Surprise Sunset for Skywatch

It was an unusual evening the other night, with dark charcoal gray skies and distant lightning. I was watching the lightning strikes from the dark porch when the Organ Mountains were suddenly lit with a long strip of red light, reflected from the sun just below the horizon. I ran for my camera and watched what happened next.

I had been sure that we were long past any sunset activity, but the stormy skies had made it difficult to know just the moment that the sun went down. The sun wasn't through with us for that day, however. Everything turned this wonderful rosy color.

To finish up the amazing show, the gray skies did their best for a comeback, giving this sky-blue-pink effect as the city lights were slowly coming on.

For sky shows from around the world, go to Skywatch Friday.

Don't forget to keep voting every day in the New Mexico Day of Enchantment Photo Contest, which is continuing to the end of June.

Meanwhile... for Skywatch

Last week for Skywatch I posted photos of the Big Lenticular Sunset. It was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen. However, as I mentioned in that post, when I turned away from the lenticular clouds over the Organ Mountains, I was greeted with another stunning sunset show--just a little more subtle.

Be sure to click on the photos for a better look.

Looking toward Picacho Peak

It looked like the pecan trees were ablaze

For sky photos taken at all times of the day and all around the world, please visit Skywatch Friday.

Prairie Farewell for Skywatch

Here I know I will hanker after nothing so much as one more sunrise or a sky moon of fire doubled to a river moon of water...~Carl Sandburg, Prairie

We were all packed up and ready to leave Clovis, New Mexico for the last time. On the very last evening the sunset was incredible--a fitting good-bye from the prairie as we departed for our new desert home.

For wonderful skies from all over the world, be sure to visit Skywatch Friday.

Miles to Go for Skywatch Friday

... But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

We drove to Las Cruces and back a couple of weekends ago. Unfortunately, we had to do it all in the same day, 4.75 hours each way. We actually had time when we got there to have lunch at Nellie's great restaurant, look at several houses with a realtor, and make an offer on one of them.

But that meant hours of driving home through the dark, so when we saw these wonderful sunset colors over the Tularosa Basin, there was no time to stop. I just snapped away from the moving car, getting these somewhat smeary photos as we emerged from the San Augustin Pass in the Organ Mountains and hurtled on down the highway.

I still love the muted colors, though.

For sky photos from all over the world, taken at all times of the day, please visit Skywatch Friday.