Happy Landings

A woman brought her own clouds for protection from the summer sun in "rainy" B.C.

When I was a child learning about these ghostly sky-drifters, the cumulus, cirrus, stratus and nimbus clouds were highlighted. Nowadays, there are more distinctive breakdowns to learn about but it is still the dark gray nimbus that carries the rain. We are all familiar with the brooding signs even without the help of weather presenters.

Mostly the clouds have been cheerful, wispy and barely visible this season. I sometimes stop to watch the show of "pretenders" and "wannabes" that will not squeeze out a single drop of moisture. On the ground and in the news, a discovery of dinosaur tracks in a dried-up river hint at the fate of human footprints one day.

Meanwhile, despite the excessive heat, it's been perfect beach weather for some.

Soon children will be back in school. Covid is still here but doesn't feel as dangerous. There are now antidotes and known methods to keep the most harmful aspects low.

It seems like a good time to lift the heavy burdens of the past years even though so much of the world is still very much mired in human-caused turmoil and instability.

Above is my favourite place to sit and sky-watch but I don't know how long the bench will last. Its wood is chipped and spongy due to previous rains. On the back, there's a plaque dedicated in part to someone named Waters. It concludes with Happy Landings, a saying also on some Penelope cards. Happy landings is what I'll want the most when I venture beyond my B.C. walks. It might be too early to celebrate Covid lessening but not too late for an upcoming short visit to the UK with an adventurous friend. Air travel makes me a bit skittish. It would be great if I could swoop to wherever I want to go with my umbrella but I'm no Mary Poppins and only part Penelope Puddle.

Explore more at SKYWATCH and check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT

If Wishes Had Wings

When I was little my mom used to make shadows on the wall at bedtime. One of my favorites was the flapping flying wings she created with her hands. Parents amuse their children and more importantly protect them from immediate harm. They/we also want to protect them from future dangers precipitated by the past recklessness of mankind.

Consoling as they might be ... we know that our wishes, thoughts and prayers are just shadowy starts. If wishes alone had wings we would elect the best leaders to withstand the naysayers that for years blocked actions to improve environmental conditions.

In some places there is flooding, in others raindrops rarely fall and drinkable water is scarce. There was a time when I assumed nature's gifts were limitless and accessible to all. Now I'm a little more careful about how long I let the water run from my tap.

A few rainless days and plants quickly become parched. I kick up more dust along the paths that I walk. Maybe someday they'll figure out how to make rain clouds wherever whenever needed. Meanwhile, when the sky doesn't supply ... there's watering to do, fires to burn out and heat warnings to suffer through.

This brings me to a few thirsty thoughts I once had (below) about a garden.

Above, the sunflower's center reminded me of an eye's iris. You can read about how plants actually do "see" the light they reach for, albeit very primitively HERE. Plants surely must also love the feel of raindrops after a dry spell, as I do.

This is in response to this week's Poets and Storytellers United prompt to burn.

Explore more at SKYWATCH and check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT