• desert,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunrises

    Predawn Sky

    April 30, 2026
    Predawn sky along Peralta Trail from August 2012

    Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.

    Parker J. Palmer

    My sister Sheree and I arrived home about 1:15 pm yesterday afternoon. We left Phoenix on Tuesday morning, stayed the night in Raton, New Mexico then finished the trip yesterday. It was a good day of travel. We had a near miss with a deer just outside of Raton, New Mexico yesterday morning and then one driver almost swerved into us somewhere in Denver a few hours later. Seems road construction was/is everywhere! Both of us were tired by the time we got home. My sisters keep different hours than I do, staying up later but on this trip I did also. So I was even more tired. I emptied the car, unpacked everything and then sat for some meditation and quiet. I slept in this morning. In spite of the fatigue, I had a wonderful time with my family.

    It’s been a cloudy and cool with a 40% possibility for rain. Because of the possibility for rain I drove to coffee this morning. At the present time the possibility of rain has been about 23 1/2 drops of rain. Well, maybe 25. Guess I need to dance faster. The gray skies offered a day to relax, journal, and read. I have also been going through some of the things belonging to mom and dad that we brought back. I have already discovered some jewels and shed a few tears. All good stuff! I still pray for the end of violence!

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  • horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  sky

    Cold Blue Sky

    February 19, 2026

    After my morning mocha I drove along S County Road 23 which runs along side of Horsetooth Reservoir. I was hoping to see clouds sitting atop the foothills overlooking the reservoir but that was not the case. However this open field of cut grass with the solitary and motionless irrigation system near Bellevue caught my attention so I pulled over and faced into the cold north wind. Even though the field was what caught my attention, it was the blue sky that is the real star in the image. The temperature this morning at 6:31 am was 23 degrees. With wind and humidity it felt like low teens. I noticed a dusting of powdery snow still hanging around places where the sun’s rays do not reach. I hope you have a great day in whatever you do.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    How we see life…

    January 30, 2026

    I made a drive out to Reservoir Ridge Natural Area this afternoon to journal while looking for the possibility of a photo of the setting sun. It was quiet out there even though it has been a beautiful day. I saw two pairs of dogs walking their owners and that was it. It has also been a day for seeing raptures. As I left my condo for coffee shop this morning there were two bald eagles soaring above me and sending out their shrill and high pitched calls. Their size, beautiful flights and calls always stop me in my tracks. I saw two more again about mid day on the other side of my pond. Then this afternoon I watched a falcon hunting while at Reservoir Ridge.

    “Helping, fixing, and serving represent three different ways of seeing life.
    When you help, you see life as weak.
    When you fix, you see life as broken.
    When you serve, you see life as whole.
    Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego,
    and service the work of the soul.”

    Rachel Naomi Remen

    I would like to remove the words “may be” in Remen’s quote and replace them so that line reads, “Fixing and helping is the work of the ego.” For those of you in North Carolina, North Berwick and Sterling Heights stay warm and safe this weekend.

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes

    One Kind Word…

    August 10, 2025

    We cannot control the way people interpret our ideas or thoughts, but we can control the words and tones we choose to convey them. Peace is built on understanding, and wars are built on misunderstandings. Never underestimate the power of a single word, and never recklessly throw around words. One wrong word, or misinterpreted word, can change the meaning of an entire sentence and start a war. And one right word, or one kind word, can grant you the heavens and open doors.

    Suzy Kassem

    Late afternoon scene along Weld County Rd 90.
    I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and you have put out at least one kind word today!

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes

    Transformed

    June 30, 2025
    Light rain falling in the mountains

    The spirit of the wilderness is solitude. We go alone to meet the divinity within us. The wisdom of the wilderness comes from God interacting through creation to touch our very soul. We emerge from our journey with a new identity grounded in God. Transformed, we discover we have been given back to ourselves.

    Debra Donnelly-Barton

    I have mentioned before on this blog how I go to places where I can touch and be touched by nature; physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is always a shift in my thinking, words and actions when I am able to spend time in the local natural areas, the early mornings of a local park, riding my bicycle on a nature trail, or the solitude of wilderness. When I do, I find a renewed connection to the Creator of this beautiful world we all are a part of and a greater awareness that I’m a part of nature. Her use of the word transformed in the quote is spot on for me. I just ain’t the same when I return home.

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  • clouds,  mountains,  sunsets

    Last Night’s Sunset

    May 8, 2025
    CSU Campus

    After about 36 hours of overcast skies that brought much needed moisture, the storm moved to the east late yesterday afternoon. Blue skies once again appeared and the late afternoon sunshine spread its golden glow upon us. We did experience some heavy rain early afternoon and even hail. It seemed like the color green popped out in the blink of an eye. I took this image yesterday evening about 8:00 pm after leaving the movie premiere I attended at CSU. Then, this afternoon I took a bicycle ride to Spring Creek Park where there was still remnants of flooding along low lying areas of the trail and the underpasses. I hope you had a wonderful Thursday!

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  • landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  storm clouds

    Waiting for my attention…

    May 5, 2025

    Once we discover that the ‘book of nature’ is an ancient idea—that this really was God’s first way of reaching out to us—then it’s like we’re stepping into this giant prayer book when we step out into the natural world. This makes it impossible for me to be anywhere in creation, now, and not be aware of this God who is crouching down low, just waiting for my attention.

    Barbara Mahany
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  • landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunsets

    Enjoying this season of my life…

    April 16, 2025

    If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
    this is the best season of your life.

    Wu-Men, translated from Chinese by Stephen Mitchell

    The list of unnecessary things my mind can grab onto seems almost infinite. My imagination, dreams, and creativity are gifts when I work to make them reality. However, learning to let go of those that are unnecessary allows me to more fully enjoy this season of my life.

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