• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    A Touch of Red

    February 2, 2024

    Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.

    Wendell Berry

    Today is National Wear Red Day. This National Wear Red Day is a movement to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives. It seems nature wanted to join in by providing a touch of red on the eastern horizon. So, I’m wearing red!

    Rain is expected later this evening then turning to a snow/rain mix by morning. Nothing threatening but I must say any moisture is welcome. I was wide awake about 4:21 am. and got up around 4:30 am. I had my quiet time, a bowl of cereal then headed to one of my common grounds, Pineridge Natural Area. Glad I did!! Now doing laundry and clouds have moved in already! Enjoy your Friday!!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    Another Blue Sky

    February 1, 2024

    Before we get the incoming stormy weather this weekend I spent a quiet afternoon yesterday at one of the natural areas. Seemed several people had similar ideas. The trails were busy with walkers, joggers and bicyclists. I also noticed a few dogs out walking their owners.

    Another blue sky with a few clouds sprinkled in was just what I needed.

    Let me always be who I am, and then some.

    Mary Oliver

    I sat on a favorite bench to journal and noticed that even though it was busy there was a quiet around me. I would guess 85% of the Dixon Reservoir is still frozen, therefore no waterfowl. The warm sun and quiet stirred my desire to see spring and the return of our song birds. We are extremely dry so I hope this incoming snow brings the much needed moisture. We could also use a nice wet spring. Shot this image with that old Fujifilm XT-10 and XF18-55mm lens. Happy Thursday!!!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    …the ones I can

    January 31, 2024
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    As I took this image last week I wondered how many sunrises I’ve had over the decades of my life. Mathematically that number is over 27,000 opportunities. I say opportunities because I’ve missed more of these gifts than I’ve witnessed. Maybe I would have seen more if I could lay in my bed, under warm covers, and look out over this view but… The truth is there is no need to think about how many I missed or how many I have left. Because I would rather wake before dawn and make my way to some sanctuary to greet each new day whenever I can rather than count them. The numbers are irrelevant. The remaining days of this one life I have are a gift and within those remaining days are more sunrises. I’ll catch the ones I can.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    The Spiritual Path

    January 29, 2024
    A spiritual path at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    There are no shortcuts on the spiritual path, although many have tried to find one. Learning the lessons the spirit teaches takes time, patience, and perseverance. It requires a sense of discipline. It takes a level of self-awareness that can be difficult, because it requires that we are honest with ourselves. We have to look deeper. We have to study. We have to live a rule of life that never takes love for granted. It is not easy, but it is joyful. The sacred journey may take us up some very steep hills and demand we keep going on even when we are tired, but it shows us the wonder of life along the way and the purpose of life when the day is done.

    Steven Charleston, Ladder to the Light
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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    Us at our worst…

    January 26, 2024

    It’s good for us when, in spite of all of the sober, pragmatic, and even correct arguments that war is sometimes necessary, someone says: war is large-scale murder, us at our worst, the stupidest guy doing the cruelest thing to the weakest being.

    George Saunders

    I found the quiet and solitude at Pineridge Natural Area this afternoon to be just the medicine my troubled spirit needed. I say troubled because sometimes I feel like I can do nothing to eliminate the mindset that war is a solution. Yet, just writing my beliefs here may be more than enough. Therefore, I will say it again, violence has never brought peace and never will. It is us at our worst.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Dawn is the ultimate surprise…

    January 24, 2024

    In our mediocrity and distraction, we forget that we are privileged to live in a wondrous universe. Each day, the dawn unveils the mystery of this universe. Dawn is the ultimate surprise; it awakens us to the immense “thereness” of nature. The wonderful subtle color of the universe arises to clothe everything.

    John O’Donohue
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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Receiving Photographs

    January 23, 2024
    Clouds over Claymore Lake

    The diffused light late in the afternoon seems to play magic with clouds. I’m drawn to their beauty. So I drove out to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area late yesterday afternoon to watch nature play with the clouds and listen to the quiet. The air was still. I stood motionless, watching it all take shape. The quiet descended. It was a time for contemplation and for allowing myself to be touched at some deep level – a time for receiving photographs. I headed home knowing there would soon be a mysterious transformation into the darkness of night. And, it would happen without me.

    We have a beautiful day with clear skies and sunshine. May see temperatures into the upper 40s.

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