• Art,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits,  quotes,  street photography

    Time in Old Town

    May 8, 2026

    Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.

    Steven Pressfield

    I took my camera for a walk today in Old Town. After a bit of wandering the streets for a while I impulsively decided to stop at Starry Night and splurged on one of their sandwiches for lunch. I sat in one of the old chairs near the front window. That way I had a view of people in the coffee shop and people walking by in the street. I had forgotten how old those chairs were as I felt myself bottom out when I sat down. A moment of panic came over me as I wondered whether I could get up out of the thing. Plus I was about to indulge in a turkey and havarti sandwich.

    I was surprised it was not busy since it was close to lunch time. When I entered there was a table of about six people who were laughing and enjoying their time together and two other people at different tables. None of them were on their electronic devices. But it wasn’t long before people began to come in bringing their electronic devices and wearing headsets or earbuds. The one exception was a woman who brought a notebook, colored pencils, crayons, and sat at a table next to me. She was there to create her art and enjoy her drink of choice.

    I was glad I went in because I was able to have some good journaling time and in a different place than I normally write. I did make it out of the chair and as I was leaving I asked the artist if I could take a photo of her hands at work. After a short conversation I took a couple photos, thanked her, and then left. She did tell me she was enjoying her art now that she has more time in life. I hope you had a wonderful Friday and enjoy this upcoming weekend!

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  • Art,  Documentary/Street,  Food

    Malasadas

    June 17, 2025

    There is a small alleyway in the town of Windsor that is used as a gathering area. They have pavers laid down with tables and chairs for people to eat at and converse. I discovered this one Saturday morning while waiting to meet with my friend Eric. A sign caught my eye that said Ollie’s Malasadas. I watched a couple enter the door so I needed to find out what a malasada was. Turns out they are a Portuguese-style doughnut, known for their rich, fried dough and sweet, sugary coating. Now we’re in trouble! Actually, I haven’t tried one, yet. But, I did get a photo of the mural on the building’s wall. We are expecting severe storms beginning around noon. I hear there were heavy storms last night just east of here, Milliken, with large sized hail. Hoping we don’t get any of that.

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  • Art,  flutes,  quotes

    The Flute

    May 4, 2025

    “As the sunrise brightens each new day,
    so the sounds of the flute chase the gloom of night away,
    and awakens our soul.”

    Ron Stutz (from his website – Native Sunrise Flutes)

    This is my new Native American style flute made by flute maker Ron Stutz out of Highland, Utah. I chose to purchase one of his flutes because it has a professional build quality, is customizable, but also is a work of art. There is something within me that wants to be able to make magical sounds that feed my spirit, use it as a meditative tool, and allow it to become a part of my spiritual practice. The Native American style flute is also known as the Love flute or Courting flute. And no, I’m not courting anyone.

    I purchased this flute through the Horizons Flute Store. When ordering the flute you get to choose several options. You get to choose the key it’s made in: this one is in the key of A. You get to choose the type of wood, either Spanish Cedar or Sapele: I chose Spanish Cedar. You also choose the style of flute, either Canyon or Woodland: I chose Canyon style which has a set of petroglyphs found in Nine Mile Canyon in Utah and has a manufactured broken and burned end for a distinctive look. You have four choices of totems to choose from: I chose the animal kingdom because of its simplicity. You choose between two mouthpiece shapes, round or tapered: I chose rounded. We will see how that works out for me. And, finally, you can choose from the standard 440 Hz Concert Tuning or the alternative 432 Hz Consciousness Tuning: I chose 432 Hz because I will be playing this flute in nature and it has more of an earth tone.

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  • landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  quotes,  silence

    Art of Presence

    January 20, 2025

    Prayer is the art of presence. Where there is no wonder there is little depth of presence.

    John O’Donohue

    I stood in wonder this morning at the scene before me. A silence surrounded me. With almost no wind I became aware of the stillness, the beauty, and the penetrating cold. I felt alive. There was a voice inside reminding me that I was an integral part of this world. And, my presence in this world is to love all of creation, to be anchored in justice and compassion, to accept our interconnectedness with all things, to listen and observe our natural world as a teacher, and that living life, being present with all its ups and downs, is a spiritual experience. So, if prayer is the art of presence, then I wish to practice this art of presence until my heart beats for the final time! I guess you can say even that is a prayer.

    If you enlarge this image of the frigid morning at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area you can faintly see the setting of the waning gibbous moon just to the right of center. Stay warm, be safe and pray.

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  • Art,  quotes,  street photography

    The Meaning of Life

    November 12, 2024
    BirdsEye mural by Ren Burke

    I think “the meaning of life” is something we have to formulate for ourselves, we have to determine what has meaning for us… It clearly has to do with love — what and whom and how one can love.

    Oliver Sacks

    We had another beautiful day yesterday, beginning with an orange sunrise then blue skies and sunshine. In the afternoon I headed to Old Town to walk the streets with my camera. I found a few images then did some journaling at Starry Night, enjoying an Earl Grey Tea. I believe so deeply in what Oliver Sacks suggests that the meaning of life is about love. So today I ask myself what and whom and how I can love.

    In 2004 as a collaboration between the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places Program and Utilities Light and Power created The Transformer Cabinet Mural Project. Serving as a graffiti abatement program, the murals help lower maintenance costs while adding bright colorful art in unexpected places. The program also helps keep the investment local by utilizing local artists and non-profit groups to paint the cabinets. Since the start of the program, 20 years now, over 400 transformer cabinets have been transformed into works of art.

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  • natural areas,  Plants,  poems,  poetry

    Discovering Life

    November 2, 2024
    The seasons finale and still a work of art

    Sometimes on the spiritual path
    It is more fun to walk beside a seeker than a true believer.

    I have no quarrel with those who are certain they know
    Exactly where they are going on the path of faith
    But often their questions are few and their stories familiar.

    It is when you listen to the seeker’s vision
    That things can come alive.
    Questions and doubts, longings and hopes
    Experiences both difficult and transcendent:
    It sounds very honest to me.
    And very human.

    If you are a seeker, I will be proud to walk beside you
    Discovering life as we go.

    Steven Charleston, Spirit Wheel

    It was such a beautiful day yesterday that I made a trip to Pineridge Natural Area for a bit of quiet and to soak up the sun. I wanted and needed both. This morning is just as lovely with blue skies and sunshine. The Canada Geese are filling the airwaves as they migrate to their winter spots. After my quiet time and a bowl of Irish Oats with blueberries and pecans, I met Eric for coffee and conversation. I saw one eagle and half a dozen hawks on my drive over there and back. Undoubtedly they were seeking a meal. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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