My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
This was taken on a late afternoon bicycle ride last week. One of the many things the city of Fort Collins offers are nice riding/walking paths and trails. Bicycling.com has Fort Collins ranked number 11 of the top 50 cities over 95,000 in population. It boasts of 310 miles of cycling networks and shared roads. That could take a while to cover especially if you stopped at each coffee and ice cream shop. Have a Happy Monday!
“I’m an old man now and have had a great many problems. Most of them never happened”
Mark Twain
Each time I wait at the bus stop at the Mountain Avenue stop, I see this bicycle on the other side of the tracks. And, each time I take a photo. It’s a simple image. No strong colors or repeating patterns. It has a strange illusion of imbalance due to the sidewalk that rises on the right side. Yet, it speaks to me in some way.
In reference to the quote, yes, my imagination does create illusionany problems, amusing commentaries and scenes at an astounding rate. They arrive while driving, doing the dishes, meditation, reading, etc. Each time these take me away from the present, which is the only place I can live this life. As Rohr says, “Presence is only known by presence itself.”
Well, actually it’s the alley near Enzios wine bar in Old Town Fort Collins.
“You must empty your mind & heart of worries, only when you are empty of fear can your heart & mind be filled with joy.”
“For that is the power or the camera: seize the familiar and give it new meanings, a special significance by the mark of a personality.” Alfred Stieglitz
My blogging world has changed over the past couple of years. I do not read the blogs I enjoy on a daily basis. I used to. I do not set aside a time each day, or every other day, to write a post. I used to. I do not shoot everyday. I used to. I do not post process images every day. I used to. None of this is a bad thing but different from the past 8 years.
I could come up with a few reasons for this change but this post is not going into that. As some know my home life changed a year and a half ago when my youngest daughter and her two teenage children needed to move in with me. That, my friends is a dynamic change, probably 10 stops of light.
I’ve, also moved into my retirement phase of life. Now that is an adjustment. I am enjoying spending more time in solitude, searching out places of quiet in parks, nature areas, churches. My retirement requires a financial adjustment on my part. I have to watch for those GAS attacks. There is no supervisor to hold me accountable, it’s up to me to get all those required tasks done. Yes, things are different as I move into this second phase of life.
“If you pass by the color of purple in a field and don’t notice it, God gets real pissed off.” Alice Walker
Yesterday was a cold morning that warmed up nicely into the low 60s. So, a walk in Od Town was in order. I was not the only one there. Here are some images from the day.
“To experience growth as a photographic storyteller requires one to be a bit reflective.” Storytellers by Jerod Foster
At 5:30 this morning it was 14 degrees with light snow. At 9:30 it had warmed up to 17 and the snow had almost stopped. The prediction is for more cold and light snow flurries throughout the day. Not going to be a good day for a picnic. May get some reading done.
… and it’s snowing. They have lifted the Winter Storm Watch and implemented the Winter Storm Warning. So, I think that means it is now actually snowing. The streets are slushy and the wet snow is sticking to everything, causing tree branches to droop down. Looks like this rider is walking this morning. Hope everyone has an awesome week.
“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.”
Ernest Hemingway
Back in Omaha and walking the streets again. Not sure what it is about this bicycle rack. I’ve posted images of it previously so sorry here it is again. What strikes me about this one is the absence of bicycles. This bicycle rack is located at Union Pacific Railroad headquarters office building So, when I’ve walked by at other times the place usually had several bicycles. When I walked by this time it was Saturday afternoon and rather on the cold side. The bicycles were home for the weekend. I like the gray color and the play of the shadows. Oh how the light can change quickly. The image below was taken about an hour later two blocks away. An hour later the sun was back out.