Sunday Sunlight

These photos were taken about a week ago.

Most of the trees have lost their leaves. 

But even now in mid-November I still see a few trees that are holding on to their color. 

It's cloudy today, and supposed to be so for the next three or four days, but with no chance of rain.  The rain "gods" are being very mean to Southern California... 


I'm linking with Shadowshot Sunday

Sunday Sunlight

A bit of early autumn...not sure if it's heat stress that caused the colors or the couple of cool nights we've had recently. 

Sunlight and Shadows

Sunlight on the blossoms of Lunaria, commonly called money plant.

Casting shadows on little Seely Creek in the Valley of Enchantment in the San Bernardino mountains.

Linking with: Shadow Shot Sunday

Sunday Sunlight

Sunlight on apple blossoms dancing in the breeze.  Spring is in full bloom...so are my allergies.

Sunday Sunlight

This photo is from June of 2007.  There isn't any sunshine around today; last night it snowed, and today the mountains that I live in are wrapped in fog and rain.  After all the rain we've gratefully received I'm looking forward to being able to plant a few pots with some pretty blooms this spring.  I might even replace one or two rose bushes that expired from drought.

This map shows what areas are still being affected by drought.  The white areas are where the drought is over, the yellow areas indicate "abnormally dry," the beige areas indicate "moderate drought," and the two orange areas indicate "severe drought."  The area where I live is still considered abnormally dry...maybe I better rethink replacing those water-hogging rosebushes and just stick with cheerful pots of annuals.

Sunday Sunlight

Light and shadow dappling Seely Creek in the Valley of Enchantment, San Bernardino mountains, California.

Virga

There are clouds around, but they're not giving any rain to parched California.  I think the air is so dry the rain is evaporating before it can even reach the ground, a weather phenomenon that's referred to as Virga. This photo was taken looking south-east from Highway 18 towards the San Jacinto mountain range in the far distance. 

Linking with:  Our World Tuesday

Light and Shadow

San Gorgonio and the eastern end of the San Bernardino valley in light and shadow and rain.  Yes, it finally rained in Southern California!  Up here in the mountains we received a little over two inches of the precious water drops.  The rain was accompanied by the most intense, and longest, thunderstorm I've ever experienced.  It sounded like it was right over us, and it lasted for over six hours!  Happily, the lightening didn't start any fires.

Linking with: Through My Lens

Shadow Shot Sunday

Shadows and sun on a path around Lake Arrowhead.  Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday

Sunday Light and Shadow

Sun and wind flowing down a hillside,   

drew my attention to this old stump, and made me notice it's beauty. 

Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday

Reflections and Shadows

Clouds admiring their reflections in Lake Gregory...

While on the other side of the lake, trees cast their shadows.  Or, maybe shadows are how trees see their reflections.
Linking to   Shadow Shot Sunday  

The above photos were taken in March of 2013.  It's pouring rain (2.59 inches so far) here in these mountains today - by tonight it will be snowing - YAY!  Higher up in Big Bear it's already snowing.

One Word Wednesday - Shades

Sunday Sunlight

Sunday Sunlight

Sunday Sunlight - Spotlight

Sunday Sunlight

Sunday Sunlight

This is the thing I love best about living in a forest: The way the light constantly shifts and changes, highlighting one thing then obscuring it with shadow, only to showcase something else in light.  The light dances, especially when there is a little breeze for a partner, and if you sit in one place for ten minutes you might see twenty or more different views of the same thing.

Wednesday's Winding Road

Will you find something nice around the bend?  Or are the shadows a hint of what's to come?  Is the white trunk of the leaning tree on the right just a tree, or is is a magic gate that will crash down behind you once you've passed under it, trapping you somewhere you might not want to be? 

Hmmm...

Sunday Sunlight

Sunlight highlighting some Lunaria blossoms...and a lot of wicked foxtail weeds that I must get rid of!

Sunday Sunlight

Dark and light, death and growth...