My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Seems this squirrel is greeting me at Mugs Coffee shop about 80% of the time. They usually are among some shrubs on my right then scamper across the sidewalk in front of me and shimmy up the same tree. So, I’ve started walking into the coffee shop with camera in hand hoping to get a photo. This morning was the first time I was able to get them to pose long enough to get a decent image. Happy Sunday! 😁
the barista’s craft
ms
carefully pouring steamed milk
grin of success
I have wondered at times where coffee baristas go after making my life a bit more enjoyable? Seems there is always a turnover as many work at these jobs for some short period of time. I find many are college students studying to be a writer, artist, school teacher, archaeologist, forester and more. For many it’s usually not a fulltime job but provides spending money and can be a lot of fun for them. This young lady was not only my barista but also a budding photographer. I took this five years ago and hope she is still grinning and successful.
favorite coffee shop
ms
morning mocha and journal
begin with blank page
Today is my sons 52nd birthday. How did that happen? Happy Birthday ,Victor!! 🎂 🎁 🎉
it is a serious thing
Mary Oliver
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in this broken world.
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.
Thirty degrees and overcast skies. They finally cleaned the parking lot yesterday, so I found my car. One of the hazards of having a white car in Colorado. Wanted to catch the bus but the city plows covered the sidewalk making it almost impossible to reach the bus stop. Opted instead to drive to the Bean Cycle.
I was taken back by how much tree damage this storm brought on. The tree trimmers are going to be busy over the next couple weeks. There are piles of snow everywhere, tree branches scattered everywhere. Front End loaders and dump trucks are busy hauling it somewhere. I had the coffee shop pretty much to myself. So, it was a mocha latte, some easy listening jazz and journaling time for myself. Started a new journal today. ❤️Got a haircut on the way home so I’m looking dapper again. 😁
Yes, I know, this is a strange image for sure not natural. It’s an image that did not come out the way I wanted so I played around with it in Lightroom, moving the texture, clarity and dehaze sliders to their extreems. At first I thought it could symbolize someone’s view of the world prior to the first cup of coffee. Or, how the world looks for someone whose inability to focus on the morning because they imbibed in one too many scotches, or wines or beers. But, after looking at it for a while it brought flashbacks to some life experiences of mine sometime in 1970 or 1971. 😳 Anyway it’s just a fun image, something I don’t post very often. Have a great weekend 😀
Headed out the door too late this morning, just missing one the best red horizons I’d seen in awhile. The sun is rising earlier but I haven’t been rising earlier. Makes for missed opportunities. I did run out the Pineridge for an image of the cloud formations as they were beautiful to see but they had already lost the red and pink colors. I believe these are called mountain wave clouds.
I then ran back into town for coffee at the Bean Cycle, hadn’t been there in awhile. I would normally sit in the upstairs area where it is much quieter but they have that closed off. I quickly discovered I was not in a good emotional or spiritual state to be there. Let’s call it an attitude. Finding fault with it being too noisy and did not like the music they were playing. I did not stay long, wishing I’d stayed at the natural area. I find the natural areas are a much better place for me to start my day. Need to keep in mind the John Muir quote from my last post. 😊
A gracious mind has compassion and sensitive understanding. It is without greed; rather than concentrating on what is absent or missing, it is able to celebrate and give thanks for what is present.
John O’Donohue, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace
It’s 10 degrees outside. Drove to the natural area for the quiet and to journal. Did not stay long, though. Grateful to be warm and inside. Overcast sky and a few snowflakes have been sited. It has that cold wintery feel. And, it’s going to be cold for the next 4 days or so, very cold. I have coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, a new book of poetry (Devotions by Mary Oliver) and plenty of fountain pen ink. I’m good and giving thanks. Stay warm.
The above image was shot with the Fujifilm Acros film simulation. The Fujifilm website describes Acros as: a recently introduced black & white mode that’s richer in clarity and sharpness, and was inspired by our NEOPAN 100 ACROS film, which was known for its fine grain, rich gradation, and outstanding sharpness. Like the MONOCHROME mode, it’s also available in yellow, red, and green versions, but ACROS also has an embedded graininess that matches the film emulsion original. I like it.
A morning of blank pages, empty and barren
ms
my mind wandering while I sit before them, staring.
Aware I refuse to face them, even turning away,
finding something else to do, even daydreaming.
I ask for a willingness to listen for inspiration,
alert to the inner voice seen through pen and ink.
Transformative words are not always found in books
but through whispers heard from a sanctuary within.
leaving my condo, had a glimpse
ms
of pink clouds on eastern sunrise but,
chose instead a mocha latte in a comfy chair
sat with morning sunshine and shadows
watched over by the rhinoceros
I experienced the flu like symptoms of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday afternoon. So, I went to bed around 8:30 pm and slept like a baby. One of the best nights of sleep I’ve had in quite some time and feel really good this morning. As I left the condo there was no way I would make it to the natural area in time to capture the pink clouds and thus settled on the comfort of the local coffee shop with the rhinoceros.