Writing yesterday’s post got me thinking about my trip West and the first time I saw Big Sky Country. Driving through the western Dakotas and eastern Montana, I was awestruck. I understood for the first time, what Montana’s state motto meant. It was late summer and for as far as I could see there was ochre brush and azure sky. Vast, rich, wonderfully empty sky.
Maybe it comes from living for three and half years in a part of the world where the sky is like a damp, grey woollen blanket that hangs low for most of the year. Maybe it’s the purported hole in the ozone layer that gapes above us. But headed into work this morning, I was struck serene by the massive expanse of sky the color of blue that I’ve only ever seen in a Crayola box.
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The Allman Brothers’ “Eat A Peach” is available from 
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by SSG
09 Oct 2008 at 21:02
jealous. believe it or not, misty this morning but sunny now. Shame I’m in an office with grey venetian blinds they have down all the time so the sun dont come in.
I remember once when young me and my friends playing in a field and lying down and just staring at the sky and you couldn’t see the edge of it, just blue all round, with the occasional cloud or fly drifitng in and out of view. It kinda hurt your eyes. Good times.
by SSG
09 Oct 2008 at 21:43
and i keep looking at this page as its brightening my day. nice photos.
SSGs last blog post..D.I.V.O.R.C.E.
by NATUI
10 Oct 2008 at 01:32
Which is “Big Country” is one of my fav songs of all time. We had gorgeous blue skies here the other day, and it was a pleasure to walk the kiddos in the stroller. Glad you are making up for all those damp days.
NATUIs last blog post..Conversation Killer 101
by courtney
10 Oct 2008 at 01:41
Beautiful! I want to make that photo my desktop background, since I can’t see any sky, blue or otherwise, from my desk.
by Nathan B.
10 Oct 2008 at 02:52
I love that feeling around here…some/most areas of Iowa are gently rolling hills, with golden (at least this time of year) corn plants as far as the eye can see. Mountains are great and all, but many people under-rate the scenery in the Midwest…
by Vixen
10 Oct 2008 at 04:04
Wow that is amazing color. I understand what you mean about Montana’s stat motto. The first time I drove through that was all I could think of.
by Dr O'C
10 Oct 2008 at 07:13
I agree with Natha, when I moved to the Midwest I was blown away by the amazing sunsets over the midwestern landscape. Previous to that I had only ever really seen spectacular sunsets over the ocean, which are impressive, but not as impressive as sun setting over the farmland of the midwest.
by Joe
10 Oct 2008 at 09:13
ugh… I almost clicked away from this post after seeing the photo. I have to wear a jacket in the mornings when I leave for work.
by admin
10 Oct 2008 at 15:26
SSG – What do you hear from our smitten migrating ex-lab mate? Do you think he’s going to get his heart broken?
NATUI – I’m still drying out. Damp to my marrow.
Courtney – I’ve got even better ones but my iMac shat itself earlier in this week and I’m still trying to make it better.
NB – Yeah, that part of the midwest is pretty good too, but there’s something about the sky in the upper midwest (SD, ND, Montana) that’s just fantastic.
Dr. O’C – No way, sunset over the ocean is best.
Joe – We’ve just stopped wearing jackets, so I’ve got no sympathy!
by Bluestreak
10 Oct 2008 at 18:31
oh I sure miss those blue colored skies that looks like someone has been photoshopping them. There are loads of beautiful days in Southern Spain, but nothing compares to the blue winter skies in Arizona. Plus here, since I´m usually walking the cobblestone wedged between two buildings you only see a small strip of the sky, and it´s never as crisp as the sky in your picture where you feel like you can touch it.
Bluestreaks last blog post..Cardilicious escapism
by Florida Girl In Sydney
10 Oct 2008 at 20:56
You are so right, the sky here is the bluest of blues and perfect and gorgeous.
Florida Girl In Sydneys last blog post..Don McLean and Me and My Review
by Jessica K
12 Oct 2008 at 00:50
Wow. I’ve never seen a sky so blue! And great song, too. The Allman Bros. were my lullabies.
Jessica Ks last blog post..Rainflowers, part 2
by arizaphale
12 Oct 2008 at 12:34
I am SO glad to be out of winter woollies…..this sky is what I came back to Australia for.
arizaphales last blog post..A Morning Miracle