• landscape,  moon,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Coffee and Conversation

    It had been a few weeks since I visited Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and thought last night was a good time to remedy that. I went to journal in the sun before it set. Silence surrounded me except for a lone meadowlark singing every once in awhile. I loved the waxing crescent moon set in the cloudless blue sky. I’m off to meet Eric for coffee and conversation. Enjoy your Saturday!!

  • natural areas,  reptiles,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Excitement to End My Day

    Yesterday evening I spend some time at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area lounging in my Big Agnes Camp chair and journaling in the quiet. While writing I could hear something rustling in the bushes about 20 feet away. I paid little attention, assuming it to be a rabbit. However, later when I got up to stretch and walk around I discovered it to be this five foot long bull snake curled up in a rabbit brush. I’ve never seen a snake in a bush before, but always on the ground. So I now know that the scales on a bull snake’s body help it to climb plants and even trees without arms or legs. My excitement to end my day. You can click on the image for a larger view. Today is smoky and cloudy with possible rain later.

  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    This morning’s walk

    I took an enjoyable walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area this morning. The clouds were drifting along with the wind, always changing, seemingly asking which shape appealed to me the most. A couple of red-tailed hawks effortlessly soared on the invisible wind currents above me. I found myself surrounded by a half dozen meadowlarks sitting atop fence posts or rabbit-brush as if calling for my attention. A noisy magpie seemed to want my attention, also. I felt important. So, I gave them each my attention and began a conversation with them. It caused me to remember the older man who walked the city streets talking to himself when I was younger. I thought he was crazy. Now, I walk nature trails while having conversations with nature and I’m not concerned with what people may think. And, I know longer consider the old man to be crazy. 🤪 In this image you can see the meadow beginning to green up, as are the two pastures on either side of me.

  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  gratitude,  latte art

    Full of Gratitude

    Latte at Harbingers Coffee

    The sun is about to set on this beautiful day. About to call it a day with some reading and journaling but first I’ll share a bit about the day. My day started early with cardiac rehab, then spent an hour at the coffee shop journaling before meeting my friend Duane for a late breakfast and good conversation. This day had an abundance of sun with a few drifting clouds and temperatures in the low 80s. So, this afternoon I got in a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area where silence mixed with a meadowlark’s song brought a smile to my soul. Full of gratitude! Hope you had a good day, also.

  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  latte art,  musings,  writing/reading

    Isaac’s work of art…

    “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

    George Bernard Shaw

    This morning at Starry Night Isaac crafted me this delightful latte art. A pretty good way to start my day. I headed home after an hour or so of journaling as I needed to make a couple of phone calls. Also had a friend bring over potato and ham soup which I ate a bowl of for lunch. About 1:00 pm I headed to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area to soak up the sun and the quiet offered in that sanctuary. While the sun warmed me, I listened and watched as the mysterious wind danced with the meadow’s grass, rabbitbrush and the cottonwood tree branches, which now offer their new buds of delight. The wind gently blew against my face, it’s cool touch bringing healing energy to my body. In the quiet surrounding me I listened to a magpie but never saw them. And in the distance I heard a woodpecker hammer on some tree but never saw them. Each was music to my ears. I felt within me the excitement for the arrival of the songbirds, anticipating the concerts that will fill the air while the wind sends them out across the meadow for all to hear. After a couple hours clouds began to move in, blocking the sun’s warm rays. Without the warmth of the sun’s rays I became chilled and began to make my way home. After quiet time at home I put a few words together for this post, sharing with you my day, along with an image of Isaac’s work of art. When I look at this latte art I wonder how many failures it took to hone his craft and how many more failures still to come. After pressing the publish button I’m gonna grab a Dove’s dark chocolate to reward myself. Hoping you had another good day to celebrate!

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

    Never Lose Hope

    “Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.”

    Roy T. Bennett

    All went well with my bone marrow biopsy yesterday. It was quick, simple and very little pain with it. This morning I’m a bit tender around the wound site but otherwise doing fine. I will be gentle and kind with myself today. Test results will take 7-10 days. This past week I did acquire another UTI so back on antibiotics, hoping it clears up before surgery. Everything seems to be a go for surgery on Tuesday the 14th. I feel at times I am in the midst of the storm. May I not lose hope.

    This is an HDR image created in Lightroom Classic with three images at +/- one stop.

  • grass,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Two Chipotle Peppers

    Light snow at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area – March of 2022

    I put on a crockpot of chicken tortilla soup early this morning. As I was putting it together I decided to put in two chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 🌶️ rather than one as it seems like that kind of day. It is lightly snowing and 5 degrees at the moment, 2 degrees colder than when I got up. It is a day to curl up in my chair, wrapped up in a blanket, a hot chai tea latte beside me, do a bit of reading and journaling then have a bowl of soup later. Planning on filing taxes later today and putting that $153 return into my savings account. Should bring my account balance up to about $156. 😂 Stay warm!! Stay dry!! And, have a super Awesome day!!