• Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  Avian,  Canada Goose,  clouds,  Humor,  landscape,  natural areas

    Random Formation

    January 24, 2022
    Geese flying over Rigden Reservoir

    There was a lot of chatter going up there as these Canada Geese flew over me. Had to chuckle as I imagined what they are honking up about. Do you suppose they are just like we are when we get in our cars and head somewhere? Were some complaining the goose behind them was following too close? Were some wanting to fly faster or slower? Were some being backseat flyers? Were some wanting to land here or fly on farther? Were some trying to control the formation, shouting instructions to others because the formation is not what they wanted? Do I even want to know? Not really but I had fun with my imagination. Have a great week!

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  • Avian,  coffee life,  coffee shops

    Annual Visitor

    January 23, 2022

    Every year a Common Goldeneye returns to the ponds. I’ve got no way of knowing if its the same bird or the birds gender. However, each winter one, and only one, arrives and dominates the mallards. Yesterday I took a few images and tried to get a video. This is the best I can offer.

    I did make a stop at Mugs Coffee Lounge on Laurel. They did not close down but remodeled and opened back up a couple days ago. Really did a nice job with making it seem more spacious and brighter. Ran into my my friend, Dan, and was able to catch up on life’s happenings. We have blue skies and sunshine and hovering around 45 degrees.

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Words to live by…

    January 22, 2022
    Afternoon walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    The Earth is everywhere. You may be used to thinking of the Earth as only the ground beneath your feet. But the water, the sea, the sky, and everything around us comes from the Earth. Everything outside us and everything inside us comes from the Earth.

    Thich Nhat Hanh

    Colorado does have some beautiful blue skies. We haven’t seen much of it for the past couple days. Today is one of them. May Thich Nhat Hanh’s words cause us to pause, reflect on the world around us and then let them set deep roots within us to live by. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  • fog,  landscape,  Plants,  poems,  poetry,  trees,  writing/reading

    Gift of Forgiveness…

    January 20, 2022

    in the silence of a foggy morning
    I listen to my heart as it cries for
    the brokenness of our world and
    offer a prayer as tears flow from my soul

    may we awake to the nurturing embrace of love
    may we awake to the healing touch of compassion
    may we awake to the needs of the oppressed
    may we awake to the gift of forgiveness

    ms

    It is a cold morning here in Colorado. A heavy ice storm yesterday morning followed by a light snow all day and cold temperatures has made it poor traveling. I received a notification yesterday that the city of Fort Collins was on an accident alert and the bus system was on a delayed and shortened schedule. Expecting some sunshine this afternoon and will clean off the snow and 1/10th of an inch of ice from my car. I have not been outside my condo for over 48 hours. Feels strange.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  seasons,  sunsets,  winter scenes

    Well said

    January 19, 2022

    Modern life seems to recede further and further away from nature, and closely connected with this fact we seem to be losing the feeling of reverence towards nature. It is probably inevitable when science and machinery, capitalism and materialism go hand in hand so far in a most remarkably successful manner. Mysticism, which is the life of religion in whatever sense we understand it, has come to be relegated altogether in the background. Without a certain amount of mysticism there is no appreciation for the feeling of reverence, and, along with it, for the spiritual significance of humility. Science and scientific technique have done a great deal for humanity; but as far as our spiritual welfare is concerned we have not made any advances over that attained by our forefathers. In fact we are suffering at present the worst kind of unrest all over the world.

    D. T. Suzuki
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  • landscape,  quotes,  seasons,  shadows,  snow,  winter scenes

    We have to change…

    January 18, 2022

    A lot of our fear, hatred, anger, and feelings of separation and alienation come from the idea that we are separate from the planet. We see ourselves as the center of the universe and are concerned primarily with our own personal survival. If we care about the health and well-being of the planet, we do so for our own sake. We want the air to be clean enough for us to breathe. We want the water to be clear enough so that we have something to drink. But we need to do more than use recycled products or donate money to environmental groups. We have to change our whole relationship with the Earth.

    Thich Nhat Hanh

    I guess if I were to have a resolution or goal for the coming year it would be to continue the change in my relationship with Mother Earth, not just in my thinking but in my actions.

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes

    Happy Birthday, Dad!

    January 17, 2022

    “I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting.”

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1963

    Had a short night of sleep so I’m feeling tired and down. Not much ambition or drive. Decided to go out to the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. Found a bit of blue sky and clouds to lift me up. Glad I went when I did because it is now cloudy and overcast.

    It is Martin Luther King, Jr Day and many people are posting his quotes. I’m one of them. But, fifty years ago he was not all that popular a man and even labeled a communist, a radical and even dangerous. Prophets who stand up to injustice are treated as such. Some pay with their lives. May we have more prophets like him. I’m not capable of expressing my feelings about the brokenness of this country, because sixty years after he made this statement we still have a Senate that does not represent the people. Sigh!

    On a positive note, today is my dads 93rd birthday. You can look at that as 93 years or 33,945 days or… I am grateful he’s as healthy as he is. I’m not able to be with him but sent him a text message with a virtual cake. My sister and brother-in-law are taking him a real cake so all is good! Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you! ❤

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