Sky

How often do we find ourselves looking at the sky -- how many times in a day, a week, a lifetime?  The sky just draws our eye up and out.  In all of its many moods, it seems to fascinate us.

 Highlands, North Carolina

Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina

Bellows Mill, Bedfordshire, England

 When I used to work inside an office building, I remember how people were often drawn to the windows; be it someone's office window or the big glass window of a lobby, everyone wanted to see "out" -- see what's going on out there.  Does it look like rain?  Will I have to walk to my car in the rain or drive home in the rain?  Or could those heavy, low-hanging clouds be snow clouds?  Or simply...we know it's a gorgeous day outside and we just long to get a glimpse of that blue sky and sunshine.

I love that the sky appears different in different parts of the world.  The state of Montana is known as "Big Sky Country."  What does that mean?  I think it must mean that the sky looks huge and maybe endless because there aren't a lot of forests or skyscrapers to impede one's view of the sky?  I've read that in New Mexico, the flatness of the desert terrain can stretch miles toward the distant mountain ranges; but the air is so clear and light -- almost weightless -- those mountains can appear much closer to the naked eye -- as if they were easily within walking distance.

Our sky is not so much like that in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  We have rolling hills and lots of trees, and yes, some skyscrapers.  We also have a Carolina blue sky.  Even though Mr. Forest Manor and most of his family are N.C. State graduates, we still love our Carolina blue sky.  :)

Our Tulip Magnolia tree in March.

Mary at Little Red House has given us a word prompt of sky for today's "Thursday's Inspiration."  I've pulled from some of my photo archives to find sky images to share.

We took some pictures in nearby Old Salem around dusk one evening last year, and we were there long enough to capture the changes in the sky before it was completely dark.

Almost the blue hour below...

What does the sky look like in your part of the world today?

I hope you'll join us at Mary's Little Red House for Thursday's Inspiration.  Mary is such a talented photographer, and you'll see many other talented bloggers there, as well.  Thanks so much for reading House at Forest Manor; I hope you'll leave a comment so I'll know you were here.  Your visits and comments make my day!

Denise