The "Smoke Screen"

One thing about those "controlled burns" that the Forestry Department does just north of us is that it makes for some interesting photographs. The other day, when the smoke thickened over the Bayou, it gave a golden glow to the clouds hanging in the noonday sky.  The smoke acted sort of like a filter to the sunlight and blocked out most of the brilliance. This was the first time in several years that the smoke from the burns did not give a "star" effect to the sun.  Instead, it just looked like a big, white ball and the clouds, though darkened, were golden.

  While standing there looking at the sky, my oldest brother and I both had the same thought.  The smoke hanging in the air reminded us of the "look at the eclipse through a smoked glass" directive that we were taught way back in grade school.  At that time, it was deemed safe to peer directly at the sun (or eclipse) if you did so through a piece of glass that was covered in soot (or smoke) from a candle.  Another way was to use a piece of undeveloped film.  Well after generations hurt their eyes by "following the rules", it came to light (pun intended!) that these methods were not safe!  Imagine that! It seems that basically, if you wish to check out the sun, you need some special equipment or a welder's mask.  I figure that I am ok without looking directly at that big ball of fire.  I let the camera do it for me.  Point and shoot.

  Back to the weird sky, though!  The smoke continued throughout the day and into the early evening.  Then, it disappeared as quickly as it came.  I know the controlled burns are for safety reasons and I appreciate the men and women who make the effort to protect us so I tolerate the smoke.  There were times back on the farm when we did the very same thing to the fields that had become overgrown.  Pop would set backfires to burn trails through the grass before setting the full field afire.  There were also times that he would intentionally burn through crops to protect the barns and farmhouse from woods fires that were quickly bearing down on the old homeplace.  As kids, we were all armed with pitchforks and wet burlap sacks to beat down the flames.   It is crazy how things have changed.  Farm kids had to do a lot of things that kids nowadays would never dream of doing.  In a way, I think it was to my advantage.  I learned a lot of things from these experiences.  Things that are probably going the wayside now.  Things that a lot of folks will never experience.