The Cloud Kingdom

Is the Sky God's Easel?

Some people say stop and smell the roses. I say stop and feel the clouds. Appreciating clouds isn't so much a matter of active watching. It's meditative. You lose yourself in their majesty. Let their beauty roll over you like a shadow.

Clouds of the Canyon

December. The Canyon was practically deserted. I stood on the Tonto Plateau enjoying perfect silence for possibly the first and only time in my life. I wonder if the womb provides moments of perfect silence. That might be why I had such a blissful feeling when I stopped in my tracks and listened. Curious behavior, listening keenly when there's nothing to hear.
Overhead, stray clouds prowled the sky, moving silently, riding phantom air currents. I contemplated the clouds. In the silence, they were all the more impressive.

Soaring Among the Clouds

An alternative to the in-flight movie.

My favorite moment of a flight is when the plane ascends into the clouds.

Flying above the clouds with mountain peaks poking through isn't bad either.

Glorious Gloom

Rejoice in glorious gloomy clouds, harbingers of bad weather, rouge spoilers of the sky. It seems so ungrateful to whine about what the sky gives us.

Always There to Remind Us

Clouds have a way of humbling us. You climb Mt. Everest. What's towering over you? Clouds.

Do You Know Clouds?

The Cloud Series - A Slide Show

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
--Joni Mitchell

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We Welcome Your Comments

Add your own brilliant thoughts about clouds.

I hope you weren't expecting a treatise. I only wanted to remind people of the beauty of everyday life. Just look up.

I hear people complain about clouds. Clouds spoil an otherwise perfect blue sky, they say. For example, a weathercaster's typical comment is "As soon as those clouds burn off it will be a beautiful day." This is my answer.

dc64

I am so totally smiling right now! Such a beautiful lens! Thanks for the look up. 5 stars for sure and I'm such a fan now! I need to check your other lenses...

Posted September 08, 2008

d-artist

I love clouds, one of my signature photos is of a cloud that looks like a Pegasus(now licensed for cards)...just tonight driving home the clouds in the sunset where magenta and behind us was a hugh moon with the reflection of the colors...just amazing to see both at the same time...you write very well and very expressive..thanks for stopping by my Sunmaid lens...5*s

Posted August 16, 2008

chefkeem

Oooh, I thought - a new "RufusQuail Lens"! - and I settled in for a few minutes of joyous browsing as I've come to expect it from your work. And then it was over, so soon. Yet, I walked away deeply impressed with your poignant reminder of the beauty we tend to take for granted, or overlook altogether. A gorgeous example of how much you can offer on a brief Squidoo page! 5*s

Posted July 26, 2008

Scatter Some Stars!

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Bonus Material: Cloud Merchandise!

Royalties Donated to Squidoo Charity Fund

I hope this lens has made you so happy about clouds that you can't resist a shopping spree on Amazon or CafePress. Here are some tastefully selected items to satisfy your cloud cravings.