My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Jeff said this morning that water at Arapaho Bend Natural Area was just like glass this morning when he drove by. About 11am I drove out there to find some journaling time and the water was still just like glass. As you can see we have blue sky and a few clouds. I hope you are having a good Friday! And for all who didn’t know today is National Fountain Pen Day.
I am infinitely grateful to be alive. Each breath reminds me of the sacred gift of life.
Mary Davis
Fog was still hanging around when Jeff and I left the coffee shop about 9:44am. Yes, we did stay longer than usual. I decided to drive up to Pineridge Natural Area and look for some mood shots of fog. The fog seemed to set along the foothills. If you look closely you can see a fishman in the lower right corner. So, November 1st started out on a positive note. I have so many things to be grateful for and one is the gift of life. I picked up a couple things at the grocery store on the way home and will be home the rest of the day. Laundry is going now. May you have a wonderful November!
It has been a lovely day here in Colorado. A few clouds this morning gave way to blue skies and sunshine. I finally have my front door installation finished. When ordering the door they cut the deadbolt hole too small and the installer was afraid they were going to need to reorder the door. However they came up with an idea and tried a new gadget that worked. All is good now. Restless, I drove to the natural area this afternoon and spent some time journaling. I took a refreshing walk around and took a few images of the fall colors. Hoping you are enjoying your fall day!
Freedom is letting go of bounds and barriers, and hurling yourself into the adventure of living.
Richard Wagamese
It has been cloudy all morning except for a short burst of sunlight and blue sky. I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area this morning for the quiet and peace I feel there. I watched as fog moved into the valley below me and over the reservoir. I could see lights along the trails as bicyclists and runners made their way in the darkness. It was quite different without the sounds of birds but I loved it anyway. I’m not sure you would call my time there as hurling myself into the adventure of living life but something I do on a regular basis for my soul. I then made my way to the coffee shop and morning mocha (more adventure?). I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.
I had my first Mohs surgery today to remove one of two spots because of basal cell carcinoma. I will have the second one done next week. It was a pretty simple procedure. They needed to take a second tissue sample to get it and about three hours of surgery time. I now have 10 stitches just below my left ear. I am a bit sore around the incision due to the trauma.
As I mentioned earlier my car is also sick and is in the hospital for surgery. I am having a couple of oil leaks taken care of which requires them to pull the engine. I’ve been without a car for a couple of weeks now. On Monday I picked up a loaner car because I had something to do on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday morning I drove their loaner car to the coffee shop before going to my luncheon in Loveland. When I went to leave I had a parking ticket. I did not know what violation I had committed until I got home and read over the ticket. Turns out the dealer plates were expired. I then drove to the dealership where Conner embarrassingly took the ticket, said he would take care of the ticket and got the license plates current. I’m good to go.
It has been raining for the past three days. About mid morning the clouds finally broke and the sun and wind came out. I made a quick run to Pineridge Natural Area for the above photo of the clouds this afternoon. I am now in for the night. I have some catching up on your posts to do.
The truest statement in the world is “you never know.” There is always something to evoke wonder, to wonder about, because this world, this life, this universe, this reality is far more than just the sum of its parts. Even the slightest detail contains much more. The overwhelming awe and wonder we feel teaches us more than we can ever glean or come to know of things. In the presence of that wonder, the head has no answers and the heart has no questions.
Richard Wagamese
“Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph;
Edward Weston
not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.”
My schedule this morning was discombobulated because they sent me a message saying they were not opening the coffee shop until later due to maintenance. I forwarded that message to Jeff so he would not drive from Windsor and find it closed. I grabbed my camera and headed to Arapaho Bend Natural Area. As I drove over there I watched the sky turn from red to pink then settle into its gold warm glow of the new day. My eyes were excited by the clouds so I wanted to share the beauty I saw in them. I set up my camera and tripod and hung around for a while. This was the one I chose to post today out of the 15 I took. After a half hour or so I went to a small coffee shop called Lima Coffee Roasters and paid way too much for a mocha.
The quote by Edward Weston reminds me of how often we do not see the usual subject matter of life that the mystic, the contemplative, the poet, the creative, the photographer, seems to see. And each of them must be awake, aware and open to the moment we are experiencing. I believe he nailed it! I hope you have a wonderful day!!
A good way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is time at Pineridge Natural Area. Joining me this morning at chapel were three Mule Deer, a couple of cottontails, a small choir of ducks and geese on Dixon Reservoir, a lone fisherman standing on the shore, and the nonstop chatter of magpies. We were finally gifted with a lovely afternoon rainstorm yesterday. It brought such a refreshing scent of rain, bright clear skies and if you were present to the moment, the loving touch of Creation. Morning chapel!
… like me, then consider yourself really kool and above average!!!
I loved the morning clouds of predawn at Pineridge Natural Area. I took several images of different compositions. However, none of the images turned out good because I forgot to turn off my IBIS (in body image stabilization). Anyway here are some purdy clouds at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. I hope you have a great day!
“There is a Sufi story about a man who is so good that the angels ask God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely tells them to ask him if that is what he would wish.
Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal
So the angels visit this good man and offer him first the gift of healing by hands, then the gift of conversion of souls, and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. They insist that he choose a gift or they will choose one for him. “Very well,” he replies. “I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.” The story ends this way:
The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: Every time the saint’s shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him the shadow made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women. The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without ever being aware of it. The people respecting his humility followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him “the Holy Shadow.”