My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
I need to live for acceptance and joy in the unique, worthy, lovable, beautiful, sacred, being that I am and to tolerate the same thing in others…I’m learning to love my imperfections; in the end, they make me who I am, in all my flawed glory.
Richard Wagamese, Embers
The truest statement in the world is “you never know.” There is always something to evoke wonder, to wonder about, because this world, this life, this universe, this reality is far more than just the sum of its parts. Even the slightest detail contains much more. The overwhelming awe and wonder we feel teaches us more than we can ever glean or come to know of things. In the presence of that wonder, the head has no answers and the heart has no questions.
Richard Wagamese
“… we think that accomplishing things will complete us, when it is experiencing life that will.”
Mark Nepo
Nature put on another show this morning by painting the eastern sky with its palate of colors: orange, gold, pink and purple. She also placed a full moon over the mountains in the west. It seemed that no matter which direction I faced, I was experiencing life to its fullest. I then met friends for coffee and conversation to complete the morning. I hope you are enjoying your Sunday!
“Most of us lead far more meaningful lives than we know.
Rachel Naomi Remen
Often finding meaning is not about doing things differently;
it is about seeing familiar things in new ways.”
I stepped out into the street to grab this image of a familiar scene while waiting outside Mugs coffee shop on Laurel.
No one got hurt!
“Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph;
Edward Weston
not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.”
My schedule this morning was discombobulated because they sent me a message saying they were not opening the coffee shop until later due to maintenance. I forwarded that message to Jeff so he would not drive from Windsor and find it closed. I grabbed my camera and headed to Arapaho Bend Natural Area. As I drove over there I watched the sky turn from red to pink then settle into its gold warm glow of the new day. My eyes were excited by the clouds so I wanted to share the beauty I saw in them. I set up my camera and tripod and hung around for a while. This was the one I chose to post today out of the 15 I took. After a half hour or so I went to a small coffee shop called Lima Coffee Roasters and paid way too much for a mocha.
The quote by Edward Weston reminds me of how often we do not see the usual subject matter of life that the mystic, the contemplative, the poet, the creative, the photographer, seems to see. And each of them must be awake, aware and open to the moment we are experiencing. I believe he nailed it! I hope you have a wonderful day!!
A good way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is time at Pineridge Natural Area. Joining me this morning at chapel were three Mule Deer, a couple of cottontails, a small choir of ducks and geese on Dixon Reservoir, a lone fisherman standing on the shore, and the nonstop chatter of magpies. We were finally gifted with a lovely afternoon rainstorm yesterday. It brought such a refreshing scent of rain, bright clear skies and if you were present to the moment, the loving touch of Creation. Morning chapel!
… like me, then consider yourself really kool and above average!!!
I loved the morning clouds of predawn at Pineridge Natural Area. I took several images of different compositions. However, none of the images turned out good because I forgot to turn off my IBIS (in body image stabilization). Anyway here are some purdy clouds at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. I hope you have a great day!
This morning has had the feel, look and smell like fall. My bicycle ride was refreshing and brisk to the coffee shop. Nature offered her lovely sky canvas painted with delicate clouds and subtle colors. I stopped a couple of times to take photos and appreciate the gift of the moments. I listened to birds singing. Had two whitetail does ignore me as they grazed along the trail. With experiences like this each morning I enjoy my rides even more. My barista this morning was Madi, my drink was an Old Town mocha and I had good conversations with the regulars! Yes, I am appreciating the gift of the moments!
Some may think each sunrise is the same but I tend to differ. I rise early to experience the birthing of a new day. I place myself before each new day and what it brings and to see what I can bring to each new day. This was the morning’s sunrise on campus. I hope you had a good weekend!
“One of the most sacred duties of one’s destiny is the duty to be yourself. When you come to accept yourself and like yourself, you learn not to be afraid of your own nature.”
John O’Donohue, Anam Cara
The eastern sky was a lovely shade of pink this morning during my quiet time. A beautiful gift from Mother Nature. It was about 51 degrees when I mounted the red steed for my ride to the coffee shop. The brisk ride always makes the mocha latte seem better. I stopped to take this image as the sun broke through the trees along Spring Creek Trail. If you notice the trail splits. I usually take the left turn which goes to the underpass on Prospect Rd. and onto campus. And of course I love clouds. You may see more images from this area. It has been cool and cloudy most of the day and I am quite happy with that. The ride to the coffee shop is 3.2 miles. When I take this route I have only two blocks of traffic to deal with. The rest of it is trail and campus paths with only pedestrians and cyclists. Have a wonderful weekend!