My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
I come for the silence heard in the ground of my being
mws
which brings awareness of the gift of life.
As this gift unfolds,
the sun rises over a cloudless horizon,
a fish quietly rises to the water’s surface
and a quiet prayer is heard in my soul.
This Book of Nature has opened its pages of this new day,
may we silently read each word.
I come here for the silence.
I awoke early again. A trip to the bathroom, prayer and meditation time, a bowl of cereal, made a chai latte then headed for Arapaho Bend Natural Area. Yes, as some of you know I do have my routines. I am also blessed to have all these natural areas close to me. Arapaho Bend is about the farthest away at 8.5 miles. Takes about 16 minutes to drive there. This morning I discovered this slightly different perspective so you may see more images from this location. As I stood there soaking it all in a flock of about 21 geese flew over me from the west (I counted them). So, I waited until they were in the viewfinder before taking several images. Interesting how they noisily honked to let me know they were coming in over me. To me they add to the scene. Expecting another warm day here in Colorado. Hoping you have a great day!
Into God’s Book of Nature I step in the murky hour just before the dawn, before the rising sun stages its rehearsal, bleeds pink into the edge of night. It’s where you might find me … at twilight, the in-between hour when day dissolves into darkness, when on a summer’s eve I surrender to the rising surround sound of crickets and keep watch till the starkeepers trot out the stars.
Barbara Mahany
“We go to prayer to be transfigured ourselves, to come to see the world as God sees the world, to practice the presence of God, to put on a heart of justice, of love, and of compassion for others. We go to become new of soul.”
Joan Chittister
Awoke to heavy fog, so needless to say I was excited. I needed to meet friends for breakfast on the east side of town so I drove to Arapaho Bend Natural Area for fog images first. Surprisingly no fog as it all seemed to be along the foothills. Not to be dismayed I pulled over, setup my tripod and camera because there had to be an image offered. And, there was. It’s simple and there is a small amount of fog/mist sitting on the water’s surface on the far side where there is some shade. I would have loved to stay and pray in that sacred place but needed to meet my friends. I must say breakfast and conversation was great and is its own form of prayer! Hope you have a great Saturday!!
“This is the power of art: The power to transcend our own self-interest, our solipsistic zoom-lens on life, and relate to the world and each other with more integrity, more curiosity, more wholeheartedness.”
Maria Popova
Heavy rains this morning as I sat in my car at Pineridge Natural Area enjoying, listening, watching and journaling. I sat there for an hour as nature received it’s gift of life sustaining rain. We have had several days of 30-70% chance of rain which has provided beautiful skies. This image was taken Friday morning at Arapaho Bend Natural Area. I wonder if the power of art Maria is referring to in her quote is our observation of art, the partaking in the making of art or both. I am of the belief that I must be present to experience the power of natures art and thus be a part of it. Enjoy your Sunday!
I’ve read where we should never place the subject in the middle of an image because placing the subjects off-center yields a stronger, more natural-looking composition and allows us to make creative use of negative space. Well I do did will break that composition rule technique. I’ve also read that we should not should on ourselves, so I suppose I should stop that.
The top image is predawn light over Dixon Reservoir taken at 5:49 am and the second image was taken seven minutes later at 5:56 am about 40 feet from the first one. Again, showing us how nature continuously creates. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
scattered clouds gather
ms
over the eastern horizon
the gift of a new dawn
Meadowlarks and robins were already singing when I arrived at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. I suspect they knew, just as I knew in my heart, the gift of this new day that was about to burst upon us. As I awaited in the dark, I had time to journal about what I was feeling and seeing. Again those words of awe and wonder came to mind. And then the sun burst forth to begin its journey from horizon to horizon. I pressed the shutter button on my camera hoping to capture some of what I was experiencing to share with you. I offered thanks. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
Confucius
Although it never got over 40 degrees today, we enjoyed blue skies and sunshine. Sure was a change from yesterday’s cold and snow. This reflection is from Dixon Reservoir about 4:00 pm this afternoon. And, it was taken with that old Fujifilm X-T10 and the old 27mm f2.8 lens.
I agree with Confucius that mistakes are a necessary part of life, they have lessons to teach us. My life experiences show that when I don’t learn the lessons, we can expect I will make the same mistakes, again and again. Thankfully that has changed quite a bit as I’ve grown older more mature. As they say, “Just look at the record!” Hope you had a good Wednesday!
A great photograph is a distillation, a reduction of the chaos of our wider experience to a visually satisfying essence where what is excluded is as important as what is included.
David Ward
Took my camera for a short walk around my ponds yesterday. The afternoon sun was breaking through the overcast skies and reflecting light off the soft ripples drifting across the pond. I zoomed in to focus only on the ripples and reflections and remove the chaos. When I head out of town to some place of quiet or one of the natural areas I am also reducing the chaos of life, zooming in.
Snow is expected tonight and into tomorrow with accumulations of 6-11 inches. I have doctor appointments today, tomorrow and Thursday. Some are consultations and some are tests. Wherever you are stay dry, warm and out of trouble.
And today is my dads 94th birthday! Happy birthday dad!!!!
“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!