• clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    I live a good life!

    This morning’s sunrise

    The starlings have noisily invaded the leafless deciduous trees along the eastern bank of Dixon Reservoir. I listen as their rabble rousing concert echoes across the meadow. Then without warning they stop. I look up, confused with the silence. Suddenly at some unknown signal they begin again, filling the sky now with their gossip of which garden or park they will invade next. When they go silent again, a group takes flight filling the air with their black wingbeats. Some consider the starlings to be invasive and destructive but the truth be, it’s nothing compared to man!

    Fully awake now and with my spirit refreshed, I move on to a local coffee shop. I share my story of the starlings with Adrianna while she makes my mocha. With her smile, our conversation and a warm mocha I begin to warm up. I live a good life!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  snow,  sunrises

    We Are Enough!

    Cold February Sunrise

    There’s so much more to who you are than you know right now. You are, indeed, something mysterious and someone magnificent. You hold within you — secreted for safekeeping in your heart — a great gift for this world. Although you might sometimes feel like a cog in a huge machine, that you don’t really matter in the great scheme of things, the truth is that you are fully eligible for a meaningful life, a mystical life, a life of the greatest fulfillment and service.

    Bill Plotkin

    I’m posting this quote by Bill Plotkin because I also believe we are more than we know or think we know. It raises a couple questions for me, “What would the world look like if I believed that I am something mysterious, someone magnificent, a unique gift of creation?” And also, “What would the world look like if we all saw ourselves that way?” What if these words are considered inclusive, shared equally by us all, and that no one is seen as better than or less than anyone else? Then maybe who and what we may think of ourselves, of others, of creation, the cosmos and beyond, will allow us to live a meaningful, mystical life. We are enough!

  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Listen To Their Songs

    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.

    Lorin Roche
  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    No asphalt here…

    Predawn panorama at Pineridge Natural Area

    “The soil under the grass is dreaming of a young forest, and under the pavement the soil is dreaming of grass.”

    Wendell Berry

    I am grateful for the natural areas and the city of Fort Collins for setting aside these areas. They protect nature from those who want to profit from them and destroy the dreams of the soil. Because it was a beautiful day of blue sky and sunshine, I spent some time at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area this afternoon and journaled. I thought about people who know nothing but the asphalt, concrete and noise of big cities. For them to be present to the silence of the sunrise above or to look out over a vast horizon, could be startling if not frightening to them. So, this evening I’m aware of how lucky, blessed, and grateful I am to have these sanctuaries to experience. I will end with words written in my journal today: No asphalt here…

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    The Offering of Hope

    Sunday morning sunrise

    Third day in a row of almost cloudless skies. Rather unusual for Colorado. I watched as the orange globe rose above the horizon, casting its sunbeams on everyone. Nature repeats this each morning yet it is never the same. This morning it’ a’s an offering of hope, the promise of new beginnings, and a prayer for world peace. Enjoy your Sunday!!

  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  reflections,  sunrises

    Predawn Colors

    early morning light
    nature choosing her colors
    predawn delight

    mws

    My day began earlier than usual and not by choice. I awoke precisely at 4:31 am. Not sure my body said that’s enough sleep or some inner voice was telling me to get outside and accept the gift of the new day. Maybe I need to listen to that voice more often. After scraping ice from the windshield I chose to drive east towards Arapaho Bend Natural Area. I like coming to this natural area as it’s easy to get to and the ponds provide an opportunity for reflections. As I’ve mentioned before the only negative here is having the traffic noise from the interstate, which is just beyond those trees. I felt excitement well up inside me and a tinge of promise as I drove closer because of the shape of the clouds. When I arrived at the south pond I quickly set up my camera and tripod just as nature pulled out her red paintbrush and began creating on her blue sky canvas. I stood along the water’s edge sipping on my pour-over coffee with a “giddy grin”. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  reflections,  sunrises

    Resting in Solitude…

    Resting in solitude, I could sit in the silence of my own being and drink deeply from the well spring of divine love that sustained me.

    Ilia Delio

    Nothing like sitting in silence while taking in a beautiful predawn sky over Dixon Reservoir. Well, to be honest with you, I was not resting in solitude so much as freezing my buns off! I took this image last week.

    I spent part of yesterday afternoon sitting along Strauss Cabin Road, watching a bald eagle and journaling. There is power in being with others, getting outside of myself, while there is also power in solitude, being with myself. I pray for the balance! 🙏 Have a wonderful Monday.