Blue Skies

After the bitter cold, snow, and ice of last week, Sunday dawned clear and almost balmy.

Time for a little walk.

Ah, those Carolina Blue skies!

 A day like this could make me believe in Spring  . . .

Morning Rime Ice and Afternoon Clouds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Blue Ridge

Yesterday morning's snow was quickly gone -- here at least. On the distant (and much higher) Blue Ridge, the snow stayed . . . 

When they are snow-covered, rising above darker mountains, the peaks of the Blue Ridge make me think of pictures of the Himalayas.

A bit of an exaggeration, I know.

At sunset, the ridge goes pink, as do the clouds above it -- reflecting the sunset we can't see,

Cloudy . . . Clearing Late

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.