My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
Albert Einstein
We have had blue skies and sunshine today and wind gusting up to 16 mph. Sure makes it difficult to keep my hair looking pretty! I needed some time in one of the natural areas so I headed to Pineridge Natural Area to journal in the peace, quiet and wind. I was visited by one of the magpies who surprisingly was not very chatty. They did not seem bothered by my presence and even accepting. We could not communicate but we kept the peace. They just hung around and posed for me. Hope you had a good day.
The cloud is free only to go with the wind. The rain is free only in falling.
Wendell Berry
Here is this morning’s predawn sky over campus on my bicycle ride to Mugs. Emily was my barista and an Old Town mocha was my drink of choice this morning. We had some dramatic winds along the Colorado Front Range and into Wyoming on Thursday. They closed I-25 and US 287 north from Fort Collins to Cheyenne and Laramie for the better part of the day. There were wind gusts recorded over 80 mph. So there has been some major wind damage. The campus had some big old pine trees toppled. They released students early on Thursday due to the winds and it was the last day of class before spring break. What was interesting to me about this wind was having it blow for almost 12 hours nonstop. As my friend, Joan, described it, it was “unsettling.” They are predicting more high winds again today and into tomorrow. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!
Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.
Delia Owens
As I sat in my chair journaling this morning I glanced out my bedroom window to check out the action of autumn. The wind was gusting up to 17 mph so it was inviting the last of the leaves their chance to soar. I smiled as I watched them let go and lift off. There was no rhyme or reason to their flight patterns as they allowed the wind to let them wander on. I wonder, do they smile or squeal with glee as they are caught up in their chance to soar? And that caused me to smiled again. I hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Winds have been gusting up to 25-30 mph since early this morning and we may see that continue into mid-afternoon. Because of the winds I wisely chose not to ride the bicycle to coffee and conversation. After returning home I made a piece of sourdough toast with a generous spreading of chunky peanut butter. I then sat in my bedroom chair with the warm sunshine spreading across my journal to write. But before I could get started writing the light and shadows on the pages urged me to put the pen down, set up the camera and tripod and use this image as a starting place for today’s post. As I post this I realize it reflects the life I live today full of prayer and meditation, coffee life, photography, journaling, blogging, and peanut butter. And if the wind wasn’t blowing, bicycling.
To live without self-centered expectations is the secret of freedom in personal relationships.
Eknath Easwaran
This was the scene when I walked into my condo this morning. Scenes like this are common with this time of the year. It’s almost impossible to keep my floors clean. Yesterday afternoon I stood on my porch and watched with wonder as trees let go of the leaves allowing them to freefall on to the next stage of their lives. I was amazed at how many and how fast they were falling. The slight breeze would send a wave of them across the yard. All of a sudden a gust of wind came up and a pile of them would circle me on my porch. The rustling music the leaves make is soothing to me. I smiled. Now I need to sweep my floor. May you enjoy all your personal relationships today.
The wind has blown hard today, gusting up to 30 mph. The blue sky is filled with an infinite number of yellow, gold, brown, red, pink, and multi-speckled leaves. And, all are being invited to dance and sing with the wind. Yet some hold on, not ready to let go, even though it’s an essential part of their journey. I must confess, I do love the music that they make together, this chorus after chorus of rustling leaves and wind. Their music is one of the primary reasons I enjoy this time of the year. This image is taken outside my front door where the wind swirls leaves into a delightful blanket of beauty just for me. It is all a miracle!!!
A touch of pink
Somewhere along the way, you realize that no one will teach you how to live your own life — not your parents or your idols, not the philosophers or the poets, not your liberal arts education or your twelve-step program, not church or therapy or Tolstoy. No matter how valuable any of that guidance, how pertinent any of that wisdom, in the end you discover that you make the path of life only by walking it with your own two feet under the overstory of your own consciousness — that singular miracle never repeated in all the history and future of the universe, never fully articulable to another.
Maria Popova
This quote by Maria Popova is from a wonderful blog post which you can read here.
I leave the chaos to enter the sanctuary of nature, aware this spiritual life is about our experiences.
I listen as the meadowlark sings from their heart, the wind carrying their notes to all who will listen.
I learn, after the last note fades into the past, to stay present, just as the meadowlark, listening to the gift of silence.
mws
I saw two extraordinary events yesterday afternoon at Pineridge Natural Area. While scanning the area with my binoculars I watched a large raptor, which I believe was a Golden Eagle, flying straight at me with a prairie dog in their talons. Golden Eagles are common in the area but this was my first sighting of one. Later, while journaling on the bench about the eagle there was an increase of chatter among the magpies just below me. I looked up from writing and see a bobcat. This was the first one I’ve seen in this area even though there are several in the area. I took no photos, just memories that remain in the present! Enjoy your weekend!
The wind was cold at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. It has been blowing 15-25 mph with gusts up to 40mph almost all day. Therefore, it seemed reasonable to remain in my car rather than sitting on the bench. But when this scene began to appear I needed to step into the wind for a few photos. Glad I did. I actually drove up there because I wanted to journal but due to the wind and cold I moved on to the coffee shop. Just as I approached the door of the coffee shop, I had to stop and listen to the songbirds sing their songs of wonder. I realized how much I need those birds in my life and their songs. I also believe they need me to hear their songs. With their songs, my barista Emma’s warm smile, and a mocha, I began to warm up.
Sunrise at f22
The challenge of wonder is to tolerate uncertainty. If you do not relax into uncertainty, wonder may start to seem like insecurity.
Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.
Mary Oliver
The sky looked promising this morning so I grabbed my camera, made a chai and headed out the door. I also knew that we are expecting rain later today and possibly turning to snow after midnight which is an indication of a colorful sunrise. I was not disappointed. The temperature was a wonderful 50 degrees. After taking a few images the wind began to pick up and clouds began moving in. In the distance a woodpecker hammered on a tree. I watched a solo pelican drift across the waters of Dixon Reservoir. And, the meadowlarks sang to me.
This image of the predawn colors is from the same spot but was taken 8 minutes earlier than the image above. Demonstrates how nature is continuously creating. May you stay attentive and have a blessed day!
