Like these changing leaves, aging is a season of changes.
Changing
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Simple Clouds
This is along Spring Creek Trail taken on my ride this morning. Just behind these trees is a 8 story Hilton Hotel as well as scattered student housing for Colorado State University and a few residential homes. This part of the bicycle path is in an open area which I hope they keep that way. You can also see some of the colors changing, otherwise we are still green. This scene caught my interest because of the simple cloud against that blue sky and the trees. May you have a wonderful weekend!
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The morning’s blue sky and clouds
Spring Creek I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—that the light is everything — that it is more than the sum of each flawed blossom rising and fading. And I do.
from “The Ponds” by Mary Oliver -
The Gift of the Moments
This morning has had the feel, look and smell like fall. My bicycle ride was refreshing and brisk to the coffee shop. Nature offered her lovely sky canvas painted with delicate clouds and subtle colors. I stopped a couple of times to take photos and appreciate the gift of the moments. I listened to birds singing. Had two whitetail does ignore me as they grazed along the trail. With experiences like this each morning I enjoy my rides even more. My barista this morning was Madi, my drink was an Old Town mocha and I had good conversations with the regulars! Yes, I am appreciating the gift of the moments!
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the fear of failure…
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Sunrise reflection on my bicycle ride to the coffee shop Back in 2008 I made a big step across the threshold of fear to push the publish button on my first blog post and then the next… There was the commentary about who would like what I write and who would consider it crap? I also felt the same way about posting that first image. Who would like it and who wouldn’t? Even after 4,355 postings I sometimes still ask those same commentaries. But I have enough confidence in who I am and my creativity with writing and photography that I am okay with any negative reactions. I say that because I no longer see my blog posts as failures or successes but much more as lessons and how I need to express myself. It is much cooler this morning but will still reach the mid 80s today. I will take this cooler weather.
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Ability to Love
What makes us human
Henri Nouwen
is not our mind, but our heart,
not our ability to think
but ability to love.There was a wonderful feeling of fall this morning on my ride to the coffee shop. A light fog settled over the grass at Rolland Moore park and this tree was showing signs of the color changes. But the most telling was the coolness in the air. It felt and smelled like fall. It will not be long and I will be wearing heavier clothing on my ride. I hope you’re having a good day!
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This Morning’s Clouds
a canvas of blue sky
mws
a few fluffy clouds
sun rising above the trees
and a tear runs down my cheek
finding more moments
like this lately as I ride
in the early morning
nature freely offering her gifts -
Taking Care of My Soul
l have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture is dedicated to values that have no concern for the soul.
Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander – 1966It is Tuesday and starting out as a much cooler day. They say it’s only going to reach 90 degrees. I’m okay with that. The cooler air made it another lovely morning for a ride to the coffee shop. I enjoy riding through the cool low lying areas along Spring Creek. The temperature changes perk me up. I am one of those bicyclists who meanders along the trails. My bicycle is considered a commuter/urban ride. Which means I’m not a rider racing to get somewhere as quickly as possible. There is too much to miss when speeding along. Nor, none of us are as safe at higher speeds. And that’s also true of our cars. The bicycle gets me around easily and economically, puts less stress on my lower back than walking does, allows me to get my cardio exercise, gets me closer to nature, and I have much less stress when I get to the coffee shop. And bicyclists who race along the trails seem to think a certain dress attire is required. I personally do not want to see what I’d look like in spandex tights. So, I meander along taking care of my soul and with the camera ready. Who knows when I may encounter dewdrops clinging to dogwood leaves and need to stop.
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This morning’s ride
Every new morning gives fresh hope, for great is the mercy of the new day.
Lailah Gifty Akita -
Today Was the Day
Dogwood leaves along Spring Creek No one will protect what they don’t care about;
David Attenborough
and no one will care about what they have never experienced.When I rode to the coffee shop this morning it was 67 degrees and 91% humidity with a 30% chance of rain. There was a short moment of confusion as I felt like I woke up in Ohio or maybe North Carolina or Florida. Sure was not a normal Colorado morning. On my way home I took this image at one of the bridges that crosses over Spring Creek. I’ve wanted to stop here before and get a few images of the dogwood plants and those lovely leaves in this area, but never have. Well, today was the day. In these later years of my life I now enjoy making time to stop and experience, and not just take a photo, of what I normally just glance at. Everything is green along the creek which has plenty of shade and the constant flowing small creek. It is a much different scene than our open prairies where the sun has been bearing down on them for 3 weeks now. We need rain. I hope you are enjoying the day!!
