My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, spirituality and asking deep questions.
sun rising in east a cold blue blanket of frost few leaves hanging on
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Cold morning, 19 degrees at 5:45 am. That’s too cold so I waited until it reached 21 then went outside for this photo of a cottonwood leaf with frost. Not the best but… Anyway, everything is pretty much shut down now in Larimer County as it is one the counties to go into Level Red due to high increase of cases and hospitals almost maxed out. Our two week positivity rate was 12%, so I guess you can say we graduated. Anything over 10% put us into that level. This means restrictions on numbers in businesses, churches, music events, etc. Most coffee shops and restaurants have no more indoor seating unless they go against the mandate. I am concerned about our small business owners and those who work for them.
I give thanks for arriving Safely in a new dawn, For the gift of eyes To see the world, The gift of mind To feel at home In my life, The waves of possibility Breaking on the shore of dawn, The harvest of the past That awaits my hunger, And all the furtherings This new day will bring.
I had a couple days this past week where I awoke about 4:00 am and never really got much sleep after that. This was taken three days ago. I finally got up at 5:00, had my quiet meditation then headed to Pineridge Natural Area to watch the sun come up at 6:00 am. This image does not do justice to the color of the sun as it was vibrant orange with the mix of clouds and smoke. Need to learn more about how to post process this type of image. Anyway, hope everyone has a great weekend.
Smoky sunrise at Pineridge Reservoir Natural Area this morning
Smoke sits over the city, a haze that settles on everything. Not sure I will ever get used to the smell or the feel it leaves in my throat. A jogger this morning mentioned it was hard on their throat to run in this smoke. I read this mornings fire report and they do not expect to have containment of the Cameron Peak fire until October 31st. That’s a long time for us to deal with the smoke. I must admit the smoke has presented some nicely colored sunrises and sunsets. However, we are done with it already. I think the squawking magpies are done with it, also.
Seeing a lot of fire trucks from out of town as there are over 800 firefighters battling the fire. This past week I saw a school bus full of tired firefighters taking them to a hotel for a refreshing shower and comfortable bed before heading back to the front lines. Most of their tactics are to create barriers to limit the expansion of the fire and working to protect any structures. Sadly, part of the burn area has been a great location for aspen fall colors for many years.
A magpie letting me know they were tired of the smoke also
Almost no wind this morning so the water on Dixon Reservoir was glassy smooth. The sun was bright orange through the smoky haze. Very quiet and still when I first arrived. After about 20 minutes a gentle breeze began to sway tree branches, leaves began to rustle while the grasses and sagebrush begin to dance along. The day begins to awaken. It’s going to be 90 degrees today and for the next two days then drop 65 degrees by Tuesday and possibly give us our first snowfall of this season, for sure our first frost. That will help with the fire. Hope you have a great weekend!
Smoke hovers over the city
The foul smell of smoke, now choking
The amber color uninviting, otherworldly
So quiet, birds sing in silence or elsewhere
Despairing mood in this darkened world
Close my eyes, pray for a brighter day
Open my eyes, but nothing changed
I go for a mocha, stare at blank pages
I sit in the quiet, seek the light within
Wishing it will shine on this gloomy day
Now write words, they keep me in the present
Even in this blackness we do not give up hope
On one of my walks at Dixon Reservoir I noticed this man just getting started with some fishing. The rising sun offered me a wonderful silhouette so I paused, took a deep breath, composed, took five images. Probably three too many but what the heck. For me the mood of this image tells a story about this man’s love for fishing.
My bicycle ride to and from Mugs coffee shop takes me across the campus of Colorado State University. I was surprised this morning at the number of parents dropping off students at dorms. I’ll guess 90% were wearing masks but I imagine that will change when mom leaves. It also brought more awareness of the vast differences we have in our attitudes towards this pandemic. What the heck, maybe these freshman need to become fishermen, standing six feet a part. Yes, I know, I’m thinking out loud again.
