Monday, August 09, 2010

Gray Skies are Underrated

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My favorite season.

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Summer.

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Carolina Blue skies every day for weeks and weeks.

Sunny days are healthy. I love them and thrive on sunshine and warmth and dream about summer days from New Year’s Day until the first pale green sprouts late February. Then, there's a waiting period until the end of March when trees show their life and flowers appear.

By June, I’m intoxicated with every little thing summer offers. Ahhhh... Evenings spent looking at the sky and waiting for the first lightning bug, observing hummingbirds, listening to croaks in the pond, and sighing. Ravishing the relief of no coat, no jacket, smacking a few skeeters off my ankles before heading inside and searching for the darn missing bug repellent.

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August arrives and I realize you can definitely have too much of a good thing and sunny skies become overrated.

The summer of 2010 has been a bitch of a summer – unrelenting in 90-100 degrees every damned day since June 1st. If I’ve exaggerated, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I know the humidity has been unusually high. Disgusting and consecutive bad hair days prove the conditions around these parts are not good. I’ve resorted to tiny ponytails and bobby pins. Too much hair spray! Ack! Ick. Heck. Friends in New England and Oregon have 50-60f mornings, opposed to our 85f at 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Most evenings, I leave the fitness center looking like a rain-soaked cat in clothing that needs a good wringing.

I’M SICK OF IT.

I need another night like this one. It happened two weeks ago and I still smile when I remember it.

I hadn’t seen nor heard the forecast and had just returned from the fitness center, steaming. Oh my, the timing was perfect on this evening.

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Rumble.

Oh?

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Darkness and gray washed over quickly

and stagnant heat was blown away by a force of coolness

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Relief.

Savor, drink it in, and smell the rain.

Watch the sizzling streets' steam rise.

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Rejuvination afterwards.

I felt it.

I saw it.

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Gray skies are a blessing sometimes.

We need them to appreciate the bright ones.

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On that same night

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Sticky came back. Hello ;-)

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26 comments:

Cindie Ulreich said...

I'm so glad you're back to blogging, Mary. I've missed your photo essays so much!

Murr Brewster said...

These are some of the most stunning photos I've ever seen. That first butterfly--the color/composition with the flowers could not have been better if you'd painted it yourself.

I wish I could send you some of our weather. It has been ideal. Unfortunately I wrote a blog post about it being 100 degrees--which it almost was one day last month, but I didn't put it in, planning to do it the next time it hit 100. Now I'm in the unusual situation of thinking: Damn it! What's with this 75 degrees with a light breeze business? What gives?

Which just goes to show that blogging warps your life.

Anonymous said...

Well.... thought I'd tell you my favorite photo from this post but that's just impossible since all are stunning.

No breezes here. Just stagnant heat and humidity that make me want to swear all the time. Cripes.. IS SUMMER OVER YET!!!!

Di

Mary Lee said...

Yup--every damned day!

I love your rain picture!

Get one of those little OFF fans. My husband says it really works. He sits outside on the deck evenings and keeps it in his lap while he reads. No bites.

Jayne said...

I'm so sick of being hot in all my nether regions when I simply walk out to get the mail! I don't know HOW anyone works outside in this oppressive inferno. I could almost feel that rain Mary. Send some on here please. Wonderful, beautiful, spectacular photos... I am out of adjectives. Hugs ya!

NatureWoman said...

Ohh, that rain looks so good, Mary! We had some last night, and now we're back to steaming again, but like you said, it is at least cooler in the am and pm here. As always, I love your words and photos!

Julie Zickefoose said...

All I can say is
HO-
LY-
SMOKES

what a beautiful post.

Mary Ferracci you have outdone yourself yet again. Blown the cork right out of the bottle.

words=photography=beauty supreme

RuthieJ said...

Don't know how you do it Mare---I'm feeling pissy after only 5 days of heat & humidity. I think you're definitely entitled to your rant and hope you get a break in the heat soon!
I'm glad you're still able to find the beauty in your backyard and especially that Sticky came back and you were home to welcome him!

AZ said...

Breathtaking photos! BRAVO!

Catbird said...

Wow wow wow wow wow. WOW. That's one beautiful post. Thank you!

SouthernSass said...

First time viewing your blog and I love, love, love the photos! And no, you have in NOT exaggerated one bit regading the heat. Its been one of the hottest summers and like you, I am sick of it. So looking forward to fall - and following your blog! :)

BJ said...

Amen sister! You said it just like it is.....the true facts! I loathe this Summer like you wouldn't believe! The worse Summer I can possibly remember in my "almost" 60 years.

Love your pics Mary! They are so wonderful....and I love coming here and seeing that you've been blogging! My favorite......that gorgeous little frog! I think the color must of reeled me in! Just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Amen sister! You said it just like it is.....the true facts! I loathe this Summer like you wouldn't believe! The worse Summer I can possibly remember in my "almost" 60 years.

Love your pics Mary! They are so wonderful....and I love coming here and seeing that you've been blogging! My favorite......that gorgeous little frog! I think the color must of reeled me in! Just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I am with you, way too much heat and humidity, a major change is needed.linda

Heather said...

Mary, your photos and your stories are just delicious. I've had enough of this hot, Hot, HOT weather, though! Take care -Heather.

Q said...

Oh I so wish for rain.....
it has been so hot for too long here to. I too am tired of heat and humidity and no rain. Love your rain storm and your Tiger Swallowtail!
Stay cool October will come.
Sherry

dguzman said...

How do you get such knock-out amazing color in your shots?? All are so incredibly stunning!

I need to get a camera like yours. Mine feels like it's on its last pixel.

JeanMac said...

Wow again! Glad you got a reprieve from the heat for a bit.

Ruth said...

You sure haven't lost your touch with the camera Mary! I love the butterfly and the second frog the best but every picture is spectacular. You need to set up a show somewhere and sell some prints.

Barb said...

Mary, your photo art is breathtaking, and I like your short prose form. Your photos against gray make my heart sing.

Larry said...

I can imagine how your summer has been since we've had 30 days over 90 degrees so far this year. Your photos are awesome!-such interesting angles you took your pictures from!

Dawn Fine said...

Excellent photos! I LoVe Sticky!

Luuuuuua said...

absolut superbe,felicitari

Wendy said...

I agree with whoever said your first pic looks like a painting! It's absolutely stunning!! As are all your pics.
Hello sticky - nice to see him (her?)

Carol said...

From the Butterflies to the Frogs...what beautiful pictures. I love the Tiger Swallowtails..their bodies look so cuddly. We have a few come into the yard. I need to plant some larval food for them. I released my 3rd Monarch. 22 more in the Chrysalis..1 Queen. Still have 6 Queen caterpillars and 1 Monarch left to pupate.

Cathy said...

Oh Mary! Beautiful! Beautiful!