Pink Rain

This time of year, I am generally in the middle of dinner preparation about the time the brilliant sunsets take place. Lately, cloud cover or moisture in the air has produced some spectacular skyscapes. Being surrounded by woodlands to the north and west, and residential areas to the south and east, it is difficult to capture spectacular sunset photographs and other sky scenes. Still, with just a few moments to capture the changing sky before darkness closes in, I always dash outside with the camera, abandoning my kitchen duties, when opportunity arises to photograph the often-colorful, waning light of day.

Oklahoma has been fortunate to have some lovely warm weather off and on this past month – just enough to give us a sense of hope that spring might soon be around the corner. I have taken advantage of these days of 50° and 60° weather, working in the woodlands to clean up downed timber from past years of ice and wind damage. Late Tuesday afternoon, as I put up my electric buggy and tools after a day of toting and burning brush, I noticed towering cumulonimbus clouds off to the northeast, with dark blue skies to the north. I knew this meant the possibility of rain for some folks to the east of us and, for our area, I hoped it meant another spectacular pink sunset!

My first view to the west from the back porch.

About an hour later, as the sun was beginning to set and I was in the middle of dinner preparations, I glanced out the kitchen window and noticed a site to the east that I have never seen before. Deep blue clouds cast a dark and stormy hue to the sky in that direction but, in the middle of it all, were bright, pink streaks of rain, visibly falling in a vertical descent to the earth. “Look at this!” I exclaimed to FD, who joined me at the window, verifying that what I was seeing was, indeed, pink rain. Of course, you all know me, I ran to the next room, pulled on a jacket, grabbed the camera and dashed out the door. And greeting me as I stepped out the back door, was an equally stunning view of sky from the west. Vivid pinks, blues, and lavender, set against the stark black silhouettes of trees, illuminated the evening sky. I quickly snapped a few photographs of this beautiful western sky, and then dashed to the north side of the house to capture the pink rain falling back to the east.

Pink rain falling to the east, illuminated by the setting sun! Notice another “widow maker” dead tree off to the left side. This scary-looking tree looms over FD’s mom’s garden area… another removal project we must attend to!

I cannot say I have ever witnessed as many pink skies in my life as I have this winter. But then maybe I just never noticed them or paid attention as I have this year. Perhaps I should be thanking our orphaned juvenile squirrels, Punkin and Mr. Gambini for causing me to catch sight of these beautiful winter skies. For it is often that they show up on the back porch at sunset for a pecan or two, before rushing off to their new-found homes in the woodlands. Or maybe it is having a nice, big window at the kitchen sink where I can so easily gaze out to the north while I prepare our evening meal. Whatever it is that draws my attention to the evening sky, I am thankful that it has helped me be more cognizant and appreciative of the little piece of heaven that is right here, right now. And I know I will not soon forget these lovely winter shades of pink, nor the first pink rain I have ever witnessed in my life!

Softer muted colors appear as the night sky closes in.

© 2015 Day by Day the Farm Girl Way…