• coffee life,  latte art,  musings

    Cost of a latte…

    April 11, 2026

    There is a coffee shop that I have not been to in awhile because they are pricey and on the other side of town. They advertise themselves as serving quality coffee and roast their own beans. I must admit I have enjoyed their espresso roast in their Americano. But one day last week I ordered a 12 oz. mocha and was flabbergasted by the price. It was a good mocha and the latte art was good but sure not worth $7.99. It’s a bit frightening to think that someday I could be priced out of my coffee addiction. Then what? Cuz I sure ain’t going back to work! Well… I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  • Blossoms,  quotes

    Sense of Wonder

    April 10, 2026

    If I had influence with the good angel who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world would be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life as an unfailing antidote against boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things that are artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength.

    Rachel Carson
    Crabapple Blossoms

    Seems her suggestion for a sense of wonder for children, as well as adults, is relevant today. I do believe this world would be very different if we all turned away from our phones, computers and televisions and took a walk around the block to experience a sense of the wonder of nature.

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  • musings,  quotes,  shadows

    Early Morning Shadows

    April 9, 2026

    A shadow is never created in darkness.
    It is born of light.
    We can be blind to it and blinded by it.
    Our shadow asks us to look at what we don’t want to see.”

    Terry Tempest Williams

    As a photographer I have been fascinated with shadows for a long time. Similarly I have become fascinated in seeing the shadow side of myself. There are aspects of each of us we do not want to look at nor do we want the world to see and have found ways to hide or disguise that in our shadow. In my youth I was blind to my shadow. Now as I’m older I’m finding it to be an adventure looking at my shadow side, exposing it to the light of awareness and growth, and bringing out the details so that I can uncover who I truly am and allow others to see my authentic and full self. Who knows what gem may be discovered in those shadows for both me and the world. I hope you have had a wonderful day.

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  • bicycle rides,  bicycling,  landscape,  moon,  natural areas,  nature,  quotes

    To See Another View

    April 8, 2026

    “The humble person is open to being corrected, whereas the arrogant is clearly closed to it. Proud people are supremely confident in their own opinions and insights. No one can admonish them successfully… Filled as they are with their own views, the arrogant lack the capacity to see another view.”

    Fr. Thomas Dubay

    It was an amazingly warm morning at 57 degrees when I headed for the coffee shop. I decided to take the Fisher Nature Area then connect to the Spring Creek Trail and was greeted with the moon sitting in the southern sky. So glad I took a different route as it offered me another view. It will be a day for reading and writing, a short meeting with friends at noon then meet a friend at 4 pm. May you enjoy this day and the view it offers!

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  • landscape,  poems,  river,  Yellowstone National Park

    A Simple Prayer

    April 7, 2026

    I would love to live
    Like a river flows,
    Carried by the surprise
    Of its own unfolding.

    John O’Donohue

    This is a sunrise image taken on the Madison River from a road trip in August of 2022. It was my last day of the trip and I was heading home when I saw this scene. I had to stop. It really didn’t matter if I took a photo or not I just needed to experience the moment. This part of the river is calm while both up river and down river there are rapids and surprises. As a metaphor of life there are days when the flow of life is as calm as this river while there are times when it ain’t and we face surprises. I’m learning to be a part of its unfolding. So, this poem is my prayer for today!

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  • Plants,  quotes

    New Life Emerging

    April 5, 2026

    It began as a seedling
    in the darkness of the soil.
    And within that darkness
    was found everything needed
    to emerge as new life.

    mws

    I noticed this plant growing among the rocks and wood chips outside the coffee shop this morning. It seemed fitting for today. Also fitting in my life as it seems after some of the darkest times there has emerged new life. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

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  • bicycling,  campus,  clouds,  landscape,  quotes,  sunrises

    Sunrise on Campus

    April 3, 2026

    Solitude is important to man…
    It is his refuge when the very foundation of his life are being shaken by disastrous events.

    Margaret E. Mulac

    I stopped and took this image of the predawn colors over the Lory Student Center on campus this past week on my ride to the coffee shop. Posting this late and hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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  • Avian,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    Hoping for Peace

    April 2, 2026

    “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

    Albert Einstein

    We have had blue skies and sunshine today and wind gusting up to 16 mph. Sure makes it difficult to keep my hair looking pretty! I needed some time in one of the natural areas so I headed to Pineridge Natural Area to journal in the peace, quiet and wind. I was visited by one of the magpies who surprisingly was not very chatty. They did not seem bothered by my presence and even accepting. We could not communicate but we kept the peace. They just hung around and posed for me. Hope you had a good day.

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