The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, April 16, 2009

Graupel and grouper

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Our hosts: Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy
SKY WATCH FRIDAY (click the word to link and participate!) Thanks to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us!Just before leaving stage 1 of our honeymoon, this was the view of the turmoiled sky over the mountains. It was quite beautiful and I loved the way it illuminated and accentuated the shape of the mountains, but it was still pretty ominous looking weather, and the cold and wind really interfered in our plans for honeymoon stage 2. We drove by a chicken truck on our way to stage 2... Being a city girl, this fascinated me... I only wish I had closed the window before the light changed and the truck started moving again. Ick. I won't go into any more details, but I would highly recommend against allowing that to happen to you.

Speaking of stage 2... this was the stage where we spent time with the children. Originally, you know, back when we thought we would have typically Georgia spring warm weather, we planned a trip to Stone Mountain and the Atlanta Zoo. Unfortunately, Ma Nature threw a wrench in that plan, and we ended up having to plan indoor activities during our time in the Atlanta area with the kids. On Monday, we decided that we would go to the Georgia Aquarium. I love the jelly fish tank at this aquarium. The drifting jellies are a perfect contrast against the pristine blue tank...The surprisingly large yet eloquently graceful belugas dance in their tank...The enormous whale sharks are the claim to fame for the Georgia Aquarium. The largest viewing tank in the US hosts these massive creatures, which you actually walk under in a totally tubular tank you walk through along the journey through the aquarium.My wonderful groom even got in on the action, participating in the hands-on sting ray and shark exhibit (so did I)...The next morning, while we were getting ready to head to the Coca-Cola Museum (where you pay them to watch their commercials)... mostly the kids just wanted to try Coke products from around the world, we got to experience an April graupel storm in Atlanta!!!

Graupel (also called snow pellets) refers to precipitation that forms when supercooled droplets of water condense on a snowflake, forming a 2–5 mm ball of rime; the snowflake acts as a nucleus of condensation in this process.
~source
My dear sister-in-law told me that in Georgia, it's just called s#@w. My many years experiencing real s#@w in New England interfered with my ability to do that. It was fun and pretty, regardless.

I spoke yesterday of the storms in south Georgia on April 13th. The finding of the National Weather Service now is that there was an EF-1 tornado in Fitzgerald, Georgia. Here is the complete report including a snapshot of the tornado captured on someone's cell phone and a link to the local storm reports. I am amazed in reading the flood warning issued for this event. First off, I did read a figure today that I had not seen (I'm not sure why I missed this...), but in Valdosta, the Withlacoochee River crested at 31.5' on April 9th. This record flooding was an incredible 18.5' above flood stage of 13'... extraordinary. Unfortunately, like I said, flood warning... water levels are expected to just reach MINOR flood stage Friday in Valdosta. Daily updates are available at this link. A slight risk for severe weather exists for today in the plains... Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska... you know, over there. We should be clear until this weekend, when the chance of storms arrives.

An inspirational and uplifting reminder to look at what's inside people and not to be too hastened to judge... link.

Have a great day!!!
~Dewdrop

44 comments:

  1. Great post with all kinds of neat photo and info goodies! Great moody pic for SWF, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. we went to the aquarium in ATL when it first opened. It was awesome. I think we could have spent the whole week there just watching all the creatures.
    Congratulations on the wedding maybe someday we can meet your groom.

    Carrie

    ReplyDelete
  3. enjoyed the stormy sky pic and the many of your trip to the Atlanta aquarium which looks like a lot of fun. The jelly fish pic was fab.
    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow - sounds like a busy and fun trip! Looks like you enjoyed some of the strange and crazy weather we've been having!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely pictures !
    Great.
    Gr.
    P-TER

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing them. Oh I was unable to take first commenter today; dang, work usually slows down by skywatch day, but today, well heck I stil have to do some paperwork instead of bloghopping, boo hoo.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So you got finally some weather happening around you! *grin*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for explaining to me the origins and definition of a "Dewvoid" - loved it! :-)))

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the soft look of the mountain ridges against that lovely sky!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for let ous take part in your honeymoon, and so nice pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cool collection of photos for sky watch friday, thanks for sharing with us all.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am with Anne! Must have been quite an experience - and you brought home some nice shots!

    ReplyDelete
  13. How cool that you're letting us come on your honeymoon! ;-)

    Love your description of the Georgia s#@w. And how you PAID to watch commercials!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the mountains, the light enhanced them wonderfully.
    You trip to Atlanta Zoo looked great fun and walking through the tunnel is another dimension.
    Thanks for your visit and comment SWF.
    Have a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can almost "hear" the quietness! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such lovely layers of color in that first photo!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great stormshot - but don't you always!
    Enjoy a honeymoon without storms!
    Cheers Klaus

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stormy skies and beautiful scenes, looks like you had a wonderful time. I will remember to keep my windows up;-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful mountain scenery.
    Looks like you are managing to have a great honeymoon regardless of weather. We can happily adjust to various weather conditions, evenbehind a chicken truck!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great shot of the mountains!
    We were at the Aquarium that same Monday!! V always loves going there and T was just amazed by everything! Crazy that we went on the same day :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great post and I love the way you captured the mountains and clouds with all the lovely blues and whites. All of the shots were great.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful, beautiful pictures, and I think not everyone would have such a nice attitude about the weather and things on your honeymoon. So glad you're not like a lot of people!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You got pooped on!! LOLOL!! You never pull up beside a poultry hauler! the birds can douse real quick! LOLOL!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. great photos, and great details....

    Gill in Canada

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lovely shots! Thanks for sharing your honeymoon with us.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Those jellyfish are exceptionally beautiful. Good to see you enjoying your honeymoon.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great pictures. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great skies! And looks like you all had fun in Atlanta in spite of the weather! I learned long ago not to follow poultry trucks on the highway or horses in a parade. And what a breath of fresh air from Susan Boyle.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love your pictures and enjoy your stories. Thanks for sharing with us. have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey there,

    I love the shot of the sky and also those lovely aquatic shots. What a fun post. Glad you are making the most of your honeymoon : )

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great piccies all of them and a wonderful honeymoon too. We avoided the dodgy weather here today that you mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
  32. wow! its not only skywatch that is featured in this post! happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Its nice to hear that you're having a good time on your honeymoon..photos of the mountain above...it's lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Certainly quite the collection of photos to day. I enjoyed them all but the first really my fav. as I just returned from the mountains in Arizona. If you thought ick with the birds/chickens can you imagine how they feel!It always saddens me to see these trucks and how they pack them in.

    ReplyDelete
  35. very intriguing and mysterious... good job and thanks for sharing...


    Happy Weekend. Check out mine here:
    HISTORY of SUPERNOVA and SWEETPAINANGELS IN MY LIFE SPICES OF LIFE

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have always loved clouds and the weather has been a fascination of mine since I was a small child.

    I thoroughly enjoyed your blog this morning! Thank you for sharing your day, and wonderful (and I mean wonderful) photos!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Congrats and lovely photo's too!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great photos! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  39. We've had a quiet spring around...so far, happy SWF!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great pictures and oh ~ Congratulations!!! May you have many wonderfully happy years of marriage.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Beautiful layers of blue! YOu got quite an adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  42. A beautiful trip! Glad you had fun.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thanks for all your kind sentiments, well wishes and compliments. My wonderful grrom and I are thrilled about our marriage, and we are determined to seize life and embrace it as we always have! We were glad to take you along on a photo tour of our honeymoon. :D

    Carrie, You didn't tell me you guys were here! I hope we get to see you next time. Then, you can meet my wonderful groom.

    Tranquility, It was a very busy and action packed trip, but we LOVED it!

    Merisi, Gladly. Keep me in check. I sometimes take for granted that newer readers might not know all my made up words! Ask away.

    YEGTG, Glad you enjoyed that. I try to keep my posts interesting and entertaining. That's what they pay me the big bucks for... HA!

    Donna, It was amazing.

    Klaus, we were supposed to be storm chasing during it...

    Arija, Doggone chickens..

    Nicole, No way!!! How ironic is that?!

    Steve, Thanks. Wow. I'm definitely not like a lot of people.

    Rick, raised eyebrow, sure gloat.

    Babooshka, those were my favorite too!

    Lew, wasn't it?! I loved it!

    Rhoen, No, I feature it all.

    Naturegirl, I felt the same way. It seems so cruel and inhumane.

    Beth, Ditto... since I was little, loved everything weather.

    ReplyDelete

Dew comment, please...