tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-842451105464932452024-03-13T00:26:03.866-04:00Head in the Clouds Amherst"If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." Mark TwainUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger512125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-45798651533647245132024-02-10T12:25:00.002-05:002024-02-10T12:25:30.826-05:00Year of the Dragon<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDm9PxqiGRv142e_-jPf9dcOVHm8jR9KCm-UMf0fX8YCftZlQ9YSMvKI-J_RLT68nd9FxpSdmmG6GlBNueKSPCIK2hSOCwGFlMI6KGqQ478-BqIuYDtR4KT8EcrW7L7YW_lXqIQSS6IHA7YWg5dzQlY_YtKAxW4SbGkLVdD_msL5i1ZcnEOhmW9xYLw7g/s2730/8-The%20Dragon%20Of%20Moody%20Bridge%20Rd.%20Amherst%20Border%20Line3-final.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2730" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDm9PxqiGRv142e_-jPf9dcOVHm8jR9KCm-UMf0fX8YCftZlQ9YSMvKI-J_RLT68nd9FxpSdmmG6GlBNueKSPCIK2hSOCwGFlMI6KGqQ478-BqIuYDtR4KT8EcrW7L7YW_lXqIQSS6IHA7YWg5dzQlY_YtKAxW4SbGkLVdD_msL5i1ZcnEOhmW9xYLw7g/w500-h332/8-The%20Dragon%20Of%20Moody%20Bridge%20Rd.%20Amherst%20Border%20Line3-final.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon of Moody Bridge Road, Amherst/Hadley Border ~ Photo by Brian LeClair</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Year of the Dragon to all who are celebrating!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">To mark the occasion, I have plucked this once-in-a-blue-moon capture from our archives. All credit to the photographer, Brian LeClair. Looked at in a certain way, the cloud is clearly a dragon - you can see it's head curving around and looking back toward the lightning bolt, which is in the general vicinity of its tail. (I promise you, this is not a manufactured/ photoshopped image.) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;">This was the featured photo for August in the 2017 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar. Taken along the border of Amherst and Hadley, Brian titled this photo “The Dragon of Moody Bridge Road.”</div></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-89768039373835744802024-01-27T13:47:00.003-05:002024-01-27T13:49:46.363-05:00Nature's Wastefulness<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCNr5OvTsOQ8d_c4o-yLoq22JM96SN6uvSXZNsOylyUVbjI9x2Yt47pqjWtGiYae62G6T5JNt1J53Rz611xRtPAMhAtvoPXUf4As6Lj2muQ1RgdTlvA8plrIFFsjLmp8W-V73QJ0zCVF1IZz7FV2LhJC2k5NqTgXD1VFcGi_ez0IlkvZyyeVuc4hmZkDE/s2393/NAmherst-Backyard-1-24.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="2393" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCNr5OvTsOQ8d_c4o-yLoq22JM96SN6uvSXZNsOylyUVbjI9x2Yt47pqjWtGiYae62G6T5JNt1J53Rz611xRtPAMhAtvoPXUf4As6Lj2muQ1RgdTlvA8plrIFFsjLmp8W-V73QJ0zCVF1IZz7FV2LhJC2k5NqTgXD1VFcGi_ez0IlkvZyyeVuc4hmZkDE/w400-h301/NAmherst-Backyard-1-24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 24<br />(All photos by Sharon Vardatira)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4mVUqLmtdwvEbBveV0yDe1M8fCliFJkhFMf-k4OJo0r0VUDpRr4o3z95UpqDj-UV5JkaZvfyGXaZvKuj0CPPzxFN8fou98ftR2hfBhTPUSat8MC81C0Z4oRvbs_972hmMrbwhKGWWBqgU6-H8MhfmzAJmiD5TCr13LS05ziwK62hD2tLbhlplpsYsGBv/s2393/NAmherst-Backyard-1-25.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="2393" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4mVUqLmtdwvEbBveV0yDe1M8fCliFJkhFMf-k4OJo0r0VUDpRr4o3z95UpqDj-UV5JkaZvfyGXaZvKuj0CPPzxFN8fou98ftR2hfBhTPUSat8MC81C0Z4oRvbs_972hmMrbwhKGWWBqgU6-H8MhfmzAJmiD5TCr13LS05ziwK62hD2tLbhlplpsYsGBv/w400-h301/NAmherst-Backyard-1-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 25</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xSTt52yRm8JkyuFNqquBE2jlI4WqQyYgNZEJV8nPnnhIrCkUaG3FtcxX2VxkDjqrq6KhD2_QTcC7ckvNRP9lyOE04bU-l-cWzd_LJ2KwKBRJploZd6WpZNSnQMhGGu289kpF5NTmwgIg_RoDe8qUEjEa0sJ4Zluhznc0W9gE9JNDfgsbeFBXpQOyGfwH/s2393/NAmherst-Backyard-1-27.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="2393" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xSTt52yRm8JkyuFNqquBE2jlI4WqQyYgNZEJV8nPnnhIrCkUaG3FtcxX2VxkDjqrq6KhD2_QTcC7ckvNRP9lyOE04bU-l-cWzd_LJ2KwKBRJploZd6WpZNSnQMhGGu289kpF5NTmwgIg_RoDe8qUEjEa0sJ4Zluhznc0W9gE9JNDfgsbeFBXpQOyGfwH/w400-h301/NAmherst-Backyard-1-27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 27</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>so
Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene.<br /></i></b><b><i>It’s
been doing that all week:<br /></i></b><b><i>making
beauty,<br /></i></b><b><i>and
throwing it away,<br /></i></b><b><i>and
making more.</i></b></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>~ Tony Hoagland, “Color of the Sky”</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To capture our wild variations on winter
over the past week, I photographed my same North Amherst backyard scene on three
different days, from January 24 to today. Borrowing from Mark Twain (and
countless others over the years), “If you don't like the weather in New England,
just wait a few minutes." </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">More beauty appears to be on the way tomorrow into Monday!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-6303414062913637482024-01-15T13:50:00.014-05:002024-01-27T13:58:27.877-05:00Intro to Cloudspotting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="416" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9vRazTksou4" width="500" youtube-src-id="9vRazTksou4"></iframe></div><p>Curious about clouds and the wider cloud spotting community? Learn all the basics in this light-hearted zoom presentation I did for Amherst Neighbors back in 2022. Topics include cloudspotting rules and "manifesto," seeing things in the clouds, cloud classifications (in brief), tips for photographing clouds, cloud spotting resources, and more! Enjoy!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-23274656433257168892024-01-13T02:39:00.001-05:002024-01-27T14:10:48.524-05:00Windy Nights<b></b><blockquote><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><blockquote><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><blockquote><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><blockquote><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"There's nothing like stories on a windy night when folks have found a warm place in a cold world."</span></b></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"> ~ Stephen King, <i>The Wind Through the Keyhole </i></div><blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div></div><div>Yup, that feels about right - the wind tonight definitely has a Stephen King vibe about it. Batten down the hatches, friends! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHJzCVrzmOOylMfYVaKPXMfu5B9mgP6_GUYsFQbb5Qu1BhT35ZzKwsub5YxJzMkKHRkpGbeAgIw5m5My6Qq1Y64zecHeVbNzqMeIWHskZKzaWEoStaL1FBpq1n0mNxsIeBv9983t_-eo13Pq1BRY3EQuSW_4APc_u8psJUbsXMqz1m2igt_lUUVeN0Ea/s967/418477290_921481656120128_3637767940096570035_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHJzCVrzmOOylMfYVaKPXMfu5B9mgP6_GUYsFQbb5Qu1BhT35ZzKwsub5YxJzMkKHRkpGbeAgIw5m5My6Qq1Y64zecHeVbNzqMeIWHskZKzaWEoStaL1FBpq1n0mNxsIeBv9983t_-eo13Pq1BRY3EQuSW_4APc_u8psJUbsXMqz1m2igt_lUUVeN0Ea/w406-h640/418477290_921481656120128_3637767940096570035_n.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Windy Nights" collections of drawings by 4th graders<br />at Knockanean National School in Clare, Ireland</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-23518646330344083452024-01-09T02:04:00.000-05:002024-01-27T14:08:30.847-05:00Dark and Stormy<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIjIu6XypNMF8wMnI8ijtvG4BcAj2C2ze37cee-j6mJvrkoQvsVAbSGJN_zubbHWY6Kl6ygZoEf4fGo_N-AeV7J2TEOQX2a8TbzRLftrer-uS8BB7NF3CTaKNWPX49OxZEO-4qtngnKVMwoibe1TLR4u0H-oUxNkTHuC4KIMdl428wkVh3mtOCg89WiR_/s1799/416352620_919496389651988_3267249993816096836_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIjIu6XypNMF8wMnI8ijtvG4BcAj2C2ze37cee-j6mJvrkoQvsVAbSGJN_zubbHWY6Kl6ygZoEf4fGo_N-AeV7J2TEOQX2a8TbzRLftrer-uS8BB7NF3CTaKNWPX49OxZEO-4qtngnKVMwoibe1TLR4u0H-oUxNkTHuC4KIMdl428wkVh3mtOCg89WiR_/w498-h640/416352620_919496389651988_3267249993816096836_n.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">- By Marianne Ferrer</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>It was a dark and stormy night....</i></b></span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Painting by visual artist, Marianne Ferrer captures better than any photo the night we are experiencing right now - wind whipping through the tree branches, rain pelting on the roof, snow all about. Good luck sleeping!</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-65539813954228531012023-11-19T14:48:00.002-05:002023-11-19T14:48:56.024-05:00Saving the world, one calendar at a time!<p><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #20124d; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSw1OSbVIGivRjDp5NntSCuyo91dvcZwEJrSM3TmAyIpXNmoXflIn05HkNbGzHQQ8L8eZe1Ed7flkDyMKFx4tG4B_euc9vCCY_29UPWWrvmhRLh60rRq5hbJN-de8Ur8qdnLW4upAqftp9JnERQ85Top-emAtWTDq7snTs4TPHxTlgodgN5291DIczAMg/s6600/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5100" data-original-width="6600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSw1OSbVIGivRjDp5NntSCuyo91dvcZwEJrSM3TmAyIpXNmoXflIn05HkNbGzHQQ8L8eZe1Ed7flkDyMKFx4tG4B_euc9vCCY_29UPWWrvmhRLh60rRq5hbJN-de8Ur8qdnLW4upAqftp9JnERQ85Top-emAtWTDq7snTs4TPHxTlgodgN5291DIczAMg/w500-h386/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar<br />Cover photo by Richard Getler</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>According to ChatGPT** (artificial intelligence), these are the top five reasons that buying the 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst <span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">wall c</span><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">alendar will save the world:<span class="gmail_default" face="verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">1.</span></b><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> </span></b><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">You can use the wall calendar to predict the future and prevent disaster.</span></b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> Use the daily historical weather facts for Amherst and New England from 1620-2023 to chart weather patterns over time and prepare accordingly. For example, you can stock up on supplies before Route 116 closes for the winter and leaves you trapped in a season-long Snowpocalypse.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">2. You can use the calendar to travel back in time and change history.</span></b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> Use the historical facts and figures to build a time machine and visit different eras and places. You can then alter the course of history and make the world a better place. For example, you can stop the Salem witch trials.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">3. You can use the wall calendar to communicate with aliens and make friends.</span></b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> The wall calendar features 12 beautiful, full color seasonal photos of Western Massachusetts, along with the names and locations of the clouds. You can use this information to send signals and messages to the extraterrestrial beings who might be observing the Earth. You can then establish contact and friendship with them and learn from their advanced technology and culture. For example, you can use the clouds to spell out “Hello” or “Peace.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">4. You can use the wall calendar to create art and inspire others.</span></b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> The wall calendar is printed on high quality paper and shrink wrapped. You can use this material to create your own art, share your creations with others, and inspire them to do the same. For example, you can cut out the photos and make a collage, or use the shrink wrap to make a transparent sculpture.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">5. You can use the wall calendar to start a revolution and overthrow the system. </span></b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">The wall calendar is a fundraiser for the Kestrel Land Trust, a non-profit organization that works to conserve and care for forests, farms, and riverways in the Pioneer Valley. You can use the calendar to mobilize others to fight for the environment and wildlife. For example, use the calendar to cut out a banner or a button and start a movement to challenge the status quo and demand change. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: transparent;">So, what are you waiting for? Purchase your calendar here, and start saving the world immediately! </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://etsy.me/3rrMNab&source=gmail&ust=1700498300602000&usg=AOvVaw1uZlfaJU9iV0OWFcH5qWsH" fg_scanned="1" href="https://etsy.me/3rrMNab" target="_blank"><span>https://etsy.me/<wbr></wbr>3rrMNab</span></a></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""><b>**</b>Yes, this is, in fact, how ChatGPT answered my question, “What are the top five reasons that buying the Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar will save the world?” I was driven to consult with AI because I overstocked 2024 calendars, and my adult son never responded to my pleas for marketing help. (I'm a cloud spotter, not an advertising guru.) I've also been a ChatGPT skeptic, </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">but if it saves the world (or sells more calendars) I might just have to change my mind!</span></span></i></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-24480361048214916482023-10-22T17:33:00.009-04:002023-10-22T17:33:56.270-04:00Our Featured Photographers!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrmy3KHPoaMhn9vqsgzWXJEn6QD3urv_3wO5LgWiDvTU5DmJFw8wqZ9uLhG0NLkS7Mikbhm8RIClqVCLLr7FDlo5YZbMpcNFIopslDYDTcOYvLYwO7P4Y2rxndDjDqbglqHYw5w3CA5YLE80Fg1DGUV2cJOnqqD_kyNWX2_5nPJuoPyQBncHhz66VhByM/s4353/10-Lindhult-Orange%20Maple%20sky1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3266" data-original-width="4353" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrmy3KHPoaMhn9vqsgzWXJEn6QD3urv_3wO5LgWiDvTU5DmJFw8wqZ9uLhG0NLkS7Mikbhm8RIClqVCLLr7FDlo5YZbMpcNFIopslDYDTcOYvLYwO7P4Y2rxndDjDqbglqHYw5w3CA5YLE80Fg1DGUV2cJOnqqD_kyNWX2_5nPJuoPyQBncHhz66VhByM/w500-h375/10-Lindhult-Orange%20Maple%20sky1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown ~ Photo by Mark Lindhult<br />(Featured photo for October in the 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar, now on sale, features photographs taken by amateur and professional photographers who live in and visit our corner of the world. Each summer, our five-person jury selects the finalists from among all the submissions we receive in response to our spring call for photos. </span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our featured photographers are your neighbors and friends - indeed, we're betting you'll recognize at least one name among our 2024 finalists: </span></div><div dir="auto"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Doug Tanner</b> - <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a><i>January</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>James (Jim) Patten</b> -<i> February </i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Richard Getler </b>-<i> March & Cover</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Linda Repasky</b> - <i>April</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Sharon Vardatira</b> - <i>May</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Mindy Domb</b> - <i>June</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Joshua Wolfsun</b> - <i>July</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Andy Churchill</b> - <i>August</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Annette Fortier </b>- <i>September</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Mark Lindhult</b> - <i>October</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Jennifer Lynch Murphy</b> - <i>November </i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>David Sharken </b>- <i>December </i></span></li></ul></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While you're musing on which names you recognize, gaze on this iconic fall foliage scene for October 2024, taken by Mark Lindhult. This is Mark's first time appearing in a HITCA calendar! Follow the link to see all the monthly photos (just scroll down the page) or purchase your own 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst calendar through Etsy. </span></div><div dir="auto"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3RGZgl1%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3LoTxlAMfUskLkT7hbJqq8jRIj1kPBInLhPn9z4iNKhMn3Eej9zpwYkik&h=AT2BKIP6ygA8SlqaKs1CC8f_W2cB28bxfFUA7W1mqbIRUaMxoqBuqyBSnHz8N4yYzb2-NQSKjHiU4SsCPsa3jDRDc3iR_lqWnPPOQ4tZNZs9SDgw79FkEPIRXYp8eGJzAEAAx4TuqY71YNL3gA&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3l-1Go2OiT5c6OK3IpPk8Zu7SNsr5gqrByBx1vj1pOh1Yrm0Y5dRDsOq1c3JXZXv_hx2xxtweA5XZXjURiXnJL-Vb8EE-Ink3ZV6xfyOXF0qUQ5wIG1Jlq5-qi87G2U2gwmTohXhaslEXM38EDahzYgCq9H8_aEQblNxq-mSVFvJYX1A" rel="nofollow noreferrer" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">https://bit.ly/3RGZgl1</span></a></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">#<a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/amherstma?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#AmherstMA</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/westernma?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#WesternMA</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/photography?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#photography</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/artcalendar?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#artcalendar</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nature?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#nature</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/clouds?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#clouds</a> <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/weather?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX9Im3YcuNTZPJv0_s7vaHSTXqqsMFKgMEljkJgTUFH9tEvcj4VEHwat9HeptatCuUdcLUmlXr9xx7ITSsWmw5-p92x7nNLX3rxpn3G9GtQEhd8Ea2zx6FdX2FJIfv_QOmN-DmUxIw-HPOG8TZK3odr&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#weather</a></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-20455289243985952952023-10-14T16:34:00.000-04:002023-10-14T16:34:49.270-04:00Winter on the Amherst Town Common Holiday Card<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Excited to announce I will be adding an assortment of
greeting cards to the</span> <b><a href="https://etsy.me/48VWjTy">CloudsAmherst EtsyShop</a> </b><span style="color: #0b5394;">over the next few months,
starting with this one!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w5Oj0KtIk2knjtf1zeLk0TMN6DVwAn8nTJcVC2TwJ_nm_5tFqZO1VaifGVyvCAz4wNCaC3ZrRwhmQKNGlKFCrDo_iVsENCOn1jtVaajMK4Z2gtXCLJ0p1ztPHIUhJQgzJs25jOK4eqj45P2U0Ekv6n8B0qCMgVHGwLjdEM9CuR3Q3odggxO6RGPoOfRz/s1024/Amherst%20Holiday%20outside2-ed-72%20ppi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1024" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w5Oj0KtIk2knjtf1zeLk0TMN6DVwAn8nTJcVC2TwJ_nm_5tFqZO1VaifGVyvCAz4wNCaC3ZrRwhmQKNGlKFCrDo_iVsENCOn1jtVaajMK4Z2gtXCLJ0p1ztPHIUhJQgzJs25jOK4eqj45P2U0Ekv6n8B0qCMgVHGwLjdEM9CuR3Q3odggxO6RGPoOfRz/w500-h322/Amherst%20Holiday%20outside2-ed-72%20ppi.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Winter on the Amherst Town Common Holiday Card</b></i><br />Photographer: Joshua Wolfsun</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Come experience a snowy December morning on the Amherst Town
Common. Daylight has only just broken through the clouds, and the street lamps
and holiday lights are casting a golden reflection across the ice. Later in the
day, this scene will be filled with people out shopping and dining, but for
now, all is quiet. Photographed by Joshua Wolfsun, this image has a dreamy
quality, reminiscent of a painting. Folded, the card is 4.6" x 7.2," printed on premium, heavy-weight matte paper. Inside message: <i>May
all the seasons of your life be filled with peace and happiness.</i> Shop here:</span> <a href="https://etsy.me/48VWjTy">https://etsy.me/48VWjTy</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-81776702971249329102023-10-08T13:22:00.001-04:002023-10-08T13:35:39.683-04:00Our First Post (11 years ago this weekend)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZzSBqBdbfhPmMSfx-Y1FxZrNA4gQnJIxkY4UTzpdjtmhpVTBbBW-AMraL3jfVQPi5V4Y0IMKymGnVZ2RZatkpvOGzpMXkfG6a3yKOyothkJK3RWPJ_56DS9Zao_c9y4qNYDtfRJufuct3015d_wjzXH_3Ttj8IROxQ2l7CGWCl3E7rkR015gxegYjutq/s916/Finding%20Peak%20Clip.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="629" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZzSBqBdbfhPmMSfx-Y1FxZrNA4gQnJIxkY4UTzpdjtmhpVTBbBW-AMraL3jfVQPi5V4Y0IMKymGnVZ2RZatkpvOGzpMXkfG6a3yKOyothkJK3RWPJ_56DS9Zao_c9y4qNYDtfRJufuct3015d_wjzXH_3Ttj8IROxQ2l7CGWCl3E7rkR015gxegYjutq/w440-h640/Finding%20Peak%20Clip.PNG" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://headinthecloudsamherst.blogspot.com/2012/10/new-england-weather.html">The post that launched Head in the Clouds Amherst</a><br />October 6, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: helvetica;">Going back in the archives to my </span><a href="https://headinthecloudsamherst.blogspot.com/2012/10/new-england-weather.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">very first Head in the Clouds Amherst blog post</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: helvetica;">, 11 years ago on what was then "Columbus Day"
weekend. Lots has evolved in the past decade - on the upside, tomorrow is now
Indigenous Peoples' Day in Massachusetts (did not see that coming back in
2012).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFs3OF5QqzcCmF2IKLL-AxPpbjU_NxWIGsFIlUb6YO95uxjBZJEWrh9WVAf5BFSi2plvQ53tVG8oUgfHy7uGx1GE5h0QJ5Yt8yuzyTm_fjBPILAqXiCAIa_siYj6L0Ef-hDcPgRSWanlXWplNSCgLMByDYisNqB8EMKp5pLbxtKuNhr7beSahoZMgGovS/s4032/20211101_131202-ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFs3OF5QqzcCmF2IKLL-AxPpbjU_NxWIGsFIlUb6YO95uxjBZJEWrh9WVAf5BFSi2plvQ53tVG8oUgfHy7uGx1GE5h0QJ5Yt8yuzyTm_fjBPILAqXiCAIa_siYj6L0Ef-hDcPgRSWanlXWplNSCgLMByDYisNqB8EMKp5pLbxtKuNhr7beSahoZMgGovS/w400-h300/20211101_131202-ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin Flood Accessible Trail, Puffer's Pond ~ North Amherst, MA<br />Photo by Sharon Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: helvetica;">As for fall foliage, however, while the local trees are
definitely changing color, it will be another week or two before the foliage in
the Pioneer Valley is more orange and yellow than green. And in terms of
"finding peak," it's a much more elusive pursuit nowadays. We still
have uniquely beautiful autumns in some years, but with the trees now changing
color over a protracted period from late August all the way through November,
it's unusual to find one area where all the trees are in full fall colors at
the same time. We still go in search of peak, but we're more likely to find it
in pockets, a single extraordinary tree or a random cluster of trees that
cannot help but steal the show from everything in their vicinity. And, every
October, it's still one of my favorite quests!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Have a wonderful weekend and month, everyone, with lots of
beautiful "peak" moments along the way.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-6805843288164883782023-10-01T11:54:00.006-04:002023-11-19T16:52:44.358-05:002024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar Now Available!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExj-mxVvMtdZeMrSWs_ShP-9-mgIF2zB0DcGKSM3IOwdxBgsalCxx6V8HPR7Sug-gWJs8eNIPUCmaR7Pom9Ei_fQBLu1d9llHlBYaJGwFzZ91BMjKGeRs8rHPZN3EVJVU8cFoUqoUd8_lZf6fXQh_12lyGzjM3HXeZNzhahUhEqNzUgZrIv_1jxi1Kyqm/s792/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes-etsy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="792" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExj-mxVvMtdZeMrSWs_ShP-9-mgIF2zB0DcGKSM3IOwdxBgsalCxx6V8HPR7Sug-gWJs8eNIPUCmaR7Pom9Ei_fQBLu1d9llHlBYaJGwFzZ91BMjKGeRs8rHPZN3EVJVU8cFoUqoUd8_lZf6fXQh_12lyGzjM3HXeZNzhahUhEqNzUgZrIv_1jxi1Kyqm/w500-h386/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes-etsy.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calendar Cover ~ Photo by Richard Getler</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Kalam; font-size: xx-large;">GIVE THE GIFT OF A NEW YEAR </b></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Kalam; font-size: x-large;"> with the all new</span></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Merriweather Sans; font-size: x-large;">2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar</span></b></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Order <a href="https://etsy.me/3xbN7t6">online</a> for delivery by mail</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 772;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><b>$20.00 </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">per calendar</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 772; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><i>Free shipping with a purchase of 2 calendars or more</i></span></span></span></b></div></div></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Proceeds* to benefit the</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9s7h0gqGd2uTVMtKbL5bL61ktm6y8tqtHN6mNqTGC5pSzcRb_bCbn8M_gHSshiCyjIc0EWEySiJ0GPTF8eMP9z-ubcocJrX7fKEHHs2xuxZ1BS5QZzYuz4O9dyNPIz9AQRvz5Dy8DASubwXgJE1mmgeYK2D4YwC634tuQ1fTF-P4KN6T3svT02zjiw/s280/KLT-Logo-Web.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9s7h0gqGd2uTVMtKbL5bL61ktm6y8tqtHN6mNqTGC5pSzcRb_bCbn8M_gHSshiCyjIc0EWEySiJ0GPTF8eMP9z-ubcocJrX7fKEHHs2xuxZ1BS5QZzYuz4O9dyNPIz9AQRvz5Dy8DASubwXgJE1mmgeYK2D4YwC634tuQ1fTF-P4KN6T3svT02zjiw/w131-h131/KLT-Logo-Web.png" width="131" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Open the calendar on 2</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">024, and treat yourself and your loved ones to the changing seasons of one of the most beautiful corners of the world, from the farmlands to the rivers, lakes, hills and trails of Western Massachusetts.</span></span></b></div><ul><li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana;">12 beautiful, seasonal photos of Amherst and the Pioneer Valley by residents and visitors <i><b><span style="color: blue;">(scroll below to view all pages)</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Over 200 daily entries highlighting astronomical, historical, weather, and </span>meteorological events in Amherst and New England from 1620-2023</span></span></li>
<li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">17" X 11" (full size when open)</span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saddle stitch binding</span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">High quality coated gloss, heavyweight paper</span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shrink wrapped</span></span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://etsy.me/3rrMNab"><span style="color: blue;"><span>Purchase ONLINE at</span><span> ETSY: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">https://etsy.me/3rrMNab</span></span></a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span><span><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also available for in-person purchase at:</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amherstbooks.com/" target="_blank"><b>Amherst Books</b></a>, located in downtown Amherst at 8 Main Street on the Common. Phone: (800) 503-5865. Amherst Books is a locally owned, independent bookshop. In addition to our calendar, they carry new and used books, including an amazing selection of poetry, literature, philosophy, small press titles, literary journals. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u>Local Pick-Up</u></span></b></span>. For questions, special requests, and to arrange f</span><span style="font-family: verdana, verdana, serif;">or pick up in North Amherst (payment via Venmo or check), please email Sharon at </span><b style="font-family: verdana, verdana, serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="mailto:cloudsamherst@gmail.com">CloudsAmherst[@]gmail[.]com.</a><span> </span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana, verdana, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana, verdana, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-weight: 772;">Our Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar is the perfect gift for cloud spotters, nature lovers, photographers, artists and writers, students here and abroad, locals, and former residents longing for a taste of home. This calendar will have them (and you) falling in love with Western Massachusetts month after month. And this is a gift that will keep giving all year round. </span></span></b></div>
</div></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iv9ZSlmMll4nI0LHzos_XBEIv6pPxv86E5apMcguyyEx3OKFz52_pJANZCM0LikFfuEkAs-r54LlwkFsm2LkzYUkn2DlJ7NDqMAwc2_qdH1prHq1CD-r4Bb0M6Yp0dsagyCYD6XTYEugSNa1Y7en3jcvWTceZ0YulnqOL2QE8ilxGYTsrsbymYZC3A0d/s6600/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5100" data-original-width="6600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iv9ZSlmMll4nI0LHzos_XBEIv6pPxv86E5apMcguyyEx3OKFz52_pJANZCM0LikFfuEkAs-r54LlwkFsm2LkzYUkn2DlJ7NDqMAwc2_qdH1prHq1CD-r4Bb0M6Yp0dsagyCYD6XTYEugSNa1Y7en3jcvWTceZ0YulnqOL2QE8ilxGYTsrsbymYZC3A0d/w500-h386/00-Front-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Calendar Cover - Bay Road, Hadley<br />Photo by Richard Getler</b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokcPV3tqP39yb6f3M-EGV1keidCj1aWiRMNJLEk-iYuRNHA0QBKcYP2U6nroJnqBvkCgIQpOyNqzfOok7LEZU0GugGFYBiNviNYSopSunyGRlAXhB_neKfz3s2KlYHYhDw3OK7uM1AVGhiWOrvbOMtzxTdTI6TlRXF0dvSK2xtnM8MjnfyitU_NChTi7n/s10200/0-Inside%20essay-etsy-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokcPV3tqP39yb6f3M-EGV1keidCj1aWiRMNJLEk-iYuRNHA0QBKcYP2U6nroJnqBvkCgIQpOyNqzfOok7LEZU0GugGFYBiNviNYSopSunyGRlAXhB_neKfz3s2KlYHYhDw3OK7uM1AVGhiWOrvbOMtzxTdTI6TlRXF0dvSK2xtnM8MjnfyitU_NChTi7n/w500-h772/0-Inside%20essay-etsy-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside Front Pages<br /><i>The Tyranny of Blue Sky Thinking </i>- by Sharon Vardatira</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc_Eu7gT9glnq72POjW1lkqIpD5Usovnnssv0L1RuiXQY03W7xS5KVvHfDIjlqyUV1x6IKpgK-MF8xkFCJwv0nFGcOcHXhq9f73VLLymWa7joUVKnzMLaigGnv0Su318S8pgfYCcA21-8OrlmZHl0DQnSbHCr63ZrI-PporC1tTDXnQizp8pFWpxW82jO/s10200/1-Jan-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc_Eu7gT9glnq72POjW1lkqIpD5Usovnnssv0L1RuiXQY03W7xS5KVvHfDIjlqyUV1x6IKpgK-MF8xkFCJwv0nFGcOcHXhq9f73VLLymWa7joUVKnzMLaigGnv0Su318S8pgfYCcA21-8OrlmZHl0DQnSbHCr63ZrI-PporC1tTDXnQizp8pFWpxW82jO/w500-h772/1-Jan-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jennison Road Marsh, Wendell - Photo by Doug Tanner </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRc0sD-RBh6PvBrBNmK_jmZp5iNGtYhJXPXQkk6CZsLUtslqgHyveJ--OzAGIfagRzV5eCWey9BJUE8Pi2ziZtalD_2XVqjMfT6JMR6haEWeHFTJrJBEh7jklWxxBUCmm26vqR1j0FOZcNOVF-BKcBR6bEuo0XazHhWQayY3QFeJB30ylUCP7_st_0R8s/s10200/2-FEB-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRc0sD-RBh6PvBrBNmK_jmZp5iNGtYhJXPXQkk6CZsLUtslqgHyveJ--OzAGIfagRzV5eCWey9BJUE8Pi2ziZtalD_2XVqjMfT6JMR6haEWeHFTJrJBEh7jklWxxBUCmm26vqR1j0FOZcNOVF-BKcBR6bEuo0XazHhWQayY3QFeJB30ylUCP7_st_0R8s/w500-h772/2-FEB-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hampshire College, Amherst - Photo by James Patten</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6tyduPhW5CDmTHcSL-40H0HQBSD-aKQdS4mjBNfxHuzYTY00DHm6I-FQczG0-RH3FEQs0y1nmtc3MM-R5Ix6AzdPzkRN45Axz2G2zocFwpQ-da7K0KRPJCpDRwjppINxiXQKZp6ZXA_wKsHCGSNvvfYamyP15j_txWVjA_ISOmDuwuR4ri0Es4Utr2T9/s10200/3-MAR-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6tyduPhW5CDmTHcSL-40H0HQBSD-aKQdS4mjBNfxHuzYTY00DHm6I-FQczG0-RH3FEQs0y1nmtc3MM-R5Ix6AzdPzkRN45Axz2G2zocFwpQ-da7K0KRPJCpDRwjppINxiXQKZp6ZXA_wKsHCGSNvvfYamyP15j_txWVjA_ISOmDuwuR4ri0Es4Utr2T9/w500-h772/3-MAR-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bay Road, Hadley - Photo by Richard Getler</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQUhiU07IUhnrEFY-tkU_FVYInaWvPQIU564xH6xcMfAsO8EkFNeeKhYEbWC1r8JW74lT9M-oZNjm3_KFYkmU5Nm5zY6gnrXBC8JxxYykj8z15GdNJ1_nn9FxBa-skd6OpUHOaNhE0vAmCGYh_UqlbNv5ROnrVUN39_OviDyPkeN0UtcsMrvMpPws19DO/s10200/4-APR-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQUhiU07IUhnrEFY-tkU_FVYInaWvPQIU564xH6xcMfAsO8EkFNeeKhYEbWC1r8JW74lT9M-oZNjm3_KFYkmU5Nm5zY6gnrXBC8JxxYykj8z15GdNJ1_nn9FxBa-skd6OpUHOaNhE0vAmCGYh_UqlbNv5ROnrVUN39_OviDyPkeN0UtcsMrvMpPws19DO/w500-h772/4-APR-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown - Photo by Linda Repasky</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQMoKpiPPXElvit6BQ7vdDL_Tj4nuzVw8xAnPtZz21_THlvvDb5pZyJmGJ5fvaaXm-DyfPE05Qx7GMlyRLAoHj3c1zW7c1K1JlWwv0b5t6geNQomnO9Tj3RHI33MSpvsSdhwME5wv7PoP4f4y96KWe7kzelRb7kJU5bMRkl0dOVJYxugpfaoXJbGwkXUc/s10200/5-MAY-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQMoKpiPPXElvit6BQ7vdDL_Tj4nuzVw8xAnPtZz21_THlvvDb5pZyJmGJ5fvaaXm-DyfPE05Qx7GMlyRLAoHj3c1zW7c1K1JlWwv0b5t6geNQomnO9Tj3RHI33MSpvsSdhwME5wv7PoP4f4y96KWe7kzelRb7kJU5bMRkl0dOVJYxugpfaoXJbGwkXUc/w500-h772/5-MAY-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><b>Amherst College - Photo by Sharon Vardatira</b></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VozBa77OV_l_I-N7cDxsd7N8HQVSprKizMyG0QyGiAgH0OJa9G1do54zGSst2K24w8lns5J2gqdoVxCaGmDsYG1weHuz8Xfe5WkCxUR8pfF3HcoW1j_IcHzWMKuJOBkk62N17rNxnTiaev0HUzlDtdFkGWeenEEpgOc9SpAl77r0EhNJl1dgWP2JS0uu/s10200/6-JUNE-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VozBa77OV_l_I-N7cDxsd7N8HQVSprKizMyG0QyGiAgH0OJa9G1do54zGSst2K24w8lns5J2gqdoVxCaGmDsYG1weHuz8Xfe5WkCxUR8pfF3HcoW1j_IcHzWMKuJOBkk62N17rNxnTiaev0HUzlDtdFkGWeenEEpgOc9SpAl77r0EhNJl1dgWP2JS0uu/w500-h772/6-JUNE-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Somewhere in Hampshire County - Photo by Mindy Domb</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk75u4d1reznTpNtO5iPSraUnCNRww1X6ox_4cmts9XAL-v7koTsXxbz0GKTlKMfd3dG3shHctYJyAmJVuygsMXhbRVQCgW7NCSWPLb_pra7IB2dzoKY2Wb37CVDUV6T5aqFyz5bemJuoUUU6s0AJrtWkSy-K33Zcc2_lM_Yd86aXPXc9EdnrExQ83mPC/s10200/7-JULY-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk75u4d1reznTpNtO5iPSraUnCNRww1X6ox_4cmts9XAL-v7koTsXxbz0GKTlKMfd3dG3shHctYJyAmJVuygsMXhbRVQCgW7NCSWPLb_pra7IB2dzoKY2Wb37CVDUV6T5aqFyz5bemJuoUUU6s0AJrtWkSy-K33Zcc2_lM_Yd86aXPXc9EdnrExQ83mPC/w500-h772/7-JULY-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Farm Fields, Hadley - Photo by Joshua Wolfsun<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5acgYiQk457_j19QsqEPj_MJLx6a5FLH_uYJuzOx3JAGsRqazohdNDggaFOlREHrz60keH9aZbhFckTJY8ufD5WM7lMqTqezNdGIeGNUx0P1aZyZWgeoFdlykqIrU2HXGnTLEW-gp4wkafB4Zsu2DoYhR-e5yVJXhlMe1yDWGJKGs7fJiMbyRfCgvtx6/s10200/8-AUG-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5acgYiQk457_j19QsqEPj_MJLx6a5FLH_uYJuzOx3JAGsRqazohdNDggaFOlREHrz60keH9aZbhFckTJY8ufD5WM7lMqTqezNdGIeGNUx0P1aZyZWgeoFdlykqIrU2HXGnTLEW-gp4wkafB4Zsu2DoYhR-e5yVJXhlMe1yDWGJKGs7fJiMbyRfCgvtx6/w500-h772/8-AUG-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>University Drive, Amherst - Photo by Andy Churchill<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLZK6bBdq965EKO5KfkJ6Olbxjj8iQZZwVzS9fYf5mWGQe4UlYKUhW0XsoRJ6lj1W9huINLflSbMobjsm8bMkUYOg9IvlnP4E3F9J8BOaEsUZTujDmzKANAbJisrloZvXlhIxrxmEwrDj7iRBislz0jszEmM_0fE4Lrtz6zylyMfLIW6Kk2uTvaYX0k79/s10200/9-SEPT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLZK6bBdq965EKO5KfkJ6Olbxjj8iQZZwVzS9fYf5mWGQe4UlYKUhW0XsoRJ6lj1W9huINLflSbMobjsm8bMkUYOg9IvlnP4E3F9J8BOaEsUZTujDmzKANAbJisrloZvXlhIxrxmEwrDj7iRBislz0jszEmM_0fE4Lrtz6zylyMfLIW6Kk2uTvaYX0k79/w500-h772/9-SEPT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ames Pond Nature Retreat, Kestrel Land Trust, Shutesbury<br />Photo by Annette Fortier<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bNhCj4tipKfBtcTSDYddcXFS2aXfyweoRZwoFIRUUsgXQcN064mh8aNqVztsDixLP5SiVY4ryChvFTYdAPpB4WiBKfedSHs5LEch7VF1g_OVTocTxkbdFVSZfsKMjvyNZZ7m7Kc2QNkCmjk3NU0KvLQXxtfSkxgYk7yDntWFiSCflnMxb4v4IPPvp6Ju/s10200/10-OCT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bNhCj4tipKfBtcTSDYddcXFS2aXfyweoRZwoFIRUUsgXQcN064mh8aNqVztsDixLP5SiVY4ryChvFTYdAPpB4WiBKfedSHs5LEch7VF1g_OVTocTxkbdFVSZfsKMjvyNZZ7m7Kc2QNkCmjk3NU0KvLQXxtfSkxgYk7yDntWFiSCflnMxb4v4IPPvp6Ju/w500-h772/10-OCT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown - Photo by Mark Lindhult<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh6r6mdhpstvjjivhQWscUvM6vroNam_vTmUgtFe8dIzPz_SH5km_jb1mVGYNpKQCvZaqiPcUGYNkvKWLOnFKf7byG9QdTtJzjzaM-iJtmy2f9t_YsD2I4TB6iddbUKSYyVt9XMq39Vz3q29RMbIC7GMQ7r44ob72YPDj4xGIG83OPFUnAF9IfjCChtxw/s10200/11-NOV-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh6r6mdhpstvjjivhQWscUvM6vroNam_vTmUgtFe8dIzPz_SH5km_jb1mVGYNpKQCvZaqiPcUGYNkvKWLOnFKf7byG9QdTtJzjzaM-iJtmy2f9t_YsD2I4TB6iddbUKSYyVt9XMq39Vz3q29RMbIC7GMQ7r44ob72YPDj4xGIG83OPFUnAF9IfjCChtxw/w500-h772/11-NOV-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Hadley<br />Photo by Jennifer Lynch Murphy<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9gVDYUoOAQS4RKZ7MFEFQT_EO0CidjMDZornyA7PyIL4TVsZFJc-RJvKZZWhnaBSTp9-hSC4eVi-VFniw8s7vi4wiQjZ5IagssvssUeFeZz4G1IurTmFnfNLhM63DAHvUHL2qqMSmZY9OE87mjJAHQNHUeho2ZljENfrVRbN0zzDuszoZKjE6A1iiY4r/s10200/12-DEC-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="772" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9gVDYUoOAQS4RKZ7MFEFQT_EO0CidjMDZornyA7PyIL4TVsZFJc-RJvKZZWhnaBSTp9-hSC4eVi-VFniw8s7vi4wiQjZ5IagssvssUeFeZz4G1IurTmFnfNLhM63DAHvUHL2qqMSmZY9OE87mjJAHQNHUeho2ZljENfrVRbN0zzDuszoZKjE6A1iiY4r/w500-h772/12-DEC-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leverett Pond (aka Echo Lake), Leverett<br />Photo by David Sharken<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc0jJWZryH8Pzy3PevkyLDpbDeo8yOROdplgNZvi3SXeiriQYM1Sr1Il_PxGW0W61kHrRuhTC49wksh4qO2-hxh3gbij1r9d8ZDE5nDw5rnP4wOLcqfj0f64xQjw7lhIOHfPDPphogPdvPoN3AIkhYmf3YK2fORg1RX2x4Opsu7XkTlfG-9LZ6rHj7tCU/s6600/13-Back-INDD-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5100" data-original-width="6600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc0jJWZryH8Pzy3PevkyLDpbDeo8yOROdplgNZvi3SXeiriQYM1Sr1Il_PxGW0W61kHrRuhTC49wksh4qO2-hxh3gbij1r9d8ZDE5nDw5rnP4wOLcqfj0f64xQjw7lhIOHfPDPphogPdvPoN3AIkhYmf3YK2fORg1RX2x4Opsu7XkTlfG-9LZ6rHj7tCU/w500-h386/13-Back-INDD-with%20bounding%20boxes.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Back of Calendar<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-90357197914249613162023-09-11T12:18:00.001-04:002023-09-11T12:19:51.926-04:00How to celebrate Cloud Appreciation Day on September 15! (Yes, YOU!)<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKwduInM26UDayjhUoswFRlr8G5fi77KWlLndQCFgPiOSf5xo_lqcAXgUxpShrAWqxNCH3gmdICPgozUUSr0M3GYVn3r_Zci0fdma4-6NYCykZtFBWnnK0K6LzDEkic_KEqfELXxz1I69FuSs1ehZvWAxvJyogbv9B5SDGBrPxOGhV_GVXkI12ERcu8L8/s4000/Clouds%20over%20Hadley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKwduInM26UDayjhUoswFRlr8G5fi77KWlLndQCFgPiOSf5xo_lqcAXgUxpShrAWqxNCH3gmdICPgozUUSr0M3GYVn3r_Zci0fdma4-6NYCykZtFBWnnK0K6LzDEkic_KEqfELXxz1I69FuSs1ehZvWAxvJyogbv9B5SDGBrPxOGhV_GVXkI12ERcu8L8/w500-h375/Clouds%20over%20Hadley.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouds over Hadley Farms<br />Photo by Sharon Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Be a cloudspotter for a day! Wherever you are in the world, please join me on Friday September 15 for Cloud Appreciation Day, by submitting an image of your sky to the Cloud Appreciation Society’s Memory Cloud Atlas. (Must be submitted on the day.) Simple, free - and fun. And while you're there, you can travel around the world (just click on the map) and see the view from distant locations. It's my absolute favorite day of the year! Register here to be reminded </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.memorycloudatlas.org/?fbclid=IwAR0RyD3Jz05jXMYn-O9mm6rzvlHhDJGQrDPDgdNMEUsp7CuNoRDpdjPq7N8" rel="nofollow noreferrer" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.memorycloudatlas.org/</a></span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/cloudappreciationday?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUG_81fkyeGq2Sjhmv98xtsAKvoZPLHt9gldbmS650XqixQZCN67QNpbgm7txwCYIj_f5i6BOTRJgmddMY9hsGrKLL7JfYZUzanM5qYsv9AyajIP-dpfWuVLCmHfWjXgL2t3gBQLWX7szYEjj81UB6zr-Ckztcz3c6oMfyoE-psH_goHZ5M2AE76aiYaXI53Kk&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">#cloudappreciationday</span></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-30607164751927804232023-07-14T18:05:00.000-04:002023-07-14T18:05:46.242-04:00"Never mind, it's all under water now."<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8t4iB9aZwPnhMqKjxAzPdHE31XvJY-6udEd1Of0atOE1LGjlif_x5IIwHkfSC6y1g2xAiclqvN5e9_0Fi8w3XXm4dTuDr-WGgM4D6l_rNqEic87z5_HIDYDAjIq8BV54p31ls8hQJ2I7muDakfsxo1J9vEn8ZqpSIpA-EWekohy8AvSL5Ye5HN6yrlRH/s1440/Mountain%20View%20Farms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8t4iB9aZwPnhMqKjxAzPdHE31XvJY-6udEd1Of0atOE1LGjlif_x5IIwHkfSC6y1g2xAiclqvN5e9_0Fi8w3XXm4dTuDr-WGgM4D6l_rNqEic87z5_HIDYDAjIq8BV54p31ls8hQJ2I7muDakfsxo1J9vEn8ZqpSIpA-EWekohy8AvSL5Ye5HN6yrlRH/w500-h375/Mountain%20View%20Farms.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Mountain View Farm looks like they were heading<br />for a beautiful crop of peppers before the flood.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Re-posting this from <a href="https://www.simplegiftsfarmcsa.com/"><b>Simple Gifts Farm</b></a> in North Amherst. It's been a season (and the season is hardly over).</span></p><p></p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>FLOOD DAMAGE RELIEF EFFORTS</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">At about 7:30 on Monday morning, David from Stone Soup Farm sent out an email to the Pioneer Valley Farmers list-serve entitled "Help us Save Our Garlic." The Connecticut River was rising, swollen with water coming downstream from Vermont in addition to the 3-4 inches that fell in the Western Mass, and David was hoping some of their farmer friends could come and help them get their garlic harvested before the flood buried it. Within a couple of hours, the heart-breaking second email came through: "Never Mind, it's all under water now. It rose faster than I thought it would." As the week has gone on, we have learned of more of our fellow farmers that have lost most to all of their crops in the flooding. Mountain View had 45 acres of vegetables in Northampton that are all gone. Natural Roots and Song Sparrow Farm lost their entire vegetable crop. Farmer Dave has been doing a side job getting fields ready to plant at the All Farmers site in Springfield, and he was still unable to get to the field as of Wednesday, because it was all underwater. We are feeling that maybe it's not so bad to grow on the sandpit soil that we have here in North Amherst. My life as a farmer has centered around problem solving, persistence, optimism, and continuing to just put one foot in front of the other. I find it hard to imagine having that perspective in the face of a total loss such as these people have suffered. MDAR estimates that at least 75 farms have been affected, and at least 1,000 acres.</span></p><p><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Linked below are opportunities to donate to some of our farmer friends that have been flooded; please do what you can to support them. </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Natural Roots Farm: <a href="https://gofund.me/d0f53dd2"><b>https://gofund.me/d0f53dd2</b></a></span></li><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Grow Food Northampton: <a href="https://www.growfoodnorthampton.org/ways-to-help-with-flood-recovery/"><b>https://www.growfoodnorthampton.org/ways-to-help-with-flood-recovery/</b></a></span></li><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Song Sparrow Farm: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/song-sparrow-farm-flood-recovery-fund"><b>https://www.gofundme.com/f/song-sparrow-farm-flood-recovery-fund</b></a></span></li><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mountain View Farm: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/mountain-view-farm-flood-damage-fund"><b>https://www.gofundme.com/f/mountain-view-farm-flood-damage-fund</b></a></span></li><li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Stone Soup Farm: <a href="https://www.stonesoupfarmcoop.com/"><b>https://www.stonesoupfarmcoop.com/</b></a></span></li></ul></blockquote><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-13506110704206082532023-06-07T21:20:00.001-04:002023-06-07T21:20:46.774-04:00Yellow Tuesday & Scarlet Sunset<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxnMNBRZ4IcDmXqx2UrwEd3IFDGMkNYao_pAeQRQhvUxHC_bpMYDjIVc5Ouwv0uExArWO8IByJQgg2Su0zZW5zF-1hZlKXPw_fieVEIyWXB9VVLm3d2LVOgKzb83EDMPsKFgNdUW5ebb9it0YxVAk9EGSg4QN3DwMVb-glpD4hfP7q6ywE4pWm6TbvQ/s1125/The%20Scarlet%20Sunset%20by%20Joseph%20Mallord%20William%20Turner%20c%201830-40.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1125" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxnMNBRZ4IcDmXqx2UrwEd3IFDGMkNYao_pAeQRQhvUxHC_bpMYDjIVc5Ouwv0uExArWO8IByJQgg2Su0zZW5zF-1hZlKXPw_fieVEIyWXB9VVLm3d2LVOgKzb83EDMPsKFgNdUW5ebb9it0YxVAk9EGSg4QN3DwMVb-glpD4hfP7q6ywE4pWm6TbvQ/w500-h350/The%20Scarlet%20Sunset%20by%20Joseph%20Mallord%20William%20Turner%20c%201830-40.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Scarlet Sunset </b><br />by Joseph Mallord William Turner, c. 1830-40</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Yesterday Boston was shrouded, and nature's gloom soon infusing itself into the hearts of all made it a day long to be remembered.</span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">About 7 O'Clock in the morning the golden pall shrouded the city in its embrace, and the weird unreal appearance continued throughout the day. As one approached a doorway from within and glanced out upon the sidewalk and street, it was difficult to dispel the illusion that an extensive conflagration was raging near, and that it was the yellow, gleaming light from the burning houses that produced the singular effect. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">At all events it was strangely unreal lights when the sun should have been shining—twilight at noonday. A quietness seemed to pervade the streets, the girls that kept the peanut stands ceased for a while their efforts to dispose of their wares, the fruiters stood motionless beside their heap of golden peaches and grapes, and even the impressible newsboy took on a more subbed tone.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">[Boston] Common Looked Sombre and Dear as one glanced down the long vistas formed by arching boughs, and entering beneath their shade, a solemn stillness prevailed that seemed almost foreboding in its intensity. As the houses wore on business men seemed to have little heart in their work, and as soon as the imperative labors of the day were completed started for home, seeming to think that the most desirable place for them if nature had got so out of humor. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although other causes have been known to produce the same effects, the juried aspect which all things assumed yesterday was undoubtedly caused by smokes from the immense forest fire racing to it north and west the past week or two. The smoke, caught in the fog, hanged like a golden canopy over the city, requiring a storm or high wind to disperse it. This startling and almost ghastly appearance of the heavens, although strange, portended another storm, wind or hurricane, being caused simply by a smoke cloud. The only storm in this part of the country."</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Excerpted from <i><a href="http://www.celebrateboston.com/disasters/yellow-day.htm#:~:text=On%20September%206%2C%201881%2C%20the,of%20the%20world%20was%20imminent.">The Boston Globe,</a></i> September 7, 1881 (Yellow Tuesday) </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-7337351264649000632023-06-07T21:03:00.000-04:002023-06-07T21:03:15.308-04:00Summer Solstice Time Travel<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedAliGKdNrwf5G2jXd9oYhZLEAaHtfv-6JCr2mJk82S7GqYmygtOIJ1MsJsXDz8gHOQ-otVHDdePs-r7rvc02qutpx3Sox3a6OjrVLyWUsbsztVy91RBrEdxM6RT-9QZw6IU7ycZMNIGRH0j62Vw-a6koYGyF3wgVGxqH9YoHuABTtX1JVRYJziM2Bw/s2048/6-June-Vardatira-UMass%20Sunwheel-ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedAliGKdNrwf5G2jXd9oYhZLEAaHtfv-6JCr2mJk82S7GqYmygtOIJ1MsJsXDz8gHOQ-otVHDdePs-r7rvc02qutpx3Sox3a6OjrVLyWUsbsztVy91RBrEdxM6RT-9QZw6IU7ycZMNIGRH0j62Vw-a6koYGyF3wgVGxqH9YoHuABTtX1JVRYJziM2Bw/w500-h375/6-June-Vardatira-UMass%20Sunwheel-ed.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer Solstice at the UMass Sunwheel - Amherst MA<br />Photo by Sharon Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As we wade through day after day of weirdly cool, hazy, smoke-laden skies, just keep in mind that June is upon us, and one of these mornings we will wake up to a day exactly like this – mackerel sky, with wafting white cumulus clouds against a blue sky. And, in the meantime, anyone who has the 2023 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar is seeing this photo all month long. One of the perks of creating the calendar is always including one of my own photos – I captured this scene at the UMass Sunwheel (our own local Stonehenge) on Summer Solstice a few years back. I was seeking an “Outlander” back-in-time experience. Seemed like the perfect summer place and day for time travel.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-32997227984212448922023-04-30T16:24:00.004-04:002023-04-30T16:30:58.432-04:00Seeking Photos for the 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Calendar!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrH_KyUu6ky4bmih5Q6V1GUG6gIRwU5Bz9gC3L5okorDK66vmOPksbi3Vvn5CKMGjaFdUU6WW5R2RXjDJkgxjv88oc6LcevT6qY1QNWHEmzdC5gVkMTatvhoj0VT4qb5FyxE-lJjDWlKVWmG0j-ZIoVF5Ej6xuVXNnIVZq_MQGQ2Epf3Ha6Uqkav-1A/s10200/9-SEPT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10200" data-original-width="6600" height="773" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrH_KyUu6ky4bmih5Q6V1GUG6gIRwU5Bz9gC3L5okorDK66vmOPksbi3Vvn5CKMGjaFdUU6WW5R2RXjDJkgxjv88oc6LcevT6qY1QNWHEmzdC5gVkMTatvhoj0VT4qb5FyxE-lJjDWlKVWmG0j-ZIoVF5Ej6xuVXNnIVZq_MQGQ2Epf3Ha6Uqkav-1A/w500-h773/9-SEPT-Spread-INDD-with%20bounding%20box.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your photo could be featured (kind of like this) in our 2024 calendar!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: inherit;">CALLING ALL AMHERST and WESTERN MASS PHOTOGRAPHERS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are once again seeking photo submissions for our annual Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">From our ever-changing cloud canopy to our beautiful valley, with endless trails and side roads, wide open spaces, quiet ponds, and woods (lovely, dark and deep), there is so much to explore.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As in past years, our 2024 calendar will once again feature monthly photos taken by 12 different photographers. And you don't have to limit yourself to Amherst locations - we are accepting photos taken across the Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: inherit;">So now is your chance to share your favorite scenes with calendar fans far and wide! Start flipping through your photo collection – or grab your camera, take to our scenic highways, byways and trails, and make some new memories. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got!</b><br />
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</b> <b style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Submission Guidelines</u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The deadline to submit is Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm. Submissions can be emailed or uploaded via your Google Drive to CloudsAmherst@gmail.com. Please enter "HITCA 2024 Calendar Photo Submission" in the subject line. Submit your highest resolution version. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Please include the following for each photo you submit:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Where the photo was taken and what scenic feature is depicted (please indicate if your location is Kestral Trust conserved land)</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Who is in the photo, unless it's a crowd scene or taken from a distance</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Photographer's name</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Your contact information</span></b></li></ul><b>If your photo is selected, you will be asked to</b><b> provide additional information, including a written comment about your photo to be included in the 2024 calendar.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>All submissions must be taken in Western Massachusetts.</u></b> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Priority will be given to photos showing locations in Amherst, other sites across the Pioneer Valley, and Kestral Trust conserved land locations</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Your photo should evoke the seasons and the intersection of life and weather. In addition to those qualities, if your photo also captures one or more of these themes it will get special consideration:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unique renderings of iconic local landmarks (natural attractions, university/colleges, museums, popular scenic destinations, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conservation areas, including <a href="https://www.kestreltrust.org/conserve/lands/map/">Kestral Trust conserved lands</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clouds formations and weather phenomena (over or around the Pioneer Valley)</span></li>
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<div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://headinthecloudsamherst.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-on-submitting-photos-for-head-in.html"><b>Click HERE for additional tips on submitting winning Head in the Clouds Amherst photos</b></a>. Keep in mind that we cannot consider photos that are low resolution, low quality, or that contain inappropriate material.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Ideally your image should be at least 300 PPI, and we will not consider images below 200 PPI. (If in doubt, send your photo to us, and we will let you know.) </span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://headinthecloudsamherst.blogspot.com/2022/09/2023-head-in-clouds-amherst-wall.html">You can see our 2023 calendar, here</a>. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We welcome landscape oriented, color photos by professionals and amateurs</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. <u>And we’re also counting on friends of Head in the Clouds re-submitting photos you’ve already sent to us over the year - don't assume your photo is being considered just because you sent it to us at some other point in the past or we posted it to Facebook or the blog</u>. You can submit as many photos as you like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If your photo is selected for the 2024 calendar, you will receive a free calendar and reduced rates on any additional calendars you opt to purchase. All net proceeds from 2024 sales will be donated to the <a href="https://www.kestreltrust.org/">Kestral Land Trust</a>. </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-69892094349796115292023-03-14T11:40:00.006-04:002023-03-15T17:33:21.775-04:00Tale of Two Towns (in Western MA)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ4GhnJMjhj2314tNk3mVosCXuJtbYwZkZHj5vXwvoWrkgwFMFAqhn6YABRYylEKvf-dYIz_X3TXnOc809QJjb6ArjhqixY-t2-sv0rjciyT-vXnYqCkkZTZBvwCEld4e7wonbLD2T4eeRJQ4TE8ZMXAWhJeJLNQBbJcvFFmEOrpmof238Y_kqQypdg/s2048/335610425_617088006530840_7767899226829014502_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ4GhnJMjhj2314tNk3mVosCXuJtbYwZkZHj5vXwvoWrkgwFMFAqhn6YABRYylEKvf-dYIz_X3TXnOc809QJjb6ArjhqixY-t2-sv0rjciyT-vXnYqCkkZTZBvwCEld4e7wonbLD2T4eeRJQ4TE8ZMXAWhJeJLNQBbJcvFFmEOrpmof238Y_kqQypdg/w400-h300/335610425_617088006530840_7767899226829014502_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>North Amherst - 9 am, March 14 (2" of snow)<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>Photo by Sharon Vardatira</i></b></span></span></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8It4SZjnpNABbyyaJhGJLiEv5fjhnvwr_4Z4hdNocGUXDjcwKHq71iaWkDqwwPvvJs8jFdP4yxUSHBgHk7EFAyviQ5ySay9GRLzAtyRFGEdb93OVB-S1gLG9EHOdmSUniw6BU4Jg7C8Impl-P-yUHeoiyFyh2VzouNrj5llaTTe9oiqt6kqkPwlWDQ/s2048/Wolcott-3-14-23.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8It4SZjnpNABbyyaJhGJLiEv5fjhnvwr_4Z4hdNocGUXDjcwKHq71iaWkDqwwPvvJs8jFdP4yxUSHBgHk7EFAyviQ5ySay9GRLzAtyRFGEdb93OVB-S1gLG9EHOdmSUniw6BU4Jg7C8Impl-P-yUHeoiyFyh2VzouNrj5llaTTe9oiqt6kqkPwlWDQ/w240-h320/Wolcott-3-14-23.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAUBUltfZ7Vd5d4axBbZhDnvXkd7uFUDUnGxEggivP85mnP4sFvrBvAp-bWLujnzMJRGShmMORgNUhncmLEPsZ2xngLZndAwuB0RChhJE4t_1HnbjuTeMz3h4x8XIo4FZNl6mhrV5K4InduZAiITDM8ixsGjzeWkYLt91tbC9GZUgXaGQa4skXIRFwQ/s3000/IMG_1182.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAUBUltfZ7Vd5d4axBbZhDnvXkd7uFUDUnGxEggivP85mnP4sFvrBvAp-bWLujnzMJRGShmMORgNUhncmLEPsZ2xngLZndAwuB0RChhJE4t_1HnbjuTeMz3h4x8XIo4FZNl6mhrV5K4InduZAiITDM8ixsGjzeWkYLt91tbC9GZUgXaGQa4skXIRFwQ/w240-h320/IMG_1182.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><i>Hawley, MA - 7 am (first photo), 11 am (second photo)<br />Photos by Brittany Wolcott</i></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Tale of t<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">wo Western MA towns this morning:</span></b></span></div></div></div><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">- Photo 1: The view from North Amherst, where 2 inches of snow is bending branches to the ground (this does not bode well, though power is still humming at 9 am). And it continues to snow...</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">- Photo 2: Sent at 7:00 a.m. from "that friend in a hill town who always reports blockbuster amounts," (Brittany Wolcott, actually in Hawley, who is giddy with excitement even though they've been without power since 2 am).</span></div><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE at 11:00 AM</span></b><span style="color: #050505;"> from Brittany in Hawley (see yardstick photo #3, just added)!</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>UPDATE 11:11 AM</b> </span><span style="color: #050505;">- Power here in N. Amherst went out briefly for about 4 seconds. I am envisioning local folks suddenly lurching for their charging stations.</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE 12:45 PM</span></b><span style="color: #050505;"> - Temp has climbed to 34.3 F in North Amherst, just high enough to melt the snow off most power lines (thankfully before the second wave of snow, along with wind, this afternoon and evening). After a late morning lull, the snow has picked up again.</span></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE 12:45 PM </span></b><span style="color: #050505;">- Temp has climbed to 34.3 F in North Amherst, just high enough to melt the snow off most power lines (thankfully before the second wave of snow, along with wind arrives this afternoon and evening). After a late morning lull, the snow has picked up again.</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE 5:00 PM</span></b><span style="color: #050505;"> - Snow resumed early afternoon, now snowing steadily, with the temp dropping incrementally - it now stands at 32.9 F. Hard to gauge the total snowfall, as we had midday melting. Maybe about 3 inches altogether, with more like 2 inches still on the ground. Looks like we may well end up where the forecast predicted, in the 2-6 inch zone.</span></span></div><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE 8:33 PM</span></b><span style="color: #050505;"> - Friend in Hawley just measured 35" of snow. Still no power. She has taken refuge for the night with family members who have a generator! </span></span></div><div dir="auto"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">UPDATE 5:00 PM, Next Day (March 15):</span></b><span style="color: #050505;"> Friend in Hawley, at 1,000 feet, has 36+ inches of snow on the ground (drifts make it hard to tell exactly how much), and they just got their power back. In North Amherst, there's 1-2 inches of snow still on the ground (with some melting today). I was hoping for warmer and more thorough melting, but temps hung around 35 F, meaning the heavy/wet ground cover lingers.</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-91331992157545483272023-03-02T16:39:00.001-05:002023-03-02T16:39:43.186-05:00Foggy Morning<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2epmll8NXoKos88S0gsc6Wws6sERwHOrTQfao6P-xICrXwj0korLOZmpoPW7_G1K4QuctQbA0LWc7puF2vEIkAw-zvgl94QXtP8nQ3r23z5G3KCasOo95I4IgXdiXUtP4vhDypesi8YWInUCcWWhYWVV1VoVRTplTNkm-NORl06q3a-OnwGlIjmyIPA/s2050/Patten-foggy%20farmland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2050" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2epmll8NXoKos88S0gsc6Wws6sERwHOrTQfao6P-xICrXwj0korLOZmpoPW7_G1K4QuctQbA0LWc7puF2vEIkAw-zvgl94QXtP8nQ3r23z5G3KCasOo95I4IgXdiXUtP4vhDypesi8YWInUCcWWhYWVV1VoVRTplTNkm-NORl06q3a-OnwGlIjmyIPA/s600/Patten-foggy%20farmland.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy morning, Amherst MA ~<br />by Jim Patten</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The weather varies between heavy fog and pale sunshine; My thoughts follow the exact same process. </i> - Virginia Woolf</span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p></p><p>The sun is actually shining right now, for a welcome change. In other sights and sounds, many thanks to Jim Patten for sharing this foggy morning view, which he captured yesterday while driving to work in Amherst.</p><p>Jim will be familiar to many Head in the Clouds Amherst followers, as he has been sharing photos with us for a number of years now. One of his winter photos graced the cover of our 2021 wall calendar, and he landed in the calendar once again this year, with the featured photo for July. As always, thanks for generously sharing your work, Jim!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-35647455409421045462023-03-01T15:08:00.001-05:002023-03-01T15:08:26.433-05:00Clouds on Ice<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN28NVRQhdQMWOnSE-_UlOpoeCEFYg6BWMvwa15lm0j6YQvKR384ZVYC2ZRY1ja9Cb_f0TTh1StfC25JVeKY_MFoLYSt5V55q6Zw3AvbTwxnG7O8psBZ0LDz48VVfcE5o_1hjJi5WE3c3FoXazThJ4clRmT9hTLWUMvgH8hFkAbtNCkgJP_VcRZLk7aA/s1800/3-March-Szkotak-HadleyDikeTwo-ed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN28NVRQhdQMWOnSE-_UlOpoeCEFYg6BWMvwa15lm0j6YQvKR384ZVYC2ZRY1ja9Cb_f0TTh1StfC25JVeKY_MFoLYSt5V55q6Zw3AvbTwxnG7O8psBZ0LDz48VVfcE5o_1hjJi5WE3c3FoXazThJ4clRmT9hTLWUMvgH8hFkAbtNCkgJP_VcRZLk7aA/s600/3-March-Szkotak-HadleyDikeTwo-ed.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connecticut River from Dawson Conservation Area<br />North Lane, Hadley<br />Photo by Mandana Marsh </td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As a month that famously comes “in like a lion,” and goes “out like a lamb,” it’s always challenging to pick a single photo to match the mood of the month. For this year and the beginning of March, at least, we seem to have made the right choice. This photo of the Connecticut River – taken by Mandana Marsh from Dawson Conservation Area on North Lane, Hadley – is the featured photo for March in the 2023 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar. As Mandana notes, “The sweeping views of the river, fields and sky from the levee along North Lane in Hadley never disappoints. This winter scene fits a favorite quote of mine: ‘If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.’ ”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Winter turns to spring this month, so expect an entirely different view four weeks from now. As Mark Twain (and many others) have observed, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait a few minutes.”</span></p><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-59346323820251851642023-02-19T17:03:00.003-05:002023-02-19T17:05:00.641-05:00On (and under) Puffer's Pond - Winter Edition<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="282" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fHmy4aaBL9w" title="YouTube video player" width="500"></iframe></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was the scene at Puffer's Pond two weeks ago to the day. It was the Sunday after the deep freeze, and skaters had taken over the ice. One person was obstinately refusing to give up their ice fishing spot, but given the noise, one couldn't help but wonder if they were actually catching anything. A thaw followed over the next week, and the entire surface has since melted, save for a skin of very thin ice in one shady spot. By the end of last week, after it was no longer safe for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">people, but before the ice had completely melted, remnants of human activity were left strewn across the surface - water bottles and beer cans, a cooler, abandoned items of clothing, a plastic sled, and, most bizarrely, a sofa-sized metal frame. Since nothing was retrievable, I assume everything, including the sofa frame, is now at the bottom of the pond.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-69433659492094968832023-02-05T17:52:00.001-05:002023-02-05T17:52:15.505-05:00Gathering on ice<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3le334yyvgjTZBvdYkGIzk1KDy4Y3Bg_EHpv9bmtqY0aSQl76mKqSAaUlryiFvp6Ld_Qy3cE1H8NiKEREFzE1W_tXFNTx0ZuInjB6IX2yMHPjPPwqcAN3SVrAkNFQ13Xv2k5KQj_s9eilm8bZGfcyoJtE3mdDu2JZwHVFVyPTtK8aTryy4qDhCOlPWQ/s1064/Puffers%20Pond-2-5-2023-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1064" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3le334yyvgjTZBvdYkGIzk1KDy4Y3Bg_EHpv9bmtqY0aSQl76mKqSAaUlryiFvp6Ld_Qy3cE1H8NiKEREFzE1W_tXFNTx0ZuInjB6IX2yMHPjPPwqcAN3SVrAkNFQ13Xv2k5KQj_s9eilm8bZGfcyoJtE3mdDu2JZwHVFVyPTtK8aTryy4qDhCOlPWQ/w500-h375/Puffers%20Pond-2-5-2023-2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cushman Brook (near Puffer's Pond) - 2/5/2023<br />Photo by Sharon Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;">The last two days saw record-breaking cold in the area, with the temperature dipping to -14F overnight Friday into Saturday. To make matters worse, the wind was unyielding, whipping through the trees and driving wind chill readings down to -40F by pre-dawn on Saturday. In a season that has been unusually mild, it was something of a shock. Local residents were suddenly forced to think about warming up our cars, preventing pipes from freezing, and dressing in multiple layers to </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit;">walk our dogs. </span></p></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturday, while many were happy to hunker down and wait for temperatures to stop breaking low records, this was the moment the most intrepid ice fishers and skaters had been waiting for all winter. With temps hovering around 12F (albeit above zero) by the afternoon, Puffer's Pond was the place to be for about 30 people, many of whom were spread out over the ice, either ice fishing or playing hockey in twos and threes. While this is a fairly typical sight at Puffer's in the coldest winter months, our current lack of snow made it unique. No one had to contend with snowpack - the skaters didn't even have to clear a "field" for their game. And with all the hiking paths snow- and ice-free, cell phone photographers had no trouble capturing water flowing through, under, and around layers of ice gripping Cushman Brook. And, still, at 12F, without hand and foot warmers, I did not linger long. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By today, the temperature had climbed to the mid-40s, and Puffer's was jumping. Taking advantage of the combination of higher temps and still-solid ice, skaters far outnumbered the last few determined ice fishers by the afternoon. The clack of hockey sticks and metal grinding over ice reverberated across the pond. Roadside parking was hard to come by. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I turned in the other direction, taking the Kevin Flood Trail away from the noise. The few people I passed, almost all walking dogs, were unusually friendly. We greeted each other, remarking on the weather and the scenery. Some version of "oh, isn't it beautiful?" was shared repeatedly between strangers. I wasn't sure if "beautiful" was the right word exactly - the woods are abundant with barren trees and decaying leaves. But there was something about the afternoon - maybe just that we were outside, senses on alert, taking it all in, and not freezing.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The temps will be rising quickly in the coming week, climbing even to 50F in the days to come. So, I'm guessing the skaters and ice fishers won't be here much longer.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-73818724242713957452023-02-05T14:48:00.000-05:002023-02-05T14:48:03.633-05:00Winter Magic<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpWvGYo58KM-VE1gq1bVaOU7wlSe3wv9WvqmSHnfljhZ1QU_Ga9nlP83ujBoJZZra8jmLC0lw-Xu0AF2SF1ONOLOk_CkBrXzi3nYZtJ32Mp8T-blcXB21f-B-BRUvABwFVdUyAW2H7xy3H1H78mLuX3Fr95FYzg5MpFCCJthy7P3mY4L65k6E5NM8cA/s3625/2-Feb-LRepasky-07-Snowfall.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2435" data-original-width="3625" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpWvGYo58KM-VE1gq1bVaOU7wlSe3wv9WvqmSHnfljhZ1QU_Ga9nlP83ujBoJZZra8jmLC0lw-Xu0AF2SF1ONOLOk_CkBrXzi3nYZtJ32Mp8T-blcXB21f-B-BRUvABwFVdUyAW2H7xy3H1H78mLuX3Fr95FYzg5MpFCCJthy7P3mY4L65k6E5NM8cA/w500-h336/2-Feb-LRepasky-07-Snowfall.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Winsor Dam Road, Quabbin Reservoir in
Belchertown MA<br />Photo by Linda Repasky</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Snow
scenes like this have been exceedingly rare around the Pioneer Valley so far
this winter, but disappointed snow lovers can hang onto the fact that February
is typically our snowiest month of the year. In 2015, Amherst recorded 63.4” of
snow through March 20, most of which fell in February. Although 2023 looks like
it may be breaking records for “low snowfall,” all is not yet lost - February
has just begun!</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This
photo - taken by Linda Repasky along Winsor Dam Road at Quabbin Reservoir in
Belchertown - is the featured photo for February in the 2023 Head in the Clouds
Amherst wall calendar. As Linda herself reflects, “This scene exemplifies the
perfect New England snowfall: awakening to just enough snowy goodness to
beautifully transform the landscape and yet not so much that our everyday lives
are hindered. Snow is winter’s magic ingredient!” Here’s to a little more of
that “magic ingredient” this month, before winter gives way to spring.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-9103540601752472312023-02-03T17:29:00.001-05:002023-02-03T17:29:13.065-05:00Subzero<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zJA9pQTRLR9zR4NcHK14KQLTxXexEf5H0os8bGBSRtWM4SwMpT-C14nuIvq03TnbM7kMYz-b-We71FLyF9Y_6VjHZ54_kF4CBHATCQd_HG8G7fED6ggLKq9TeLP3WKWtrMBTz_qBtCKHFFqfn1yMQviNFJNwwVeGCkxBBH3Qt0v1wShrtzxbgwdvlA/s1021/Subzero-2-3-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="766" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zJA9pQTRLR9zR4NcHK14KQLTxXexEf5H0os8bGBSRtWM4SwMpT-C14nuIvq03TnbM7kMYz-b-We71FLyF9Y_6VjHZ54_kF4CBHATCQd_HG8G7fED6ggLKq9TeLP3WKWtrMBTz_qBtCKHFFqfn1yMQviNFJNwwVeGCkxBBH3Qt0v1wShrtzxbgwdvlA/w300-h400/Subzero-2-3-2023.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subzero - Feb 3, 2023<br />Amherst, MA<br />Photo by S. Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table></p><blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."</span></b></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thought I'd challenge that saying today, but, um, actually.... best to dress in layers and cover up everything. When a wind gust finds bare skin, the cold is piercing. (Though I have to admit that my long-time, fave LL Bean bomber hat kept my head perfectly warm. When it's this cold outside, I could care less about "looking pretty" - if it keeps me warm, I am all in!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right now, of course, at least the sun is shining. Not so tonight, when temps drop to record-breaking lows. Indeed, Hampshire County and other areas across Massachusetts are currently under a WIND CHILL WARNING through 10 AM SATURDAY. Expect dangerously cold wind chills as low as -40 F. And, in case you were wondering, wind chillls that low can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Temps this cold can also freeze pipes, of course. If your home is at risk, here's some basic guidance about how to protect your pipes tonight:</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you haven't already done so, shut off outdoor water sources.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Locate your internal water shut off valve and make sure you know how to use it. (If your pipes burst, you will need to turn off your water.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep heat at 55 degrees or higher and close entries to unheated spaces to prevent frozen pipes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you haven't already done so, insulate exposed pipes using blankets, Styrofoam or swimming pool water noodles. This could include pipes in unheated areas like attics, garages or kitchen cabinets.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight, close all doors and windows, including garage doors.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set your faucets to a slow drip for interior pipes to keep water flowing and prevent freezing pipes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leave cabinet doors open under sinks to help keep pipes at a warmer temperature.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regularly check water sources where frozen pipes are more likely, like around sinks and bathrooms.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you lose power: run your faucets at a fast drip until you get a temporary source of heat going. If the power will be out for an extended period of time, shut off the main water valve and then open and run the water until the pipes are empty.</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay safe, everyone, and if you have to go out, make sure you have really good clothes for it. Better yet, find a good book, a fireplace (or the equivalent), and hunker down for a cozy evening inside! </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-31342135875697946572023-01-01T16:10:00.001-05:002023-01-01T16:12:27.004-05:00Snow People<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn2EIvdCHzGwpvK7tr1mKE52NciR6YYpPVbbg0EYhvv66i7ybv2n25mBJedHgEpzgAXoVg4nFycs4lIW4vs4iSEf6dNqaTLy_tFsRnZoL5jbCYZ4ZTa18aYKP277AjoPchCwJbn_MJoY72DdMLIXf8tebjjeGI83IRKr9T6fETPvEqcRhvJ2xeI075w/s4032/1-Jan-AChurchill%20Happy%20Valley-ed3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn2EIvdCHzGwpvK7tr1mKE52NciR6YYpPVbbg0EYhvv66i7ybv2n25mBJedHgEpzgAXoVg4nFycs4lIW4vs4iSEf6dNqaTLy_tFsRnZoL5jbCYZ4ZTa18aYKP277AjoPchCwJbn_MJoY72DdMLIXf8tebjjeGI83IRKr9T6fETPvEqcRhvJ2xeI075w/w500-h375/1-Jan-AChurchill%20Happy%20Valley-ed3.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silvio O. Conte Nature Trail, Hadley MA ~ Photo by Andy Churchill</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to the new year, cloud spotters! </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This sweet scene - and featured photo for January in our 2023 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calender - was captured by Andy Churchill. As Andy observed of the moment, "Such expressive snow people (kudos to the makers!), reflected my joy and appreciation for living in such a beautiful place." We could not agree more!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-42758220765679482702023-01-01T15:05:00.001-05:002023-01-01T15:48:18.261-05:00Life is a Journey<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPL03lM9urBtRIdZkqDs9SbiLNl9FTlVoHGogqEebbgRZK0IkTzrEbRNn-6FUnRZeOyRFjqZzTodWopj8xaaY7e-25UFb8O_mRt8YJojN0A9UYODG0jb1kuYKnRpaKBhBfr5jvGKFkxiRF0q9MEmcy_7HNvDrBltQlpcxr62vr3qQ0DsucAGtY1cUtw/s1454/Mather%20Point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1454" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPL03lM9urBtRIdZkqDs9SbiLNl9FTlVoHGogqEebbgRZK0IkTzrEbRNn-6FUnRZeOyRFjqZzTodWopj8xaaY7e-25UFb8O_mRt8YJojN0A9UYODG0jb1kuYKnRpaKBhBfr5jvGKFkxiRF0q9MEmcy_7HNvDrBltQlpcxr62vr3qQ0DsucAGtY1cUtw/w400-h225/Mather%20Point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Mather Point, Grand Canyon<br />Photo by National Park Service</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over 30
years ago, while visiting the Grand Canyon, I observed something so
extraordinary the memory of it has never faded after all these years. And I am
not just referring to the experience of seeing one of the seven natural wonders
of the world, though the view is absolutely wrapped up in my memory. That
once-in-a-lifetime event also forever reinforced a crucial life lesson (and
Ralph Waldo Emerson quote): </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life is a journey, not a destination</span>.</i></span></p><p></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the
time of the Grand Canyon experience, my wife and I, along with our two cats,
were in the midst of a four month cross-country camping trip. We mostly stayed
in National Parks, along with the occasional Motel 6 overnight break for hot
water and real beds. It was mid-May when we reached the Grand Canyon. We had
already passed through the Blue Ridge Mountains (where we saw the Weather
Channel for the first time), New Orleans and the Bayou (where we dodged
incessant mosquitoes), and Big Bend National Park in Texas (where our tent
collapsed at night during a massive thunderstorm). We bought a pup tent the
next day and continued our drive to Mather Campground on the South Rim of Grand
Canyon National Park</span>.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first
thing we noticed about our stopping place was the light dusting of snow on the
ground. Somehow in all our planning, we hadn’t checked on possible weather
conditions in mid-May. Only mildly perturbed, we pitched our pup tent, set up
camp, and delighted our neighbors with the unexpected sight of cats walking on
leashes. Later, wrapped like mummies in our sleeping bags in our tiny tent, we
commented that our cats – who were confined at night to the car – were living
in the comparative equivalent of a castle</span>.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By 2 am,
the tent was dripping on us, our sleeping bags were soaked, and we were
freezing. (Thus we learned about tent condensation.) Desperate for dry and
warm, we relocated to the car, but instead of trying to go back to sleep, we
decided to drive to Mather Point, a South Rim visitor lookout we had passed
earlier that day while enroute to the campground.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With no
one around, we were able to drive to the furthest edge of the lookout. The moon
was new, and we could see nothing – no canyon, no cliffs, and certainly not the
Colorado River that we knew was somewhere below all of it.</span></div>
<p class="BasicParagraph" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXzVM1U1GvJ5bWvLcOj8sNQbzjK5d6N2XA-GynU5R9pG4Lz680q2zEfB4Y9DEexzo3zBxilOOAUBZSKx6_76smMDPhrCF5DPzy42wpIcblzrZ9RouBa9FbeR79d7TtYOq3YUH4thHcwWDZKFFOmcLYBNRiP8x244kOI6kxASzyR3O_jJL5w3OAI9e1w/s1776/Joshua-8-31-2019.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1776" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXzVM1U1GvJ5bWvLcOj8sNQbzjK5d6N2XA-GynU5R9pG4Lz680q2zEfB4Y9DEexzo3zBxilOOAUBZSKx6_76smMDPhrCF5DPzy42wpIcblzrZ9RouBa9FbeR79d7TtYOq3YUH4thHcwWDZKFFOmcLYBNRiP8x244kOI6kxASzyR3O_jJL5w3OAI9e1w/s320/Joshua-8-31-2019.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo by Joshua Wolfsun</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We turned off our engine and headlights and looked toward the sky. As
our eyes adjusted to the inky black, we were able to see, all around us, a
dazzling expanse of stars stretching from one horizon to the next. There was the
Milky Way, the Summer Triangle rising in the east, Cygnus and Cassiopeia, and
dozens of shooting stars, silently crisscrossing the night. After some hours (we
lost all sense of time), the sky began to lighten almost imperceptibly. And
then, to our amazement, the canyon came slowly, slowly into view – at first
just the barest hint of light and shadow, a pink blush off the cliffs, followed
by deepening shades of orange and purple as the immense, astonishing landscape
of raised plateaus and deep basins emerged in soft relief. Another hour passed,
and the night gave way to the dawn, and we had to catch our breath at the
beauty below us and all around. The silence, the turning of the Earth, the
sheer age of the place, six million years, and all the peoples who had
inhabited this sacred space – we could feel all of that in the passage of night
into day and all the hours we had kept watch</span>.</span></div><p></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were mesmerized</span>.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At 5:20 am, a tour bus drove into the lot, parked, and opened its door.
Dozens of passengers stepped onto the walkway and turned to the east. “The sun
rises in five minutes,” announced the guide. People readied their cameras as
the first rays of sun crested the furthest mesa. Five minutes later, the group
piled back into the bus and departed.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was utterly bewildered. “What just happened?”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“They missed all of it,” my wife observed.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">F</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">rom our multi-hours viewing perspective, the moment of sunrise was
part of a greater unveiling, not more remarkable than the Milky Way, the
meteors, the tendrils of first light.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We stayed for another hour, watched until the canyon shadows gave way
to the full desert sun. In those pre-cell phone days, we didn’t even bother to
rummage through our backpacks to pull out a camera.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beauty is all around. In places like the Grand Canyon or when hiking
the Robert Frost Trail or watching storm clouds approach from the Berkshires,
the most transcendent experiences are not a destination, not a point in time,
but a continuum, a journey. When I
returned to our sodden pup tent that morning all those years ago, I was a
changed person.</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: inherit;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZyopBcXcDqXHdSHhZJYcFSDG-9vmbkkyH6viBMljXeNP95qj37kRddzKdOTmRd_rcR-LcjQE7U8_E8cY7SI8WOAULSng74cGa0Eq9A89kE2c2bH7BHaaanmboZzxOr4GzPZpmw5t0kiCMSEVhCgz4Z8upf2x_63JKwNA7oUClPAkfTXagUqXDvqSA/s2490/Hay%20bales%20and%20sunset-Sunderland-12MB.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2490" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiZyopBcXcDqXHdSHhZJYcFSDG-9vmbkkyH6viBMljXeNP95qj37kRddzKdOTmRd_rcR-LcjQE7U8_E8cY7SI8WOAULSng74cGa0Eq9A89kE2c2bH7BHaaanmboZzxOr4GzPZpmw5t0kiCMSEVhCgz4Z8upf2x_63JKwNA7oUClPAkfTXagUqXDvqSA/s320/Hay%20bales%20and%20sunset-Sunderland-12MB.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hay Bales at Sunset ~ Sunderland MA<br />Photo by Sharon Vardatira</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cloud spotters, of course, understand all this. Because no two clouds
are ever alike, there is never a “one and done” to the experience. We wait, and
watch, and project ourselves into the clouds, travel with them, or simply step
back and breath deep. For those of you who are new to Head in the Clouds
Amherst, welcome to our community of poets, artists, and dreamers. And for those of you who have walked with us
before, make yourself comfortable.</span></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The view is endless.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84245110546493245.post-47979219000302757532022-12-11T20:40:00.000-05:002022-12-11T20:40:01.290-05:00Do you hear the snow?<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp8gj4WGza2Erg3qp1dlzR3KoAk2QiJ3cmtGb-u5Y6zRxaRi_DETxH4TsKBMLnF2eHbahtPVqq_p3EHDp4LfYVcYM5KN2UA8YrajOucR5-9BhWCTegNbshBuke6Ort0M6P-3tLLKOT7_XRTZ8pGReMqt9IG879SyjnqKgL4GMg1ENXlNY2tnDO62nAQ/s700/Jakub%20Schikaneder-Street%20in%20the%20Evening%20Prague-1875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="485" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp8gj4WGza2Erg3qp1dlzR3KoAk2QiJ3cmtGb-u5Y6zRxaRi_DETxH4TsKBMLnF2eHbahtPVqq_p3EHDp4LfYVcYM5KN2UA8YrajOucR5-9BhWCTegNbshBuke6Ort0M6P-3tLLKOT7_XRTZ8pGReMqt9IG879SyjnqKgL4GMg1ENXlNY2tnDO62nAQ/w445-h640/Jakub%20Schikaneder-Street%20in%20the%20Evening%20Prague-1875.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Do you hear the snow against the window-panes, Kitty? How nice and soft it sounds! Just as if some one was kissing the window all over outside. I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently?</i></span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> ― Lewis Carroll, <i>Through the Looking Glass</i> </span></div></div></blockquote><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This seemed the perfect painting for a night like this. Different time and a world away, but we all recognize the feeling despite the intervening years and miles.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">By the way, we have exactly nine 2023 Head in the Clouds Amherst calendars left. Order here for delivery by mail: <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" fg_scanned="1" href="https://etsy.me/2RHv20L?fbclid=IwAR2KtNcnnA4Z7uEgNDl_kWns9OboHYFIQJ7stKNIPqDxN8Min9rufCX-Uds" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://etsy.me/2RHv20L</a> </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Calendars are mailed within 24 hours for 1-3 day delivery.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0