• landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  sunsets,  trees

    Sunset at McMurry Natural Area

    “It is the duty of the human understanding to understand that there are things which it cannot understand…” 

    Søren Kierkegaard

    We are a culture that does not want to admit or even think we don’t understand. I’m becoming much more comfortable with setting aside my pride and say, “I don’t understand.” And there are those moments when I must pause and question myself “…what if what I think I think I know, ain’t so.” Then go for a meditative walk with my camera and just take pictures.

  • 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!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  sunsets,  trees

    Sunset on the Poudre River

    This is sunset on the Poudre River at a new natural area called McMurry Natural Area. It has a short 1.5 mile dirt trail that winds around two fishing ponds and the Poudre River. I found it to be quiet, serene and with few people. I will need to go back. They say the ponds have orange spotted sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappie or yellow perch and sharks. Just kidding on the sharks. 😁Today would have been mother’s 90th birthday. Probably will have thoughts of her crossing my mind throughout the day.

  • natural areas,  Photography,  Plants,  quotes,  reflections,  trees

    My Companion

    Morning moon over Prospect Ponds Natural Area

    The camera became my companion.

    Edward Weston

    There are times when I can be calm much like the water of this pond and at other times, well not so much. The challenges of living life can act like a fierce wind that creates internal waves. I’ve discovered tools to return to the calm and one of them is time in the silence of nature with a camera, taking deep breaths.

  • fall season,  leaves,  Plants,  seasons,  trees

    Song of Autumn

    Couple images taking on my walk yesterday afternoon
    …and a poem by Mary Oliver called Song of Autumn

    In the deep fall
    don’t you imagine the leaves think how
    comfortable it will be to touch
    the earth instead of the
    nothingness of air and the endless
    freshets of wind? And don’t you think
    the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
    warm caves, begin to think

    of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
    inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
    the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
    the everlasting being crowned with the first
    tuffets of snow? The pond
    vanishes, and the white field over which
    the fox runs so quickly brings out
    its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
    bellows. And at evening especially,
    the piled firewood shifts a little,
    longing to be on its way.

    Mary Oliver
  • fall season,  leaves,  Plants,  seasons,  trees

    Prefer Solitude

    Fall colors from my walk

    “Some people prefer solitude. They say their peace of mind depends on this. Others say they would be better off in church. If you do well, you do well wherever you are. If you fail, you fail wherever you are. Your surroundings don’t matter. God is with you everywhere — in the marketplace as well as in seclusion or in the church. If you look for nothing but God, nothing or no one can disturb you. God is not distracted by a multitude of things.
    Nor can we be.”

    Meister Eckhart

    I have lived alone for many years. During that time I have owned my own place and at times invited others in when necessary for short periods of time. That changes this week as I will be staying with friends in their spare bedroom while mold mitigation is done to my condo. So my surroundings are different. My lifestyle will be different. My solitude will be different. To top it off my car is in the shop for a couple days so I’m not as mobile. We will see if I do well in my new situation and temporary surroundings. 😁