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Monte Stevens Blog

My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.

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  • bicycling,  Cityscapes/Urban,  quotes,  sunrises

    Start of the Day

    October 2, 2024

    Hello, sun in my face.
    Hello you who made the morning
    and spread it over the fields…

    Watch, now, how I start the day
    in happiness, in kindness.

    Mary Oliver

    I would add to her start of the day, a bicycle ride to a favorite coffee shop and an image of the sunrise along the way. Weather app suggests the possibility of 90 degrees today. Toasty!

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • Candid Portraits,  Cityscapes/Urban,  John O'Donohue,  People/Portraits,  quotes,  silence

    Cities seem startling

    May 13, 2023
    New York City – 2008

    When we live in silence and solitude of the land, cities seem startling.

    John O’Donohue
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • Art,  Cityscapes/Urban,  flowers,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    Entertaining a Thought

    April 17, 2023
    Crystal City, October of 2007

    “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

    Aristotle

    My ability to dream and fantasize goes way back. I could create a whole world in my head and stay there for hours simply by saying, “let’s pretend,” even when that was subconscious. I believe it’s an essential part of our young lives but there is a point where we cease pretending and begin living in the reality of life. Some of us do that sooner than others. I put myself in the later category. I’ve become aware of when to entertain thoughts without accepting them and let them go. Progress, as they say. Having said that I still find myself entertaining a thought just as this young lady seems to be doing but not accepting it as reality. Hope you had a good Monday!

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 6 Comments
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  seasons

    Finally…

    May 4, 2022
    Focus is on the raindrops and not the busyness beyond

    … we are receiving some much needed rain this morning. It began raining just after I went to bed. Sometime during the night I could hear it pounding against my window. Awoke to lovely puddles of water. The little boy within was enticed enough to want to jump in them.

    A light mist was falling as I walked to the bus stop. About an hour later it was a steady rain again. I sat in one of the lounge chairs at the coffee shop, looking out the window and watching the refreshing gift descending. Like snow there is a certain silence in gentle rain, when we pause and listen. I listened this morning. Everything smells fresh and new. I feel the coolness on my body and there is rejoicing in my spirit, even a giggle. Have a wonderful day!

    Looking out the bus window at transit center on campus

    “Let’s just sit quietly and listen to the secrets the rain wants to tell us.”

    John Mark Green
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  quotes

    Lights in Old Town

    October 17, 2021
    Night scene in Old Town Fort Collins

    The camera is a remarkable instrument. Saturate yourself with your subject, and the camera will all but take you by the hand and point the way.

    Margaret Bourke-White


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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  coffee shops,  haiku,  lifestyles,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Morning Ritual

    October 1, 2020
    Morning starburst at Mugs Coffee from my chair

    The smoke from the forest fires are now wind driven over the mountains and away from us, giving us a much needed reprieve this morning. We now have three fires burning: Cameron Peak Fire, Mullen Fire and Middle Fork Fire. The Mullen Fire has now moved into Colorado from Wyoming as it is a very aggressive fire. On a lighter note I enjoyed my morning mocha and clear skies.

    this day’s starburst
    promise of a brighter day
    my morning ritual

    mws
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 2 Comments
  • architecture,  Cityscapes/Urban,  quotes,  shadows

    And shadows…

    September 4, 2020
    Shadows in the Opera Galleria in Old Town Fort Collins

    “Life is only available in the present moment.”

    Thich Nhat Hanh
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  landscape,  quotes,  sunsets

    Afternoon Walk

    August 31, 2020
    This was taken 4 days ago on my afternoon walk.

    Our living is determined not so much by what life brings to us as by the attitude we bring to life;
    not so much by what happens to us as by the way our mind looks at what happens.

    Khalil Gibran
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens No Comments
  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0,  leaves,  quotes,  shadows

    I must stay present…

    August 15, 2020
    Leaves and shadows on the sidewalk at the coffee shop but I must stay present

    “A mind that worries about the past is distracted, and a mind that worries about the future is delusional.”

    Cheng Yen
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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 4 Comments
  • architecture,  Cityscapes/Urban,  clouds,  Fujifilm X-T3,  Fujifilm XF35mm f2.0,  Travel

    Seattle Skyline

    July 11, 2020
    Seattle skyline along Harbor Avenue

    This image of the Seattle skyline was taken near Alki Beach along Harbor Avenue. It is an indication of the type of weather we enjoyed in Seattle. There is no beach where I’m standing. The sandy beach is farther west but the traffic and people was terrible. Enjoy your Saturday.

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    Monte Stevens's avatar Monte Stevens 3 Comments
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