• natural areas,  quotes,  reflections

    Curiosity

    Reflections at Arapaho Bend Natural Area this morning

    No, it’s not fools who turn mystic. It takes a certain amount of intelligence and imagination to realize the extraordinary queerness and mysteriousness of the world in which we live. The fools, the innumerable fools, take it for granted, skate about cheerfully on the surface and never think of inquiring what’s underneath.

    Allows Huxley

    I must say our fall colors are truly popping now. I see trees that are almost naked. I also see trees glowing and radiating in the gold, yellow, red and bronze colors of fall, their leaves excitedly dancing with the wind. I am glad to be at a place in my life of witnessing the extraordinary queerness and mysteriousness of the world in which we live. My hope is that I never lose the curiosity Mark mentions in his comment a few days ago. I wish that we all be the curious mystics we are meant to be. Met my friend Eric for coffee this morning and saw this scene on the way home. Enjoy your Saturday.

  • natural areas,  quotes,  sunrises

    Beautiful Fall Day

    “I longed for church to be a place where Mystery is experienced, not explained.”

    Victoria Loorz

    It was 33 degrees as I scrapped frost off my windshield this morning. I bundled up and with a pour-over coffee in hand I headed to watch the sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area. Nary a cloud to be seen and the whole day has been like that. What a wonderful church I attend!

    Gathered with friends today at noon, which is always a good thing. Then met up with friends this afternoon who are in town for a visit. Good conversation, sharing our experiences and food. Yes, it’s been a beautiful fall day. Hope you enjoyed your weekend and have a wonderful week! 😊

  • natural areas,  sunrises

    Finding the Light

    There Is a Light Within You

    I’ve said many things, but at the heart
    of them all is this: There is a light
    within you, in your soul, uncreated
    and uncreatable; it simply is.

    If you wish to know yourself,
    look for this light in the dark;
    it is ever present, even when
    you’ve lost sight of it. Look
    away from what you think
    you are, and look deeper into
    the darkness that is within.

    There you’ll find that light
    which is ever present,
    even if no one – not
    even you – notices.

    Meister Eckhart’s Book of Darkness & Light

    We have a lovely fall day with blue skies and sunshine. Will meet my friend Larry for lunch and conversation. Thanks for all who have let me know what they are finding with this new theme. Much appreciated.

  • clouds,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Red Horizon

    Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.

    Dag Hammarskjold

    A cold, biting breeze blew out of the west this morning at Pineridge Natural Area. I felt the chill deep within my body as the red and pink sky hugged the eastern horizon. Yet, I had no desire to be anywhere else. Hope you have had a good day.

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

    A Better Start

    “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

    George Bernard Shaw

    Well today is starting out much better, no flat tire to change. Arrived early at Pineridge Natural Area. Looks like that same heron fishing along the water’s edge and in the same spot. The light wind stirred the water’s surface with tiny ripples. A flock of magpies were making quite the fuss in a group of trees. Took 7 photos before heading to Mugs where Jess made me an Old Town Mocha. There was no interest in watching the sunrise for me. Met up with my friend Duane today. He and Jan are in town for a few days before heading south of Tucson for the winter. Hope you had a great day and be sure to do something!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    Website Issues

    Predawn colors at Pineridge Natural Area

    I have been struggling with my website off and on for three weeks. It finally came to a halt on Wednesday when all I could do was go to the homepage and my dashboard. All other links seemed to be broken. I have already had two people contact me through email asking if there was anything wrong. I’ve had four chat sessions with Bluehost and no resolution. This morning in my fifth chat session they finally seem to have solved the error. Seems the permalinks were messed up. I just never go to that place on my dashboard so I have no idea how it was changed or if it became confused. All I know is I’m confused with this stuff but it is back up and seems to be working.

    In the meantime I’ve have been playing with Squarespace for three days with their 14 day unlimited free trials. The cost is about the same. I will continue to look into it and play with it. I know Joe uses Squarespace and seems satisfied. Like him I only want to post blogs, show my images, and stay connected with fellow bloggers. I am not selling anything so none of that interests me. Who knows I may be on a new platform next week.

    I also had my cars hood insulation repaired on the 21st when the raccoons tore it up last April. Well they did it again four days after I had it replaced, for the third time now in four years. However I did make it up to Pineridge NA yesterday morning for the predawn colors and quiet. The water was smooth as glass. A couple of ducks floated along and one blue heron stood fishing along the waters edge. It was a good way to end the week on a Friday. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  • landscape,  moon,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Coffee and Conversation

    It had been a few weeks since I visited Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and thought last night was a good time to remedy that. I went to journal in the sun before it set. Silence surrounded me except for a lone meadowlark singing every once in awhile. I loved the waxing crescent moon set in the cloudless blue sky. I’m off to meet Eric for coffee and conversation. Enjoy your Saturday!!