• coffee life,  journal,  latte art,  quotes

    Life comes from living it…

    April 16, 2024

    Things do not make life, life.

    Joan Chittister

    From my own experiences I’m aware that a new fountain pen “will not” make me a better writer, or a wiser person. Yet, I still look. I also know that a new Fujifilm X100VI will not make me a better street photographer, or a wiser person. Yet, I still look. From my own life experiences the simple things I have in life are the real treasures of life. I am doing my best to live my life with less attachments to things and not accumulating more things. Chittister also says that life comes from living it. So, living life today means taking the time to savor the beauty of latte art, enjoying my mocha, and a bit of journaling with the treasures I have.

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee life,  musings

    Sunday Smiles

    April 14, 2024

    Smiles… they are the simplest gift we can offer the world. There is an unending supply within each one of us. Each one is unique, no two are alike! They can be repeatedly given throughout our day. They are extremely contagious. They are free with no monetary value placed on them. They are not to be hidden but need/must to be set free, released, given, and received.

    They lift the spirit of both the giver and receiver. They may unknowingly offer healing to anyone who may be silently suffering. They are a sign of our inner joy and happiness, that life is good. And they can be an invitation to return a smile, begin a conversation or make eye contact. They break down all barriers that separate, isolate or reject. They express what words may not be able to say. They enhance our external and internal attractiveness and beauty. And, in my world, smiles are what keep me returning to coffee shops! Seems the world would be at a better place if each of us offered more smiles. We for sure will feel better!!! Thanks to my baristas, Keera and Emma!!

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  • animals,  coffee life,  flowers,  shadows

    My Commute

    April 12, 2024

    I am not sure how many days I commuted to and from work but I am grateful I no longer commute to work. However, this morning on my walk/bus ride to the coffee shop I was aware I still commute, yet it does not seem like a commute. While commuting to work, my mind was already at work, figuring, planning, scheduling, arguing, and already building resentments. This meant I was not mentally present for the commute. Wonder how many gifts nature was offering me and I missed them?

    So I’m going to share with you a bit of my commute to coffee this morning. (Sorry if it bores you.) We had a cloudless blue sky. Apple blossoms reminding me it’s spring. A squirrel watching my every move. A cottontail checking out their reflection in the car. Early morning shadows. Spring flowers and new leaves on campus. Heard the cooing of a morning dove and the cry of a hawk. And then when I arrived at Mugs my barista, Emma, offered her wonderful smile and made me a mocha. Yes, I still commute but it’s different. I have an open slate on my calendar, so I plan to do a bit of reading and writing, in the sun. Enjoy your Friday.

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  • coffee life,  journal,  latte art

    But, then…

    April 1, 2024

    After some precious quiet time, journaling and watching the sunrise at a natural area, I let Isaac make me a mocha latte. As you can see he outdid himself on his artwork, almost too pretty to drink. And, he was grinning from ear-to-ear when he handed it to me. But, then…

    After taking this photo to document his work of art, I bumped the table and sloshed the mocha everywhere. 😳 I was grateful for the saucer as it caught most of the spill and I could pour it back into the cup. He forgave me! It is overcast, cool, and damp after last nights rain. It actually feels refreshing. May you have a wonderful Monday!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops

    A New Book of Poetry

    March 22, 2024

    This morning’s eastern sky offered a few scattered pink clouds on a light blue canvas for those of us who were awake at that hour. As the colors faded I made my way to the coffee shop where my barista, Emma, greeted me with a smile and made me a mocha, both bolstered the start of my day. I brought along a new poetry book to read, written by a retired professor from Colorado State University. So far I find his writing down to earth, easy to read and have had a wonderful belly laugh at a couple of his poems. He writes about the 50 plus years of farming and ranching he and his wife have enjoyed in northern Colorado. He seems to have some good things to say that many in our world need to hear, such as, “when working on something side by side (be it Fencelines or other things)… (our) differences tend to blend into similarities.” It also has some wonderful artwork in it! Enjoy your Friday and weekend!

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  writing/reading

    Something new…

    February 27, 2024

    Ultimately, the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is.

    William Zinsser

    I added this Pilot Custom 823 pen to my stable of pens a week ago. It is larger pen than my Pelikan M200 and M205 pens or the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 or Custom 74 pens, especially the nib. It is also a vacuum filler and holds more ink. It is also more expensive!! So, I imagine this will be the only one I ever own. I do like the transparent smoke color and gold trim. Since I enjoy using brown inks it suits my writing style. My sister has one and considers it her favorite. Not sure if its my favorite, yet, but the writing experience is wonderful. I’ve found that when I enjoy a fine pen, or a favorite, I will pick it up more often. It has been windy all day. We had cloudy skies with a rain/mix early this morning. It’s about 1:47 pm, is partly cloudy and the cold wind still blows. Stay warm and hold on to your hat.

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  • coffee life,  fountain pens,  journal,  journaling,  quotes

    Maybe a blankie

    February 16, 2024

    Writing by hand is thinking on paper. Thoughts grow into words, sentences and pictures. Memories become stories. Ideas are transformed into projects. Notes inspire insight. We write and understand, learn, see and think – with the hand.

    The above quote is from the packaging in my newest Leuchtturn1917 journal, which I have been using for several years. It seems that the first sentence can be attributed to a writer and teacher, named William Zinsser. Not sure where the rest of the quote comes from. I relate to his idea that writing by hand is thinking. And, writing by hand also has a way of slowing my mind down. I’m posting this image because it goes along with the quote and I began a new journal today. It’s also a new color of journal for me as I have exclusively used black. It is hardbound, has two ribbons, and 251 lined pages. I average around 6-9 months of journaling in a book. In one strange period of time, where I had a lot on my mind, I filled one journal in three months. I find having a quality journal with 80 gsm fountain pen friendly paper and a quality fountain pen will inspire me to pick them up more often and use them.

    As some of you know my dad now lives in the warmer climate of Arizona, so I sent him the following message this morning: “Good morning! It is cloudy, 23 degrees, 84% humidity and expected to snow later today. It seems like a wise choice for me to stay inside, making it a day to read and journal.” And he responded: “That is what I would do with maybe a blankie.” Stay warm!!!

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