An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
We now have a forest fire about 60 miles west that is affecting us smoke. This was taken last night at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Here is a link to the fire status. This morning we can definitely smell the smoke as it hovers over the city. Sure has an eerie feel to it.
the day ends, and night begins
the night departs, and today arrives
the gift is offered, and a new day acceptedms
For a New Beginning
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.It watched you play with the seduction of safety,
And, the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plentitude opening before you.Though your destination is not yet clear,
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.Awaken your spirit to adventure;
John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
A short comment about the Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0 lens. Loving it! Crisp images. I’m impressed with the how close I can get for macro images. It is silent compared to the XF18-55mm f2.8-4.0 lens. The focus is almost negligible. I was worried at first with the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) because it is so quick. Thought I may have a bad lens but some experimenting let me know it does it’s job. At my age the OIS is a nice plus. For sure making me a better photographer. 😊
“When you have a moment, just listen to the beauty of silence. It has so much to say.”
Armin Ganguly
I found this article from the Sierra Club interesting. Some of you may have already read it or at least seen the headlines about it. The Sierra Club is apologizeing for some of the early directions the organization took and the views of some of their founders. I found it very revealing and helping me see my role of my privileged life.
“Like my father, I believe that nonviolence is the antidote to what he called ‘the triple evils of racism, poverty and militarism.’ These three evils were consuming our hopes for community in 1964, and, fifty years later, we remain divided because of their festering effects.” Bernice King
A troubling time for me. Awoke around 3:00 am with distressing thoughts and images running through my head. I have never felt such anxiety in our society, and the world, as I do now. We have those who seem focused on using violence as a solution to quell the voice of people. Haven’t we proven violence is not the solution. Let’s focus on the welfare of people rather than warfare on people.
I made my first visit to the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area yesterday afternoon and evening. I have driven up to the gate before but it was late so I did not venture in. Well, last night was different and well worth the time and drive. The isolation, the quiet and all those birds captured me immediately.
It is one of the Natural Areas maintained by the City of Fort Collins and includes over 28 square miles of wide open vistas, pristine grasslands, miles of trails and world-renowned cultural resources. The city has set it up to be an educational classroom for both young and adult. Excavations in the 1930s by the Smithsonian and Colorado Museum of Natural History conclusively dated human habitation in North America to at least 10,000 years ago and gave new insight into the Folsom culture. Needles, beads and stone tools were found, making the Lindenmeier site the most extensive Folsom culture campsite yet found. They have a herd of bison on over 1,000 acres of pasture but with no visitor access. However, I could see the herd when I drove in the gate with binoculars. It is a large area with no city lights so they have more stars out there. 😊 Another reason I’ll go back!