Thursday, March 12, 2020

Dynamic Skies in the Desert

It's raining here. The Corona virus seems to be taking over the world. The stock market is in free-fall. College classes are cancelled (on-line only). The Coachella Music Festival is postponed. Professional sports are cancelling their seasons. Stores are out of toilet paper. Life as we know it is radically changing, but we still have Skywatch Friday. Thank goodness some things remain the same! 

Just last week the world seemed a brighter place. Some pretty desert skies (all photos taken right outside the door at our desert house). The day had been cloudy. We had relatives visiting and I wanted to get a photo of everyone before the sun went down. I have an old couch I keep in the garage, and I pulled it out on the driveway. It would make a nice central point for a few photos. But I barely had the couch in place when my granddaughter jumped on it, gave me a big smile, and struck this pose.
I couldn't resist the temptation to take a picture! I consider myself very lucky to have this little photo muse always ready and willing to have her picture taken.

Cousin Curt, his wife Beth, Cousin Linda (behind couch) and Lilly all having a good time. We eventually did get all ten of us on and around the couch for one of those family photos we will long cherish. With the three "moms" all in (or close to) their 90's, we may not get this opportunity again.

As the sun started to set, the light became very pretty. I think this is what photographers call the "golden hour". This mountain is about 15 miles away from where I was standing (looking north) and is part of the 29 Palms Marine Base. It was really something how the sun seemed to be selectively lighting it up in beautiful golden colors.




Seemed like no matter which direction I pointed my camera, the sky had something interesting to say!


As the sky darkened, I thought I was done taking pictures. I put my camera away, but looked out the window a couple minutes later. The clouds had gone from white to pink. I guess I put my camera away too soon. Time for one more shot!
Until next week,
let's all try to stay safe and healthy.
Thanks for stopping by!!

40 comments:

  1. what an amazing golden hour you had - glorious photos of the sunset

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  2. I really cannot understand why they need to store up all the loo paper like that when all it is used for is wiping your **** are people that desperate if all else fails you have to wash it which might be a good thing with some people. One of the things that goes here is bread flour, I thing people think they will not get any fresh bread and will make their own in they need to. I wonder how many know how.
    Great series of photos this week and I do like the first, your granddaughter had a devilish little smile

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  3. Family gatherings are the best! Glad yours was such fun. Take care.

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  4. Wow, what a view you have from your house! Love all the photos!

    I haven't really been to the store since all this Coronavirus stuff started heating up and yes, there was no tp and sanitizer anywhere to be found. Thankfully I stocked up on hand sanitizer a few months ago and we have a monthly subscription for tb and a few other things from Amazon. I mainly go to work and back home so I'm not freaking out, but the place I work is taking everyone's temps. before they allow you in the building. I work for Advent Health.

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  5. What great photos! I just the love one of your granddaughter and family, beautiful! Yes, indeed, All 180,000 SUNY/CUNY (State Univ. and City Univ. of NY) students will have distance learning and Commencement has been canceled for May and classes will not return until August and I receive my diploma in the mail.

    I'll tell you, going to heck in a hand basket, wink.

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  6. What an opportunity for goofy family photos and memories of a wonderful evening with a spectacular sunset. And yes, I know the feeling of "putting the camera away too soon". Memories of a lifetime.

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  7. Wow, stunning skies. It's great when the clouds give you the right mood. Quite the rainstorm today, eh?

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  8. ...your images calm my soul in these troubled times. I will be looking forward to stopping by again next week to more from your neck of the woods.

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  9. awwwww, the coronavirus, what did we talk about before that?!?!

    there are always 2 sunsets in my opinion. the sunset and the "after" the sunset. the second is sometimes more beautiful!!! awesome pictures, all of them!!

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  10. Gorgeous photos. Especially love the moodiness in the seventh one down.
    Your grand-daughter looks to be a real sweetie :)

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  11. Yes--- safe and healthy. Great pictures.

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  12. Hello, I do not understand the rush to buy up all the toilet paper. Your sky captures are beautiful. The clouds make the sky so much more interesting and beautiful. Gorgeous photos. Happy Skywatching, enjoy your day! Have a great weekend!

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  13. I regularly follow your photoblog. I love travelling around and your desert photography gives me a feeling of visiting the places in person. The rock formation photos are definitely a masterpiece and proof for your photography skills. Thanks for sharing your amazing photos of you travel experience.

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  14. Beautiful pics. Amazing skies.
    Stay safe. Happy weekend.

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  15. What fun on the couch SPP :) We do the same when the whole family is together, it can get quite chaotic :) The sky really was in a talkative mood for you, made me smile when it seems like it had to have the last word :)

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  16. Yes the culmination of twilight is sometimes great to capture especially near water front

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  17. Great family photo op ~ Magnificent sky shots ~ Wow!

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores

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  18. These are gorgeous sky and desert shots. It rained all day yesterday here in Phoenix but I see some sunshine this morning.

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  19. So much of drama in the skies too!

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  20. Lots of beauty in those skies!

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  21. You have some awesome skies and I'm glad you shared them. Lovely colors and shapes in the sky.


    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

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  22. These skies are mesmerizing - awesome! Great family pic - good you struck the iron when it's hot:)

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  23. I love your couch photos, the after photos are simply spectacular!!

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  24. Agreed, the photos are simply spectacular! I adored the sofa images with family members having a grand time.

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  25. Spectacular skies! Enjoy your weekend.

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  26. Beautiful skies and cloud formations !

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  27. Nice to see such happy pictures in the midst of the chaos around us these days. May we regain our perspective soon.

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  28. Very dramatic skies.

    Toilet paper is hoarded here also. What´s that gotta do with Corona? Nada me figures. People are strange.

    Keep safe!

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  29. Here, too, most of the community has shut down in an attempt to stop the spread of the Corona virus. Let's hope it helps! Great pictures, as always!

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  30. Beautiful! I like the couch as a center point for your people too :)

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  31. Stunning Photos!! Dig The Couch Scene!! Enjoy The Week And Keep Looking Up.

    Cheers

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  32. Awesome sky photos. Loving seeing your world from here. Isn't the Corona Virus just so far reaching? It's scary how people are really going nuts in supermarkets, not that that's happened here yet.

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  33. Beautiful and happy family.
    All the photos are wonderful but the sky photos are spectacular.
    Have a nice week and stay safe and healthy.

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  34. Fun family photos and great you got those candies as well as the later more posed (I assume) whole bunch together . The skies are just beautiful ... walking outside is going to keep us sane ....( I think. ). Hard To know what to think these times.

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  35. Amazing sky images! During all this coronavirus craziness, the only thing we can do is still go for a walk and enjoy nature!

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  36. With clouds like that, why would you ever leave home? :)

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  37. You're spot on. We all need some of our daily and weekly routines to keep us sane at a time like this. How glad I am that your blog is one of my go-to places. I can escape for just a little while! Thanks for the lovely photos, and stay well.

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