Sunday Miscellany

The forsythia branches in the pitcher on the dining table have popped into cheery, vibrant bloom.

On Friday, at a stop light in Asheville, the shape of the tree against the sky caught my attention and I just had time to dig out my camera and get one quick shot before the light turned green.

Also on Friday, heading to Hot Springs at sundown to do a talk and signing for the Friends of the Hot Springs Library, the sky demanded that I stop and take its picture.

And in the morning sun, the amaryllis extended its green tongue a bit farther.

Circuit of the Sun

The moonlight made the dogs restless and they paced and whined and generally disturbed our rest. So when the room began to brighten yesterday morning, I just pulled the covers over my head in hopes of a bit more sleep. 

But then I couldn't resist coming up for air to see what the morning looked like. All I had to do was lift my head and open my eyes. 

And what a reward! A sky full of pink cloud sheep -- moutons, as Miss Yves tells me the French call the clouds when they flock together like that. 

I don't know how many sunrise pictures I've taken over the years. A lot.

Here's a slide show of sunrises from January to January. I love watching the sun's movement from south to north and back again.

Remember, click on the slide show to biggify the pictures.

 

Mackeral Sky

Mackerel sky, mackerel sky,
Never long wet, never long dry. 

That's what we had Friday morning -- a sky filled with rows of cirrocumulus or small altocumulus clouds, named for its resemblance to a mackeral's skin and usually indicating a change of weather.

The temperatures climbed into the forties, icicles were hurtling to thhe ground, and the sun shone all day. But the sky and the online weather forecast are predicting more snow on the way.

And on the north side, which includes our driveway, the snow hasn't melted. And it's not even winter yet.

Other Mountains, Other Skies

On the road from Mars Hill to Asheville -- the skies and mountains are beautiful -- even from a supermarket parking lot.

And farther on, the sky was so compelling that I had to pull off the interstate to take another picture.

The views from our porch will always be my favorites, but there are great shots everywhere. 

Heavenly Weirdness

A nebulous flying saucer, its death ray aimed at the Blue Ridge?

A transmogrified contrail?

Observed and photographed Monday at around 7 pm.

My September Goodweather Report is up HERE.

Sky Light

Morning sun boils up 

Beyond the fog-cloaked mountains . . .

A new day begins. . .

Late afternoon clouds,

Blushed with the sun's parting kiss,

Make way for the moon. . .

Floating luminous

In the still sky . . . spell caster,

Dream weaver . . . night's lamp.

Cloudy, With Intermittent Green

This is one of my favorite color combinations -- purple-grey clouds and and yellow-green foliage.

And it's only in Spring that the trees display this particular tender, light-filled shade of green.

The sky was extra dramatic yesterday, after Tuesday's rain, tempting me

to pull over and take pictures as I drove to Burnsville for my class.

Just as tempting was a mass of mayapples,

growing on the bank of the road up to our house. . . 

and the tree peony's first bloom, greeting me as I got out of the car.

The Long View

Another cold day, temperatures in the teens.
Morning snow gave way to blue skies;
By afternoon the clouds were rolling eastward.

Masses of pearly clouds mimicked
The snow-covered slopes . . .

And both blushed in the light of the setting sun.

Variable November Skies

Look down, look up -- there's always something to see . . .

(Click on the slideshow to go to full screen viewing -- really, it's worth it!)

The Heavenly Flocks

Sunday morning and what a pleasure to see blue skies above the mist rising from the river!

Those skies were a delight and wonder all day long with their great flocks of fluffy white clouds sweeping overhead, crowding and jostling together as they moved ever eastward.

The clarity of the atmosphere and the pure Carolina blue of the sky were intensified by the seemingly endless ranks of billowy clouds.

By evening though, like good sheep, they were gathered into the rosy fold beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Leaving the heavenly field clear for dreams.

Random Bits

We get lots of rainbows -- this one was especially low. Once we had a tiny one, stretching from the barn, across our drive way, and into the pasture. We haven't found the gold yet.

But the butterflies have found the butterfly bush . . .

Biggify to see the half-rainbow emerging from the trees on the left. . .

At the back door, a Georgia O'Keefe sort of grouping. . .

Stormy evening sky . . . more rain ahead.