Evening Clouds

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak late Sunday night and early Monday, August 12, we opted not to stay awake to watch this annual event — maybe next year. 

Earlier tonight, the sky was beautifully dramatic even without bits of meteor debris swirling about. These views were taken from our back porch.

This event occurs annually in mid-August when Earth travels through a region of the solar system swarming with debris from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. The shower is named after the constellation Perseus, since that is the point in the night sky from which the meteorites appear to originate.

While these bits of debris is about the size of a dime, the intense friction created when they fly through gas surrounding Earth makes them burn bright enough to be visible from the ground.

Did anyone stay awake to catch this event?

Looking UP

There's always something to photograph whether looking down or up. And, when your digital camera includes special effects filters there's even more fun.

These cloud formations were photographed this week using a small digital camera, Canon PowerShot Elph 100HS. The camera offers an Auto and Program setting with some special effects. 

While I used the Poster and Super Vivid effects, I didn't make note of which was used for each photo (whoops).

These "before" and "after" photos were taken using the camera's auto setting (left) and the program/effects setting (right).

As shown, these effects are even more dramatic when the clouds "cooperate."

Have you taken YOUR camera out for some photo fun lately?

Photos are NOT clickable to enlarge . . . WHY? It was composed on a MacBook using the MarsEdit blog program. This program does not provide the same features as Microsoft Live Writer blog program does for PC blogging. There is NO similar software for Mac users (SIGH).

Before the Storm

If you live on the East Coast of the US or have listened to the weather in the last few day you know we have had some rain here. In New Hampshire we also had wind as two lows pressure systems came together. This combination produced some spectacular cloud formations. These were shot in North Conway NH on October 19 late in the afternoon. I have adjusted them a little to bring out the contours of the clouds.
 
Grenville

Stormy Weather (Not the Song)

Storm clouds have been gathering lately . . .

Hopefully, it will be clearing soon . . .

And, better (perhaps) sunny days are coming . . .

Maybe even this week?

Hope that your weather is doing better than ours.

Natural Highs . . .and NOT

Home Again on the VA eastern shore after a  week-long road trip to NC to celebrate the 14th anniversary of our 1st date by riding a train, touring a national park, and hiking to an observation tower. Boy, do we know how to relax (?).  We had a GREAT time. Grenville had his first-ever train ride in the engine cab. Needless to say he was excited – didn’t it show in his recent post and videos.

Our actual wedding anniversary (#12) is in August. We already have something special planned – of course, we’ll be posting about that too and sharing with everyone !

Cloudscapes viewed on the drive from Bryson City to Durham, NC.

The clouds looked ominous, but the weather was not and there were only a few raindrops. We had a few rainstorms during the trip, but nothing compared to the week-long soakings all along the U.S. east coast. The flower and veggie gardens here at home needed lots of watering on our return yesterday.

Clouds are fascinating to watch, especially when Grenville is driving and l’m in the passenger seat. This group looked like a giant plane. What do you think?

Gas prices were up and down from NC to the VA eastern shore – LOW of $3.69 to HIGH of $3.99/gal and everywhere in between. The average at home now seems to be $3.75/gal – down 14 cents from $3.89 when we left over a week ago.

Unlike clouds, none of these are natural.Could this be a sign (sorry, couldn’t resist) of lower prices to come – or a temporary drop before a summer season rise?. The next few months will let us all know.

ANY gas price drops in your part of the country/world?

In the Clouds

Cloudscapes provided some beautiful views along Sunday’s drive from the VA eastern shore to Haw River, NC.Today, more along the route from Haw River to Bryson City, NC with lots of mountain views.

When we left home, gas prices had dropped from highs of $3.89/gal (regular) to “lows” of $3.83 to 3.85. So far, prices in NC have ranged from a low of $3.73 to $3.89. That $3.69 price seems the lowest, but only with purchase of a car wash; we left before asking how much that would cost.

U Tell Me

As you may have noticed in reading recent posts here and here, Clouds have lately become a bit of a photo obsession (OK, one of my many). Obsessions ever happen to you?

This cloud caught my attention on our Saturday excursion yesterday; it intrigued me so that rather than include it in the previous post, I opted to try some PhotoFun and let you all decide what it resembles – U Tell Me – what YOU think it looks like. Indulge me, folks cause my mind sometimes usually works in strange ways (and sometimes mysterious ways) just ask Grenville.

This is how the photo was taken originally taken . . .

This is the result AFTER it took a 360 turn to be upside down . . .

Here’s the original and modified photos together.

What do Your impressions ?

OK, me first – it looked like a large fluffy bear when it was turned upside down.

Clouds & Cameras

The forecast was for another day of scattered showers. Since there was no outdoor work to begin, Grenville and I headed to the closest “big city” shopping area of Salisbury, MD to check out a new digital camera for him.

The skies were beautiful when we started out around noon.

The further we travelled, the more spectacular the skies became – what rain – surely the forecast was wrong.

Then, we noticed that the closer we got to Salisbury, MD, which is about 90 minutes from home, the skies were darkening – a lot.

Soon enough, they opened up. Luckily the downpour stopped by the time we reached our destinations, Best Buy and Staples stores.

Grenville looked at the models available in each store. While he didn’t buy one today, he’s narrowed the search to Canon digitals,  possibly the PowerShot S130.

We don’t go on shopping excursions very often. Our options are somewhat limited where we live, so we often order online. However, some items like cameras are best seen and handled to get the “feel” of them. I was  able to check out a Nikon D90 which is the digital SLR camera I posted about earlier and plan to buy soon. It was heftier than  expected after reading some reviews; it still remains my top choice as have a couple of lenses to fit it.

The weather improved considerably on the drive home and we were treated to some beautiful sunset scenery.

Clouds were not the only interesting sights today. I shot these trees (using a camera, of course) while Grenville was busy driving.

Even though we didn’t buy anything, except copy paper at Staples, it was a good day to get out for a drive. And, we both got to check out what might become our next digital cameras.

We hope you are having a wonderful weekend too. Sunday is supposed to be sunny and rain-free here. YEAH!

Fickle Foolish Friday

We had no unusual April Fool’s surprise from Mother Nature today, unlike several fellow bloggers who either woke up to another snowfall or were expecting one this weekend. Folks in Minnesota and Wisconsin you know who you are.

Spring appeared here briefly, but now has retreated for awhile. The a.m. started off with morning drizzle and the threat of showers, which never developed. As we were travelling around today, I brought the small (6MP) Panasonic digital camera; the screen was impossible to see, as I snapped these “skyscapes.”

Daytime temps barely got out of the mid-40s. A brisk wind was blowing all day which made it feel much chillier.

By day’s end, there hadn’t been any more rain, but the sun was still playing hide-n-seek at day’s end.

A Peak at Peaks

YES, this was our last day in Maine, so we took a trip to a place that is special to one of our followers and a good friend. Also $4.10 round trip was cheaper than a harbor tour cruise.
Peaks Island is actually part of the City of Portland, but once here you would never know it. After a very cold ferry ride we stopped for coffee at the Peaks Cafe, a place where you felt right at home when you walked in. So at home that if you sat in someone’s favorite chair they would tell you about it. Today was chilly, windy, and full of dramatic clouds again.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We didn’t walk the whole island due to the chill and a 25 mph breeze. Here is a sample of the cottages we saw.
 
This one is for you Possum. We put a bid in on this lot for you. Only problem is I can’t remember what street it was on.
AND YES…. we have your rocks.
 
 
The strangest pic of the day was this one. Notice the California plates  and the cord to plug it in. So the question for me would be, if they drove it here where did they plug in and recharge crossing the desert, plains, mountains????