• architecture,  campus,  coffee life,  quotes

    The Power of Love

    March 4, 2026

    “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

    Jimi Hendrix

    Rather than ride the bicycle ride this morning to Mugs, I decided to take the bus to campus. I stopped at Sweet Sensations coffee shop and got a mocha then spent time in the Paul and Elsie Legacy Lounge by the fireplace to journal in the quiet. I usually have the area to myself until about 8:15 am before the groggy students begin to stumble in. It had been a while since I was in the lounge area and I was pleased to see they had changed all the furniture. We had a warm sunny day and may see rain Thursday night into Friday. Time to push the publish button and read for a while. I hope you had a good day!

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  • architecture

    A Little Excitement

    December 12, 2025

    They had a nice bright fire last night at the apartment across the pond. This is what it looked like this morning. I was reading in my chair when I looked up and saw flames rising above the roof. There were people standing around taking photos and one of them even called the fire department. I couold hear the sirens before I could call. Hopefully no one got hurt. I hope you’re having a wonderful Friday!

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  • airports,  architecture,  Travel

    Stay warm and dry!

    December 2, 2025
    Terminal D at Sky Harbor

    I think I have taken a photo of this scene each time I walk this terminal to my gate on my flight back to Denver. It has an appeal to me! It is another cold morning here in Colorado with expected snow tonight and into tomorrow morning. And the southern sky was breathtakingly on fire this morning as I drove to the coffee shop. I splurged this morning and bought one of Mug’s burritos to take home. Today will be a quiet day and mostly spent inside. Stay warm and dry and spread some love, joy and compassion around! It’s needed!!!

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  • architecture,  quotes

    Willingness

    July 29, 2024
    Savannah’s Waterfront, Georgia – 2009

    “.. the spiritual life is a natural human activity that requires not special powers but the willingness to open doors.”

    Elizabeth O’Connor

    My history is marked with moments when I hesitated to open a closed door or enter a partially open one. Fear was my nemesis, filling my head with voices telling me of projected danger on the other side, and seldom of those gems of new possibilities that may exist there. I’ve come to see the gift of my willingness and discernment to open doors of opportunities. I’ve read that once we place the key of willingness into the lock and have the door ever so slightly opened, we can always open it some more. And if need be, close it to open another. And if fear and self-will slam it shut again, I can again open that door with willingness.

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  • architecture,  Documentary/Street

    The Legacy Lounge

    March 10, 2024

    I made a return visit to campus the other day. I’d forgotten how serene it can be at the Lory Student Center (while students are in class.) This image was taken while sitting in the Legacy Lounge just outside the Ballroom Doors. With no piped music, it is a good place to journal or read. Hope you’ve had a good Sunday. It’s been beautiful here.

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  • architecture,  quotes,  shadows

    Perceive the Wisdom

    December 5, 2023

    When we perceive the wisdom that is in other human beings we are less prone to treat them as objects for our own purposes.

    John Philip Newell

    I saw this scene while waiting at a doctors office last week. I loved how the morning sun was casting its light across the framed photo and the wall. I grabbed my camera but before I could take the photo a man stood in front of the window casting his shadow in the scene. It wasn’t what I wanted so I waited and eventually got what I wanted. It was a windy day yesterday but we reached a nice warm 57 degrees. Today is supposed to be the same. However, we could see snow by Friday

    As I’ve grown older matured in my wisdom, I have learned to perceive the wisdom in other human beings. I would like to believe that’s happened because I’m seeing with different eyes and with a different perspective than in my youth. And I would hope they perceive within me a wisdom. Have a wonderful day.

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  • Bench,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  storm clouds,  winter scenes

    Happy Earth Day

    April 22, 2023
    These storm clouds were taken last night out on the eastern plains. A rather large storm was raging so I thought I may be able to capture some drama in the clouds and drove out that way.

    The point of living a creative life – rather than just engaging in creative pursuits on occasion – is not merely to produce aesthetically pleasing artifacts, but to bind one’s creative work and living experience as two dimensions of the same life in all its details, always unfolding and evolving in parallel. 

    Guy Tal

    Each of us is a creative soul. Some have tapped into that creativity while some are unaware they have it or deny they have it. As a photographer I see it as a gift to create/capture images that are pleasing, draw out emotions (yours and mine), and show the beauty of nature through photography. And, we all can do that. I really like the word “bind” that Guy Tal uses in his quote. So, as a prayer this morning I would ask for the binding of my creative works with my living experiences.

    A favorite bench at Pineridge Natural Area this morning

    Well Nature decided to share with us a few more snowflakes before officially moving into spring. As you can see the bench I sit on to journal is not quite as inviting this morning. Have a wonderful day and Happy Earth Day! Stay warm.

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  • architecture,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  doors,  street photography

    Prayers and Thoughts are Welcomed

    March 6, 2023

    Here is another update on my health and what the doctors have planned for me. To be honest I’m not all that excited about having to deal with these health issues. But as my friend Christina says, “Life gets Lifey.” The next few days will be a busy time for me. I have a pre-op meeting/testing on Tuesday the 7th giving me instructions on preparation for surgery and what to expect. Then Thursday morning the 9th will be my final iron infusion. So far none of the infusions have had any side effects. The iron infusions are bringing my blood count numbers up except for the platelets which seem to fluctuate but in a downward direction. Because of the low platelet numbers they will be doing a bone marrow biopsy on Friday the 10th at MCR in their effort to discover what’s going on. On Monday the 13th I will be given another infusion, this one with platelets to bring the platelet numbers up. Its purpose is to prepare me for the VIV TAVR (Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) procedure/surgery scheduled for the next morning, Tuesday the 14th. Hopefully everything goes well and I will see an improvement in my anemia and the malfunctioning aortic valve. Prayers and thoughts are welcomed.

    The image is from a road trip I made back in 2013. This was taken at a coffee shop in Cortez, Colorado, called the Spruce Tree Espresso house. It changed its name to Bean Tree Coffee House and is now closed. I found the door inviting and led out onto a large outdoor patio area. I think it would be interesting to revisit these coffee shops, if they are still open, and see how they have changed, or not.

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  • architecture,  doors,  quotes

    Choosing Doors

    November 14, 2022

    “In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.”

    William Blake

    The sun has melted the morning frost. There is still a thin layer of ice on the pond. And we never got above 40 degrees today. Gray skies now dominate so it both looks and feels cold.

    In reference to Blake’s quote, I believe that each day does offer us doors to open or close. Today I both closed and opened doors. Due to exposure yesterday to Covid I changed my travel plans to spend an early Thanksgiving this week with my dad, my two sisters and brother-in-law and instead will celebrate his 94th birthday with him in January. There is no need to put my dad in any danger at his age. I feel a sadness. I want to be with my family.

    I understand we cannot totally isolate ourselves from covid or any other virus or anyone who is indifferent to another’s safety. Nor can we protect others from any danger. I’m aware people are gathering again in large groups as if things are okay or they will be okay. I’ve heard there is now a cruise ship in Australia with almost 800 cases of COVID detected. And, I have moved back into the coffee shop routine. Aware that I am taking a risk for exposure, or worse yet, exposing someone. Yes, we have doors to choose, to open or close. I’m rethinking my stance on all this and may open fewer coffee shop doors and close a few. Just thinking out loud.

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