• fall season,  leaves,  Plants,  rants

    Communities of Leaves

    October 21, 2025

    One of the routes I ride to coffee takes me across campus. But before I move on I want to give you some idea about the campus. The CSU campus (urban forest as they call it) has approximately 9,000 trees distributed over three campuses, comprising 1,886 acres of land. The majority of CSU’s managed urban forest (7,207 trees) is located on the Main Campus within 191 acres of irrigated landscape. This 191 acres, where I ride to the coffee shop, provides a beautiful canvas for those 7,207 trees on campus to put on their fall season show of colors. I consider it a gift to watch these leaves of colors flutter and drift to the ground, swirling and dancing with the wind and forming small communities (piles) of leaves.  A community here and one over there. Though these leaves are no longer connected to their branches they are still connected by these small communities (piles) of leaves, happily dancing and singing with the wind. I sometimes wonder where they will be tomorrow or even later today? But this fall show is shortened and the end of the next stage of life for these leaves is altered as the groundskeepers quickly move in to remove the leaves, and I understand the reasoning. We also do it with our parks and lawns. But being the sentimental person I am, I personally like to see the leaves being blown all over the campus into small communities of leaves, living out the rest of their lives in decomposition, rather than seeing the ugly bare asphalt, concrete or the manicured green grass. It’s almost like the leaves have become refugees and are being sent to the landfill. I’ve ranted about this before and probably will again. We had a wonderful fall day here in Colorado and hope you did as well.

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  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Emotional and Spiritual Heart Disease

    August 11, 2025

    The real epidemic in our culture is not just physical heart disease; it’s what I call emotional and spiritual heart disease; the sense of loneliness, isolation and alienation that is so prevalent in our culture because of the breakdown of the social networks that used to give us a sense of connection and community.

    Dean Ornish, March 1996

    I find it interesting that Ornish wrote the above quote over 20 years ago in the forward to a book titled Kitchen Table Wisdom, which is a wonderful book I’m presently reading. And, this epidemic he talks about has continued to grow. His quote has caused me to reflect on how my friend Jeff and I seem to be creating a community and a place for connection at the coffee shop without intentionally doing it. He and I sit in the small alcove that has four chairs and a small table. Without intending to, we have created an inviting, and I believe safe, environment for people. More and more people now walk by and say good morning while on their way to work, school or grabbing coffee while walking their dog. I’m happy to say some have begun to sit down and join us, which has created wonderful friendships. And when people see this it invites even more people to connect and a community forms. The circle grows. It’s letting me know people want a sense of connection and community and will step into it when given the chance and feel safe enough.

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  • landscape,  sunrises

    The mystery of infinite possibilities

    March 15, 2025

    If it is true that we are made out of love to be love then our possibilities can be infinite…

    mws

    I have always been an early riser but with aging and the shift in my circadian rhythm, I invariably rise before the sun rises. I’m okay with that. But, that also means I post a lot of sunrise images. It is in these hours of silence, solitude and fatigue that I am learning to fully listen to the voice of love within me. It even seems to be louder and more persistent as time goes on. I hope I’m not rattling people’s cages when talking about love in our current political environment of hatred, self-interest and chaos. Many are in a place of grief, fear, and dismay. I can find myself going there quickly but thankfully not camping there, finding more restful and peaceful places to live. Writing this out is one of my tools. The above quote rattled around in my head last night and would not let me go back to sleep until I got up and wrote it down. I am at a place where possibilities are beyond and greater than my imagination, and maybe yours, also. I find myself full of questions and almost no answers while experiencing an unexpected gift of contentment, some inner okayness. And the questions come. What if a change in people’s hearts “is” a real possibility? What if the voices of hatred, chaos, drama, fear, greed can be silenced through love? What if letting go of our old patterns of thinking that power, money and privilege will bring peace, community, justice and the end of war? Because it never has! What if we let go of our finite thinking, which is often based in fear, and embrace the possibilities we’ve never dreamed of? What if we are made with love to be love? What if we let go of what we think are the only possibilities and embrace the mystery of infinite possibilities? Thanks for listening and I hope this has not been too confusing.

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  • Documentary/Street,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Wise words….

    January 13, 2022
    Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    “You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. […] Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.”

    John Lewis
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  • animals,  natural areas,  poems,  poetry,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  writing/reading

    Your True Self

    October 9, 2021
    A deer at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    “It’s not possible to save the world by trying to save it. You need to find what is genuinely yours to offer the world before you can make it a better place. Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift — your true self — is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs.”

    Thomas Berry
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  • landscape,  sunsets

    An Observation

    September 7, 2017
    Hiawatha Lake
    Hiawatha Lake

    There seems to be a correlation between the increase in my age and a decrease in  sunrise images and increase of sunsets images. Now at Momo Lolos coffeehouse and listening to a pianist and flutist duet. Love the change from the piped music we find most of the time.

    Family and community are an essential part of my life as well as my solitude. There are some who avoid solitude, finding it uncomfortable. And, there are some who avoid communities, finding it uncomfortable. I need both. Community and fellowship helps me to appreciate the solitude and quiet. While the solitude and quiet help me appreciate community. 

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  • Avian

    Solitude and Community

    October 1, 2009
    Geese at Dawn

    Solitude is important in my life. Community is important in my life. Time alone nurtures my inner spirit, clears out the cobwebs, and heals. Yet, spending time with others also nurtures my spirit, helps me see life through others eyes and community also heals. Spending time alone shooting photographs helps me become a better photographer. Shooting with and sharing experiences with fellow photographers helps me become a better photographer. Why shouldn’t I embrace both solitude and community.

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  • coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits

    Gathering Places

    June 16, 2009
    Gathering Place

    Not everyone drinks coffee or tea at coffee shops. These shops, both small mom-and-pop and corporate, have become gathering places for conversation, study groups, romantic meetings and business deals. It’s a place for perking up in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon. People will go out to eat then stop for a coffee and conversation before going home. If you find a favorite one you will find yourself building a community of fellow coffee drinkers. I have a accumulated a family of friends from visits to these shops. Some of those will be life long friendships. Yep, coffee shops are a gathering place.

    For these children it’s also a time to play. I  like the comparison of the mother in the background talking with her hands while the children are playing a game with their hands.

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