• Monday-What'sUP September 27 - 10:03 am

The skies have been darker lately and not just due to the reduced amount of daylight each day, but with clouds carrying rain and even some snow in the forecast! Great contrast of bright yellows and darkened horizon captured here by Roger Kangas. Shows Mother Nature's mood in the UP north region pretty well. Then she throws in a splash of bright orange amongst the darkness of the evergreens and clouds, just to brighten things up once more before blasting us with the color white! :->

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Pretty pictures this morning. In the second picture, is that one tree or two seperate trees?

WOW those are some pretty serious looking clouds there. Really cool though. Have a great day Boo.

Boy oh boy to see those colors for real! Great shots Roger.

Those pics are intense!The first shot looks like somthing from a horror movie,rather ominous looking.

Pretty as a picture. Much more tranquil than conditions here in Southwest Florida this morning. Here in Port Charlotte we got quite a bit of wind and rain but not too bad. However, 75 miles to the south has not faired as well where the hurricane actually made landfall around Marco Island. And so it goes.

I'd say 5 trees in the second picture. 3 spruces, 1 maple, and 1 cedar.

Of course, that's calling it from a thousand miles away, so if there's a better informed person out there, feel free to correct me!

I really love those pictures!! I love to see the bright colors of the fall trees set against a menacing looking sky. Once again, I find myself wishing I were there.......

Have a great day everyone! : )

Kookusaminnow

Why? And where have you been?

If you know the late Michigan Poet Max Ellison, he wrote a wonderful poem about October. He says in it that October is a painted woman who shows her cold bare shoulder...

These pictures show just how October can be beautiful, yet it can leave you feeling cold.

Intresting picture. Dark clouds and yet a sharply contrasted shadow on the road. Yup! That's Michigan for ya.

dave sandretto-- give our love to Aunt Isabelle & John from her nephew Rick & me. Sure pray you don't get hit like last year. We are thinking of all of you there in Florida. The dark clouds in the above picture are just a preview of what's coming here. Snow,cold cold temperatures & bare trees are around the corner. Must say "Happy Birthday " to our Laura down in Sarasota, hope you are safe. Love you!!

Wow! Love the color of the dark clouds.
Hey Rowdy...where you been? ;)

Kuttn't hannel the new rekolations wid out help from da big guy.

kookusaminnow? rekolations?

Great photos, Roger. I love the first one, how you captured the dark clouds and sunshine all at once.

Maija,that was you behind the wheel of that vehicle at the light on Ten Mile wasn't it?

I like the colors mixed with the green, looks great!

Here's one of my favorite poems: "Nature's Paintbrush":

It's the natural propensity to amaze one
with its brilliance or the dullness that blankets for a season
The grays and dirty whites hide and prepare for rebirth
the truth of your beauty that's known to all
is emitted in your pigment and reflection.

For color speaks of a true state of being
from birth, death, regeneration – from brown to green wavering blades of grass dancing in the wind
The buds tease as the shades of pink and yellow play peek-a-boo with the sun
until the hide-and-seek is over
The spectrum's energy drawn from a star billions of years in the making
spotlights nature in its awe
or even its shadows
It skims only shallow depths of the seas
leaving darkness on the deepest planes
hiding species yet to be imagined
or even discovered

How fortunate we are to fix our eyes on all the shades of glory
The blues and grays of the daylight
foreshadow the dawning peach and magentas of the next

If once truths were turned into fallacies
One would still remain
– color.

I was oohing and ahhing over the clouds last weekend. I did some awwwwing over the rain,too. In between the squalls there were some spectacular views. I'll post my message now so I can view them again!

Teresa, who is the author? That is great.

Roudy: wasn't me!

Actually the author is me!
I wrote this one spring day a few years ago.
It actually got published in some anthology of
American poets. I didn't purchase the book though.

Wow Teresa, You are a great writer...I love "Nature's Paintbrush". Do you have any more?

Thank you "Wishing"...
I do have a few more at home. I'll have to dig up some of my other writings. Occassionally I get inspired to write poetry. Ever since I was a child. I'm especially inspired and feel refreshed whenever I visit the UP! It's like a breath of fresh air after a long winter.
I'll have to find some of my other material and post it... stay tuned.