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Monte Stevens Blog

My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Saturday Morning

    August 29, 2026

    “Certain things in life simply have to be experienced -and never explained.”

    Paulo Coelho, Maktub

    I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area this morning to watch and photograph the predawn colors and the sunrise. It was a good experience and a good way to start my Saturday or any day for that matter. I then headed to Windsor and met Eric for coffee. I hope you have had a good Saturday!

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 6 Comments
  • clouds,  landscape,  poems,  quotes,  sunrises

    Surrounded by Love Clouds at Sunrise

    August 28, 2026

    Love is what shines from our eyes,
    beats from our heart,
    speaks with our voice,
    and meets itself everywhere.
    Sooner or later, love will reclaim us all.
    But to let that happen now,
    to die into love now,
    before the body dies … Ah!

    Charles “Tom” Brown
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  nature,  quotes

    Ability to Love

    August 27, 2026

    What makes us human
    is not our mind, but our heart,
    not our ability to think
    but ability to love.

    Henri Nouwen

    There was a wonderful feeling of fall this morning on my ride to the coffee shop. A light fog settled over the grass at Rolland Moore park and this tree was showing signs of the color changes. But the most telling was the coolness in the air. It felt and smelled like fall. It will not be long and I will be wearing heavier clothing on my ride. I hope you’re having a good day!

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • nature,  Plants,  quotes

    Significant Gifts

    August 26, 2026

    “The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked. Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter, memories, books, family, friends, second chances, warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered throughout our days.”

    Sue Monk Kidd

    … even salsify.

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • coffee life,  latte art

    Latte Art

    August 25, 2026

    Sometimes I order a mocha latte just so I can see the art they are capable of making.
    And they seem to do it effortlessly. This is Meg’s latte art.

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • grass,  Plants,  quotes

    “We” rather than “I”

    August 24, 2026

    “In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I” as all flourishing is mutual.”

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
    Backlit Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)

    It looks to me like the Foxtail Barley has a better grasp of the meaning of “We” than we do.

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • digital art,  Gemini,  grass,  horizons,  landscape,  nature,  prairie,  quotes,  sunrises

    Life is a journey…

    August 22, 2026

    Grandfather says this: in life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you that life is a journey sometimes walked in light and sometimes walked in shadow.

    Joseph Marshall III in KEEP GOING
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • Avian,  meadowlark,  quotes

    … it has a song

    August 21, 2026
    Meadowlark from June 2023

    “A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

    Chinese Proverb

    It has been a hot day for us but clouds did move in to cool us down and it has turned into a lovely evening.
    I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  clouds,  landscape,  nature,  sunrises

    This Morning’s Clouds

    August 19, 2026

    a canvas of blue sky
    a few fluffy clouds
    sun rising above the trees

    and a tear runs down my cheek

    finding more moments
    like this lately as I ride
    in the early morning

    nature freely offering her gifts

    mws
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  quotes

    Sacred Journey

    August 18, 2026

    I am a traveler on a sacred journey through this one shining day.

    Richard Wagamese, Embers
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 6 Comments
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