• clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  prairie

    A Walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    June 8, 2020
    The trail leading into Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    I took a walk at a new natural area called Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. The map at the parking lot told me the loop I took was 2.8 miles. My Fitbit told me 6,551 steps, or 2.9 miles. My research when I got home said there are 9.6 miles of trails within the natural  area. I was blessed with meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, a hummer, swallows and robins offering me music without the need of an ipod. One jogger told he saw a couple of bobolinks.  Impressive fields of prairie grasses like waves across an ocean. I need to research these grasses and other plants I encounter as I have a tendency to look at them and say, “Ah, how pretty,” then move on. The clouds were gorgeous, constantly changing. Shadows falling across the mountains, constantly changing. I was impressed with this natural area and could find it a great place to get in some exercise in nature. There was several large trees throughout the area with one looking like it had a hawks nest with young ones in it. I couldn’t tell for sure without binoculars. I expect you will see more images from this location. 

    Going to meet a friend today for lunch at a local park, if it doesn’t rain. Have a super Awesome Monday!

    Read More
  • clouds,  lake,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  sunsets

    Time at Prospect Ponds

    May 28, 2020
    Storm clouds at Prospect Ponds last night

    After the nice rain yesterday afternoon I ventured out to Prospect Ponds to check out the clouds. Pulled up in the parking lot and was met with a double rainbow in the east. I stayed a while and walked among the ponds. Watching a young man teaching his girlfriend how to fly fish. Listened to the red-winged blackbirds and watched them catching insects in flight. And, of course fought a useless battle with the mosquitos. I stood ready as storm clouds were building up against the western horizon offering the beauty of nature painting on it’s delightful canvas sky. 

    A double rainbow at Prospect Ponds
    Read More
  • clouds,  Humor,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  poems,  poetic journal,  poetry,  sunrises,  trees,  writing/reading

    Couldn’t Sleep

    May 24, 2020
    Predawn clouds with the morning sun.

    Awoke way too early then struggled to get back to sleep, seem to have more of those nights over the past few years.

    So, I crawled out of bed at 4:00 am, had my quiet time, made a french press then headed to the Arapaho Bend Natural Area; may need a nap later.

    At 5:45 am most people are still wrapped in blankets so it was quiet except for the birds, they always rise early; always in a seemingly good mood.

    The weather people predicted a cloudy day, then rain later, so I took the chance for a sprinkling of clouds in the east; I was awake anyway.

    I like the solitude of my life, living alone, plenty of quiet, yearning to live near a natural area, always one of my daydreams; it could come true.

    Then I’d rise early each morning to greet the sunrise while listening to the free concert and tire you with too many sunrise images; See!

    ms
    Sunrise at Arapaho Bend Natural Area
    Read More
  • landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  trees

    Much more nurturing

    May 22, 2020

    Morning sunburst through the trees at Red Fox Meadows

    My mornings are a restless time for me. Once I’m up I have my quiet meditation time, my own form of prayer and read from an assortment of different books, then make coffee. But for years there is some part of me that feels like I need to go somewhere. Coffee shops filled that restlessness for many years. Now that those shops are not available my pattern has shifted to more time at the natural areas near me. Some I walk to and some I drive to. I find these to be a calming and peaceful moment and know them to be much more nurturing for my soul than the coffee shops.

    Red Fox Meadows is easy walking distance for me. It has a stream that runs through it, open meadows and a couple of small groves of trees. In one of the groves of trees is a mound of grass that I will sit upon to read and journal. This image is from inside the grove of trees and taken about 10:00 am.

    Read More
  • consumer,  grass,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  shadows,  trees

    Isolation

    May 13, 2020
    Grove of trees in Red Fox Meadows

    Sure dealing with too much isolation over the past few days. Last week when I paid for my mocha at the Human Bean drive through, I actually touched the hands with the barista. Surprised me because it was probably my first physical touch with another human in 5 weeks. Things are not right.

    Way to much consumer shopping on the internet in an attempt  to fix me, and we know that doesn’t work.

    Snacking too much and looking for someone to blame for buying the snacks. Haven’t found him.

    Been walking everyday which helps me stay out of my head, which is a dangerous neighborhood at times. 

    Looking at upgrading my camera since Fujifilm has some sales going on. That won’t make me a better photographer, either.

    Read More
  • grass,  John O'Donohue,  landscape,  natural areas,  prairie,  quotes,  trees,  writing/reading

    Longing to Wander

    May 2, 2020
    Nature trail at Arapaho Bend Nature Area

    “The wanderer is one who gives priority to the duties of longing over belonging. No abode is fixed. No one place is allowed finally to corner or claim the wanderer. A new horizon always calls. The wanderer is committed to the adventure of seeing new places and discovering new things.”

    John O’Donohue

    I just read the above quote from O’Donohue’s book Eternal Echoes two days ago. It so rings true for me. Yes, call me a romantic but as I approach my 70th birthday in a couple months, I still have those inner urges, the desires of the wanderer. I’ve been in my condo for 20 years now, it is my abode, it is a sanctuary for quiet, a place to meditate, read and write, a place to rest my head and keeps me warm and dry, and it is a physical place. The wanderer does not have that abode but journeys toward those new undiscovered horizons. I believe those new horizons are a sanctuary, a place of quiet for us to discover. We can just be, wherever we are, even wandering. So, today I’m dreaming or longing of wandering.

    Read More
  • Art,  lifestyles,  natural areas,  trees

    Sprinkling of Hearts

    April 27, 2020

    A sprinkling of hearts to cheer the heart

    I found these two hearts in the trunk of a large cottonwood tree along Fisher Nature Area a couple days ago. Since then I have found several others. I’m not sure but I think it is peoples way of saying thanks to first responders and front line health workers. Or, just passing along some love.

    Read More
  • clouds,  lake,  landscape,  natural areas,  reflections,  sunrises,  trees

    The new norm

    April 24, 2020
    Dixon Reservoir and the Pineridge Nature Area

    I have always loved to watch white, fluffy, billowing the clouds. This morning at Red Fox Meadows the clouds seemed whitier, fluffier, billowingier, and dramatic, against the blue blue sky. Not sure if that’s due to my time in isolation or the cleaner air or both. But, it seemed to me everything was crisp, felt clean and fresh. I apologize because I’m unable to express what it is. I will say this, if this is the new norm then I don’t want the old norm.

    Later I drove to the Pineridge Nature Area and glad I did. It’s a nature area of mixed trails around the Dixon Reservoir and along the small ridge in the background of this image. People were out walking and running these trails. It is up against the foothills so away from traffic. It was serene for me and I plan on returning. It will be a good place to exercise and get me out the neighborhood. You may see a few more images from this area.

    Read More