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

    Let it snow….

    We had our first measurable snowfall this winter on New Years Eve. Fort Collins had received 0.7 inches of snow so far this season, compared with a normal of 12.4 inches by this time of year. So the snow was welcome. Only downside is cold always comes along with snow. Snowpack in the mountains is well below normal. It has been so dry and the primary reason for the tragic Marshal Fire a few of days ago.

    Fort Collins: 6 to 8.1 inches
    Loveland: 4.3 to 9.9 inches

    Sun came out yesterday afternoon so I drove to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area to find this image of blue sky against snow covered cottonwoods. It was -7 degrees this morning at 6:15 am. Sun is out and we’re at 21 degrees now. Guess I can take a couple pairs of the socks off.

  • fall season,  grass,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    Our Deepest Calling

    “Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks–we will also find our path of authentic service in the world.”

    Parker Palmer

    I believe this authentic self Parker talks about is something more than being the sports hero, rock star, truck driver, doctor or whatever fantasy we’ve had. He also suggests it’s a calling and not something we attain. Nor is our authentic self found in our attempts to be accepted in some way, to fit in. Seems we need to do some self-examination to be who we were meant to be. This was taken at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area on a sunny beautiful Saturday.

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    A paragraph at a time…

    “The acceptance of oneself is the essence of the whole moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook on life. That I feed the hungry, that I forgive an insult, that I love my enemy in the name of Christ — all these are undoubtedly great virtues. What I do unto the least of my brethren, that I do unto Christ. But what if I should discover that the least among them all, the poorest of all the beggars, the most impudent of all the offenders, the very enemy himself — that these are within me, and that I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness — that I myself am the enemy who must be loved — what then? As a rule, the Christian’s attitude is then reversed; there is no longer any question of love or long-suffering; we say to the brother within us “Raca,” and condemn and rage against ourselves. We hide it from the world; we refuse to admit ever having met this least among the lowly in ourselves.”

    C.G. Jung

    Philosophy has had my interest for the past 25 years but reading some of it can be daunting for me. Yet I have this desire to know myself at a deep level, to gain some enlightenment of the struggles all humans face and more. I have read small bits and pieces of Carl Gustav Jung and know he has impacted many authors I read. I am currently reading my first of his books, The Undiscovered Self. With my thinker this may be a paragraph at a time. Wish me luck.😂

    It was three years ago today that I had my open heart surgery where they replaced my aortic valve. Emotional. Grateful.

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Clouds and a sandwich

    “People who’ve had any genuine spiritual experience always know that they don’t know. They are utterly humbled before mystery. They are in awe before the abyss of it all, in wonder at eternity and depth, and a Love, which is incomprehensible to the mind.”

    Richard Rohr

    Yesterday I wanted a mid-afternoon sandwich then enjoyed it at one of the natural areas, away from the busyness of the city. I was greeted by silence, silver lined clouds, warm sunshine and a cool breeze. It’s a mystery to me but I know it all made the sandwich taste better. 😊

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  trees

    Looks Different Today

    ..amateurs worry about equipment,
    professionals worry about money,
    masters worry about light,
    I just take pictures…

    Vernon Trent

    Took this a week ago while on a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Looks very different this morning, it’s snowing. I imagine this was one of the last days of full fall colors for this year. While yesterday was misting most of the day then rain and light snow through the night. I imagine the mountains have more snow. They are predicting this to continue through the day and into tomorrow. May you have a great week and take a few pictures!

  • animals,  natural areas,  poems,  poetry,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  writing/reading

    Your True Self

    A deer at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    “It’s not possible to save the world by trying to save it. You need to find what is genuinely yours to offer the world before you can make it a better place. Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift — your true self — is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs.”

    Thomas Berry
  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  poems,  poetry,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  writing/reading

    the many gifts of nature…

    sitting on a bench at the natural area
    I look out across the open meadow

    a light wind blows from the south
    softly whispering through golden grass

    taking simple breaths I remain present
    far from those places thoughts beckon

    a blue jay chatters from a pine branch
    joined by a chorus of barking prairie dogs

    I’m listening…

    but all goes silent with my unexpected sneeze
    an engulfing quiet settles upon the meadow

    silence is broken with a chickadees two-note song
    inviting the prairie dogs and blue jays back

    a squawking magpie joins in and so the
    concert continues much to my pleasure

    within this simple experience I am
    offered one of the many gifts of nature

    I’m listening…

    ms