• bicycle rides,  bicycling,  coffee life,  landscape,  sunrises

    Bacon Toast

    July 4, 2026
    Bacon Toast
    Spring Creek this morning

    I treated myself to something new this morning at Mugs, called Bacon Toast. It is bacon, avocado, sprouts, feta cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze over sourdough toast. It was well worth my money. My day has been quiet. After my ride to the coffee shop and time with the community I celebrate there, I made sure I ate a couple hot dogs with chips and a piece of peach pie. It wouldn’t be the 4th without the hot dogs! Not the healthiest eating day for me but… I hope you enjoyed your celebration of our 250th anniversary.

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  • bicycling,  campus,  coffee life,  shadows

    The Last Leg

    June 21, 2026
    Shadows across CSU Oval

    This is the last leg of my bicycle ride to one of my favorite coffee shops. And for many of us at the end of this path awaits one of our baristas, always greeting us with a smile, a drink of our choice, and one or two of the irregular/regulars to commiserate with. And it almost never fails that we find one of the squirrels-of-the-oval, at almost every other tree, encouraging us along on this last leg of the mornings journey. And Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers!!!

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  quotes

    Keeping a journal…

    June 19, 2026

    Keeping a journal has taught me that there is not so much new in your life as you sometimes think. When you re-read your journal you find out that your latest discovery is something you already found out five years ago. Still, it is true that one penetrates deeper and deeper into the same ideas and the same experiences.

    Thomas Merton

    When I journal I write about my thoughts, questions, dreams, fears, and journal about what I see around me in this world. But I also journal because I believe there are words to discover within these fountain pens when I penetrate deep enough. So I am learning to not spend time trying to analyze or criticize what I write. I just write them down in my journal because they may be seeds for other ideas to write about and I desire those seeds. Journaling is a gift to and for me. And, yes, I do reread them to see what I have relearned. May you enjoy your weekend!

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  • barista,  Candid Portraits,  coffee life,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    But I’m learning

    June 16, 2026
    My adopted baristas: scheduling, ordering supplies, creating a newsletter, marketing, and smiling.

    And I learned something from Mr. Theo.
    God gave us faces so we can see each other better.
    I used to not look at people’s faces so much.
    But I’m learning.

    Allen Levi, Theo of Golden

    It’s a hot day here in Colorado, showing 92 degrees right now. Blue skies and sunshine dominate. A nice breeze blows through and cools it down while singing a song and dancing with the trees. Robins are singing, blue jays making their raucous calls, and the bumbling of the fountain in the pond. I hope you had the chance to look into someone’s face today and offer them a smile.

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee life,  People/Portraits

    We are all so kool!

    May 22, 2026
    John, one of the regulars and one kool dude

    Someone said it seems that Mugs is the coffee shop that I frequent the most. They are correct. My first reason is because it’s close to my condo. The second reason is they have the best prices. I pay one dollar less for the same drink as I do at Starry Night. The third reason is they also give us a discount if we bring our cup in. Fourth, I have adopted all of the baristas as my grandchildren. Sixth, I have also established a large community of fellow coffee customers, which I refer to as the irregulars. They add to my coffee life more than they know! Seventh, I go to coffee shops because they offer an alternative place to journal and read than my condo. And eighth, I come here for the ego boost this life offers. You see, the baristas and customers, we’re all so kool! Have a great weekend!

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  • coffee life,  quotes,  rain,  street photography

    … and live it!

    May 18, 2026

    “In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.”

    Barack Obama

    This is looking out my windshield when I pulled up to the coffee shop this morning. I was surprised to see a half dozen people riding bicycles on my way to the coffee shop. They are hardier souls than me! We awoke to overcast skies and this gentle but steady rain, which is nurturing both nature and our souls. I hope they are correct when they say it may rain like this all day. As a beautiful metaphor, I would like to suggest that each raindrop is a symbol of each of us, which in union with other raindrops gives much hope for positive change and nurturing which our world desperately needs. Yes, let’s believe it is possible for us to be the change our world needs and live it!

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  • bicycle rides,  clouds,  coffee life

    The Morning Ride

    May 12, 2026
    Altocumulus Clouds in the west from this morning’s ride to the coffee shop

    When I opened my blinds this morning, I could see the crescent moon in the southern sky and it brought a smile to my face. After some quiet time and cereal I enjoyed an absolutely lovely bicycle ride to and from the coffee shop as can be seen in this image. Meg was my barista which brought another smile to my face. And the conversation at the coffee shop was as stimulating as the coffee. We even stayed longer than normal. I had my monthly luncheon with a few of my classmates later at a park in Loveland. And, again good conversations were shared! After I post this I plan on working on my dad’s photo book, getting in some journaling time and maybe a walk. I loved these altocumulus clouds on my ride this morning. These clouds were along both the east and west horizons and stopping for a photograph seemed mandatory. 

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    This morning’s smile, or grin…

    April 21, 2026

    Here’s a candid portrait of one of the regulars that shows up irregularly. Wait, maybe that’s one the irregulars who shows up regularly. Wait, maybe it’s both! Anyway, he works at campus and was on his way to a meeting so he stopped to grab some caffeine and said “Hi.” What a gift to see him again. He’s a good man! And, now that you know who he is, say “Hi Shawn” the next time you see him.

    “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

    Marcus Aurelius
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