• horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  sky

    Cold Blue Sky

    After my morning mocha I drove along S County Road 23 which runs along side of Horsetooth Reservoir. I was hoping to see clouds sitting atop the foothills overlooking the reservoir but that was not the case. However this open field of cut grass with the solitary and motionless irrigation system near Bellevue caught my attention so I pulled over and faced into the cold north wind. Even though the field was what caught my attention, it was the blue sky that is the real star in the image. The temperature this morning at 6:31 am was 23 degrees. With wind and humidity it felt like low teens. I noticed a dusting of powdery snow still hanging around places where the sun’s rays do not reach. I hope you have a great day in whatever you do.

  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Our Love for the World

    “If we can be fearless, and be with our pain, it turns. It doesn’t stay static. It only doesn’t change if we refuse to look at it. When we look at it, when we take it in our hands, when we can just be with it and keep breathing, then it turns. It turns to reveal its other face. And the other face of our pain for the world is our love for the world, our absolutely inseparable connectedness with all life.”

    Joanna Macy

    The morning I took this image the weather app said +19 degrees but my aging body felt like it was more like -19 degrees!! The number is insignificant as it was bitter cold for me on this March morning. The cold is more painful than in years past. However those blue skies, low lying clouds and sunshine called me to be fearless and venture out to Reservoir RIdge Natural Area. The experience was exhilarating both physically and spiritually. Yes, I do have a love for this world! More rain/snow possible in the morning with very high wind gusts of 80 mph. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow

    Springtime in Colorado

    Springtime in Colorado includes snow in May in case you didn’t know that. This was taken at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area about an hour ago. Rain began about midnight and is slowly turning to snow. Snow is already on the foothills at probably 6500 feet and the higher elevations are shrouded in clouds and snow. Forecast this morning says 4-12 inches of snow will accumulate throughout the day and end tomorrow by noon. My weather app says it’s 37 degrees. The meadowlarks were singing as I took this image. Seems each day is a day to be grateful to them. We can learn from them. I’m now having a bowl of hot Irish Oats with blueberries. Seemed appropriate. Turned the furnace on, too. Meanwhile Phoenix and Charlotte will be in the 90’s.

  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    Blue Skies

    Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.

    Walt Whitman

    Took this image at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area yesterday just as the sun was setting. It was the most enjoyable thing I did all day and I had a good day. The day started out cloudy, overcast and cold. By noon the clouds cleared up and we were blessed with blue skies the rest of the day. Have a wonderful October!

  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  prairie

    Connection to the natural world

    Cloudy afternoon at Cathy Fromme Prairie Area
    Cloudy afternoon at Cathy Fromme Prairie Area

    I needed more time away from the bustle of the city so drove out to the Cathy Fromme Prairie Area for a walk. This short grass prairie was established because of the large prairie dog community and the support it provided for coyotes, raptors and rattlesnakes. This area has never seen a plow so it remains in a pre-settlement state. They built a nice covered observatory allowing visitors to see hawks and eagles. The birds are amazing with my favorite being the Western Meadowlark and its song. A sad part was the city deciding to poison off the prairie dog community due to disease. Never the less its always a place to find a connection to the natural world for me.