** Picture of the Day 3 **

[goopysolelady]

 

[goopysolelady]

Best friends ... and the "goodbye" :

 

[goopysolelady]

Senior Scholarship Ceremony this morning; Academic Awards this evening! "Officially" received the theater/dance scholarship and was awarded another scholarship from the pre-school she attended. BEST part of the evening...when her name was announced and she was walking onto the stage big sister yelled..."THAT'S MY SISTER!"

 

[klmall]

We've had some spectacular skies and new snow on the Peak this week. This was 2 days ago and I have more to share later!

 

[goopysolelady]

Another tornado hit our town Thursday evening at 5:45; this time our side was hit along with surrounding communities. Wind reports of 120-130 mph! Youngest DD had a tree fall on her house; oldest DD didn't get hit quite as hard but large tree limb blocked their driveway; golf course was destroyed and our neighborhood had a lot of tree damage and a few homes were hit by falling trees. Our City Electrical crew, along with help from other cities, have worked 40 hours straight. Our power was out until 4:45 this afternoon and internet and TV until 11:30 this evening. Exhausted after a night of candles and battery powered lights and beginning cleanup this afternoon. DD & DGD cleaned our front yard; DH spent the day getting the tree off DD's house and repairing the roof; I started in the back yard. It will take more than a few days to complete cleanup but, as far as I know, no one was injured so we were blessed. With DGD's high school graduation a week away, the cleanup can wait...but it sure is a mess in our backyard!

 

[klmall]

Another tornado hit our town Thursday evening at 5:45; this time our side was hit along with surrounding communities. Wind reports of 120-130 mph! Youngest DD had a tree fall on her house; oldest DD didn't get hit quite as hard but large tree limb blocked their driveway; golf course was destroyed and our neighborhood had a lot of tree damage and a few homes were hit by falling trees. Our City Electrical crew, along with help from other cities, have worked 40 hours straight. Our power was out until 4:45 this afternoon and internet and TV until 11:30 this evening. Exhausted after a night of candles and battery powered lights and beginning cleanup this afternoon. DD & DGD cleaned our front yard; DH spent the day getting the tree off DD's house and repairing the roof; I started in the back yard. It will take more than a few days to complete cleanup but, as far as I know, no one was injured so we were blessed. With DGD's high school graduation a week away, the cleanup can wait...but it sure is a mess in our backyard!

I guess tornado season has officially begun! How damaged was the roof? Any rain damage? Only worse timing would have been for Katie's graduation.......And it's such a shame to lose those trees and limbs. Thinking of you and your town

 

[goopysolelady]

I guess tornado season has officially begun! How damaged was the roof? Any rain damage? Only worse timing would have been for Katie's graduation.......And it's such a shame to lose those trees and limbs. Thinking of you and your town

Tornado season has been rearing it's ugly head for a couple of months already, especially to our north. We were only in the TorCon 2 level but that's all it takes. Stormy day was predicted but meteorologist were a little surprised this developed so fast, got so strong and lasted so long. There were 7 people killed in Houston area when it arrived there; downtown Houston looks like a war zone. Many windows blown out of the high rise buildings and even had some apartment buildings collapse. It moved SO fast; I was at a neighbors house (3 houses south of our home); her lights blinked, told her I'd better get home and I walked FAST! Walked under our garage door and debris started flying with downpour rain. Rushed to get Lady Boo from the back yard and could barely get the door closed the wind was so strong! YES...thankful it didn't happen on graduation day and praying nothing turns up during the week to spoil that! The roof needs 6 metal pieces replaced (they have a metal, not shingle roof); sheetrock needs to be replaced; ceiling fan is "hanging by a thread"; ceiling tile replaced plus a little water damage to contents. The room is used as Bryan's "Man Cave" so they have concrete floors so at least flooring wasn't damaged. A few dents/scratches on their vehicles (they were parked under the tree) but no broken windshields or windows. My heart is just breaking over all the downed trees. Thanks for your positive thoughts!

 

[goopysolelady]

One of my favorite traditions at our church is the Blessing of the Graduates. Because we're unable to attend the 10:30 Sunday service due to DGD's last Center Stage dance recital, they received their blessing this evening at the 6 PM service. Parents "wrap their children" in a blanket representing family and church family before they venture off on their new adventures.

 

[klmall]

One of my favorite traditions at our church is the Blessing of the Graduates. Because we're unable to attend the 10:30 Sunday service due to DGD's last Center Stage dance recital, they received their blessing this evening at the 6 PM service. Parents "wrap their children" in a blanket representing family and church family before they venture off on their new adventures.

That's a lovely way to honor the graduates!

 

[klmall]

recent clouds on the Peak

 

[goopysolelady]

Final onstage performance for Center Stage ; taken by one of the teachers from back stage. Loved how they brought out all the students participating in this recital for the seniors last performances.

 

[PrincessInOz]

On the 11th May, we had one of the largest geomagnetic storms that the earth has seen in the last 20 years.
Normally, I have to head out to country dark skies in order to capture the aurora australis. Not this night.
The local beach is 10 minutes down the road.

Check out the urban lights (pollution) on the horizon. The aurora completely drowned it out!




What could I see?
All that red/pink in the sky was clearly visible to the naked eye. It just wasn't as intense as what appears on camera.
The grey/green and yellow in the sky was also visible as a grey/green. Just really dull. I could also clearly see the aurora swirling round at this layer.
Those beams were also visible and intense. I could clearly see the bands of white beams in the sky. I could also see them dancing around in the sky.

This is the third time that I've 'seen' aurora with the naked eye. This was the most intense I've ever seen it!


How long did the aurora last?

In Melbourne, we had five distinct periods of intense aurora.
The first was around 8.20 pm. It lasted about 15 minutes.

The second show was at 9.30 pm. It lasted for about 30 minutes.
I got to the beach at about 9 pm. The car park was already crowded. Word had gotten out that the aurora was visible and half of Melbourne came out to see it. This shot would have been take somewhere between 9.40 - 10 pm. I got home about 11 pm. It took me 30 minutes to get out of the car park and I only had to travel 100 m to get to the main road.

The next show was at 12.15 am. This was about 10 minutes

Another show at the 1.30 am mark was as intense as the one at 9.30 pm. This one went for 30 minutes or so,

The last show was at 3.30 am. I believe this one went for about 45 mins.


Needless to say, I do wish I stayed out all night to chase the lady. But I had a date with my mother for breakfast on Mother's Day/ You know how it is. Never annoy your mother.


We are in the solar peak period for this cycle. So....here's hoping for more intense storms for the rest of this year.

 

[klmall]

On the 11th May, we had one of the largest geomagnetic storms that the earth has seen in the last 20 years.
Normally, I have to head out to country dark skies in order to capture the aurora australis. Not this night.
The local beach is 10 minutes down the road.

Check out the urban lights (pollution) on the horizon. The aurora completely drowned it out!

View attachment 861446


What could I see?
All that red/pink in the sky was clearly visible to the naked eye. It just wasn't as intense as what appears on camera.
The grey/green and yellow in the sky was also visible as a grey/green. Just really dull. I could also clearly see the aurora swirling round at this layer.
Those beams were also visible and intense. I could clearly see the bands of white beams in the sky. I could also see them dancing around in the sky.

This is the third time that I've 'seen' aurora with the naked eye. This was the most intense I've ever seen it!


How long did the aurora last?

In Melbourne, we had five distinct periods of intense aurora.
The first was around 8.20 pm. It lasted about 15 minutes.

The second show was at 9.30 pm. It lasted for about 30 minutes.
I got to the beach at about 9 pm. The car park was already crowded. Word had gotten out that the aurora was visible and half of Melbourne came out to see it. This shot would have been take somewhere between 9.40 - 10 pm. I got home about 11 pm. It took me 30 minutes to get out of the car park and I only had to travel 100 m to get to the main road.

The next show was at 12.15 am. This was about 10 minutes

Another show at the 1.30 am mark was as intense as the one at 9.30 pm. This one went for 30 minutes or so,

The last show was at 3.30 am. I believe this one went for about 45 mins.


Needless to say, I do wish I stayed out all night to chase the lady. But I had a date with my mother for breakfast on Mother's Day/ You know how it is. Never annoy your mother.


We are in the solar peak period for this cycle. So....here's hoping for more intense storms for the rest of this year.

Wow! Love this picture. You were lucky to experience this event!

Almost everywhere in our state north of us got to see similar lights but we were under heavy cloud cover all the different days it happened. Hoping we get more chances too!

 

[klmall]

Karolyn - Thought you might appreciate this picture from next door to us in 2008. We had what was called a 'microburst' which tore down several of our trees and caused us to lose power for 5 days. And our house was on the market that spring too! But the storm did far worse damage to the house next door. P.S. I think this house was cursed. It had two good-sized fires as well.

 

[goopysolelady]

Karolyn - Thought you might appreciate this picture from next door to us in 2008. We had what was called a 'microburst' which tore down several of our trees and caused us to lose power for 5 days. And our house was on the market that spring too! But the storm did far worse damage to the house next door. P.S. I think this house was cursed. It had two good-sized fires as well.

WOW...I agree...seems like the house was cursed! I think we were part of a "derecho system". "A derecho is a widespread storm system featuring straight-line winds that occur with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms. A derecho can produce damaging straight-line winds over areas hundreds of miles long and more than 60 miles across." Taken from a Houston Chronicle article in Sunday's paper; that better describes our area from Brenham/Bellville to Downtown Houston....a distance of almost 75 miles! I just know it scared the bejeebers out of me and we're still cleaning up!!!

 

[goopysolelady]

Youngest DGD's Graduation Week ; she's ready to hang her banner!

 

[luisov]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blava...VXMdk-2o8U44r-2myCG7d-2nKV9ix-2mENyWM-2ozYZyi
Life is a River by Christian Kortum on flickr

 

[goopysolelady]

The "tear jerker" days keep coming. Another tradition in our school district is the "Elementary Schools Walk". The graduates come all decked out in their graduation gowns and "walk the halls" of their elementary schools one last time. The students line the halls outside their classrooms and cheer them on. My "tear jerker moment" was when DGD left the line and walked over and hugged the 5th grader she does the duet, "Eve and the Snake" with this year. They are going to miss one another SO much!

 

[klmall]

The "tear jerker" days keep coming. Another tradition in our school district is the "Elementary Schools Walk". The graduates come all decked out in their graduation gowns and "walk the halls" of their elementary schools one last time. The students line the halls outside their classrooms and cheer them on. My "tear jerker moment" was when DGD left the line and walked over and hugged the 5th grader she does the duet, "Eve and the Snake" with this year. They are going to miss one another SO much!

Wow! Another great tradition!

 

[klmall]

20 Mule Team Canyon Road in Death Valley. Can you imagine driving a wagon pulled by a mule team through this area in the heat?