I Lift Up Mine Eyes ...

It had been another one of those changing weather kind of days - alternating sun, gray skies, a threat of rain followed by more blue sky. Then after dinner the wind kicked up and storm clouds gathered. In no time rain was pelting against the north-facing windows. But as suddenly as the storm had come upon us, the wind blew it southward.

The sudden quiet made me glance out the window and I caught the remains of a double rainbow. I figured since I was outside with camera in hand I might as well also capture some of the summer blooms, freshened by the rain. I was absorbed in catching the raindrops hanging from petals and bees scurrying to gather nectar in the golden hour.

I finally lifted my eyes when I came around the west side of the house and was greeted by a sky in turmoil. Another storm further away had roiled the sky in the west while at the same time the sky in the northwest was trying hard to revert to blue. It made for an awesome sight ...

[Have a listen to an oldie goldie below while you relax here for a few minutes]

The Beauty That Surrounds Us (Reprise)

I'm working on an assignment for a client who is in the business of enticing people to take a pause from the hustle and bustle of life by enjoying a week of cottage living in beautiful surroundings. He rejuvenates tired cottages that once served that purpose.

I went out earlier this week to capture some of that beauty in an area about an hour's drive from our place, where the cottages are located. I could easily post a dozen photos but I think you'll 'get the picture'.

[Coincidentally I posted under this same title almost 3 years ago to the day - it just seemed fitting again]

I've looked at clouds ...

"Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way ..."
Judy Collins "Both Sides Now" (1969)

I'm a self-confessed cloud watcher - I've been known to grab the camera when interesting cloud formations appear, out of the blue so to speak. As I returned from taking my grandson on a little picnic this past week, I pulled over along the side of the highway to grab a few frames of a scene I had made a mental note of on the way out. And tonight there was an interesting lit-up formation which reminded me of the cloud that lead the Israelites through the desert.

And I've looked at clouds from both sides too but it's the fascination I recall.

In the blink of an eye

And just like that another month has flown by since I was last here. Since then my (camera) sensor has been exposed to the light many times, primarily while capturing family memories - which I'm still sorting through and developing in LR.

I'm not sure how your summer's been going but we haven't experienced very much typical summer weather (yet). Today was literally a 'wash' along with temperatures that didn't hit 60F (14C). Yesterday afternoon we scrambled to get the bbq'ing done before we were hit with another thunderstorm. I resumed my LR editing after dinner until I suddenly noticed a bright glow out the window. In the blink of an eye the sun had burst out from behind a bank of dark clouds and cast a brilliant light on the yard. Of course yours truly rushed out to watch the spectacle (not sans camera).

The brilliance lasted mere moments and then our world darkened once more. But a couple of hours later an eye in the sky opened as the sun set and the Master produced another of his master pieces for our viewing pleasure.

Fortuitous ?

It was the evening of Good Friday. My wife glanced out of the front window and called me to come see the sky - I couldn't see it from where I had been sitting. On instinct I grabbed the camera since I hadn't captured a sunset for some time. I was stopped in my tracks before I got 10 steps out of the front door (1st photo). After taking in the scene I hurried over to the canal across the street (2nd photo).

There was nothing fortuitous about this moment. I'm not a believer in fate or chance or luck but I believe things happen for a reason - even though that may not be revealed now or in our lifetime. But it was easy for us to join the psalmist: "The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of his hands."  [Psalm 19:1]  If you're inclined, you can make this your prayer today also (click on the link and listen as you look at God's handiwork as captured below):

Going ... going ...

Sundown

The summer sun is sinking low;
Only the tree-tops redden and glow:
Only the weathercock on the spire
Of the neighboring church is a flame of fire;
All is in shadow below.

O beautiful, awful summer day,
What hast thou given, what taken away?
Life and death, and love and hate,
Homes made happy or desolate,
Hearts made sad or gay!

On the road of life one milestone more!
In the book of life one leaf turned o'er!
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done,--
Naught can today restore!

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]

An autumn evening

I couldn't conjure up appropriate words for this evening's display, so I turned to the muse.


An Autumn Evening

Dark hills against a hollow crocus sky
Scarfed with its crimson pennons, and below
The dome of sunset long, hushed valleys lie
Cradling the twilight, where the lone winds blow
And wake among the harps of leafless trees
Fantastic runes and mournful melodies.

The chilly purple air is threaded through
With silver from the rising moon afar,
And from a gulf of clear, unfathomed blue
In the southwest glimmers a great gold star
Above the darkening druid glens of fir
Where beckoning boughs and elfin voices stir.

And so I wander through the shadows still,
And look and listen with a rapt delight,
Pausing again and yet again at will
To drink the elusive beauty of the night,
Until my soul is filled, as some deep cup,
That with divine enchantment is brimmed up.

[Lucy Maud Montgomery  1874 - 1942  author of Anne of Green Gables]

A Welcome Back

It's been a hectic, but fun, few weeks. I've had to leave blogging, but not the camera, aside while we renewed relationships with family and friends, literally across the country. As I find time over the next couple of weeks I'll post a few highlights, and will come round to visit you again.

In the meantime these scenes in our backyard this evening put an exclamation mark behind the last few weeks.

The Heavens Declare ...

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
...

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
...
    
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
...

Praise the Lord.

(from Psalm 148)


I was reminded of the awesomeness and majesty of our Creator many times this past week as the heavens declared His glory in our back yard.

Chasing the sun

I set out late one afternoon recently, during the short interlude between visitors, to search out a location to capture a sunset. Heading west on a nearby island I thought it a certainty to find an ideal spot along the coast. Much to my chagrin I found that access in most areas was blocked by impenetrable mangrove swamps, and what wasn't blocked by nature was blocked by man - manicured lots surrounding waterfront mansions. I watched the sunset that evening from the car as I returned home, my camera's shutter having remained undisturbed.

A couple of days later, however, I set out again. Despite being delayed, first by a malfunctioning traffic signal, and then by a police standoff along my intended route, I made my destination in time. Perhaps I need to set the alarm again soon to capture the sun breaking out a new day versus chasing the sun at the end of the day.

Regardless of whether we see sunset or sunrise, we can say with the psalmist, "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

Winter(e)Scapes

If you are given snow, make lemonade ... or something like that.

Weather forecasters, who had provided dire predictions of a green Christmas, were proven human after all. On top of the 25cm/10" we received just before Christmas, we were 'blessed' with another 30cm/12" the day after, and yesterday's forecast of 'flurries' added another 10cm/4". I consider my request for a good dump of snow during our time up north to be fully satisfied.

And as with so many situations in life, we can accept if not entirely embrace what befalls us, or we can cry foul and bemoan our fate. Life can be viewed as being a cup half full or half empty. I have a great admiration for Job's faith, although I would not want to see mine tested like his was.

May you see beauty in God's good creation each day in the New Year. And put your trust in Him.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Drive-by shooting

Shot on our way down south ...

Speechless Sunday

Moments in the sun(set)

[perhaps the prayers of many were answered last night - we got some much-needed rain]

The sky looked promising today with what appeared to be moisture-laden clouds. However, other than a bit of verge, they didn't release their contents on us. But they did provide the backdrop for a wonderful sunset - for which we are also thankful.

This cloud was headed east, illuminated by the late afternoon sun

Shadows lengthen as the golden hour approaches

Won't be long before the sun disappears over the horizon

Clouds to the east bask in the last light of the day

While in the west the sun's light has almost been extinguished

However, the best was yet to come

It still had to proclaim its creator's glory before the day was done

And then it bid adieu to us and bonjour to people in the west

As dark clouds started to obscure the last colour to the east

Sunset metamorphosis

... shot from our back yard,  in less than 30 minutes.

[we will be traveling over the next several days - I hope to catch up with all of you toward the end of this new week]

Tarry a moment ...

Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon
Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape;
Twinkling vapours arose; and sky and water and forest
Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together. 

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

The Master's Brush

The day I tire of sunsets will be the day I tire of life.

To watch a sunset evolve over the evening is to watch a master painter at work. The constantly changing light, colour, and shapes make for an awe-some display. No two moments seem the same. I was able to replenish my supply of sunset shots one evening last week while we enjoyed some 'down time' with family.

While technically it's no longer Sunday here, it's still Sunday out west where Scott initiated the Sunset Sunday theme.

[now that I'm back in blogland I shall be around to visit you this week]

(10-22mm  f8.0  1/100 sec  ISO200)