• clouds,  horizons,  landscape

    A Silver Lining

    February 22, 2024

    Restless at home yesterday I decided to drive to Weld County along County Roads 13 and 15. The skies were abundant with clouds. Darker clouds hung on the eastern horizon where rain was falling. Clouds in the west were displaying their silver lining as the sun set behind them. And the wind blew, reshaping clouds, and creating new works of art to enjoy. The wind also playfully rolled tumbleweeds across the open fields and roads. A hawk circled above searching for its next meal. Hundreds of Canada Geese flew in formation as they made their way to the fields for the night. I was blessed to see my first meadowlark of this year and had a second one sing its love song for me. I was glad I made the drive. I like how the irrigation system adds a leading line into the promising horizon.

    Silver lined clouds

    This morning we have overcast skies and a mix of light rain/snow. The rain is refreshing, but the dull gray skies do not compare to the artistry of yesterday’s sky. I have a relaxing day ahead. Need to send a couple of emails and binge on chocolate. Just kidding on the chocolate!!! 😂 May you enjoy your day!

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  • landscape,  moon,  mountains,  quotes

    Sacred Path of the Warrior

    December 30, 2023

    Cool loneliness allows us to look honestly and without aggression at our own minds. We can gradually drop our ideals of who we think we ought to be, or who we think we want to be, or who we think other people think we want to be or ought to be. We give it up and just look directly with compassion and humor at who we are. Then loneliness is no threat and heartache, no punishment. Cool loneliness doesn’t provide any resolution or give us ground under our feet. It challenges us to step into a world of no reference point without polarizing or solidifying. This is called the middle way, or the sacred path of the warrior.

    Pema Chödrön

    I enjoyed my drive to Windsor for coffee and conversation with Eric this morning. Clear blue skies, sunshine and cold. I saw a half dozen hawks and one with a mouse, the mornings special. I have also seen at least one eagle the past three weeks. Last Saturday I saw four. May have to take my longer lens next week. I needed to stop and accept this scene with our Rocky Mountains draped in a pink alpenglow and the moon looking out over it all.

    Pema Chödrön’s quote again reminds me of those images I have of who I am or what I ought to be. I also like how she suggests we look directly with compassion and humor at ourselves and walk that sacred path of the warrior. Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunsets

    Edge of Wonder

    December 19, 2023
    Sunset over Longs Peak

    Keep doing the things that make you feel something. Keep doing the things you’re in love with. And if you don’t know what those are just yet, step out into the world, and find them. Because everything is waiting for you.

    Victoria Erickson, Edge of Wonder

    I like her use of the word “things” as plural rather than singular. It suggests that we step out into the world to uncover things we weren’t aware we loved, or better yet things that loved us. I’m off to coffee shop.

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  • mountains,  quotes,  sunsets

    I just take ’em

    October 23, 2023

    God makes the pictures, I just take ’em.

    Ed H. Urqhardt

    With an almost cloudless sky on Friday evening I wanted to try for a blue sky sunset taken from the eastern plains. I drove to Cobb State Wildlife Area. I watched and photographed a lovely sunset but the sky was not the blue I wanted due to a prescribed burn near Red Feather Lakes. On my way home I stopped and took this image to show the fire. You can see the smoke rising from the mountains on the right side of the image. Even though it was a small fire it filled the sky with its ugly gray/brown color. Yet, I cannot be disappointed because I was given this image, just as it is. Or, as the quote says, I just take ’em.

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  • horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunsets

    Holiness of the Present Moment

    September 3, 2023
    Colorado Front Range Sunset – 2011

    A contemplative practice is any act, habitually entered into with your whole heart, as a way of awakening, deepening, and sustaining a contemplative experience of the inherent holiness of the present moment.

    James Finley

    His quote opens up a lot of possibilities in living a spiritual journey but also apply to photography.  I have a daily contemplative practice of prayer and meditation. When I skip them, cut them short, my day is off. I miss things, out of sorts, quick to anger, restless, wandering in my thoughts, judgemental and more. My daily contemplative practice keeps me centered in living life, what I call the present moment. 

    In my photography his definition of a contemplative practice does two things for me. One is that I gain experience in my craft, where practice helps me become more adept at using my gear. Secondly, it provides me the opportunity to be in the present moment where I’m able to see the dragonfly, or the baby cottontail hiding under a bush, or hear the chickadee sing, or notice the light beam striking a rose or the orange sunset beaming light over the Front Range. I believe a contemplative practice allows me to receive the gifts of nature for my photography as well as in my spiritual journey. I like being in the holiness of the present moment. Now coffee!

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  sunsets

    Sunset

    February 15, 2023

    All went well with the Left Heart Catheterization on Monday. I am still a bit tender around the entry point on my right wrist today but other than that it was a breeze. The good news is there are no blockages or need for stents. My heart is in good shape.

    I met with the surgeon this afternoon to see what options are available. We have a difference of opinion between the doctors. The surgeon wants to wait until my platelets numbers are back to normal before any open heart surgery. He also described a second open heart surgery, with grafting, as major surgery. He seemed reluctant to do the surgery and believes placing a valve via TAVR a better solution. What we have are two doctors seeing this from two different viewpoints. So the two will get together and discuss this more. May have word by Friday.

    Tomorrow I will have my first of four iron infusions in an attempt to bring my platelet numbers into the normal range. They will also draw blood to see what my numbers look like. It has been almost 4 weeks since they did blood work. Thanks again for your prayers and positive thoughts.

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  mountains

    A Memorable Day for Clouds

    June 1, 2022
    Pineridge Natural Area about 5:00 pm

    Nature was creating beautiful art with the clouds and the dark blue sky on Memorial Day. As any restless photographer would do upon seeing these clouds from home, I headed to Pineridge Natural Area to take in all the beauty, journal and listen to the birds sing. With nothing on my schedule for the rest of day and with all the cloud activity, I decided to drive east so I could get closer to those clouds. 😂

    Looking at the eastern horizon about 7:30 pm on Memorial Day

    Along Weld County Road 15 I spotted this scene. What a mix of dark, almost tornadic looking formation on the left side of the image and those bright white cumulonimbus clouds on the right just at the horizon. Not sure how far away they were but I imagine 40-70 miles. With all the wind blowing the smog along the Front Range out over Kansas somewhere, we have had rather beautiful dark blue skies the past few days.

    Running Deer Natural Area about 8:00 pm on Memorial Day

    Driving back into town I stopped at the Running Deer Natural Area for a bathroom break and was given this third image. I love how nature does that, just freely and unexpectedly offers gifts. Just to the left of center you can see clouds shrouding around Longs Peak (one of Colorado’s 53 14ers). This view is looking out over a marshy area so I am surrounded by Red-winged and Yellow-headed blackbirds all in chorus, and of course, millions of bugs.

    As I write this I am reminded of the homemade ice cream my parents would traditionally make on Memorial Day when I was younger. And today would have been my parents 73rd wedding anniversary and the first without mom. I will give my dad a call. And, maybe talk about the homemade ice cream. ❤️

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