6/12/2013

Seeing double

15



The first autumn after moving to this island, I awoke in the middle of the night
to a strange crackling sound.  I jumped out of bed immediately, thinking something must be
definitely amiss - or worse, alight - only to find what was actually happening
was an extraordinary light show, outside, at the bottom of the property ...
the aurora borealis was making an appearance.

While I stood in awe shivering in the dewy grass that night, with nothing around me but
flannel pj's and a North Face jacket, I silently crossed this event off my 
Life List.  When three owls began to call, each from a different direction
(and I remember exactly: west, north & south) how entirely normal it seemed
for that kind of evening, standing alone in the dark watching such a symphony.
Why shouldn't there be owls singing to each other?
It's been nine years now and neither of these events have repeated in quite this way ...
or I should say, I was not there if they did.  As for the crackling, I've never found a definite answer
although others have reported hearing something similar.



Rainbows, on the other hand, are not quite so hard to come by and I've seen many of them
during my time on this land.  Still, I always stop, watch, admire ... 
Rain was pouring down when I took these shots (raindrops on my lens),
yet the light was magic as it usually is when these occur.


What I hadn't seen before was an arc like this across the entire garden.  I kept backing up
to fit everything in the frame and almost backed myself into the pond.
Those two wearing fur coats could care less about the downpour, while I irreverently
wiped off my lens with my jacket sleeve then shielded the front elements with an extended arm,
all the while proceeding to get fairly soaked myself.



After ten minutes or so and followed by some dramatic cloud movements, there it was ...
But I was out of lens width
and I was definitely out of backing-up room,
so you will just have to use your imagination, and perhaps trust me a little,
 to know there were two complete arcs over the garden.

And this was a first since moving onto this land.



15 comments:

  1. How fortunate you are to live in such a place...

    ...and to be able to appreciate what you have.

    x C

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    Replies
    1. ... more than I could even say, Chris.
      Thank you.

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  2. How astoundlingly lovely.
    Rainbows are so very magical!

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  3. Being present for nature's magical moments like this and the AB/owls is such a blessing. Thank you for recording it for us to see second hand. Your verbal and visual impressions are blessings in my life.

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  4. looking forward to seeing some in the fall...

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  5. A special show just for you (and the pups of course). Its lovely! I've never seen a double rainbow before, thanks for sharing this beauty with us.

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  6. What a lovely place you have to live in--so Pacific Northwest, easily recognizable by the green and the light. And thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting. I enjoyed visiting your blog.
    best, nadia

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  7. Enchanting story, magical pictures and a great long shot of your lovely garden.

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  8. Beautiful! Even thought rainbows happen around here pretty frequently, they never lose their magic.

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  9. Ahhhhhhhhhhh .... YES, RAINBOWS !!! ;-) (of fibre or sunlight and rain)
    A wonderful place your garden ! (is that honeysuckle in the first picture ?)
    I would loooooooove to see Aurora Borealis ! (small chance, down here !)

    (Yes Christi, I will keep my Man .... have him already for 46 years ;-) !)

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  10. Here in England we have more than our fair share of rainbows! But the Aurora Borealis is something I have never seen, and would dearly love to. The crackling noises, too, must have really added to the mystery and wonder of it all.

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  11. I've fallen behind in return-commenting as I was away a bit, so I apologize and I want to thank each of you for taking the time to leave messages, I do appreciate them so much. I'll try to be 'round each of your spots shortly.

    Yes, honeysuckle, Els ;>]

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  12. This Shirley must be Heaven on Earth. Thank you SO much for sharing. I know how special it is to get a rainbow so beautifully framed.....and I DO trust you on the double....I feel as though I was there with you. Feeling the drops. In fact I will be close this year.....I think I'll be blowing by Indi as she heads to your place. I will be at a retreat on Whidbey Island in September. I am very much looking forward to spending time in that place so close to you......

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    Replies
    1. If you haven't been to Whidbey before, you won't know yet how much you will enjoy it ~ lovely spot! Will your retreat be of the artistic persuasion ... or something like yoga perhaps? There is a yummy & very affordable Thai restaurant in Coupeville if you are near there. And that time of year is ALWAYS the most splendid weather ... Indian summer days & crisp evenings ... with nary a tourist to be found.

      Thanks for the nice words ;>]]

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