• clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Travel

    The Wanderer

    July 27, 2020
    Clouds are nature’s way of asking us to pay attention to the art it creates

    “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, Eternal Echoes

    I’ve had the bug to travel for many years. I’ve shared stories about my travels before on this blog and talked about some of the travel I still want to do. I would like to write more about it, maybe finding some clarity, sorta like talking it through. I’m not sure I’ll be able express my desires and dreams about travel or if I even have enough understanding  on what those are. There is a part of me that relates to the wanderer John O’Donohue writes about in the above quote.

    Some of my travel history includes touring on a motorcycle and  road trips in my car while camping along the road. I’ve also spent seven years living in hotels working and living a nomadic life as flight attendant. And, photography has been a integral part of each of those adventures. I’ve very much enjoyed each of those adventures. But there’s still a yearning for more.

    So over the next few days or weeks I want to share some ideas and questions I have that run through my head. I know some of you have traveled or are traveling so there is experience among my readers. I welcome any and all comments, even if you think I’m insane.

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  • clouds,  Fujifilm X-T3,  grass,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Soapstone Prairie Natural Area,  sunsets

    More Stars

    July 20, 2020
    Setting sun at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area

    I made my first visit to the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area yesterday afternoon and evening. I have driven up to the gate before but it was late so I did not venture in. Well, last night was different and well worth the time and drive. The isolation, the quiet and all those birds captured me immediately.

    It is one of the Natural Areas maintained by the City of Fort Collins and includes over 28 square miles of wide open vistas, pristine grasslands, miles of trails and world-renowned cultural resources. The city has set it up to be an educational classroom for both young and adult. Excavations in the 1930s by the Smithsonian and Colorado Museum of Natural History conclusively dated human habitation in North America to at least 10,000 years ago and gave new insight into the Folsom culture. Needles, beads and stone tools were found, making the Lindenmeier site the most extensive Folsom culture campsite yet found. They have a herd of bison on over 1,000 acres of pasture but with no visitor access. However, I could see the herd when I drove in the gate with binoculars. It is a large area with no city lights so they have more stars out there. 😊 Another reason I’ll go back! 

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  • clouds,  Fujifilm X-T3,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  sunsets

    I missed them…

    July 8, 2020
    Sun breaking through the clouds at Reservoir Ridge in the late afternoon 

    My sister and I returned yesterday afternoon from Seattle. We had a great time, always good to see and laugh with family. I saw nephews and nieces I haven’t seen in years. I missed them. As always we ate and we ate and we… However, we did get in some good long walks along the Burke-Gilman Trail that goes for almost 19 miles around Lake Washington. And, no, I only walked about 5 miles of it each day. We had a great time and will share more with you in a later post.

    It was toasty when we arrived, reaching 98 degrees around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. I unpacked, ate a sandwich, bought groceries and had some quiet time. About 6:30 I drove out to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area to sit in the shade of the pine trees. There is a group of about 20 trees where I will sit in a folding camp chair near the parking lot. I will then write, read and get my much needed dose of nature. Think my meadowlarks missed me as much as I missed them. It was good to hear them sing.

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  • clouds,  John O'Donohue,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  quotes

    Time In Prayer

    June 20, 2020
    Morning reflection on a glass smooth Dixon Reservoir

    “It is no surprise that in our loss of connection with Nature, we have forgotten how to pray. We even believe that we do not need to pray.”

    John O’Donohue

    Joan and I met for a walk/talk session at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. We took the shorter route around the reservoir which is not quite 3 miles. They were predicting a beautiful day after yesterday’s overcast skies and rain, so a lot of people were out to enjoy it. After our walk we ate brunch on the patio of a new restaurant called the Chicken Coop, which serves American Mexican breakfast and lunches. We will need to go back and try other things on the menu and definitely include another walk.
    Time in nature is time in prayer.

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  • clouds,  lake,  landscape,  natural areas,  prairie

    Storm Clouds in the East

    May 21, 2020

    Storm clouds on the Colorado eastern plains

    You could not help but notice how beautiful the clouds were on my walk yesterday afternoon. When I got back to the condo I decided to take a few images of those clouds at the Pineridge Natural Area. I discovered it’s very different at 6:00 pm than at 6:00 am. The parking lot was full of cars. People were walking and riding bicycles on the trails and the rest were fishing. The darker clouds at the horizon look to be rain. I would estimate these clouds are somewhere around 40 miles in the east. I could see a bolt of lightning every once in a while.

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  • landscape,  poetic journal,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    Yesterday’s storm has passed

    April 17, 2020

    Snow clinging to branches

    Blue skies and sunshine bring their warmth this morning.
    I see tree branches bending over under the snow’s burden
    I watch as the sun’s warmth weaken the snow’s grip, 
    causing small glistening snowstorms to flutter downward.

    I check on the nesting geese, standing on my toes to look in
    They stretch their necks to check on my presence. All’s well.
    Looking up, the sky seems bluer, no contrails, less pollution.
    I listen to the quiet, the music that soothes this soul.

    I’m filled with gratitude for this wonderful world
    and the gift of being present, a part of all this beauty.

    Yesterday’s storm has passed

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