Before the Storms

Oh how I love my storms!
Spring is the perfect time to watch the atmosphere change in the blink of an eye. One minute it's unseasonably warm and the next buckets of rain are released from a saturated sky. Blink again and the air circulates in cool currents, carrying fresh aromas.
Thunder sounds and excitement overcomes you....well it does for me!

Today was great for beautiful threatening skies and a surprise storm or two.
This was a picture I took today about one hour before thy sky opened and a super soaker drenched the earth. I love watching sheets of rain attack the ground during high winds. One after the other. Trying harder than the one before.

I don't know why I love them so. It probably started when I was a little storm watcher with my Dad. Sitting outside we would watch the storms get closer and closer, feeling the rumble in the ground before finding safety inside. Too bad he lives in the desert now where they get about a drop of rain a year! Too bad, that's gotta suck.

There's nothing like a Midwest storm!

Just a Pretty Sky

Usually a sunset or sunrise catches my eye. Not this time! This is just a pretty sky. I appreciate the cloud formation and enjoy the disturbance in the lower half of the photo. Even though I took this a few days ago, it reminds me of a nice summer thunderstorm! Oh how I miss a good strong thunderstorm!

Morning Light

Beyond the pine and through the maples, a current of vapor sways...
Just as the morning light begins to touch it's peaks...
"Renew," says our Creator...
"and seek your strength through Me."

C.Kane ©2008

This was the beautiful sky that greeted me this morning as I was about to go to work. Work will have to wait...this is much too important to miss! No sooner than seconds did this picture's color dramatically change, but this frame was the very best. What a great way to start the day.

Mysterious Sky

This is what the sky looked like before all the rain. Several layers of clouds quickly whipping by, the lowest layer being the fastest. Something is coming.


How spooky and wonderful all in the same frame.
What wasn't wonderful however, was the area of the Illinois and Wisconsin border which was hit by a tornado the next day that had traveled 13 miles on it's January trek. A tornado in January in Illinois is unheard of.

The further south of the city you are, the more rain you received. Many low areas are still flooded, but thankfully I didn't need a boat and the streets were pretty much clear with only the ditches flooded in my area.

Record breaking temperatures are passing and a cool front is on the way with, get this......snow flurries tonight!?! Tornado yesterday, snow today?
Would this imply Global Warming or the Apocalypse?
Just kidding...

Calm Before the Storm

This is a picture I took today at about 3:30pm. I was in the middle of nowhere in Frankfort, IL. This picture represents the calm before the snow storm. Oh how I love snow storms!
All night tonight and during the day tomorrow, we are to expect snow showers in the amounts of 3-6 inches. Now to my Northern friends that may seem like a dusting, but us Chicagoans have been snow deprived for many, many winters. Sure last year we had a few storms, but they're becoming few and far between. I remember as a child HUGE amounts of snow. I played in it all the time. My Dad use to bring home thick poster board for me to use as a sled and I would make my own hills in the front yard....aaahhhhhh....being a kid in the snow. What am I talking about, being a big person in the snow is fun too, you just get hurt more often!

www.weather.com radar at 10:15pm

As we speak it is snowing right now. I look outside the window and I see a white blanket over everything. The white of the snow seems to bring peace and cleans everything it touches. Tomorrow's pictures should be wonderful.

Beautiful Sky x2

Do we live on a beautiful planet or what?!? I mean, Mars is all red.....Venus is sulfur acid yellow, aren't we lucky with our fascinating ever changing spectrum? That's what I thought when I saw this beautiful sunrise yesterday morning. I love how quietly the sun gently presents itself in the morning. Although I have to admit if it weren't for work, I would still be snug in a bug at this early hour. How lucky ducky am I, just today I witnessed this beautiful sunset......


Let's take a deep breath of tranquility.....ahhhhh. Do you see that right angle line in the sky? That was man made, it was from a plane, but everything else is God's handiwork for our happiness. Some might not believe that but I appreciate every little "gift" I can find.
If your interested in planet colors, you can click here. Ours is the best one by far!

The Beauty of Silence

This picture reminds me of silence. I took it last Friday evening. Looking at such beauty makes me go silent every time. Perhaps it is because I can not match it or explain exactly how it became, stop it in it's tracks or extend it's time to remain. Silence is truly good for us and in a world as chaotic as the one we live in, it is fleeting fast. I believe God whispers to us like this sunset, soft, quietly, but if you don't pay attention, gone in a hurry.

Today I sat in my car during lunch to get away from noise. I closed my eyes and just became still. At first, I heard ringing in my head. It was probably my brain in shock from lack of phones, machines, voices and the such. Shortly after, my senses awoke and I saw the boughs of a pine bounce because of the gentle wind. When it blew harder, I heard it whip in between the cars and felt a tiny little shake. It was subtle and if I wasn't silent, I would have missed it. I love the little details. I need to take my vitamin of silence everyday.