I have long been enamored with the sky; its mystery and majesty. From pondering what secrets the universe holds to simply enjoying the gleeful and sometimes moody dance of clouds, I’m a sky watcher.
My hobbies of sky gazing and photography fit nicely into Teri Webster’s Sunday Stills challenge; ‘Sky‘. And, consequently, I have had my head in the clouds more often than usual this week.
Clouds are formed when the sun warms the earth and moisture rises and clusters together, catching bits of dust from the atmosphere along the way. Light and wind play a part as they dance across the sky, forever evolving and changing. Whether you observe them with reverence or curiosity, they always have a story to tell and a lesson to teach.
Lessons From the Sky
The sky is a vast expanse in which to explore dreams, seek inspiration, find clarity and peace.
Storms are inevitable. Our job is to prepare, seek shelter and have patience.
Light always follows darkness.
A heart filled with optimism and gratitude is better prepared to deal with life’s challenges.
An unexamined life reveals very little that is true and honest. Look first at your own reflection.
With each new day dawns a new opportunity to better understand yourself and to improve the quality of your life; be inspired, find peace, acceptance, renewed confidence and joy. There are lessons to be learned when we look from a different perspective. This week I hope you’ll take some to reflect on life and remember to look up.
Shared
This post is shared with Second Wind Leisure Perspective and The Life of B Squares. Please click on their respective sites to read rules for participation and join the fun. All are welcome.
Sky gazing is a simple pleasure that brings great joy, and that is what makes me smile this week. Shared with Trent’s Weekly Smile challenge. Please take a minute to visit Trent’s World and leave your smile.
Picture Retirement 
Suzanne, thanks for this beautiful and inspirational post.
LikeLike
You are very welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos. I like the bits of wisdom with them.
LikeLike
It just seemed fitting to share a bit of calm amidst the chaos of life right now. I was going for soothing, but I will take ‘wise’ any day. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Suzanne, your skies are spectacular, no wonder you look up more often. I agree that looking to the sky for inspiration and reflection upon ourselves is true. Glad you could join us for Sunday Stills and share your fab photography! And high five for meeting the photo challenge trifecta 😊
LikeLike
Skies, Perspective and Squares. Go Me!! Also, let’s not forget the Weekly Smile. Next week will be a bit tougher, but I’ll try. Hope you are getting in lots of paddle time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. Thank you!
Deb
LikeLike
You are welcome. Have a great week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are wonderful images. I can’t pick a favorite.
LikeLike
No need, just enjoy them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Suzanne, for sharing your stunning images and nuggets of wisdom. Have a wonderful week!
LikeLike
You too Natalie. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Suzanne,
Awesome pictures. I’ll differ with Dan because I have a favorite…love the storm image. Incredible color. Have a great week. Joe
LikeLike
My favorite is two below that one. I love how the sky mimics the seafoam. Enjoy your travels.
LikeLike
Lovely images! We don’t get the weather changes here that you do so, unfortunately, our clouds aren’t as dramatic. I’d love to have the clouds without the storms 🙂
LikeLike
That makes sense. California has very little moisture, which is essential to cloud formations. Clear blue skies make a nice backdrop for landscapes and flowers, but there is nothing like a nice overcast day to create the perfect light for any situation.
LikeLike
Hi, Suzanne – Your water and sky photos are absolutely stunning. I may have said this before — that girl has talent!
LikeLike
Thank you Donna, I appreciate hearing it, no matter how many times you’ve said it before. Enjoy your walk today.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and words to think about for sure as we continue to work through a new normal. Stay well.
LikeLike
Doing my best to keep it together and stay well. Take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Superb post, honoured you’ve connected with squares.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Becky for hosting. I love this theme and depending on what the next couple of weeks look like through my lens, I’ll be back.
LikeLike
Great 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos. Any one of them would make a great jigsaw puzzle!!
LikeLike
Thank you Joyce, and thanks for visiting Picture Retirement!
LikeLike
Pingback: Time to Explore – The life of B
Pingback: The Weekly Smile Recap for 7/13 – 7/19/2020 | Trent's World (the Blog)
Phenomenal sky photos, each outstanding!
LikeLike
Thank You!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are fantastic!
LikeLike
Thank you Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful post and photos xx…Every morning I open the blinds in my kitchen and gaze up to the sky, somedays its dark and stormy and others there is a beautiful blue poking through the puffy white clouds xx….#MLSTL
LikeLike
Thank you for visiting and for leaving a comment. It’s funny how the condition of the sky can influence our mood for the whole day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are fantastic. That second one tho. WOW!! Just WOW! #MLSTL
LikeLike
Thank you so much, and thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
Oh how I love these skies. I’m a looker-upperer too and love some good cloud action. As always, great images too.
LikeLike
Thank you so much Jo. Clouds can be pretty amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures and I especially appreciated the thoughts expressed. Shared on my FB page. Sometimes because the pictures were water and sky, my eyes were drawn to the water and the sand but wow! Thanks for sharing these. Michele
LikeLike
Michele, I love the effect clouds have on water. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I have always loved taht too. I was incredibly lucky to get good pictures of the Cape Cod Canal with clouds above the water when I was home in October, and could not see the screen on my phone. Lucky indeed. Blessings, Michele
LikeLike
Ha ha, but it is such a nice surprise when you get inside and review your photos isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Suzanne, what beautiful photos and words! Thank you. It reminded me of that mindful metaphor that I love where the mind is compared to the sky … your photos are perfect 😀
LikeLike
Thank you Anne, I appreciate the compliment. Thanks for visiting Picture Retirement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your photos are lovely. I am always drawn to the sky, and especially the sky over water. Sky gazing always relaxes me. Maybe it is just because I am home more and have time to look up but this summer our clouds and the moon have been amazing.
LikeLike
Michele, I love the ever-changing Florida skies. I complain about the heat and thunderstorms this time of year, but wow, are they producing some amazing skies.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos Suzanne (I wouldn’t expect anything else) and I’m a big fan of the clouds reflecting sunsets (I’m never up early enough to see if it applies to sunrises too!) #MLSTL
LikeLike
Leanne, I love sunrises, but my favorite place to shoot is twenty minutes away by car, and I need to be in position at least twenty minutes ahead of sunrise, so no, I don’t catch many of those either.
LikeLike
We have been staying up much later than usual on the deck of our island home hopeful to see the elusive neowise comet. I gave up the other night. I was just falling asleep when my husband called me excitedly – but it was only a plane with a beautiful jet stream. Not a comet, but still beautiful. I agree that there is such beauty in our night sky, even if it is only the quality of the light.
LikeLike
Hi Helen, thanks for visiting Picture Retirement. I love sky-gazing, day or night. Sorry you didn’t see the Comet.
LikeLike
Such beautiful images. You’ve really captured some magic moments there!
LikeLike
Hi Deborah, thank you for the compliment and for visiting Picture Retirement. Have a good week!
LikeLike
Lovely photographs. We live in coastal Ireland and clouds haven’t been our friend this past month of July, supposedly peak summer here in Ireland. Constant cloud cover has meant only glimpses of sunshine, which does not last, and never stays into the evening!! #MLSTL
LikeLike
Thank you for taking the time to visit Picture Retirement. We visited Ireland a few years ago and were lucky enough to enjoy the most picture-perfect five days. I remember there weren’t a lot of clouds, but the skies were clear and such an amazing blue. Every day, our guide told us how lucky we were.
LikeLike
I’ve been taking a lot of sky pictures lately. There’s a palm tree outside our apartment that I love taking a picture of to show it against the various ways the sky looks throughout the day.
LikeLike
Jennifer, palm trees look spectacular against a blue sky. I have a favorite palm tree at our beach where I do the same thing – it always looks different with the changing sky.
LikeLike
Such lovely photos Suzanne, but more importantly wise words as well! Lovely to see your post for #mlstl
LikeLike
Thank you Deb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glorious photos of the sky! Mother Nature is always a source of inspiration and peace of mind.
Jude
LikeLike
Stunning photos Suzanne you are just so talented with your photography. Thank you for sharing at #MLSTL. I love nature and in particular the photo of the red sky and clouds is perfect. Enjoy your weekend. xx
LikeLike
Pingback: Post Your Best Shot – Picture Retirement
Beautiful photos, Suzanne. The first one is especially stunning. And the red sky looks ominous. We are having lots of red in our skies these days because of the forest fires. I love how the sky and the earth mirror each other in the three beach shots. Fabulous! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.
LikeLike
You are welcome, Marsha and thanks for stopping by Picture Retirement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, and thanks to you for stopping by here as well. 🙂
LikeLike