This June evening cloud is not related to the post, except that it is from the same section of sky that I discuss, as seen from my porch.
PHALL PHOTO 2013
My horoscope: Monday, Dec 2, 2013 — “You want to accomplish a lot of work today, but you could underestimate the amount of effort required to meet your obligations. You’re up for the challenge … but you also might discover that you’re in over your head. If you suddenly realize that you over-committed your resources … be up front about your predicament and ask for assistance. You may be surprised at how quickly your real friends rush to your rescue.”
So, in rushed my WP “friend” with a writing challenge that focused on an incident that has been niggling at the back of my mind. The challenge: “Rather than giving into the urge to take a picture, write down your impressions of the scene … Using words only, take a snapshot of the experience.”
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/weekly-writing-challenge-snapshots/#more-62002
A habit that I have developed, since I began living close to the beach, is that at sunset and sunrise I step out onto my porch and scan the sky for amazement.
One evening a few weeks ago I stepped out and scanned the sky. It was cold and raining and the sky was filled with billowing dark clouds. Still, I scanned for amazement. Defeated, I turned around to head back into my warm cave, when a spot of light caught my attention.
It was a small hole in the clouds, with the moon peaking through. The right half of the circle of light was outlined with rainbow colors. A Moon Dog? When it occurs during the day, this phenomena is called a Sun Dog, so wouldn’t a nighttime event be called a Moon Dog?
I had not come prepared, so I ran inside to grab my camera. The strap was involved in a massive tangle with a purse strap and a charging cord. I grew frustrated and was about to give up and close the door. At that moment I shouted out loud, “Are you crazy!?”
I took two steps, crossed the threshold, and stood on the porch (without my camera) to enjoy the last few moments of the evening’s amazement.
Peace,
Patti
This is day 2 of the crazy writing challenge,
Every Damn Day December. http://treatmentofvisions.com/2013/11/26/evdadadec/
THE WRITE PLACE... 
December 2, 2013 at 7:21 pm
How brave of you to take a challenge in December. Yikes. I barely survived NaBloPoMo in November, which isn’t nearly busy as December. Good luck!
December 2, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Thanks, but I don’t have anything better to do in December. I just don’t have the obligations that others have.
December 2, 2013 at 8:05 pm
I love those colors. I just changed my blog, yet again, but had to keep those colors and the same image. You have an eye for beauty. i don’t have many responsibilities anymore except to myself. I can’t even keep those up lately.
December 2, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Thanks, Susan. I’ll have to go look, but I think I saw your most recent change…
The whole sky was lit with those colors, but that shot was a close up of the middle. I think I look for beauty more than most. It is my purpose, or at least one of my purposes:>)
December 2, 2013 at 8:08 pm
I love the way you think, Patti. And I love imagining you watching that sky at sunrise, sunset, and on dark nights when the constellations play.
December 2, 2013 at 8:22 pm
What a complement. I had so much more to say, but am trying to keep these daily posts short. It may be better to let others draw their own conclusion.
Funny, I often think of you and Willow and the lake…a cozy picture in my mind.
December 3, 2013 at 5:42 am
I learned this last year (thank you Jill Swenson) to trust the reader to figure it out. I don’t have to explain everything, just tell what happened and let them be there with me.
Pingback: A Peaceful Sleep | A mom's blog
December 2, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Ahh, I just love coming over here and keeping up with you Patti, I never know what to expect 🙂
December 2, 2013 at 9:26 pm
That is so me! You aren’t the only one who doesn’t know what to expect:>) I revel in my planless life and hope you find something to make it worth a visit:>)
I’m trying to follow in the WP reader again, so I will be stopping by your place soon.
December 3, 2013 at 8:43 am
You’re a doll. I’m here, eventually you will make your way over 🙂 I love your spontaneous posts! xo
December 2, 2013 at 10:03 pm
We are so tied to our cameras. What a great idea, and I’m so glad you were able to enjoy it and tell us about it without worrying about the ever-present camera (though I sure love mine haha).
December 2, 2013 at 10:12 pm
That experience did make me more mindful of enjoying beauty and amazement for its own sake.
That said, I mostly get caught up in taking photos so I can show you all. I’m always thinking, “Oh, they are gonna love this one!”
December 3, 2013 at 9:10 am
Haha, I know that feeling!
December 2, 2013 at 11:36 pm
A rhetorical question? Good call on leaving the entangled camera behind…and bringing your own eyes with you 😉
December 3, 2013 at 2:17 am
Had there been a fly on the wall he would have laughed his wings off! It still blows me away that I was going to miss the beautiful sight because I couldn’t take a photo of it. Crazy!
Pingback: Weekly writing Competition: Snapshots (sans photo) | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
Pingback: of how things look | Anawnimiss
December 3, 2013 at 4:08 am
I don’t think you’ll ever be at a loss for something to write every day 😉 Nice lead-in with the horoscope … actually that could make a fun daily post: transcribe your horoscope of the day and then respond to it. Hmmmmm …
Like many others, I’m so glad you came to your senses and dropped the camera so you could enjoy that beautiful scene. For your readers, your words paint beautifully what you saw.
December 3, 2013 at 4:17 am
No, I don’t think so either, it is usually a matter of waiting for the right thing to light the bulb:>)
That horoscope cracked me up…several friends had suggested the EDDD might be too much for me, or them.
Then the WP challenge…it all just fell together. I’m glad you “saw” the picture I was seeing.
I’ll try the horoscope thing and see how it goes…Thanks! Glad you are here, Marie:>)
December 3, 2013 at 5:44 am
I love to admire to the sky morning, noon, and night. But I don’t see the details the way you describe. Thanks for helping to sharpen my awareness, Patti. As always, the photos are spectacular.
December 3, 2013 at 5:57 am
Thank you, Marian. I was listening to an old man talk about how we don’t look up to the sky enough, how it is just a weather indicator as we rush along in our lives. And he noted that every moment we miss is a moment that is gone forever. The whole talk was about gratitude and I will try to pass it on when I find it again.
Pingback: A King and His Kingdom | Lead us from the Unreal to the Real
Pingback: Weekly Writing Challenge: Snapshots | Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss
Pingback: DP Weekly Writing Challenge: Snapshots (Haibun) | Bastet and Sekhmet's Library
Pingback: A moment is worth a thousand words | The Silver Leaf Journal
Pingback: DP Weekly Writing Challenge: Snapshots – Spring Morning | Bastet and Sekhmet's Library
Pingback: Cheerful, Isolated Harmony [FLASH FICTION] | Ramisa the Authoress