My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Cold morning. Another one of those nights, awake at 3:00 am. It said 5 degrees at 5:30 am. Saw the moon and drove to Reservoir Ridge for some full moonset photos. I was given this image on the way home and liked it better. It gives you more of a feeling of what kind of morning it was. Someone has been energetic enough to clear the snow off the ice and created a nice skating rink in the foreground of this image. The Canada Geese were along the open water and in the water enjoying the weather. Not me. When I got back in the car the dashboard said it was 1 degree. I didn’t question it.
Meadowlark perched on a fence postBeware sign at the trailhead leading into Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
Last week somewhere around this spot a white tail doe bounced through the field heading towards the trees in the background. This scene looks very different than last week because the hay was up to her back, guessing it was 3-4 feet tall. The hay has been cut, baled and most of it taken and stacked in some hay barn awaiting the coming winter. Something else different in this scene is one of “my” meadowlarks sitting on the fence post, singing a good morning song. Also enjoyed the sun’s rays shining through the clouds.
This sign is located at the beginning of the trailhead, giving a fair warning. I have a friend who runs some of the trails along the foothills and says they have been seeing more snakes as we get closer to July and things warm up. These signs are important for those who are not familiar to the area and it’s dangers and a reminder to those who forget. I have only seen a couple of them over the past 20 years while exploring the trails. It’s a good idea to make a little noise just so they will scurry away.
The strange look to this water is really the clouds reflected on the calm waters of Dixon Reservoir this morning. When I arrived there were several fishermen out along the shores including this Great Blue Heron. This is almost a 75% crop because it was shot at 55mm, thus it’s not the best image but the feel is what I wanted anyway.
One of the reasons I come here is because of the silence. The nature area is right up along the foothills and does look down on Fort Collins and very little traffic to be heard. But, things seemed quieter this morning at the nature area, with several periods of complete silence, even with the meadowlarks. I did arrive earlier than usual which may be the reason. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!
“…the first intention of Nature is the preservation of the universe” and that all beings are striving for that goal. Indeed, “God loves all creatures equally and fills them with his being. And we should lovingly meet all creatures in the same way.”
Meister Eckhart
Stepped out of my condo this morning into a very silent world. There is no wind, no sound of cars. The world seems to have quarantined itself. I hear a chickadee singing to me their happy and short song. I did not need to leave the city to experience the quiet. Eerie feeling inside of me. So many people in fear and so many are indifferent. Stopped at the grocery store yesterday afternoon and so many items gone from the shelves. I noticed a newly opend restaurant serving breakfast this morning that no cars in its parking lot. Churches, schools, sporting events have closed. Amazing how such a small creature can affect the world so quickly. Shows how little power and how insignificant we humans really have. Sharing a few of my feelings and thoughts this morning. Stay safe.
I was 1 degree at 6:15 this morning. By my standards, that’s called cold. This snowstorm was all that they predicted and some and some and some more. Reports say we had 15 inches in 15 hours. I cleaned off at least 12 inches of heavy wet snow from my car, which means we have received some wonderful moisture out of this. On my walk to the coffee shop this morning the snowdrifts along the campus parking lots looked like mountains. Enough about the snow.
My sister and I were scheduled to fly to Phoenix yesterday morning but due to the incoming storm they canceled our flight and we were able to reschedule for today at 5:00 pm. That will get us there in time to keep my brother-in-law from eating all the lemon meringue pie. 🙂 But, my weather app warned of flash flooding for the Phoenix area and are predicting rain over the next few days with cold temperatures for them, and that depends on your definition of cold. I will take the rain and the time with my family over the cold and snow here.
Winter is still making its presence felt here in Colorado. The rain that moved into the area changed to snow late yesterday afternoon, offering big beautiful snowflakes the size of quarters. Early this morning it was just below freezing and clear blue skies. Now that clouds have moved in it feels much colder.
This image was taken just outside my front door yesterday afternoon. The two geese seem to like this stuff. Hoping it gets up to the predicted 40 degrees. Stay warm!
We are a culture of constant piped music wherever we go. I have nothing against listening to music but not everyone wants to have a cup of coffee or eat a sandwich listening to music. Depending on where you go it can be almost impossible to have a conversation.
Back in 1991 I made a major lifestyle change when I decided no more television for me and have not had one since. I still listened to music, finding it valuable during some tough times in my life. I used the music for comfort and healing, with both lyrical songs and instrumentals.
In 2000 another lifestyle change occurred. I had a 5 year relationship come to an end and found myself not dealing well with it. There was enough wherewithal to decided to take a camping/fly fishing trip for three days on the Green River in Colorado. I talked to no one nor listened to any music during that time. Something shifted within me. After my return, I began to listen to less music at home. It’s now to the point of none at all. The music took a backseat to quiet and the sounds of nature, the silence drawing me more into those places. I now find man made noise to be more of an annoyance and the primary reason for my trips to the country. At this season of my life, silence is about listening to silence.
“To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”
I shot this a couple days ago primarily for the blue sky. I watched this male finch land on the sign and knew I wanted a photo. It was taken at stop Two of the CSU Transit Center. There are actually two finches in this image as the female is working on the nest between the 2 two signs. Whoa, to many twos.
