• Avian,  Canada Goose,  fog

    Sleeping-in

    March 16, 2021

    Found these two Canada Goose sleeping-in late on the pond. A half dozen more are off to my right curled in the same position. Four days ago the pond was all open water. Two nights below freezing changed that. Fog is unusual for us along the foothills. We will find more of it as we move east onto the plains, especially along rivers and open water. So, the fog was a treat for me this morning. It is also cold, in the high teens, frost covers everything and only expecting to be in the mid 30’s today and a bit of sunshine.

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  landscape,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Make Popcorn

    March 15, 2021

    I need you to realize this goose is standing on about 16 inches of snow. I watched them sink into the snow up to their chest on each step they took as they walked across the yard. Some of those branches in the background are broken. There will be lots of tree cleanup over the next few weeks. And, yes this is my second post for the day. I’m breaking the rules.

    My parking lot is a mess as they have not had a snowplow go through yet. So, I also watched people with low clearance cars work hard to clean off their cars then backup a couple feet and get high-centered, wheels off the ground. I shook my head and asked the question, “Why don’t they just go back inside and make popcorn, like I do?”

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  • landscape,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Sun’s Out

    March 15, 2021

    I saw a weather report last night that showed the impact level of the storm over the last three days. The levels ranged from little/none, limited, elevated, significant, extreme and dig out. We are now in the dig out stage but probably later this afternoon. This is my car this morning at 7:40. I tried to clear some of the snow off but it’s solid because of its moisture content and last night’s temperatures were in the teens. No way will I be able to get out of the parking lot even if I get the car cleaned off.. Watched my neighbor with a lifted up 4-wheel drive pickup truck struggle to get out. Then the young lady with a Subaru Forester like mine needed pushed and dug out. I will let nature clean my car off and the contractors to plow the parking lot. I measured again this morning and I still see 16 inches. But the sun’s out. 😊

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  • haiku,  landscape,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    Late Winter Snow

    March 14, 2021

    silent seamstress
    creates blanket of white
    late winter snow

    ms

    I laid in bed after waking just to listen to the silence. Then had the silence broken by the sound a cracking tree branch. Found two small branches laying in my yard after getting out of bed. We have at least 12 inches of snow and expecting 6-8 more inches through the day. Major highways have been closed since last night. The heavy wet snow plus the wind has done some tree damage over the city. Some parts of Fort Collins have lost power. I am fine, so far, and I was able to make a 2 egg scramble and my chai latte.

    Today is Pi Day which celebrates the mathematical constant π (3.14). So, to celebrate be sure and eat one of your favorite pies. I chose peach! 😁

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  • natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    if only we have eyes to see….

    February 25, 2021

    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.

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  • lake,  landscape,  seasons,  winter scenes

    Mental Reset

    February 21, 2021

    “Keep close to nature’s heart and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean…”

    John Muir

    What a beautiful day for us. Temperatures reached the mid 40’s, blue skies and sunshine. Almost good enough to make a trip to the Dairy Queen. I watched the sunrise at Pineridge Natural Area this morning, a good start to any day. This afternoon I made a trip back to sit in the sun and journal. I took the long way home over Horsetooth Reservoir, up Rist Canyon, down Stove Prairie to the Poudre Canyon and back into town. A good mental reset! This is a view of Horsetooth Reservoir along the east side. Love the patterns of the ice.

    I also got my second COVID-19 immunization yesterday. I’m cured now.

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

    Notice the Cold

    February 18, 2021

    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.

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