mile Falls looks beautiful! We were blanketed with snow yesterday, but today it’s all gone fortunately.
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Thank you, I can’t wait for the water to be let out this season, Stevie! Glad your snow has melted–we’re next!
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I love the color green… it’s full of new life! Thanks so much for all you do for our poets, Terri. Your photos have inspired some amazing poetry. Here’s to the greening of spring! 💚🍀💚
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Green is the best color with blue a close second for me, Colleen! Of course Fall colors are dazzling. I’ve followed a few of the poets and am happy to make some new friends! 🌲💚
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That makes me happy! I love all colors, especially the naturally occuring colors in nature. Those really spreak to me. 💚
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Thank you Terri! https://bozbozeman.com/2023/03/12/a-little-green-for-sundaystills-photo-challenge/
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Gorgeous greens, Terri. The road to Cape Meares is amazing. Did you take that on our trip? I don’t remember anything that glorious! I love the falls and Willow Dot’s poem. Isn’t she something with words?
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Thank you, Marsha! Yes that photo was on the windy road heading the the lighthouse. I must have stopped, LOL. I do love to see the talent in these poets!
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Amazing!!!
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I love this month’s colour, Terri. All your greens are fabulous, it’s made me long for spring.
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Thank you, Cathy, green has so many shades–the sun is higher in the sky, I’m sure the wildflowers will be showing up soon.
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When that snow finally ends, green will be everywhere, Terri. Beautiful photos. That green drive through Oregon is why I love it here, my favorite color everywhere. You can smell it and taste it. And a gorgeous poem from Willow for your gorgeous photo. Wow. Enjoy the last of winter and get ready to glory in green.
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Thank you, Diana! Oregon has such gorgeous greenery for sure. At least we’re surrounded by evergreens!
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I was looking forward to seeing a green puppy…….what with Spring and St.Patties day so close!
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That would have been something, Wayne! 💚
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and I’m pretty sure somebody has already done it!
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Love those green water photos, Terri, and the vase and snow-covered lamp. I hope the snow is finally done with you and you can start to enjoy this year’s spring greenery. I’m glad you enjoyed your road trip. What was wrong with the pups? She just didn’t like them?
Here’s mine this week: https://grahamsisland.com/2023/03/12/the-scenery-is-greenery/
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Thank you, Graham! No more snow on that lantern, still a bit in our backyard, but rain is on the way with temps in the upper 40s. We are already walking through muddy spots in the driveway. The puppies were perfect, my neighbor was just obnoxious–she felt their pedigree didn’t meet her impossible standards, some breeders are like that–too long of a story to tell 😦
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Ah, too bad. I’ve always liked animals from the local shelter. Usually lots of character and as happy to see you as you are them!
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We’ve talked about getting another dog later from a local shelter. Perhaps an little bit older. Those ones really need love.
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I truly love this quote “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
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I agree, Maria, I think as we age, we learn to really appreciate this thought.
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Hi Terri, I loved your theme of green this week. Here is my post: https://roberta-writes.com/2023/03/12/roberta-writes-sunday-stills-and-tanka-tuesday/
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Thank you, Robbie, and great to see your link!
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Hi Robbie, WP is not letting me comment on your post so I’ll leave it here–sorry (so weird)!
Lovely imagery of the water spirits, Robbie! I think they like being disturbed back to life from our long winter, where they can enjoy spring again 😉 Love your green images–I really like that one waterfall–we have a similar one a little southwest of Spokane I need to go investigate!
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Hi Terri, WP has a mind of its own. I am using the new Jetpack app and finding it simply marvelous. All commenting and liking issues are gone now I’ve learned how to use it. Thank you for your lovely comment. I do like your picture contributions for TT, they always inspire me.
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I am enjoying the Jetpack app, too, Robbie, a great improvement!
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That Oregon Coast road image is my favorite and reminds me of last summers CA coastal drive. Sounds like a great puppy road trip down to Hood River. Isn’t that a perk to being retired…you can up and leave spontaneously. Lol. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I hope your cold snowy weather ends soon.
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I enjoyed the road trip once we got there, but the company…not so much. I got some great shots and some warm temps, so all was not lost!
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Gorgeous greens, Terri. My favourites are the photo of your road trip with Marsha, Nine Mile Falls and you in front of the sunflowers. Here’s my contribution this week: https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2023/03/10/visiting-the-arid-house/
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Thank you, Natalie! I can only hope to have tall sunflowers like that in my backyard some day!
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I can’t imagine not liking the puppies, 🙂
But how nice to get away and explore.
XOXO
Jodie
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It was nice to get away and enjoy a change of scenery. Thanks for stopping by Jodie 😁
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Well of course Terri – what color OTHER than green could be highlighted during the week of St. Pat’s ?! Terrific examples – especially loved the trees this week! Hope the snow melts soon!!!
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Well I was trying not be too obvious! 💚 I could do green all year long, Tina, thank you!
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A beautiful set, Terri. My favorites are your nature photos. Here’s a link to my submission, in case the pingbacks aren’t working. https://musinwithsusan.com/2023/03/12/sunday-stills-shades-of-green/
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Thank you, Susan! I’m partial to the nature photos as well 🙂
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Terri. And Happy Spring!
As usual, your photos are striking. I especially love the contrast of the red trim of the hammock against the green background!
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Happy Spring and SPD to you, Donna! I loved that day when I stumbled upon the hammock. And of course, it was strung up by the Parks and Recreation Management building in which I taught classes!
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Oh MY GOSH! Bernie, how amazing, best green ever!
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I almost put this photo in last week’s out of this world challenge. But it fits in this one as well. I would love to have done a whole post as I have a ton of Green photos in the archives but my SIL broke his leg today (10 hours away at work) and so we have 2 kidlets for however long we have them. So, I am not putting it on the list of things I will accomplish this week.
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No worries, I hope your SIL heals quickly. Great that you can take care of the kiddos, Bernie.
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great greens Terri 🙂
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Thanks, LL!
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I love that green vase in the window and that green bridge, that’s cool.
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Thank you so much, Dawn. The sunlight caught both of these so well 💚
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Yes they did!
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Hi Terri, I discovered your blog on WordPress Reader. This is the first time I am participating in your Sunday Stills Challenge. I really loved the pictures of the geese in the green pond and the winding road lined by the trees. Putting below my link to the #green post.
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Hi Ambica! I’m so glad you found my blog and joined my photo challenge! Thank you for those kind compliments! I’m off to check yours out!
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Isn’t green beautiful covered with snow? Well, maybe not what you want in March, but your pictures are lovely. Here’s my take on green, with some waterfalls! https://catsandtrailsandgardentales.com/2023/03/13/washington-my-home-waterfalls-from-the-evergreen-state/
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Green and white look great together and our snow is rapidly melting, Susanne! Many thanks!
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Good to hear!! On this side of the mountains we have pouring rain!
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Rainy here too, snow is melting quickly!
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I love green!!
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I know, right?
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😊
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I love all of these but the top one is my fave!!! IT’s a great photo of you 🙂 I love the wilderness quote too. It’s so true, isn’t it. Also, fun pic of the auto part guys.
https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2023/03/taking-in-life-around-mesundaystills.html
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Terri,
Excellent choice for SPD Week! I love your picture at the top and the green vase in the transom window. You live in a region covered in green (when there’s no snow, LOL), and I thank you for sharing. My contribution is one of my favorite green photos, taken at Watson Falls in Crater Lake, OR. The many shades of green make for interesting contrasts. Happy St. Patrick’s Day–I will enjoy a green beer! Joe
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Thank you, Joe! I probably can’t get enough green any time of year. Hans would go for a green beer, I’ll take a green margarita–Prost! Beautiful image of the falls!
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We’re looking forward to the greens of spring here too Terri. No snow in London, thankfully, but we do feel like we’re a couple of weeks behind where we should be in mid-March. So I loved seeing all your greens, especially that road to Cape Meares 🙂
As you know, when we can’t wait for spring to arrive we take ourselves off somewhere warm, this year Colombia. So I’m taking you to one of the greenest places we visited there, and double-dipping with Jo’s Monday Walks: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/a-steep-walk-in-the-valle-cocora/
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Wonderful photos Terri! I haven’t participated on the WP for a long time, since my life completely changed, but I hope I’ll be able to start posting again.
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Thank you, Tatiana! Hope to see you back again!
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Not sure… should I insert my green road trip here too? I t was more changing from fall to winter season though 🙂 Here it is: Mount Hood Highway Road Trip
https://travelways.com/mount-hood-highway-road-trip/
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This link is just fine 🙂
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Lovely shades of green, Terri. Spring is coming!
https://jacqbiggar.com/2023/03/14/spring-green-sundaystills-photochallenge/
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Thank you, Jacquie! Your link takes me to a “page not found” message…
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Sorry, I have it posting early tomorrow. I wasn’t expecting you to find my comment so fast, lol
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No problem, that is fine! I look forward to seeing it 🙂
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Fantastic, Terri – loved seeing the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River, how beautiful x
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Thank you, Toni. I felt fortunate to be there and capture the late afternoon light!
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The hummingbird lantern is so beautiful, Terri. And your Hood River trip looks like a perfect photo opportunity. A change of scenery is always good.
Fortunately, we have plenty of evergreens here, so don’t lose the colour green during the winter. But I see why you’re getting fed up with all the white stuff now. Looking at the photo of the hammock made me feel very relaxed. It reminded me of lazy summer afternoons.
I hope the green wins out over the whites soon. And enjoy the lighter evenings. Our clocks don’t spring forward in the UK until the last Sunday in March.
You’ll see my entry in my Wordless Wednesday post.
Enjoy your week.
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Thanks, Hugh! The change of scenery was a much-needed dose of spring, in spite of the reason for going. Green is winning, snow is melting, spring is here! Our clock changes didn’t affect the morning light, thank goodness. “See” you soon!
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WOW!
Green, green, green—everywhere it’s and it makes you feel good.
And because we are either busy or rushing, we miss this green.
Nice clicks.
My favourite route leads to Cape Meares, Oregon. It’s incredibly serene.
Many thanks, Terri.
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Green does make us feel good, I’m glad you liked the Green road to Cape Meares, one of my favorites too.
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And it’s so peaceful.
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Love to see this green series, Terri! Winter or Spring is a cool shot. I love the waterfalls and the trees especially. Will join you later. 🙂
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Thank you, Amy! More Green this week, hooray! Look forward to your post!
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Your greens are very cheery Terri and I love the colours in that waterfall and the road trip with Marsha. I’ve been away for a week or so and haven’t managed to join you this week.
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Thank you Debbie! We are getting greener every day as the snow is melting quickly. Join in when you can and perhaps check the Sunday Stills page for upcoming themes 🙂
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Such wonderful greens you shared! I am looking forward to some green where I live. In the meantime,,,
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Thank you, Lisa!
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Here is mine: https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/sunday-stills-surrounded-by-green/
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I enjoyed your sharin’ of the green Terri. We need a little boost with Winter deciding to hang on for dear life, though Spring is on our doorstep. All your greens look so lush and inviting. We had snow squalls that caused whiteout conditions and resulted in a 150-car pileup. It was 130 miles from me, but my area had snow squalls as well. I walked in 10F real feel and 20 mph winds yesterday and it was pretty brutal today as well.
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I’m sorry to hear winter is still slapping the Midwest around, Linda! I was in my first snow squall this winter…wild! My hats off to you walking in 10F! Thank you, I’m glad my bit of green gave you a boost. Here’s hoping spring lands quickly there!
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Our 150 car pile-up from the squall made all the news stations – today was like a real Spring day, but back to rain two days and wintry mix … walking is one step forward, two steps back these days!
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