Luke Howard...do you know that name? I think you should. He is the man who named the clouds! An Englishman who lived from 1772 to 1864, he was a manufacturing chemist but was also an amateur meteorologist in his spare time. By careful study and observation, he named the clouds using Latin names...Cumulus(heap), Stratus (layer), Cirrus(curl of hair) and Nimbus (rain).
Here is a quote from him...
"The sky too belongs to the Landscape. The ocean of air in which we live and
move, in which the bolt of heaven is forged, and the fructifying rain condensed,
can never be to the zealous Naturalist a subject of tame and unfeeling
contemplation,"
In my search for information on Luke Howard, I came across the name of John Day. If you get the chance to click on his name, read about "the cloud man" and you will know why I was so pleased to read his story of how he came to love and appreciate the clouds. Both of these men in different centuries, looked upon the clouds in a scientific way to begin with, but came to see them as something more, truly seeing the beauty of them. John Day said this...
"The act of seeing nourishes the soul."
Here is a book I would like to read, "The Book of Clouds" by John A. Day!
The first four photos are from the USA, all taken in Georgia...the last two are from Eastbourne, England. Just look at that cloudy sky in the last photo, you would never guess that the sky cleared and it became the prettiest day and evening with not a cloud in sight!
I love looking at clouds, but also photographing them. We have some nice sunsets here in the Pines! I love all of your cloud pics and the info on who named them..very interesting! Have a lovely, cloudy day tomorrow! Or just enjoy the absence of any and see the blue!
ReplyDeleteCloudy or blue, I always look up to the skies! :-)
DeleteSunsets and sunrises are both so beautiful! We see more sunrises since our home faces east, but the sunsets at Arabia take my breath away.
Kay, you know you "get" me anytime with pictures of the sky! In fact, there are one or two sitting on my camera right now, from a few days ago, just waiting to appear on a post :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out Luke Howard and John Day, I shall have a look for the Book of Clouds myself.
I really love the view that you give us from your window onto the world (and I mean that literally in this case, the view from your living room or lounge, whatever you call it!) The sky! It's always there, always free to look at, we have only ourselves to blame if we can't see the beauty of it. xx
DeleteKay, I love pictures of the clouds, sky, sunsets, sunrises, etc....can't get enough. When I see big billowy white clouds and blue skies, I remember hanging laundry out on the line when I was young. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteI like that picture of you as a young girl hanging out the washing on the line and admiring the big white clouds against a bright blue sky!
DeleteThanks for your comment, Susie, many blessings to you too, my friend. xx
I love to watch the clouds too. Your pictures are beautiful. This morning the sun is coming up and I'm seeing some of those very wispy while clouds against a blue sky. Hope you have a wonderful day there.
ReplyDeleteThe sky is always there for us! This winter we have had solid banks of gray cloud which is very unusual for Georgia! I'm not complaining, mind you, after seeing some of the photos from the North. Stay warm and keep looking for the clouds, you know they have silver linings! :-)
DeleteThe sky in all of its moods is fascinating and beautiful, and sometimes scary!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteHi Kay! Earlier this week when I was driving the girls to school, we looked up and the clouds looked like a pack of dolphins swimming by. We were all AMAZED! I'd never really seen clouds like that before. I'm glad to see you also like taking photos of the sky/clouds!!! (Thanks for your recent comment ~ that butterfly photo was also my most favorite!!!) Oh, and I'm going on a Bird Walk on Saturday.....I'm so excited and hope I can get some nice photos to blog about it afterwards.... :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Audrey!
DeleteIf I remember Joan's cloud book correctly, the dolphin clouds might be Kelvin Helmholtz clouds...I think that is the spelling...and the photo above from England, the one at the beach...they looked very much like that, but they were breaking up by the time that Richard took a photo of them!
(Joan is Richard's Mum!)
So happy that you are going on a bird walk!!! Take photos if possible, but be sure and observe and listen...photos are nice, but sometimes you might have to sacrifice to see them properly, if you see what I mean.
The butterfly photo was your favorite too, doesn't surprise me, you are my honorary daughter, you know! xx
Super clouds!
ReplyDeleteNot too many people notice clouds here, glad you like them.
DeletePlenty of Nimbus clouds here recently. Nice photographs Kay. I love huge skies with fluffy clouds horizon to horizon. Roll on Spring so we all get some :o)
ReplyDeleteI am wishing for a beautiful spring and summer for you. I would love to see Scotland one day!
Deletei love taking pictures of clouds too.
ReplyDeleteI just had a look at your blog, and it is lovely! Thanks very much for your comment, please visit me again! Have a great day! :-)
DeleteHello Kay, I agree clouds are fascinating and we should spend more time enjoying them! Plenty of hearts to be seen there too, you know what I mean!
ReplyDeleteHello Sara!
DeleteI see hearts in almost everything, and I see hearts in almost all of my cloud photos...in all of these really except the clouds in the valley photo!
I heart clouds!
Hi Kay...just popping over from Adullamite's blog. I never knew the name of the person responsible for the cloud-naming. I guess, if I must be truthful, I'd never thought about it.
ReplyDeleteOne can become lost looking at clouds...and sometimes, we even have our heads amongst them! :)
I am always curious about the person behind something, whether it is a piece of music or an invention or who first thought of naming clouds!
DeleteMy head is almost always in the clouds, you might be able to tell that by my writings!
And I thank you very much for your visit! I have enjoyed your comments on Adullamite's blog! Please, visit me again. G'day to you! :-)
One of the Scavenger Hunt categories this month is clouds so I'll be doing a lot of looking and photographing. Today is a wet grey blanket :( Love the John Day quote too. x
ReplyDeleteI will look forward to your cloud photos! And I well remember those grey days in England, but we have had some this winter to rival them in Georgia!
DeleteGeorge Harrison wrote "Here Comes The Sun" after the sun came out after a long grey spell of weather!
"English Girl With An English Heart" has been included in the A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.
ReplyDeletehttp://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-sunday-drive_9.html
Hey Jerry!
DeleteThanks! You are so funny, I know my blog name is too long, and too hard to remember but it is ...Georgia Girl With An English Heart!
Thank you again! Hope you are having fun watching the Olympics! :-)
I am sorry about that. I was having another practice senior moment. At least I got it right on the A Sunday Drive.
DeleteHa, no worries! You don't know how often I hit "publish" on a comment and realize a mistake. And I could blame it on being older, but honestly, I have always been this way!
DeleteThank you again for having me on your Sunday Drive, I appreiciate it.
APPRECIATE it! See what I mean? I didn't mean to do that! AHHHH!!!
DeleteWow! These are absolutely stunning photos of your gorgeous skies! The clouds are just sparkling in the 2nd one.
ReplyDelete