• Avian,  Canada Goose,  fountain pens,  quotes,  sky

    More mystery…

    February 26, 2026

    Please remember that certainty—not doubt—is the opposite of faith. The insistence on certainty reveals a need for control, not a need for love or understanding.

    Richard Rohr

    Holding a perspective of certainty allows some people to justify putting others down because of the attempt to try and strip them of their humanity or believing them to be less than us. But this belief is the ego putting itself on a pedestal and rejecting self-restraint, understanding, compassion, and any willingness to dialogue. This is hate and intolerance. I find it difficult to be around such people because there is almost no openness to sharing ideas with narcissistic people. What can be even more frightening is when we are basing certainty on half truths or even lies. I have come to embrace living in the adventure and mystery of life.

    Needing some time out on the prairie to journal I headed east. Stopped at a favorite spot and I was surrounded by hundreds of Canada Geese. Needless to say I did not find much peace and quiet for journaling but I did enjoy my time. Hundreds of them. Waves of them. Makes you wonder where they came from and where they are headed. More mystery.

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  • bicycling,  clouds,  horizons,  lake,  landscape,  quotes

    Well Worth the Effort

    February 24, 2026

    “There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving.
    But, who wants easier?”

    Mary Oliver

    I finally got in my much needed bicycle ride yesterday afternoon. I rode out to Spring Canyon Park and back, a 5.9 mile ride. The last time I rode was December 27th. It felt good physically and mentally to ride again. I followed that up with a round trip ride to Mugs and back this morning, about 5.4 miles. My Fitbit is telling me to take it easy and go slower and I am. It has been cloudy and overcast today with the wind gusting up to 16 mph but the temperature is 68 degrees. Winter is not showing up in Colorado. The above image was taken last week on a drive along Horsetooth Reservoir. Love the blue and the effort!

    For many years I had no clue what love was. I guess you can say I took a lot of those paths Mary Oliver mentions in search of it , while not really knowing what I was looking for. It also took a while to realize how I had love, lust and desires all tangled up in my head. I am happy to say that the past 25-30 years have given me an appreciation of all the varieties of love we can experience in life and the wisdom that there is no need to define love, but only experience the gift of loving and being loved. It requires knowing ourselves, letting go of preconditioned notions of love, taking risks, being open to the other, and an openness to the unlimited possibilities. That’s true whether loving or being loved. As Mary suggests it is not easy but in my experience, well worth the effort! I would even suggest it’s much easier than being full of hate. I hope you are having a good day.

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  • fountain pens,  journal,  quotes,  shadows,  writing/reading

    Wisdom and Love

    February 22, 2026

    We are here to grow in wisdom and to learn to love better.

    Rachel Naomi Remen

    It was 11 degrees this morning so no sunrise photo although there was a lovely pink sunrise in the eastern sky. I enjoyed my mocha and conversation with Jeff and John this morning at Mugs. Alissia was our barista. Not a bad way to start a cold Sunday morning. I would like to say and live Remen’s quote as a prayer throughout this day for the world. And a keyword in her quote that stands out for me is “we.” Seems we need a good dose of wisdom, love, and prayer right now. I hope you have a good Sunday. Stay warm and dry for those of you on the eastern coast.

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  • horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  sky

    Cold Blue Sky

    February 19, 2026

    After my morning mocha I drove along S County Road 23 which runs along side of Horsetooth Reservoir. I was hoping to see clouds sitting atop the foothills overlooking the reservoir but that was not the case. However this open field of cut grass with the solitary and motionless irrigation system near Bellevue caught my attention so I pulled over and faced into the cold north wind. Even though the field was what caught my attention, it was the blue sky that is the real star in the image. The temperature this morning at 6:31 am was 23 degrees. With wind and humidity it felt like low teens. I noticed a dusting of powdery snow still hanging around places where the sun’s rays do not reach. I hope you have a great day in whatever you do.

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  • horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    The refreshing gift of nature…

    February 18, 2026

    It’s been a while since I ventured up to Pineridge Natural Area for predawn skies and sunrises. A couple reasons for that. It requires me to get up early and I find it more difficult to get out of a warm bed. I changed that this morning. I awoke early so… The temperature was 25 degrees and a light breeze from the north. It looked like clear skies as I could see stars but I made the decision to go anyway. As I left my condo I could see a few clouds huddled along the eastern horizon which spurred me on. It was not the best day to be standing in the cold, as February is known for cold, frosty mornings. But as old Father McGuire would say, “It’s just the way God wanted it.” I’m glad I did go and not just to accept an image but to be in the presence of nature. I did not stay long as it does not take long to feel the refreshing gift of nature (and the cold). Not many people out except for one hardy jogger. The sun now shines but the weather app says rain is possible in the early afternoon. I hope you have a wonderful day!

    POD (Pen of the day): Petrol Marbled Pelikan M205 with Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite ink.

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  • flowers,  Metro Parks,  nature,  Plants

    Live this day in peace…

    February 17, 2026

    It was a cool and humid morning when I left for the coffee shop. And, when I returned home the wind began blowing and a mist is now falling. It looks like the foothills are already starting to receive snow and I understand the mountains are already receiving snow. We are about 50% below our average snowfall in the mountains so this is a welcomed gift. The only thing on my calendar today is a noon zoom meeting. I have eggs boiling now to make tuna salad today. It is simple to make and I enjoy it especially on toasted sourdough bread. May we live this day in peace and serenity. May we be a shining light in somebody’s life today. Our world needs it!!

    The best I can come with in identifying this plant is a allium ampeloprasum. It is a member of the onion genus Allium. It is commonly known as wild leek or broadleaf wild leek. Its native range includes southern Europe, southwestern Asia and North Africa, but it has been cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. Allium ampeloprasum has been differentiated into five cultivated vegetables: leek, elephant garlic, pearl onion, kurrat, and Persian leek. I took this image in 2008 at Inniswood Gardens.

    POD (Pen of the day): Blue Marbled Pelikan M205 with Pelikan Edelstein Topaz ink.

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  • Candid Portraits

    A Productive Day

    February 16, 2026
    This is a candid photo of a member of my flight crew taken along the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge in 2008.

    I have had a productive day. It started with my prayer and meditation time then a trip to Mugs for coffee and conversation. It included getting my taxes done and sent in. Federal taxes have already been accepted, but I haven’t heard back from the state yet. I took some used and new camping gear that I will not use anymore to a used outdoor shop in town called Gearage. The money they would normally give me will go to a charity of their choice. I also made a phone call that I was dreading because many of my experiences with phone systems seldom allow me to talk to a real person. But this time I stayed with it. I had to hold for several minutes but a helpful woman had things solved in a matter of a couple minutes. I also went through a pile of papers that needed to be filed or thrown away, which took much more time than anticipated. Yes, I’m known as a Procrastinator with a capital “P” unless I’m heading out for a coffee or ice cream. And now I’m letting you know I had a good day by posting this blog and photo. I hope you have had a good and productive day.

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  • coffee life,  latte art,  quotes

    Meg’s rosetta from this morning

    February 15, 2026

    This morning I made my way to Mugs for this Old Town mocha and the blueberry scone, which is now eaten. The sunrise just before I left for the coffee shop was spectacular as the eastern sky was aflame in red and orange. I was too lazy to take a photo but just watched the miracle of it. This is a photo of Megs rosetta she made this morning. I hope you are enjoying your weekend, rain or sunshine.

    The only thing more dangerous and more common than narcissism is group narcissism.

    Richard Rohr

    Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, a lack of empathy, and a heightened sense of self-importance. Individuals with NPD may present to others as boastful, arrogant, or even unlikeable personality. This personality has no capability to be of service to others because its only goal is to serve the self. And, I would suggest this is also a true definition for group narcissism. We are seeing it running amuck in our politics, churches, corporations, professional sports, celebrities, the wealthy and the ideology of superiority.

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