Skywatch Friday

Long, long ago on a lake far, far away I would wake to magical, mystical sunrises. This sunrise dawned golden with a pea-soup fog. Lake and sky became one. Sunlight would burn through soon but before it could destroy the illusion the shoreline silhouettes were captured for eternity.

One magical mystical tree was a sturdy oak, arms stretched out strong yet graceful. The oak was perfectly symmetrical and beautiful in its symmetry.

However, this tree is my favorite of the two because it is imperfect. It appears to be a hickory based on the way its branches narrow into super-fine arteries toward the ends. But I could be wrong. There is no way to check today for not long after this image was taken a storm felled this tree. Today, instead of serving as a perch for birds this tree is a haven for fishes in the waters below. The ultimate in recycling.

See more sunrises and sunsets and luscious sky imagery by clicking through to Skywatch Friday.

Have a blessed day.
Debi

Skywatch Friday

A sunrise long, long ago on Wheeler Lake. I'm soooo late to the Skywatch Friday party! Have a great weekend, everyone.

Skywatch Friday: Christmas Eve

This exact time a week ago I was sitting on my great grandfather's daybed at our lake house waiting for the sun to rise. It was the morning of Christmas Eve. We'd driven over the night before to share Christmas spirits with friends and spend the night. Spirits and driving don't mix.



It was frigid outside. Crackling air was disturbed only by the moans and signs of countless compressors as heating units chased the chills away from sleeping residents. Our own unit sat outside beneath my window and its wintery breath occasionally clouded the view.



No more sunrise photos I said to myself, for what would be the point? More images unused, clogging up space on a now second stand-alone backup hard drive.




But then those colors began washing the waters and sky and I was doomed. Doomed. Photographers have a gene that renders them incapable of letting a sunrise go to waste, a rodeo go undocumented, or a flower not be recorded for eternity. It's just what we have to do.



Besides, the silhouettes of trees with their few remaining leaves added so much to the composition.

The heart of this sunrise turned brilliant orange.

Limbs stretched toward the sun with glee. Welcome. Welcome.

The softer edges of the sunrise looked like an opal casting gentler colors on the earth.

Maxfield Parrish clouds off in the distance.

Sunrise bokeh dappled and winked upon the ripples.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Giraffe Head Tree.

See more beautiful skies on Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday

After a delightful dinner and catching up with our good friends at the lake, we enjoyed a restful evening in the quiet of our house. No sirens, no dogs barking, no traffic noise...just peace and quiet. And stars. Lots and lots of stars. The sky was filled with white confetti scattered atop a deep black velvet. I slept deeply, rising naturally before the dawn. Slipping outside I hoped for a pretty sunrise.

I needn't have worried.

My neighbor's dock is the perfect place upon which to view sunrises. They graciously allow me to use it for photographing sunrises.

Oil lamps right outta Myst.

Sunrise reflection on the water.

Looking southeast down the channel.

Another neighbor's day dock perfectly silhouetted.

The sun makes its appearance, peeking over the hill as I peek through trees on the bank.

As the sun rose the world turned silver. What a lovely morning.

Check out skies from across the world at Skywatch Friday. That's where I'm going next, after I get a cup of coffee.

* for the record, I did choose a thumbnail but it didn't post! Must not clicked hard enough - LOL!

Skywatch Friday

An oldie but a goodie - Thunderhead over Wheeler Lake. Taken in 2003, this event was the maiden voyage of our boat, which I loved and miss. We popped open a bottle of champagne and dribbled a little on its bow for good luck. The storm moved north and missed us entirely (heading to the right of the pic). I've posted this photo on my blog before but today it just seems a good idea to do it again. Because you know why? Because we're going to the LAKE for an OVERNIGHTER! I'm so excited! We'll see friends and stay IN OUR HOUSE and I can say "Hi!" to the Giraffe Head Tree and check on the red headed woodpeckers and watch the sunset and sunrise! For about 24 hours I'll be in heaven, and then we'll come back down to earth.

Thus my entry for this week's Skywatch Friday. For more amazing skies around the world be sure to visit Skywatch Friday and visit everyone. Happy Weekend!

Skywatch Friday

Sunset
North Alabama
Wheeler Lake

Skywatch Friday!

Hurricane sunrise. Bands of leader clouds of a hurricane far, far away caused this brief but luscious sunrise over Wheeler Lake. Some may know the Hubs is still healing and I'm housebound and currently participating in Skywatch Friday using past favorite photos. Enjoy!

Skywatch Friday!

My first Skywatch Friday post ever. This is sunrise over Wheeler Lake, a great widening of the majestic, ambling Tennessee River, in Northern Alabama.