Knowledge was inherent in all things.
Luther Standing Bear
The world was a library and its books
Were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks…
We learned to do what only the students
of nature ever learn, that was to feel beauty.
… to feel beauty
-
-
The Ride Home
grass and shadows
mws
sky reflected in the blue
bicycle ride home -
It’s in the moments…
The moment one gives close attention to anything,
Henry Miller
even a blade of grass,it becomes a mysterious,
awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself. -
…never the same
A free afternoon found me
mws
lying in the grass at the park.
Above me a canopy of leaves
offering the gift of cool shade.
I take deep breaths and stay present
while leafhoppers jump around me.
I inhale the scent of freshly cut grass
and hear the unseen blue jay’s call.
Clouds drift above me in a sea of blue sky
as I take in the awe and wonder of nature,
a sanctuary without walls, doors or windows.
I close my eyes in reverence, gratitude, prayer
… and I’m never the same! -
Wonders and Realities
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction.
Rachel Carson, The Sense of WonderWhen you first look at this image you will see three mushrooms in the grass. But If you look closely (enlarge the image if you need to) you will see the wonders and realities of this world on many of the blades of grass where a tiny single dew drop clings to its tip. Yes, wonders and realities!
-
One Kind Word…
We cannot control the way people interpret our ideas or thoughts, but we can control the words and tones we choose to convey them. Peace is built on understanding, and wars are built on misunderstandings. Never underestimate the power of a single word, and never recklessly throw around words. One wrong word, or misinterpreted word, can change the meaning of an entire sentence and start a war. And one right word, or one kind word, can grant you the heavens and open doors.
Suzy KassemLate afternoon scene along Weld County Rd 90.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and you have put out at least one kind word today! -
We’ll call it barley…
It has been a laid back Friday for me. I rode the bicycle to coffee and then relaxed the rest of the day. Relaxing included: lots of reading, writing this short blog post, making tuna salad, took my monthly shower and even put on clean underwear.
Foxtail barley, Bobtail barley, Squirreltail barley, and Intermediate barley Someone who is filled with ideas, concepts, opinions and convictions cannot be a good host. There is no inner space to listen, no openness to discover the gift of the other. It is not difficult to see how those “who know it all” can kill a conversation and prevent an interchange of ideas. The more mature we become the more we will be able to give up our inclination to grasp, catch, and comprehend the fullness of life and the more we will be ready to let life enter into us.
Henri NouwenI don’t know but there sure seems to be too many “who know it all” or worse yet, who “think they know it all.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more people listened and were open to discover the gift of the other. Then we all could just call this grass barley. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
-
Nothing Exists Alone
It seems I have seen more mushrooms over the past couple years. Out of curiosity I searched out why. Mushrooms are essentially the fruiting bodies of fungi, and these fungi decompose organic matter in the soil. This organic matter can include things like decaying tree roots, buried wood, thatch (a layer of dead grass), leaves, grass clippings, or even animal waste. The fungi break down these materials, and the mushrooms are the visible sign of their activity. They thrive in damp, humid conditions, prefer shade and low light. They are located in two locations in my front yard that meet these qualifications, offering me some photo opportunities. In this photo are the mushrooms, grass, a cottonwood seed, decaying leaves and below all of that is another world all together. Fascinating, that nothing in nature exists alone. Expecting mid 90s today but rain showers tomorrow.
In nature nothing exists alone.
Rachel Carson -
Doing the Work of the World
Dew covered grass at the meadow’s edge Sometimes I wish I could photosynthesize so that just by being, just by shimmering at the meadow’s edge or floating lazily on a pond, I could be doing the work of the world while standing silent in the sun.
Robin Wall KimmererI’m not sure we can be doing the work of the world unless we know
we are a part of the world rather than apart from the world. -
But I’m tempted…
As I rode through the CSU Oval on Friday there was a young woman walking barefoot on the grass. Almost made me want to stop and take my shoes off. Yet, when I think about all the chemicals they put down on that grass, to keep it green and growing, I keep my shoes on and keep riding. But I’m tempted… If you look closely you will see chalk drawing on the sidewalk. I assume made by the children who have come for a summer camp week and encouraged by student leaders. We had rain during the night so we awoke to overcast skies and cool. I saw where we had from one tenth of an inch to half an inch in Fort Collins. Happy Saturday!
