Looking at the Sky on Friday

We've had some gorgeous weather here the past few days so I suspect it won't be long before all of the branches that are so nicely silhouetted against this evening sky will soon be covered underneath leaves of green, not to make an appearance until once again Mother Nature blushes in front of Old Man Winter before revealing her bare self.  Personally, I'm rather hoping she keeps those robes on for awhile and that Old Man Winter takes an extended vacation this year!

For more beautiful sky shots, be sure to stop by CrAzY Working Mom and see what Looking at the Sky on Friday has to reveal!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - The Life Star Version

While over in the Yantic Cemetery the other day taking pictures of some of the gravestones, the Hartford Hospital Life Star helicopter that's based at Backus Hospital here in Norwich lifted off and took off across the skies.  I caught this shot as it flew over my head - not the greatest picture in the world but perfect for Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

For Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme this week I thought it appropriate to use a picture from my journey home from Vermont on Wednesday.  This shot was taken at approximately 65 mph while heading southbound on Interstate 91.  As you can see, it was a nice open road with virtually no traffic to speak of - ideal driving conditions in my humble opinion - especially if one has decided that's a good time to take a picture! 

Speaking of the road, I'm heading back up Interstate 91 today to pick up Amanda's friend Sami from college in Massachusetts so that she and Amanda can go see Alice in Wonderland on its opening day.  Unfortunately, there will be a lot more traffic than what is in this picture but with enough good music on the iPod I should be able to handle it.  Whether or not I'll be able to handle a weekend packed with teenage giggling might not be as easy though!

Be sure to click over to CrAzY Working Mom to link on to some great Friday sky shots.  Why, I'd be willing to bet there might even be some sun in some of them!

Looking at the Sky on Friday While Listening to Five on Friday

What does a gal do when there are two pretty cool Friday memes out there to participate in? Why combine the two, that's what!  Visitors today get a two 'fer as I just couldn't pass up either meme!

Tisha at CrAzY Working Mom has been hosting Looking at the Sky on Friday for quite some time now and it's a great meme that gives us the chance to show off some of our best sky shots - or the ones that we think are pretty darned good anyway! To that end I give you a shot of some fluffy white clouds and beautiful blue skies - something we here in New England haven't seen since Monday being that we are under the very gray clouds of a massive storm that has engulfed a good part of the Northeast.  Rumor has it we may get some sunshine back on Monday but in the meantime the best we can do is look longingly back at pictures from the past and wait patiently for more in the future.

The other meme that I have been wanting to participate in is a new one by a West Coast blog buddy, Travis, who recently began Five on Friday where we can share a playlist of five of our favorite songs no matter what them we might be thinking of.  Being a complete and total music lover, this meme just kept screaming my name so here's my first go at it.

I decided to post five of my favorite pieces of music by film score composer and music producer extraordinaire Hans Zimmer. The man has done the music for over 100 different films including some of my favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean (the series), The Dark Knight, The Holiday, The Lion King, Backdraft, Driving Miss Daisy, Gladiator, and one of his most recent projects - Sherlock Holmes - for which he is up for an Academy Award that I sincerely hope he wins!

I'm one of those people who listens intently to the soundtrack when I go to a movie as I just love how film composers work their magic making the movie that much more enjoyable.  Amanda seems to have inherited that same trait as her iPod contains more Hans Zimmer music than mine does at the moment!  Thank goodness those years in concert band didn't go wasted!

It was hard to limit myself to just five pieces of music for this week as Hans Zimmer has so much good music out there but I chose - in order on the player - "Discombobulate" from Sherlock Holmes, the main theme from Backdraft, "Maestro" from The Holiday, "And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad" from The Dark Knight, and "Drink Up Me Hearties" from Pirates of the Caribbean:  At World's End.

Please enjoy this week's visual and audio presentations and don't forget to visit Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday for more great pictures and Travis' Five on Friday for more great music!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

I'm posting rather late today as it took me quite awhile to stir my stumps out of bed as I felt rather like I was coming down with something all day yesterday. As soon as I got home last night from what seemed like an exceptionally long day at work I popped some Advil Cold & Sinus and went to bed.  Finally around 10:30 or so this morning I felt well enough to get up and finally get going.

I wrapped my new scarf that I got from Sheila around my neck and headed down towards the Groton - New London area as I was in need of a few more pictures for a future post that I've been working on and that I realized I was missing a couple crucial photos for.  Oops!  While I was down there I took advantage of the many clouds in the sky to snap a couple of pictures for Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme - clouds that were vastly different depending on whether I was facing the Groton side of the Thames River ...


 ... or the New London side of the the Thames River ...


Believe it or not, all I did was take a picture in one direction and then turn around and take a picture in the other direction. Big difference, eh? If you look closely at the second picture you can still make out a little bit of the brilliant blue sky that was hiding behind all of those dark clouds on the New London side of the river. They usually say if you don't like the weather in New England to wait a minute and this is probably a prime example of that!

Speaking of prime, today is the birthday of one of the dearest people I know and whether he thinks it or not, I daresay that he is entering the prime of his life. If you get a moment, please swing by It's a Blog Eat Blog World and wish my friend Morgen a very happy birthday or if you'd rather pop in on his wicked cool birthday party, click on over to The Work of the Poet where Mary the Teach is throwing one heck of a blindig (that's blog + shindig) complete with cake, games, and party favors! It's up to you whether you want to keep your own underwear on or not!

Happy birthday, Mo, and may you have many, many more that just get better and better!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

It snowed here in Connecticut on Wednesday - though thankfully not the big behemoth of a snowstorm that they were originally warning us about - the day before that, though, was an absolutely picture-perfect day with beautiful clear February skies and temperatures in the low 40's. It was the type of day that just screamed at me to go out and find a picture for Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme and who am I to refuse the call of a meme?  Exactly!  So I set off down to the Groton side of the Thames River where I was able to capture this shot of a seagull in flight:


Sometimes I just get lucky! Speaking of getting lucky, click on over to today's Looking at the Sky on Friday and see what sorts of skies Tisha's other participants have to offer - I bet you luck out and find there are some beautiful ones!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - The Frozen Version

It's been too long since I've participated in my friend Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme but while in Amherst, Massachusetts last Saturday I felt compelled to pull over next to (okay, I actually pulled onto!) this dead cornfield to take a picture of the cold sky overhead.  As you can see, the sun was trying hard to break through but it wasn't having any luck and the day was cold, cold, cold!  No Nikon-blue sky there at all, just the frozen gray steel of a late January day in Massachusetts.  Brrr!

Be sure to head over to Tisha's and check out the links to see if anyone else has posted a warm Friday sky!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

Fridays are skies day and that works out great when I'm juggling time and not doing such a great job which is truly the case today! Still, I've got a day off and I'm going to try to make the best of it and that does not include sitting home on the computer! So what better than a nice quick post courtesy of a nice meme by one of my nice blogging friends?

Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday is a great way to share some of our skyward photos like this picture that Amanda took outside of Kutztown, Pennsylvania last Tuesday while we were driving from the Dutch Country up to visit Mark & Lisa. Despite the clouds, it sure was pretty!

Here's wishing everyone a very pretty Friday wherever you are and whatever you're doing. As for me - I'm going to pick some apples, take some pictures, and hang out with my cousin. Sounds pretty good to me!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

If you like to look at pictures of the sky then be sure to check out my friend Tisha's fun photo meme - Looking at the Sky on Friday.

The picture below is another that Amanda took from the passenger side of the car while we were driving through Pennyslvania. She took so many good pictures that I'll have sky shots for weeks to come!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

Last week for Looking at the Sky on Friday I posted a picture that I had taken from the small turnout on California State Highway 50 just as you make the turn that brings you to an amazing view of Lake Tahoe. From the very first time I saw that view, I thought it was one of the most spectacular of all and try to get back there as often as I can when I'm out in California. Honestly, showing you pictures of it here is only a tease as to be their yourself is 1,000 times more phenomenal and gorgeous.

For this week, I have two more pictures that were taken from the same vista point the last time I was there - May 6th, 2009. My friend Cyndi and I had taken a drive to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains but the lure of Lake Tahoe was just too strong and I ended up driving all the way up to the lake stopping all along the way to take pictures (and thereby driving Cyndi pretty much nuts!) - still, I'm pretty sure you can see why! As I told her, she lives within driving distance of these sorts of wonderful views whereas I have to fly 3,000 miles to see them in person. Not being able to do that all the time, I have pictures - lots and lots of beautiful pictures ...

Speaking of lots and lots of beautiful pictures, you can find just them with more gorgeous skies from all over at my friend Tisha's blog and this week's edition of Looking at the Sky on Friday. Stop on by if you get the chance!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

I've not joined in on my friend Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme in a couple weeks but while looking at some pictures I'd taken earlier this year I came across the below shot. I'd be willing to bet that there are couple of my blog friends who'd be able to tell me exactly where this shot was taken - let's see if they can!

For more great sky shots, be sure to stop by Tisha's and say 'hi' while you're there!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

I've come to the conclusion that I am just no good at doing memes on a regular basis but I can certainly try to do one every once in awhile, right? Please tell me that I can be at least organized enough to do a meme every once in awhile or I'm going to have to give over my astrological sign to someone else as certainly no one has ever heard of a totally disorganized Virgo!

It's been a long time since I've participated in my friend Tisha's wonderful Looking at the Sky on Friday meme but I've certainly seen quite a few gorgeous skies on other people's blogs - like the beautiful pastel skies I saw at Ralph's blog today - and I was reminded that I had taken a picture this past Fourth of July while on the way home from my mom's house in Canterbury back to Norwich for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show that I had wanted to use for this meme. As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember thinking "this would be great for Tisha's meme!" when I pulled into a gravel pit to take the shot!

That little itty bitty white spot in the middle of the picture is the moon, which you could probably see better if you click on the picture and biggify it! I don't own a zoom lens yet so unless I've managed to talk Kevin into letting me borrow his, I have to do what I can with my regular 18-55mm lens. Needless to say, it makes the moon look as far away as it really is! Trust me, this scene was a lot prettier in person as the camera didn't do the color contrasts justice, especially with the evening skies melting into the clouds, but I thought it was still rather pretty.

In addition to that picture, I also forgot that I had fireworks pictures from that same night to show you - see how absent-minded I'm getting?!? Again, no fancy lens - just my regular old one so they aren't spectacular but they're definitely fireworks!

So there you have it, one Looking at the Sky in the evening and a bunch of Looking at the Sky when it was lit up with fireworks! No matter what sky you're looking at today I hope it's a good one and don't forget to go by Tisha's to see what other skies there are in the Blogosphere!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - Last Year's Version

Believe it or not I haven't been too inspired to go out and take pictures lately (perhaps the weather has something to do with that?!?) so decided to dig into my photo archives for something to post for Tisha's sky meme this week.

This picture brings back many happy memories of a week spent with some very special blogging buddies at Matunuck Beach in Rhode Island last September and I can only wish that I had something so wonderful to look forward to this year but a week-long beach vacation is definitely NOT on the agenda for this year. Rats!

Of course, I do believe I'm going to have the chance to meet at least one wonderful blog-friend this year when her trella brings her to points north and maybe, with any luck, there might be an opportunity to meet another blogger from the deep south should she return to her roots in Massachusetts for a visit. I do so love meeting blog friends as they generally end up being even more wonderful in real life than they are on the computer!

Maybe someday I'll even get to meet the mistress of this meme!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - The Bleh Version

Sigh ... yep ... that gray sky is pretty much what we here in Connecticut have been looking at all Spring and now into the Summer. I do believe there's more color in the reflections of the water on Beach Pond then there is in the sky! Oh well, Mother Nature is a stubborn cuss and it is what it is - bleh!

Speaking of it is what it is - today is Gracie's birthday so I wanted to make sure to give her a shout out way over there in California and send her wishes for a day filled with happiness! Stop by and wish her a good one and then pop over to Tisha's where I'm sure you'll find some blue skies and maybe even some cottony clouds!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

Go figure - I seem to be posting pictures that I took exactly one month ago! This one was taken on May 5th while I was in Stockton. Even though the skies are quite lovely, I bet those of you who live on the Left Coast see only one thing in this picture!

Don't forget to swing by Tisha's for more Looking at the Sky on Friday shots!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

I'm afraid the skies here in Norwich have been pretty bleh all week which has also made my mood pretty bleh, too. It seems like I've barely been able to get out of my own way most days!

Luckily we had some really nice days last week including one where the skies turned a beautiful shade of pink as the sun set. Naturally I was at work when that happened and didn't have my camera with me so I had to do the next best thing ... call Amanda and tell her to grab my camera and go out to get some sky shots for me!

Turns out the skies in the area of Norwich we live in were actually more orange than they were pink but that's okay as I think they still looked pretty cool once I had a chance to look at the shots Amanda took. This week's photo credit goes to her!

For more colorful sky shots, be sure to check out Tisha's blog!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

I am very happy to report that there have been blue skies to look at here in New England lately and you don't even have to wear a jacket to go out and gaze at them anymore either! I lucked out and had two gorgeous days on my last two days off so I took full advantage of them and went out with my camera both days. Now I just need more days off to sort the pictures out!

I've probably got more sky pictures now than there are Fridays in the year to post them but I suspect that's a good thing as I'll never have a good excuse not to participate in Tisha's meme! This week's photo was one that I took from the front porch of my house looking up through the branches of the tree in the side yard. I thought it came out kinda cool ...

Granted, you can only see a bit of sky through the green branches but the bits you can see are a beautiful blue! In my world blue plus green equals happy!

Don't forget to swing by Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme for some more great sky pictures!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - The High Altitude Version

Time once again for my friend Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday meme and even though she's a major fan of Kris Allen going into the finals of American Idol next week, I can certainly forgive her that and participate in her meme in spite of the fact that I am a major fan of Adam Lambert and am hoping he takes the title. However, even if he doesn't, I'm sure he's got himself a career all ready to go and if by some chance Kris does manage to win I won't begrudge him the title as I think he's darned good, too. Matter of fact, it's been a tough season as there were so many good contestants this year it was hard not to root for more than one of them! Well, with the exception of Megan Joy that is - her I didn't like at all!

Anyhow, Idol chatter aside (yes, pun intended!), for this week's meme I chose one of the shots that I took from the window of my Southwest Airlines flight out to Las Vegas on April the 28th so I guess you could say that I was looking down at the skies rather than up at them as we were cruising at about 36,000 feet!

The big black area to the left of the picture is actually one of the planes engines as we were sitting just ahead of the wing on the left hand side of the plane as you're flying west. The only complaint I have with Southwest is that they need to keep their windows a little cleaner so that folks like myself who insist on taking pictures can get clearer ones!

Speaking of folks taking pictures, don't forget to click on over to CrAzY Working Mom and see what skies other people have posted. Have a great Friday while you're at it!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - The Sierra Nevada Version

I'm afraid I've missed a couple of Tisha's Looking at the Sky on Friday memes lately but have more than enough pictures to make up for it and post in the weeks to come thanks to my recent trip West. As a matter of fact, while driving around in the Sierra Nevadas this past Wednesday, just about every photo I took was one that I thought would be perfect for this meme!

For this week, I thought I would use one of the pictures of one of my very favorite places in the United States -

This is the view from the top of Highway 50 in California as you come around the bend and catch a glimpse of beautiful Lake Tahoe. This view never fails to take my breath away and even though there were plenty of clouds around, I still thought it was one of the most gorgeous places ever. That might be pretty easy to see why!

For more beautiful sky pictures be sure to swing by Tisha's blog and may everyone have a great Friday no matter where you may be!

Looking at the Sky on Friday - Along the Shetucket River

Here it is - not only Friday again but the last Friday in April. How on earth did that happen?!?

This last weekend in April is going to be one extremely busy weekend for me as not only am I working today, Saturday, and Sunday but I've got to make some attempt to get myself ready to fly out to Las Vegas extremely early Tuesday morning after working until 11:00 Monday night. I already feel the sleep deprivation setting in! I certainly hope that Jen isn't expecting lively conversation as we fly out for the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch Navigator Conference as I get the sneaky feeling I'll be sleeping shortly after we're airborne - or at least that's my hope!

Meanwhile, before things get too crazy, Fridays here in the Blogosphere are special as it gives us a chance to take a look at the skies along with the hostess of this meme, Tisha of Crazy Working Mom.

For this week's photo I chose one that I took a couple of Thursdays ago from the banks of the Shetucket River. The building underneath the blue skies and puffy clouds is the former Ponemah Mill in Taftville, Connecticut. Established in 1866 with workers who were predominantly of Irish descent, at one time the mill was purported to have the largest weave-shed under one roof and was the site of a strike in April of 1875 that helped to usher unions into the country - however, that's a story for another day!

The mill operated for over 100 years and is still home to several small businesses. Before the economy took a major nosedive, there were plans to turn the old mill buildings into luxury condos while maintaining the historic elements of the structure but I'm afraid that project has gone by the wayside. It's a shame, really, as it's quite the impressive building but it's starting to fall apart from age and neglect like so many great old buildings do.

Ah well, I should see about doing some pre-packing for my trip before heading into work this afternoon - which the weatherman has promised is going to be a beautiful one! Wherever you are on this last Friday in April, I hope your skies are blue and the only clouds above you are of the cottony type. If not, I'll be you can find some over at Tisha's blog if you follow the linkies!