October 16, 2011. Sometime between when we left the house and when we lined up at the ferry terminal, this unlikely cloud formation appeared in the sky, lit from below by the setting sun. It seemed to forebode a serious change in the weather, but instead vanished within minutes, leaving no trace.
These days the sun is setting pretty far toward the south end of Sachem Pond. Last night the sun ducked behind some clouds just before setting. No sharp red sun against the dunes, but it lit up the sky.
Monday, September 26, 2011 was a warm, sunny day on the island. But as the sun tilted down toward the west, the fog rolled in. It was thick on the north end of the island, surrounded by ocean as we are, but the sun peered wanly through the fog as it set over Great Salt Pond.
Yesterday afternoon the rain clouds rolled in. The wind picked up; the air smelled like the ocean. Thunder growled a warning. And then the rain broke loose. I closed the windows and kept working. After a while, the sky grew lighter, and when I looked up the sun was shining again, long, late afternoon golden light slanting through the pouring rain.
Wait a minute.
Late afternoon sunlight…in the pouring rain…
There must be a rainbow! A perfect end to this beautiful (Jewish) New Year’s day.
As if the rainbow weren’t enough, the sun put on a show too.
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.
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.
At last, dear friends, after a week of posts about Bagan, we arrive at the evening of the journey’s second day here. I have completely omitted the eight (8) stupas and temples that we either visited or stopped to contemplate during the day, along with their corresponding Buddhas of white and gold. It feels like time to move on. Besides, we can see many of these religious structures from the top of Shwesandaw Stupa. Let’s go look.
There actually was a bit of a sunset…
Finally, as we leave Bagan for Mandalay, I give you two complete panoramic views, each comprising about half of the view from the top of the stupa. If you right-click on each image and download it, you should be able to see the panorama in a larger size.
Tomorrow–it’s on to Mandalay!
Warm late-spring days are truly magical on the island. The air is sweet with roses and Russian olive blossoms. The sun is strong and hot during the day and the stars are bright at night, but at sunrise and sunset a cool fog rises from the sea. And the elements dance: fire and air, sea and land.
Why would the house still be unrented for the week of July 3-10th? This, when the week includes the July 4th holiday, with the island’s wonderful hometown parade, and with fireworks, both manmade and natural. Fireworks a lot like this:
and this:
We’ve reduced the price for the week to encourage some lucky person or group or family to come out and share the beauty of our lovely island. If anyone is interested, call Ballard Hall Real Estate at 401-466-8883.
Speechless.
