• clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  poems,  quotes,  rants,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Some questions

    April 8, 2020
    Longs Peak at sunrise seen from Running Deer Nature area

    “I want to sing like the birds sing
    Not worrying about who hears
    Or what they think.”
    Rumi

    I wonder what went through the minds of our ancestors who were physically, mentally and spiritually closer to nature then we are? I ask because I come to these nature areas to find distance from the noise of the city but find my mind is consistently distracted. Were they capable of being more present than I seem to be? I’m aware the more time I spend out here the more present I can be. After a period of settling in, adjusting to this place, I hear, then see, the osprey soaring in the wind drafts, being pursued by a pesky crow. Next I notice a goldfinch that just perched on a bush nearby, singing it’s soft and delicate “swee-eet” song. I watch and am amazed at how quickly the birds can fly from here to there, silently. If you do not know what I write about then spend a morning in a nature area, listen, watch, be present, bring a journal and use it, and please leave your phone at home. Just some questions. 

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  sunsets

    Its a strange time

    March 17, 2020
    Sunset from Kay’s living room window

    It’s Tuesday, close to noon. Awoke to overcast skies and a light mist. The weather along with the worldwide changes going on added a gloomy feel to the day. After quiet time I headed to Cups coffee to use the internet and enjoy a mocha but that didn’t happen. They fall under the statewide ban on the closing of restaurants and bars that went into affect yesterday. Because they are being impacted financially with our situation I bought a mocha and headed home. I will read a new book I received yesterday, journal a little, have more prayer and mediation time, listen to the silence and write this post. It’s a strange time.

    The world looks strange to me this morning, almost unrecognizable and it is. However, I’m aware there is something different within me. I am seeing and feeling the world differently. I have been a solitary individual for many years now, choosing to spend a lot of time alone. However, knowing I can’t just go to a coffee shop and sit to read/journal/converse with the baristas, friends and a stranger is now not my choice. My feathers are ruffled. I don’t always deal well with the unexpected bump in the road or a pothole that wasn’t there yesterday. Daily changes in life require acceptance of the present moment and a shift in thinking and living. My task in life is to let go of what I think I think I need life to look like and live more solidly in the present moment. It’s a strange time.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  Plants,  trees,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    An ethics statement

    January 23, 2020
    Winter afternoon clouds east of town

    Fellow photographer, Mark Graf, posted a very interesting and well written post that has been preoccupying my mind lately. He addresses the effects humans are making on nature and in my opinion does a great job. He has definitely done his homework. I suggest you check it out and even reread it. After all he has spent some time writing it, and re-writing it.

    As for myself and as a photographer, I have posted images where I needed to drive out of town with intentions of getting my head straightened out, distance myself from the noise of the city in order to listen to the wind and meadowlarks song. In doing this I burn fossil fuel and make my own impact on the environment. When I get home and snack on a few cashews, one of my weaknesses, I am also making an impact on the environment. When I sit in a favorite coffee shop drinking my mocha latte, I am also making an impact. Mark says it well in his final paragraph, stating “We are going to leave footprints no matter what we do.”

    I have personally been altering my lifestyle and its impact to the environment for several years. I also know that some of our society is making changes to decrease our impact. But, the real question is what impact do I make and how do I change that? Maybe it’s about writing my own ethics statement as a photographer and a resident on this plant.

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  • clouds,  grass,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  sunsets,  trees

    Yesterdays Sunset

    October 27, 2019
    Last night’s sunset along I-25 frontage road

    What a beautiful day we had yesterday. The temperature got up to 74 degrees so I got in both a walk and a bicycle ride. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea as bicyclists, skateboarders, runners, walkers were out in shorts and t-shirts. I decided to head out east of town and look for clouds as they were predicting a cold front moving in in the evening. I took this image about 6:00 pm. It had already dropped down to 50 degrees in about 2-3 hours. This morning, about 12 hours later, it is snowing and expected to continue into tomorrow with colder temperatures over the next couple days.

    I have been interested in these two trees for a long time but have only been out here once before. These trees sit just off the frontage road of Interstate 25. so the traffic of the interstate is probably 40 feet directly behind me, the primary reason I don’t come out here. I like this scene but not necessarily its location. Hope everyone has a great Sunday and stay warm.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  prairie,  quotes,  sunsets

    Standing in the Presence

    October 15, 2019

    Late afternoon sunset on County Road 17 in Larimer County

    “All that we can do with any spiritual discipline is produce within ourselves something of the silence, the humility, the detachment, the purity of heart and the indifference which are required if the inner self is to make some shy, unpredictable manifestation of his presence.” James Finley

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  • clouds,  fall season,  landscape,  leaves,  Rocky Mountain National Park,  seasons,  trees

    A Day for Clouds

    September 29, 2019
    Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park

    Well, Kathy, Tom and I ventured into Rocky Mountain Park yesterday. It turned out to be a perfect day. The clouds were the subject even though we were looking for the colors of our Colorado Aspens. We did not know it was a day for free entrance into the park so needless to say people were everywhere. I was a little disappointed because we didn’t get to use our senior passes. 🙁

    Shadows casting across what I think is Mount Chapin on Trail Ridge Road

    We ended up driving farther than we expected and made it almost to the Alpine Visitors Center. We decided to turn around before getting caught in the congestion in the parking lot at the center. It was tough enough finding parking in all the turnouts. Yesterday we had rain and wind so that seemed to make for the clear blue skies we enjoyed.

    Aspen colors near Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park

    The park was crowded. They even had the road to Bear Lake closed because of the traffic. Estes Park was also a mess because of the Elk Festival in town. We took the bypass around town, another smart move. Today we are planning a drive up Poudre Canyon. We have light fog this morning but that should burn off and give us a sunny day.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  sunsets

    Chasing the Sun

    September 27, 2019

    Chasing the Light

    I met up with Tom and Kathy Dills, who are visiting from North Carolina, yesterday morning for coffee at the Old Town Mugs. We solved a few of the world problems in the morning over coffee then yesterday afternoon we drove north of Fort Collins to chase the sun and look for a few trees. We found both.

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