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

    Hang on to your hat…

    January 31, 2022

    There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.

    Wendell Berry

    Groggily awake at 4:00 am. After quiet time and a bowl of hot Irish Oats with blueberries I bundled up and headed to Pineridge Natural Area to catch the predawn colors. Nothing like an 18 degree morning to fully wake up. I was not disappointed as Mother Nature gifted me with wonderful colors. I read somewhere that a beautiful red sunrise or sunset must have clouds, just as our life does.

    They say it will be windy and warm today. The strongest winds are expected in the foothills where a High Wind Warning is in effect for wind gusts up to 80 mph. Hang on to your hat! Snow tomorrow.

    Read More
  • quotes

    Discovering Our Real Nature

    January 30, 2022

    Every spiritual path leads the sincere seeker to the truth that can only be found within. The Sufi says that there are as many roads to God as there are human beings, “as many as the breaths of the children of men.” Because we are each individual and unique, the journey of discovering our real nature will be different for each of us. At the same time different spiritual paths are suited to different types of people.

    LLewellyn Vaughan-Lee

    Fort Collins has 285-plus miles of trails which includes paved trails within the city or biking in the foothills and mountains. The Fort Collins website says the city has been named a platinum level bike-friendly city. This image is along the Spring Creek Trail about 4 blocks from my condo after a March snowfall in 2003. With that many miles of paths to ride and walk there are many different paths to choose from. And, I do!

    I believe as LLewellyn Vaughan-Lee that we all have our own unique spiritual path as it unfolds before us. I also believe we have been on this path from our birth, taking each step in faith. And this path cannot be known unless we take the steps. It’s important that I not compare my path to others because it’s mine, a gift just for me. I hope you believe that is true for your path as well. Some of my path has been flat, smooth, with wide open horizons to venture towards while at other times I find myself in the dark forests of the night, unable to see the path, fearful to take the next step. As I accept this spiritual path, I find the courage to continue on seeking, discovering my real nature.

    If you have read this far thanks for listening to my ramblings. And to those of you in Maine and Michigan and Charlotte, stay warm! Hoping you had a good weekend.

    Read More
  • Barry López,  landscape,  Plants,  Poudre River,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Nature’s Teaching

    January 27, 2022

    “Over the years, one comes to measure a place, too, not just for the beauty it may give, the balminess of its breezes, the insouciance and relaxation it encourages, the sublime pleasures it offers, but for what it teaches. The way in which it alters our perception of the human. It is not so much that you want to return to indifferent or difficult places, but that you want to not forget.”

    Barry Lopez, About This Life

    This an image of the Poudre River taken north of town near Watson Lake State Wildlife Area. I’ve lived in the Fort Collins area for about 25 years now and yesterday was my first trip to this beautiful area. I was impressed with it and will look for other photo opportunities to share with you. I agree with Barry Lopez that time in nature alters our perception in a positive way. Conversely our lack of time in nature and indifference with nature also alters our perception in a negative way. I firmly believe it is the biggest reason our world is in the mess it is in. We need Nature’s teaching!

    Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and today is overcast and snow began falling about 7:00 am. If you look closely you will see a group of 6 deer just to the right of the bridge. Have a great day!

    Read More
  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Cottonwoods

    January 26, 2022
    Cottonwood trees at Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.

    Imogen Cunningham

    If you look closely on the right side of the trees you will see the remnants of the Old Straus Cabin. The cabin is located within the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. This cabin is an example of the early log structures. George Strauss built the cabin in 1864 and farmed the land around it, growing vegetables and raising cattle. These trees and the cabin sit right along the banks of the Poudre River.

    Cunningham’s attitude seems like a pretty good approach to improving our photography. Think I’ll give it a try. It was 2 degrees this morning when I left the condo. Now a blue sky and sunshine brightens the day but will see clouds move in later and snow beginning tonight and into tomorrow.

    Read More
  • Anne Lamott,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  quotes

    Believing in Love

    January 25, 2022

    “Hope is not about proving anything. It’s about choosing to believe this one thing, that love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us.”

    Anne Lamott

    I began writing this post yesterday after returning from the coffee shop where I enjoyed the above mocha latte. Felt the need to write with this keyboard and not just in my journal or bring what I journal to these pages more. Anyway…

    After quiet time I drove to Pineridge Natural Area to enjoy the predawn colors. I never took my camera out of the bag but sat in the silence taking in as much as I could. Guess you could call it recharging. The eastern sky was cloudless with the exception of one fluffy patch to the north. They predicted snow to begin overnight and continue into today. They were right on as it is snowing now.

    I’ve read a couple of Anne Lamott’s books and find her able to express in words some of the bleak shit of my life experiences better than I can. But, I also find that true with other authors I quote on this blog. Not everyone will relate to their words or mine and I’m beginning to feel comfortable with that. Hoping you can bare with me as I continue to put my words and images out into the cyber world. And hopefully you may notice some improvement in both my writing and photography. After all, my barista did not make latte art like this on her first attempt.

    Read More