Puddles, Mural and Skies #SkywatchFriday

After the rains of last week where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, we cooled down a little but the past three days we returned to the heat and humidity.

July 30, puddles on the road after a deluge.

August 5, hot weather sky and a mural in a Southern Tier downtown.

August 6, mid day skies taken at same time in two different directions.

Yesterday, the weather report called for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. They passed to the north of us, but I took these pictures right before it started to drizzle.

Joining Yogi and other skywatching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday

Two Sides of the Sky #SkywatchFriday

On Wednesday, our area got a lot of rain.  We broke a rainfall record where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, but it was nothing compared to the Hudson Valley of New York.  Our state capitol, Albany, received almost seven inches (17.78 cm) of rain, in two days, and many roads and areas were flooded.

Meanwhile, yesterday, we had intermittent rain showers.

It was interesting, if you faced different directions, the sky looked so different.

This was so much like a winter sky - this is a color picture, not B&W.

Now turn around and see the mostly blue sky.

Well, the mostly blue sky.

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.
 

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.

 

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.  

Grey Skies Coming Our Way #SkywatchFriday

 Whew!  It's May 1st.

Now I can rest. The Blogging from A to Z Challenge is over (except for my Reflections post next week) and I can get back to watching the skies.

But the skies lately, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, haven't been too sunny and blue recently.  So, for May Day, I bring you these.

Yes, these are color pictures.

April 21. 

April 30. 

April 30. 

Contrast with this picture from April 27. 

After warmer than normal temperatures, we are going to return to cooler temperatures.  We may even have a frost next week (which would be a disaster for our local apple crop). 

I was going to show you some lovely spring pictures but maybe I'll get back to the beauty of spring next week.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Unity (In the Fog) #AtoZChallenge #SkywatchFriday

Once again, today I give you two memes for the price is one:  U day for the Blogging of A to Z Challenge, and Skywatch Friday.

On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday.  Having a national birthday isn't restricted to the United States; our neighbor to the north, Canada celebrates Canada Day on July 1.  They do us one better, too, with various towns and cities serving cake to their residents.

But will our national birthday bring us needed Unity?  I hope it does.

Years ago (1999?) my spouse, young son, and I traveled to Washington DC to enjoy the various July 4 celebrations. We also went to historic Arlington Cemetery to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and graves of John F Kennedy and its eternal flame.    If I took any pictures they are probably in a box somewhere, alas, with others of my printed out photos.

I was so impressed by the guards who keep a 24 hour watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  

I can't show you any pictures of that future celebration but I can show you pictures from Plymouth, Massachusetts taken on July 4, 2023.   Plymouth holds an important part in our national history.

Much of the day was foggy, which made for some interesting sky pictures.   I've had some of these pictures on my blog before, but here they are again.

Plymouth's harbor on a foggy July 4 morning. 

Looks like it's hanging in mid air, doesn't it?  It's not.

The Mayflower II.

Nothing like a parade to Unify us.  Parades are held in hundreds of cities and towns throughout our nation.  There will be even more this July 4, I suspect.

A parade in the fog is even better, especially if it includes a dinosaur.

We are fortunate to have a beautiful land.  Let us continue to honor it with Unity.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

U Day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme: Beauty of our Land.

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January Snow Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Since it's too cold and windy to go outside this weekend, I am using three picture from late January for today's shadows.  I did go outside yesterday to try to do some snow removal, and gave up because the wind kept blowing it back at me. Some days are just like that. 

I can't wait for spring, when the snow will be replaced by plants sleeping underneath their winter blankets.  Right now, though, it feels like winter will last forever.

We are under a extreme cold warning until 1pm today due to wind chills. 

Joining Lisa at This and That:  A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.

 

November Sun #SkywatchFriday

(Before I begin, I believe the mystery object in my Wednesday post has been identified.  Thank you, Tom from Tom the Backroads Traveler, one of our many Skywatch participants.  More on that Sunday.) 

Yesterday, the skies had that grim winter look the skies take on here in the Southern Tier of New York. 

We even had a rain shower not long before I took this picture.

But wait! The sun is coming out!

Actual blue skies.

Things changed so quickly.

Many trees are bare now but some remnants of color remain. 

Not only that, but I got a good reflection picture in this koi pond before the clouds blocked the sun once more. 

We've not had many clear periods in the sky this week.  So much so that we missed all the aurora activity of earlier this week.  Alas.  I can hope other skywatchers captured it.

At least the first snow of Tuesday, which caused many traffic accidents, has melted. 

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Before the Rain Skies #SkywatchFriday

Wednesday, we were at the end of a heat wave.  It's been dry, and we needed rain.

Hopefully these skies were going to bring us some good rains. 

Also, hopefully it wasn't going to be too much rain, something that has been happening to too many other people recently.

It was a frustrating wait, as, just a few miles from us, it was raining and a good 15 degrees F cooler than we were.

But finally, we did get rain, although not as much as we needed.  Still, much better than nothing.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.