My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
“Love is not just something that
happens to you… it is a certain
special way of being alive. Love
is, in fact, an intensification of
life, a completeness, a fullness,
a wholeness of life.” Thomas Merton
Today is my sister’s birthday! Don’t let her know how I see her as a gift to us because it will go to her head! Have a super Awesome day! I ❤ you, Marcee!
Took the bus this morning to coffee and also to drop off my ballot at the drop box located on campus. Taking the bus is much easier than driving and finding a place to pay to park. I also need the walking. I took this image as I stepped off the bus. It has been several weeks since we have been able to see Longs Peak due to the smoke from the fires. A cold front brought in high winds yesterday that cleared the air, blew leaves into Kansas and also brought much needed moisture to the Cameron Peak fire. More wind is predicted for today, both a curse and a blessing. It was nice to not smell smoke this morning.
“But perhaps, rather than seeking to be loved, we should seek to be love.”
Cedric
This past Sunday evening, because there wasn’t have much smoke in the air, I made a quick run out to Reservoir Ridge. Just as I pulled up the sun began dropping behind the mountains. I grabbed the camera and got in 6 images before the scene was gone. The wind changed Sunday night, coming from the north-northwest, causing the smoke to drift over the city and front range. We expect more of the same today with a light foggy look to everything.
Anyway, after taking the 6 images I did a walk to the bridge and back, about 3 miles. I had eaten a burrito earlier so I left my camera and journal behind and focused on the walk, jotting down what I experienced later. I’m noticing it is getting colder now that we’re in the first week of October. The humidity from the irrigated hay field next to the trail makes it even cooler for the first quarter mile. As I approached the pond I could hear the chorus of red winged blackbirds and yellow-headed blackbirds among the cattails. They sounded louder than usual and seemed like there were more of them. A sudden lull in their chorus caused me to stop walking, ears perked, but they quickly started up again. I then heard mallards calling out and watched as they made their landing approach onto the pond for the night. I watched milkweed follicles being released from their pods, floating across the open fields, clinging to leaves, cattails, rabbitbrush, natures velcro. Trees were showing their fall colors and releasing leaves for their fall descent. Even with cooler weather the mosquitoes buzzed around me but I don’t seem sweet enough to bite. When I returned to the car I couldn’t help but smile at the beauty I experienced in that short hour, even with the fires burning. Then a question crossed my mind from something I read this past week, does nature also seek “to be love” as Cedric suggests?
Thursday and Friday of last week were very smokey over the city. The smoke filters the sun and changes the colors and shadows of everything, bringing on an otherworldly look. It has an affect on peoples moods, adding stress to the pandemic and our countries unrest. On Friday evening I drove out to one of the natural areas because I thought I may find an image to show just how the smoke looks from here. The top image was taken about an hour before sunset, all is dark and gloomy and the sun has a deep red color.
Thankfully, not everyday is like this. Saturday was a nice reprieve, winds blew in our favor so we enjoyed blue skies and not as much soot and ash falling on us. I’m wearing my mask practically all of the time and have my windows and doors closed just because of the snoke. It’s a good time to stay inside. Our Colorado sunsets are just not the same.
They are using the open field north of the CSU Research Center as a helicopter staging area, which is next to the Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. The above image was taken last night as one of the helicopters was ending their day. I think there were six or seven helicopters on the ground, fuel trucks and mechanics waiting for them. As you can see the smoke sits atop of us, no blue sky. Very little wind. Even after receiving 14 inches of snow the fire smolders. As the fuel drys the fire burns a bit more each day and is unfortunately making its way towards Red Feathers Lake and Crystal Lakes where there are several homes and cabins. They are unincorporated communities and census-designated places and of course a post office. They have been under a voluntary evacuation for a couple weeks now. The smoke is visible this morning and makes the throat tender.
I had my first encounter with a rattlesnake at the nature area between taking these two images. It was nice having several people warn me about the snake and where it was located. Once I approached the snake it made sure to shake it’s rattlers and let me know it’s physical distancing boundaries. I admit it was difficult to see it but easy to hear it. It was coiled about six inches off the trail and ready to strike if anyone dared to cross it’s boundaries. I wasn’t in a daring mood so I respected those boundaries. I even began a dialogue with it hoping to help it relax a bit, it seemed rather tense. Told it I was only passing by and to have a good night.
Late yesterday afternoon we saw a break in the clouds bringing small patches of blue sky and sunshine. Made my heart sing and brought a smile to my face. Now enjoying a morning mocha. Will have lunch with my youngest daughter, Monica. My afternoon highlight will be cleaning the bathroom!
“Let the truth be in your hearts, as it will be if you practise meditation, and you will see clearly what love we are bound to have for our neighbors.” The Way of Perfection
I needed to get another 3,500 steps in yesterday afternoon so I drove to Dixon Reservoir and walked around the reservoir to get them in. The sun had dropped below the mountains making it much cooler as it was a hot day. It was different today as we had almost no clouds for the whole day. Rather unusual for us.