Ruger the Inquisitive Dog
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They weren’t even close
Found on the street “The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”
Gaylord Nelson former governor of Wisconsin, co-founder of Earth DayI smoked from about the age of 18 to 28. I quit a thousand times before I was able to quit the habit. During that time I tossed many butts out car windows and along the sidewalks. Yes, I’m guilty! At this point in my life I’m more aware of my responsibility in cleaning up my act. It requires an effort by all of us to provide a clean place to live for future generations. I can see we are making a difference. Yet, some people still miss their mark. I found this cigar about 50 feet from the nearest trash receptacle. They weren’t even close.
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Lamp Post and Shadows
“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.”
Albert Einstein -
Just Five Minutes
Walking back to my car I was met with the gift of the rising moon on the eastern horizon. I’d walked farther than I thought so it was taking me longer to get back to the car than I expected. Looking at my watch, I had about 15 minutes before they closed the gate to the refuge. But, just as I climbed up the slope to the car I saw the moon just starting to rise above the lake. There was no way I could let this opportunity pass. So, within five minutes I took a few images of the moonrise, while a doe stood off to my left and a raccoon scurried along the waters edge and I made it before they closed the gate.
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Natures Patterns
Cottonwood trees on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR I’m not sure but something about the alignment of these trees tells me they were planted. Scientists are studying the patterns of nature, attempting to find a mathematical answer. We are constantly finding out more about nature but this is one question where the answer may only be a moment of awe. So, for me this row of trees is just not the pattern I see nature using. Nature has its own way to create patterns.
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I’m thankful for ….
Todays Thanksgiving Sunrise along the Colorado Front Range I’m thankful for: my health, my family, those who are like family, friends, pumpkin pie, passion, love, joy, peace, serenity, quiet time, second chances, failures, my new wheels, each season, a birds morning song and each sunrise and sunset. I hope and pray everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Barking a Warning
“One is never alone in the forest. One is never unobserved.”
A Far-Off Place by Laurens van der PostIn my experience it is seldom that a prairie dog will allow humans to come very close. But, for some reason this little one let me closer than usual. His hole was located along the outer edge of the prairie dog town. They can detect predators from a far distance and then alert other prairie dogs to the danger with their special, high-pitched call. They are considered a keystone spicies, which means they have a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. They provide food source the many prairie animals such as the fox, coyotes, raptors, badger, and snakes. They are definitely a pest for farmers and ranchers due to the towns they build. Anyway, this little one was letting me know I was being closely observed.
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Seeing Shadows
Early morning shadows from my walk around the hotel. -
Two Trees Revisited
Lifting fog over two trees in a wheat field These are the two trees I’ve happily photographed this past sumer. The crops surrounding them have been harvested. The leaves have begun to drop exposing bare branches. The Rocky Mountains are hidden in the background by the morning fog. What a glorious morning it was. I’m grateful for this morning experience and look forward to many more.
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Moving on to Winter
Cottonwood Grove I paid another visit to the grove of cottonwood trees near Mary’s Lake at the Rocky Mountain National Arsenal. My last visit, two weeks ago, showed the vibrant colors of yellow-gold of the leaves. Since then we have had snow and wind, so I expected to see some barren trees. The leaves of the cottonwood are shiny and triangular with rounded teeth on the margin. The nearly heart-shaped leaves are similar to poplar and aspen, also members of the Poplar family. We are moving on to winter and then I will try and get a photo of them in a blanket of white.
