Sometimes you take a random photo and find it interesting, despite having left it raw and unedited. Such was the case with this picture of a rainstorm off to the northeast of our home this week.
The gradient of the sky was a beautiful mix of warm hues as the evening golden hour came to a close over the valley below. The land was holding on to the last light, giving the grass and scrub a coppery look. To me it is a comforting and natural landscape to let the eyes wander in.
This morning brought typical Wyoming wind gusts, cool temperatures along with a cloud-filled sky. The sunrise peeked out briefly amidst the gray and blue.
Temperatures were not biting, but the wind still packed a respectable punch. A fresh start for a new year, all the same.
Here’s to the new year and a calmer day than the morning indicated was on the way!
Looking back on 2025, the one post I wished I had included that I missed publishing when it happened was the aurora borealis. It was on my bucket list and a total surprise that it happened as far south as Wyoming. We saw weather updates that it might happen, but part of me didn’t think it actually would.
Cameras using nighttime settings seems to be able to capture more vivid coloration and contrast of the borealis than the human eye can. These pictures have not been purposefully edited to make them more vivid, but those night settings did make them more vibrant.
In case you’re curious, this short video is what the northern lights looked like with my normal camera’s video settings and what my eyes saw:
I never really felt or believed that any of my bucket list items would come true. (It’s a super short list presently and remaining opportunities are pretty out there). But as I stood there that night, I was filled with so much satisfying peace that if I don’t achieve any others in the coming years, I was blessed with this special one.
I saw the aurora borealis at least once. And it was everything I hoped it would be. Hopefully, I’ll get to see it again someday.
Today marked the first day I woke up to snow on the ground. It was only a dusting in some places and it drifted in others with the winds.
I had not checked yet, but the actual temperatures were closer to freezing but the wind chill had the real feel at -12 degrees.. I stepped out in blue jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt just for a moment to take a few pictures and intended to hop back inside. It only took around fifteen to twenty seconds before the familiar sting of negative temperatures registered.
Still, it was pleasant to wake up to the beautiful scene now around the house as a confirmed change of season.
Welcome back, winter.
The wonder of rainbows never ceases to bring a feeling of magic and awe. These arches of dazzling color bands are one of the few remaining experiences that can cause every person to pause a moment to take them in amidst the screens and speed of the day.
Even though the photo is from September, I’ve revisited it a few times in recent weeks still appreciating what a sight it was off our back deck.
“It takes sunshine and rain to make a rainbow. There would be no rainbows without sunshine and rain.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
If your days of late have been without any color or magic, feel free to visit this picture or take a copy until you happen upon your own local bows to bring back some of the wonder we need in this life.
