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

    Showing off the clouds

    October 15, 2026

    I had my first Mohs surgery today to remove one of two spots because of basal cell carcinoma. I will have the second one done next week. It was a pretty simple procedure. They needed to take a second tissue sample to get it and about three hours of surgery time. I now have 10 stitches just below my left ear. I am a bit sore around the incision due to the trauma.

    As I mentioned earlier my car is also sick and is in the hospital for surgery. I am having a couple of oil leaks taken care of which requires them to pull the engine. I’ve been without a car for a couple of weeks now. On Monday I picked up a loaner car because I had something to do on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday morning I drove their loaner car to the coffee shop before going to my luncheon in Loveland. When I went to leave I had a parking ticket. I did not know what violation I had committed until I got home and read over the ticket. Turns out the dealer plates were expired. I then drove to the dealership where Conner embarrassingly took the ticket, said he would take care of the ticket and got the license plates current. I’m good to go.

    It has been raining for the past three days. About mid morning the clouds finally broke and the sun and wind came out. I made a quick run to Pineridge Natural Area for the above photo of the clouds this afternoon. I am now in for the night. I have some catching up on your posts to do.

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

    It’s the clouds

    September 30, 2026
    Predawn light at Pineridge Natural Area this morning

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

    Morning Chapel

    September 20, 2026

    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!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    If you’re a cloud lover…

    September 16, 2026

    … 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!

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

    A Short Story

    September 8, 2026
    Sunrise yesterday morning at Pineridge Natural Area

    “There is a Sufi story about a man who is so good that the angels ask God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely tells them to ask him if that is what he would wish.

    So the angels visit this good man and offer him first the gift of healing by hands, then the gift of conversion of souls, and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. They insist that he choose a gift or they will choose one for him. “Very well,” he replies. “I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.” The story ends this way:

    The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: Every time the saint’s shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him the shadow made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women. The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without ever being aware of it. The people respecting his humility followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him “the Holy Shadow.”

    Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal
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  • clouds,  flutes,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  writing/reading

    Sacred Time

    August 31, 2026
    This is my Jon Norris flute in the key of G# that is made from Ambrosia Maple.

    Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
    Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.
    Take down a musical instrument.
    Let the beauty we love be what we do.
    There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

    Rumi

    I made another trip to Pineridge Natural Area today about mid morning. Things were rather quiet there. I walked out to the bench and sat down to let nature share a sacred moment with me. I then did some journaling, played the flute and took a few photos. With the light cloud cover it provided lovely diffused light. The sun was still warm but a cool breeze was just what I needed. So was the journaling and flute playing. They say showers are possible around 3 pm.

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

    Saturday Morning

    August 29, 2026

    “Certain things in life simply have to be experienced -and never explained.”

    Paulo Coelho, Maktub

    I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area this morning to watch and photograph the predawn colors and the sunrise. It was a good experience and a good way to start my Saturday or any day for that matter. I then headed to Windsor and met Eric for coffee. I hope you have had a good Saturday!

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

    A nice start to this day…

    August 13, 2026

    Within each of us there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe.
    And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.

    Gunilla Norris

    I have not been to Pineridge Natural Area in quite some time so I changed that this morning. It is supposed to rain later today, which means there would be a chance for colors with clouds at sunrise. I parked, turned off the car and was met with silence. I was given a bit of pink color along the horizon and the air was clear of smoke. Dixon Reservoir was calm and offered a nice reflection. I took a few photos then left to meet Jeff at the coffee shop. Sunrise and silence, coffee and conversation with a friend, always a nice start to the day.

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

    Their Noise Machines

    August 4, 2026
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area – August 2025

    “There are some places so beautiful they can make a grown man break down and weep.”

     Edward Abbey

    It has been a rather cool day, a pleasant change from the past three weeks. I had blood draw last Friday and met with my hematologist this morning to go over those numbers. She was pleased with my numbers because they are stable. So all is good. They are working on the parking lot so we have had constant noise now for two days. The email said they will be done tomorrow. Seems man sure does enjoy their noise machines.

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

    Filled my gratitude bucket…

    June 14, 2026

    “Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path.”

    John O’Donohue

    We awoke to a light mist that hung around until about 8:30 am. From then on the clouds slowly gave way to blue sky and sunshine, making it a beautiful day. I drove to Pineridge Natural Area about 4:32 pm to journal and listen to the Magpies chatter. The opening blue sky and scattered clouds filled my gratitude bucket. I always seem to feel respect for nature and move into a place of silent prayer. Before I left, a meadowlark sang a simple song for me. I believe it knew I needed one. My day was made complete. I hope you had a good weekend and enjoy your coming week!

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