Monday, June 7, 2010

Red Sky in the Morning


This is the sunrise I awoke to this morning.   It's an "all's well with the world" sunrise.  I quickly pulled on my clothes, grabbed my camera and dashed outside.  Sunrises and sunsets last just a very few minutes so if you can capture them at their peak...well, there's just nothing prettier.  I captured this one at its peak. 

Now that I think about it, isn't there a proverb about red skies?   Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky at morning, sailor's take warning.   Or something similar.

This would be a perfect example of an old wives' tale.  No warning in this sky...It was a gorgeous day, today...not a storm cloud in sight.

Or so it would seem.

I've got a clever little book called Old Wives' Tales - Fact or Folklore?  I just remembered that book and plucked it off the bookshelf to search for this particular tale.  Yup, it's there!

The page about this proverb says that it's quite true, actually.  It has to do with the the way in which the rising or setting sun illuminates the clouds.   If the weather is moving in its usual west-to-east pattern, that is.

If the weather is traveling from south to north (as it often does in the upper midwest) the red sky rule doesn't apply.

I guess the weather was moving from south to north, this morning!
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Posted by CherylK at 8:47 PM

16 comments:

  1. Beautiful! It's been a while since I've been up before sunrise . . . well, technically anyway. Getting up with the baby at 5 am doesn't count. I'm still asleep.

    I remember studying that folk tale in school. Fishermen used it. What an interesting book!
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  2. What a wonderful amazing shot Cheryl! And thanks for the info. It's interesting to know where that saying came from.
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  3. Whether it was moving from south to north or not, I'm glad it was moving from your computer to mine. I'm much more inclined to capture a sunset than a sunrise so I appreciate yours very much.
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  4. How interesting! I know a lot of facts about old wives tales, but this one caught me by surprise - I had always assumed that red sky in the morning was a sign of bad weather, but red sky at night meant that a sailor may take advantage of its romance factor and...um...DELIGHT!

    I adore the photo you've taken, with the trees silhouetted in the foreground. And the monarch butterfly is magnificant - I would never have known it was taken through a window.

    I also love your picture of the fledgling mighty oak. We have several oaks in our yard, including one perfect giant. He has grown incredibly in the 14 years we've lived here, and looks splendid when the sun shines through his branches in the early morning. Take a look here:
    http://ethelmaepotterweneverforgother.blogspot.com/2009/03/fred-and-ethel-build-their-dream-house.html
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  5. That is a beautiful image.;) We often have red skies here in Scandinavia in the morning. In the summer, right now, the sky is always red in the evening.
    I would love to have that book you mention, how fun is that.;)
    Hope you will experience another magnificent sunrise today.;)
    xoxo
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  7. Fantastic view to wake up to. Great shot.
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  8. It's always interesting to find the sayings that have merit in fact (and rhyme scheme)
    Lovely photo!
    : )
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  9. It lasts for such a short time, that often while I try to position myself away from the city or trees or power lines I end up missing it. Beautiful!!
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  10. That is breath taking. I really enjoyed visitin your blog. I am now following you. Thanks for following me. I am honored.
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  11. Hello Cheryl! Came over from Kittie's lovely blog, and fell in love with your sunrise picture. I know that proverb as 'red sky at night, shepherd's delight' rather than sailor - funny how the words can change from place to place, but still keep the same meaning. :)
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  12. I'll bet that book of yours is fun to look through. The sky is gorgeous!!!!
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  13. Isn't it awesome how a sunrise can raise the spirits and give us extra energy? Sunrise is my favorite time of the day and your photo is wonderful.
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  14. Amazing sky! I love the way you framed it.

    Well done!
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  15. What a beautiful photo!!!!!!!!!!
    There is a ton of beauty of this site!!
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  16. CherylK: I do like your blog. We share common views and philosophy about nature. Thanks for coming over to my blog (Sage to Meadow) and dropping a comment. The red sky picture is quite beautiful. And the folklore that goes with it. The milkweed picture you have indicates butterflies visit it. My milkweed in the pasture attracts a special, grayish butterfly. Quite small. I was wondering if your milkweed brings those little guys out?
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