Like Margaret, who provides CLOUDS as this week’s Ragtag Tuesday prompt, I prefer fluffy, white clouds scudding through the sky, perhaps calling to mind a bunny or a kitty, or reflecting in placid waters.
But I was sure that most of the cloud photos in my own files would be of dark, forbidding, foreboding clouds, full of drama and threat. Maybe it’s a reflection of my mood, in the face of news of my country and our world?
When I actually went looking I was surprised and pleased to find that, in reality, most of my cloud photos are dramatic, yes, but with the drama of sun dispelling darkness, of light peeping through, of hope.
Let’s be hopeful . . .
Without hope for a better day, it would be hard to swing my legs out of bed in the morning. 🙂 Nice shots.
Too true! With the political turmoil, I swing wildly between avoiding the news and feeling a need to keep track. But i do have hope . . .
Hope is good, and so badly needed. Lovely dramatic photos.
Can you believe this crazy world??
No.
That’s my girl! ❤
👍🏻💙😃
Beautiful photos, with a beautiful message. Thank you for hope to start my day. xox
Thanks, Anne–what crazy times we live in, huh?
beautiful!
Thanks, Steph!
And in that hope I see calm silent strength. Beautiful photos,and in the first photo ,I see a cat on it’s hunches.
Did you do that as a little kid? Lie on your back in the yard and look at the clouds and see animals? Do kids still do it??
I did! Still look at the clouds for objects,just not on my back. I don’t know if children still do or not…. they re missing something if they don’t.
These photos are striking.
Thanks, Cynthia!
These are so beautiful, love the last three especially Kerry. Thank you!
Amazing, the spectacles that nature provides!
We live very close to a town here in Maine called Hope. A few years back they produced bumper stickers that say ‘Hope Is Hip’. If you live in hope you more than likely have this sticker on your car, but let’s apply it to your fine words and photographs. Hope is Hip! Nice work, Kerry!
Wow–I’ve never been hip before! 😉
Oh, you are so hip, Kerry! Embrace it! And, you have hope, not easy during these troubled times but so necessary!
These photos are beautiful.
When I listened to what Mr. Trump said in Finland the first verse of
Walter Scott’s poem Breathes There The Man, came to mind.
Is it any wonder that people around the world need hope?
I can tell you in my country, Ireland, we need to have Faith and Hope.
Thank you for the photos.
Oh, my–I went and read the poem–thank you for that prompt! I guess we all need faith and hope. BTW, I’ve been to your beautiful country several times and love it there.
Yes Kerry, we have to keep on going bringing good in the world, there has to be counter balance. Not only do you have hope, you give hope too! We need Kerry in our lives!!!!And what a glorious part f the world you live! Xoxox Johanna
You might need Kerry (and thanks for saying it!) but I need Johanna! I hope you’re back to blogging for real, at least occasionally! XOXO
The beauty of your photos and the cool, non-humid air of this morning brings hope this morning. I’m ever so grateful for your posts.
Thanks, Tammy–you’re always so kind and supportive.
Hopeful, yes. And enlivened and encouraged by this gorgeous imagery 🙂
Clouds are really necessary for a spectacular sunset, aren’t they?
Joni Mitchell’s song comes to mind.
Yes! And the line “I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee . . . “
Gorgeous photos Kerry, these are definitely hopeful images.
Slightly trite as hopeful images but pretty!
It was via a link on Clare’s blog that I read these words from Ted Hughes’ ‘ Swifts’
……..With a bowing
Power-thrust to left, then to right, then a flicker they
Tilt into a slide, a tremble for balance,
Then a lashing down disappearance
Behind elms.
They’ve made it again,
Which means the globe’s still working, the Creation’s
Still waking refreshed, our summer’s
Still all to come”
Your photos also echo these words ” the globe’s still working” which means there’s hope, even though some days have felt very dark and ominous.
Great images in that poem! Some days, I’m amazed that the globe still is working–what a wacky time we seem to be going through.
Absolutely bizarre at times.
Beautiful! And, yes, let’s be hopeful. What a week it has been!
A completely wacky, scary, mind bending week . . .
Oh, I know. One night I could hardly sleep.
Amazing photos! They make me feel more hopeful than following the news does.
Thanks! Man, following the news is a wild ride, huh??
Clouds always make the photo, for sure!
That last one is particularly wonderful
Beautiful clouds! Hope? Yes, hope!
Light shining in darkness, yes. That is what we all look for these days. The darkness is real. But so is the light. Ultimately, I have to believe, the light has more power.
I sure hope you’re right, Caroline!
Our dinning room looks out to the southeast. Some years ago, I cut a notch in the treeline at the point where the sunsets about the summer solstice. It is a great viewing spot for the weather approaching us from the west. So many different cloud formations appear in that spot (you can see several on my Instagram photos). -Oscar
We face northwest and the weather coming in is a constant source of entertainment!
I love sunrise and sunset pictures! When we traveled full-time, I took many of those photos because I just loved them. Tennessee doesn’t get dramatic ones most of the time – though seeing the sun rise through the mist of the Smokies is quite nice.
I discovered that the same old America is still out there on the byways of the country, but it isn’t news. Good news isn’t considered news worthy or of interest. It’s one reason I stopped listening to the news and eventually cut off all my TV service. I’m making judgments on my own, and not letting talking heads tell me any more what’s going on. What I see is much more positive than what they see!
Those are beautiful cloudscapes, Kerry! Yes, we must all remain hopeful, in spite of what we see going on, and make our own bright corners of light.
I came across this newspaper many years ago while touring California. The Sonoma County Upbeat Times, where no bad news is good news. 🙂
http://www.upbeattimes.com/