• desert,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunrises

    Predawn Sky

    April 30, 2026
    Predawn sky along Peralta Trail from August 2012

    Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.

    Parker J. Palmer

    My sister Sheree and I arrived home about 1:15 pm yesterday afternoon. We left on Tuesday morning, stayed the night in Raton, New Mexico then finished the trip yesterday. It was a good day of travel. We had a near miss with a deer just outside of Raton, New Mexico yesterday morning and then one driver almost swerved into us somewhere in Denver a few hours later. Seems road construction was/is everywhere! Both of us were tired by the time we got home. My sisters keep different hours than I do, staying up later but on this trip I did also. So I was even more tired. I emptied the car, unpacked everything and then sat for some meditation and quiet. I slept in this morning. In spite of the fatigue, I had a wonderful time with my family.

    It’s been a cloudy and cool with a 40% possibility for rain. Because of the possibility for rain I drove to coffee this morning. At the present time the possibility of rain has been about 23 1/2 drops of rain. Well, maybe 25. Guess I need to dance faster. The gray skies offered a day to relax, journal, and read. I have also been going through some of the things belonging to mom and dad that we brought back. I have already discovered some jewels and shed a few tears. All good stuff! I still pray for the end of violence!

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  • barista,  coffee life

    New Apron

    February 14, 2026

    Annie was sporting a new apron made by her mother. This apron is number two. So, I’m showing you both Annie and apron number two. Well done mom! I am about to head to Pedro’s Coffee and meet up with Eric. I hope you have a great day and weekend!

    And, Happy Valentine’s Day!

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  • a gift of life,  Family,  Portraits

    I found it healing…

    December 9, 2025
    Mom and Dad sometime around 1948
    All smiles on his 80th birthday

    I watched a spectacular sunset show last night from about 4:45-5:05 pm through my bedroom window. The show was an unusually long and wonderful experience. For some reason I felt no need to grab my camera but just wanted to experience the beauty of its gift. About fifteen minutes later, while I was journaling about the sunset, I received a message from my sister that dad had died peacefully about 5 pm. I cried, have continued to cry and expect to cry more! It’s all part of the grieving process. An hour or so later I awakened to the realization that the sunset we were experiencing was happening about the same time as dad was saying goodbye to Colorado or Colorado was saying goodbye to dad. And then this morning’s sunrise was just as spectacular, which I received as a message that they are both still present in our lives. Today I have been going through old photos to put in a small book to give to all the grandkids, which we did when mom died. So, I have been deep in memories today as I go through photos. I found it healing for me.

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  • Mary Oliver,  Metro Parks,  quotes

    That Slow Seduction

    August 24, 2023
    Blendon Woods – May 2009

    I could not be a poet without the natural world. Someone else could. But not me. For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple.

    Mary Oliver

    I’m rather new to poetry, in both reading and writing. Primarily because I did not understand it, nor did I put the effort into learning what it was about and what it could teach me. It just wasn’t time yet in my life. Now it is. Some of that slow seduction could be spending more quality time in the natural world, or as Mary suggests the temple. I like how Maria Popova says it here. Having said that I want to thank all of you who read and maybe even understand my attempts at writing poetry. But not today!

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  • clouds,  Family,  gratitude,  musings,  prayer,  quotes,  writing/reading

    Thanks Mom…

    August 19, 2023

    Perfect does not mean perfect actions in a perfect world, but appropriate actions in an imperfect one.

    R.H. Blyth

    Two years ago today my mother died in her sleep after a couple weeks in hospice. So, of course I’m thinking about her today, as are my sisters and dad. There are moments of sadness but there are those good memories mixed in. I must say I am grateful for the foundation she laid for the person I have become, although I’m far from being perfect. Hopefully I live with appropriate actions and words, seeds she planted. Thanks mom!! I miss you!!

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  • Family,  lifestyles

    Saying Goodbye

    August 6, 2021

    I’m in Phoenix. They put my mother in hospice on Wednesday so my sister and I flew down on Thursday. She is hardly eating and drinking. Getting weaker, sleeping a lot. In moments of awareness she tells us she loves us. All four of us kids are with her and dad. This image is my dad holding her hand. We are each saying our goodbyes.

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  • Family,  People/Portraits

    Happy Birthday Mom

    October 30, 2012
    Mom and Dad – 2012

    We will celebrate my mothers birthday today, We keep telling her it’s 81 years but the number 29 seems to come up once in a while. Heart surgery a couple years ago has slowed her down so we want to be able to spend as much time as possible with her and dad. This was taken this past summer while they were out visiting for a few days. Happy Birthday, Mom!

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