• coffee life,  coffee shops,  landscape,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Spring Snow

    March 17, 2022

    Well, Happy St. Patrick’s Day. ☘️ Not much green to be seen in our neighborhood. Awoke to a light spring snowfall, very wet and slushy. Made my way to the Bean Cycle where Devan worked on her latte art (above). She did not make me a four leaf clover design but she may practice on them today.

    After some reading, journaling and finishing my latte I headed to Rolland Moore Park for a few winter images. No one was playing basketball or volleyball and all the park benches were empty. People probably decided to have another cup of coffee and toast with jelly or making snow angels in the streets.

    My next stop was near Pineridge Natural Area. By now the roads had become very slushy and drivers were slowing down. The cities snow plows were out clearing the slush and putting down their chemicals (that poison that seeps into our groundwater).

    I saw on the news feed this morning (need to stop that) where Putin thinks “a natural and necessary self-purification of society will strengthen his country.” Then I read where Zelensky is quoted as saying, “I am almost 45 years old. Today my age stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating. I see no sense in life if it cannot stop the deaths.” I’m thinking this morning that maybe the self-purification is about purifying minds that believe in killing.

    To end on a positive note I love the silent falling of snow, the moisture that it brings to our world. This gentle snowfall will help green up the meadows for its display of spring beauty while creating the food sources and habitat for birds and animals. May there be love ❤️ and peace ☮️ in the world!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  fountain pens,  journal,  lifestyles,  writing/reading

    Sigh!

    March 10, 2022

    It was 3 degrees this morning when I left the condo. And, we are expecting it to stay cold all day and into the night but no snow. I changed up my routine this morning and made it to the Little Bird Bakeshop for a mocha and one of their bostocks. I do have about six different coffee shops I regularly visit. Each one has its own ambiance. I’m sure most of my decision in selecting which one I visit is based on my subconscious. I’ve found it wise to listen to that voice. It had been a while since visiting the Little Bird because they open later, 8:00 am, and they serve pastries. I’m usually at the other coffee shops by 7:00 am. The Little Bird Bakeshop is primarily a bakery so there’s always the possibility one of their pastries calling my name as I walk in the door. If When that happens it equates to spending more money. Sigh! Along with more calorie intake. Sigh! To combat against more calorie intake I order smaller mochas in my attempt to justify the bostock. Sigh! Stay warm!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  lifestyles,  quotes

    No Suffering

    February 27, 2022

    The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of sufferings.

    Ram Dass

    Here’s Alyssa’s latte art. Not bad at all and tasted delicious. I have switched to ordering their smaller latte, going from a 12 oz. cup to a 6.5 oz. cup. Same amount of espresso so it provides more coffee flavor and reduces the amount of chocolate and milk. I find it a more pleasant coffee experience, so no suffering as I enjoy Alyssa’s latte art. Expecting a warm trend but still 13 degrees this morning. Have a great Sunday!

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  • Anne Lamott,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  quotes

    Believing in Love

    January 25, 2022

    “Hope is not about proving anything. It’s about choosing to believe this one thing, that love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us.”

    Anne Lamott

    I began writing this post yesterday after returning from the coffee shop where I enjoyed the above mocha latte. Felt the need to write with this keyboard and not just in my journal or bring what I journal to these pages more. Anyway…

    After quiet time I drove to Pineridge Natural Area to enjoy the predawn colors. I never took my camera out of the bag but sat in the silence taking in as much as I could. Guess you could call it recharging. The eastern sky was cloudless with the exception of one fluffy patch to the north. They predicted snow to begin overnight and continue into today. They were right on as it is snowing now.

    I’ve read a couple of Anne Lamott’s books and find her able to express in words some of the bleak shit of my life experiences better than I can. But, I also find that true with other authors I quote on this blog. Not everyone will relate to their words or mine and I’m beginning to feel comfortable with that. Hoping you can bare with me as I continue to put my words and images out into the cyber world. And hopefully you may notice some improvement in both my writing and photography. After all, my barista did not make latte art like this on her first attempt.

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  Food,  lifestyles

    Thank you Alyssa!

    January 15, 2022

    To continue with the coffee shop theme from yesterday’s post I thought I’d mention one other factor that entices me to coffee shops. At most of the shops I patronize there is usually some pastry, breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito as part of their menu. Almost every morning the Starry Night Espresso Cafe has a tray of freshly made scones on the counter. The aroma from these fresh out of the oven lemon cranberry scones filled my nostrils as soon as I walked in. They place them on the counter right in front of you so when you order you have no choice but to make eye contact with them. (Yes, they do stare.) And, they’re warm enough you can watch the icing dribble down the sides! Yes, there are other factors to my coffee shop excursions besides a mocha latte. Thank you Alyssa for baking the scones and making my mocha latte this morning!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  quotes

    Way of life …

    January 11, 2022

    For me photography is to place head and heart and eye along the same line of sight. It’s a way of life.

    Henri Cartier-Bresson

    Cold mornings have kept me snuggled under covers rather than braving the cold at one of the natural areas to greet the sunrise. I’m gonna need to change that attitude and spend time with nature, otherwise you will probably see more images of coffee cups, which could get boring quickly. I must admit sitting in one of the soft cozy chairs with a mocha latte and a good book is good for the soul, and warmer. However, I also need to be touched with the spirit of nature, in the cold. Looks to be cold for the next few days so we’ll see how often I am able to lift off those heavy covers. After all, photography is a way of life for me.

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