• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes

    … it’s how we live.

    “…the greatest reward for a creative life is not in what you create, but in how you live. It is in how you train yourself to view and respond to the world and internalize the many experiences and meanings and mysteries that come your way. It is about finding peace and satisfaction in a world rife with cynicism, violence, competition and greed.”

    Guy Tal

    I posted the above quote back on June 11, 2012, about 14 years ago. It spoke to me then and it speaks to me now in my photography, blogging and how I try to live my life. Pursuing a creative path is helping me find peace and satisfaction in a world that is rife with cynicism, violence, competition and greed. One of the things I do to live my life and find peace is spend time in nature. So, I spent some time this afternoon at Pineridge Natural Area. They made some changes on me by removing the bench up near the parking lot and putting in another one right next to the rocks I enjoy sitting on. It’s probably only three feet away from those rocks. It is a big, solid bench and just as hard as the rocks. But it has a back on it. It actually is a much more scenic view than where the previous bench was. That’s one of the reasons I liked sitting on those rocks. I approve of the change. You don’t suppose they put in that bench just for me???

    Anway my sister, Sheree, and I are flying down to Phoenix in the morning to spend a couple days with my sister Marcee and brother-in-law, John. Then we will rent a car and drive back with some of mom and dad’s artwork. So I probably won’t be posting much the rest of the month. Hold down the Fort while I’m gone! I better finish packing.

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Gifts to the World

    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area – April 2021

    Joan Chittister suggests that “we must be a gift to the world some way, somehow, for someone.” I’m not sure how many people see themselves as a gift to the world. I’m not sure how many see themselves negatively and therefore not worthy to be a gift. I’m not sure how many see themselves narcistically as the gift to the world and therefore unable to see themselves as a gift they could be. As I pondered those questions this morning I wondered what our world would look like if we did accept ourselves as a gift to this world in some way, somehow, for someone. Would we know peace, serenity, love, compassion, tolerance, generosity, and see ourselves as equals, no one better than or less than. I would love to see the world know the gifts we are to the world and one another! Happy Sunday!!

  • bicycling,  quotes

    Still processing!

    I took this image on my ride through the CSU Oval for coffee this morning. I have noticed this scene before but this is the first time I stopped to accept the photo. I did enjoy the BBQ yesterday, ate too much, loved time with family and so very grateful for my grandson-in-law’s safe return from his deployment in the Middle East.


    Find contentment within.
    Be aware of how you affect your surroundings.
    Allow freedom to flourish around you.
    Do not impose or dominate.

    This is what it means to be sustainable.

    Tao Te Ching

    I am processing my feelings about this country’s actions taken yesterday. Finding many unanswerable questions running through my mind. How much escalation of hatred have we against Americans? How many more casualties of war have we just brought on? Anyway, there seems to be an extreme attachment to power, control, hatred, and inflated egos. We have proven for centuries that violence against someone (a country or nation) will not cause them to succumb to our will but only harden hearts. I’ve said enough. Still processing and thanks for listening to my ramblings! It has been another hot day here.

  • landscape,  natural areas,  snow,  winter scenes

    The Gift of Winter

    The silence of an empty bench

    A cool 15 degrees this morning but it’s stopped snowing. We have at least 6-8 inches of snow. I had a good night’s sleep and started my day with prayer and meditation. Enjoyed a smoothie then made my way to Mugs where this mornings barista, Winter, made me an Old Town mocha. I thanked her for braving the cold, snow and funky roads to be there, share here smile, and make my mocha. After coffee time and journaling I drove out to Pineridge and Reservoir Ridge Natural Areas to enjoy the beauty of the gift of winter. The sun is out and my bonus for today will be having lunch with my daughters!! Enjoy your Sunday!

  • Bench,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  storm clouds,  winter scenes

    Happy Earth Day

    These storm clouds were taken last night out on the eastern plains. A rather large storm was raging so I thought I may be able to capture some drama in the clouds and drove out that way.

    The point of living a creative life – rather than just engaging in creative pursuits on occasion – is not merely to produce aesthetically pleasing artifacts, but to bind one’s creative work and living experience as two dimensions of the same life in all its details, always unfolding and evolving in parallel. 

    Guy Tal

    Each of us is a creative soul. Some have tapped into that creativity while some are unaware they have it or deny they have it. As a photographer I see it as a gift to create/capture images that are pleasing, draw out emotions (yours and mine), and show the beauty of nature through photography. And, we all can do that. I really like the word “bind” that Guy Tal uses in his quote. So, as a prayer this morning I would ask for the binding of my creative works with my living experiences.

    A favorite bench at Pineridge Natural Area this morning

    Well Nature decided to share with us a few more snowflakes before officially moving into spring. As you can see the bench I sit on to journal is not quite as inviting this morning. Have a wonderful day and Happy Earth Day! Stay warm.

  • Art,  Cityscapes/Urban,  flowers,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    Entertaining a Thought

    Crystal City, October of 2007

    “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

    Aristotle

    My ability to dream and fantasize goes way back. I could create a whole world in my head and stay there for hours simply by saying, “let’s pretend,” even when that was subconscious. I believe it’s an essential part of our young lives but there is a point where we cease pretending and begin living in the reality of life. Some of us do that sooner than others. I put myself in the later category. I’ve become aware of when to entertain thoughts without accepting them and let them go. Progress, as they say. Having said that I still find myself entertaining a thought just as this young lady seems to be doing but not accepting it as reality. Hope you had a good Monday!

  • Black and White,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  Mary Oliver,  poems,  sunrises

    Broken World

    it is a serious thing
    just to be alive
    on this fresh morning
    in this broken world.

    Mary Oliver

    Violence never brings peace nor does it solve problems in our world. It’s insanity when we think fixing a broken world or disturbed mind can be accomplished through violence. It’s insanity when some keep trying it again and again. It’s insanity when we encourage such thinking. It’s insanity when we fail to speak up against it. There is another way.

  • Bench,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  snow,  winter scenes

    Calling My Attention

    An Empty Bench

    I took this image last Sunday morning during our little snow storm. We received about 4-5 inches and still have some on the ground as temperatures have been staying cold. Directly behind and across the street is a student housing building where Mugs coffeehouse is located.  After my morning mocha I walked over to campus to enjoy the falling snow, to get in a bit of exercise and possibly find an image. I have several images of this bench, finding it’s solitude calling my attention. I cannot remember ever seeing anyone sitting on this bench. However, today it’s pretty obvious why it’s empty.

  • Bench,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  shadows,  winter scenes

    Just guessing, but …

    Solitary Bench
    Solitary Bench

    Yesterday morning we awoke to clear blue skies and sunshine. Loved it! I took the bus to the transit center then came across this scene while walking across campus. Since it had two of my favorite subjects, a bench and shadows, a photograph needed to be taken. One thing in this image that speaks to me is the solitude because it is a part of my life. Interesting how there are tracks around the pond but nowhere near the bench. I’m just guessing, but thinking it’s due to the 23 degrees. 🙂

  • snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Snowfall

    Over the past 18 hours snow has been falling here in Colorado. We have between 6-8 inches of snow from the predicted 70% chance. Glad it was not 100% chance. Stayed home most of the morning then ventured out for a while later this afternoon for some exploring with my camera. Stay warm, it’s suppose to be in the single digits tonight!