Monte Stevens Blog

landscape, poems, river, Yellowstone National Park

A Simple Prayer

April 7, 2026

I would love to live
Like a rivers flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
John O’Donohue

This is a sunrise image taken on the Madison River from a road trip in August of 2022. It was my last day of the trip and I was heading home when I saw this scene. I had to stop. It really didn’t matter if I took a photo or not I just needed to experience the moment. This part of the river is calm while both up river and down river there are rapids and surprises. As a metaphor of life there are days when the flow of life is as calm as this river while there are times when it ain’t and we face surprises. I’m learning to be a part of its unfolding. So, this poem is my prayer for today!

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments
Plants, quotes

New Life Emerging

April 5, 2026

It began as a seedling
in the darkness of the soil.
And within that darkness
was everything needed
to emerge as new life.
mws

I noticed this plant growing among the rocks and wood chips outside the coffee shop this morning. It seemed fitting for today. Also fitting in my life as it seems after some of the darkest times there has emerged new life. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

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Monte Stevens 4 Comments
coffee life, latte art

This Mornings Rosetta

April 4, 2026

I needed to capture a photo of the rosetta Annie made this morning. By the time I grabbed my camera and took this photo she was already working on the next drink. Hope You all had a good day!

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Monte Stevens No Comments
bicycling, campus, clouds, landscape, quotes, sunrises

Sunrise on Campus

April 3, 2026

Solitude is important to man…
It is his refuge when the very foundation of his life are being shaken by disastrous events.
Margaret E. Mulac

I stopped and took this image of the predawn colors over the Lory Student Center on campus this past week on my ride to the coffee shop. Posting this late and hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments
Avian, natural areas, Pineridge Natural Area, quotes

Hoping for Peace

April 2, 2026

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
Albert Einstein

We have had blue skies and sunshine today and wind gusting up to 16 mph. Sure makes it difficult to keep my hair looking pretty! I needed some time in one of the natural areas so I headed to Pineridge Natural Area to journal in the peace, quiet and wind. I was visited by one of the magpies who surprisingly was not very chatty. They did not seem bothered by my presence and even accepting. We could not communicate but we kept the peace. They just hung around and posed for me. Hope you had a good day.

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments
Plants, quotes

… to feel beauty

April 1, 2026

Knowledge was inherent in all things.
The world was a library and its books
Were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks…
We learned to do what only the students
of nature ever learn, that was to feel beauty.
Luther Standing Bear

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Monte Stevens 4 Comments
coffee life, latte art, quotes

Hearts within a Heart

March 31, 2026

I have often been sorry that I have spoken, never that I have been silent.
Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments
clouds, haiku, landscape, sunrises, trees

Two Notes

March 29, 2026

for the awakened heart
two notes carried by the wind
the chickadees song
mws

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments
flowers, haiku, insects, Plants

Morning Flowers

March 28, 2026

how I long to see
among the morning flowers
the face of God
Basho

May you have a wonderful weekend!!!!

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Monte Stevens No Comments
coffee life, fountain pens, journal, latte art, quotes, writing/reading

It’s called practice…

March 27, 2026

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.
Natalie Goldberg

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Monte Stevens 2 Comments