• natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    if only we have eyes to see….

    There is a secret hidden in the heart
    a treasure as close to us as our breath
    a mystery living in the midst of our soul.

    Finding it is simple, but may be hard,
    since to do so we must abandon the self
    we thought we were and seek the gift

    that is always ours: this inner spark
    that no darkness can finally extinguish,
    though it keeps us from knowing it.

    This gift is always present to us, if only
    we have eyes to see. And when we do,
    we will find its radiance in everything,

    and at all times, this light that blazes
    on in a darkness that cannot put it out,
    this secret that finds us when we risk

    abandoning ourselves to this presence.

    Meister Eckhart’s Book of Secrets

    We received about 4-5 inches of snow yesterday evening and through the night. I heard that the Denver Metro area received as much as 10 inches. I cleaned off the car then drove out into the winter wonderland.

    The above poem is the prologue from a new book called Meister Eckhart’s Book of Secrets by Mark Burrows and Jon Sweeney. It is a followup book to one called the Book of the Heart. It is their work of converting Eckhart’s writing into poetic meditations. Eckhart did not write poetically but in many ways, as they suggest, “his thought was profoundly poetic.” The romantic in me and my spiritual path have allowed me to enjoy the first book so giving this one a chance.

  • Documentary/Street,  gratitude,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Notice the Cold

    Snow began yesterday afternoon and continued through the night. My guess is 4-5 inches total. However, it was warm enough to start as a wet snow which created a layer of ice under the remaining snowfall. I found it quite icey to walk in, almost falling once. The above image of the doors and stairs is the school of business sciences building at CSU about 7:10 this morning. No footprints in the snow yet.

    Thankfully it is not very cold although we will not get above freezing. I do enjoy the art winter creates. I didn’t even notice the cold but found myself being grateful for the beauty.

  • Camera Equipment,  landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  seasons,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    Did I lie to Myself?

    This image was from a month ago before the cold temperatures moved in. I posted a similar image with a slightly different crop here. As I looked at them this morning I was drawn to this one much more than the other one. Strange how our perspective changes over a short period of time.

    On a different note I am excited that Fujifilm has come out with the new XF 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 lens. I’m also perplexed, even frustrated, as I told myself this past year I did not need another lens, that the XF 16-80mm f4.0 was all I really needed. Did I lie to myself?

  • landscape,  Plants,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    A Dusting of Snow

    Awoke to overcast skies and a dusting of snow this cold Sunday morning. I watched this man walk the snowwhite trail while his dog roamed everywhere except the trail or at least as far as the leash would allow. I do believe the dog was enjoying the snow more than the man. Now back home where it’s a bit warmer and enjoying a two-egg scramble for breakfast.

  • Avian,  clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    Other Locations

    There are two hawks perched in the trees in the lower right corner of this image. I assume looking for breakfast or already done and letting it settle. I used come to this area in Weld County on a regular basis but now find it limiting for images due to all the housing going up in the area. I drove out this morning for something different and scouted around for other locations that may work for me.

  • landscape,  Plants,  seasons,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    My Sunday Morning

    The storm has passed through and left us with about 2 inches of snow. I felt invited by this grove of trees to stop and take a few images. Love the silence and reverence that envelops our world after a snowfall. Nature covered in a blanket of snow waits for the warmth of the steadfast sun. I watched magpies flit from this tree to that tree. I see cottontail tracks in the fresh snow. I listened to the cold silence. My Sunday morning.

  • 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

    mws

    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

  • landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  sunsets,  trees

    Happy Birthday Marcee

    Sun setting at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Love is not just something that
    happens to you… it is a certain
    special way of being alive. Love
    is, in fact, an intensification of
    life, a completeness, a fullness,
    a wholeness of life.

    Thomas Merton

    Today is my sister’s birthday! Don’t let her know how I see her as a gift to us because it will go to her head! Have a super Awesome day! I ❤ you, Marcee!