• clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  sunsets

    Those Were Good Days

    I attended a friend’s retirement party this past week. On my way home I noticed the late afternoon clouds allowing the sun’s rays to stretch out over the water. Without much thought I pulled into the parking lot so I could take a photo. Wonderful memories of my youth ran through my mind. I lived about nine blocks south of this spot. So, I would ride my bicycle to this lake and fish for Crappie along this south bank. This side of the lake was lined with large rocks and cottonwood trees, whose roots reached into the water, providing a wonderful habitat for the fish.

    Late afternoon light over Lake Loveland

    Lake Loveland was created in 1893 out of a swampy depression known as Hays Lake. In early years, the primary purpose of the lake was irrigation for farming, but the majority of the lake is now owned by the City of Greeley who uses it for a domestic water source. The lake is fed by ditch waters diverted from the Big Thompson river. When full, Lake Loveland fills a basin of 475 acres with a deep-water depth mark of 39.45 feet. After loading the images onto my computer I felt a bit regretful not staying longer, letting more memories rise in my mind and soul. Those were good days.

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  nature,  poems

    Refreshed

    There is a place where the town ends,
    and the fields begin.
    It’s not marked but the feet know it,
    also the heart that is longing for refreshment
    and, equally, for repose.

    Mary Oliver, Boundaries from her book Red Bird

    I enjoy my little excursions to what Mary calls in her poem a place where town ends. I am also aware I frequent them more often. I’m seldom conscious of when I cross that unmarked line and things change. But, I do feel it in my body as it gradually relaxes. I believe nature is lovingly offering me (and all of us) a place of rest and tranquility within her embrace. What I see, hear, smell, and feel are enhanced. I gently find myself feeling a part of nature. Even refreshed!

  • clouds,  poems

    A Cloud

    I wandered lonely as a cloud
    That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
    When all at once I saw a crowd,
    A host, of golden daffodils;
    Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
    Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

    Continuous as the stars that shine
    And twinkle on the milky way,
    They stretched in never-ending line
    Along the margin of a bay:
    Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
    Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

    The waves beside them danced; but they
    Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
    A poet could not but be gay,
    In such a jocund company:
    I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
    What wealth the show to me had brought:

    For oft, when on my couch I lie
    In vacant or in pensive mood,
    They flash upon that inward eye
    Which is the bliss of solitude;
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils.

    William Wordsworth (1802)
  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  storm clouds

    An Artist of Our Days

    Clouds on my walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area.

    Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become.

    John O’Donohue

    It’s taken a few years to see myself as any sort of an artist. That was primarily because I believed in that voice telling me I wasn’t. And yet, I always had those dreams of what could be. So, I can regretful, remorseful for listening to that negative voice or be the artist of my remaining days. I am doing what I can to be the creative I can be. And, I do that one day at a time, learning from each failure. I also believe everyone is an artist of their days! It is through your shares and your blogs that I know some of you are painting, gardening, flying drones, learning new forms of art, traveling and more. Happy Wednesday!

  • landscape,  National Parks,  Rocky Mountain National Park

    Sprague Lake

    “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”

    Laura Ingalls Wilder

    My friends Duane and Jan are working in an RV park in Estes Park so I made a day trip up there yesterday. We grabbed a bite to eat then headed into Rocky Mountain National Park. It has been a while since I ventured into the park for photos. The day was wonderful and fulfilling as we got to see moose, elk, deer and the beauty of nature. We took a nice walk around Sprague Lake where this image was taken. Sprague Lake is a very shallow lake built up by Abner Sprague to support the lodge he operated here from 1920-1940. Most of the lake is no more than a few feet deep and at times you may see elk or moose out in the middle of it. It has a 3/4 mile walking trail around the lake with many photo opportunities.

  • landscape,  natural areas,  nature,  quotes,  storm clouds

    Its self and its form are one…

    Ominous clouds and rain at the Trailhead

    The poet wants to drink from the well of origin; to write the poem that has not yet been written. In order to enter this level of originality, the poet must reach beyond the chorus of chattering voices that people the surface of a culture. Furthermore, the poet must reach deeper inward; go deeper than the private hoard of voices down to the root-voice. It is here that individuality has the taste of danger, vitality and vulnerability. Here the creative has the necessity of inevitability; this is the threshold where imagination engages raw, unformed experience. This is the sense you have when you read a true poem. You know it could not be other than it is. Its self and its form are one.

    John O’Donohue

    I felt a bit restless and leaning on the discontent side of things Sunday afternoon. I would say it’s what O’Donohue calls “the private hoard of voices” that sometimes hang out in my head. My solution was some journaling time, a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and connecting to the poem of nature (I like that phrase). After journaling I decided I better get a walk in before it rained as the wind had picked up and darker clouds slowly moved in. Good timing as It began sprinkling by the time I walked back to the car but it never did rain. I have been fascinated by some wonderful clouds this spring and Sunday was another day for them. I accepted the gift nature offered me and now offer it to you!

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  quotes

    Search for Truth

    In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful adherents, and it makes them fanatical because they are forced to suppress elements of truth of which they are dimly aware.

    Paul Tillich

    I wish the church of my youth had encouraged me to seek my elements of truth rather than telling me what the truth was. Their truth has never been my truth.

    This is a panorama from 8 images stitched together in LIghtroom of falling rain and storm clouds stretching across the city of Fort Collins. Enjoy your Saturday! It’s time for a Dove’s dark chocolate. And, yes, another image of clouds.