Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Thursday 28 March 2013

Moonshine and Morning Glow

 

 

Last night  there was a Full Moon, but by the time I  realised it was shining brightly, all I saw was one big bright orb in a dark sky. No trees for contrast. This morning ,there it was, but hiding behind the trees very fast, still quite dark outside.

framed, sky with the low moon

Japanese Anemone 

The Japanese Anemone plants were all pulled out, but somehow they still manage to survive, and shone so vividly in the early morning.They are so pretty, and wave gently in the wind.

The morning sky has been beautiful lately, and although I am not able to get a full view, this is from our back lawn. There is a fine vapour trail. running from top left to middle lower right, as I took lots of photos, it gradually dispersed. It is hard to distinguish from the paler clouds,as the once thinner line spread out wider, and turned to fluff.

More morning colours

This one apple tree at Piropiro must have been part of the orchard when families lived there, there  were houses, a school, and a sawmilling operation. An isolated area, and hard for any wife, cold, with snow in the winter, and very hot summer days. No modern convenience store, probably a copper and tubs to do the laundry with a hand wringer, an open fire, where the heat flew up the chimney, maybe a coal range for cooking. Last year there were so many apples, this year I saw maybe 4, all small, not ripened at all. Such is the season of drought.

More information about the area and cycle trail can be found at

www.timbertrail.net.nz

One tree at Piropiro

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Night’s clouds cover the pink of dawn,

till the sunrise shows its full beauty”

Greetings from Jean

19 comments:

Carol Mattingly said...

Beautiful moon and sky. Hope all is well.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Great photos! Hope you have a lovely Easter.

FlowerLady

Nancy J said...

Hi Carol, yes we are well, longing for some rain. I need to have more practice at moon shots,it was what I call borderline to publish!!But I did like the apple tree one.Lorraine, we will be home, a few quiet days I guess.No chocs at all, maybe a Hot Cross Bun. Fond wishes and special thoughts to you at Easter.. with greetings from Jean.

Horst in Edmonton said...

Happy Easter Nancy. Sometimes apple trees have a 2 year cycle. First year great harvest next year only a few apples.

Julie Fukuda said...

Somehow my sky pictures are never that successful. Often the background is so much less flattering too.
This year the moisture seems to be falling elsewhere in the form of snow.

Nancy J said...

Thanks Horst, Easter Greetings to you and yours too. 2 year cycle, I didn't know, maybe that is the real reason, or maybe they had all been eaten before we arrived. Julie, I struggled with the moon photo, too light, then too dark, and I knew that there was so little time before it went down below the trees. Snow, yes everywhere, the UK is under a huge amount, sheep in huge deep drifts.Some clever dogs sniff them out for the farmers to then dive deeply under and tug the poor bedraggled snow-laden animal up , I guess they make their own little igloo-shelter, bit like a snow cave. Easter wishes to you and yours. From Jean.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What lovely photos! I love the full moon, and need to get out to try and get some pictures of the moon-rise, but like you, I forget until it's too late.

But I hope all is well in your corner of the world--I've missed being able to visit you!!

Nancy J said...

Kim, all is well, you are so busy with Carl,& Cissy (update is encouraging), I now have new settings to try for another moon, but we have had cloud, and fog.Thanks for your lovely, encouraging words, Greetings from Jean

Jenny K. Lyon said...

Just beautiful!! Love the anemones in the early morning light.

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Nancy said...

Thank you so much for your kind comments Nancy -- none of us are spring chicks anymore, not even my spring chicks which are growing way fast!


Love your full moon photo -- they are so very difficult to capture.

Wishing you a peaceful Easter weekend. xo

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Jim said...

Water sure is vital for all living things. A number of places around the globe are having drought conditions.
Beautiful sunrise Jean. You must be 'up with the birds'! Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

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Lindsjö taxar said...

Great Pictures .......we had too a Beautiful moon yesterday, Happy Easter

Tanya said...

Beautiful photos!

Brian King said...

Beautiful shots, Nancy! Love the moon and the colors in the other sky shot! That lone tree is cool, too!

Nancy J said...

Ta, Lindsjo, Tanya and Brian, the moon shot was almost a fluke, I missed it the night before, and had little time to get this before the trees hid it. Brian, the apple tree, my favourite of all my holiday shots, your comments are so appreciated.( I read your profile!!) Greetings from Jean

fromsophiesview said...

Drought is so very difficult to comprehend because we have never experienced it here in Nova Scotia, only one summer 20 years ago that was overly warm. SO sorry you have to deal with this.
Love the sky with the trailing wisps. When one sees something like this and you have your camera all of the sudden it's 'Quick click' those pictures. Can't wait to see them on the computer!
You know I really like the moon picture so much...the siluohette of trees...mmmm!! Ron