• coffee life,  coffee shops,  digital art,  fountain pens,  JetPack,  journal,  journaling,  lifestyles,  Photography,  quotes

    My Daily Companions

    July 26, 2026

    These handwritten words in the pages of my journal confirm that from an early age I have experienced each encounter in my life twice: once in the world, and once again on the page.

    Terry Tempest Williams
    Edited with Lightroom then enhanced with Jetpack Image Editor

    I slept well and had a lovely quiet time before making myself a smoothie. I then did some reading and journaling to move me into the day. It is expected to be another 100 degree day here in Colorado. We reached 102 degrees yesterday and maybe the same today. No rain forecast until Tuesday. I enjoyed my early morning bicycle ride to the coffee shop and the social life I experience there. As the journey of this life moves along I have come to enjoy the world my journaling offers. Even though I’ve mentioned it before I feel the pages of my journals are a sanctuary, another world I daily enter into. Some days my journaling takes me to new worlds of confusion and sometimes it grounds me so I can see more clearly the reality of this world. My journals and pens are my daily companions. And, while this world was bringing words to these pages this morning I grabbed a photo to share with you then wanted to take you to a place of fantasy with this image. 

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  • flowers,  nature,  Plants,  quotes

    Living its life…

    July 19, 2026
    Edited with Lightroom and enhanced with Jetpack Image Editor

    The practice of observing the living world and taking inspiration for human ways of living from its model is an essential element of Indigenous science. It embraces the reality that there are intelligences other than our own, from whom we might learn.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry

    As I waited outside the coffee shop one morning last week, I spotted this dandelion boldly living its life to the fullest. So I knelt down low pressed my shutter button and thanked it for its presence. Interesting to notice the dandelion knows where and when to rise up and greet the morning sun. I’m thinking that’s pretty smart!! It will be another hot day, so please stay cool.

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  coffee life,  landscape,  sunrises

    Bacon Toast

    July 4, 2026
    Bacon Toast
    Spring Creek this morning

    I treated myself to something new this morning at Mugs, called Bacon Toast. It is bacon, avocado, sprouts, feta cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze over sourdough toast. It was well worth my money. My day has been quiet. After my ride to the coffee shop and time with the community I celebrate there, I made sure I ate a couple hot dogs with chips and a piece of peach pie. It wouldn’t be the 4th without the hot dogs! Not the healthiest eating day for me but… I hope you enjoyed your celebration of our 250th anniversary.

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  • bicycling,  campus,  coffee life,  shadows

    The Last Leg

    June 21, 2026
    Shadows across CSU Oval

    This is the last leg of my bicycle ride to one of my favorite coffee shops. And for many of us at the end of this path awaits one of our baristas, always greeting us with a smile, a drink of our choice, and one or two of the irregular/regulars to commiserate with. And it almost never fails that we find one of the squirrels-of-the-oval, at almost every other tree, encouraging us along on this last leg of the mornings journey. And Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers!!!

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  quotes

    Keeping a journal…

    June 19, 2026

    Keeping a journal has taught me that there is not so much new in your life as you sometimes think. When you re-read your journal you find out that your latest discovery is something you already found out five years ago. Still, it is true that one penetrates deeper and deeper into the same ideas and the same experiences.

    Thomas Merton

    When I journal I write about my thoughts, questions, dreams, fears, and journal about what I see around me in this world. But I also journal because I believe there are words to discover within these fountain pens when I penetrate deep enough. So I am learning to not spend time trying to analyze or criticize what I write. I just write them down in my journal because they may be seeds for other ideas to write about and I desire those seeds. Journaling is a gift to and for me. And, yes, I do reread them to see what I have relearned. May you enjoy your weekend!

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  • barista,  Candid Portraits,  coffee life,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    But I’m learning

    June 16, 2026
    My adopted baristas: scheduling, ordering supplies, creating a newsletter, marketing, and smiling.

    And I learned something from Mr. Theo.
    God gave us faces so we can see each other better.
    I used to not look at people’s faces so much.
    But I’m learning.

    Allen Levi, Theo of Golden

    It’s a hot day here in Colorado, showing 92 degrees right now. Blue skies and sunshine dominate. A nice breeze blows through and cools it down while singing a song and dancing with the trees. Robins are singing, blue jays making their raucous calls, and the bumbling of the fountain in the pond. I hope you had the chance to look into someone’s face today and offer them a smile.

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