Views near Golden Grove

Dan and I have been here on Block Island since Thursday, and just as the United States Weather Service forecasted, it’s been cloudy and occasionally foggy and rainy. It’s been beautiful, and I’m not complaining. It’s always beautiful here on the island. But the last thing we expected was any kind of color at sunset. So, imagine our surprise when…

This is a gift. This is why we’re here on the island.

This is why we human beings are here on this Earth. The planet is beautiful, and we are here for only a short time. Appreciate it. Take care of it.

 

Views near Golden Grove

After a long summer off Block Island, with travel to faraway lands, I’m beginning to yearn to be back on the island again. So I went through my archive of September photographs to see where on the western skyline the sun would be setting this time of year.

Looks like it will be setting over Sachem Pond when we return in a week or so.

Views near Golden Grove

I am especially partial to those sunset moments when the sun approaches the horizon so that the thickness of the air makes it go all gibbous and misshapen. Especially if there are a few clouds about to enhance the effect.

Views near Golden Grove

This is a first: A post about Block Island while I am still on the island. And pictures of the sky and almost-sunset within twenty-four hours of when they were taken.

Yesterday we took advantage of the clear weather to plant a number* of new Rosa rugosas and weed the garden out front. But at about 5:30 I had to take a break in order to photograph the sky. The prediction was for rain starting at about 5am, and the sky was beginning to cloud up with an effect that looked like some kind of aery ocean.

Below it, the ocean and the pond were lit up like some kind of watery sunfire.

Later that evening, the clouds thickened. There was only one narrow sliver of sunset, and that, only for a few moments.

Today, as promised, it’s been raining. All day. Good for the Rosa rugosa.

——————

* eight

Views near Golden Grove

We’re back on the island after a winter away, and it is wonderful! Yes, it’s still a bit chilly, especially when the sun’s behind a cloud and the wind is blowing from the northeast, and we’re out planting beach grass. Yes, there was frost on the ground one morning–but the frost is beautiful.

And… we have a morning visitor!

It’s so good to be here…

Views near Golden Grove

As we prepare for our last trip of the season (and year) to Block Island–too soon, oh, too soon!–I have been looking back over photographs from previous Novembers. This one, and those from the next few posts, are from 2006 and were not taken from our deck but from nearby.

Views near Golden Grove

It was so good to be back on the island again! Yes, it was cold. And more to the point, yes, it was very windy. But the island is always beautiful. Though we didn’t have much of a sunset last Friday (October 29, 2010), we had a lovely cloud show in the late afternoon. These two pictures were taken around 4:30pm.