Hazy Morning Sunrise

Our friends often ask why we live "so far away" from town and the center of life as we know it. Here's one reason:


No, it's not our land — that life is still just a dream for now — but there's nothing like being able to drive five minutes from home to see sights like this.


As always, you can click the image for a larger view. And for more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch Friday #58

A hazy morning sunrise, painted by the loving hand of the Creator.


(Click image for larger view)

For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

Early One Morning on the Way to...

Early last Saturday morning, I was on the way to W. G. Jones State Forest to look for woodpeckers, when I just had to stop on the side of the road for a bit. The morning's first light was just peeking over the horizon, painting the Texas sky with beautiful colors before waking the surrounding trees and farmland with its gentle touch. I sat there on the shoulder of the country road and ate my breakfast, soaking in the splendor of this morning light show in the quiet solitude of the moment.


For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch: Hazy Morning Sunrise

We stopped to take pictures on the way to school one morning when the kids called my attention to this beautiful scene. They are beginning to notice the beauty around them without it being pointed out to them. We must be doing something right!


Hazy morning sunrise over the neighborhood trees

For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch: Daybreak

I drove down to Brazos Bend State Park last Friday for a day of birding. The early morning skies were filled with ominous dark clouds, and for the first hour of the drive I was afraid I might have to leave the camera in the truck for fear of it getting drenched. But as I continued, much of the clouds and the haze gradually burned off and the rising sun appeared. By the time I had almost reached the park, I just couldn't help but pull off the two-lane highway to snap a few pictures.




For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch Friday #34

Yesterday's sunrise in Houston was almost completely obscured by the dense cloud cover, with only a few scattered rays peeking through the gray.

(Click any image to view full-sized)
But as the morning progressed, the sun let loose, scattering the clouds and clearing the Texas skies for a gorgeous near-spring day. Who could help but soar through the heavens when you've got such beautiful blues like this?

By sunset, only enough wisps of clouds lingered above to help paint the horizon with the golden fires of evening. What a perfect way to end the day!



For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch Friday #28

Early morning sky paintings over northwest Houston, taken earlier this week.

(Click image to enlarge)

For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch Friday #23

From last week, the morning the last cold front started rolling in.



For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

SkyWatch Friday #20

Wednesday morning's sunrise, before the clouds and the rain moved in. Taken within a few minutes of each other.




For more intriguing images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

Sunrise, Sunset

SkyWatch Friday #18

(Click images to enlarge.)


Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze


Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

— Fiddler on the Roof

For more intriguing — and hopefully less melancholy — images of the skies above our world, check out the SkyWatch Friday home page.

Early Morning Party Line

SkyWatch Friday #15

I stopped to take these pictures Tuesday morning on my way to work. These four images were taken within about a twenty minute span of time.




(Click any image to enlarge)
Hundreds of grackles spend the early morning hours roosting on the patchwork of power lines and in the various trees that surround this intersection. From first light until shortly after sunrise, the noise filling the area is almost overwhelming as the birds call and scream, constantly launching and alighting and performing what I would have to describe as an almost hypnotic aerial ballet. By an hour later the assembly will have dispersed to prey on the garbage-strewn parking lots of the city, and the only remaining noise comes from the commuters running late to work.

TGIF Sunrise

The kids and I got out of the house right on time for a change this morning, so we made up for it by stopping to watch this beautiful Friday morning sunrise together on the way to school.




It only lasted about four or five minutes in all, but it was definitely time well spent. What a way to start a Friday and end a week!