• landscape,  meadow,  natural areas,  nature,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises

    Only the meadow remains…

    March 4, 2025
    This morning’s sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    In the early morning hours
    I sit in silence with the meadow and
    allow her to embrace me.

    I share the dawn of this new day
    while listening to the owl’s cry
    echo through the meadow.

    This shared intimacy with the meadow
    has a way of giving birth to new life
    in the ground of my being.
    … I am, therefore, never the same!

    And, I hear in this sacred place
    an unspoken invitation to return again
    each time bringing an awareness that
    each short visit is but a passing moment.

    So, whenever and while I still can
    I will sit with the meadow
    until only the meadow remains.1This was inspired from a poem written by Li Po (Zazen on Ching-t’ing Mountain) in the book Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems.

    mws
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  • landscape,  quotes,  silence,  sunsets

    Filled with Silence

    March 2, 2025

    We were born with silence, and as we grew up we lost the silence and we were filled with words. We lived in our hearts, and as time passed we moved into our heads. Now the reverse of this journey is enlightenment. It is the journey from the head back to the heart, from words back to silence; getting back to our innocence in spite of our intelligence.

    Eckhart Tolle

    My life is filled with silence. I have not listened to music for many years. And, when people share about their favorite music, musician or movie, I am unable to be a part of the conversation because my life no longer includes that. The music I most enjoy now is the silent sounds of nature. Therefore, I spend a lot of time in the local natural areas. Happy Sunday!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  sunsets

    “to listen”

    February 26, 2025

    And there is a fine distinction between “listen to” and “to listen.” When we “listen to” we are actively engaging our senses of sound for a particular audible cue. But, when we choose “to listen,” we are opening ourselves up to the sounds of silence and solitude; to ways and words unanticipated, unscripted and often—unfamiliar. We do not choose these words; they choose us.

    Albert Lewis

    I walked along the edges of one of the ponds at Arapaho Bend Natural Area yesterday evening. This pond is called Big Bass Pond, so I assume at least one large bass was caught there. The water is low until we see snow melt and rains in a the coming weeks. When I found a spot that spoke to me I set up my tripod and camera, grabbed my journal and pen and sat down on the uncomfortable rocky shore to soak it up. I would take a half dozen images then write, repeating for 40 minutes until my butt said that’s enough and I became chilled. I slowly found myself in a place “to listen” to the sound of the water lapping at me feet and feeling the cooling breeze in my face. The words were just what I needed. I hope on my next visit I will be again in a place “to listen”

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  sunsets

    A cause for celebration…

    February 25, 2025

    When your mind is blown and your heart expands, your humility deepens. You become aware that the world is magical, mysterious, and heartbreaking. You know that you know nothing, really, and this is not a problem. It’s a cause for celebration. Ambiguity, paradox, and darkness are the domain of wonder.

    Mirabai Starr

    Landscape photography has taught me patience. The evening I went out to take the above sunset photograph, I went with the intention to make an evening of it. They have a rather uncomfortable rock bench along the edge of the water that I sometimes sit on. And uncomfortable is an understatement. My goal was to experience the twilight colors and take a few images as the clouds looked promising. Twilight is when the sun has dropped below the horizon and the atmosphere is neither completely dark nor fully illuminated. When clouds are present, the colors can be magical and mysterious. I arrived early, took a few photographs prior to sunset, a few photos as the sun set, and journaled. After the sunset I felt restless, wanting to head home, yet aware of how often I do not stay for the twilight show. I stayed and glad I did. I returned home with at least one image I was pleased with and again, humbled by the beauty and gifts of nature. Yes, landscape photography and time within nature is teaching me patience. It’s a cause for celebration. May you have a wonderful day!

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  • natural areas,  quotes,  winter scenes

    Winter Wonderland

    February 19, 2025

    But the silence in the mind
    is when we live best, within
    listening distance of the silence we call God…
    It is a presence, then,
    whose margins are our margins;
    that calls us out over our
    own fathoms.

    R. S. Thomas

    It seems we have had a winter wonderland to enjoy over the past couple of weeks. The gifts shared by this winter’s season has been in abundance. I have thoroughly enjoy the visual beauty, enough to bear the single digit temperatures and venture out with my camera. This morning, we are at -2 degrees and had a dusting of snow during the night. Stay warm!!

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  fog,  landscape,  natural areas

    As any good photographer would do..

    February 16, 2025

    “Sometimes we need the fog to remind ourselves that all of life is not black and white.”

    Jonathan Lockwood Huie

    As night gives way to the new day, a dense fog settles upon the ponds. The naked branches of the trees of winter penetrate into the dense vapor of the fog. As I look for a scene that intrigues me my attention is drawn to the branches which are now filled with the soothing music of hundreds of starlings. Then, abruptly silence, until they begin the next chorus. And in that moment of silence I hear my breathing, notice the almost complete stillness, and feel the penetrating cold and moisture rich air. With the fog hiding the sun’s bright light, shadows are absent and gray dominates the scene. Then I set up my tripod and look for a composition as any good photographer would do, noting that not all photographs need to be color or black and white. A foggy morning can prove that.

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  nature,  quotes,  snow

    It’s dang cold…

    February 13, 2025

    It was -8 degrees at 5 am. I told my barista this morning that anyone who’s out in this weather has got to be nuts, crazy, wack-o, insane, stupid, and definitely not to be trusted. They agreed but were glad to see at least one crazy irregular show up, even if it was me! It looks like everyone in the nation is just as cold! I’m enjoying my Old Town mocha. Stay warm.

    “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …”

    Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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