Puddle Before and After #SkywatchFriday

 It's been a while since I've posted puddle pictures, maybe because it's been a while since I've seen a puddle.

But these aren't just any puddles.

Last week, we, along with a lot of the United States, were dealing with bad air from wildfires.  But help was on the way July 18, in the form of a powerful cold front that brought rain, wind, and a possible F1 tornado to our area.  My neighborhood wasn't that impacted (except for small branches down) and s we were a lot more fortunate than many.  So, here are two puddles, one rain apart.

After rain number one, during which the bad air was still greatly impacting us, I was mystified to see a puddle with strange white bubbles.  Here is a picture.  You can barely see the sky, over to the left, as it is still so clogged with the bad air.

What is that white stuff?  Its residues from the wildfire smoke, brought down by the rain. When the rainwater hits the ground (so I've read), the water combines with oil from the road, breaking surface tension and resulting in that white stuff.

After the second rainfall, with better air behind it, I went out and took this picture.  Finally, we could see clouds again.

So much better!

I don't think I've ever had a puddle before and after.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers today for #SkywatchFriday.  You'll note the URL for the linkup is different - Yogi had to use a different website and hopefully, the linky will work.

Have a good week ahead. 

Here We Go Again #SkywatchFriday

Like so much of the United States, our skies for the last two days have been blanketed by wildfire smoke.

 I missed photographing the sunrises and sunsets.  Wednesday, especially, I didn't even want to go out there.  The sky looked yellow (at least it didn't look red) and it smelled like a campfire.  Someone told me the Thursday sunrise was nice and red.  I was sleeping at the time.

Thursday, around 8pm, I took this picture.   I'm thankful that it wasn't bright orange like it was for so many people in the Northeast.

I hope we can return to this kind of sky soon. 

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Saturday In The Park #SkywatchFriday

On July 4, my country (the United States) turned 250 and my spouse and I decided to have a quiet day.

We didn't go to any live fireworks shows.  We sat back, watched TV, had a simple dinner, and watched the sky.

Except for the last photo, these were all taken during a walk at a local park. 

I went out again about 9:10 pm.

A bit surprisingly, we didn't have as many unofficial (as I call them) neighborhood fireworks shows., but the vanishing light after the sun sent down created layers of beauty.

 It was a nice Saturday In the Park.

Joining Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

Before the Heat #SkywatchFriday

We are in the midst of a heatwave where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.  We unofficially hit 100F (37.7C) yesterday (see below), with a heat index of 110F (43.3C). Ditto for July 1 and our heat index that time was 113F (45C). The last time we officially hit 100 degrees was August 26, 1948.  

So, I am not out there taking pictures.  But I was out there on June 24, enjoying a walk in the park.

I already long for those days.

Afternoon of July 2

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Tomorrow (my country's 250th birthday) it is supposed to be cooler but with a chance of rain.  For us, I think it's going to be quiet, but I don't mind.  I hope that all my American readers have a fantastic 4th of July.
 

Skies of the Last Full Week of June #SkywatchFriday

Here are some skies of the week just past from where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

First, a selection of skies from the first day of summer:

 

Then, the weather changed.

Monday was rainy, and I took this picture of mist over our hills.

Thursday, it was cloudy and threatening rain, along with some interesting patterns.  It finally decided to drizzle in late afternoon. It finally rained.

We are heading into a heat wave next week, but in the meantime, I hope the terrible heat in Europe abates.  I hope you can all stay safe from this dangerous heat.

Joining Yogi and other bloggers who watch the sky for #SkywatchFriday.

A Sky Diary #SkywatchFriday

I kept a little sky diary of this past week.  Let's watch how the sky changes over four days where I live in the Southern Tier of New York.

Monday (June 15).  I had blogged a couple of weeks ago about the birds nest up against our eaves.  That bird is an American robin although it looks black and white.  I saw it in color, singing near the nest just before it flew off.  It probably didn't like me staring at it.

Tuesday, June 16.  You can just about see the robin sitting on the nest. Taken with an iPhone 13 mini, I don't have a telescopic lens for it. (Yes, I know they make them.  I just don't have one).  I have no idea why the bird looks black.

Earlier that day, the clouds looked like the bones of a creature.

 Later that day, the clouds turned puffy.  It was warm and humid.

Not shown, my spouse thought there was a fledgling robin sitting on the edge of the nest. 

Thursday was an interesting weather day.  It had rained some overnight, but wasn't raining by the time we started our day.

At an appointment, it was breezy and the flag was highlighted against clouds.  It started to rain a few minutes later.

When we got home, we found that we were under a tornado watch.  We ended up experiencing a thunderstorm with some brief but heavy showers, a few minutes apart. 

The rest of the afternoon, lovely skies alternated with brief rain showers.  And I saw a bird was still sitting on that nest (not shown).

Today is supposed to be a pleasant day.  What are you seeing in the sky today?

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

 

After A Storm #SkywatchFriday

Last night and this afternoon, we had thunderstorms and brief deluges of rain where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.

I was unable to get photos of the beautiful sunset we had last night but here are some pictures taken around 5:30 this evening once a humidity front came through.

Potholes are a hazard, but they also make for good puddle photos.

Here, a series of potholes reflect the sky and scenery (I know, hard to see).
 

The sky itself. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

 

Great Mind Skies #SkywatchFriday

I was going to post some pictures of streaky skies that I took on June 3, when my guest photographer sent me some of her own.

I'm going to use some of her pictures and save mine for another day.  So please enjoy these pictures from early June in a rural part of New York State.

Note, for this and the next Skywatch I may be a little late getting back to commenters and posters, but I will get back to you.  Thank you for your patience.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Peaceful Monday #SkywatchFriday

A peaceful Monday afternoon in the Southern Tier of New York.

Nature seemed to be drawing a line. 

It was a beautiful day.  People were out and about in local parks, or attending Memorial Day parades or ceremonies.

So peaceful here. Elsewhere in the park, children were playing and there was a softball game in progress.

Now, our temperatures have dipped again and winds are blowing.  What will the next week bring?

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.  

May Cloud and Sky Moods #SkywatchFriday

Today, a variety of May cloud moods from where I live in the Southern Tier of New York State.

Blue hour before sunrise, May 12. 

Clouds of Drama

Clouds playing May 18th Follow the Leader 

Clouds before a change of weather this past Wednesday. 

Clouds on a peaceful Sunday afternoon.

Around sunset, May 7. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

 

 

April 9 Sunset #SkywatchFriday

First, a thank you to everyone who commented on my Wednesday blogging problem.   Comments fuel my blog, and I thank everyone who verified on Thursday that they were able to comment.

Now, it's time to watch the sky. 

This April 9 is a sunset that I would’ve missed had I not glanced out the window at  just the right time.  I'm been remiss in looking for sunsets recently.

So I wanted to capture this sunset. 

I went running outside just in time to catch these images.

For this last photo I decided to zoom in a little.

 

P.S. if you like flowers, I'll be posting later today for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

A Spring Sky Variety Pack #SkywatchFriday

Today, some skies from the last couple of weeks, mixed in with views of spring. 

Baby redbud, several years old, in a local park.  Our redbuds are finishing up now.

Yesterday, sky framed by a building.

This past week, rain ahead.

From Sunday, sky and white lilac.

Finally, from Sunday, sky before a rainstorm.

So far, we've had one of the wettest springs since our area started to keep weather records 73 years ago. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.