Cloud Cap

Clouds started moving about the time I came in the house.

A cap formed on the “mountain” of clouds.

The cloud mound continued to increase in height, and the cloud cap continued to grow and spread. Cloud caps are rare here in southern Illinois.

I don’t know what these long streaks are and what caused them. They don’t look like clouds (More like pulled taffy).

If anyone knows what caused them, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know.

There were four in a line. They didn’t look like a cloud. They looked more like a cloud twisted into a long cord.

An eastern bluebird stopped for a drink. I haven’t seen one of them recently.

 

 

Moon Variations

I was outside last night with my camera and was trying to get good pictures of the moon. The pictures weren’t good or interesting until….

I started experimenting. It was a full moon.

I would move the camera slightly to getthe interesting effects.

It didn’t take much movement to get the variations in the moon.

It surprised me to get the long “moon” with very little movement.

Now I wait until the next full moon so

   I can experiment more with my moon pictures.

Blowing in the Wind

Conditions were just right (on August 11) for this spiderweb to show from a distance.

I moved closer to better show its intricate details.

The web’s movement turned the “spokes” into narrow ribbons.

A Different Spider Web

This first picture fascinated me because of the green spider.

I have no explanation for the webs in the next two pictures.

Maybe they were having a “spider’s disagreement.”

Or could have been trying to build a different style of web.

It was fascinating whatever the reason and the design.

 

Horizontal Webs

Spider webs are usually vertical.

Obviously, these two are horizontal. The two strands — orange and other blue — are strands of silk that were  let out to hold the web in place. You’ll see a part of the web stretched across to another leaf nearby.

 This picture was taken in the same area as the two above, and at a different time of day.  A light breeze blew the web around, which resulted in the multi-colors reflecting from the web.

Small Shelf Mushroom

I found four of these small shelf mushrooms in our yard.

They weren’t soft and flexible.

I wasn’t able to identify them, but I sure did enjoy them.

A Mushroom Village

We had a stump cut out and now have a pile of rotting wood shavings.

Obviously, the mushrooms like it there. This is the second batch.

This is the second time they’ve grown and “bloomed here.”

They do spread after they open.

They are so cute too…

like they’re growing in families.

This patch is a little older and much larger.

This makes it easy to see the gills.

The  top of the cap splits from the edge toward the center. 

Need I say more? …..

I do — I think it’s an American parasol mushroom.