I am a traveler on a sacred journey through this one shining day.
Richard Wagamese, Embers
Sacred Journey
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Perseverance
As I waited outside the coffee shop the other morning I noticed this small plant making its way up through the cracks in the sidewalk. When we pay attention we can watch nature as it perseveres to grow against what seems like great odds. I found this definition of perseverance: it is the continued effort to achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or opposition. I believe this plant is living that definition and is a great teacher if we pay attention. It is another hot day here as well in the east coast. Stay cool!!
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Sacred Instruments
I consider my journals and fountain pens as tools that enrich my life. They provide an ongoing spiritual impact on me, seeing them as sacred instruments. I’m aware that when I pick them up to journal in a public place such as a coffee shop, bookstore or library they present an image or statement about the life I live. But the true reason I journal is bringing to life a few words expressing my thoughts, ideas, dreams, and feelings. And, I have to smile when I see people with journals and pens in hand writing words on their blank pages. I secretly wonder what they are writing. What thoughts or images are being envisioned in their minds. Are they writing a short story, novel, poetry, letter, or maybe writing about me watching them.
A reflective moment This Gemini generated image made several weeks ago begs many questions for me. Are the words she is finding on her pages voicing the grieving of the loss of a parent or a spouse, or feeling the experience of a new man in her life, or the excitement of her first great-grandbaby that’s due in a month, or reflecting on her life’s journey of 76 years, or maybe a time to pause and listen to the rain while watching the world pass by? Maybe it’s all of it! But it really makes no difference what story my imagination can create because it encourages me to continue my journaling. Something I like in this photo after spending some time looking at it is how gently she holds the journal and the pen. Maybe they are sacred instruments to her, also.
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Pedro’s Coffee
We had a very good rain yesterday afternoon, and a much needed rain. So this morning, we have high humidity and the possibility of more rain and thunderstorms this afternoon. This morning we changed things up and Jeff and I met up at a coffee shop called Pedro’s Coffee. They had these chocolate glazed donuts with little sprinkles on them in the display case that was too tempting for me not to pass up. And I will say the Americano was good but the donut was gooder. And as always so was the conversation. If you’re hot stay cool. If you’re getting wet dry off. If life is perfect, smile!
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A nice start to this day…
Within each of us there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe.
Gunilla Norris
And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.I have not been to Pineridge Natural Area in quite some time so I changed that this morning. It is supposed to rain later today, which means there would be a chance for colors with clouds at sunrise. I parked, turned off the car and was met with silence. I was given a bit of pink color along the horizon and the air was clear of smoke. Dixon Reservoir was calm and offered a nice reflection. I took a few photos then left to meet Jeff at the coffee shop. Sunrise and silence, coffee and conversation with a friend, always a nice start to the day.
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I am learning…
Sunrise along Peralta Trail, Arizona – 2016 I am learning to pray again,
Terry Tempest Williams
not in the way I was taught as a child,
but in all the ways the desert has taught me to listen. -
Capable of Great Love
Edited with Lightroom then enhanced with Jetpack Image Editor We can make a difference when we draw on our courage and creativity to stand up for our beliefs. Our small actions carry a cumulative power that can shift the planet onto a more positive course. We only need to tap our innate creativity and connect with expression not only through a particular medium like paint or clay or words; the other medium we all have to express our creativity is our lives. As human beings, we’re innately creative, capable of great love, and creatures of community. When we draw on our natural gifts and act together, we have enormous power to ease suffering and invent new possibilities for a better world.
Kim RidleyI post a lot of quotes here. I struggle sometimes to post long ones because too many words can confuse, distract and make a difference in how the reader understands what the author intended. The above quote is an example. What I was moved by in the quote was the fact that mankind is capable of great love, while knowing in my mind mankind is also capable of great hatred. But, I will keep my focus on hope and belief in great love! I hope you are having a great day!!!
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Ain’t going anywhere!
Edited with Lightroom then enhanced with Jetpack Image Editor While out and about today I noticed this scene and had to laugh. This car ain’t going anywhere!
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Their Noise Machines
Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area – August 2025 “There are some places so beautiful they can make a grown man break down and weep.”
Edward AbbeyIt has been a rather cool day, a pleasant change from the past three weeks. I had blood draw last Friday and met with my hematologist this morning to go over those numbers. She was pleased with my numbers because they are stable. So all is good. They are working on the parking lot so we have had constant noise now for two days. The email said they will be done tomorrow. Seems man sure does enjoy their noise machines.
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… life could be otherwise
Columbines from my sisters back yard – 2015 “If we think we are our thoughts and feelings, we go through life simply reacting to what is going on around us, with little awareness that we are even doing this or that life could be otherwise.”
Martin LairdHope you are staying cool!!
