Today's Sighting

The curtains were closed across from me at dinner to help keep the heat in. Towards the end of dinner, I looked through to the living room where the curtains to the sliding glass doors were still open. 

"Wow, that's a lot," I said upon seeing everything covered with snow outside. There had been none when I started eating. 

Just an inch plus so far really but enough to fully coat the ground and line the tree branches with more still falling.

Rainfall

Average total rainfall in July where I live: 5 inches.

July 2021 rainfall total: 17 inches.

Not quite 10 years ago on TTaT, but fitting: The Power of Water, part 1

Spring Snow

Everything was covered with snow again this morning. I went out to shovel the deck since it was forecast to rain in the afternoon and I hadn't been outside in a few days.

It was already slush though much of it still looked like snow.

When I shoveled it off the deck which is one story up, the splatter and spray when it hit the ground was absolutely epic! It was really satisfying.


10 years ago on TTaT: Sketchbook, page 20

First Walk

On Saturday, January 4th, 2020, I went for my first walk outside of the year and of the new decade.

It was 38 degrees F (3.3 C), grey, and foggy.

As I strode up the street, the fog was dense enough that it felt like I was being continually spritzed with small, cold, water drops.

Bracing.

Although I got a reprieve from the spray of mist when I reversed direction and headed back down the street, I decided one loop was enough.


10 years ago on TTaT: 1. You Better Not Cry

A Nice Week

It's been a nice week. Enough snow pack for a white Christmas despite temperatures over freezing. Even a couple days that got up to 40˚ F. A most welcome reprieve from the alternating rain, snow, and temperatures that didn't get out of the teens for most of the rest of December.

Some blue skies and sun now and then.

Rain returns tomorrow followed by ice and then another snow storm a couple days later.

I am thankful for this week of moderate, dry weather.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays!


9 years ago on TTaT: 57. Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands

Spring Sightings

Two days ago the light changed this year. The fresh spring leaves had unfurled just enough to change the quality of sun. It looked truly golden out, almost thickly so the sun perhaps illuminating water droplets in the humid air, with a hint of gentle blue sky to the left of the sunlit clouds.

A short while later the sky changed from gold to peach, and then lavender and pink. What a stunning sky to behold!


10 years ago on TTaT: And yet another Note to Self

Winter Roof Ice

Not from today since it's been over 60 degrees F three days in a row and unseasonably warm the rest of the week. Ah, climate change.


11 years ago on TTaT: NBC, you make me wonder

The Seen, The Heard, and The Unseen: a tale of Perseids

Though it was a couple days before the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, I decided to give it a shot last night since the forecast for the rest of the week was cloudy or rainy.

I scoped out the viewing possibilities beforehand and considered going to the back of the yard at the edge of the woods. Recently a bunch of trees had been cut down along the street so the sky is a bit more open.

Ultimately I settled for the upper deck because I didn't want to stumble through the gardening and figured it'd be buggier on the ground.

Peepers peeping, clear sky, bright stars: a beautiful summer night.

I leaned gently against the back railing and craned my neck to see over the house. In my right hand, I held a piece of cardboard to block the street light's glow.

Even if all I see if this, it's a gorgeous view.

After about ten minutes, I saw a small streak of light and smiled.

I decided to try my luck and patiently waited for another.

The second was a bit bigger, a good meteor sighting in my mind.

The crazy owl that lives in my neighborhood started hooting off to my left. "Hooting" doesn't do it justice. It's not the low melodic sound people imitate. This owl is more like one of those noise-makers that undulates up and down in pitch kind of musically. Also loud.

Part of me felt like calling back to it, but the last thing I needed was an owl in my face, so I kept quiet and watched the sky.

A third small meteor whizzed past. I almost missed it because it disappeared below the cardboard I was holding. That one was really low in the sky. I lowered my cardboard flag to the tree level and kept watching the sky.

The owl was quiet again.

I heard rustling in the woods behind me. Old dry leaves crunching. Something big.

Even though I was on the upper deck, it was unnerving hearing something behind me that I couldn't see. Having recently seen one in the neighborhood, all I could think was BEAR.

I was really glad I hadn't gone into the yard by the woods for a broader sky view. The rustling would've freaked me the eff out if I'd been down there. I was unsettled enough as it was.

Though I tried to keep my gaze skyward, the sounds from the woods continued to pull my attention away. After a few minutes, I gave up and went in.

Three meteors and not getting eaten, that'll do, that'll do just fine.


10 years ago on TTaT: The Road is my Favorite Place: Day 1

Heads Up—Perseids!

The Perseid meteor shower peaks this week on Thursday night/early Friday morning. Should be best after the moon sets, around 1 AM. Check your location for a more specific time.

The forecast is kind of sketchy here for Thursday, so I'm going to take a stab at it tonight since it's supposed to be clear and the moon also sets a bit earlier.

Happy meteor hunting!


10 years ago on TTaT: The Last Day is just the Beginning (part 2)

For those of us without winter splendor...

For anyone, like me, who is without snow for their winter revels, here's a photo from several years back:


Make some noise!
9 years ago on TTaT: I hate my printer

Another series of autumn sightings

Two horses, two donkeys, a beaver dam, autumn splendor both pre- & post-peak, and a fiery sunset with clouds, sometimes obscured by tall trees or mountains but all the more breathtaking when a clear view opened up.


10 years ago on TTaT: It's about bloody time and For a moment...

Eye-catching Mid-autumn Sighting

Though many leaves have fallen, there are still a lot of yellow leaves on the maple trees I can see from my windows.

A swirl of leaves and what I thought for a moment were falling pine needles filled the view, a turbulent sea of yellow-orange. Then I saw more clearly: not pine needles but streaks of snow illuminated by the sun.

Golden and strange.


Ten years ago on TTaT: I have an underwear drawer!

Tonight's Noteworthy Sightings

Tonight's Sightings: gasoline for less than $2 per gallon, huzzah ($1.97 to be exact); 2 pygmy goats, 5 ponies; The Black, The Blonde, and The Brunette; a llama, sheep, and horse; a Super Moon Lunar Eclipse that made the full moon look a dark brownish red; Cassiopeia; and my breath backlit by the deck lights before they went out.

Go look at that moon! There won't be another super moon lunar eclipse until 2033.


10 years ago on TTaT: When ordering goes horribly awry

Spring sighting?

Last night's sighting: fox trotting through the yard.

Not to be confused with foxtrotting through the yard, though that would be cool to see too. Been too long since I've seen some quality ballroom dancing.

I'd call it spring, but there were big wet snowflakes pouring down on an already snow-covered yard as the fox scampered across.


5 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #7

I'm like a little chipmunk

More than once this winter, I've looked outside to see chipmunks and squirrels running to and fro with ease over the snow without breaking the surface. I've envied them.

Today I discovered that the snow has become so dense and packed that I too can walk on the surface of a foot of snow without sinking in. Aside from the pattern of my yaktrax, I barely left any impression.

"I'm a little chipmunk!" I exclaimed with glee as I walked over the snow.


4 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #59 Human sponge

Winter's Work

Taken March 4, 2015. The banks of rock hard snow by the driveway were about 6 feet tall when these photos were taken. A little less snow now but nothing looks much different today.

We had a few days that got above 40 degrees F, so I got a much needed haircut after those photos were taken.


4 years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #58 More inspiration from my closet

Best Part of Winter

Late at night, fresh, smooth snow, clear sky, full moon.

Tree shadows running across the illuminated snow. A soft but vibrant light blue broken only by silhouettes and shadows.



A year ago on TTaT: 15. Wonders Of The World

Canopy Roads

The weather of late has been reminding me of the canopy roads in Tallahassee, Florida. However, instead of Spanish moss draped from the tree limbs, it's snow that decorates them here.

The weight of the snowfall is responsible for pulling the branches over to create the arch effect above the road. It feels more ominous though with branches crashing with the sound of gunfire and heavy hunks of snow thudding to the ground.

It's warmer today, enough to let the trees slough off the snow holding them down. The canopy is gone but it was beautiful while it lasted.


Two years ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #147 Thinking bigger

Fleeting Phenomenon

A dusting of snow occurred overnight. Already melting with intermittently cloudy and sunny skies.

Long shadows of snow stretch out behind trees getting shorter by the minute.

The deck is clear but for some striped snow drift by the railing and dots of snow on the nail heads. Tiny snow polka dots.



Two years ago on TTaT: Countdown to infinite crisis. The OMAC project

Blue Skies

Sunny. Blue skies.

Remind myself, "Don't be fooled."

Wind chill is -15 F.

Errands can wait.


5 years ago on TTaT: Bullet time