• landscape,  quotes,  reflections,  sunsets

    Like the waters of this pond…

    August 17, 2025

    When we surround ourselves with people who are committed to understanding and loving, we’re nourished by their presence and our own seeds of understanding and love are watered. When we surround ourselves with people who gossip, complain, and are constantly critical, we absorb their toxins.

    from Silence by Thich Nhat Hanh

    It is hard to imagine we are halfway through the month of August. For sure time moves much faster on this downhill side of life. I have had a quiet day, surrounded by the presence of nature. It has been calm like the waters of this pond. I hope you experienced a similar calm, also!!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Venus and Jupiter

    August 13, 2025
    Predawn light at Pineridge Natural Area

    Since I was awake early, I decided to get up and jump into my day. Well, not exactly jump but you know what I mean. I drove up to Pineridge Natural Area to experience the awe and wonder of the predawn light and silence found in nature. I was the only car in the parking lot and no traffic hum in the distance. I had the place to myself. Venus and Jupiter were the two bright stars in the eastern predawn sky. I took this image at about 5:20:12 am with a 30 second exposure. Sunrise was another 45 minutes later.

    Back home, I had my quiet time, made a smoothie, and enjoyed my readings. I mounted the red steed and rode to coffee, taking a loop to Spring Creek park on the way home. A nice 11.5 mile round trip. My schedule today is rather quiet except for having a late lunch with Duane. So I will do some reading and writing today. The backordered brake cable for my e-bike has come in so I am scheduled to take it in next Wednesday. They will need to keep it overnight as they have to run the cable through the frame of the bike. I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your day’s adventure.

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  • leaves,  nature,  Plants,  quotes

    … that catch my eye

    August 3, 2025

    Silence is the indispensable climate for all revelation;
    noise renders it absolutely impossible.

    Anonymous

    As I wandered around the ponds I found these cottonwood leaves just hanging around. I suspect the wind has probably torn them away from their branch and they now hang across the branch of another tree. Such is nature, continuously and silently creating new scenes that catch my eye. I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

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  • natural areas,  nature,  quotes

    The Great Way

    July 16, 2025
    Soapstone Natural Area – 2020

    The great Way is easy,
    yet people prefer the side paths.
    Be aware when things are out of balance.
    Stay centered within the Tao.

    When rich speculators prosper
    While farmers lose their land;
    when government officials spend money
    on weapons instead of cures;
    when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible
    while the poor have nowhere to turn-
    all this is robbery and chaos.

    It is not in keeping with the Tao.

    (Tao Te Ching translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995; Verse 53)

    It began to mist just as I left the condo this morning. I turned the bicycle around and drove the car to the coffee shop, instead. No need for me to be damp, wet and uncomfortable. I’m glad I did as it’s been misting for the past three hours. A lot of things in our world are out of balance and not our checkbooks. I have come to appreciate how my time in nature, meditation, silence, and solitude help me stay centered and balanced at a deep level within me. The paradox, finding inner balance when the world around us is out of balance. Stay centered!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  quotes

    True Silence

    June 21, 2025

    True silence is calm being. True silence is appreciating the moment for the moment. Every breath a connection to my life force, my essence. It is the grandest music I have ever heard.

    Richard Wagamese

    It’s been a hot day! I met Eric for coffee this morning and saw this vista near Prospect ponds on the way home. I had to stop because of the one puffy cloud. And, meadowlarks were singing when I got out of the car. I drove to Cheyenne for a BBQ at my granddaughters home. Her husband has just returned from a year’s deployment so we wanted to celebrate that he’s back safely. I ate way too much food, enjoyed the family time and was grateful for the water misters.

    My MacBook Air M4 arrived on Thursday at about 1:00 pm. I began the transfer a half hour later. When it first began it said it had just over 34 hours remaining. Then 5 minutes later said 37 hours. The reality was more like 2 1/2 hours. All went smoothly and everything seems to work fine. I can see a major speed difference with this laptop in Lightroom. Probably will make me a better photographer in editing. Nah! Well, maybe.

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  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    A Discovered Life

    June 14, 2025

    When we make a place for silence, we make room for ourselves. By making room for silence, we resist the forces of the world which tell us to live an advertised life of surface appearances, instead of a discovered life — a life lived in contact with our senses, our feelings, our deepest thoughts and values.

    Gunilla Norris
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  • landscape,  natural areas,  storm clouds

    Deep Sustained Silences

    June 11, 2025
    Storm clouds this afternoon on the eastern plains

    Everything here feels compromised—too many planes—too many cars—too many concessions where commerce is favored over contemplation. What if it is only through the deep sustained silences that precede and follow love that life can be brought forth in all its fullness?

    Terry Tempest Williams
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