• flowers,  landscape,  Plants,  Plants/Nature,  quotes,  snow,  winter scenes

    Spring Snow

    May 6, 2026
    Looking out my front door
    Lilacs baring a heavy load
    Damaged tree at CSU Oval
    CSU Flower Trial Gardens
    CSU Flower Trial Gardens

    Here are a few scenes from the spring snow we are enjoying. I cleaned off 5 inches of snow from my car this morning. We need the moisture so I’m pleased with that. It is a heavy wet snow so it will keep the tree trimmers busy over the next couple of days. There are several tree branches down on along the campus on Shields and Laurel and they have the CSU Oval closed. The coffee shop was empty because CSU classes have been canceled. Meg, my barista, made me an Old town mocha and was playing oldies, so I tapped my foot and journaled. The snow is beginning to let up as the sun tries to break through the clouds and the temperature rises. I would suggest you not walk under any trees as you will most likely get snow dumped on you, very wet and cold snow. I am looking forward to meeting my youngest daughter and granddaughter for lunch today. Stay warm and dry and please treat everyone you meet today as a person!

    “Evil begins when you begin to treat people as things.”

    Terry Pratchett
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  • nature,  quotes

    The web of all life

    May 1, 2026

    My God is too vast to be contained by theology, too mysterious to be defined, too holy to be personified. My God neither punishes nor rewards, but invites me into a living relationship that unfolds in the heart of all that is. My God belongs to everyone, and this belonging connects me to the web of all life.

    Mirabai Starr

    It has been a beautiful day with clear blue skies, sunshine and a gentle cooling breeze. I used yesterday and today to recover from the traveling. I got some grocery shopping done and made tuna salad. This afternoon I spent time at Pineridge Natural Area for the silence, solitude, and journal time. I believe my time at the coffee shop and in these Natural Areas are places where I do connect with the web of life. They are essential in my life! And hope you had a Happy May Day! Enjoy your weekend!

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

    This morning’s smile, or grin…

    April 21, 2026

    Here’s a candid portrait of one of the regulars that shows up irregularly. Wait, maybe that’s one the irregulars who shows up regularly. Wait, maybe it’s both! Anyway, he works at campus and was on his way to a meeting so he stopped to grab some caffeine and said “Hi.” What a gift to see him again. He’s a good man! And, now that you know who he is, say “Hi Shawn” the next time you see him.

    “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

    Marcus Aurelius
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  • coffee life,  latte art,  musings

    Cost of a latte…

    April 11, 2026

    There is a coffee shop that I have not been to in awhile because they are pricey and on the other side of town. They advertise themselves as serving quality coffee and roast their own beans. I must admit I have enjoyed their espresso roast in their Americano. But one day last week I ordered a 12 oz. mocha and was flabbergasted by the price. It was a good mocha and the latte art was good but sure not worth $7.99. It’s a bit frightening to think that someday I could be priced out of my coffee addiction. Then what? Cuz I sure ain’t going back to work! Well… I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  • Plants,  quotes

    New Life Emerging

    April 5, 2026

    It began as a seedling
    in the darkness of the soil.
    And within that darkness
    was found everything needed
    to emerge as new life.

    mws

    I noticed this plant growing among the rocks and wood chips outside the coffee shop this morning. It seemed fitting for today. Also fitting in my life as it seems after some of the darkest times there has emerged new life. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  poetry

    The gift of the poet…

    March 25, 2026

    a poet drinks from the
    well of the people, and
    then gives it back to
    them in a way that may
    help them understand
    themselves and the
    world even better

    Garcia Lorca

    Reading poetry is something new for me, coming in the latter stages of my life, and I must say enjoyable. I have found poetry that helps me understand myself and the world around me. I am drawn to poets who are connected to nature, creation and speak to me about their spiritual life. But there are poets I just do not understand. Yet, I know there are people who connect to them while not with the poets I connect with. I have come to agree with Lorca that in the short period of time I have been reading poetry I have come to believe that poets help us understand ourselves and the world better. I also believe that people can and need to drink from the well of the poet. I therefore see poets as a gift! 

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  • bicycling,  campus,  clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    Clouds at Predawn

    March 14, 2026

    The cloud is free only to go with the wind.
    The rain is free only in falling.

    Wendell Berry

    Here is this morning’s predawn sky over campus on my bicycle ride to Mugs. Emily was my barista and an Old Town mocha was my drink of choice this morning. We had some dramatic winds along the Colorado Front Range and into Wyoming on Thursday. They closed I-25 and US 287 north from Fort Collins to Cheyenne and Laramie for the better part of the day. There were wind gusts recorded over 80 mph. So there has been some major wind damage. The campus had some big old pine trees toppled. They released students early on Thursday due to the winds and it was the last day of class before spring break. What was interesting to me about this wind was having it blow for almost 12 hours nonstop. As my friend, Joan, described it, it was “unsettling.” They are predicting more high winds again today and into tomorrow. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

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