Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight….

So many evenings of late have seen bright sunsets amid the clouds. This one from a few nights ago had us hopeful of a fine day following.

It was not to be.

This sunset from last night also held promise.

Although there was this gale bending the Birch tree over very dramatically.

The gale lashed the house relentlessly all night and today has been little better. We were also drenched in rain with roads closed due to flooding.

Today was our belated Christmas Day with one part of the family so we covered presents (which had been waiting some time)

with plastic bags, loaded up food in a plastic clothes basket, donned our coats and off we went for lunch and a fun afternoon. A four year old and his two year old sister kept things lively and fun.

The weather had cleared by late this afternoon although the gales continue. We spotted some Royal Spoonbills in the Pauatahanui Inlet along with a large flock of Black Swans.

Can you spot the two vague white dots out in the water? They are the Spoonbills.

We did get much closer to one but it sensed our presence and off it flew.

The Pohutukawas were still being shaped by the winds

and this gull was snuggled down in the tufty beach grass taking a well-earned rest from the battering forces.

No sunset tonight so little hope of better weather tomorrow it would seem……

A news item I read late this afternoon indicated exceptionally high temperatures in parts of Australia while the east coast of America is experiencing bitterly cold, snowy conditions. We are battened down safe and sound.

Keep safe wherever you are.

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Sky lines and the softness of the sky

Today was a “D” day for me. I have been waiting for some considerable time to get a decision that had rather important implications in several areas of my life.

In typically human fashion my mind had turned over endless options, outcomes and scenarios despite my efforts to quell unnecessary mulling and musing.

The result of the appointment was totally unexpected but a real bonus in many ways right now. The key issue still needs a lot of attention and focus but that seems a lot easier than the decision I was expecting.

I returned home feeling a real mix of emotions and decided that the rest of the day was mine as a sort of “down day” away from chores and demands or decisions.

I had some photos to upload to my computer and here is one in particular that I just love.

This sunset earlier in the week was brilliant in its colours in the western sky.

But it was the first photo above which was taken looking more to the south that stood out for me in its soft, soft tones. The sort of softness I needed today.

Sunset photos minutes apart

Last night I saw some really interesting cloud formations in the evening and took this photo.

Within minutes the light in the room changed dramatically and I took this photo – yes the same one I put on my earlier post today.

The contrast was incredible. I’ll be on watch tonight too. The cloud formations and sunsets this summer have been fascinating but puzzling. The sky has provided much to wonder over this summer and early autumn.

Sky paintings

I’ve been searching for inspiration in the last weeks and in a helpful way the cloud formations have lifted my eyes upwards. Looking up engages useful parts of our brains when we are seeking new ideas.

However the cloud formations have been inspiring in their own way, bringing me to wonder about them this summer. Often there are fluffy clouds being chased about by the winds and going past at a lower level while high above are the most amazing long, thin clouds, soft puff balls, or wispy brush stroke clouds, or a stretch of cake icing cloud

Photos don’t always do these amazing high cloud formations justice but here is a sample from recent days.

There is often thick cloud about as the sun sets at the moment but we are also getting glimpses through the density of the most stunning, vibrant sunsets.

This one has the thick clouds being pushed along in the wind and a bank of lower thick, grey cloud drifting onto the hills but flashing dramatically in any gaps was this brilliance.