• musings,  quotes,  shadows

    Early Morning Shadows

    April 9, 2026

    A shadow is never created in darkness.
    It is born of light.
    We can be blind to it and blinded by it.
    Our shadow asks us to look at what we don’t want to see.”

    Terry Tempest Williams

    As a photographer I have been fascinated with shadows for a long time. Similarly I have become fascinated in seeing the shadow side of myself. There are aspects of each of us we do not want to look at nor do we want the world to see and have found ways to hide or disguise that in our shadow. In my youth I was blind to my shadow. Now as I’m older I’m finding it to be an adventure looking at my shadow side, exposing it to the light of awareness and growth, and bringing out the details so that I can uncover who I truly am and allow others to see my authentic and full self. Who knows what gem may be discovered in those shadows for both me and the world. I hope you have had a wonderful day.

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  • fountain pens,  journal,  quotes,  shadows,  writing/reading

    Wisdom and Love

    February 22, 2026

    We are here to grow in wisdom and to learn to love better.

    Rachel Naomi Remen

    It was 11 degrees this morning so no sunrise photo although there was a lovely pink sunrise in the eastern sky. I enjoyed my mocha and conversation with Jeff and John this morning at Mugs. Alissia was our barista. Not a bad way to start a cold Sunday morning. I would like to say and live Remen’s quote as a prayer throughout this day for the world. And a keyword in her quote that stands out for me is “we.” Seems we need a good dose of wisdom, love, and prayer right now. I hope you have a good Sunday. Stay warm and dry for those of you on the eastern coast.

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  • gratitude,  quotes,  shadows

    Grateful

    January 27, 2026

    Look closely and you will find that people are happy because they are grateful.
    The opposite of gratefulness is just taking everything for granted.

    David Steindl-Rast

    It has been a productive day. I accomplished a few things that had been put on the back burner because of my surgery. So, I’m feeling grateful this evening. As I walked through my bedroom late this afternoon I saw the soft yellow light and shadows from the evenings setting sun. I grabbed my camera and now want to share this simple image with you. I hope you have had a wonderful day, stayed warm and dry and found time to be grateful!

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  • quotes,  shadows

    Makes me smile…

    October 17, 2025

    The sun shines not on us, but in us.
    The rivers flow not past but through us.
    Nature was made not just for us,
    but for itself and its own happiness,
    and is the very smile of the Divine.

    John Muir

    It was a rather cool morning at 38 degrees which made my bicycle ride invigorating. But that also makes my Old Town mocha taste that much better. Emily was my barista and did a wonderful job. I’m now sitting at my desk watching a beautiful fall day unfold. We have a blue sky while the sun spreads its light and warmth in my condo. Its rays of light extend across my desk, wall and floor. With that invitation I press the shutter button. Later I will enjoy a bowl of chili soup then meet a friend this afternoon for a walk and talk. I choose to believe, as Muir does, that the Divine does smile in and through us. What a gift it is to smile and share it! I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

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  • bicycle rides,  coffee life,  grass,  Plants,  trees

    But I’m tempted…

    July 12, 2025

    As I rode through the CSU Oval on Friday there was a young woman walking barefoot on the grass. Almost made me want to stop and take my shoes off. Yet, when I think about all the chemicals they put down on that grass, to keep it green and growing, I keep my shoes on and keep riding. But I’m tempted… If you look closely you will see chalk drawing on the sidewalk. I assume made by the children who have come for a summer camp week and encouraged by student leaders. We had rain during the night so we awoke to overcast skies and cool. I saw where we had from one tenth of an inch to half an inch in Fort Collins. Happy Saturday!

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  • quotes,  shadows

    Creative Work

    July 6, 2025

    It’s not a question of whether we credit our best work to either luck or skill but whether we’re open to taking advantage of it being both luck and skill. Creative work is a dance between you and the circumstances in which you do your work.

    David duChemin

    I had just stepped outside the front door to ride for coffee when I saw these shadows. Luckily I had my camera with me and the circumstances were there. I hope you have a good Sunday!

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  • quotes,  shadows

    … when we glimpse it

    March 3, 2025

    Our religious experience begins and ends with the heart. It begins with the insight that our heart is restless. A world of things can never fully satisfy its restless quest. Only that nothing beyond all things that we call meaning gives us rest when we glimpse it. The quest of the human heart for meaning is the heartbeat of every religion.

    Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer

    When I returned from my bicycle ride to coffee this morning I caught a glimpse of the sunlight coming through my bedroom window. I knew it as a voice telling me there was a photo being offered. Did I want it? Just a glimpse is all it takes for us to see something that’s small and irrelevant at times and now has something simple to offer. I wanted it! Some would call it a spiritual experience. After looking at the quilt I rememberd it was a handmade quilt given to me by my friend, Judith, who died of cancer 17 years ago. Maybe she was behind that voice.

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  • poems,  shadows,  winter scenes

    How Well We Love

    February 9, 2025

    When all is said and done,
    The only true measure of our lives
    Is how well we loved.
    How well we gave love, received love, shared love,
    Protected love, created love.

    Nothing else will matter when our turn comes
    To make the final journey—
    Only the love we were will linger.
    Only love will still speak our name
    In the hearts of those we embraced.

    We were made to love, you and I,
    Made so by the author of love
    Made in the image of love to be the love we are.

    Steven Charleston, Spirit Wheel

    We had a light dusting of silent snowfall during the night. However, along with the snow comes the cold temperatures, 23 degrees. I made my way to the coffee shop for an Old Town Mocha made by Winter. It was rather quiet in there this morning. People must have slept in. I drove around the CSU Oval on the way home and snapped this photo for the blog. Hope you have a wonderful Superbowl Sunday.

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