It seems to me that a life well-lived is one in which we find light in unexpected places and look long enough into the shadows that we find mystery, not fear.
David DuChemin
A Life Well Lived
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Mugs on Laurel -
Creativity
True creativity does not need an excuse. It is its own motivation. It is spontaneous. It need not win public recognition, and its aim is not success.
Brother Paul QuenonSorry for posting another leaf image and quote. 😂 It has been another beautiful day in Colorado. It was 52 degrees when I took my camera on a walk this afternoon. Nature knows how to be creative when we look and see.
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What I look for…
“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. … In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.”
John LubbockA few years ago I worked for a landscaper. One morning as we pulled up to this home we were going to work on, Ed was immediately able to point out to me where they were going to have drainage problems when it rained. Wow! We saw with such different eyes. As a photographer I’ve learned that when I move my tripod and camera 20 feet in any direction my photographer’s eye will see that scene differently.
And, what I understand as reality is not as it appears to someone else. Probably my greatest growth has been to try and see as others do, accepting that they have a different reality and not try to change how they see. So maybe I need to be more open to what I look for. Maybe I’ll see a snow covered yellow fire hydrant. Hope you had a wonderful Saturday!
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Gifted Baristas
I’ve been noticing the shadows on the wall next to my chair at the coffee shop and knew there was an image there somewhere. Well, one was found this morning. But, what I envisioned required a tripod or for someone to take the photo for me. So, I asked Nate, one of my baristas if he would take a photo for me. I have very gifted baristas! They not only make my mocha but take photos. Thanks, Nate!
It was cold this morning, 11 degrees at 6:44 am and right now we are all the way up to 37 degrees. I found out I may have been exposed to COVID this past Sunday so I was able to get a test done this morning. It will take about 24 hours so I’m isolating for the day. Sure hope it is negative because my sister and I are planning on heading to Phoenix next Wednesday for a three day visit with my dad, sister and brother-in-law. This will be our early Thanksgiving.
As I’ve said before, I am a firm believer in nonviolence. We have repeatedly proven violence is not a solution for peace but a seed for more hatred. I served in the military from 1968-1972 at the age of 18. My belief at the time was that if needed I’d kill another human for this country. So, grateful I didn’t have to. I see it so differently now. I hope and pray we can let go of hatred, seek out our similarities, embrace our differences, and see one another as sisters and brothers. May we welcome the gift of peace that is ours. Yet, after saying all that, I respect and am grateful for those who offered the ultimate sacrifice for this country in war and especially for those who died in wars that were unnecessary. Thank you!
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A perfect day for reading
Full moon at the bus stop on my way to the coffee shop “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
RumiIt’s been cold, windy and gusty today. The sun has peaked in and out of a cloudy blue/gray sky. And, when the sun does break through everything lights up, glowing brilliantly. I found it to be a perfect day for reading. I’ve gained enough wisdom to know I’m unable to change the world or the people in it but I’m only able to change how I interact with the world and the people in it, which is far more important. It also follows that when I change, the world is changed in some small way.
Those who are dealing with the power of Nicole please be safe.
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Mystery in the Shadows
There is mystery in the shadows of a photograph. Something is there that cannot be seen as light does not reach it. Death is a mystery of shadows for me. I do not know what is beyond the door of death, in those shadows. I no longer adhere to the belief of my childhood religion. Yet there is within me, some voice, some hidden intuition, that lets me know there is more beyond our door of death. My cousin, Kevin, was buried today. His Christian belief and that of his family is different than mine. I respect their belief. I treasure his life, the gift he was to this world, the times I shared with him in our youth and as adults, and I pray with and for him. Yes, the mystery in the shadows. I feel much love tonight!
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Usual Morning Crowd
Adriana My weather app said 23 degrees this morning. So, I decided to take the bus for coffee because I didn’t wanna scrape frost off my windshield. Think I’ve done enough of that in my lifetime. Walked into the coffee shop and found this cute little devil peeking around the coffee carafes. She made a darn good mocha for me. I saw a few other coffee shop regulars all dressed up in their finest. Then caught the glimpse of a blue dragon and a black gorilla at the transit center. Just the usual morning crowd around campus. 😂
Around midday I drove to Wolverine Farms to write and soak up the sun. Was thrilled to see tiny creature costumes all over Old Town, children hungry for candy. There were little firemen, princesses, dragons, super heroes, pumpkins, skeletons, bats and cats and more. Yea, for the businesses in Old Town to support the children. Just the usual morning crowd around Old Town. 😂
Selfie at the bus stop Nature abhors uniformity.
Thomas Berry
Nature not only produces species diversity but also individual diversity.
Nature produces individuals. No two days are the same, no two snowflakes, no two flowers, trees, or any other of the infinite life-forms.Interesting how I wanted to fit in when younger then later in life wanted to be different. Now I want to become my authentic/true self, wearing no masks or costumes, belonging in this world. Happy Halloween!
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Busy Day
It was a busy day yesterday. Started laundry about 7:00 am, made a quick trip to the grocery store then arrived at a coffee shop by 8:15 am. Had a zoom meeting at noon followed by a 2 1/2 hour lunch with my friend Duane. Finished off the day with a walk a Reservoir Ridge Natural Area for this image. I then curled up with a book and headed for bed.
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The simplest…
The simplest spiritual discipline is some degree of solitude and silence. To be with our own thoughts and feelings is probably the most courageous act most of us will ever do.
Richard RohrCoffee at Mugs earlier this morning then had a wonderful phone call with a friend. Hopefully a quiet Saturday from here on as there is little on my to-do list. Tomorrow morning my youngest granddaughter, Abbie, gets married. We will be formally welcoming our newest member, Patton, to the family. Blessings to them both!!
- gratitude, landscape, natural areas, Plants, poems, Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, shadows, sunsets, trees
Last Chorus
Horses graze as the sun sets behind old Cottonwood trees along Overland Trail I watch the sun set behind cottonwood trees while
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the blue sky opens to the coming darkness of night.
The long shadows of the sun stretch over the pasture
as my feathered friends sing their last chorus of the day.
I’m filled with gratitude as this day comes to an end
full of hope for the new day tomorrow.
