• Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  quotes,  trees,  winter scenes

    I call that progress

    Walking across the CSU Oval after a night of light snowfall

    “The man who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely, no matter how much he may surround himself with people. But the man who learns, in solitude and recollection, to be at peace with his own loneliness, and to prefer its reality to the illusion of merely natural companionship, comes to know the invisible companionship of God. Such a one is alone with God in all places, and he alone truly enjoys the companionship of other men, because he loves them in God in Whom their presence is not tiresome, and because of Whom his own love for them can never know satiety.” Thomas Merton

    We had a dusting of snow yesterday evening and temperature is at 17 degrees this morning. Good morning for coffee. They had freshly made chocolate eclairs in the display but I kept my wallet in my pocket and calories off my waist. I’m calling that progress. 

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  clouds,  landscape,  rants,  snow,  trees

    Saddens me…

    Open field at Shields and Stuart.

    This is an open lot about two blocks from my condo. I am standing along Shields Street and looking east. I’ve taken a few images of sunrises from this location. However, that will change over the next couple years as they sent notice that they will be building an apartment complex and small convenience store in this field. There are people who call it growth, development, progress, because it is about money to them. I want to call it destruction. Saddens me to see areas like this within the city changed from a natural world to concrete and wood structures surrounded by asphalt!

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  sunrises,  trees

    I knew that….

    Cold December morning Sunrise near my condo

    This image was taken this morning as I walked to the bus stop. It is a wet area along Spring Creek with cattails and tall grass.  It is located behind the Walgreens and some apartments. When I first moved here almost 20 years ago I would see foxes, raccoons, deer and lots of birds in this area but not any more. We have disturbed them enough that they’ve moved to other areas.

    I had my annual physical this morning. It was a year ago this month that I had my heart surgery and things seem to be fine. Doctor gave me a thumbs up on my blood work and my heart sounds good. His only suggestion for improvement was to lose some weight. The thing is I knew he was going to say that because he’s right. More walking and less sugars seems to be the suggested remedies. I knew that, too! I suppose that means no more chocolate eclairs. Sigh!

  • architecture,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles,  window

    An evening in Old Town

     

    The lights of Old Town bring people together in one of the restaurants

    Took the bus to Old Town the other night and walked around with my camera. This is not all that sharp as I was hand holding it. You can see on the left side of the image how the lights are lit up in town. I will try and take a few images of the lights during this Christmas season. It was a bit on the cold side and thus the reason no one was sitting outside and I’ll blame that for the blurr, also.

  • architecture,  Church,  Cityscapes/Urban,  lifestyles

    Creating sanctuaries

    National Cathedral in Washington DC

    When we create sanctuaries we are creating places for possible healing, quiet, hope, peace, to pray,  to belong, even commnity. We can find these sanctuaries in our churches, a coffee shop, out in nature, such as John Muir writes about, or it can be the wicker rocker in the corner of our bedroom.

  • bicycles,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  quotes,  Travel

    Favorite ice cream flavor is…

    A bicycle on the streets in Richmond, Virginia

    “Until you got ice cream spilled on you, you’re not doing field work.” Randy Pausch

    This image is also from 2010 while on an overnight in Richmond. It really is a busy image. But it brings up a memory for me from just one word in the image. I’ll always remember when my granddaughter told me her favorite ice cream flavor was red. No need to argue with her. 🙂