My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
A good way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is time at Pineridge Natural Area. Joining me this morning at chapel were three Mule Deer, a couple of cottontails, a small choir of ducks and geese on Dixon Reservoir, a lone fisherman standing on the shore, and the nonstop chatter of magpies. We were finally gifted with a lovely afternoon rainstorm yesterday. It brought such a refreshing scent of rain, bright clear skies and if you were present to the moment, the loving touch of Creation. Morning chapel!
Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure. Life is like that. We don’t know anything. We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don’t know.
Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Cenchrus longisetus from the CSU Flower Trial Gardens
Cenchrus longisetus, previously known as Pennisetum villosum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, known by the common name feathertop grass or just feathertop. It is native to northeastern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and it is grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant. It can sometimes be found growing wild where it has escaped cultivation. This is a perennial grass growing in rhizomatous clumps, producing erect stems up to about 75 centimeters tall. The inflorescence is a panicle of clustered spikelets surrounded by a cloudlike mass of plumose white bristles up to 5 centimeters long. In temperate climates it is hardy in mild or coastal areas, where temperatures do not fall much below freezing. Alternatively it is often grown as an annual. (Source Wikipedia) It reminds me of ocean waves when the wind is blowing but so silent.
On Thursday I had my Covid and RSV vaccinations. I was feeling pretty good until early evening then went to bed about 7pm exhausted. I slept for about twelve hours, but it was not very good sleep. About mid morning on Friday, I took a two hour nap. I felt run down and tired all day Friday and even some body ache. I again went to bed early around 7pm last night. I slept really well and feel pretty good today. Life is like that. Hoping you have a great weekend and enjoy the coming week that looks to be cooler temperatures. Enjoy!
We did not regard the mountains and forests as wilderness; we called it home.
Luther Standing Bear
Sunrise on the Foothills Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains Park
I found this quote and realized how truly distant we are from nature. It would be interesting to know how many people in the world never step foot into nature or even consider calling it home. Anyway, I roamed around in my archives to find images of mountains and forests to go along with the quote. I found the pickings rather slim because I am attached more to the open landscapes of the prairie rather than mountains even though I live in Colorado. Go figure! I found this image taken on the Foothills Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains back in October of 2003 with my trusty Nikon D100. It has been cool and cloudy here today but no rain. I put on a crockpot of chicken tortilla soup this morning since it was going to be a cooler day. I got my Covid and RSV shots about 4 hours ago and no side effects so far. I hope you are enjoying your day!
… like me, then consider yourself really kool and above average!!!
I loved the morning clouds of predawn at Pineridge Natural Area. I took several images of different compositions. However, none of the images turned out good because I forgot to turn off my IBIS (in body image stabilization). Anyway here are some purdy clouds at Pineridge Natural Area this morning. I hope you have a great day!
This morning has had the feel, look and smell like fall. My bicycle ride was refreshing and brisk to the coffee shop. Nature offered her lovely sky canvas painted with delicate clouds and subtle colors. I stopped a couple of times to take photos and appreciate the gift of the moments. I listened to birds singing. Had two whitetail does ignore me as they grazed along the trail. With experiences like this each morning I enjoy my rides even more. My barista this morning was Madi, my drink was an Old Town mocha and I had good conversations with the regulars! Yes, I am appreciating the gift of the moments!
Some may think each sunrise is the same but I tend to differ. I rise early to experience the birthing of a new day. I place myself before each new day and what it brings and to see what I can bring to each new day. This was the morning’s sunrise on campus. I hope you had a good weekend!
“One of the most sacred duties of one’s destiny is the duty to be yourself. When you come to accept yourself and like yourself, you learn not to be afraid of your own nature.”
John O’Donohue, Anam Cara
The eastern sky was a lovely shade of pink this morning during my quiet time. A beautiful gift from Mother Nature. It was about 51 degrees when I mounted the red steed for my ride to the coffee shop. The brisk ride always makes the mocha latte seem better. I stopped to take this image as the sun broke through the trees along Spring Creek Trail. If you notice the trail splits. I usually take the left turn which goes to the underpass on Prospect Rd. and onto campus. And of course I love clouds. You may see more images from this area. It has been cool and cloudy most of the day and I am quite happy with that. The ride to the coffee shop is 3.2 miles. When I take this route I have only two blocks of traffic to deal with. The rest of it is trail and campus paths with only pedestrians and cyclists. Have a wonderful weekend!
It has been a cooler day with clear skies and sunshine. Tonight’s low will be down around 50 degrees. After coffee time I deposited a check at the bank, did my grocery shopping, bought a new jacket and stopped by the CSU Flower Garden. There were several artists at the gardens and a perfect day for it. The jacket is a wind and water resistant shell that I will use it for bicycling. I liked the color and it was cheap. I hope you are having a good day!!
Sunrise yesterday morning at Pineridge Natural Area
“There is a Sufi story about a man who is so good that the angels ask God to give him the gift of miracles. God wisely tells them to ask him if that is what he would wish.
So the angels visit this good man and offer him first the gift of healing by hands, then the gift of conversion of souls, and lastly the gift of virtue. He refuses them all. They insist that he choose a gift or they will choose one for him. “Very well,” he replies. “I ask that I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.” The story ends this way:
The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: Every time the saint’s shadow fell behind him it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow. As he walked, behind him the shadow made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women. The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without ever being aware of it. The people respecting his humility followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name and called him “the Holy Shadow.”
Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Sunrise reflection on my bicycle ride to the coffee shop
Back in 2008 I made a big step across the threshold of fear to push the publish button on my first blog post and then the next… There was the commentary about who would like what I write and who would consider it crap? I also felt the same way about posting that first image. Who would like it and who wouldn’t? Even after 4,355 postings I sometimes still ask those same commentaries. But I have enough confidence in who I am and my creativity with writing and photography that I am okay with any negative reactions. I say that because I no longer see my blog posts as failures or successes but much more as lessons and how I need to express myself. It is much cooler this morning but will still reach the mid 80s today. I will take this cooler weather.
