SkyWatch ~ Weather coming in . . .

When I see promising clouds like this, I rejoice. There is

nothing like a a good drenching for garden and paddocks alike

and some healthy run-off into our storage tanks.

When no-one provides reticulated water for you, you have to

conserve and manage what the heavens send you.

With a hot, dry summer coming up, every drop that comes

our way is precious, so thank you, you beautiful cloudy skies.

Watch the skies for the wonders they bring, then share them on SkyWatch Friday!

SkyWatch ~ Darkening skies

One evening at Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South

Australia, the sky looked quite promising for an interesting

sunset . . . giving a whole new meaning to pole sitting . . .

Clouds were gathering and showing a nice touch of colour,

until just a few too many arrived and the light found it

difficult to break through

and a few minutes later it started to pour. I just managed

to tuck my camera safely under my jacket and arrived at

our lodging absolutely dripping.

There are brilliant skies all around the world just waiting for you

to appreciate them. Do click on the Logo to join in or just to look around.

SkyWatch & Nature Notes ~ 3rd. Blogaversary!

It is exactly three years since my darling daughter bullocked me

into starting a blog. Insecure and mainly computer illiterate, I made

my first tentative posts mainly to have somewhere to show some

photos of my way of looking at the world.

I don't know how it happened but over 600 posts and 300 followers

later, I am humbled to have so many friends around the world and

more grateful than I can possibly say to have been welcomed into

the blogging community with such open arms.

I wish to thank you all for having taken me to your hearts. You all

have made this old lady with a camera, a very happy bunny indeed!

All of you have been like this shining cloud for me, pure joy.

The seasons this year are very confused, like this spider outside

my room with his stash of food bundled up to feed her babies.

Our lovely English Leicester ladies smiling after being 'crutched'

( having their backsides shorn to prevent fly-strike).

One of the chores when the grass greens up in autumn.

It is two weeks to mid-winter here and my garden not only

is bursting with spring flowers but roses as well. How on

Earth am I going to get them all pruned when they look like

this?

Certainly not something one expects at this season of the year.

My Hyacinths are popping up like Johnny Jump-ups.

Violets are flowering everywhere,

Jonquils smile from hidden nooks,

and Snowflakes are ringing their little bells earlier than ever.

Although the sheep got into the garden and trampled the broad

beans, they have set and ripened at least four months early.

Luckily, we have had no bad frosts so our lettuces are doing

well, also very unusual for this time of year.

Most plants are well in advance of their season except these

apples, which were late in ripening and are still being enjoyed

straight off the tree.

The biggest anomaly is this flowering cherry tree which has

swelling buds when it has never in 40 years, flowered before September.

SkyWatch and Nature Notes, Memes that wave been kind to me, click on

either Logo on my side bar to join in all the fun.

SkyWatch ~ Arno Bay Sunset

The sunset across the bay looked quite promising

until the clouds rolled in and put a damper on the proceedings.

Luckily a few holes appreared

that added some interest after all.

They are a bit better enlarged . . .

Thank you SkyWatch team for providing this venue.

SkyWatch ~ Clouds in a Sky of Blue

This week I photographed enough skies for three posts.

I loved the stairway to heaven and the fluffy clouds next to
the solid sheet across the sky. I also delighted in the way it
all grew over a space of a few minutes.

At the end, the sky was quite different again.

enjoy the skies of the world by clicking on the Logo.

Thanks to the SkyWatch Team our eyes have been opened to

so much beauty in the sky.

SkyWatch ~ 53 Turbulent Melbourne skies

All photos enlarge with a simple click.

The skies held magic as we spied Melbourne from
the main highway from Sydney.



Normally this country mouse is not too happy in a
city environment but Melbourne is a city dear to my
heart, after all we lived there for twenty years.



The city centre is almost unrecognizable from that
we left in 1971 but it is very alive and growing.
Heading along a 6 lane highway at 110kph shooting
was not perfect but the clouds certainly were.



Arrived at my sister's house we celebrated my
birthday and even the sky got in on the act by giving
us a glowing sunset.



Click on the Logo and join the meme or just enjoy the skies.

Thanks to Klaus and the skywatch team we see wonderful
skies every week.

SkyWatch ~ 48 Melbourne and Vicinity

For more effect and greater enjoyment, please ENLARGE.

Coming into Melbourne, Victoria from the east, the sky
looked threatening as I wielded my camera while the
Prof. drove at a steady 110kph .



Getting out of the car at my sister's, the sun lent a
golden glow to the houses on the other side of the road.



The dark clouds and slanting light brought out the
red in the recently cut Eucalyptus branch seen from
our bedroom window.



Heading home along the Western Highway next day,
we passed Ballarat and caught a glimpse of the rainbow



over the completely dried out Lake Burrumbeet. Although
the water levels have often fluctuated in this lake, in our
40 years of driving past it and having picnics there, we
have never seen it in this dessicated state before.



This last drought was definitely no joke.

To fly to other skies or join in, click the Logo.

To Klaus and the SkyWatch Team, thanks guys for this great meme.

SkyWatch ~ 25 Summer Cloud

Enlarged they are much more effective.

Fickle Clouds

Clouds rolling by

the sky may darken

and to them

watchfully we hearken

*

The thunder rolls

with promise deep
yet all their drops

of rain they keep

*

and do not spare

from their great bounty
a drop to wet

the ground so bare

*

to those who wait

and watch and hope

the fickle clouds

say one word: Nope!

To fly the skies, click on the Logo.

Hats off to Klaus and the SkyWatch Team

for minding this extensive meme.

Skywatch *2

A rare phenmenon, especially in southern climes.

In 70 years of observing the sky, I have only encounterd

it twice: the sun's seldom seen off-sider, the Sun Dog or parhelion.

Mainly seen when the sun is low in the sky, there can be four of these

at the points of the compass around the sun. On very rare occasions

they can mirror the sun and form their own pups as well.

Coloured parhelia are formed by light refracted through ice crystals.

If you find it hard to spot, it's the tiny rainbow in the centre

of the picture!

The road home.

With my trusty camera of course.

Happy skywatching, click on Skywatch on the

right and browse to your heart's content.