• clouds,  John O'Donohue,  landscape,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    Landscape

    June 7, 2022

    When you cease to fear your solitude, a new creativity awakens in you. Your forgotten or neglected inner wealth begins to reveal itself. You come home to yourself and learn to rest within. Thoughts are our inner senses. Infused with silence and solitude, they bring out the mystery of the inner landscape.

    John O’Donohue

    I consider myself a landscape photographer because I enjoy moments of solitude whether I’m in nature or not. That inner landscape has been an interest for many years now. I enjoy spending time in nature or the inner landscape and what I’m discovering in those two landscapes.

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  fountain pens,  journal,  lifestyles,  musings,  poetry,  still life,  writing/reading

    … with you

    May 13, 2022

    It was an overcast morning and cool. There was no need for a coat, my fleece would do fine. I slept well and felt refreshed. On most mornings I usually start my day by asking and relying on my intuition. Do I want to head to a natural area and all that it has to offer or do I head to a coffee shop and all it has to offer. This is a gift of retirement. After quiet time my intuition lead me to a local coffee shop. I was not disappointed as my barista, Devan, brightened my day with her latte art. Of course a photo needed to be taken followed by my feeble attempts to write about it.

    crafted with frothed milk
    a work of art now created
    no longer just a latte

    the sense of taste awakens
    as the visual sense is transformed
    when lips touch the cups rim

    now sharing this experience
    as a written memory in the journal
    … and with you

    ms

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  • Avian,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Saving the world…

    April 12, 2022
    Red-tail Hawk soaring above Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Would you like to save the world from the degradation and destruction it seems destined for? Then step away from shallow mass movements and quietly go to work on your own self-awareness. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.

    Lao Tzu, 4th-6th century BCE

    Seems we were not being very good guardians of the world even back then. However his solution is quite simple: work on our own self-awareness, offering the greatest gift we have.

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  • journal,  journaling,  writing/reading

    A Creative Pursuit

    April 4, 2022

    I’ve discovered the power words have to tell a story from my experience of journaling, reading books and writing and reading blog posts. Words have the ability to touch something within the writer and the reader. I’m seeing words as lovely seeds within each of us that make these stories. And, these stories come to fruition only when they are nurtured to life through our actions of writing them and sharing them. This blog post would not exist unless I write it and post it. Whether it’s content is good or bad is irrelevant. So at this time in my life, I’m comfortable to sit before a blank page in my journal or sit before a blank monitor and ask for words to share. It’s all a creative pursuit. Have a great week!

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  • Art/Design

    Here and Now

    June 5, 2010

    Chain and Lock

    Sabrina Henry has a good read about our journeys here. I made a comment about a t-shirt I have that says, “The destiny is the journey”, which I understand and believe. In reading a book by Steve Hagen on Buddhism he talks about the Buddhist journey as one that must go nowhere – neither in or out. He states it is a journey into nearness. A journey to be awaken to the here and now, to awaken “to” the here and now, which I also understand and believe.

    After taking a walk this afternoon I saw for the first time this chain and lock. It’s always been there as long as I can remember. I’ve had to walk around it every time I headed to the overpass. But, today I really saw it. And, as soon as I saw it I knew how I wanted to shoot it. I took two shots, knowing I had the image I wanted. This image will not change the world or make it into any magazine but it demonstrated to me I’m on my journey, at my destination, awakening to the here and now.

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