Monday, March 19, 2012

Atlanta News-March 19, 2012


 In Atlanta, many TV viewers thought they could see a face in the clouds over a church where the pastor of the church was being laid to rest.   The TV station  received so many calls that it was reported in the news tonight.  I have put the link here.  The question on the newscast was "Can you see a face?"  My question is: how can you not?  (Jane, you know that you and I can always see a face!)
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/Some-See-Face-in-Clouds-During-FOX-5-Story-20120319-pm-pk

Also, because our weather has become so hot so suddenly, all of the trees have begun to blossom all at once and quite rapidly.  This has caused an unprecedented amount of pollen.  We have what is called a pollen count and if it is in the 100's, it is considered high. (Do other countries have pollen counts? I have no idea!) The count for today was 8,164.    Yes,  I did type that correctly.  Eight thousand one hundred sixty four!  It is the highest ever recorded.

We went to Stone Mountain yesterday and it was nice but hot.  84 degrees.  Let's see if I can find any evidence of the yellow pollen...

You can't see the pollen here, but I wanted to take this same photo at about the same time that we took it last year.  Do you recognize it? It is the photo that I use next to my name on my blog!  We think that they cut the tree back a bit.  There was a bit of earth that has been destroyed by some of the snowmaking equipment that is used here for Snow Mountain in the winter and so was covered up by that red plastic.  Otherwise, it would have looked very similar to last year...

There, can you see the yellow pollen beneath these wildflowers?  Stone Mountain had rain the night before this, so the pollen had washed down and then dried.Look at the pollen in the water!  If you look at it carefully, you may see the shape of a heart! (And Sara, you know you can!)


We took some great photos of Stone Mountain yesterday.  (Okay, okay...you know that Richard did anyway!)   I have run out of time for today...will have to wait until my eyes are rested.  Oh, maybe just one... Never seen green come this quickly on the trees before!

32 comments:

  1. Every year, it amazes me to see how just one or two mild, sunny days make things out there positively explode with colour and fragrance! We are nowhere near as far as your area where spring is concerned, but it is on its way, and unstoppably so.

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    1. Dear Meike,
      I have never seen it like this before. It supposed to be cooler by the weekend, at least 10 degrees or so, and I am looking forward to it. I really love the Spring, summer...not as much!

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  2. Love the photos. I lived in Atlanta for a month in 1984! Thank you for the wonderful comment on This Little Girl of Mine. I forwarded it on to Lea. She was most thankful also!

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    1. Dear Paul,
      Thank you! I mean that about your song! What could be better than to have someone write a song about you? And thanks for forwarding that to Lea! That video was wonderful! My son is a film major so he has helped me to watch film in a whole different way and to appreciate the little touches that I would otherwise have missed.

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  3. I can definitely see a face in those clouds!

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    1. Hey Sulky Kitten,
      Isn't that face amazing? The funny thing, there was no mention of it on the newscast when it was shown...some have accused it of being "photoshopped" but it was straight from the TV newscamera!

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  4. 84 degrees? Wow! That is very warm. We are nowhere near that, although yesterday was quite warm for where I live. That's a lot of pollen. I pity anyone suffering from allergies. It's really tough. I think with the mild winter we've had and the extremely early warm weather kicking in, we may suffer through a dry, hot, bug-infested suffer.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      Oh honey, if you want to see some bugs, you should come to Georgia! Do you know that in England, they don't even have screens on the windows! (Do you in Canada?) That would be unheard of here! We are already being told to prepare for a very hot summer and as you say, more bugs because of the mild winter. Not good for gardeners!

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  5. That face is SO, SO, SO cool! How could you NOT see it? And I love the heart in the pollen. Here in CLT, I watch the clouds of yellow pollen blow across my backyard. Makes me want to sneeze just thinking about it!!!

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    1. Dear Audrey,
      Thanks, I thought it was pretty neat too! And of course, Richard took that "heart" photo. :-) The pollen today was over 9000 and counting!

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  6. The face in the clouds is unmistakeable - amazing story and picture.

    Spring has sprung in Kentucky too. Blossoms are everywhere and the pollen too. I hope we don't skip spring this year and go straight into summer.

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    1. Dear Mairead,
      Thank you so much for your comment! I hope you come back and read this because I want to say how much I love your blog...your recipes, what you think to write about, your photos...everything! Glad that I found you!

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    2. Dear Kay - Likewise, I am so happy I found your little corner of the worldwide web. I so enjoy your posts and pictures. Your thoughts and insights brighten my day.

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    3. Mairead,
      You are as welcome here as the shade! (Shade is very welcome in hot Georgia!)

      Delete
  7. I see the face and heart :) A very interesting story connected to the face and it's very distinct. Your weather has me positively green with envy!! I suffer a bit with allergies in the spring, but not bad enough to medicate - that record pollen count is astounding. As always, very enjoyable post, Kay.

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    1. Dear Jane,
      Well, you KNOW that I thought of you when I saw this story!
      I really should have mentioned about my post about seeing faces but I can never remember how to link to something within my post...
      my memory...let's blame the pollen!

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  8. Uhh, will the pollen make me sneeze? And yes, I did see the face too.

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    1. Dear Denise,
      Oh yes, the pollen will make you sneeze! Yay, of course, you see the face too!

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  9. I saw the face! It's warm!! here too. Pollen count way too high, don't know what it is yet, but last year we hit over 12,000 parts per cubic meter. I have allergy problems year round.

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    1. Are you close enough to get to a beach that you can enjoy that nice salty air? I too suffer from severe allergies but mine are chemical...cigarette smoke, perfumes, cleaning agents...it is a problem for me.

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  10. It's amazing that you captured the heart in the water. We also have a very high count of pollen here up North. Allergies are abound.

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    1. Thanks for your comment! I see hearts everywhere but Richard spotted this before I did.

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  11. We have a pollen count in the UK but at the moment it is not recorded because it is 'out of season'. I susoect it will shortly be the season and if our warm weather is anything to go by it will be high. Once Richard (my Richard) starts to sneeze I'll know.

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    1. Dear Scriptor,
      I am grateful that I can spend time outdoors and the pollen doesn't seem to affect me. Chemicals are my big problem, cigarette smoke being the worst for me. So severe, I have to have an inhaler with me...do you ever notice how much I talk about fresh air on Arabia? It is because I appreciate it more than most.

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  12. That is definitely a face. Amazing that so many people spotted it.

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    1. Hey!
      Thanks for your comment. Glad that you think so too. Amazing that the TV news show did a follow up on it!

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  13. It took me a while to see the face, Kay, and I wasn't convinced when I did see it - guess that might say something about my personality!
    Just wonder what! :D

    That amount of pollen is amazing. Luckily I don't suffer from allergies although sometimes when the willows are shedding pollen here, I start getting sneezy and having catches in the throat. I can imagine that allergic people or some asthmatics might have a real problem in your area till all the pollen is gone.

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  14. Dear Jenny,
    And I am amazed that it is even a question of seeing it because it is so obvious to me, I wonder what that says about me? :-)
    Ha, that pollen count was over 9000 yesterday, will probably be over 10,000 today. How high will it go? Who knows? Woke up at 4:30am with headache, must be the pollen...
    Hope you enjoy your Spring in London, we have gone straight into summer.

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  15. Yes, I saw the face right away. And the heart too...a very lovely one with double/triple lines forming it. I pity the allergy sufferers with all that pollen. And I'm suffering with them a little here...I seem to have developed an allergy to avocado blossom pollen. I noticed it the first time last year...never had any sort of allergy before that! Itchy eyes, runny nose...miserable!

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    1. Dear Sara, Thanks for your comment!
      Sorry you have pollen problems too, but it looks so lovely where you live!

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  16. Yes I enjoyed seeing your photos and the Stone Mountain is really something. Not that I have been there but it reminds me of Ayers Rock in Australia only black instead of red.

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  17. Dear Barbara,
    My sister lived in Australia and climbed Ayers Rock while she was there. She said they tell you AFTERWARDS how many have died climbing it. That sounds about like Australians to me! Have you ever read "In A Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson. I think that author goes over the top a bit but I think he got Australia about right. Would love to see Ayers Rock and, well, all of Australia, really!

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