• Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Making the commonplace unusual…

    September 21, 2026

    “Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph;
    not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.”

    Edward Weston

    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!!

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  • bicycling,  clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Be Yourself

    September 11, 2026

    “One of the most sacred duties of one’s destiny is the duty to be yourself. When you come to accept yourself and like yourself, you learn not to be afraid of your own nature.”

    John O’Donohue, Anam Cara

    The eastern sky was a lovely shade of pink this morning during my quiet time. A beautiful gift from Mother Nature. It was about 51 degrees when I mounted the red steed for my ride to the coffee shop. The brisk ride always makes the mocha latte seem better. I stopped to take this image as the sun broke through the trees along Spring Creek Trail. If you notice the trail splits. I usually take the left turn which goes to the underpass on Prospect Rd. and onto campus. And of course I love clouds. You may see more images from this area. It has been cool and cloudy most of the day and I am quite happy with that. The ride to the coffee shop is 3.2 miles. When I take this route I have only two blocks of traffic to deal with. The rest of it is trail and campus paths with only pedestrians and cyclists. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes

    Quiet Times

    September 3, 2026

    It is in the quiet times that we build our strengths and know we have something to rely on. Solitude is not withdrawal into a place where no one and no sound can penetrate. It is a sweet moment of peace with or without other people that lets us re-center and reset the rhythm of the mind, body and spirit. It is wisdom to stay close to the solitude of nature to keep us young and pliable.

    from A CHEROKEE FEAST OF DAYS by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

    It was a brisk ride to the coffee shop this morning but it took very little time to warm up. About mid morning I made a trip to Arapaho Bend Natural Area for some journaling time, finding quiet and hoping to find a photo of clouds. I found all three. I hope you are having a wonderful day and doing your best to keep cool.

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  • clouds,  flutes,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  writing/reading

    Sacred Time

    August 31, 2026
    This is my Jon Norris flute in the key of G# that is made from Ambrosia Maple.

    Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
    Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.
    Take down a musical instrument.
    Let the beauty we love be what we do.
    There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

    Rumi

    I made another trip to Pineridge Natural Area today about mid morning. Things were rather quiet there. I walked out to the bench and sat down to let nature share a sacred moment with me. I then did some journaling, played the flute and took a few photos. With the light cloud cover it provided lovely diffused light. The sun was still warm but a cool breeze was just what I needed. So was the journaling and flute playing. They say showers are possible around 3 pm.

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  • nature,  Plants,  quotes

    Significant Gifts

    August 26, 2026

    “The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked. Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter, memories, books, family, friends, second chances, warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered throughout our days.”

    Sue Monk Kidd

    … even salsify.

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  • grass,  Plants,  quotes

    “We” rather than “I”

    August 24, 2026

    “In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I” as all flourishing is mutual.”

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
    Backlit Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)

    It looks to me like the Foxtail Barley has a better grasp of the meaning of “We” than we do.

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  • leaves

    Perseverance

    August 17, 2026

    As I waited outside the coffee shop the other morning I noticed this small plant making its way up through the cracks in the sidewalk. When we pay attention we can watch nature as it perseveres to grow against what seems like great odds. I found this definition of perseverance: it is the continued effort to achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or opposition.  I believe this plant is living that definition and is a great teacher if we pay attention. It is another hot day here as well in the east coast. Stay cool!!

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  • my mornings,  nature,  shadows

    Drawn to Shadows and Lines

    July 22, 2026

    It has threatened to rain most of the afternoon but we’ve received only a few drops. We really need it! However the clouds have definitely cooled things down. We have had rain during the past two nights but again nothing measurable for us. Last night Nature put on an exciting thunder and lightning show. I could see the flashes even with my eyes closed and on a couple of occasions felt the thunder. The above image was taken yesterday morning just before leaving for the coffee shop. I could have just as easily taken it this morning as I saw the same scene. It again shows how easily I am drawn to shadows and lines.

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    The Wonders of Life

    July 16, 2026
    Cumulus clouds at sunrise this morning

    Stopping is an essential part of the spiritual life. If we cannot stop, we cannot see our True Nature. When we stop, we begin to see clearly, and we can appreciate the wonders of life. We can see that there is no separation between ourselves and the world, and we can marvel at the oneness of all things. To be fully present in the moment, we need to stop letting our mind race ahead to the future or dwell in the past. We need to let go of our distractions, our worries, and our busyness.

    Thich Nhat Hanh

    One thing about bicycling is the tendency to be more present to the now and not as much time in my head. So this cloud scene required me to stop this morning and take in the beauty and wonder of nature. And, I wasn’t late to the coffee shop.

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