• landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  sunsets

    Seek to be love

    October 6, 2020
    Sunset at Reservoir Ridge with smoke from the Cameron Peak fire.

    “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?

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  • Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  sunsets,  trees

    Nice Reprieve

    October 4, 2020
    An image of the sun about to set at a local park on Tuesday evening

    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.

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  • clouds,  horizons,  Humor,  landscape,  quotes,  rants,  sunsets,  writing/reading

    More…

    September 23, 2020

    The hidden sun

    “Simplicity is always the secret, to a profound truth, to doing things, to writing, to painting. Life is profound in its simplicity.” ― Charles Bukowski

    Over the past 15 years I have have in some ways simplified my life. I do not have as much material things and still in the process of getting rid of more. What I believe Bukowski is referring to is the way we live our lives rather than letting go of our possessions. For me the older I get the more I live a simple life. Just slowing down is simplifying. I’ve heard people say less is better but when I meditate on that I’m not sure that’s the case. For me the secret to a simple life is reading more, journaling more, walking more and slower, more solitude and silence, sitting before more sunsets, more moments of listening to the wind whisper through the leaves and more Doves chocolates. 😊 

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  • clouds,  Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets,  trees

    …have a good night.

    September 17, 2020
    Helicopter landing and setting sun

    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.

    Sunset at Reservoir Ridge during Cameron Peak Fire

    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.

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  • haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunsets,  writing/reading

    Sacred Finale

    September 14, 2020

    Setting sun on my walk at Reservoir Ridge Nature Area

    sun sets in the west
    starburst on the horizon 
    sacred finale

    ms

    It is that time of the year when the air quickly cools down as soon as the sun drops below the horizon. My body noticed the temperature drop so shortly after I took this image I headed back to the car. I now walk one of the natural areas almost every day. I drive to a couple and within walking distance to two near my home. When I drive to Pineridge and Reservoir Ridge I find more quiet from the city noise. So, I prefer to go there. Reservoir Ridge is probably my favorite natural area right now. It has been closed for three days due to muddy trails from the snow we had earlier in the week.

    You can still see smoke in the sky from the Cameron Peak fire and the fires from the west coast. The Cameron Peak fire is not out but smoldering under several inches of snow. I can smell the smoke this morning. This mornings update says, “With warm temperatures, low humidity and a sunny day the snow continued to melt rapidly, and the fire activity became more noticeable.” The snow has definitely helped in quieting the fire for the last few days but the danger is not over. Thankfully, we are in a much better situation than the west coast.

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  sunsets

    Here we go again…

    August 23, 2020

    Helicopter with bucket heading to the latest fire, the Lewstone Fire

    Yesterday afternoon a new fire began in the Rist Canyon Area. It began as a brush fire and is located about 12 miles from my condo. The above image was taken yesterday evening around 6:40 pm at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, a favorite hangout for me. Here is what that scene normally looks like at sunset. This is in the same vicinity of the High Park fire back in 2012 that burned over 87,000 acres and killed one woman. Needless to say the air quality is horrible at the present moment. We are now getting smoke from our two fires and but also the smoke from California fires are now moving into the area, even reaching as far east as Nebraska. 

    If you look closely in this image you can see the helicopter carrying a bucket of water to the fire. They have brought in firefighters from the Cameron Peak Fire in an attempt to gain control as quickly as possible. But, we are talking about nature which we have no control over. Last report I saw this morning the fire had grown to 140 acres at 11:00 pm last night with 0% containment. 

    The Cameron Peak fire is now over 19,000 acres and at 0% containment. Weather conditions are not good. Temperatures are expected to be in the 90’s the next five days with no precipitation. I’m inside this morning with my door closed because of the smoke. Not burying my head in the sand but trying not to take in any more smoke and soot than necessary. Probably not going to run a marathon today but I will try to get my walk in.

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