Wild Bill and I decided last Saturday that we need to get more of our outside projects done…I would mow yards and deal with weeds etc. while he uses the trencher to dig a trench for the new pipe for the new well…as you can see in the picture below it is quite a process.
We have 2000′ feet of new pipe to install for the house, shop, barn, irrigation etc…it is a huge job with trenching, running the backhoe as needed, and laying the new pipe and fittings etc.!
As I was finishing up the mowing I looked up on top of the hill behind our house and saw these ominous black clouds drifting in overhead.
There was no doubt that a storm was imminent…I got WB’s attention and pointed towards them…then I ran into the house to grab my camera!
Why is it that when I see clouds like this that I think of ET or Jabba The Hut???
I couldn’t seem to fit the incredible clouds into my lens…the cloud cover was massive and I knew I had a short window of time to capture the magnitude of the storm…I needed to get as far back as I could!
Finally I ran hard down into the pasture across the road and I captured this photo…you can see how the clouds were transforming the blue sky into night…at 2:00 in the afternoon!
Ok Toto this is not looking good…HRCG get your buns back to the house!
The storm slowed to a stand still overhead…something was going to happen as I could feel the temps dropping from warm to cold…which was an odd feeling.
I ran back to the front porch…whew…pant-pant…whew. Running is not my thing…walking fast is good or riding a horse!
I could feel a brisk breeze on my face as the air got colder and the dark clouds began to turn white.
And then the heavens opened and all hail broke loose!
Thankfully the hail began to turn to rain within a few minutes…heavy rain where you could almost not see through it like a fog…we actually got 1/4″ in 10 minutes!
By late afternoon we were back to life is good in Juniper Canyon…blue skies with the sun shining and birds singing…I could not help but break out into song:)
The hills are alive,
With the sound of music
With songs they have sung
For a thousand years
As the day slowly ended, God blessed us with one of His beautiful sunsets…I never grow tired of seeing all the incredible colors of nature and the world God created all around us:)
Buck says the day ended well:)
Minnie says…hmmmm…ok well kiss my stripes…why…no reason…remember I am the “Cat” and my goal is to keep you guessing:) I know Minnie Mouse and I loves you lots!
With that said…follow your heart…take along your forever friends and family…they will keep an eye out for you as they travel along with you…they are your heart and a blessing from God to your life:)
Wishing you a Sunny and Shinny Day:) Happy Monday wherever you are!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Jul 16, 2012 @ 14:47:42
wicked weather! and nice photos!! we occasionally get weather like this, just without the cool cloud formations 😦 I love your doggy! 😀
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Jul 16, 2012 @ 16:45:43
Yeah we are getting more of it lately….last night we had a four hour lightening show over the ranch…very little rain but lots of cloud to ground lightening and cloud to cloud…horses, dogs and Minnie were not liking it and we did not either as we worry for fire right now.
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Aug 25, 2012 @ 00:14:41
Btw what is the breed of your doggy?? Mum and I love them and are possibly thinking of getting one!!! 😀
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Aug 25, 2012 @ 12:06:38
Al three of the dogs are Australian Shepherds…one is a red merle and two are blue merles.
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Jul 01, 2012 @ 21:41:59
Awww…this is really cool. Love the play by play. Great shots!
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Jul 02, 2012 @ 11:47:59
🙂 Thank you!
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Jul 01, 2012 @ 11:20:23
Yep, very spectacular piccies with drama!
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Jul 01, 2012 @ 15:58:12
Thank you:) Happy Sunday:)
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Jun 30, 2012 @ 21:50:27
I think the song was so beautiful and copied it to quote at my blog!!!!!!
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Jun 30, 2012 @ 23:08:31
I loved that song…and her voice:)
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Jun 29, 2012 @ 09:09:24
Oh my your photos of this storm are incredible, so intense. Way to get some great shots. Nice to see you are getting some rain over there. 🙂 I love that metal flower pot decor with the cat on top!!! So Purrfect. The last photo of your dog is breath-taking! What a sweetie 🙂
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Jun 29, 2012 @ 10:54:54
Thank you:) The storm was impressive as we seriously do not have storms like that…this year our weather seems weird…I have loved it as it is great to capture pictures of:) I had seen those metal stakes a year ago in a catalog and this year they were not there so I had to search for them and found them online:) I love them and the top kitty would for sure be Minnie:) Ms. Kiah is a sweetie and so human in her emotions and her heart….she is smart too:)
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Jun 27, 2012 @ 23:23:12
Forgot to mention we had our own tornado not long ago … missed us by quarter of a mile. You wouldn’t think New England would get them, but we do. Not as spectacular as your storms, but they do an awful lot of damage in a very short time. Scary.
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Jun 28, 2012 @ 21:54:19
Tornados would be super scary….having one miss you by a quater of a mile would be very scary! So far we have never had one here in Eastern Oregon…those ominous clouds made me afraid and I wondered if something was going to happen…I had not seen clouds of that magnitude here before…this entire last year our weather here has been strange and all of us locals who have lived here forever say the same thing that our weather seems to have changed.
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Jun 27, 2012 @ 23:20:37
I love your middle of nowhere because I live in the middle of nowhere too, except this is the middle of New England nowhere vs. Western nowhere. We have lots of horses here — all kinds from quarter horses to Arabians to miniatures (lots of them!) … but especially Percherons. I never knew how enormous they are until I happened to be there when my neighbor was unloading his team. As they backed down the ramp, I realized each is the size of a 10 ton truck. Huge!
I like being in the middle of nowhere. My granddaughter grew up here. Her idea of a traffic jam is 3 cars at an intersection. She’s going to London (England) next week — she’s in for a shock.
I really enjoy reading your ongoing story. Keep it up 😉
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Jun 28, 2012 @ 21:50:35
Thank you:) Yes I can not imagine living anywhere else but in the middle of no where! We managed two lare cattle ranches when we were younger…the one in Central Oregon was 36 miles from the closet town of maybe 10,000…the road was two lane and twisty so it took a good hour to get to town…but I loved it there too…we could not get any radio or TV as we lived at the foot of a mountain that had iron in it. The other ranch was in WY. and while we lived only 8 miles from a small town of around 750 it was pretty isolated…Jackson was 100 miles and it was a slow go with mountain roads…it was beautiful there and I loved how old fashioned it was. Moving back here is home and it is what I know…growing up we moved each summer to the mountains to care for my families cattle and that was heaven up there…so no I think if I had to live in a town I would be sad…I love the wide open spaces:) I would love to see where you live as I have never been to New England…the area you are in sounds pretty and having all the horses around would be perfect…I have seen Perchons too and they are huge as in WOW huge:)
Hoping your granddaughter has a fun trip…what a fun time it will be for her to see another part of the world. Tell her to take lots of pictures and journal her trip:)
Thank you for your encouraging words about the blog too:) Have a good night….Hugs:)
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 18:02:25
Wow – what amazing photos. That looked like one scary storm!
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Jun 27, 2012 @ 08:24:16
Thank you much:) It was intimidating for sure…I was not sure what the clouds were going to do as w do not have clouds like that…I wondered if we would see a funnel cloud or something…thankfully we did not:)
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 17:42:03
I’m in love with your beautiful dog; those eyes are just soulful!
Minnie cracks me up 🙂
Glad all you got was the HAIL out of there!
MJ
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Jun 27, 2012 @ 08:13:05
Kiah is one of our dogs and one of the smartest…she is so personable and very human…we will be getting a new puppy the end of the summer that has the same Dad as Kiah. Minnie is very human too and she lets you know exactly how she feels:) When she is loving you I swear her eyes get softer and more round…and most of the time she loves us:) I was wondering when I was shooting pictures of the storm and the clouds rolling in what type of storm this was…the clouds were so unusual and it did cross my mind that we could see a funnel, so I was glad that we only got a bit of hail too:) Thanks for stopping by MJ:)
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 03:18:13
Oh my! What a sky and what an “outcome” with the hail! Amazing what a show you get out there when it comes to weather…..one minute blue sky, next minute DARK as night clouds. It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly beautiful your views are there…..The beauty of nature “up close and personal” which is only ONE of the many reasons I love your blog my friend! 😀
Pam (and Sam too of course!)
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 08:33:01
Thank you so much for your kind words:) It was a powerful storm and I was glad I could grab my camera quickly…I only wish I had a wide angle lens…plan to purchase one when we go to the big city in July. It amazes me too as I love God’s nature and the glorious things He lets me see…love His sky and His storms:) Minnie says Hi Sammy:) Happy Tuesday:):):) Big (Hugs)
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 13:58:46
Sammy sends a hug to Minnie too!! 😀 😀
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 02:58:11
Amazing storm…I haven’t seen one since I left Colorado ten years ago. The storm would come over the Rocky Mountains and put on a real show. Glad all is well on your end.
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Jun 26, 2012 @ 08:27:58
It was incredible how it just popped up….it was unusual for our area here and was glad I could grab my camera easily. When we lived in WY. daily in the spring and early summer see storms such as these, loved watching them:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 21:32:56
I love weather like that … it’s actually so beautifully and dangerously exciting. 😀
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 22:16:44
Yes and it is fun to try and capture with your camera…I noticed the unusual clouds right away…it was crazy and exciting:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 19:00:38
AWESOME pictures! I am obsessed with extreme weather and love taking pictures of stormy skies. 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 19:04:45
Thank you so much:) I know me too! We usually do not see those type of clouds here but holy cow when they rolled in to visit last Saturday I was snapping away:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 17:33:09
Fantastic clouds. You did a great job with them!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:20:15
Thank you so much:) It was fun to see them and capture them:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 16:55:25
Great pictures — love storms like that!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:17:06
Thank you much:) It was awesome and there was such power in the incredible ways the clouds moved in…power and might. We usually do not get those type of storms here so it caught my attention right away! It was fun to try and capture it but I only got a small portion on film.
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 16:49:51
Cameras just can due justice to big skies. What a drama you witnessed. (Minnie looks like my olde TIger who made it to 20 yrs. Tough cats those striped ones!)
Thanks for sharing!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:14:50
I know and it was frustrating to me as over on the right side of me there was quite the drama of weather too but I figured the side I captured was enough:) Minnie is 17 now and doing very well…vet says she has the blood of an 8 year old:) She is our baby and we love her lots….and I agree she seems very tough:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:36:46
Ahhh… I feel SO REFRESHED after that storm and rain. Thank you for capturing all those cloud shots, BUT… the one of your dog at the end is PERFECT!!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:12:23
Thank you….yes Ms. Kiah is one of the sweetest and smartes Aussies we have had…is so very human too:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:04:22
So much weather, and it must be even better (or “better”?) in such an open, vast landscape. Nice photos, Cowgirl.
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:12:38
Thank you much my friend:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:39:38
Were rather. 😉
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:45:04
What?
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:22:08
I wrote as if you are still in Pinedale. 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:25:08
🙂 I wish at times…it was so very pretty there and I loved the old fashion feel of the area…a 1000% cowboy living too and we both loved that:) We were just there a season of our life….but long enough to make some of the best memoreis of our life:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:30:57
That is what it is all about, making memories! 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:12:38
🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:30:31
Wonderful post my friend! The pics were beautiful…I wonder, since you seem to like taking pictures of the sky and clouds have you ever thought of a camera with a wide angle lens and skylight filter? Just thinking 🙂 JW
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:39:00
Thank you so much:) It was an interesting storm! Yes I want a wide angle lens for my Sony camera. I need to go to the big city to purchase one and I am headed that way in July…and the camera store is the top of my list:) Sort of addicting! I think I have the filter…what kind of camera do you use? I have been happy with the Sony but I like Cannon and Nikon too.
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 17:16:39
I still use my 35 mm SLR Nikon FG for some things because of all the lenses and filters I have for it. My digital is a Nikon but my lenses won’t fit it. I plan on buying an SLR digital Nikon that can use the lenses from the 35 mm SLR. I always use the skylight filter because it makes the clouds unbelievably beautiful. Let us know when you get the new lens 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:19:44
Thank you for the info:) I appreciate the input….I am one who is eager to learn and it is great when someone shares knowledge with me….I am teachable and always want to improve:) I will look into Nikon more….and I will double check to see if I have that filter…I may not…..but I will for sure get one in July:) I will keep you posted:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:33:41
Nikon is just one being made today. Ask the photo guy what he recommends for the type of pics you take 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:48:54
Will do:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:23:22
Beautiful pics! Those are some amazing clouds!!!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:26:02
Thank you:) Yes I have not seen clouds quite like that here…I did in Wyoming but these were unusual.
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:29:50
Somewhere, I have similar pictures of clouds coming in to Wyoming from Montana. (I only live 6 miles from the MT border) They were awesome! Had never seen anything like it. It is great you got the pictures!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:32:49
I loved living in Wyoming:) Living 6 miles from the MT. border is very cool…what town or close town are you in? We lived 8 miles from Pinedale on the other side of the Wind Rivers…incredibly beautiful!
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:39:23
I live in Deaver, Wyoming. About 45 minutes from Cody. You are on the opposite end of me! 🙂
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:41:43
Ok you are in the beautiful part too:) Moving back to Eastern Oregon was hard after living in God’s country:) My view out my window was Gannet Peak….oh Wyoming:) But I love my home here too and visit WY. as often as I can:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 15:21:43
I have heard that Oregon is very beautiful! I have never been, one of the few states I have not visited. Very green and lots of trees. 🙂 True?
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 18:25:06
It is a beautiful state…lots of various sceneries from desert to high desert to mountains and almost a rain forest….the western part of the state is the super green and lots of trees…they get lots of rain over on the western half of the state…the Oregon coast is breath taking…the Willamette Valley is small farms, fruit etc. and green with trees and rain rain rain. WHere we live on the far Eastern side of Oregon we do not get the rain and gray cloudy days that the west gets. We have a drier climate and lots of trees in the mountains but rolling hills where I live….large farms of wheat or cattle. I was lucky as my family did both wheat and cattle. I love our weather here most of the time…it is fun to travel the 200 miles to the big city of Portland with all the green and trees but I get tired of the gray days and rain so I love coming home to eastern Oregon:)
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:11:06
I loved this series of photos. Spectacular.
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Jun 25, 2012 @ 14:24:51
Thank you…it was an interesting storm for sure:)
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