Clouds

Calima:- Saharan dust storm. What should have been a glorious, if hot, day totally ruined by what has become a far too frequent occurance! The temperature was 39ºC so not even any let up from the heat! Miserable indeed! For the complete gloomy effect, best on full screen!

Granite everywhere in the Sierra de La Cabrera! Best on full screen. I`ve never been the greatest Eagles fan but have always liked this one from Joe Walsh. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fz-mHGXgzs

Difficult to see but the harvest was taking place and the distant hum of the combine harvesters kept going until well past 11 pm every day this past week. My niece (whose home this is of course, although she has been a doctor on Lanzarote these past 5 years) says this view reminds her of Tuscany (she studied medicine on an Erasmus couse a decade or so ago in Florence, so she should know!). Except that ... the world famous impression that Tuscany is full of poplars is quite wrong! This only came about because of a famous photo of an aristocratic estate where the owner had decided to have poplars planted on his lane leading uphill to his palacio. The photo became popular, the rest is history .. and a misconception! Please, best on large and then on large again!

The previous shot of the steps was about 20 feet away from this shot, There are three tiers to the house at the back and only one at the front as it is situated on this steep slope.

Just a few yards down our street where can be found better views of the Sierra de Guadarrama. My sister's shot.

Another of my sister's shots. I think I can now gracefully retire! Best on full screen.

A strange situation; over the mountains and into Segovia Province, they had a succession of storms all day while we had unrelenting blue skies. Only late evening, as I relaxed with a glass of something alright, did I see the storm clouds and the edges caught by the rapidly sinking sun.

Sierra de La Cabrera with the town of La Cabrera below and an interested Griffon vulture or three hovering centre stage! (As a side note, directly below where the central vulture hovers, and on the horizon, is Algete, where I currently live). Maybe best on full screen, if only to emphasis the vastness of the Castillian Plain.

The storm and storm cloud seen here had been above us about 15 minutes beforehand and with almost tornado-like gusts of wind! All the garden furniture was scattered around the neighbours' gardens and we acquired a fair sprinkling of theirs! Figs still not ripe.

My sister's shot from 3 years ago. Another dramatic sky! Best on full screen.

Evening sky from the upper terrace. (The setting sun is behind me).

Today the mountains CAN be seen! Compare this with the previous upload! A shot taken in a subdued evening light. Perhaps better enlarged.

A quite amazing sky! H. A. N. W. E. everyone! And a song that I like but, again, no bearing on this shot. I just like it! Sight and Sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1oXdVAEUsE

Very common on marshier bits of coast.

Always difficult to video or photo as they are so quick! They do a great service by keeping the mosquito population down. They are normally seen just as the sun sets. Best on full screen and further enlargement to view the bat!

As there are steps on both sides of the house, I benefit greatly from the exercise this affords. Steps are one of the most useful physiotherapeutic tools known to man! The newly built barbecue with its cute little chimney, is plainly visible.

Our weather today - wave after wave of storms. We certainly need the rain! Sight and sound; no real relevance here, I just like Tim Buckley! www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTEtDBHGY4

We can't quite see the sunset from here but we can certainly see the colour changes to the clouds in the wider picture. I do have to say though, that we do sometimes get some excellent skies!