• landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    make the effort…

    May 20, 2023
    The morning’s sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area

    We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.

    Wendell Berry

    The Air Pollution Control Division says today: Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Unhealthy category on Saturday due to wildfire smoke transported from Canadian wildfires. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion on Saturday. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Saturday.

    You can see in the above image just how messed up the air quality is here in Colorado. This is what it normally looks like. I can hardly imagine what it’s like in Canada. My understanding is that yesterday was worse. I had to look this fire situation with Dr. Google and fill my head with frustrating news. Here is a map of the fires in Canada if you haven’t seen them. Looks like more than 90 fires in Canada. My understanding is that Denver had one of the worst air qualities in the world yesterday.

    I agree with Mr. Berry that we need to make the effort to learn what is good for the world rather than focusing on ourselves as the center of the universe and ignoring the rest of creation. Anyway have a great weekend !

    Read More
  • quotes,  snow,  winter scenes

    Ice Crystals

    November 18, 2022
    A leaf found on campus this morning

    …the care of the earth is our most ancient and most worthy and, after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it, and to foster its renewal, is our only legitimate hope.

    Wendell Berry

    We did not get much snow in Fort Collins but we definitely have the cold. It was 5 degrees when I left the condo to catch the bus. Sun came out of hiding around 9:00 so the ice crystals in the air were sparkling, glittering, and twinkling. Ice crystals form when it’s cold and the humidity is high (90% this morning). And, in case you don’t know what an ice crystal is, they are solid ice exhibiting atomic ordering on various length scales and include hexagonal columns, hexagonal plates, dendritic crystals, and diamond dust. Now, aren’t you glad you asked what an ice crystal was. I tried to capture a couple images of them in the sunlight as I left the coffee shop but not happy with them. Definitely need more practice. I saw where we reached 22 degrees but the high humidity makes it feel colder.

    I read about great hope this morning in my meditation time and then found this quote by Wendell Berry. Had to post it because I do have hope!

    Read More
  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    Hang on to your hat…

    January 31, 2022

    There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.

    Wendell Berry

    Groggily awake at 4:00 am. After quiet time and a bowl of hot Irish Oats with blueberries I bundled up and headed to Pineridge Natural Area to catch the predawn colors. Nothing like an 18 degree morning to fully wake up. I was not disappointed as Mother Nature gifted me with wonderful colors. I read somewhere that a beautiful red sunrise or sunset must have clouds, just as our life does.

    They say it will be windy and warm today. The strongest winds are expected in the foothills where a High Wind Warning is in effect for wind gusts up to 80 mph. Hang on to your hat! Snow tomorrow.

    Read More
  • clouds,  fall season,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  seasons,  sunrises

    Alive Within Mystery

    October 11, 2021

    “I see that the life of this place is always emerging beyond expectation or prediction or typicality, that it is unique, given to the world minute by minute, only once, never to be repeated. And this is when I see that this life is a miracle, absolutely worth having, absolutely worth saving. We are alive within mystery, by miracle.”

    Wendell Berry
    Read More
  • natural areas,  Plants,  quotes

    Spiritual Journey

    July 9, 2021
    Environmental Learning Center

    And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home.

    Wendell Berry
    Read More
  • landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    True Solitude

    March 29, 2021

    “True solitude is found in the wild places, where one is without human obligation. One’s inner voices become audible… In consequence, one responds more clearly to other lives.”

    Wendell Berry

    This solitudinal place is just north of Cowdrey in Roosevelt National Forest and taken back in 2005. Friends I was visiting with at Cowdrey took me to this lovely place where we enjoyed the scenery and grilled steaks on an open fire. This meadow is a series of beaver ponds where anglers love to spend time in solitude. I unfortunately do not remember the creek these ponds were along. Hoping you have a great week.

    Read More
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  poems,  sunrises

    Presence of Still Waters

    March 24, 2020
    Sunrise at the bus stop last week

           The Peace of Wild Things
    When despair for the world grows in me
    and I wake in the night at the least sound
    in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
    I go and lie down where the wood drake
    rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
    I come into the peace of wild things
    who do not tax their lives with forethought
    of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
    And I feel above me the day-blind stars
    waiting with their light. For a time
    I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

    Wendell Berry
    Read More