Thursday, January 1, 2009

Sky Watch: Vacation Skies


I took this on my way to visit my daughter and her family for the holidays. This is the dome of the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia. The magnificent 293- foot gold dome which tops the structure is five feet higher than the dome of the U.S. Capitol. The entire dome is gilded in 14 karat gold leaf applied to the copper and lead roof in tiny 3 3/8 inch squares.
My daughter's 27th birthday was on the twenty-eighth of December. We took her out to eat at her favorite Chinese Buffet and as we left the restaurant the evening sky was pink and blue with some ominous black clouds. We were sure a storm was approaching but it slowly passed by without a drop of rain.
Starting home down the interstate Tuesday afternoon the sky in Virginia was gorgeous. I took this one through the windshield of the car. I liked the contrast of the whispy clouds with the cotton like ones overtop.
This was taken from the passenger's seat looking out the driver's side window.
A little further down the interstate I noticed the rainbow colors in the clouds. I bumped up the color saturation in this image so you could see the color a little better. It wasn't a rainbow. Dewdrop will have to tell us the correct term. I'm thinking a sundog but she's the resident expert!
Happy Skywatching in the New Year!

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Driving by and taking photos always work wonders! Great set...happy skywatching!

Leora said...

What a great selection of skies. I really like the dome. Happy Birthday to your daughter. And happy 2009 to you!

Twisted Fencepost said...

I would know that dome anywhere!
I love the rainbow, sundog, whatever it is.
Happy New Year, Carletta!

EG CameraGirl said...

Glad your safely back, Carletta. It sounds like you had a lovely time. Glad you found some great subjects to photograph along the way.
All the best in 2009!

G. Crappy said...

Great series of shots! I like to see what you see.

Leedra said...

I have seen the West Virginia capitol building, it is very impressive.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Ana said...

Great skies! Thanks for sharing, happy swf

Rose said...

Wonderful set of photos, Carletta.
I can't pick a favorite.

Gill - That British Woman said...

I love the last one, the colours are stunning.

Gill in Canada

Steffi said...

Great photos,perfect shots!!Happy SWF and Happy New Year 2009!

Louise said...

Terrific skies! Even without the sundog, the last one's clouds are spectacular! Happy New Year!

MyMaracas said...

Thanks for the glimpse of home! I grew up in Charleston, and went to college across the river from the capital. I always loved that dome.

The cloud shots are beautiful. I'm not sure I've seen ones quite like that. Happy new year to you!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carletta: What a neat shot of the capitol building. You had a neat SWF to show us. Happy New Year to you and the family.

juliana said...

the sky always amazes me - unless it remains grey and dreary for a month on end...
nice shots from your trip

vincibene said...

Beautiful series!

Anonymous said...

Great skies -- and it looks like they're smiling on you! I hope 2009 brings you sunlight, joy and lots to "picture"!

Anonymous said...

Lovely photographs! Happy new year from Norway!

Sylvia K said...

Just gorgeous! Love the little patch of rainbow! hope it's a sign of hope for the new year and, by the way, wishing you a very Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing!

esnorway said...

nice pics . happy new year!

Gaelyn said...

Looks like a sundog. Lucky you. Such great skies on your vacation.

Welcome to 2009!

Dr.John said...

Beautiful pictures to start the year with. Thanks

Raven said...

Gorgeous shots as always. That capitol dome is beautiful as is the sky behind it...and then the rainbow at the end. What a great series!

Cherie said...

I find the 2nd picture particularly stirring. Well done!

Lilli & Nevada said...

Beautiful set of sky watch, and Happy Birthday to your daughter. My youngest son's birthday was on the 21st of Dec.
Happy New Year to you and your family

Rottlady of the Ozarks said...

Some really great captures of the sky here. Thanks

Linda said...

Some great sky pictures. Love the rainbow in the clouds. So cool.
Happy New Year to you and your family.

dot said...

You got a sundog! I took pictures of one also just before Christmas but my pictures didn't turn out. Maybe we were looking at the same one!

Willow said...

Thanks for popping over to say hi and see my seasons photos.

I'm a cloud fan and love to see the infinite ways clouds form in the sky!

Arija said...

Carletta, these are wonderful shots! I wish your daughter well for her new birthyear. She was born 10 years before my younger g-daughter, the one on my blog with the top hat.
A happy new year to you and all those dear to you.

Tom said...

A beautiful set of pictures....
Happy New Year to you and yours.

Tom

Anonymous said...

Glorious shot of that W VA capitol bldg. Super array of gorgeous skies. Happy BD to your daughter. We often celebrate w/ Chinese food, too. (Also, Happy Anniv. to you & hubs! :)

soulbrush said...

what fabulous pics. i am also a teacher, trying to retire, am 60 and wanting to work part time, but having a problem finding something, here's to 2009!

Neal said...

Great shots Carletta!!!

Rose and I were talking the other night about how we missed having you around. Have a Happy and Prosperous New year!!

Mary said...

Wow...that really is a magnificent dome! Really stands out against the sky. Your other sky shots and the sundog are great, too!

ellen b. said...

Hi Carletta!
What gorgeous shots. I love the way the dome shines in that first shot! How fun to capture those rainbow colors, too.
A very Happy New year to you and yours!!

Gattina said...

Real beautiful skies ! and all so different ! For the moment all is grey here and we have a few snowflakes !

Mojo said...

Some expensive dome you got there! We opted for the more cost-effective copper cladding here (meaning it's usually green).

Janice Thomson said...

Beautiful series of shots Carletta.
What an impressive dome - we have nothing like that here in Canada although in the East there are some impressive buildings.
Hope the new year finds you filled with peace, joy and good health.

angie {the arthur clan} said...

Love your shots of the sky. The second photo is so dramatic!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful skywatch shots. I hope your daughter had a good birthday. Happy New Year.

Jientje said...

A sundog huh? Well what do you know, it's gorgeous!!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Wonderful SW pictures, varied and interesting. I do not think we have gold plated roofs in Australia. This capitol building is very impressive and beautiful.
Happy New Year Carletta.

Mary-Laure said...

Those views of the sky are blissfully beautiful, thanks.

Janet, said...

Love the capitol building shot! I used to work there in the west wing and basement.

Small City Scenes said...

Great series of pics and info. It shows you had a good time. I call it a sundog. MB

Anonymous said...

That gold dome is something else. Really lovely. :)