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

    A good start to the day

    September 3, 2021

    The other morning I did not read or journal as I normally do when I arrived at the natural area. Instead I sat on the bench with my chai and camera, just watching and listening. In the predawn darkness I could hear an owl hoot but never saw them. I felt the colors slowly change from the cool predawn blue to the warm golden sunrise. The absence of any wind to move leaves, the thistle or the grass presented a calm. All was still. There was a embracing quiet around me and within me. Every so often I would listen to my muse and lift the camera, compose and press the shutter button. Another good start to the day.

    I enjoy experiencing sunrises, in case you haven’t noticed. I photograph a lot of them, in case you haven’t noticed. After I saw this image on my computer I asked myself the question, “What can I do to be a part of creating sunrise images that have my signature to them, that are not just repeats of yesterday or someone else or do I already have my own signature?” I want to experiment in more creative ways with images that really say something to me and about me. Which means you’ll probably see more sunrise images. 😁

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  • Cityscapes/Urban,  clouds,  landscape,  rants,  snow,  trees

    Saddens me…

    February 17, 2020
    Open field at Shields and Stuart.

    This is an open lot about two blocks from my condo. I am standing along Shields Street and looking east. I’ve taken a few images of sunrises from this location. However, that will change over the next couple years as they sent notice that they will be building an apartment complex and small convenience store in this field. There are people who call it growth, development, progress, because it is about money to them. I want to call it destruction. Saddens me to see areas like this within the city changed from a natural world to concrete and wood structures surrounded by asphalt!

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  • rants,  writing/reading

    This is a rant…so hear me out

    October 25, 2019

    For personal use only

    I regularly use the bathroom located near the Legacy Lounge at Lory Student Center. It seems that as I enter the toilet stall, the toilet flushes. When I sit down, the toilet flushes. When I’ve finished my business and stand up, the toilet flushes. As I open the door to walk out, the toilet flushes. So, I’m for putting the handles back on toilets and urinals and asking people be responsible for their shit.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  rants,  writing/reading

    Disdain

    September 2, 2018
    Afternoon along County Roads 13 and 96
    Afternoon along County Roads 13 and 96

    Tom will recognize this spot as we visited it while he and Kathy were in Colorado. As I’ve mentioned before I head east of town when the city noise begins to cloud my thinking. It seems that’s happening much more often, too. I took this yesterday afternoon.

    I was disappointed. I stopped at two separate locations where I enjoy taking in the view and the silence. At my first stop someone had dumped a full size couch with two tires on it. They left it half on the road and half in the ditch. No respect! At the second location, where this image was taken, the owners have blocked the turnoff with a half dozen tires. Scattered around were empty booze bottles and trash. I can see why they want to block the turnout. Instead of coming out here to this place in nature and bringing back the peace and serenity it offers, they bring the chaos and disorder of the city and trash it. I can’t even come up with words to describe my disdain for this. My anger is not directed towards the people who trashed both locations but is directed towards our throw away culture. I’m going to need to work through this today. Enjoy the long weekend!

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  • rants,  writing/reading

    Things I Think I Need

    August 20, 2018
    The County Road
    The view on a County Road 90

    The Things I Think I Need otherwise known as TITIN. I think I caught it. It explains much of my thinking over the past few decades. I’m pretty sure there are no med’s for it, although I suppose I could ask my family doctor. He may get a kick out of it or have the same affliction, disease, broken thinking, or whatever ya call it.

    My TITIN thinking is trying to justify purchasing a new laptop or an iPad Pro or a Surface Go to replace an old Chromebook and a nine year old Macbook. I use both of these tools for writing on my blog, reading your blogs, checking emails, editing my images and, of course internet shopping for the next thing I think I need.

    According to marketing both tools are outdated, which means there are hands wanting to take more money from my wallet for their latest and greatest. They don’t seem to understand there is no money in the wallet. I’m retired! Every once in awhile the Sugar Mama solution enters my mind but the side effects may be worse than the solution.

    In all honesty the Macbook is outdated due the constant updating of software. However, my simple needs are met with both the tools I have. I wonder if TITIN is related to GAS Cramps.

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  • rants,  trees,  writing/reading

    Before and After

    April 23, 2018
    Taken on March 28th
    Taken on March 28th
    This was taken on Saturday morning
    Taken on April 21st

    The tree trimmers were busy last week working on all the trees on my condo complex. Of course they made a bit of noise, annoying noise. But the noise was not the most annoying thing. The total removal of the tree outside my front door was. I would sit on my porch in my Adirondack chair and read, write and contemplate, solving most of the worlds problems. I’d watch my neighbors the squirrels wrestling and chasing one another. With the tree removal I probably will see them less. I also used to have a front row seat to the concerts performed on the stage this tree provided by my robins and chickadees. 

    I’m not sure but I think the tree was diseased as it did have more than it’s share of dead branches. I  believe it was an elm tree and  was at least 20 years old. Sad!

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  • landscape,  rants,  sunrises,  trees

    Change

    May 5, 2014
    Pre-dawn Light
    Pre-dawn Light

    I have several images of this tree taken during all four seasons and at different times of the day. This tree lies along a three-quarter mile stretch of dirt road leading to the Arapahoe Bend Nature Area. I’ve been going out there for the past 10 years for quiet time and photography. I’ve seen many a hawk perched on one it’s branches and even an eagle. I like this old tree and what it stands for. Over that ten years I’ve had the chance watch this area change.

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  • rants,  Self-portraits

    Just Me

    July 27, 2012
    Just Me

    In case you don’t know my name is Monte. I do reside or occupy a home but my name is still Monte. It is not resident or occupant. So I do not want my mailbox filled with junk mail that does not have my name on it. Any mail that says occupant or resident does not make it past the trash bin. Yes, you can call it a pet-peeve, a sore spot, a waste of paper, whatever but it causes the hair on my neck to stand up. This idea of flooding our mailboxes with advertisements makes me feel hounded. I wish there was a way to stop it. Anyway, here’s my Friday self-portrait.

     

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