Damsel captured this image of some pretty spectacular atmospheric optical effects this afternoon. There are two pronounced sun dogs left and right of the solar disc, a fainter one above and traces of a circumhelical arc connecting the dogs. The cirrus clouds, consisting of minute ice crystals acting as prisms, were refracting the sunlight into the colorful display. Click on the image to enlarge.
It was a beautiful day here, temperature in mid 70’s and this stunning visual display.
Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time probably because the state sees no point in extending the number of evening hours the hot summer sun beats down on the desert. Having the sun go down at eight PM in June and July is better than having it go down at nine.
During DST, Arizona is on Pacific Daylight Time (well, Arizona Time actually) and after DST ends we’re on Mountain Standard Time. The most pronounced effect is that the TV schedules are driven by networks that DO observe DST. So, in the fall, instead of being three hours less than eastern time, we’re only behind by two. All the five o’clock television events now come on at six.
Interestingly, some of Arizona does observe DST – The Navajo Nation overlaps the Utah, Colorado and New Mexico borders so the tribal leadership observes DST. I found this out last May in Page Arizona (within the Navajo reservation) when my GPS was estimating our arrival at the campground according to Navajo time which showed an hour later than the actual time we arrived according to the clock in the truck.
Image – “Limp Watches” by Salvador Dali
I took a few minutes form our busy Sunday morning schedule to take some pictures on a beautiful desert day. Bob and Beethoven came out into the courtyard to see what I was doing when I took this photo of them watching me. Click on the image to enlarge.
We tossed a few remnants of a celery stalk up in the wash this afternoon. Eventually, a few (about eight) javelina followed the scent and browsed around in the wash until the celery was gone. It took about seven or eight minutes until the critters moved on. Click on the image to enlarge.
I hope everyone enjoys the Veteran’s Day weekend.
I decorated our great room vase with some very pretty Asiatic lilies yesterday. We’re enjoying these colorful and fragrant flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.
We have a pair of cardinals that visit Damsel’s bird feeders. I took a couple of images yesterday of the female on the seed block and her mate unsuccessfully trying to hide in a nearby mesquite tree. I merged the two into this image that contrasts the colors of the pair. Click on the image to enlarge (slightly).