Red Sky at Night, Shepherds Delight!
A Lincolnshire Sunset…..
Managed to get away for some fresh air for an hour today. I went to my favourite haunt to watch my favourite barn owl strut its stuff along the ditches and dirt tracks in search of supper and he/she didn’t disappoint me. Too far away for a photograph I settled instead for a rinside seat of the sun setting over fast fields whilst illuminating the sky in a brilliant orange glow….
Sunset in Lincolnshire
Red Sky at Night, Shepherds Delight
Red Sky in the Morning, Shepherds Warning
How many of you have heard or said that before? I have, countless times. My brother and I used to try and beat my Dad to saying it at the end of fishing trips together when we were boys. What I didn’t know was that it has its origins as far back as the 1395 (when my father was a boy) when it featured in a version of the bible. In America the shepherd is replaced by a sailor but either way it was a means of predicting the weather in medievel England and I don’t know why they don’t go back to it.
Here’s a question for you. Why do evening weather reporters tell you about the weather you’ve already experienced? i.e, “This morning, those of you in the south will have enjoyed a bright, crisp start to the day whilst those in the north will have encountered rain showers”…we know this because we’re either sunburnt or wet. There’s no skill in telling someone it rained where they live eight hours ago, I could do that. So what’s the point? I can’t get in a time machine and go hang my washing out can I?….
Fabulous picture !
As to the weather, I alwayd wondered that - why review the days weather ?
Also why say things like for those going skiing in Aspen . . . etc How many people can that possibly apply to ?
Love that sunset !
Rod
September 27, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
Miles,
.
What a beautiful photo - I would like to use that for a card - superb. Whenever I have tried to capture a sunset, I have always had a poor result. I blame the gear - nowhere near the quality you have
Concerning the weather forecast - it is supposed to be a forecast, I always thought the same as your comment.
Whilst I agree with Rod about Aspen, I think they could just show a European map with the weathersymbols on it for all those who keep escaping these shores.
Anne
September 27, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
Miles,
Everybody loves a sunset and this Lincolnshire sky is a beauty.
The Shire being so flat, the sky seems to fill the horizon…. funny, I was just dwelling on that the other day while gazing up at another fabulous cloud formation.
Red sky in the morning and the cows laying down means a torrential down pour presumably. Enter my latest weather predicting hat, a converted sombrero with pine cones dangling (a la Australian cork millinery) a doubly useful bit of kit come rain or shine
Cid
September 27, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Lovely shot, Miles
Nice contemplation too. . .
I love the bit about the barn owls, being a bird watcher too. ‘Round here we have these pterodactyl size great-horned owls that have some of the most spooky and loud calls that can freeze you to the core when they call unexpectedly.
September 27, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Rod,
Thanks, you’re right (again!) if I was skiing in Aspen or Switzerland I wouldn’t be checking the UK forecast on BBC One either.
Miles
September 27, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
Anne,
I’ll send you a quote
Miles
September 27, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
Cid,
It is indeed a great place to capture a sunset, wouldn’t want to swap it for anything.
Miles
September 27, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
Laura,
Thank you. My brother and I were saying how we wished we had some of your wildlife here in England, it’s pretty tame stuff compared to yours.
Miles
September 27, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
Have heard the rhyme, but with a different phrasing.
Red sky at night - sailor’s delight
Red sky in morning - sailor’s warning.
Emailing you a pic of a sunrise off the coast of Long Beach Island NJ - the day Hurricane Bill was about to strike. Made me think immediately of the rhyme.
September 28, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
Dave,
They are superb photographs, thank you very much. I would like to post it later on in the week under my new section if you don’t mind. Full credit where it’s due of course.
Many thanks
Miles
September 28, 2009 @ 8:55 pm