• Family,  leaves,  quotes

    Presence of the Divine

    November 17, 2023
    Frost on leaves last week

    Meister Eckhart said that nothing in the universe resembles God so much as silence, so if you think about silence in that sense, then to come into silence is to come into the presence of the Divine.

    John O’Donohue

    I head back to Colorado tomorrow and have enjoyed my time with family. We have had overcast skies and a couple of light rains while down here. Right now I am sitting on their huge patio and enjoying one another’s presence, while quail and cactus wrens offer their songs. Will finished the day with ice cream from Handel’s.

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  • Family

    Congratulations Daryian!!!!

    July 13, 2023
    Daryian and I

    I was excited and proud when I heard that my oldest grandson, Daryian, was now a manager of his own PF Changs restaurant in Denver. However, I am going to confess that I also stepped into my fears and imagination as a grandpa. My first fear was for his safety in the big city. Next came the fear the store would fail, or they’d work him too long and hard, causing burnout, or having to handle difficult employees, or having a demanding manager above him. Then my imagination went the other way where the restaurant would be successful. He’d then permanently move to Denver, getting caught up in the success, venture into alcohol, drugs, and loose women. I wouldn’t be there to protect and guide him in any of this, as if I could. After a few deep breaths and some quiet time with prayer, meditation and my journaling, I was able to laugh at myself. What I learned from this is that as a grandparent it’s difficult to allow grandchildren the experiences and all the lessons they need in life to become healthy adults. We have no capacity to control another’s life or to interfere in their lives. I do wish him all the success he deserves. I couldn’t be a prouder grandpa! Congratulations Daryian!!!!

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  • Food,  gratitude,  writing/reading

    Grateful for…

    January 9, 2023
    This mornings avocado toast at Mugs

    … the breath of life, family, friends, sobriety, journaling, photography, nature, coffee shops, solitude, quiet, prayer, meditation, books, serenity, courage, an open mind, willingness, avocado toast, chocolate and …

    mws

    I would like to invite all who read this post to add to this short list above those things which you are grateful for. You do not need to add them in the comments necessarily but maybe find a piece of paper and write them down as you go through the day. Sunshine and blue skies here. Happy Monday!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    This Simple Prayer

    December 31, 2022
    Sunrise over Dixon Reservoir at Pineridge Natural Area – June 2022

    I want to end this year of blogging with an image from this past year that depicts where I took my camera on a regular basis. My focus over the past year was spending time in the natural areas and coffee shops with my journals and camera. This connection with nature and people has been invaluable for me.

    This year’s end has brought me unexpected challenges for my physical and emotional healing that needs to be met in this coming year. Seems much of our world is in a similar crisis, facing challenges for its own healing. I believe we must fundamentally reconnect to a God of our understanding, to nature, to one another, and ourselves for any healing. Seems many in my circles, young and old, are awakening to this reality. I also hope many will awaken to the reality that we are created out of love to be love. So, I’m moving into the new year with a thin thread of hope that all will be well! Hope just may be the key in transforming our world. Each sunrise offers a new day, a new beginning, a promise of hope, and an opportunity of living a life of love. Maybe the world needs to begin more days witnessing the new sunrise and contemplating their connection to creation. 

    I’ll end with this simple prayer: May we live a life of serenity, courage, wisdom, strength, compassion, healing, love, the help of family and friends in facing the reality of life. I love you!

    I hope you have a wonderful coming year full of good health, family time and sunrises. Happy New Year!

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  • clouds,  gratitude,  lake,  landscape,  reflections,  sunsets,  writing/reading

    Four years ago today

    December 5, 2022
    Sunset over Rigden Reservoir

    … I had my heart surgery, where they replaced my aortic valve. So, I thought I’d share my gratitude list with you today as it follows the theme of my last posting: 

    • Thankful for a healthy heart and it’s as full as it is 
    • Thankful for time with family and friends
    • Thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the things that have become such a gift in my life such as time with nature, photography, blogging, conversations with family and friends
    • Thankful for my prayer and meditation times
    • Thankful for my journals, fountain pens and the words I uncover with them
    • Thankful I can experience and enjoy each new sunrise and sunset
    • Thankful for another day to venture into a coffee shop to visit my favorite baristas
    • Thankful for the chance to read poetry, which I’d never done before
    • Thankful for the chance to try my hand at poetry, haiku
    • Thankful for the chance to create more of my photo books to share my photography and my words
    • Thankful for my home and the remodeling this past year
    • Thankful for blueberries in my Irish Oats 😂
    • Thankful for DQ Blizzards 😂
    • Thankful for my camera upgrade 2 years ago and a lust for the next upgrade 😂
    • Thankful that what I have is enough and in all honesty do not need anything more than what is already in my life
    • Thankful that there are still those who embrace love, compassion, serenity, joy, hope, peace and …. ❤️
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  • leaves,  Plants,  quotes,  shadows

    The simplest…

    September 24, 2022

    The simplest spiritual discipline is some degree of solitude and silence. To be with our own thoughts and feelings is probably the most courageous act most of us will ever do.

    Richard Rohr

    Coffee at Mugs earlier this morning then had a wonderful phone call with a friend. Hopefully a quiet Saturday from here on as there is little on my to-do list. Tomorrow morning my youngest granddaughter, Abbie, gets married. We will be formally welcoming our newest member, Patton, to the family. Blessings to them both!!

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  • clouds,  Family,  landscape,  sunrises

    Awesomeness!

    December 31, 2021

    Rather than pick a favorite image(s) from this past year I decided to post one that sums up what my year behind the camera has been like and what my inner eye saw. I spent a lot of mornings and evenings at local natural areas as a positive way to start my day. I also made sure to spend ample time on the eastern plains and those wide open space, embracing the experience and quiet of nature. For me this image encapsulates what my year in photography was like: clouds, sunrises, sunsets, nature, silence, solitude, bird songs mixed with the wind. It also reminds me how small a part I am in this universe but yet an integral part of it. Awesomeness!

    The past year also included upheaval in our world. The pandemic continues to disrupt our lives. Climate change evidence abounds. Yet, I am not giving up hope for this world. I feel there is something each of us can do to bring about positive change in the world. Seems I pray with this creator of the universe more often, and that’s a good thing.

    At home, I’ve made changes to my condo with new carpet and vinyl flooring and a splash of new paint. Well two coats. My parents moved into assisted living in May. Soon after mom went into hospice and died on August 19th. It’s been a tough year for my 92 year old father. He lost a spouse of 72 years, tested positive for Covid-19 a week later, then his whole facility went into lockdown for the next couple of weeks. Not to break a family tradition my sisters, brother-in-law and myself spent the week prior to Thanksgiving with dad. It was good for him and for us! My youngest granddaughter married in September so we officially welcomed Brandon to the family!

    Not sure this is a New Years resolution but in this coming year I wish to cherish life, all of nature and respect it, love at greater depths my neighbor and all of creation, myself, God and hope in the healing of this broken world. For me that’s really not asking much, is doable and begins with me. I’m hoping, wishing, praying your coming year is full of good health, dark chocolate, laughter, joy, milk chocolate (if dark is not available), wonderful family time, the making of new experiences and whatever you can add to this list. Happy New Year!

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  • Avian

    Photobombed

    November 23, 2021

    My brother-in-law has a new hummingbird feeder. As the morning sun rose I stepped over to catch a starburst breaking the roofline along with the feeder and got photobombed.

    My sister and I arrived home about 6:45 pm last night. I had a wonderful time with family, filled with laughter and way too much food. But isn’t that what normally happens during the Thanksgiving holiday. Once again reminded of how much dislike I have for air travel. Have a great Tuesday!

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  • Avian,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    Lovely

    November 15, 2021

    I had one of the best nights of sleep in awhile. My Fitbit said I had 74% of light sleep where the norm is 40-60%. Anyway I headed to Pineridge Natural Area with hopes of red and pink skies. I was pleasantly gifted with a beautiful eastern sky and warm temperatures. My car said 48 degrees at home and 61 degrees at the natural area, a distance of 4 miles. I was joined by this nice 2-point mule deer and a couple of his friends. They seemed more interested in grazing and staying alert than watching the colors. Earlier I could hear the who-who-hoo of an owl somewhere in the darkness. Lovely.

    I will be offline for a few days as I’m heading to Phoenix to spend an early Thanksgiving with my dad and sisters. This will be our first holiday without mom. Probably good for all of us be together. I leave on Wednesday and return on Monday. Hold down the fort for me. 😂

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  • Family,  lifestyles

    Saying Goodbye

    August 6, 2021

    I’m in Phoenix. They put my mother in hospice on Wednesday so my sister and I flew down on Thursday. She is hardly eating and drinking. Getting weaker, sleeping a lot. In moments of awareness she tells us she loves us. All four of us kids are with her and dad. This image is my dad holding her hand. We are each saying our goodbyes.

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