My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Empty French Press on an overcast and misting morning
Good morning. It is misting and at 25 degrees a fine layer of ice is covering everything. As I took in the view from my bedroom window, I thought this would make a decent image that expressed the mood of this morning.
Awe and Wonder…
With eyes fixed on the horizon I realize how small, insignificant I am in this vast universe.
Yet, within me there’s a sense I am a part of all this, of being connected, even though a small part.
I cannot define, comprehend or name this sense within me but at this moment I feel this huge mysterious love.
May we be the gift we were meant to be, created to be. May we never lose the awe and wonder of living this life!
Morning sunlight on tables outside of Cups Coffee shop
Before going to bed last night I decided I would go to Cups Coffee this morning and buy a latte. I ache inside for the small businesses struggling to stay in business so it was my way of supporting them. When I bought some food supplies yesterday I noticed they were open. They now have the shop completely quarantined, primarily taking call in orders only. I was able to step inside the front door, order my drink then step outside and wait for them bring it outside. That’s when this image was seen. Drink for the day was a matcha latte with lavender syrup. Much prefer honey rather than the lavender. I heard a new for many of us yesterday, we’re now called quarantiners. And, yes, Websters has that name in their dictionary. 🙂
I started working on a photography book well over a year ago where I intended to include excerpts from my journals along with some of my favorite images, primarily to leave for my children and grandchildren. About three months ago I read what I’d written, thought it was sh*t, told myself I’m not a writer and put it down. Well, this quarantine time beckoned me to look at what I could do with the writing. I’m not sure what but something happened. A clear mind maybe, but it began morphing into a style of writing I’m not used to. I’ve read several names and styles of writing called prose, poetry, haiku, poetic prose, poetic journals, and a bunch more. Anyway, I’m having fun with it. My last post had my feeble, and first, attempt to write in some form of poetic prose on this site.
Sunrise from my wicker rocker at my bay window in my bedroom
I’m pretty much in a self induced quarantine, maintaining physical distancing. I think I’m adjusting to doing without my lattes and coffee shop community, although it is not easy. Morning coffee is made with a french press and I bought some different coffee beans that I really do like. In many ways it’s nice to spend a bit more time at home. I’m also getting in a walk or two each day for physical health and sanity.
Right now I’m in my wicker rocker looking out the bay window of my bedroom that faces southeast. The sun has just crested the neighboring apartments so I now have bright sunshine in my face and almost done with my cup of coffee. So,what to do with a full day ahead.
Some of you may not believe this but I have a corner in my living room where a pile of stuff is slowly growing in height and width. I’ve always told myself the reason I have not picked up this pile in the corner of my living room was because I didn’t have the time. Well, I now know that is not the reason. 🙂 Maybe today. Or Saturday.
The Peace of Wild Things When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
This mornings baristas and their smiles – Sure makes the day brighter
I took the bus to campus so I could sit near the gas fireplace in the Legacy Lounge and use their internet. At the bottom of the stairs is a small coffee shop that lickily is still open. I had to laugh at myself and share with them how my mind was wondering if they would be open when I came around the corner. Their business is slow so they they seemed glad to see me. But not as I glad as I was to see them.
Doesn’t look like the First Day of Spring
This was at the bus stop this morning. Sure doesn’t look like spring. Everything is so quiet. The Lory Student Center has been so quiet the past three days I’ve come here. There is no piped music and no students. Not sure how long I will be able to come here as things progress with more reported cases, restrictions and fear.
With all this free time at home I’ve been reflecting on memories of my youth, those years from five into my mid-teens. Life seemed simple back then. As a family we always ate our evening meal at home and always together. That was because we did not have much money and second there were not that many restaurants available. It’s different now.
Television was still in its’ younger days. Channels shutdown by midnight with the black test screen. Many of us still had black and white televisions with rabbit ears and at most, 3-5 channels. The evening news would come on at 5:00 for about an hour while a second at 10:00 pm. There was no 24/7 news from multiple sources with differing viewpoints. It’s different now.
We had one phone for the entire family to use and it hung on the wall. It was a party line so we needed to pickup the phone and make sure no one was using it before dialing. It had a rotary dial. It’s different now.
I found feathers strewn all over the back side of the bus stop this morning. Looks like a goose fight or a hawk may have found a feast. I was taken by the small frost crystals on the feather and knelt down to take this image. We will be seeing fewer mornings with frost over the next month or so. We reached 68 degrees today so it was a beautiful Colorado day.
Give you an update on my simple surgery. To fix the ventral hernia they increased the length of the scar from my heart surgery. Hurts me to laugh and cough. Have not sneezed yet nor wanting to. I did not sleep well both Tuesday and Wednesday nights due to pain and discomfort. Slept much better last night and today was much better. Before I left for the bus this morning I put on a crockpot of sausage and vegetable soup, which I enjoyed this evening. Love my crockpot!
