Windmills, Sandhills, and Rainbows
Over the weekend, we paid a visit to the Nebraska Sandhills. This was not my first visit, but I was struck again how wide open the country is there. (That’s Harland walking down the hill above)
You can see for miles in every direction with only windmills and occasional fences in view.
I love all the windmills.
These were, and still are, used for pumping water for cattle.
As the wind blows, the blades turn engaging a pump that brings water up out of ground from a well.
Many of these mills are 100+ years old and still going strong.
While we were standing out on a high hill one evening waiting for the clouds to break and the sun to set,
and hopping in and out of the truck to avoid rain showers,
we looked behind us to the east to see a rainbow forming.
We watched as it arched across the evening sky.
It was one of the few times in my life when I’ve been able to see the entire rainbow from end to end.
It was too big for my camera. That little dot in the lower center is a windmill. Yeah, that’s a big rainbow.
It was a perfect ending to our day.
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I have always wanted to see a rainbow that big. .somewhere that I could get an unadulterated picture of JUST the rainbow. Good for you!! Great photo!
Always love these photos with a big sky.
Golfers love courses built on sand dunes. There the ground has that very smooth, flowing, but also very lumpy look, all at the same time. Just like in your photos.
Such a site is called a ‘links’ course. Quite different from a golf ‘course’ built on dirt.
Near the ‘field of gold’ we have New Zealand’s only links course that is away from the sea. Because this is the driest part and from time to time windblown sandhills have formed. Very unusual – I guess the Nebraska sandhills have the same past.
You can see the form of the ground quite easily, just like in your photos.
Hi Kerry,
I didn’t know that about golf. We did see a couple golf courses out there. I didn’t realize golfers loved courses built on dunes. If it wasn’t so remote all the Sandhills would probably be a golf course by now. 🙂
The Panhandle Plains Museum(excellent)has a whole room of windmills and their history. It is in Canyon, Oklahoma, just south of Amarillo.
The picture that is right after the picture of Harland is my favorite. That is so beautiful. Not that the others are not. It looks like heaven. so peaceful.
Thanks for sharing,
Mary
What an amazing shot of the windmill in the sunset. I used to paint a lot of country scenes with those windmills in them. I haven’t painted in a while. That picture is tempting me to do so again!!
Gorgeous pics. Love those windmills. Don’t know if I would weather the cold for the pics though. Have a great day.
Hi Joani,
If you put on enough clothes you can. 🙂 We brought along plenty of layers.
What a perfect day. When I saw the title, I knew we were in for some awesome photos. I was right. 🙂
I’m so sorry for being so behind on blogging and reading your blog. I’m working on catching up!
Hi Justina,
So good to “see” you. I’ll bet those adorable ducklings of yours are keeping you busy! 🙂
Beautiful, just beautiful. Love the clouds and the hugeness of the land. Many moons ago when I was a kid on the farm we had a wind mill that was used for water in the house and a hand pump in the kitchen and an outhouse (no bathroom) and a washtub for bathing every Saturday. Ya, for real! And no I’m not one hundred and fifty. LOL But, I was five then and will always have great memories of farm life.
Hi Doe,
Isn’t it funny how what would seem to others as a hardship is a cherished memory for you? I have similar memories of growing up with wood heat and cooking on the wood stove during power outages.