• Avian,  Canada Goose,  haiku,  landscape,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    words rising

    inhale deep breaths
    journal and pen in hand
    words rising within

    ms

    It was 17 degrees at 7:33 am when I took this image. I was bundled up while the geese, well, they seemed to be singing a song of joy while drifting in frigid water or sleeping on thin ice. Pure insanity to us humans! After taking this image, I headed to Pineridge Natural area to bask in the sun’s bright warmth and journal. Picked up a mocha on the way so it took me about 25 minutes to arrive at the natural area parking lot. It had already warmed up to 18 degrees. Not toasty yet but an increase nonetheless. Some will think I’m insane for starting my day this way but both the geese and I say to heck with them. I enjoy these gifts of silence, the clear blue skies and the warm sun shining on me. To make it complete, when I got home I enjoyed a rather dry day old donut. 😁Do I know how to live or what?

  • coffee life,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  sunrises,  trees

    Laugh at Ourselves

    “As soon as we think we know what’s going to happen, life shows us that we don’t.” Adyashanti

    It’s good to laugh at ourselves, especially at start of the day. After an enjoyable quiet time I decided to grab my camera and tripod with the anticipation of capturing the morning sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area. Before I left the house I ordered a mocha from the nearest Starbucks using my phone app. I was surprised to arrive and find the store was closed. Dang! I was afraid I was going to miss out on the predawn colors. About a mile away was another Starbucks with a drive through so I decided to try them since I’d already purchased the mocha online. But, they were not opening for another hour. So headed to the Human Bean and their drive through and now had my mocha. You don’t suppose I have a problem and need to find another 12 Step program? 😁

    Anyway, the sun was up by the time I arrived at the natural area but all was good. Clear blue skies and a bright sun shining on me. Magpies loudly greeted me while silence was heard between their squawking. I journaled, sipped on my mocha and enjoyed the quiet. I also laughed several times at how my morning turned out. Happy Sunday! 😍

  • frost,  haiku,  landscape,  leaves,  Plants,  sunrises,  trees,  writing/reading

    A Bit of Frost

    sun rising in east
    a cold blue blanket of frost
    few leaves hanging on

    ms

    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.

    Hope you have a safe Thanksgiving Day!

  • clouds,  Documentary/Street,  John O'Donohue,  Plants,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises,  Transportation,  trees,  writing/reading

    The New Day

    Pink sunrise from 2 days ago

    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.

    On Waking
    by John O’Donohue

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Friday Morning

    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area
    Sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    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.

  • Avian,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Saturday morning update

    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!