• clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains

    This Love Thing

    I love landscapes. I love them because of the experience they offer. Experiencing the landscape, letting it touch me is different than looking at any photo, even when it’s my photo. Landscapes are visually and spiritually never the same. That’s true second by second, hour by hour, and day by day. Wind reshapes clouds constantly, the light changes colors, the weather can alter the hues and saturation within a few seconds, and blowing dust causes the light to change.

    And time alters the landscape as aging trees fall, or a flood creates a ravine that was not there last week. What does all this transformation of landscapes mean? What can I learn from watching and participating? I’m sure some get bored with landscapes. I wonder is that because we only glance at a scene rather than sit with them, letting them touch us at a deeper level? I find that when I don’t connect with a scene I can be out of touch with the reality of the world around me. Who knows, maybe the landscape is offering this love thing.

  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes

    Symptom of Maturity

    Another panorama before the rain

    The awareness of the ambiguity of one’s highest achievements – as well as one’s deepest failures – is a definite symptom of maturity.

    Paul Tillich

    Someone shared the above quote with me the other day that has me grappling with what ambiguity 1Ambiguity: the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness. really means to me. I’m also aware it may mean something different to others. I find myself saying “I don’t know” much more than when I was younger and smarter. I want to believe I say, “I don’t know” more often because I’m wiser rather than smarter. It also takes away the worry of being right or wrong. Maybe that’s a symptom of maturity.

    Well, the prep has begun as I stopped the eliquis Tuesday night and will start again Sunday morning. I begin the laxative today at noon then start my first cocktails at 6:00 pm. Colonoscopy Friday at 2:00 pm. Fun times at this age!! I know you’re jealous.

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  quotes

    The Gift of the World

    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 wearisome, 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 to a harvest of memory, spirit and dream that has long preceded us and will now enfold, nourish and sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing.

    John O’Donohue, Benedictus: A Book of Blessiings

    I like the idea that there’s a shy light within each of us. Actually makes me smile. I’ve encountered those who have that light shining brightly, and others who are afraid to let it shine and others who are not aware of its presence. I wonder, would the world have fewer strangers if we let that light shine from within? I am so grateful for the gift of this world and the light that shines in every heart! And, hopefully mine!

  • landscape,  quotes

    Season Tickets

    Light is the greatest unnoticed force of transfiguration in the world: it literally alters everything it touches and through color dresses nature to delight, befriend, inspire and shelter us.

    John O’Donohue

    The later afternoon light brings out the blue of the water and the gold of the grass in this marshy area. The weeds, grass and water provide a lovely stage for the music of blackbirds, meadowlarks, ducks and geese. It won’t be long and more waterfowl will fill this area for more photo opportunities and concerts. Maybe I’ll buy season tickets.

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  nature,  poems

    Refreshed

    There is a place where the town ends,
    and the fields begin.
    It’s not marked but the feet know it,
    also the heart that is longing for refreshment
    and, equally, for repose.

    Mary Oliver, Boundaries from her book Red Bird

    I enjoy my little excursions to what Mary calls in her poem a place where town ends. I am also aware I frequent them more often. I’m seldom conscious of when I cross that unmarked line and things change. But, I do feel it in my body as it gradually relaxes. I believe nature is lovingly offering me (and all of us) a place of rest and tranquility within her embrace. What I see, hear, smell, and feel are enhanced. I gently find myself feeling a part of nature. Even refreshed!

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

    An Artist of Our Days

    Clouds on my walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area.

    Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become.

    John O’Donohue

    It’s taken a few years to see myself as any sort of an artist. That was primarily because I believed in that voice telling me I wasn’t. And yet, I always had those dreams of what could be. So, I can regretful, remorseful for listening to that negative voice or be the artist of my remaining days. I am doing what I can to be the creative I can be. And, I do that one day at a time, learning from each failure. I also believe everyone is an artist of their days! It is through your shares and your blogs that I know some of you are painting, gardening, flying drones, learning new forms of art, traveling and more. Happy Wednesday!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  nature,  quotes,  storm clouds

    Its self and its form are one…

    Ominous clouds and rain at the Trailhead

    The poet wants to drink from the well of origin; to write the poem that has not yet been written. In order to enter this level of originality, the poet must reach beyond the chorus of chattering voices that people the surface of a culture. Furthermore, the poet must reach deeper inward; go deeper than the private hoard of voices down to the root-voice. It is here that individuality has the taste of danger, vitality and vulnerability. Here the creative has the necessity of inevitability; this is the threshold where imagination engages raw, unformed experience. This is the sense you have when you read a true poem. You know it could not be other than it is. Its self and its form are one.

    John O’Donohue

    I felt a bit restless and leaning on the discontent side of things Sunday afternoon. I would say it’s what O’Donohue calls “the private hoard of voices” that sometimes hang out in my head. My solution was some journaling time, a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and connecting to the poem of nature (I like that phrase). After journaling I decided I better get a walk in before it rained as the wind had picked up and darker clouds slowly moved in. Good timing as It began sprinkling by the time I walked back to the car but it never did rain. I have been fascinated by some wonderful clouds this spring and Sunday was another day for them. I accepted the gift nature offered me and now offer it to you!