My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
Love is the seed of life in my own heart when it seeks the good of the other.
Thomas Merton
Finally a taste of winter. It began snowing early this morning, just now beginning to let up and turning to rain. I am guessing 1-3 inches of snow. US 287 north from Ted’s Place to Laramie, Wy was closed earlier due to blizzard conditions but is now open. This is a much needed gift of moisture for us. Had a mocha early at Mugs and have laundry in the dryer now. It’s a quiet day. I hope you enjoy your Friday!
We have had clear skies most of the day with sunshine but on the cold side. Sure looks like most of the nation is on the cold side and it’s going to get worse in many places. Single digits for lows at night calls for two blankets. My day has been quiet. I was able to drive my car for the first time in three weeks so I went to the coffee shop then the grocery store. All went well and nobody got hurt. Actually it was a good experience to see what life would be like if I did not have a car, which I’ve wondered about. I am still being cautious in what I do and discovered today that I may have overdone the walking as I am a bit sore. This sunset image of two hawks silhouetted in the trees was taken in December of 2020 along Weld County Road 15, one of my favorite locations for sunsets. The image is simple, nothing fancy, but the location is a place of quiet and solitude. And, I believe Mr. James is spot on. Stay warm!!!!
If you can change your mind, you can change your life.
The gift of a ladybug and yes, they do have a heart.
There is a quiet light that shines in every heart. It draws no attention to itself though it is always secretly there. It is what illuminates our minds to see beauty, our desire to seek possibility and our hearts to love life. Without this subtle quickening our days would be empty and wearsome, and no horizon would ever awaken our longing. Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy and excitement of life. This shy inner light is what enables us to recognize and receive our very presence here as blessing. We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs of a harvesting of memory, spirit and dream that has long proceeded us and will now unfold nourish and sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing.
So I rose early on this first day of November to watch the darkness of night give way to today’s sunrise. I felt the cold air that blankets the meadow and took several deep breaths of that cold air into my lungs. I savour this moment not as an observer but as a participant. Nature’s beauty awakens something within me as I witness the new day bringing the hope of blessings to come. And I find myself falling in love with the sky, the quiet, the stillness, creation and the gift of it all. May you have a wonderful November!!
In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, We can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.
Dr. Howard Thurman
I took this image at noon today at Red Fox Meadows Natural Area which is a 40-acre urban wildlife refuge that is less than half mile from my condo. It also is an important stormwater detention area for the city. It truly is a corridor for wildlife as I have seen fox and deer here on many occasions. There are plenty of hawks feasting on mice that consider this their home. Yet, there are houses and traffic to the north and south of me but with the right composition I can pretty much eliminate any sign of man’s intrusion. I really need to visit more often for its stillness and quiet, for the photography, a place to journal and I can practice my flute there. Have a wonderful Monday!
A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.”
Leo Tolstoy
This was the morning’s quiet and peaceful sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area about 7 am. Since then clouds have moved in and we have had a slow steady drizzle since about 9 am. Afterwards I made my way to Mugs for coffee and a wonderful conversation with Dan. I will always accept these kinds of rainy days as they refresh everything, make a leftover bowl of chili soup taste even better and a day to journal and read. Such is my idea of happiness. I hope you enjoy your weekend!
In the kingdom of love there is no competition; there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.
John O’Donohue
It is still dark, quiet and calm. A bit on the cool side, but after all it is fall. I am about to leave for coffee and conversation at Mugs. I will bundle up for the bicycle ride. No matter the chaos mankind seems to create, nature continues to move on in her seasons of dying and rebirth. May we all give away love today, after all that’s what it’s for. Enjoy this day!
Our true home is what the Buddha called the island of self, the peaceful place inside of us. Oftentimes we don’t notice it’s there; we don’t even really know where we are, because our outer or inner environment is filled with noise. We need some quietness to find that island of self.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Silence
It has been a beautiful morning here in Colorado. I felt the need to spend part of this morning within nature so I headed to Pineridge Natural Area for the gift of quiet this new day brings. I found my rock, setup my camera and tripod then sat in the quiet. A group of 30 or so magpies noisily flew over. I wonder how often they make the noise just to draw attention to themselves or just to annoy me or both. And, is it noise to them? Yet, I would have it no other way. The pink along the horizon was just what I needed. I had the area pretty much to myself (and the magpies). I brought along one of my flutes and played a couple of songs, sending those notes and a couple squeaks (noise for sure) out across the meadow. I did rather well with Cherokee Morning Song but Zuni Sunrise needs more practice. Anyway it was a great place to embrace the quietness of that island of self. I will meet Eric shortly for coffee and conversation. I hope you enjoy your weekend.
Since I was awake early, I decided to get up and jump into my day. Well, not exactly jump but you know what I mean. I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area to experience the awe and wonder of the predawn light and silence found in nature. I was the only car in the parking lot and no traffic hum in the distance. I had the place to myself. Venus and Jupiter were the two bright stars in the eastern predawn sky. I took this image at about 5:20:12 am with a 30 second exposure. Sunrise was another 45 minutes later.
Back home, I had my quiet time, made a smoothie, and enjoyed my readings. I mounted the red steed and rode to coffee, taking a loop to Spring Creek park on the way home. A nice 11.5 mile round trip. My schedule today is rather quiet except for having a late lunch with Duane. So I will do some reading and writing today. The backordered brake cable for my e-bike has come in so I am scheduled to take it in next Wednesday. They will need to keep it overnight as they have to run the cable through the frame of the bike. I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your day’s adventure.
the quiet of early morning … the perfect end to the night,
a splash of pink nestled in the clouds along the eastern horizon,
while the same delicate clouds are mirrored in the calm waters,
mallards feed along the water’s edge making their little sounds of joy,
a great blue heron stands motionless eyes fixed below the surface,
a red tail hawk flies overhead with its morning prey locked in talons,
the quiet of early morning … the perfect start to the day.
mws
Our air quality this morning is much better than the past two days. So I made a trip to catch the sunrise, the colors, and the clouds at Pineridge Natural Area. We are expecting it to be in the high 90s today. Have a wonderful Thursday!
