How to celebrate Cloud Appreciation Day on September 15! (Yes, YOU!)

Clouds over Hadley Farms
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

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 https://www.memorycloudatlas.org/

#cloudappreciationday

"Never mind, it's all under water now."

Photo: Mountain View Farm looks like they were heading
for a beautiful crop of peppers before the flood.

Re-posting this from Simple Gifts Farm in North Amherst. It's been a season (and the season is hardly over).

FLOOD DAMAGE RELIEF EFFORTS

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.

Linked below are opportunities to donate to some of our farmer friends that have been flooded; please do what you can to support them.  

• Natural Roots Farm: https://gofund.me/d0f53dd2
• Grow Food Northampton: https://www.growfoodnorthampton.org/ways-to-help-with-flood-recovery/
• Song Sparrow Farm: https://www.gofundme.com/f/song-sparrow-farm-flood-recovery-fund
• Mountain View Farm: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mountain-view-farm-flood-damage-fund
• Stone Soup Farm: https://www.stonesoupfarmcoop.com/

Yellow Tuesday & Scarlet Sunset

The Scarlet Sunset
by Joseph Mallord William Turner, c. 1830-40

"Yesterday Boston was shrouded, and nature's gloom soon infusing itself into the hearts of all made it a day long to be remembered.

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. 

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.

[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. 

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."

Excerpted from The Boston Globe, September 7, 1881 (Yellow Tuesday) 

Summer Solstice Time Travel

Summer Solstice at the UMass Sunwheel - Amherst MA
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

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.

Seeking Photos for the 2024 Head in the Clouds Amherst Calendar!

Your photo could be featured (kind of like this) in our 2024 calendar!

CALLING ALL AMHERST and WESTERN MASS PHOTOGRAPHERS

We are once again seeking photo submissions for our annual Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar. 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.

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. 

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!

Submission Guidelines

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. 

Please include the following for each photo you submit:

• Where the photo was taken and what scenic feature is depicted (please indicate if your location is Kestral Trust conserved land)
• Who is in the photo, unless it's a crowd scene or taken from a distance
• Photographer's name
• Your contact information

If your photo is selected, you will be asked to provide additional information, including a written comment about your photo to be included in the 2024 calendar.

All submissions must be taken in Western Massachusetts. Priority will be given to photos showing locations in Amherst, other sites across the Pioneer Valley, and Kestral Trust conserved land locations. 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:

• Unique renderings of iconic local landmarks (natural attractions, university/colleges, museums, popular scenic destinations, etc.)
• Conservation areas, including Kestral Trust conserved lands
• Clouds formations and weather phenomena (over or around the Pioneer Valley)

Click HERE for additional tips on submitting winning Head in the Clouds Amherst photos. Keep in mind that we cannot consider photos that are low resolution, low quality, or that contain inappropriate material. 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.) You can see our 2023 calendar, here. 

We welcome landscape oriented, color photos by professionals and amateurs. 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. You can submit as many photos as you like.

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 Kestral Land Trust.  

Tips on Submitting Winning Photos for the Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar

2018 Calendar Cover Photo (by Joshua Wolfsun)
* This photo met just about every criteria for a featured photo:
- local landmark (the Amherst Common)
- seasonal (snow on the ground, winter feel)   - clouds
- captures a familiar location in a unique way

The response to our call for photos has been growing each year, and it's a thrill to open every email and be treated to such a wealth of beautiful local scenes. We've been told more than once that each year's calendar is even more exquisite than the last!

Although we receive plenty of really imaginative and beautiful submissions, for a variety of reasons many are not quite right for this calendar. So as you are considering what photos to submit, please keep these pointers in mind: 

1. Photos must depict Western Massachusetts, with special consideration given to photos of Amherst and the Pioneer Valley. In recent years, about half of each calendar's photos have shown Amherst locations, with the rest capturing other scenes across Western Mass. This means the odds of your photo being selected are better if it depicts an Amherst scene.
2. Tell it slant. In the context of photography, we refer to this line from a poem by Emily Dickinson, "Tell all the truth, but tell it slant," to describe capturing an image from an unexpected angle or using light and shadow to create visual interest and tell a story. Essentially, we look for photos that add a unique perspective or twist to a shot that makes it more interesting and compelling. For example, to "tell it slant" while doing a landscape of a barn, take a creative approach to framing and composition - experiment with different angles and vantage points to create an unusual or unexpected perspective. Consider how to use clouds as a backdrop for the barn, exaggerating their size or creating a dramatic effect. Alternatively, use the clouds to play with contrast and shadow, creating unique patterns of light and dark across the landscape. 
3. Diversity of scenes. We like to show different aspects of the local area, and this year special consideration will be given to photos that include The Homestead, The Evergreens, Lilacland, or Sweetser Park “A Poetic Dialogue” silhouettes. We receive many more landscapes (farms, ponds, trails, etc.) than photos of tourist destinations, historic landmarks, colleges/universities, etc. Your chances of being included increase if you are able to capture a landmark in a "tell it slant" way.
4. Evoke a season. Every calendar features three photos for each season. Our April and May featured photos will be more springlike, while October will be a fall scene. Because we receive many more fall photos than any other season, your odds of being selected increase if you submit a variety of seasons. Spring and winter are almost always underrepresented. 
5. Weather and clouds are a plus. Even though we are "in the clouds," we do not require all the featured photos to have clouds, and ideally the photo won't be just clouds (though we routinely break this rule for an outstanding or otherworldly cloud photo.)
6. Main subject should be the place. People and pets in the photo are fine as long as they aren't the focus. No portraits, close ups of groups of people, or crowd shots. The main subject needs to be the setting around any people or pets. Since the first calendar ten years ago, less than a handful of photos with people have been featured.
7. Avoid extreme close-ups. While close-ups can be beautiful, they usually don't convey a sense of place. We routinely reject close-ups of flowers, insects, birds, and trees. For example, instead of sending us a close-up of a lilac branch taken at Lilacland (which doesn't say "Amherst" - it could have been taken anywhere), pull back on that shot to show lilac bushes blooming against the hill and the art gallery beyond. 
8. Check out our calendars from past years, and consider ways to vary the subject: 2024 Calendar; 2023 Calendar; 2021 Calendar; 2020 Calendar; 2019 Calendar; 2018 Calendar; 2017 Calendar; 2016 Calendar; 2015 Calendar; 2014 Calendar 
9. Landscape orientation. Due to the layout of the calendar, your photo submissions must be landscape orientation (photo is wider than it is tall). Photos in portrait orientation (photo is taller than it is wide) will not be considered. 
10. Go easy on Photoshop. As you will see when you look through past featured photos, we strongly prefer realistic renderings of nature. By all means, use photo-editing to get the best out of your shot, but please stop before you turn an otherwise good photo into a super-saturated, surreal, color-soaked extra-terrestrial planet. In general, less is more when it comes to color adjusting, exposure, contrast, and saturation. We do know that some phone cameras colorize photos automatically - if that's the case, we can help you undo what's been done. Photos that are AI generated will not be accepted.

In general, every featured photo will have viewers seeing and feeling our local area in the photos. It's not necessary that the places featured be recognizable, but the photos should convey a feel for Amherst and Western Massachusetts, the nature around us, the sky, or those locations anyone passing through might recognize or feel drawn to visit. One of the greatest compliments we get is when former residents tell us this calendar makes them feel like they are home again. 

Can't wait to see what you have. Full guidelines on submitting photos can be found here.

Tale of Two Towns (in Western MA)

North Amherst - 9 am, March 14 (2" of snow)
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

Hawley, MA - 7 am (first photo), 11 am (second photo)
Photos by Brittany Wolcott

Tale of two Western MA towns this morning:

- 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...

- 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).

UPDATE at 11:00 AM from Brittany in Hawley (see yardstick photo #3, just added)!

UPDATE 11:11 AM - Power here in N. Amherst went out briefly for about 4 seconds. I am envisioning local folks suddenly lurching for their charging stations.

UPDATE 12:45 PM - 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.

UPDATE 12:45 PM - 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.

UPDATE 5:00 PM - 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.

UPDATE 8:33 PM - 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!

UPDATE 5:00 PM, Next Day (March 15): 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.

Foggy Morning

Foggy morning, Amherst MA ~
by Jim Patten

The weather varies between heavy fog and pale sunshine; My thoughts follow the exact same process.                                                                                 - Virginia Woolf

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.

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!

Clouds on Ice

Connecticut River from Dawson Conservation Area
North Lane, Hadley
Photo by Mandana Marsh 

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.’ ”

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.”

On (and under) Puffer's Pond - Winter Edition

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 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.

Gathering on ice

Cushman Brook (near Puffer's Pond) - 2/5/2023
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

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 walk our dogs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Winter Magic

Winsor Dam Road, Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown MA
Photo by Linda Repasky

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!

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.

Subzero

Subzero - Feb 3, 2023
Amherst, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira

"There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."

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!)

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.

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:

1. If you haven't already done so, shut off outdoor water sources.
2. 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.)
3. Keep heat at 55 degrees or higher and close entries to unheated spaces to prevent frozen pipes.
4. 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.
5. Tonight, close all doors and windows, including garage doors.
6. Set your faucets to a slow drip for interior pipes to keep water flowing and prevent freezing pipes.
7. Leave cabinet doors open under sinks to help keep pipes at a warmer temperature.
8. Regularly check water sources where frozen pipes are more likely, like around sinks and bathrooms.
9. 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.

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! 

Snow People

Silvio O. Conte Nature Trail, Hadley MA ~ Photo by Andy Churchill

Welcome to the new year, cloud spotters! 

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!