Monday, August 1, 2011

Dark Clouds Rolling In

Among the many places that give me pleasure, one of them is in my very own neighborhood.  The view from this by-way is almost always a beautiful sight.

In the midst of the "heat wave," we have been having evening showers most days.  I went down to my favorite by-way to watch the dark clouds rolling in.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are truly blue, especially before a storm.




 The clouds begin to gather, turning everything darker.






More and more of the sky is covered.

I wanted to linger and watch the storm, but a big bolt of lightning made me change my mind.  It was too close for comfort so I headed home.

It now appears that Congress will pass a bill to keep our country from defaulting on its loans.  Created in the last hours before the deadline, it is not pleasant and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  But it is probably the best we will get.  When you see that one group is perfectly willing to divide the baby...well, you know what I mean.
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24 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    You do have a magnificent sky there and quite an expansive view. Beautiful. Love those storm clouds.

    The headlines definitely disappointed me this morning.

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  2. KarinAugust 1, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    We had another thunderstorm last night too - and our clouds looked similar to your. Enjoyed seeing your mountains - a fabulous view!

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  3. TipperAugust 1, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    I'm jealous of your afternoon rain-it's been missing us most everyday. I love the photos.

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  4. TaradharmaAugust 1, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    your photographs are spectacular and painterly. what a great sky to witness! good move, listening to the lightning as it were.

    yes, the baby has been hacked in half, and it's not pretty. i'm disgusted by the entire debacle.

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  5. Vicki LaneAugust 1, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Beautiful pictures -- and the baby analogy is spot on!

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  6. Busy Bee SuzAugust 1, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Your skies are brilliant...even when they look a bit scary. Lightening scares me like nothing else.

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  7. Ms. AAugust 1, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Wish I was there!

    We've been struck by lightning three times. It terrifies me.

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  8. CherylAugust 1, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    I love moody skies. You are blessed to be able to watch the clouds roll in over the mountains.

    My husband was repairing a roof during a storm many many years ago.
    He was in fact struck by lightening, how he survived we will never know.........

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  9. RudeeAugust 1, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    I've been in your mountains during storms and I can attest to both their beauty and the wicked lightening.

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  10. NanaNor'sAugust 1, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Hi there, Your photos are beautiful-you certainly live in an incredible area. We've been having the same afternoon/evening storms and hopefully the rain will help our lawn which is really drying out despite sprinklers. Great analogy about the economy-if they'd just stop giving the perks to the officials and cut some of the unnecessary grants maybe it would help. Maybe not.
    Have a wonderful evening.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  11. RaeAugust 1, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    Your part of the country is gorgeous and your photos are beautiful.

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  12. Folkways Note BookAugust 1, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    How wonderful for you to watch the storms roll in over the Blue Ridge mountains. Storms are such a dramatic part of nature. -- barbara
    P.S. I really wonder if the whole debacle of the debt issue is really over?

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  13. Betsy Banks AdamsAugust 1, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Hi Carolyn, I always say that you live in one of the most gorgeous places in our country... I love the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains... Great pictures!!!!! We have had the horrible heat ---with NO rain here.... Gads!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  14. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Such amazing shots. I love watching the rain come in. Storms are ok, too --- as long as I'm safely indoors. Beautiful pics!

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  15. carolina nanaAugust 1, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Our government is so out of touch with regular people it makes me sick. Sickens me to think they wait till the last minute so they can ram a bill through without objections.
    Nice cloud pics,wish we were getting some of that rain.
    Blessings
    Marilyn

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  16. KBAugust 2, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    I see the "blue" mountains! I never knew why they had that name until now. That is a gorgeous view. Thanks so much for sharing it.

    All that I can say about the recent crisis is... Well, at least we didn't default.

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  17. Beatrice P. BoydAugust 2, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    It's much lovlier to watch the clouds rolling in than the recent goings on in Congress. Glad you took heed and retreated to safer places.

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  18. Janet, The Queen of SeafordAugust 2, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    I love your mountain photos. We have a place that on a clear day we can see up to Greenville...and if we are in Greenville you can see the mountains.
    As for the Congress, I still believe one side acted like adults while the other held their ground to the detriment of our economy. Not happy with the bargain, but glad there is one.

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  19. The BugAugust 2, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Gorgeous pictures!

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  20. BarbAugust 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    I love these photos of the mountains fading to the distance. You do have spectacular views!

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  21. troutbirderAugust 2, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    The storm, beautiful as it is, may be a politica harbinger for Congress. I hope so.....

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  22. NCmountainwomanAugust 3, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Thanks for your comments, everyone. For those of you who need rain, I'm hoping you will get some very soon. And for those of you who have experienced lightning strikes...that would frighten me to death. And for those of you who are hoping the "super panel" will accomplish anything...you need only look at the members of the group. Hard liners on both sides. So depressing.

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  23. DebiAugust 3, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    I went to school at Lees-McRae, my daughter App State. It is true, the mountains become a part of you. I will soon here them calling me. The air will change; there will be just something, a little breeze, and I will know that it's time to go back to the hills. Debi

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  24. Toni aka irishlasAugust 3, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Stunning! I miss the Blue Ridge and all her beauty!

    I, too, have been "zapped" with traveling lightening. Very unpleasant experience to say the least. I couldn't feel my tongue for almost two weeks!

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