My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Yesterday morning it was 22° at 6 am. This morning we started at 14° and have now warmed up to 17°. They are saying today will only have a high of 25°. Looks like much of the country is in a cold spell and some are having snow or rain. Started my day in quiet time then headed to Mugs for an Americano and conversation. Another day with no bicycling and probably not for the next few days. It is a hot coffee or cup of tea type of weather to accompany my journaling. Stay warm!
Darkness cannot be dissipated with more darkness. More darkness will only make darkness thicker. Only light can dissipate darkness. Those of us who carry the light are called to shine the light, to share it so that the world will not sink into total darkness.
Thich Nhat Hanh
My weather app said it was 22 degrees this morning. We had a dusting of snow during the night, but nothing measurable. No bicycle ride this morning. Instead I met Eric for coffee in Windsor and will shortly meet Steve at 4:30 pm. It’s a rather simple day. Stay warm and dry!
The shape of a landscape is an ancient and silent form of consciousness. Mountains are huge contemplatives. Rivers and streams offer voice; they are the tears of the earth’s joy and despair. The earth is full of soul.
John O’Donohue
Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.
Terry Tempest Williams
It was a very cold morning at 22 degrees. I felt gratitude for the life I am living as I stepped from my car and walked to my favorite rock at Pineridge Natural Area. The rock was just as hard as the last time I sat on it but this morning it was also quite cold. The sky was beginning to turn a light pink then shifted into a darker pink. I accepted the gift of a beautiful predawn sky. It was quiet, still and serene. In the early twilight I could see a group of four hardy runners bouncing along the trail with their headlamps as they circled Dixon Reservoir. I assume they were working up an appetite for turkey dinner later today or maybe a warm cinnamon roll with coffee when they returned home. I agree Terry Tempest Williams quote, there is much beauty to be found in this broken world. I then made my way to Mugs in Old Town for a mocha and blueberry scone. They were having the annual Turkey Trot going on so the streets were blocked off for the race and people were gathering for the race. I decided to head back home before it became a mess. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Selfishness seldom has to do with reaching for the biggest piece of cake on the plate;
Marcus Borg
rather, it is preoccupation with our selves.
It is overcast and cold here this morning. A brisk 22 degrees when I left for coffee. Needless to say I did not ride the bicycle to coffee. However, it’s up to 30 degrees now. I put on a crockpot of chili soup earlier and will indulge in that later. I sure do like how my house smells when I’m cooking with a crockpot. Today will be a quiet day at home with reading, journaling and some flute practice. I took this sunrise and reflection image at Arapaho Bend Natural Area back in October. Have a wonderful day!
I see that the life of this place is always emerging beyond expectation or prediction or typicality, that it is unique, given to the world minute by minute, only once, never to be repeated. And this is when I see that this life is a miracle, absolutely worth having, absolutely worth saving. We are alive within mystery, by miracle.
Wendell Berry
Cactus are adapted at living in very dry environments and because of this show many adaptations to conserve water. The cactus spines prevent cactus from losing water by reducing air flow around the cactus which can help reduce evaporation. The trapped air around the cactus can also create a buffer zone with slightly more moist air. In areas of fog cactus spines can also help collect dew, which will drop onto the dirt near the cactus and be absorbed by the roots. Cactus spines help preserve water by providing a bit of shade. Since a given cactus can easily have thousands of spines, the little bits of shade adds up. One of the most obvious benefits of cactus spines is that they keep predators away. Lots of desert herbivores love chomping on cactus just to get at the water stored inside so the spines can reduce this. The point is they help the plant survive in its harsh environment. And, the point of this post is… life is a miracle and worth saving!
The earth is a place of wonder and beauty.
N Scott Momaday
There is nary a plant in Phoenix that is not a gift of wonder and beauty (and needles).
But they do require a constant need to “watch where you squat.”
My sister and I returned from Phoenix about 5 pm yesterday. It was a good trip for us. The only hiccup was realizing on the shuttle ride from the parking lot to the terminal that I left my phone in my car. I had no time to go back for it so I was without a phone from Wednesday morning until Saturday evening. Without the phone I had no ability to call, text message or check email. I think I handled it well. But, I did get some ribbing from my siblings and it provided many opportunities for bantering and teasing. All good stuff!
We also had overcast skies and some rain while there so it was much cooler than past visits. We have made it an annual thing to get together every Thanksgiving, or at least the week before. During this family gathering time we pass around a wood Santa carved by all of us which you can read about here. This is my year to have Santa at my place. And, of course there was an abundance of wonderful food to go along with conversation and laughter.
I loved seeing and visiting with my dad. He is still as sharp as a tack for being 96 but I could see the physical aging of the body. He is slow and unstable getting up and getting around, needing to use a walker or a cane. He tires quickly due to the congestive heart issues and the edema. However, I would expect these things with anyone his age. We also never know when will be the last time all of us will be together. It makes each visit and the family time even more precious.
This is an image taken along the Spring Creek Trail. I have wanted to stop on several occasions and take this image for quite some time but I seem to always tell myself tomorrow. The morning’s ride became that tomorrow. I plan to stop more often in an effort to catch the light at different times. I have seen the water glisten with sunlight around mid-morning and I would like to capture that. Anyway this is the scene with overcast skies.
My sister and I fly out tomorrow for Phoenix to spend Thanksgiving a week early with my dad, sister and brother-in-law. It will be a short trip, coming back on Saturday. That should give me enough time to enjoy my family and overeat. I will not be posting much so I will catch up when I get back.
Wisdom is not something that we acquire;
Rachel Naomi Remen
it is something that over time we may become.