Sky Watch - Cloudy skies

We have had clouds rolling through this week, along with some sunshine. The last image is the start of a predicted two days of rain.

 

Header Challenge - Nature winter to summer

Nature has been very noticeable this year. First nature misplaced the polar vortex, bringing us unusual cold, an ice storm with damage (see header), and above average snow.

 

February snow and ice

The crocus burst through in late March and cool skies in early April created contrails.

Then the vortex drifted back to the North pole and nature brought us an over abundance of rain, while parching other parts of the United States.

Finally in May nature warmed the air and the dogwoods, lilacs and azaleas burst into bloom.

Our World - New heat/cooling system

When the service guy came to do our regular service check he found no coolant in the unit. We chose to get a new unit rather than have the old one fixed

 Inside unit almost done

 Outside unit done

Touch screen control panel

 

Sky Watch - Clustered spires

These are some of the cluster spires made famous by John Greenleaf Whittier in his poem about Barbara Frietchie waving the Union flag as confederate troops marched through Frederick.

"Up from the meadows rich with corn,

Clear in the cool September morn,

The clustered spires of Frederick stand  

Green-walled by the hills of Maryland."

These spires fill the skies and still inspire the people of Frederick (especially those of us with cameras).

Above and below Evangelical Lutheran Church

 

 

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (two views)

 Trinity Chapel

Header Challenge - Strings

Kathy chose "strings" for as the topic for this week's header challenge. Above are a few "strings" I have: clothes line, kite string, twine, fishing line and some stretch loops with knobs for fastening stuff together. My header is the guitar strings seen Saturday in Frederick being played by Hard Swimmin' Fish. More strings found last weekend are below.

A string of bleeding hearts in our yard

 

 Boe does not have strings in a window of his shop, but he will sell you some strings and teach you to play them.

 Balloons on a string

A string of lights at outdoor seating

 

Strings on a farm - what was planted?

 

Leaves on a string on a wall

 

Sturdy strings support the suspension bridge

Our World - First Saturday in May

 Setting up for music

The City of Frederick celebrates the first Saturday of the month with stores open late, plenty of food and beverage, art, and entertainment. I think winter interfered with a couple of first Saturdays (I know I stayed home!) but May third was a delightful day.

 Crowd listening to Hard Swimmin' Fish

 Sidewalk dining

 This creature

lives here!

 More diners

Muskrat Sally sings!

Sky Watch - Wet skies

 Last Saturday brought us moody skies,

and then the storms that caused damage and flooding across much of the US reached this area. The strong winds were gone, but heavy rain overflowed the creeks and rivers (and our yard). It will take a few days for the water to flow down stream and for some to recover from the flooding.

 

And a last shot taken as I prepared this post.