Friday, March 20, 2009

Clouds

Today's Wonder of the World is...the Cloud!

Flickr photo by Nobbby
Tell me, does this ever happen to you? You're going about your normal day, running around the backyard, trying to wrestle a bag of bread away from your dog so that he doesn't choke on it and make you spend your whole weekend at the vet's office, and out of frustration you gaze into the sky (asking God Why me?) and suddenly it occurs to you how completely freaky it is that billions of water molecules are all floating together in the air above you, above the planet, right over your head? And then you watch the wind move the cloud, which freaks you out even more, even though you've known about clouds your whole life long?

Okay, maybe I need to start drinking decaf.

Let me tell you, I've looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down, and still somehow it's cloud illusions I recall. I really don't know clouds at all.

Sorry to get Joni Mitchell on you, but I've got clouds on the brain. Or maybe someone put something in my coffee.
But seriously, clouds really are a wonder.
Whether wispy

Flickr photo by algo
(Cirrus)

Or puffy

Flickr photo by Shutter Shock
(Cumulus)

Clouds are just amazing.
It's downright startling to watch them move.
(Warning: if you've had too much coffee or you're breathless from chasing your dog, this may freak you out.)


This mind blowing photo of a cloud- sun sandwich also freaked me out.

Flickr photo by Nicholas T
If I wasn't sure that I was still here, I might worry about the Apocalypse.

Know something else that freaks me out, but I love it anyway? (Unless I'm trying to drive in it.)
Fog.

Flickr photo by algo
It's such a cool idea, that a cloud could settle on the ground with the rest of us, and roll around for a while. And let us walk through it and wave our arms around in it and catch it in our hands.
(Not that I would do that. Not in public anyway.)

My favorite cloud artist has to be van Gogh.

You can practically feel the movement of his clouds.


I was shocked to find that Provence actually feels like that!

I hope I never get so cynical that I forget the wonder of clouds.

Flickr photo by the inhabitant
Do you see what I see?

Have a wonder-full weekend, y'all!
And enjoy this cool Air France commercial directed by Michel Gondry, the same director and musician in Wednesday's video of Les Cailloux. He also directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and tons of other ads and movies.
He's clearly enchanted with clouds.


Love, Becky

22 comments:

Adrienne said...

Van Gogh was amazing!
I love cloud gazing. We've had some gorgeous skies lately...wish I'd remember to take pictures.
Cute elephant ;)

Anonymous said...

And flying or driving so high that you're ABOVE that clouds. That's so incredible, too.

Renee said...

Becky you always come up with the best little rest periods for my day.

I love this one.

Love Renee xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

I love your passion for the clouds. I think its great that you got wrapped up in the experience of watching and feeling the clouds existance.

I will have to watch the clouds. Right now we have a solid flat cover of grey... I am in northwest Washington after all.

Gwen Buchanan said...

I'm telling you.. I am blown away by clouds all the time.. who needs TV...

I am freaked by the cloud-sun sandwich too.... whoa..... if that didn't make people stop and stare... well nothing would...


Happy spring!!

Rosemary said...

Hi Rebecca,
Love the clouds. I painted the ceiling in my master bath with clouds.
We had a couldy morning here.
Have a great weekend,
Rosemary

Gina M Smith said...

"French" has arrived! Can't wait to tear into it! Will advise when reviews are posted! Thanks!

May Vanderbilt said...

I'll never forget the day my older brother told me fog is a cloud on the ground.

Blew. my. mind.

I guess I thought, until that moment, you could sit on them, like the angels do in paintings.

But now I live in Fog City and I love the fog. It makes you feel like your city is a local's secret, hidden from view.

a Tonggu Momma said...

Loved this one - especially after blog hopping among the craziness that is the UBP. Very serene now. Thank you.

Fete et Fleur said...

Fluffy, wispy or dark and rainy clouds, I love them all!

Nancy

Jojo said...

Don't you wish that we still had time in our lives as we did as children to lie down in the grass to just watch clouds? As kids in the summer this was high on my activities list and your post reminded of those wonderful carefree days.

Some kind of courage. said...

my goodness
im in love with these.
i find my pictures in flickr too!

lovely blog

lotusgirl said...

Another wonder that reaches me deep inside. I LOVE clouds. Do you remember my clouds post?

I could lay on my back and watch clouds for hours finding animals and faces or take pictures of them. You included some amazing shots and those Van Gogh's are some of my all time favorite paintings.

Unknown said...

I'm mesmerized by clouds. All of the photos are great but I especially like the foggy one!

Unknown said...

Very cool photos! I like that you used Van Gogh's paintings, too! I love cloud, they are such beautiful "creatures", LOL! ;)

David Ebright said...

Deb takes amazing photos of wildlife, flowers & clouds (& space shuttle launches). I'll have to post some cloud pics in the future.

Living so close to the ocean, we get some really wild cloud shows. The strangest is watching a bank of low clouds/fog rolling up the road, like something from a horror movie.

BTW - Tanner will leave the bread alone as soon as Todd gets the elevated garden goin' again.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous! Joni Mitchell mixed with Van Gogh, high clouds, low clouds, and the dog running about. Perfectly nice, unexpected combination. I say stick with the caffeine :).

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Beautiful post!!

Will Tanner really eat whole loaf of bread??

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Glad to hear you folks like clouds as much as I do!

Jaxpop and Pamela, y'all just don't know Tanner. Yes Pamela, not only would he eat a whole loaf, he'd eat all the loaves you made available, until he got sick. Jaxpop, the garden just gives him herbs to floss his teeth with after he finishes sticks of butter or whatever else he can snatch off the counter when we're not looking.

Kelly H-Y said...

They ARE fascinating, aren't they?! My son has a clouds book, and I must admit, I knew of the basic types of clouds, but had NO idea there were so many other types and combos, etc.!

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

LOL.Decafe for you.But you are right I always try to make out pictures in the clouds, try to see faces.Especially when you were a kid traveling on vacation with your parents, and you are bored out your wits in the car.Nice post Rebecca. XXOO Marie Antionette

Scarlett Fiona Reed said...

Oh thank you so much! Loved every pic. Makes me think I should post some pictures on flickr...