Blue Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

I'm a bit early for Guest Heart Thursday, but I couldn't resist posting this amazing photo today!  Yesterday I spotted this heart from my office window just over the fence on the alley.  I was SO glad it stuck around until I could run outside with my camera--which is always within arm's reach.

We are expecting a doozy of a rain storm tonight.  Where we are here in the valley, there will be 2-3 inches of rain and gusty winds.  But it will be worse at the coast--3-4 inches of rain with high winds, gusts hitting 60 and above!

It is always kind of fun when the power goes out--one can always hope and dream it will.  I guess I'm just a kid at heart.  

For those of you who see the storm clouds of life heading your way, watch for the heart of the storm.  God's heart of love for you resides there.  Look to Him for guidance, strength and comfort. You won't be disappointed.

Have a lovely rest of the week!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Here Comes the Sun

I was helping a friend move on Thursday, when the clouds began to fluff and stretch in a spectacular show of beauty.  There was a storm moving in from the coast.   As always the clouds heralding such a storm were incredible.

I was in awe at the breathtaking display.

Wild Weather - Guest Heart Thursday

We are driving over the mountains to spend a few days at the Coast. Snow levels have lifted.  Mumsie and I stop to walk in the snow.  It is melting into the thick mosses covering the long tall trees like fat green coats...

An uneasy calm fills the air.  They think a storm might be coming--but for some reason they do not know for sure.

A lost bit of blue skies before the purple cloud of storms.

The sea begins to thrash and crash--great billows of water froth with white foam as though a giant egg beater whips the surface of the sea.

The weather guys are right--a storm has embraced the Oregon coast with Hurricane force winds.  We light candles and listen to the storm scream around the sea cliffs to beat upon the protecting walls and double paned windows of our hotel room.

The waves turn green and black.  Day turns into night.

The high winds did not abate for two days and two nights.  The last day our electricity finally gave out.  We sought a way back home over the mountains.

All routes along the Oregon Coast, clear to the California border were closed because of flooding, slippery snow conditions and falling trees.  Only one thin road winding through the mountains was open.  We drove along the Coast to Tillamook to find our way home.

You are probably wondering where the heart I found might be--look through the windshield at the tree.  

A perfect heart.  It wasn't surprising to find a heart in the middle of our great adventure!  That is the way of hearts. 

As we traveled through the mountains we saw gushing streams and great fields of softly melting snow.

After arriving home safely, with a good night's sleep under our belts, we awoke to a world flooded with high waters.  Here you see a view of our park from the town waterfront.

There is something deceptively calm and lovely about the curve of  high water in the park amphitheater.  The floods had already covered three levels.

The dock and playground appeared to be lost in the middle of the Willamette River.

A close up of the playground where my darling niece and I often play.

The dock floats by itself in the middle of the seething currents.

As of this afternoon, it is flooding everywhere around us.  Thankfully, if history repeats itself, the flood waters will not reach to our home.  100 years ago, a flood swept the original town of Independence away.  It missed our house then--by one block.

We've had nearly 10 inches of rain this month--most of it in the past week or so.  We know so many folks who have been flooded out of their homes.  Our hearts and prayers go out to them.

Good night and God bless everyone.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Clown Face Heart Cloud - Guest Heart Thursday

I was fortunate to capture this gloriously brooding heart, as our first Fall storm clouds began to boil across the skies.  I didn't expect to capture such beautiful colors--or to see the face of a clown smiling down at me.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Nose to Nose

A storm rolled through yesterday--I caught this cloud face nose to nose with what looks like a fat little whale.  The little fellow's tail is hidden behind the tippy top of the tree.  I know I have a great imagination, but the face seems pretty clear to me.  I have not touched this photo up in any way, other than adjusting the levels. 

It is so amazing what one can see in the clouds.

Storm Face

Out in the country where the hills rolls softly toward the sea, a thunder cloud rolled through. Unexpectedly I saw the face of the storm. Can you?

The Gathering

On our way home from the Mt. Angel Wurst Fest there was a wonderful gathering of clouds over the hills. I was able to catch a few pictures before the downpour. Fingers of dark clouds spiraled toward the ground, then were gone just as quickly.

If you look closely--you can see "eyes" toward the bottom of this photograph. lol Yep, I know--I have a GREAT imagination.

These clouds crouching over the hills were awe-inspiring.

When Tree and Sky Dance

In early Spring a massive thunderstorm blew across the landscape snatching tender new blossoms from the fruit trees. The clouds were spectacular.

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Here you see the storm's tattered cloud, about to grasp our flirtatious walnut tree by the hand, to fling her into a leaf-breaking, breathtaking whirl.

Stormclouds and Rainbows

As you know, we had a tremendous thunderstorm sweep through our area yesterday. I usually do not post two blogs in one day, but I was just going through my photos of the storm...and found these! The sun looked so strange I clicked a picture of it. Here it is--have you ever seen anything like this before? I can't say I have.

The sun looked so eery and full of color. I knew I was seeing something unusual, but the sun was so bright I couldn't look straight at it. The camera caught what I was seeing better than I saw it.

Here is another angle of the sun's stormy rainbow.

This is a taste of the indigo blue of the storm clouds which roiled overhead, then smacked the earth with their fury. Unexpected it was. Thanks for putting up with two blogs from me in one day! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!