• clouds,  gratitude,  landscape,  Poudre River,  quotes,  seasons,  winter scenes

    Living This Life

    March 6, 2022

    You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

    Kahill Gibran

    Many who regularly read my posts are aware of my references to pray and mediation. Both have become integral parts of my life and are how I daily start and end my days.

    But, it hasn’t always been that way. I mainly prayed to the God I was introduced to in my upbringing in times of distress or to ask for my needs and wants to be granted, and many times bargaining. Prayer changed once I let go of that concept of God. I began to read and study about prayer from different faith traditions and authors. I’m still searching for a better grasp of prayer, its purpose and the source of that prayer. I enjoy this search.

    In all honesty, where I’ve grown the most in prayer is by practicing it. Through practice I’ve come to feel that prayer arises from within me rather than something I consciously do or say. It’s very much an internal dialogue. I’ve heard it said prayer is a the longing of the human heart for God, the Divine or whatever name we use. I enter into prayer in many ways. Prayer is spending time in nature, walking along the Poudre River or watching a sunrise. Being grateful at some deep place within me, I find to be prayer. Or the feeling I experience when I take a deep breath and oxygen enters my lungs is prayer. A good conversation with a friend brings a warm feeling and I know there has been some special connection with them, I find to be prayer also. I could go on but….

    I end this by saying I now find prayer to be experiencing joy, gratitude, connection, love, peace, justice and just living this life.

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

    Closer to Nature

    March 5, 2022

    I know this is the second post for the day but thought I’d give a weather report from my small little universe as it’s more enjoyable than the worlds chaotic news. We had a dusting of snow early this morning covering the open fields in white then gone by mid morning. About 2:00 pm the temperature was a nice 32 degrees, snow had let up, so I headed to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area for a bit of prayer and walking meditation. It was quite beautiful, wonderful silence, just what my soul needed. Seems I have needed to be closer to nature the past few days. I only did a couple miles, enough to have cold hands, cold ears and a runny nose. It had begun to snow again by the time I got back to the car. In this image you can see the snow in the foothills while the higher elevations are hidden in snowfall. Hope you are having a good Saturday. Think I’ll enjoy a piece of warm peach pie now. 😊

    Read More
  • landscape,  seasons,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Keeping Peace Alive

    February 26, 2022
    More blue skies

    With our our country’s political strife, the pandemic and world violence it is vital for us to keep our inner peace and sanity. So, I wanted to share a question with you that I came across yesterday. I am going to use it as a seed in my meditations and to journal about over the next few days. How are you keeping peace alive in your heart and mind?

    Here are some of my ways: quiet time, prayer and meditation, time with nature, journaling, reading, photography, poetry, early mornings at coffee shops, healthy conversations with friends, daily walks and more… which is pretty much what I do every day. I must admit I’m concerned what impact our worlds insanity has on everyone especially those immediately impacted. It’s demonstrated to me how far reaching our actions have on others. Therefore, whatever simple actions I can do to keep peace within my heart and mind matters. And, I have no idea how my actions or words or prayers can reach out into the universe and positively affect others. Maybe just taking a “one-breath” meditation throughout the day will clear the mind, keeping peace alive in our hearts and minds and the world.

    We may get above 32 degrees today for the first time in 4 days. As my sister would say, I’m esscited!!!!

    Read More
  • grass,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  shadows,  snow,  winter scenes

    Another Cold Morning

    February 24, 2022

    sun illuminates
    floating ice crystals
    storm has passed

    ms

    Minus 1 degree this morning and overcast skies at 7:00 am. By 8:30 the clouds gave way to blue sky and sunshine. I drove out to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area to capture the beauty of nature’s wintery scenes. Just before reaching the natural area there is a farm, always with a dozen or so horses. I’ve posted images from this area before. This morning they were being fed fresh hay while two hawks were perched high in the tree tops, also hungry on this cold morning.

    I so loved the blue sky this morning and how it contrasted with the white snow.

    There were almost no tracks in the parking lot of the natural area which means I can find snow scenes without any signs of mans intrusion. It has been almost too cold for anyone to be out and about in it. Having said that I saw a hard core bicyclist riding his fat tire bike this morning on my way home. I plan on staying inside the rest of the day since we are only going to reach a high of 15.

    Read More
  • Avian,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    How do they do that?

    February 6, 2022

    Well, since you asked, here are some interesting facts for you about Canada Geese. Geese on the ice may be resting or preparing to move on to un-frozen bodies of water when need be. Huddling their bodies together on the ice of a shallow pond can cause it to warm up, especially along the edges, and increase their food supply, so sleeping on the ice can merely be a step towards thawing it out.

    Their bodies are built to stay warm. They have insulated underbellies, and enough feathers, generally between 20,000 and 25,000, to keep their upper body temperature around 104°F (40°C). (Goose down has long been considered the warmest filling for things such as jackets and sleeping bags.)

    Geese also have an interesting type of circulation through their feet that transfers warm blood back up into their bodies. Since their feet can’t freeze, they often sleep with them tucked underneath their bodies. This heat-transference phenomenon is one of the reasons why sometimes you’ll see them standing on one foot with the other tucked up under the belly, especially when the ground is frozen. Courtesy of Google.

    Read More
  • haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    To See With All of Them

    February 4, 2022

    “I began to realize that the camera sees the world differently than the human eye and that sometimes those differences can make a photograph more powerful than what you actually observed.”

    Galen Rowell

    This is another image from yesterday morning at Pineridge Natural Area. It was not as cold this morning at -2 degrees as it was yesterday. Sun is also radiant against the blue sky today. I put on a pot of Chicken Tortilla soup and let it cook for about six hours. I love how the condo smells when I cook soup. It is a good day for soup.

    As some of you know I have played around with writing haiku and sharing it on my blog. I began to look at haiku because of the suggestion of a good friend. I knew nothing about it nor had I read any of it. My understanding is that a haiku is a language of creation, a way to re-create the essence of a moment and allow it to touch our hearts anew. Haiku-The Sacred Art: (The Art of Spiritual Living) by Margaret D. McGee. When the pandemic began I spent more time in nature, had those moments that touched my heart and tried to capture them with haiku as well as my camera. It seems to me the eye of the heart sees much differently than the human eye or the camera. Today my desire is to see with all of them.

    Read More
  • Art,  Art/Design,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Blue Skies, Trees and Cold

    February 3, 2022
    Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    It was -9 degrees this morning at 6:33 am. I knew it was cold by looking outside but had to check with my weather app. I promised a friend I’d help him get his car to the repair shop so I needed to be out in the weather. It was well worth helping him as we then went to a coffee shop to warm up and a bit of conversation.

    Pineridge Natural Area

    Our snow storm left about 8-12 inches of snow across the city. Due to the cold it was a light powder so easy to shovel for those who have to. With blue skies and sunshine I headed to the natural areas because I knew nature would still be creating art. Was drawn to these two images of trees cloaked in snow with blue skies. This is true art. I didn’t really notice the cold that much but, then again, it had warmed up to 2 degrees by the time I took them. Hope you have a great day, Stay warm and dry!

    Read More
  • haiku,  landscape,  seasons,  shadows,  snow,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    Canvas of Snow

    February 2, 2022

    day fading to night
    sun casts long blue shadows
    a canvas of snow

    ms

    I love the art of light and the shadows. Scenes like this are the reason I carry a camera with me almost all the time. I took this a week ago as I stepped out my front door. However, today looks much different. Snow moved in yesterday afternoon and continued through the night. Today the sun is nowhere to be seen and therefore neither are shadows. It is presently 9 degrees and we have at least 6 inches of snow. It’s a snow day. I will probably spend much of the day in this chair. Stay warm.

    Read More
  • Barry López,  landscape,  Plants,  Poudre River,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Nature’s Teaching

    January 27, 2022

    “Over the years, one comes to measure a place, too, not just for the beauty it may give, the balminess of its breezes, the insouciance and relaxation it encourages, the sublime pleasures it offers, but for what it teaches. The way in which it alters our perception of the human. It is not so much that you want to return to indifferent or difficult places, but that you want to not forget.”

    Barry Lopez, About This Life

    This an image of the Poudre River taken north of town near Watson Lake State Wildlife Area. I’ve lived in the Fort Collins area for about 25 years now and yesterday was my first trip to this beautiful area. I was impressed with it and will look for other photo opportunities to share with you. I agree with Barry Lopez that time in nature alters our perception in a positive way. Conversely our lack of time in nature and indifference with nature also alters our perception in a negative way. I firmly believe it is the biggest reason our world is in the mess it is in. We need Nature’s teaching!

    Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and today is overcast and snow began falling about 7:00 am. If you look closely you will see a group of 6 deer just to the right of the bridge. Have a great day!

    Read More
  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Cottonwoods

    January 26, 2022
    Cottonwood trees at Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.

    Imogen Cunningham

    If you look closely on the right side of the trees you will see the remnants of the Old Straus Cabin. The cabin is located within the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. This cabin is an example of the early log structures. George Strauss built the cabin in 1864 and farmed the land around it, growing vegetables and raising cattle. These trees and the cabin sit right along the banks of the Poudre River.

    Cunningham’s attitude seems like a pretty good approach to improving our photography. Think I’ll give it a try. It was 2 degrees this morning when I left the condo. Now a blue sky and sunshine brightens the day but will see clouds move in later and snow beginning tonight and into tomorrow.

    Read More