• gratitude,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Grateful Eyes

    Rabbitbrush from yesterday afternoon’s walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    The practice of looking at the world through grateful eyes and with a grateful heart is an exquisite end in itself.

    Kristi Nelson

    A rather lovely day until late this afternoon when clouds moved in and the wind picked up. It is 52 degrees but it looks like 32 degrees. It’s been a quiet day filled with writing and journaling. Eating leftover soup and chocolates. Not at the same time!!!

  • landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    Second Post

    This is my second post for today. I spent some time at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area late this afternoon, primarily for journaling. It was quiet so it added to my journaling. A couple people were out walking off dinner and dessert, even a runner. I hung around long enough to watch and enjoy the sun set, grab a photo and head home. Without the sun I feel the cold more. Hope you had a great day!

  • clouds,  landscape,  musings,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  trees,  writing/reading

    Happy Work

    Trailhead at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue or your happiness to the future. Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment… The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.

    Albert Camus

    There are moments that simply happen through no conscious intention or will on anyone’s part. These are spiritual moments for me because they reach some deeper part of my being. They’re like a shutter speed of time, set aside, which nourishes my soul and adds to my life. This image was taken at that perfect moment when the light was illuminating the trees for only a few seconds. With the sun setting, the clouds moving rapidly, it truly was a matter of seconds. I was not aware of the shortness of time when I pressed the shutter. Only while looking at it on my screen at home did its impact hit me. This scene and image was a short moment in time and will never be repeated exactly like this again. It was one of a kind moment and one of a kind image and I stayed present for it. For that I’m grateful.

  • landscape,  natural areas,  Plants,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets,  trees

    Busy Day

    It was a busy day yesterday. Started laundry about 7:00 am, made a quick trip to the grocery store then arrived at a coffee shop by 8:15 am. Had a zoom meeting at noon followed by a 2 1/2 hour lunch with my friend Duane. Finished off the day with a walk a Reservoir Ridge Natural Area for this image. I then curled up with a book and headed for bed.

  • insects,  John O'Donohue,  natural areas,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Dangerously free…

    It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. It is an immense privilege, and it is incredible that humans manage to forget the miracle of being here. Rilke said, ‘Being here is so much,’ and it is uncanny how social reality can deaden and numb us so that the mystical wonder of our lives goes totally unnoticed. We are here. We are wildly and dangerously free.

    John O’Donohue
  • horizons,  landscape,  Mary Oliver,  mountains,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Dazzle

    The multiplicity of forms! The hummingbird, the fox, the raven, the sparrow hawk, the otter, the dragonfly, the water lily! And on and on. It must be a great disappointment to God if we are not dazzled at least ten times a day.

    Mary Oliver

    Nothing dazzles me more than yesterday’s afternoon walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area taking in the golden beauty of rabbitbrush scattered throughout the still green meadow. Today I am driving Peak to Peak Highway with a friend to take in the golden fall colors. We are expecting to be dazzled. Weather forecast is cloudy and cooler, which means we layer. Photos to follow.

  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  sunsets

    A Touch of Pink

    Waxing Crescent moon and pink clouds at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    It was a cool fall day yesterday. Sunshine, blue skies and scattered clouds in the morning then a few sprinkles later in the day. I did not sleep well on Friday night. Woke up around 12:30 feeling nauseous. The visit to my cardiologist this past Tuesday showed my blood pressure is now in stage 2, so he wants me to go on blood pressure meds. He wants me off the meloxicam because one of its side effects is increased blood pressure. So I stopped one medication and started another. Who knows what that is doing with my system. I took my walk to the east side of Reservoir Ridge Natural Area last night and arrived in time to see some pink in the clouds and waxing crescent moon. Have a great Sunday!