• fall season,  leaves,  quotes

    And, I smiled again…

    Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly.
    They take their time and wander on
    this their only chance to soar.

    Delia Owens

    As I sat in my chair journaling this morning I glanced out my bedroom window to check out the action of autumn. The wind was gusting up to 17 mph so it was inviting the last of the leaves their chance to soar. I smiled as I watched them let go and lift off. There was no rhyme or reason to their flight patterns as they allowed the wind to let them wander on. I wonder, do they smile or squeal with glee as they are caught up in their chance to soar? And that caused me to smiled again. I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  fall season,  landscape,  quotes,  reflections,  trees

    Respect

    Respect for the environment, and respect for what was naturally occurring in nature:
    that was the bedrock of all original peoples. Harmony, coexistence, not conquest and conquer.

    L.A. Banks

    The wind has been blowing since early this morning bringing a snowfall of yellow and gold leaves. It is a bad hair day and not suited for bicycling or photography. I met my friend Nancy for coffee and an enjoyable conversation. I’ve been inside the rest of the day doing things such as laundry, a shower and cleaning. Therefore this image was taken in November of 2017 at Arapaho Bend Natural Area. I have had several people compliment me on the gift of the natural areas near me. I must say I am lucky to have these areas and support them with my money and vote which I hope keeps the conquest and conquering fans at bay. May we respect natures ways and enjoy time with her!

  • fall season,  insects,  leaves,  quotes

    A quiet light…

    The gift of a ladybug and yes, they do have a heart.

    There is a quiet light that shines in every heart. It draws no attention to itself though it is always secretly there. It is what illuminates our minds to see beauty, our desire to seek possibility and our hearts to love life. Without this subtle quickening our days would be empty and wearsome, and no horizon would ever awaken our longing. Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy and excitement of life. This shy inner light is what enables us to recognize and receive our very presence here as blessing. We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs of a harvesting of memory, spirit and dream that has long proceeded us and will now unfold nourish and sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing.

    John O’Donohue, Benedictus
  • fall season,  leaves,  quotes

    I don’t know, maybe tomorrow…

    Image edited with Color Efex Pro

    The contemplative life is not a way of knowing.
    It is not the path of certitude.
    In fact, that’s what makes it so alive, so necessarily active.

    Cassidy Hall

    I did not ride to the coffee shop this morning as the 23 degrees convinced me driving the car was a warmer option. Maybe tomorrow. We have blue skies, sunshine and not expecting it to get above 55 degrees. I guess you can say I fit into a contemplative life since I am not into the path of certitude, and shun away from those who are walking that path, and I do say “I don’t know” more often.

  • bicycling,  campus,  fall season,  sunrises

    makes them stop and look…

    CSU Oval

    The poet Mary Oliver suggests in one of her poems (A Lesson From James Wright) that when you sit very quietly in some lovely wild place and listen to silence, that is a poem. I really like that idea. So carrying that further and thinking of our life as a poem, a prayer, a blessing for ourselves and others, maybe adds some aromatic fragrance to who we are and can touch another life. For me this includes creatives such as poets, artists, mystics, photographers, authors, family, friends and others who have done that in my life. I like that idea, also.

    I took this image at the CSU Oval on my ride home this morning. In these later years of my life I am seeing and experiencing this beautiful world in a new way. Something inside me does not want to miss the chance of being a part of it, whether that is being an observer, a poem, a prayer, a blessing, a better loving human, or a silly photographer on a bicycle who stops for photos at the oddest times and makes people stop and look.

  • quotes

    Stillness and Quiet

    In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen,
    We can hear the whisper of the heart
    giving strength to weakness,
    courage to fear,
    hope to despair.

    Dr. Howard Thurman

    I took this image at noon today at Red Fox Meadows Natural Area which is a 40-acre urban wildlife refuge that is less than half mile from my condo. It also is an important stormwater detention area for the city. It truly is a corridor for wildlife as I have seen fox and deer here on many occasions. There are plenty of hawks feasting on mice that consider this their home. Yet, there are houses and traffic to the north and south of me but with the right composition I can pretty much eliminate any sign of man’s intrusion. I really need to visit more often for its stillness and quiet, for the photography, a place to journal and I can practice my flute there. Have a wonderful Monday!

  • leaves,  nature,  Plants,  quotes

    The Simple Things

    The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.

    Paulo Coelho

    It is a cool fall morning with a light mist descending on everything. Needless to say I did not ride my bicycle this morning. As I returned from the coffee shop I noticed the fallen leaves sparkling and shining up at me. So I took my camera for a walk, accepting the simple and extraordinary gifts of nature. These moments are important in my life because they help keep my feet firmly on the ground, even when it’s wet, and life simple. Today is also a great day to enjoy a crockpot of chili soup now simmering.

  • leaves,  quotes

    … need to sweep my floor

    To live without self-centered expectations is the secret of freedom in personal relationships.

    Eknath Easwaran

    This was the scene when I walked into my condo this morning. Scenes like this are common with this time of the year. It’s almost impossible to keep my floors clean. Yesterday afternoon I stood on my porch and watched with wonder as trees let go of the leaves allowing them to freefall on to the next stage of their lives. I was amazed at how many and how fast they were falling. The slight breeze would send a wave of them across the yard. All of a sudden a gust of wind came up and a pile of them would circle me on my porch. The rustling music the leaves make is soothing to me. I smiled. Now I need to sweep my floor. May you enjoy all your personal relationships today.

  • fall season,  leaves,  nature,  Plants,  quotes

    That’s what it’s for

    In the kingdom of love there is no competition;
    there is no possessiveness or control.
    The more love you give away,
    the more love you will have.

    John O’Donohue

    It is still dark, quiet and calm. A bit on the cool side, but after all it is fall. I am about to leave for coffee and conversation at Mugs. I will bundle up for the bicycle ride. No matter the chaos mankind seems to create, nature continues to move on in her seasons of dying and rebirth. May we all give away love today, after all that’s what it’s for. Enjoy this day!

  • fall season,  leaves,  quotes

    Tell the Tale

    It feels like we are living in a time of apocalypse,
    an age when everything we take for granted is starting to collapse around us.
    It feels like the end of the world.…
    This situation is nothing new for me as a Native American.
    My ancestors already lived through an apocalypse.…
    Native American culture in North America has been through the collapse of civilization
    and lived to tell the tale.

    Steven Charleston, We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope