summer skies

Green calm below, blue quietness above. John Greenleaf Whittier

Minnesota farm roads and ominous clouds--a skywatcher's dream! More beautiful skies to see at Skywatch Friday.

word-less Wednesday

Sky Watch Friday from a Danish Minnesota

'Yes, I will go with you!' said Thumbelina. She sat on his back, put her feet on his outstretched wings, and fastened her sash to one of his strongest feathers. Then the swallow soared into the air over forests and over lakes, high up over the great mountains that are always capped with snow. When Thumbelina felt cold in the chill air, she crept under the bird's warm feathers, with only her little head stuck out to watch all the wonderful sights below.

Just a bit of whimsy from my favorite fairy tale growing up, Hans Christian Andersen's Tommelise [Thumbelina]. Illustration from Andersen's Stories for the Household., A. W. Bayes, illustrator. London: George Routledge & Sons, 1889. These chattering swallows seemed to be retelling the story this week.

Visit more sky photos from around the world at Skywatch Friday. Happy Friday!