Sneaking behind Anvil Rock--SkyWatch

I just caught the plane headed beyond the ridge on it's way to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (I presume). At the left is the remains of, or beginnings of, another lenticular cloud over Mt. Rainier. I couldn't wait till SkyWatch Friday to share the lenticulars we saw on Sunday's snowshow hike. If you missed them on My world Tudsday, scroll down, or have a look here.

See other SkyWatchers here.

Winter - Summer

From Paradise--December above, July below.

From the Nisqually Vista trail--December above, July below

The Tatoosh Range--December, July

Narada Falls--December, August--is that the same red car?

From the Bed of the Nisqually--December, July

ABC Wednesday is again down to the X

X marks the spot.

Trail marking poles in an X, these are ready to be taken and put in place with the rope between to mark dangerous areas.

Poles are used in an x to mark bridges

...

and edges

...

and what look like poles standing straight from one angle, are Xs from another.

When you come to the edge--don't go past the X

See how others have dealt with the letter X at ABC Wednesday Central.

Winter Faces of Mt. Rainier

On Saturday, the skies remained clear. Hundreds came to Paradise to play in the snow. We came to hike on snowshoes. 

On Sunday, the mountain was spectacularly capped with lenticular clouds. I say clouds, because they appeared in sequence, one at a time. A spectacular lenticular cloud  which topped the mountain when we arrived, cleared and was replaced by another at least twice during the day.

"Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction." source Crystal Links

Is it any wonder that, in the 1940s, the first sightings of "flying saucers" were reported in this area?

Our host at the Lodge said that lenticular clouds signal a change in the weather. Last night there was new snow.

Whatever the cause or the aftermath, they are a spectacular sight.

And today, a new cloud style came in.

My world has been on the mountain the last two days. Where is your world? See what's happening in other parts  of the world each Tuesday linked here.

Odd Shot Monday on Sunday Evening

This license plate was on a horse carrier we passed when we were in California last month. We got a kick out of it.

This Odd Shot is a bit early--I don't even have the energy to reset the time so it posts on Monday. Nor did I have the energy to decide which picture I took this weekend is an odd shot. There was one I tried to get on Christmas morning. DH even drove around the block so I could take it. I ended up with a picture of the dashboard in front of me instead. We decided it wasn't to be. It was a pig in the back of a pickup. A big pig, in the back of a pickup, parked in front of a church. How odd is that? Odder than this license plate.

We had a great day today after a great day yesterday. We ended the great day, with a minor misadventure--but having escaped serious misadventure, I am exhausted and ready to sleep. I never sleep this early, but tonight....

If you have an Odd Shot today, be sure to leave a comment and let us know, we don't want to miss it.

Sunday's Psalm--Feast of the Holy Family

 Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.



Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

O LORD of hosts, hear our prayer;
hearken, O God of Jacob!
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
 
from Psalm 84
 
Scotty's Castle--Death ValleyNP
Christmas village
Pinnacle Peak--Mt. Rainier NP

And here it is reflected...

Here we are now --on the feast of Stephen--and on the other side of the mountain. Mount Rainier has a different aspect depending on which direction you see it from. And here it is reflected in the windows of the (New) Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. the day after Christmas remained clear and sunny, though the wind came up a bit fiercely.

The real thing, reflected here in a display about the fragile meadow ecostructure. If you haven't visited Paradise recently, you are missing the wonderfully done updated displays in the new VC.

This one says it all.

Weekend Reflections are the brainchild of James from Newtown Area Daily Photo. Visit him to see who else is reflecting on the world around them today.

More from our winter visit to the mountain after the psalm tomorrow--and after we finish visiting.

Christmas Mountain SkyWatch

I tell people my daughter's in-laws have a picture postcard image right out their window. I does depend on the sky. Today it was clear as a bell. On other visits we have seen nothing out there.

And just in case you think I'm spoofing about it being out their window, here is another shot.

Visit other SkyWatchers here.

Merry Christmas!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;

upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.


 
  

For a child is born unto us, a son is given us;

upon his shoulder dominion rests

They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,

Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

from Isaiah 6

ABC Wednesday--W is for...

If you came from my mistaken McLinky looking for X, go here to find it. W is great, too.

 .

ABC Wednesday Round 5 is brought ot you today by the letter W. Here today
W is for waterfall. See what W means for others on the ABC list here.


You can have your Niagara, your Victoria, and any of a number of glorious waterfalls. Here today it is those serendipitous trickles in the desert, or those that appear as the snow melts in the moutnains. The waterfalls that you may see today but may be missing tomorrow as the source dries up or the weather turns cold again.

...like this one seen from inside the bridge at Tonto Natural  Bridge State Park in Arizona.

This fall in Zion National Park striking the rocks below is also seen from behind.

...from the side...

or from below.

When the snow melts in the Cascades, there is a waterfall around every corner--like this one at Mt. Rainier.

Watch for the water--precious water. Where does it fall near you?

My World Tuesday--Las Posadas

In My World today it was the time of Las Posadas, the novena (nine days prayer) which reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

In the traditional posadas, there is a procession of pilgrims from house to house, seeking shelter. At the first two houses the pilgrims are turn away.

In the name of heaven
I beg you for lodging,
for she cannot walk
my beloved wife.

This is not an inn
so keep going.
I cannot open
you may be a rogue.

The women gathered outside the doors of the body of the church in the vestibule. Well, at least most of them did. It was too crowded there, so some of us were just inside. We sang the verses requesting shelter.

Don't be inhuman;
Have mercy on us.
The God of the heavens
will reward you for it.
                                                                                

The men, led by Fr. Jaime                                  You can go on now

and Isaac, sang the responses                             and don't bother us,

of the people inside the houses.                          because if I become annoyed

                                                                            I'll give you a thrashing.

                     We are worn out

                     coming from Nazareth.

                     I am a carpenter,

                     Joseph by name.                      I don't care about your name;

                                                            Let me sleep,

                                                            because I already told you

                                                            we shall not open up.

                   I 'm asking you for lodging

                     dear man of the house

                     Just for one night

                     for the Queen of Heaven.      Well, if it's a queen 

                                                            who solicits it,

                                                            why is it at night

                                                            that she travels so alone?

The "householders" finally relent and let the pilgrims enter. They are led by a guitar and a lady playing bells.

My wife is Mary
She's the Queen of Heaven
and she's going to be the mother
of the Divine Word.

     Are you Joseph?
     Your wife is Mary?
     Enter, pilgrims;
     I did not recognize you.

         May God repay, gentle folks,                  

         your charity,

         and thus heaven heap                           Enter, holy pilgrims,

         happiness upon you.                             received this corner,

                                                             for though this dwelling is poor,

                                                             I offer it with all my heart.

My friend Lupe's nonagenarian dad stands for the blessing of all the fathers, and the children answer questions and sing songs to the Baby Jesus.    

Blessed is the house

that shelters this day

the pure Virgin,

the beautiful Mary.                          Oh, graced pilgrim,

                                                  oh, most beautiful Mary.

                                                  I offer you my soul

                                                  so you may have lodging.

Father Jaime and some of the children kneel before the altar to lead the final prayers of the evening.

                                                  

And that's my world today, Tuesday. What's happening elsewhere in the world? Find out here.

                                          

I am sick and tired of the spam commenter idiots.

What part of "I will reject all  your idiot comments" do you not get? Can't you see? We don't want you to hang around.

Of course, you are just a stupid robot anyway. You could learn something from Data!

Sorry. Had to rant. Comments from real people with something to say are always welcome.

Odd Shot--Clifford is tired.

Odd shots every Monday here. If you have one, too, leave a comment to let us know.

Sunday's Psalm--Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,

from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Rouse your power,

and come to save us.

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

look down from heaven, and see;

take care of this vine, 

and protect what your right hand has planted

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;

give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

 
Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19
 
Dave's ewes
Fall sunset
Vineyard chapel
Serendipitous waterfall
Trillium (and friend)