Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Even Better

If you've been on Facebook with a Pasadena friend in the last couple of days you know we were treated to a magnificent sunset Sunday night. Everyone posted photos of it.

John, Bellis and I walked Hahamongna with our friends Karen and David and our various dogs. The sky changed and changed and changed again, and we couldn't stop taking pictures. The dogs didn't notice the sky, but they may have been aware of our stopping to say "ooh" and "ah," like at a fireworks celebration.

A spectacular sunset is spectacular no matter where you see it from, and the visuals rivaled what the gods must have viewed from Mount Olympus. But when you're walking with friends on a dusty trail and the lightning begins to strike while coyotes yip, and the air is a sweater woven of the scent of buckthorn, not even perfection compares.

24 comments:

dive said...

Truly spectacular, Petrea!

Shell Sherree said...

Gosh, that's lovely. And the air is a sweater woven of the scent of buckthorn... So is that.

John Sandel said...

I call fake.

jb said...

But when you're walking with friends on a dusty trail and the lightning begins to strike while coyotes yip, and the air is a sweater woven of the scent of buckthorn, not even perfection compares

I bow down in reverence before thee...

Book Dragon said...

I saw that lightning! Plus part of the sunset but the hills were in the way and it wasn't near as spectacular from where we were at.

Speedway said...

What a wonderful evening, all the better that you could share it with friends.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm glad you like it, everyone. It was an evening to remember.

Shell and JB, I wanted that sentence to be right. The air felt so different than usual. It had to be described differently.

JS, you were there.

Book Dragon, I was beginning to guess you were nearby. Your profile says United States; that was my first hint.

If I'd been alone I wouldn't have stayed out in the dark with the coyotes and the bats, Speedway. With friends, it's only beautiful.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Did you catch the rainbow? I was on Fairoaks without camera but everyone else was coming out of their homes with i-phones. Also the thunderclouds over Mount Wilson put on a spectacular show

Petrea Burchard said...

We did. We saw a double rainbow. I don't think my photos of it were as good as my cloud shots, though.

Trish said...

beautiful

and John...you're a goof!

Bellis said...

Sometimes your words are worth a thousand pictures.But your pictures are darned good as well.

The other day, a small security guard had parked his car on the road by the dam wall. He said he'd been told to go downstairs to guard the generators, but he couldn't find any stairs. Neither could I. Then I showed him the equipmnt they were using to raise the height of the dam outlet at the base of the dam, and it dawned on both of us that's what he was supposed to guard. He was going to stay there all night. I wonder what that was like? Could an ex boxer (as he was) fight the coyotes?

Anonymous said...

Oh, good one. After the heat (after? make that "during") today, I'm ready for some gray.

Petrea Burchard said...

I've got to get Boz out for a walk tonight. It's been so hot he stays inside all day. Maybe we'll go look at the silt. He'd like that, especially if he gets to meet a nice security guard.

We could use some grey skies. Cooler temps coming soon, I hope.

J.J. in L.A. said...

Hmm...where the heck was I? Probably on the east side of the house. Grr!

Katie said...

Awesome photos! Sounds like an amazing evening to be outside watching The Mother Nature Show at the Walk-In.

Ms M said...

Fantastic skies! And I particularly like these lines: But when you're walking with friends on a dusty trail and the lightning begins to strike while coyotes yip, and the air is a sweater woven of the scent of buckthorn, not even perfection compares.

Margaret said...

We were very excited to see a rainbow that night!

Petrea Burchard said...

J.J., you've got to open the curtains.

It was a special night, Katie. We've been out walking the last two nights, and after hot hot days they are lovely evenings. But that was something unusual.

Thanks, Ms. M. Glad you like it. I have to thank Bellis for that word, buckthorn. I don't always know the plants.

It was awfully pretty, wasn't it, Margaret? The colors were what the word "glory" was invented for.

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Buckthorn is an invasive non--native species... and some people have observed that certain plants are attracted to certain places because they are needed there.

Buckthorn

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Ah! That is the wrong non-native invasive species of Buckthorn.

Here is the problem child: http://www.shakopeenews.com/view/full_story/15438206/article-SWCD-offers-help-to-get-rid-of-buckthorn-?instance=home_business_news

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Which Buckthorn is in Haha?

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know, Patrizzi. I'm looking at your buckthorn notes and hoping an expert will check in.

TheChieftess said...

Wow!!! Spectacular!!! Rivals our Sierra Sunsets!!! Love watching the sunset with friends...and a bit of wine and cheese!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

It was quite a night, Chieftess. Everyone was snapping it from their windows and balconies.