Ghost Mountain

A couple of weeks ago there was a smokiness hanging over the whole city. I never did hear what it was from. At first I thought someone in my neighborhood was burning leaves, but it was too widespread for that. It made Lookout Mountain look like a ghost of a mountain, blending in with the smoke and low clouds. The setting sun added just a touch of color.

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Before and After

I missed Skywatch Friday yesterday but I saw they are looking for a new host. I hope someone steps up since it is such a nice meme. Today I'm putting up two sky shots. The first is what the sky looked like through my kitchen window when I got up.

The second is a couple of hours later when we were getting "heavy" snow. Having grown up in Indiana, this seems pretty insignificant, but around here this is a major snow event.

Spring?

We've had a pretty mild winter and some of the flowers think it's time to bloom. These forsythia are on the UTC campus.

Spilling

The TVA had a very busy week, controlling water levels all along the Tennessee River this week.

*The sign up top scrolled through: "Danger. Keep Back. Spilling." I liked the one that said "Spilling" the best. There are also flashing yellow lights on either side of the sign. Can you imagine being in a small boat getting caught in all that?

A Wet Seat

The rain drives everyone away, leaving an empty seat for anyone who doesn't mind the wet.

Fallen

...Osage Orange tree. I shared this tree a few months ago here. We had some weather a few nights ago and the tree fell over. According to the newspaper, the city is hoping to give some of the wood away for woodworking projects.

Fouds

Friday evening after "it come a flood"--as the saying goes--the water started evaporating back into the clouds and it looked like smoke rising from the hills. I don't know if there is a word for this phenomenon of foggy clouds, so I'm calling them fouds.

A Heavy Burden

This picture is from last weekend when we had freezing temperatures. We are now enjoying much milder weather. I am amazed at how much pansies can stand up to. I have had 5 inches of snow and ice covering pansies in my own yard and when it thawed they sprang right back up again. Of course the first 80 degree day we have they will turn to mush for good.

Sunrise

There was a beautiful sunrise through the trees this morning.

Winter Wonderland

What looks like snow is actually hail. I took this picture from inside, where it was safe. Piles of ice stayed around a couple of hours before being washed away by the rain. The forecast is calling for flurries later today, so this scene may be repeated.

Best Photo of 2011

This may not be the best photograph I took last year, but it is the most meaningful. I took this on April 27 while we were still living in Alabama. We had been hiding out in our laundry room as a massive tornado passed just south of our house. As soon as it was over, a bright light showed under the door and I grabbed my camera to snap this picture of the clearing sky. I was so happy to still be alive and know my kids were safe!

Because we didn't have power, it wasn't until the next morning that we learned just how bad the storms had been and how many people had been killed. It is still difficult to think about it.

Today is City Daily Photo's Best Photo of 2011 theme day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

The Rains Came

and flooded out several area streets. East Brainerd Road was still passable.
*My daughter took this photo while I was driving.