SkyWatch Friday: Mostly Gray Skies

We've had mostly gray skies but I did catch the moon on February 20, 2013.

One evening a hint of light broke through at sunset.

The later it got the more color I captured.

When I zoomed in on a tree it was pale cold through the branches.

Even a hint of light is nice after an all gray day.

I went out with my umbrella and caught some shots in the rain another day.

 

When I pointed my camera up at the inside of my umbrella, I even got some blue courtesy of the umbrella's interior design.

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ABC Wednesday: G is for Globe

Raleigh, NC has a gigantic globe as part of the downtown Nature Research Center.

The globe is named the Daily Planet.

The continents are made of satellite pictures.

The globe is three stories high and inside the globe is audience seating and a 40 by 40 foot HD screen which scientists can use for special presentations. Click for the home of ABC Wednesday.  

The Weekend in Black and White: Shadow

The birds blended into the deck so well they are barely visible.

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SkyWatch Friday: Mid February Mix

I've been enjoying a lot of pretty sunsets lately.

I think late winter tends to be a good sunset time of the year where I live (NC, U.S.).

In general we've had a nice mix of skies.

I took a lot of shots of the Japanese Magnolia because I knew these early blooms might be the main show with this tree.

Once the buds start showing color they can't handle the low temperatures we get this time of the year.

The smaller buds may make it until spring when it's time to bloom.

We went from blue skies to white skies.

I like the mix, it keeps me guessing what will come next.

I caught a pretty sunrise for a change.

The sunrise shots are on the opposite side from where the sun was coming up but it colored the clouds.

I like the way the snowy roof, clouds and blue sky looked in the next shot.

The birds were up and ready to come eat on my deck after I went inside.

I'll end with a recent sunset I caught.

Each sunset paints the sky a little bit differently.

This one almost looks like someone threw paint against the sky.

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ABC Wednesday: F is for feisty

Feisty, freezing, fine feathered friends.

Frozen footprints from feisty, freezing, fine feathered friends.

Food for freezing fine feathered friend.

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Our World Tuesday: A little weekend snow

We haven't had very much snow this winter in the triangle area of NC.

It was nice to be able to watch it fall on Saturday.

The other times it has snowed this winter it has been a mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. This time once it started snowing it was snow without the other frozen forms.

We have continued to have premature blooms but I think they look pretty in the snow.

For much of the time it was snowing the temperatures were slightly above freezing so it didn't accumulate much until the temperatures dropped.

I enjoy watching the birds in the snow after I turn my deck into a feeding station.

The rufous-sided towhee below had a mouth full.

The female cardinal was dining too.

There are two towhees and one female cardinal in the next shot.

Sunday morning the sunrise was very pretty.

The male cardinal is such a flashy bird.

The bluejay spotted me and flew up into the tree.

The sparrow had a little breakfast.

St. Francis looks like he's wearing a hat and stole.

The camellias look like they have sugar frosting.

I'm surprised I still have nandina berries.

The female cardinal has another mouth full.

Last but not least is a little junco.

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