Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A - Z Challenge: Wind



Wind is like Mother Nature's spring cleaner.  It blows all the cobwebs away.  It creates a new energy.


When I was a child, I would love to stand in a strong wind and just feel the energy as it pushed me back.  Sometimes, I would turn around and let the wind amplify my own energy.  Then, I would run and run and run.  Even now, when the wind blows,  I feel the urge to run with the wind.    However, running takes more than a stiff breeze in my sails these days.


Humans have known about wind's energy for a long time and have used it effectively on a small scale.  The power generated by the wind was caught by windmills which came in a huge variety of shapes and sizes.  Recently,  we've developed the technology  to 'farm' the wind.  I  remember the first wind farm I ever saw in Alberta.  It was by today's standards small - only a few turbines.  But I found it thrilling.  I still love to see those big white towers with the arms turning high above me.


Much is made of wind's clean and renewable energy.  But the wind is also a cleansing and renewing agent.   The first windy day after the cold of winter, I like to have all the windows flung open to let the wind blow through the house.  It picks up all that old, dry air and carries it away.  Then I know that winter is truly over.


I also love whirligigs.  Those often eccentric pieces of folk art that are created just to catch the wind.  Our dory-man came from Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia.  He's been rowing back and forth for years now - every time the wind blows -  and he never stops smiling.  I know exactly how he feels!

* sailboat photo taken by Andrea

11 comments:

Rudee said...

While I don't mind a little wind, I don't like the blustery stuff. A big wind blew my sheepie umbrella inside out.

Anonymous said...

I love the wind turbines and also old windmills usually found on farms.

Empty Nester said...

One of my favorite things about living at the coast is the wind- we have almost constant ocean breezes right in our backyard. Of course, I am not fond of hurricane force winds...not at all. I also like those tall, white windmills. And whirligigs! Wonderful post!

Andrea said...

That first photo looks awfully familiar...

Ginny Hartzler said...

What great pictures, I love those sailboats! And the windmills, did you take that picture? Great perspective. I love your whirligig!! Phil doesn't like the wind because it interferes with his tennis and his remote control plane flying. And I was just outside trying to snap flowers...EVERY time I got them all focused, the wind came and ruined my picture! It took 20 minutes for what should have been a three minute session! Nevertheless, nothing beats a great strong breeze on a hot or humid day.

An Oasis in the Desert said...

Beautiful photos. I DO appreciate the "power" of wind & what a wonderful natural resource it is. We get lots & lots of wind here in my little section of the AZ desert, but nothing is done to utilize it. Just a short drive into CA, you can see an endless sea of the wind turbans, but
not here in my little burb. It's a bit of a sore spot!
CAS

Unknown said...

Love the bright sails, Stephanie -they look so cheerful! I don't mind a refreshing breeze (not all winds in Calif. are cool, there is the hot Sana Ana wind, which makes things sweltering hot!)

doreen said...

I have really enjoyed reading all of your posts.

Angie said...

Being born in England in March I don't mind wind at all. (I can only see the 1st 2 pics). It was blowing a bit today, we have rain & a temp drop of 10 deg. Everyone take care.

SELVIDGE by Rachida S said...

I came from a windy city; I remember when we were children. We used to race each other against the wind and the speed of our colourful little toy windmills. This made us giggle all day. Thank you for the post :)

SquirrelQueen said...

Great examples of the wind, I love those sails and the wind turbines. We have many wind farms in our area, our hills are covered with those big white towers.

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