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

    A nice start to this day…

    August 13, 2026

    Within each of us there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe.
    And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are.

    Gunilla Norris

    I have not been to Pineridge Natural Area in quite some time so I changed that this morning. It is supposed to rain later today, which means there would be a chance for colors with clouds at sunrise. I parked, turned off the car and was met with silence. I was given a bit of pink color along the horizon and the air was clear of smoke. Dixon Reservoir was calm and offered a nice reflection. I took a few photos then left to meet Jeff at the coffee shop. Sunrise and silence, coffee and conversation with a friend, always a nice start to the day.

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

    Their Noise Machines

    August 4, 2026
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area – August 2025

    “There are some places so beautiful they can make a grown man break down and weep.”

     Edward Abbey

    It has been a rather cool day, a pleasant change from the past three weeks. I had blood draw last Friday and met with my hematologist this morning to go over those numbers. She was pleased with my numbers because they are stable. So all is good. They are working on the parking lot so we have had constant noise now for two days. The email said they will be done tomorrow. Seems man sure does enjoy their noise machines.

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  landscape,  mountains,  nature,  Plants,  reflections,  Spring Creek Trail,  trees

    Another Hot Day…

    July 12, 2026
    Edited with Lightroom and Jetpack Fantasy Art

    The original image for this scene was taken this morning on my bicycle ride home from the coffee shop. I am standing at a concrete detention wall that creates a small pond used for water control. I must say the bicycle ride home from the coffee shop, almost two hours later, was much hotter than the ride to the coffee shop. Today is expected to be in the upper 90s and I can feel it now. Same forecast for the next 5 days. And for anyone interested I found out Dairy Queen was closing about 45 franchises due to some franchise issues, primarily Alaska, Texas and Montana. Luckily the closures do not affect my area. Whew!! I hope you stay cool and calm today!

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  landscape,  reflections,  sunrises

    Smoky Sunrise

    June 28, 2026

    This was the scene along Spring Creek Trail this morning. The fires west of here in Utah and Colorado are now affecting us. We are seeing ash settling on cars and you can smell it. Sadly I heard this morning at the coffee shop that 3 firefighters have died and 2 have been injured in the 28,000 acre Snyder-Mesa Fire. I am not sure but assume this is the fire where most of the smoke filled air is coming from. In spite of the sad news, may you enjoy your Sunday!

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  • pond,  reflections,  water

    Reflections

    June 27, 2026

    It’s HOT here in Colorado today. Weather app says 93 degrees. I took this yesterday afternoon because I love the reflection in the almost glass like pond. When it gets this warm and the water in the pond moves every so slowly we get plenty of filamentous algae growing on the pond. It looks rather yucky to me but the carp and suckers love it. Some research says the best way to control this algae is to eliminate fertilizers. I’m all for that! Stay cool and I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  sunrises

    Some of us are trying

    June 1, 2026

    I fear that future generations will judge us harshly for our failure to place proper value on wildness, diversity, open space, spirit, solitude, and other treasures of the natural world still available to us today. May they at least know that some of us tried.

    Guy Tal
    Sunrise at Arapaho Bend Natural Area – May 2023

    I am grateful this community I live in has placed value on the wildness of nature and have established several Natural Areas that are set aside as treasures. I am thankful no wealthy developer will be able to destroy the beauty of this morning sunrise scene. My prayer today is that everyone, including rich developers, will come to see the beauty and priceless value of this sunrise as a gift for all of us without a monetary value. And, I need to know I was one of those who tried.

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  • clouds,  lake,  landscape,  quotes,  sunsets

    Ordinary Mystics

    March 24, 2026

    To be an ordinary mystic is to lead with love, to prioritize compassion,
    to regard the world with a sincere desire to see the goodness in others.

    Mirabai Starr

    What I like about her quote is the word ordinary. We do live in a society that thinks we need to be special, different, even superior or that we already are, rather than seeing each other as ordinary equals. We are all human, made of the same stuff, but each with our own unique gifts and talents. Seems to me the world could use a few more ordinary mystics who have a sincere desire to see the goodness in others and embrace that goodness.

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunsets

    Happy New Year

    January 1, 2026
    My last sunset photo of 2025

    Since I’m no longer a party guy, I celebrated New Year’s Eve by spending time at Arapaho Bend Natural Area to soak into my memory the gift of the sunset. I was back home and in bed by 8pm, reading. My post today is an image of that sunset along with a wish and pray that the coming year be a wonderful adventure, full of awe and wonder, filled with lessons learned, moments of creativity, more time in nature, quality time with family, good health, and the discovery of your true and authentic self. I am grateful for the gift you are. Happy New Year and hope you enjoyed your day!

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