The sun is about to set on this beautiful day. About to call it a day with some reading and journaling but first I’ll share a bit about the day. My day started early with cardiac rehab, then spent an hour at the coffee shop journaling before meeting my friend Duane for a late breakfast and good conversation. This day had an abundance of sun with a few drifting clouds and temperatures in the low 80s. So, this afternoon I got in a walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area where silence mixed with a meadowlark’s song brought a smile to my soul. Full of gratitude! Hope you had a good day, also.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”67″ display=”basic_slideshow”]I was not going to choose and post my 2019 favorites but here it is. My criteria I have used is about the emotion they emit for me: I like them. So, what did my camera find in it’s view finder? I have noticed there are not as many candid portraits in this group but one of them was of Santa and his pickup truck. There are images from a couple of new coffee shops I found. And, of course there are the bus rides, Old Town street scenes and campus images as I used the bus system a lot in 2019. Plants and flowers still catch my eye and of course the sunrises and sunsets from the local nature areas. All the images are local except one from Colorado Springs.
Hope the coming year of 2020 is full of happiness, joy and wonderful adventures.
I took this yesterday morning on my way from the bus stop. I decided to take the bus to the coffee shop because I didn’t want to clean the frost off the car or find a parking spot and I need to exercise. On the way home I noticed the tailgaters were getting set up in the parking lot of the stadium for the CSU game this afternoon. Tables were getting setup and they even had some grills set up and smoke billing up. Brats? Not my game plan anymore on a cold November morning. Nope, prefer the warmth of a coffee shop and a mocha.
Starting my day with a mocha, journal and fountain pen
As humans we are wounded, broken and cracked, sometimes deeply. Many of us may not be whole or as perfect as we wished, yet we are whatever wholeness we have at this moment in time. It’s taken time to accept my wounded, broken and cracked life as the gift of wholeness it is rather than wanting to be perfect. I’ve found tools to help work on the broken parts, and asked others for help when it’s needed. For many this is a new way of thinking and seeing ourselves, others and all of creation. I pray that even through the brokenness we can see the wholeness of who we are, our true-self.
Standing passengers on public transportation hang on to handles, called strap-hangers. They intrigued me yesterday so I played around with different compositions and framing. There are now a few people who know I’m a bit insane and give me some distance. I’d like to share a story about one of the first times I began riding the bus. Forgive me if I’ve told this before.
One morning when getting on I found it packed with students on their way to campus. There was no room to sit so I had to stand, grabbing a strap-hanger. This nice young man, calling me “Sir”, offered me his seat. After declining the offer I began to think about the generosity and concern of his offer for this older guy. I realized how much older I was than 95% of the kids on the bus. I also noticed the cute young lady he was sitting next to. So, the next time I ever encounter the same or similar situation I just may take up the offer, especially if she’s cute. 🙂
This morning we have a full moon sitting just above the mountains to the west. In the east we have a radiant orange sky between the horizon and clouds. The day begins! I’m at Bindles on the hill looking out the east window over the Poudre River flowing in the valley below. Next to me is a mocha latte. Live is good!
This mornings coffee shop included a drive to Bindles on the east side of town as they have good mochas and an ambiance I enjoy. As I stepped out the door, the eastern sky was just coming alive with the few scattered clouds slowly turning a beautiful red. I felt an inner joy as I drove into that eastern sunrise. I watched the red fade to pink then a light shade of orange. By the time I arrived in the parking lot the sun was just beginning to rise. Once out of the car I grabbed my camera. The day was arriving. I smiled!
“If I want to convince someone, I listen attentively first. Even if I am right, he won’t be convinced until he feels heard and respected.” Haemin Sunim
It is snowing, a light powdery snowfall. I like the quiet a snowfall brings. We have a couple inches right now but could see a total of 4 inches. Some brave soul had been riding their bicycle this morning as the only tracks on the sidewalk were their tire tracks. Snowplows are out. I find it interesting how the city of Fort Collins has small snowplows they use to clean the bike lanes. And, needless to say, it’s pretty quiet in the coffeehouse.
