In My Momma's and Dad's Backyard...Back-Back Yard!

Skies were pretty dramatic while we waited for sunset color.

My Mom and Dad live on the Sacramento River though the bank is pretty steep, so they don't see the river from their house unless there is serious water flowing.  Most of the time, we have to walk to the back of the yard to see the pretty little rapids.

Leaving Mom-and-Dad's place last Sunday, we decided to go around the back of the Bend to look for the whooping cranes we had heard. Cranes were gone (or napping) but the green was very much awake and singing.

Sunset color never did show up in the sky but the clouds were dancing.

 The sound of frogs, and a hundred different species of birds was fantastic. Isn't it strange how noisy peace and quiet can be?

Occasionally, the breeze would rise up, and the surface of the water would ripple and at other times the water was the perfect mirror.

Did you know that between 1950's and the 1990's, the clarity of the sky became so polluted that we lost 20% of our blue?

Scientists called it Global Dimming. Since we have become more aware of aerosols and other pollutants, we are getting our clear skies back. The vivid blues are returning. Of course, that means the sun's radiation and heat can reach earth more effectively, which makes it warmer.

All I can say, is I am thankful for the blue, which is the last color to be discovered by the human eye! Maybe nature saved the best for last!

We were not disappointed by the amount of birds. As usual, my husbands photos of moving targets are far more beautiful than mine...so mine will stay in the "much to be desired" file!

I have told you that he does have a better (fancier and more expensive) camera than mine, right?

We waited around to see if the sunset would treat us with some brilliant color. It only teased us of sunsets to come with bits of color. Soon....maybe soon!

I enjoyed the evening so much, I decided to make the Bend my Wondering and Wandering background for awhile. It is the perfect place for exactly that, a little wondering and a little wandering and a whole lot of appreciating.