• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  reflections

    Look at the record

    April 5, 2023

    “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”

    Confucius

    Although it never got over 40 degrees today, we enjoyed blue skies and sunshine. Sure was a change from yesterday’s cold and snow. This reflection is from Dixon Reservoir about 4:00 pm this afternoon. And, it was taken with that old Fujifilm X-T10 and the old 27mm f2.8 lens.

    I agree with Confucius that mistakes are a necessary part of life, they have lessons to teach us. My life experiences show that when I don’t learn the lessons, we can expect I will make the same mistakes, again and again. Thankfully that has changed quite a bit as I’ve grown older more mature. As they say, “Just look at the record!” Hope you had a good Wednesday!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  storm clouds

    …on the threshold of brilliance

    March 24, 2023
    Storm Clouds along the Front Range

    We have all heard the forlorn refrain “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!” This phrase has come to stand for the rueful reflection of an idiot, a sign of stupidity, but in fact we should appreciate it as a pillar of wisdom. Any being, any agent, who can truly say, “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!” is standing on the threshold of brilliance.

    Daniel Dennett

    The skies have been filled with clouds most of the day, beautiful colors, shapes, shades, patterns and textures. With all that beauty I made the decision to chase clouds this afternoon and evening. Some clouds had rain within them while those over the mountains had some snow in them. The forecast is to see snow develop in the mountains and along the Front Range about midnight and continue until early morning. It’s a pattern we could see the next couple of days.

    Not sure about you but early in my youth I found myself saying, “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!” Maturity and the awareness to pause before making decisions, taking more thoughtful actions than reactions, has reduced the times I needed to say that. Please notice I said reduced! So, if we go with Dennetts quote then he’s suggesting I’m on the threshold of brilliance, even today. Hoping you have a wonderful weekend!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  latte art,  musings,  writing/reading

    Isaac’s work of art…

    March 23, 2023

    “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

    George Bernard Shaw

    This morning at Starry Night Isaac crafted me this delightful latte art. A pretty good way to start my day. I headed home after an hour or so of journaling as I needed to make a couple of phone calls. Also had a friend bring over potato and ham soup which I ate a bowl of for lunch. About 1:00 pm I headed to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area to soak up the sun and the quiet offered in that sanctuary. While the sun warmed me, I listened and watched as the mysterious wind danced with the meadow’s grass, rabbitbrush and the cottonwood tree branches, which now offer their new buds of delight. The wind gently blew against my face, it’s cool touch bringing healing energy to my body. In the quiet surrounding me I listened to a magpie but never saw them. And in the distance I heard a woodpecker hammer on some tree but never saw them. Each was music to my ears. I felt within me the excitement for the arrival of the songbirds, anticipating the concerts that will fill the air while the wind sends them out across the meadow for all to hear. After a couple hours clouds began to move in, blocking the sun’s warm rays. Without the warmth of the sun’s rays I became chilled and began to make my way home. After quiet time at home I put a few words together for this post, sharing with you my day, along with an image of Isaac’s work of art. When I look at this latte art I wonder how many failures it took to hone his craft and how many more failures still to come. After pressing the publish button I’m gonna grab a Dove’s dark chocolate to reward myself. Hoping you had another good day to celebrate!

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  • quotes

    Built to make mistakes…

    March 20, 2023
    Rolland Moore Park – 2014

    Mistakes are at the very base of human thought, embedded there, feeding the structure like root nodules. If we were not provided with the knack of being wrong, we could never get anything useful done. We think our way along by choosing between right and wrong alternatives, and the wrong choices have to be made as frequently as the right ones. We get along in life this way. We are built to make mistakes, coded for error.

    Lewis Thomas

    I’ve written about the subject of making mistakes in the past so I apologize for once more rambling on about them. Or is that a mistake? Seems that somewhere in my youth I learned that mistakes were bad and I began avoiding them at any cost. School was one place where we were measured by how many mistakes we made. There have been multiple times in my life I failed to try or finish due to my fear of making mistakes. I do not remember being taught that mistakes were essential at improving. Having said that though, I will also admit I was a decent shot in basketball but only because I tried again and again each time I missed a shot. I also did not jump on a bicycle and ride the first time. I had to crash and burn more than once. Rather silly when I look back at it where I considered mistakes were not allowed and where they were. I believe Thomas is spot on when he states that we are built to make mistakes, in all areas of our lives. My growth towards any perfection or accomplishing goals requires me to make mistakes, lots and lots of them. My photography pruves that. So due my attempts at haiku. So does my attempts ar creating good blogging content. Hope you had a wonderful day!

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  • quotes

    … make mistakes

    August 14, 2010

    The Porch

    “We all remain who we are. But on the way to healing or liberation we have to do what the Romans called agere contra: we have to act against the grain of our natural compulsions. This requires clear decisions. Because it does not happen by itself, it is in a way “unnatural” or “supernatural” . . . (we) simply have to cut loose now and then, and in the process . . . make mistakes.”
    — Richard Rohr

    I have read several posts over the past 3-4 months about making mistakes and I know that’s not a mistake. A couple days ago I headed to Blendon Woods Park in pursuit of a colorful sunset with gorgeous clouds almost like the clouds Jeff Lynch found in Texas or the clouds Sabrina found in Afica. However, I was greeted with a cloudless sky, high humidity and a squadron of mosquitos with full intent on sucking me dry. I gave it a try and shot about 50 frames, of mistakes.

    A few days ago I posted an image of a door and window against a bright blue wall (with all it’s mistakes) and asked for input. And, I got the responses I needed. Thanks to all of you. I enjoy my mistakes. Actually some of them turn out pretty nice. Each time I look at my images in Lightroom I see the little things I can do next time to improve.

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