• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  sunrises

    Early Start

    June 10, 2022

    Awoke early so I headed to Pineridge Natural Area, a favorite place to start the day. Music all around me from the chorus of my favorite birds. A cool breeze penetrating my fleece was helping wake me up. I would be ready for my latte later. A couple mule deer greeted me with a quizzical look as I arrived earlier than usual. I have an open calendar today. No hot dates, dang it. Probably a good thing because tomorrow will be a full day. So, I’ve had an early start for this day. Happy Friday to you and have a wonderful weekend.

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  • flowers,  Mary Oliver,  Plants,  quotes

    What Life Should I Live?

    May 30, 2022

    What does it mean, say the words, that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do with it? What is the gift that I should bring to the world? What is the life I should live?

    Mary Oliver

    Someone has planted Irises along the parking area at Pineridge Natural Area. I want to thank the beautiful soul(s) for planting them and the gift they brought to the world! Now I’m offering this image of them covered with raindrops from a nice refreshing rain. We had a nice lovely rain yesterday and can expect the same today.

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

    Sunday morning sunrise…

    May 29, 2022
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area this morning

    The new day’s light 
    veiled behind gray clouds.
    A crisp morning air caressing my soul 
    as I listen to nature’s silence.

    A meadowlark perches on a rabbit brush,
    near the water’s edge, near its nest.
    Six pelicans take to the air
    circling the reservoir then fly north.
    A cottontail ventures from safety
    to nibble on blades of grass.

    Nature is comfortable with silence,
    much more than man.
    How easily I forget
    to listen to nature’s silence.

    Have a wonderful Sunday!

    ms
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  • animals,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Keep’n it simple…

    May 27, 2022
    Prairie dog at Pineridge Natural Area

    Not sure how you feel but I have wanted my millions of followers of this blog to have the option to receive notification through email anytime I posted something new and exciting on my blog. So, I tried two different plugins and had difficulty getting either one of them to do what I wanted. I never could figure them out, nor did I feel comfortable with them, nor did I understand all the terminology, nor did it seem simple. So, I decided the best way to keep it simple was not have any of it. When I’m honest about it, I want the half dozen people who do read my blog to just drop by when they want or use an RSS feed. Yes, keep’n it simple.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    One of Those Nights

    May 23, 2022
    Taken about a half hour after sunrise

    Awake at 3:00 am and couldn’t go back to sleep. Up at 4:13 am. Made a chai latte then found myself parked at Pineridge Natural Area at 5:16 am listening to the birds sing. There is something magical that happens around and within me when I listen to their songs in the predawn darkness. There were a dozen pelicans cruising the reservoir. While near by two Great Blue Herons waded along the shore. Must have been a good morning to fish. I am lucky, blessed to have these natural areas near me to enjoy.

    I heard it rain during the night but it had stopped by the time I got up. I knew I was taking a chance for a break in the clouds but I felt the desire to be there rather than my condo. We who obsess with photography chase those moments of light no matter how fleeting they are. It is raining again as I get ready to post this and the sky looks nothing like this image now. Luckily I can take a nap today.

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  • animals,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    They Teach Us

    May 17, 2022

    In the Western tradition there is a recognized hierarchy of beings, with, of course, the human being on top—the pinnacle of evolution, the darling of Creation—and the plants at the bottom. But in Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as “the younger brothers of Creation.” We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn—we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance. Their wisdom is apparent in the way that they live. They teach us by example. They’ve been on the earth far longer than we have been, and have had time to figure things out.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

    What a beautiful morning we have here in Colorado. Blue skies and sunshine. I have not read her book but think it’s one I do want to absorb some of her words and spirit. I also noticed Krista Tippett has a podcast with her that I want to listen to. Hope everyone has a wonderful day, enjoy it!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Stillness of Morning Light

    May 16, 2022
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area with a dirty lens

    Communing with God is communing with our own hearts, our own best selves, not with something foreign and accidental. Saints and devotees have gone into the wilderness to find God; of course they took God with them, and the silence and detachment enabled them to hear the still, small voice of their own souls, as one hears the ticking of his own watch in the stillness of the night. 

    John Burroughs
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