• clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Favorite Moments

    courage to persist
    listening for our answer
    robins morning song

    ms

    Watching the first light of this new day, the moon setting in the west while the sun brightens the eastern sky. A gentle wind blows, prompting the meadow grasses to dance. A pelican bobs on the waves of the reservoir. Robins sing their morning song for me. A hawk effortlessly soars on the wind currents high above the reservoir. These are calming moments for my soul to begin the day. We have a chance for rain today, much needed moisture.

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

    A Unified Whole

    This morning’s sunrise

    “We must also take active steps to live in harmony with the rest of creation. This means that we cannot adopt attitudes or beliefs that place us above the natural world. We cannot see ourselves as having dominion over the land, the water, or the animals. We can’t even see ourselves as being stewards of the Earth. We are only keepers of a way of life that is in harmony with the Earth. Every day, we must act in ways that acknowledge that we are part of one living system, a unified whole.”

    Sherri Mitchell

    In case you do not know Sherri Mitchell is an Indigenous Rights attorney and the executive director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the protection of Indigenous land and water rights and the Indigenous way of life. Mitchell has been actively involved with Indigenous rights in the U.S., Canada and abroad for more than 25 years. I had not heard of her before until I read this quote.

    This image is an envisioned scene I’ve had for a couple of weeks. This morning nature pulled together the elements so I could have this scene. I tried something similar back on April 19th but clouds did not allow it to happen. Happy Friday!

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    I Have a Headache

    Snow squall at Pineridge Natural Area at sunrise.

    This morning we awoke to overcast skies, light snow again and cold. Yet, I could just see a bit of glow in the east so drove to Pineridge Natural Area. I could see the snow squall moving to the northeast, the city shrouded in the aquall. It was quiet and peaceful up there. Saw three mule deer passing along the trail just below me and saw a fox.

    Mule deer keeping an eye on me because I could be danger

    I listened to a podcast between two professional landscape photographers talking about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I’ve never really thought much about SEO because I never thought of myself as a professional photographer so why bother. But after some reflection I admitted the real reason was sloth. So I did some reading on it to try and understand it better. Now I have a headache!

  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    The Storm Approaches

    This morning's sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area
    Framing this morning’s sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area though the fence.

    clouds on horizon
    wind blows cold from the north
    snow storm approaches

    ms

    Winter storm warning has been issued. Snow begins later today and into the night with 3-6 inches accumulation. Watched a bank of clouds sit along the eastern horizon while clouds drifted from north to south filling in the open sky above me. The storm approaches.

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

    Sunday Sunrise

    Another quiet morning sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    “There is a communion with God and a communion with earth, and a communion with God through earth.”  

    Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

    It was a quiet morning at Pineridge Natural Area. A touch of pink in the clouds in the predawn light changing to an orange glow with the rising sun. A bit of communion with all of creation was a good start to this day. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Merry Christmas from Colorado

    Four Pelicans searching for breakfast at Pineridge Natural Area

    We have at least 3 inches of snow here in town while, the mountains got much more. Heavy, wet, slushy, with icy and slick roads this morning.

    Snow covered trees along Overland Trail

    It seems this savings times thingy really works. The saying goes: spring forward and fall back. Well we seem to have jumped all the way to Christmas of 2021. Sheesh!😁

    Sun trying to break through the clouds at Reservoir Ridge

    Even though I don’t like the cold anymore, it’s 28 degrees, the beauty of fresh snowfall is breathtaking. Have a great day and stay warm!

  • animals,  haiku,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  writing/reading

    Morning Visitor

    morning visitor
    give one another distance
    keeping eye contact

    ms

    A cloudy and cold morning at Pineridge Natural Area. No wind, no bird songs, all was quiet. I was the only one there this morning. Seemed everyone else stayed in bed or had a second cup of coffee. There were several cottontails checking me out: Are you friend or foe? They have that alertness, always present to where they and you are. Where we seem to wander in thought, seldom staying present. I stayed more present this morning as I let them teach me.