This time of the year the leaves become eye candy for me. On my walk I knelt down to see what compositions I could find. While kneeling the wind would blow, bringing down more leaves, and moving those already on the ground. It becomes a continuous creation of new compositions. And there seems to be an infinite number of leaves of different shapes, sizes and colors for nature to work with. However, they are more than eye candy because their life cycle includes decomposing, restocking the soil with nutrients and making up part of the spongy humus layer of the ground that absorbs and holds rainfall. They also become food for numerous soil organisms vital to the ecosystem. Yes, they are more than eye candy. How beautiful life is!
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Nature’s Tapestry
In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.
John MuirI can just as easily replace the word walk in this quote with bicycle ride. As I rode through this one area I noticed a scene that I noticed a scene I wanted to photograph. I took several images but was not satisfied with any of them. I turned to get back on the bike and noticed this scene. It is a busy image but the colors, eclectic shapes and patterns caused me to squat down beside the water and accept the image. Because I took the time to stop and squat a woman walking by also stopped to see what I was seeing. She thanked me and we both smiled as we received nature’s tapestry. Taken on my bicycle ride yesterday along Spring Creek Trail.
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A Wonderful Start
bicycled to coffee shop, indulged in a hot tea
mws
wonderful start to Sunday or any day
now mid morning and sitting on my porch
circled by an almost cloudless blue sky
the seasons leaves of gold and yellow and red
reflected in the azure blue sky of the pond
yes, a wonderful start to Sunday or any day -
Autumnal Equinox
Yesterday was such a beautiful day here in Colorado. It was surprisingly warm in the morning at 58 degrees. Blue skies dominated a few scattered clouds the rest of the day. Some would say it was a perfect day for football.
Sometime after midnight clouds and rain moved into the area. The rain, a light drizzle, is expected to let up by noon then partly cloudy the rest of the day. Tonight will be our coldest night of this season. The autumnal equinox arrived this morning at 8:44 a.m. ET, about two hours ago, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. And, this morning it feels very much like autumn. I’m loving the fall colors mixed with rain and the cool damp chill that awakens my body to the change of season. Wisely, I put on a crockpot of chili soup before heading out to the coffee shop. Happy Sunday!
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Masterwork of Wisdom
To know how to grow old is the masterwork
Henri Frédéric Amiel
of wisdom, and one of the most difficult
chapters in the great art of living.I remember the moment distinctly. I had ordered a sandwich and then questioned the price as it seemed too low. The response was, “I gave you the senior discount.” Wait a minute! What just happened? It took a second to pull myself together then accept the discount but the words left their mark somewhere deep within me. I’ve had time to ponder those words and I realize I had just passed over some unseeable line and into a stage of life I knew nothing about. It was a strange land I was not ready or prepared for.
Gratefully I’ve come to see things with older and more seasoned eyes and a spattering of wisdom. I am learning to accept living in this stage of life’s journey and it’s gifts of wonder, awe, surprises, moments of joy, and the strength and courage to face life’s difficulties. I’m also discovering the aches and pains of an aging body that comes with this new territory. I’m coming to know how to grow old rooted in the masterwork of wisdom. Even though it can be difficult at times I find the learning to be one of life’s greatest adventures. I’m enjoying this chapter of my life and the art of living it.
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Remind me of me
I would say that 80-90% of the leaves have let go of the mother tree and moved on to the next phase of life. And, every year I’m intrigued from a photographer’s perspective to see the few leaves who seem to want to hold on. Maybe it’s because they remind me of me. They remind me of my tendency to hang on when letting go of my unhealthy habits, traits, and thinking was a better option. Hard lessons have taught me that letting go allows us to experience new adventures in life. I would say that at this Fall Season of my life I am learning to let go and live the next phase of life. Truly, it has become an adventure!
We are cold at 23 degrees. Took the bus to campus and now sipping on a mocha at the Lory Student Center. Have a wonderful Friday!
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Yet, I continue to try…
“The fact that religions through the ages have spoken in images, parables, and paradoxes means simply that there are no other ways of grasping the reality to which they refer.”
Niels BohrSeems my feeble attempt at finding the words and images of what I see regularly falls short of expressing the reality of what I experience. I saw this leaf outside the coffee shop this morning and was taken by its simplicity and beauty. I excitedly took a few images but was not satisfied with what I saw on my LCD or my monitor. Primarily because the image cannot express or grasp what I experienced. It reminds me of that idiom, “Ya had to be there to actually experience it (reality).” And yet, I will continue to try with both images and words…
Yes, this is my second posting today since it is my blog! 😁