• flowers,  landscape,  snow,  winter scenes

    Springtime in Colorado

    Welcome to springtime in Colorado as we awoke to another dusting of snow. I cleaned off about 2 inches from my car, heavy and wet stuff. Perfect snow for snowball fights or making a snowman. I find these snowfalls to be a beautiful experience. I watched big moisture laden snowflakes quietly drift through the air, doing what snowflakes are meant to do. Love the silence they bring!

    The roads were clear so I could meet Eric for coffee in Windsor. When I came back into town I stopped at the CSU Experimental gardens, knowing I could find a couple of photo opportunities. All the tulips were closed and snuggled in a blanket of snow. Since it’s just above freezing these tulips will most likely survive to show us more of their beauty in a day or so. Will meet friends later for dinner. Enjoy your Saturday!

  • flowers,  Plants,  poems

    A Beautiful Spring Day

    inspired by a beautiful spring day
    I caught the Max to campus

    with an iced chai, I found a spot surrounded
    by the quiet of the campus courtyard

    soaking in the silence, I began listening
    and writing words in my journal

    abruptly, the quiet became chaos
    as students poured out of classrooms

    now surrounded by every size, shape, color
    of student and backpack imaginable

    conversations exploded everywhere,
    gossip, tales from last night and laughter.

    then gently, peace and quiet returned
    as everyone moved on to their next period.

    and in this quiet I wondered,
    how many saw the daffodils?

    mws
  • animals,  coffee life,  flowers,  shadows

    My Commute

    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.

  • flowers,  quotes

    The need for mystery…

    A touch of yellow

    If we seek the mystery instead of the answer, we’ll always be seeking. I’ve never seen anybody really find the answer, but they think they have. So they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.

    Ken Kesey

    Experience has taught me, and is still teaching me, that what I think may be the answer is really a key to another door, some insight leading me to ask the next question. Or as the quote suggests, seek the mystery.

    I’m enjoying a mocha latte at the Bean Cycle then will meet Mark for breakfast. I have an open schedule after that, one of the perks in my life of retirement. Enjoy your day! 🤗

  • Dewdrops,  flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Through the dewdrops

    “One discovers the light in darkness, that is what darkness is for; but everything in our lives depends on how we bear the light”

    James Baldwin

    We had our first frost of the season last night which meant I had to scrape frost from the windshield. But, these brisk mornings have a way of waking you up or at least perking you up. We had 33 degrees at 6:15 am and blue skies so far. I did not have a good nights sleep as my mind kept wanting to live tomorrow rather than relax and let my body rest. Could be a nap on my agenda this afternoon. This image was taken Wednesday morning on my way to meet Mark for breakfast. These flowers were outside the restaurant and I loved how they were bearing the light through the dewdrops. Enjoy your Saturday!

  • flowers,  musings,  Plants,  quotes,  writing/reading

    A life-giving act

    White Prickly Poppy

    Listening is always a life giving act.

    Joan Chittister

    I’ve learned that when positioning my next words in a conversation I am no longer listening. I’ve proven that too many times. I’ve also seen in the eyes of another when they are no longer listening. I have also experienced the gift of fully listening to another as well as knowing the gift of being listened to. Seems that those life giving conversations happen when both are experienced by both. My reflection and journaling on her quote have lead me to see other areas in my life where listening is important such as prayer, or when an author or poet expresses in words what I needed to hear, or a bird’s song of joy, or the whisper/howling of the wind, or the words written in the pages of my journal or the knowing voice deep within. I agree that every moment of listening is a life-giving act for both parties. Hope you enjoy your Sunday!