“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…
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!!
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!
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.
After my quiet time I noticed the eastern horizon had a nice lovely pink glow as I looked out my bedroom window. Excitedly I made a mad dash to Pineridge Natural Area. The whole sky was red as I drove up there but had begun to fade and diminish in size by the time I set up my camera. Seemed like nature was excited that it was Valentine’s Day and put on quite the show. What a gift it is to live as close as I do to these sanctuaries. Even though I caught the tail end of the morning show, I was tickled pink with what I was able to witness and photograph.
Reflections
Later in the afternoon I was struck by the beauty of the clouds against the blue sky, so it only seemed natural to make my way to Arapaho Bend Natural Area and taking my camera for a walk. Or maybe the camera took me for a walk. Anyway, I walked the path that meanders between the ponds and the Poudre River, with the ponds on the west and the Poudre River on the east. The trail on the other side of the ponds is a paved trail but I chose the dirt rail. Well those trails were muddy and so were my shoes. But, it was time well spent, good for my soul and the shoes can be cleaned.
By the time I arrived darker clouds had moved in and the sun was now hidden. This image is looking south across one of the ponds. I was drawn to those dark clouds that had drifted in and the soft reflections of the trees in the water. A gentle but cold breeze was blowing across the water’s surface leaving small ripples and adding texture to the image.
Poudre River
This image is along the Poudre River side of the trail and looking north. It was taken about 20 minutes after the second image but in nearly the same location. Interesting how those 20 minutes allows nature to change the lighting and mood of everything and rather quickly.
February is a prime time for eagles to begin nesting, so I was lucky to see two eagles hanging around a nest that I’ve never noticed before. Unfortunately no photo opportunities but now I know where they are. I’ve read that the eagles are beginning to nest in more populated areas. However, I want to respect their space so I’ll give them plenty of room when I return. It would not surprise me if they close off that area if they discover eaglets later. Colorado has relatively mild winters and there are lots of large reservoirs that retain some open water with abundant fish and waterfowl. Grateful I got in some lovin time with nature and got to see the eagles!
The great enemy of freedom is the alignment of political power with wealth. This alignment destroys the commonwealth – that is, the natural wealth of localities and the local economies of household, neighborhood, and community – and so destroys democracy, of which the commonwealth is the foundation and practical means.
Wendell Berry
There’s a tendency to miss the predawn colors when you arrive a bit late to Pineridge Natural Area. However, if you hang around a while you may see the sun rising over a bank of clouds along the eastern horizon. Snow was still on the ground when I took this image last week and the waters of Dixon Reservoir were free of ice. Both are signs we will see more waterfowl and the songbirds will be returning. Yet, winter is not done as snow is expected to start tonight and into tomorrow. With snow coming I thought it would be wise to put on a crockpot of chili soup. Surely, that’ll make things better.
I find it sad that we have a country that aligns political power with wealth, where wealth is almost always defined and associated with money. But wealth has other meanings such as having enough to share essentials with others, work to support a family, medical assistance for everyone, inclusivity and equality and a home to protect us from the elements. Berry uses a good word, “commonwealth.” Personally wealth includes being healthy in body, mind and spirit, laughter with family and friends, moments of serenity and peace, prayer and meditation time, grieving the loss of a loved one, listening to a meadowlarks song and the opportunity to watch a morning sunrise. However, I will include that crockpot of chili soup that’s cooking.
To be alive and walk on the Earth is a miracle, and yet most of us are running as if there was some better place to get to. There is beauty calling to us every day, every hour, but we are rarely in a position to listen.
Thich Nhat Hanh
I can easily find myself running, sometimes unaware of the direction I’m running. Often times it’s driven by fear, worry, fatigue, anger, running late, and not surprisingly, influenced by our highly driven society. I have a few of ways to slow down. One is to journal. Another is time in nature. Prayer and meditation time is another. As I think about that I realize they allow me to see more of the beauty in this world. Enjoy your Monday!
