• natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    The Beauty and Mystery

    Storm clouds over Dixon Reservoir

    To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again. The heavens change every moment, and reflect their glory or gloom on the plains beneath.

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    No matter how often I come here, each photograph is one that has never been seen before. That is the beauty and mystery of nature. That is the beauty and mystery of our photography. What an amazing gift! Enjoy your weekend!

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

    This Colorful Display

    “Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    For three days now we have had unusual colors in the sky because the smoke and ash from forest fires in Wyoming and Montana are drifting our way. The colors are eerie. I got up early this morning and headed to Pineridge Natural Area. I was hoping that after the sun had risen I could expect some reflection of the sun in Dixon Reservoir. Geese and ducks fed along the waters edges. In between the cross talking magpies, I could hear the robins and meadowlarks singing. And, I was not the only one out with their cameras for this colorful display by nature. The tables outside the coffee shop had a light dusting of ash on them. Air quality warnings are out for today. And, I pray for world peace!

  • grass,  Plants,  quotes

    …lived well.

    The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Driving to Red Feather Lakes to shoot senior portraits for a friend today. Haven’t been up in that area for quite some time. Have a wonderful Sunday!

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

    Morning Reflections

    “The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.”

    Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature

    I had to smile this morning with the reflections off Dixon Reservoir at Pineridge Natural Area. And, I must say I love that inviting distant horizon. I wonder just how far I can see from this vantage point. Such a quiet morning to enjoy on this December day. They say snow is on its way later Monday and into Tuesday. Then have colder days later into the week. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    Peace Within

    “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    This is the time of the year when mornings begin to get cooler and afternoons stay hot. We call it fall. Met with a friend this morning at Pineridge Natural Area to watch the sunrise and sip on our chai lattes. We wore jackets. Made a crockpot of vegetable soup this morning before I left the condo and shared that with another friend at noon. When it reached 92 I decide it was time to visit Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Without a jacket. As I took it all in, nature provided a nice wind to bring relief from the heat and provided some soothing sounds and sights for me to enjoy. A blue jay squawks from the cottonwoods behind me. A starburst shoots through the trees. I’m noticing leaves beginning to change colors. A hawk circles above. Clouds lazily drift overhead. Soon the sun dropped behind the mountains and I felt the coolness of the air. As this busy day comes to a close I reflect on both the good choices and poor choices I made today. And, I smile because there is a peace within. ❤️

  • quotes,  snow

    Not much to say

    Tracks
    Tracks

    “People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Finished a 4-day trip this afternoon. We have 2-3 inches of snow on the ground and temperatures are dropping. It is suppose to get down to 4 degrees tonight. My opinion is that Cancun sounds pretty good right now. Hope everyone has a good week.