• Barry López,  landscape,  Plants,  Poudre River,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Nature’s Teaching

    January 27, 2022

    “Over the years, one comes to measure a place, too, not just for the beauty it may give, the balminess of its breezes, the insouciance and relaxation it encourages, the sublime pleasures it offers, but for what it teaches. The way in which it alters our perception of the human. It is not so much that you want to return to indifferent or difficult places, but that you want to not forget.”

    Barry Lopez, About This Life

    This an image of the Poudre River taken north of town near Watson Lake State Wildlife Area. I’ve lived in the Fort Collins area for about 25 years now and yesterday was my first trip to this beautiful area. I was impressed with it and will look for other photo opportunities to share with you. I agree with Barry Lopez that time in nature alters our perception in a positive way. Conversely our lack of time in nature and indifference with nature also alters our perception in a negative way. I firmly believe it is the biggest reason our world is in the mess it is in. We need Nature’s teaching!

    Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and today is overcast and snow began falling about 7:00 am. If you look closely you will see a group of 6 deer just to the right of the bridge. Have a great day!

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Cottonwoods

    January 26, 2022
    Cottonwood trees at Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.

    Imogen Cunningham

    If you look closely on the right side of the trees you will see the remnants of the Old Straus Cabin. The cabin is located within the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. This cabin is an example of the early log structures. George Strauss built the cabin in 1864 and farmed the land around it, growing vegetables and raising cattle. These trees and the cabin sit right along the banks of the Poudre River.

    Cunningham’s attitude seems like a pretty good approach to improving our photography. Think I’ll give it a try. It was 2 degrees this morning when I left the condo. Now a blue sky and sunshine brightens the day but will see clouds move in later and snow beginning tonight and into tomorrow.

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  • fog,  landscape,  Plants,  poems,  poetry,  trees,  writing/reading

    Gift of Forgiveness…

    January 20, 2022

    in the silence of a foggy morning
    I listen to my heart as it cries for
    the brokenness of our world and
    offer a prayer as tears flow from my soul

    may we awake to the nurturing embrace of love
    may we awake to the healing touch of compassion
    may we awake to the needs of the oppressed
    may we awake to the gift of forgiveness

    ms

    It is a cold morning here in Colorado. A heavy ice storm yesterday morning followed by a light snow all day and cold temperatures has made it poor traveling. I received a notification yesterday that the city of Fort Collins was on an accident alert and the bus system was on a delayed and shortened schedule. Expecting some sunshine this afternoon and will clean off the snow and 1/10th of an inch of ice from my car. I have not been outside my condo for over 48 hours. Feels strange.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  quotes,  sunrises,  trees

    It’s a way of life…

    January 6, 2022

    Inner peace is more
    than a state of mind!
    It is a way of life.

    Native American

    It’s Wednesday evening. I am scheduling this post for just after midnight. It has been snowing all afternoon, a nice silent snowfall that makes it all seem even quieter. I plan on sleeping in late. Have no desire to get up early and drive somewhere so looked in the archives for this image taken last year. If it’s cheating then I’m guilty. At my age I can break the rules.

    Had a doctors appointment yesterday because of increased back pain and some loss of feeling in my buttocks. My scoliosis I’ve had for decades is degenerating. X-rays showed bone spurs and the disks are in very poor shape. We will try some anti-inflammatory medicine first and continue my stretching and strengthening exercises. If these do not help then maybe an injection in his office. I’ve lived with it for many years and probably live with it until I die. Could be one of the driving factors where I look for inner peace as a way of life.

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  • horizons,  landscape,  Plants,  quotes,  seasons,  trees,  winter scenes

    Where’s the snow?

    December 28, 2021
    December snow 10 years ago

    It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.

    Rachel Carson

    Almost the end of December and we have not yet had measurable snow in Fort Collins. Thankfully the high country have received snow but it has skipped us. Where’s the snow?

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  • poems,  poetry,  quotes

    Connected to all things

    December 26, 2021
    Colorado sunrise from October of 2005

    If we look at the Path, we do not
    see the Sky..

    We are Earth People on a
    Spiritual Journey through the Stars..

    Our Quest, our Earth Walk..
    is to look within,
    to know who we are,
    to see that we are connected
    to all things, that there is no separation,
    only in the mind!

    Lakota Seer

    As a young man I spent a lot of time in nature which included walking and riding a bicycle almost everywhere. I spent almost no time in front of a television. I am grateful for that childhood. At some point I attained the coveted drivers license and life took on a new direction. I did less walking and driving and less time in nature. I then began chasing a career that put me in front of a computer, within a cubicle and less time in nature. I began to spend less and less time in nature to the point where I lost a connection to nature. I viewed it as separate from me. More than 20 years ago there was a shift in seeing that we are connected to all things. Getting back into photography and practicing a spiritual life were key elements in that shift. There is a desire within me to have more of that connection and thus the reason this poem strikes a chord with me.

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  quotes,  storm clouds

    The Beauty

    December 22, 2021
    Riverbend Ponds about 3 weeks ago

    All that we are looking for in life—all the happiness, contentment, and peace of mind—is right here in the present moment. Our very own awareness is itself fundamentally pure and good. The only problem is that we get so caught up in the ups and downs of life that we don’t take the time to pause and notice what we already have.

    Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

    One of the first things I do when I awake is pray three simple little prayers, if you even want to call them prayers. It sets the tone for my day. Then throughout the day I find times to pause and notice the world around me, the clouds, the changing colors, the beauty of it all! Maybe that pause and awareness is as much a prayer as anything.

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