My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Took this image on Monday morning at campus. Love how nature trimmed the edges of this leaf. Caught my eye immediately. I’m posting this at midnight so by the time you read this it could be raining or snowing here, again.
I had someone thank me on Veterans Day for my time in the military. It rubbed me wrong. Took me a few days to understand some of what I felt. I had been raised to believe the purpose of the military was defend this country, that Vietnam was a security threat, so I joined the military in October of 1968 with all intents to go to Vietnam. Train me how to use this M16 and I’ll use it. Thankfully I did not make it to Vietnam. I have since come to believe how this conflict was not a war to defend our country. I’ve also come to believe that there are no victors in war, all are losers. Seems we send way too many young people into combat for reasons beside defence of our country. Yes, I’ll stick with love.
This time the artist, Nature, used the tools of leaves and freezing rain to create these two images. I’m impressed. I can’t do that! However, I can take a digital copy of it.
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
I took this yesterday morning on my way from the bus stop. I decided to take the bus to the coffee shop because I didn’t want to clean the frost off the car or find a parking spot and I need to exercise. On the way home I noticed the tailgaters were getting set up in the parking lot of the stadium for the CSU game this afternoon. Tables were getting setup and they even had some grills set up and smoke billing up. Brats? Not my game plan anymore on a cold November morning. Nope, prefer the warmth of a coffee shop and a mocha.
Well, Kathy, Tom and I ventured into Rocky Mountain Park yesterday. It turned out to be a perfect day. The clouds were the subject even though we were looking for the colors of our Colorado Aspens. We did not know it was a day for free entrance into the park so needless to say people were everywhere. I was a little disappointed because we didn’t get to use our senior passes.
Shadows casting across what I think is Mount Chapin on Trail Ridge Road
We ended up driving farther than we expected and made it almost to the Alpine Visitors Center. We decided to turn around before getting caught in the congestion in the parking lot at the center. It was tough enough finding parking in all the turnouts. Yesterday we had rain and wind so that seemed to make for the clear blue skies we enjoyed.
Aspen colors near Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park
The park was crowded. They even had the road to Bear Lake closed because of the traffic. Estes Park was also a mess because of the Elk Festival in town. We took the bypass around town, another smart move. Today we are planning a drive up Poudre Canyon. We have light fog this morning but that should burn off and give us a sunny day.
Clear cloudless blue skies today. A beautiful Colorado fall day. Noticed these shadows on campus as I returned from Mugs coffeehouse and felt a desire to share them. I’m off to help a friend move a few things today. Hoping today brings wonderful surprises and gifts your way.
It is 36 degrees now. No frost this morning since we’re above freezing but everything is wet. Now at a favorite coffeehouse, Bindles. Decided I needed a pumpkin cream cheese muffin to go along with my cup of coffee. A good decision. Life is good!
Our leaves this year did not have the color as in the past due to our dry conditions. The leaves turned brown before the colder weather could bring on the reds and yellows. Still a pretty time of the year to me. Have a great day!
“When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness? Whatever it is, it’s welcome.” Kristin Armstrong
