My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
tired after a night of wrestling for sleep
mws
I settled into silence, prayer, and meditation
ignoring the cold, I mounted my red steed for
an invigorating bicycle ride to the arboretum
then placed a latte made with love by Allie
on a tabernacle at an east facing window
with beams of sunlight enkindling blank pages
I sought words hidden within a favorite fountain pen
The sun is about to set on this beautiful day. About to call it a day with some reading and journaling but first I’ll share a bit about the day. My day started early with cardiac rehab, then spent an hour at the coffee shop journaling before meeting my friend Duane for a late breakfast and good conversation. This day had an abundance of sun with a few drifting clouds and temperatures in the low 80s. So, this afternoon I got in a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area where silence mixed with a meadowlark’s song brought a smile to my soul. Full of gratitude! Hope you had a good day, also.
I took this yesterday morning on my way from the bus stop. I decided to take the bus to the coffee shop because I didn’t want to clean the frost off the car or find a parking spot and I need to exercise. On the way home I noticed the tailgaters were getting set up in the parking lot of the stadium for the CSU game this afternoon. Tables were getting setup and they even had some grills set up and smoke billing up. Brats? Not my game plan anymore on a cold November morning. Nope, prefer the warmth of a coffee shop and a mocha.
As humans we are wounded, broken and cracked, sometimes deeply. Many of us may not be whole or as perfect as we wished, yet we are whatever wholeness we have at this moment in time. It’s taken time to accept my wounded, broken and cracked life as the gift of wholeness it is rather than wanting to be perfect. I’ve found tools to help work on the broken parts, and asked others for help when it’s needed. For many this is a new way of thinking and seeing ourselves, others and all of creation. I pray that even through the brokenness we can see the wholeness of who we are, our true-self.
Standing passengers on public transportation hang on to handles, called strap-hangers. They intrigued me yesterday so I played around with different compositions and framing. There are now a few people who know I’m a bit insane and give me some distance. I’d like to share a story about one of the first times I began riding the bus. Forgive me if I’ve told this before.
One morning when getting on I found it packed with students on their way to campus. There was no room to sit so I had to stand, grabbing a strap-hanger. This nice young man, calling me “Sir”, offered me his seat. After declining the offer I began to think about the generosity and concern of his offer for this older guy. I realized how much older I was than 95% of the kids on the bus. I also noticed the cute young lady he was sitting next to. So, the next time I ever encounter the same or similar situation I just may take up the offer, especially if she’s cute. 🙂
This morning we have a full moon sitting just above the mountains to the west. In the east we have a radiant orange sky between the horizon and clouds. The day begins! I’m at Bindles on the hill looking out the east window over the Poudre River flowing in the valley below. Next to me is a mocha latte. Live is good!
This mornings coffee shop included a drive to Bindles on the east side of town as they have good mochas and an ambiance I enjoy. As I stepped out the door, the eastern sky was just coming alive with the few scattered clouds slowly turning a beautiful red. I felt an inner joy as I drove into that eastern sunrise. I watched the red fade to pink then a light shade of orange. By the time I arrived in the parking lot the sun was just beginning to rise. Once out of the car I grabbed my camera. The day was arriving. I smiled!
“If I want to convince someone, I listen attentively first. Even if I am right,
Haemin Sunim
he won’t be convinced until he feels heard and respected.”
It is snowing, a light powdery snowfall. I like the quiet a snowfall brings. We have a couple inches right now but could see a total of 4 inches. Some brave soul had been riding their bicycle this morning as the only tracks on the sidewalk were their tire tracks. Snowplows are out. I find it interesting how the city of Fort Collins has small snowplows they use to clean the bike lanes. And, needless to say, it’s pretty quiet in the coffeehouse.
There are four coffee shops, that I’m aware of, on the campus at Colorado State University. There are several off campus catering to the thousands of students pulling all-nighters. One I patronize is located in the Lory Student Center call Sweet Sinsations Cafe. Of course all you will find are students working the coffee shop and students grabbing a cup on their way to class. And it is cold this morning, 22 degrees right now.
I took my youngest daughter to an appointment in Old Town last week then we went to lunch. I sat outside at one of the tables to enjoy a latte and get in some writing. This time I intentionally set the camera to the Toy setting. 🙂
I noticed this laptop cover while at one of the local coffeehouses a couple days ago and just had to smile. I asked the young lady if I could take a photo so I could post it here. We go to coffeehouses for many reasons, but for some of us it is all about coffee. 🙂