• bicycling,  campus,  clouds,  landscape,  sunrises

    Clouds at Predawn

    March 14, 2026

    The cloud is free only to go with the wind.
    The rain is free only in falling.

    Wendell Berry

    Here is this morning’s predawn sky over campus on my bicycle ride to Mugs. Emily was my barista and an Old Town mocha was my drink of choice this morning. We had some dramatic winds along the Colorado Front Range and into Wyoming on Thursday. They closed I-25 and US 287 north from Fort Collins to Cheyenne and Laramie for the better part of the day. There were wind gusts recorded over 80 mph. So there has been some major wind damage. The campus had some big old pine trees toppled. They released students early on Thursday due to the winds and it was the last day of class before spring break. What was interesting to me about this wind was having it blow for almost 12 hours nonstop. As my friend, Joan, described it, it was “unsettling.” They are predicting more high winds again today and into tomorrow. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

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  • bicycling,  Camera Equipment,  fence,  Photography,  street photography

    … stuff like this

    March 12, 2026

    When I head out the door I usually carry my camera along with my journal, fountain pens and kindle. Seems I have spent a fortune on camera bags looking for the perfect fit. I have lately been using a nice Lowepro Photosport backpack. It has easy access to the camera via a zippered door on the side. I can easily slide it off one shoulder and pull the camera out. It also has a top loading compartment much like a rucksack to put the journal, pens and kindle in. My only complaint is the heaviness of the backpack but it is designed to protect the camera. However, when I have the camera hanging around my neck and my journal, pens and kindle in a small Topo backpack, I almost always take more images. We see photo opportunities all the time but when the camera is in my bag I am less likely to bring home that image. So, I’m carrying my camera around my neck again, even when riding the bicycle, and you may see more images of stuff like this. We have high wind warnings out today with gusts up to 30 mph. Bad hair day!

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  • coffee life,  musings

    An Hour at the Library

    March 10, 2026
    Cortado at Mugs this morning

    I spent an hour at the Harmony Library this afternoon. It has been a cold day so the library sounded inviting. I was a librarian my senior year in high school to pickup a credit or two. As I reflected I realized that working in the library today is much different than in 1968. Back then nothing was digital. The old card file system worked just fine and an ink can with an ink soaked sponge and a rubber stamp. Interestingly I watched as librarians helped people with the many desktop computers that they have everywhere. So a librarian needs to be tech savvy now a days. They also have a media center where people can print papers, articles and assignments. My media center back then was a notebook and pencil. As I sat and journaled with my fountain pen, I noticed a crackling and rustling sound as a woman sitting near me turned the pages of a newspaper. Now that’s a sound I don’t hear much any more. I also watched several people carrying stacks of 3-6 books to check out, which means there are still people who read books rather than watch television.

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  moon,  quotes,  trees

    Keep me on schedule…

    March 8, 2026

    Collect moments, not things

    Paolo Coelho

    This moment happened this morning as Jeff and I waited for Mugs to open. And, this moment happened an hour earlier than it would have yesterday due to the time change. Strange as it may seem I was not even aware of the change until we got inside the coffee shop. Goes to show how much I care about it and how dependant I am on my phone and watch to keep me on schedule. Anyway, it was a nice moment to share with Jeff. I hope you had a wonderful Sunday!

    And back in September the Department of Defense was renamed to Department of War and that is what they are doing. No defense involved nor any attempt at peace. The president’s 2024 campaign prominently promised to be a “president of peace” by ending “forever wars,” preventing World War III, and not starting new conflicts. What happened to those promises?

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  • quotes,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes

    It’s a quiet day

    March 6, 2026

    Love is the seed of life in my own heart
    when it seeks the good of the other.

    Thomas Merton

    Finally a taste of winter. It began snowing early this morning, just now beginning to let up and turning to rain. I am guessing 1-3 inches of snow. US 287 north from Ted’s Place to Laramie, Wy was closed earlier due to blizzard conditions but is now open. This is a much needed gift of moisture for us. Had a mocha early at Mugs and have laundry in the dryer now. It’s a quiet day. I hope you enjoy your Friday!

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  • architecture,  campus,  coffee life,  quotes

    The Power of Love

    March 4, 2026

    “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

    Jimi Hendrix

    Rather than ride the bicycle ride this morning to Mugs, I decided to take the bus to campus. I stopped at Sweet Sensations coffee shop and got a mocha then spent time in the Paul and Elsie Legacy Lounge by the fireplace to journal in the quiet. I usually have the area to myself until about 8:15 am before the groggy students begin to stumble in. It had been a while since I was in the lounge area and I was pleased to see they had changed all the furniture. We had a warm sunny day and may see rain Thursday night into Friday. Time to push the publish button and read for a while. I hope you had a good day!

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

    Away from the city noise

    March 2, 2026

    “For me it was important to be alone; solitude was a prerequisite to being openly and joyfully susceptible and responsive to the world of leaves, light, birdsong, flowers, flowing water.”

    Mary Oliver, Upstream: Selected Essays

    A spring like day. We reached 71 degrees and nature painted clouds all over the blue canvas sky. It makes me smile! I spent some time at a couple natural areas this afternoon to watch the art show and journal. I hope you had a good day!

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling

    Getting some exercise

    February 27, 2026

    Well, I have now riden the past five consecutive days and love being back on the bicycle. A couple of those days I had to deal with north/northwest wind gusts up to 20 mph so I got in some good exercise. I took this image of the red steed at Spring Canyon Park which is where I turn around and head back. It’s an easy 10 mile round trip. The sun has set so time to push publish. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  fountain pens,  quotes,  sky

    More mystery…

    February 26, 2026

    Please remember that certainty—not doubt—is the opposite of faith. The insistence on certainty reveals a need for control, not a need for love or understanding.

    Richard Rohr

    Holding a perspective of certainty allows some people to justify putting others down because of the attempt to try and strip them of their humanity or believing them to be less than us. But this belief is the ego putting itself on a pedestal and rejecting self-restraint, understanding, compassion, and any willingness to dialogue. This is hate and intolerance. I find it difficult to be around such people because there is almost no openness to sharing ideas with narcissistic people. What can be even more frightening is when we are basing certainty on half truths or even lies. I have come to embrace living in the adventure and mystery of life.

    Needing some time out on the prairie to journal I headed east. Stopped at a favorite spot and I was surrounded by hundreds of Canada Geese. Needless to say I did not find much peace and quiet for journaling but I did enjoy my time. Hundreds of them. Waves of them. Makes you wonder where they came from and where they are headed. More mystery.

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