** I LOVE LOOKING AT CLOUDS! **

Look what I saw in the sky this afternoon!

A Sea Horse!!

* HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS?! *

Ron and I enjoyed the lovely weather today, sitting on our patio. It was quite a bit cooler than yesterday, when we had a record high temp of 80+ degrees! But it was beautiful and I was comfy with a lightweight jacket.

 

I've always loved "sky-watching," being awed by clouds, jet contrails, birds in flight, sunrises, sunsets, the moon, and stars, etc. 

 

 

Looking almost straight up at one point, I spotted a section of a rainbow curving over the top of a huge cloud! I haven't searched for any information about this yet, but all I could think at the time was that cloud must have a lot of moisture inside it!

 

I honestly didn't think my little cell phone camera would capture it, but I'm thrilled that it did! (If you click on the photo, you can see a much larger view of it.)

 

Have you ever seen a rainbow like this?!

 

 

 

“Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends.”  ― Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry    

* I WONDER *

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER "I WONDER"

 

 

 

The Ronald had a medical test done yesterday morning (nothing serious) and he needed someone to drive him home, so I drove to and from. It was a crazy, rainy, windy day....but very scattered. We didn't see any rain until we were almost there. On the way home, it was dry for a few minutes, and then a deluge, and then dry again, etc. I love being in a location, looking across the horizon, and seeing exactly where the rain is pouring down from the clouds.

 

The clouds in the photos below are obviously NOT those kinds of clouds, though!

(You can click on each photo to see them larger.)

 

 

I am always in awe and wonder when I look at clouds. 

 

 

 

I found these clouds particularly interesting because of the dark and light "waves." And does anyone also see a couple of white, thin clouds, that slant down at the bottom of the "waves"? (I'm not even sure how to explain it!)

 

These aren't good photos, that's for sure, but I took them with my cell phone from inside my car!

 

 

"You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds." - Henry David Thoreau

 





* I WONDER *

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER I WONDER

(which I haven't written in a LONG time!)

 

 

 

 

I wonder how many people (adults and children alike) still look up at clouds and find joy in "seeing" various things: animals, objects, faces, etc.

 

I've enjoyed doing that for many years and I believe it's one of my favorite simple pleasures, but I had no idea there is an actual word for it: Pareidolia: (par-i-DOH-lee-a) Seeing Faces in Unusual Places.

 

Various websites can easily be found, explaining more about it, and it really is an interesting subject, to me, anyway!

 

So, why am I writing about Pareidolia in my "I WONDER" post?
 

WELL, this afternoon I washed out Vern's food and water bowls with an SOS pad, and then instead of throwing it immediately away, I put it aside on top of a paper towel. Then I finished rinsing and drying, and put the bowls back on the floor.

 

When I looked back at the used SOS pad, I laughed out loud, because this is what I saw:



From this angle, I see a cute, little animal face, like a baby seal.  

 

 

 

 

From this angle, I see a scary face: scary eyes,

 and a screaming mouth.

* I promise I did not touch the pad or change it in any way. I just took the top photo from an angle and this one I took straight on.
 

 

  I wonder.....what do YOU see??



* WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY *



The Ronald realized a long time ago that I am very easy to please, which is something I'd already known for years! We talk about it off and on in an abstract kind of way; wondering why some people behave the way they do.

 

Are we just born with certain traits or do we learn them? What exactly do we inherit from our parents and other ancestors?

 

I like to believe that my way of looking at life is a combination: I was born with some happy characteristics and I also learned by example. In my very young years, I was a bliss child. There was lots of happiness and smiles, laughter and love, and a general feeling of security and contentment in my home.

 

Taking these photos gave me great joy which continues every time I look at them.

 

I took this yesterday while driving to my chiropractor's office.

This is in his parking lot.

There were tons of gorgeous clouds, but I just couldn't get the right views.

So many were big, fluffy cotton-ball-like .....

and others were dark.

 

My old shell chimes hanging under our patio umbrella.

 

 

Vern lifting his paw. See him smiling at me!

Vern and his water cup at Sonic.

 

I took him there for an ice cream treat because

he had a traumatic time getting his nails clipped. Aww...

 

Double rainbow!

 

This one was taken from inside my car.

 

This one from outside my car.

I wanted to show how high the rainbow was

when it began to curve.

 

 * Click on the photos for a larger view. *

* P.S. June 25th: Susan, at Writing Straight from the Heart, surprised me by posting her interview with me! Please stop by if you're not tired of reading about my memoir.There's also a photo of Vern, so that's a perk! :)

 

It also gives me pleasure to smile and offer my help to others. So many people go through life in a kind of fog, and don't even notice the beauty around them. Am I saying that I'm always cheerful and exuberant? Gosh, no! But, how about 90% of the time? I'd say Yes!

 

 

 

"There is a voice in the Universe urging us to remember our purpose for being on this great Earth. This is the voice of inspiration, which is within each and every one of us." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

* AND THE WINNER IS.......*

Hello Everyone! 

* The winner of my book give-away from Wednesday, May 22nd is.....McGuffy Ann! Congratulations! I also mention it in the comment section of that post: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/05/books-dogs-give-away.html 

~~~~~

In spite of the yucky, rainy, dark, dismal, cloudy, and almost floody weather at my house.....I will NOT let this weather get me down.....(although I hate it!)....I'm following my sister-in-law's example and reminding myself that compared to the recent horrible destruction and loss of lives in other areas, I have nothing to complain about! 

So.....to begin:

~~~~~

I'll supply my own sunshine!

  

One of my favorite local trails. (2009)

Mmmm....a strawberry dipped in chocolate and chilled. (2011)

A gift from a very good writer-friend! (2012)

Vern snoozing on the deck. What a sweetie!

Lake of the Ozarks...Ahhhhhh (2011)

Beautiful blue sky and huge, puffy, white, cotton candy clouds! (2012)

~~~~~

AND, how can anyone keep from being happy when hearing this??

Birds chirping, music playing, Julie Andrews singing!

Maria: I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel. 

Mother Abbess: Some people would call that honesty. 

Maria: Oh, but it's terrible, Reverend Mother. 

The Splendor of Clouds and Sky

I think I've mentioned before how much I love to take pictures, and how I keep asking Santa to bring me a really good camera for Christmas. I guess he actually does know if I'm good or bad, because it's been three years now, and I still haven't gotten one! Oh well. I can make do with my cheapie camera until the real thing comes along. La Di Da...La Di Da....

Below are some of my favorite clouds photos. 

These first two were taken from my front porch. Beautiful dark clouds along with the sunset.

The next two were taken from my deck. I don't know why, but that afternoon, these white, puffy clouds were bright white, so bright they hurt my eyes to look at them very long.

I thought these next two were so unique, like pulled taffy, or paint strokes.

Dark, ominous clouds but nothing developed. The first one looks like the Loch Ness Monster is on the left. I love the second one because it appears as if there are dark mountains behind the houses, and weird clouds above them. 

This is one of my favorites. I took it from my window seat in an airplane .

This was just a few days ago. It was after some storms and the sky was this gorgeous color of violet and the street reflected it, too, just as it shows. It was unbelievable.  

Last, this picture is from tonight. I was on the deck with The Ronald and Vern. It was close to sunset and I walked over to the edge and saw these clouds, ran into the house, grabbed my camera, and took this. 

"You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds." -- Henry David Thoreau

Searching for Bliss

A few days ago I wrote the following. Originally it was going to be a "regular" chapter in my memoir but as I typed, the words felt more like a poem to me. It was one of those special moments when the words just flowed. (If this isn't poetry, please forgive me. It's my very first one.)

Untitled


I strolled along the pavement,
the sound of quiet surrounding me
like a quilt. The stillness was deafening
until I heard the engine of a prop plane
flying overhead. Stopping and shading my eyes,
I squint and watch it putter across
the powder blue sky.
Memories flooded my soul,
immediately tugging my mouth
into a wide grin.

The next day I walk the
same path. A distant cardinal chirps,
most likely believing it's already spring.
Why shouldn't he?
These past few days have been nothing
but glorious.
Only the calendar page declares
it's just early February.
I turn, looking for his brilliant crimson color
among the vast bare branches
but my eyes cannot find him.

I notice the sky is full of "airplane smoke,"
those cloud-like wispy lines also
carry memories for the child within me.
I close my eyes, and for a moment
I'm standing motionless in my front yard again.
I stare up, marveling at the sight above,
taking it all in and thinking as profoundly as
a five-year-old possibly can.

Blinking, I become aware of
my present surroundings and
begin my journey
back home.
Tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow
I'll think back and
reminisce once more.
Sentimental journeys.
Always bittersweet.

©2012 Becky Povich