Sunday, June 29, 2008

Golden skies and lightning bugs

Thunderstorms passed through just before sunset, resulting in an unusual color cast to the sky. It began as a golden yellow hue from the low clouds that made all of the wet trees and grass look greener. Then the thinning cloud cover took on a rosy orange hue before fading to twilight blue. The clouds were constantly in motion and bubbling into strange spherical masses as they broke up. The illumination from the sky made it feel like I was looking at the yard through colored filters. Everything took on the color of the clouds.

Once it was mostly dark, the lightning bugs started their show. They really outdid themselves tonight. Not sure why, but there seem to be many more of them this year than usual. Maybe I am just noticing more of them because I'm spending so much more time outside on the porch. Whatever the reason, I am grateful. I could spend hours watching them dance and glow.

9 comments:

Jeni said...

When you busy, unable to find a comfy spot to sit, relax, look around and enjoy the vie, how're you gonna be able to see the lightning bugs then? But, new porch -lovely cats to help you chill out -bound to happen then that you will see things you haven't noticed before or in a long time. Ain't it grand though when you do see these things? Peace!

Minnesotablue said...

The only time I see lightning bugs is when I visit my brother in Kansas. I usually sit on their deck and watch them twinkle. They are so neat to watch.

LL said...

What??? You post pictures of those damn cats every other day and you didn't take a picture of this? *sigh*

BC said...

As for the bugs.... The males are the only ones that fly. The females are on the ground. I love watching them at the camp. I sit by the fire and throw some copper wire in. It changes the color of the flames.

I love pictures of the aftermath of storms and how the sky looks. Next time take some. :D

fermicat said...

jeni - very true.

minnesotablue - no lightning bugs in your area?

ll - I definitely did take photos, just haven't uploaded them yet. Maybe tonight...

bc - neat trick with the copper. My Dad used to sprinkle some stuff into the fireplace that made the flames different colors. My favorite stormy look is when the sun is shining on you, but the skies in the background are very dark.

Train Wreck said...

Oh! I could totally picture that sunset! What a great discription! I have to actually take the photo! I am not such a great a writer! I love Lightning bugs! I saw them for the first time in Nebraska, about two years ago! Love them! We don't have them here, (Although I wanted to put some in a jar and bring them home!)

Beth said...

This blog post was like my "Moment of Zen" for today. I always used to love standing out on the side porch and watching the fireflies, but I was a smoker then and now barely do it. I have to get back to it.

I read the post below as well re: your two feline babies. I had a landlord who accepted my cat because I was immaculate. He said, "If tenants were as clean as you, landlords wouldn't mind pets, but most let the pets go wherever they want." I think this is why landlords have that "no" attitude. It's the stigma of tenants maybe letting the cats do whatever they want and not cleaning up after them. With kids, you're less likely to leave piss and shit on the floor and I have to admit, I've had two kids and never had them do that or write on the walls. Go figure!

I really loved this blog post and yes, I wish you had photographed it as well.

fermicat said...

Photos are now posted!

JINKS said...

Explains why we aren't getting the lightening bugs we usually get, they're on summer vacation in your neck of the woods.....beautiful pictures.