My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.
David Attenborough
“Give me solitude,… give me again O Nature your primal sanities!”
Walt Whitman
This is a midday image of the pond near Cattail Ponds. I heard the deep croaking of the heron then watched it gracefully flying away from me. Their croaking stirred up the geese and mallards as they quickly joined in. Seems they did not want me coming too close. This is not far from the road but the solitude was what I needed, a bit of sanity. Love the deep blue fall sky.
I saw a weather report last night that showed the impact level of the storm over the last three days. The levels ranged from little/none, limited, elevated, significant, extreme and dig out. We are now in the dig out stage but probably later this afternoon. This is my car this morning at 7:40. I tried to clear some of the snow off but it’s solid because of its moisture content and last night’s temperatures were in the teens. No way will I be able to get out of the parking lot even if I get the car cleaned off.. Watched my neighbor with a lifted up 4-wheel drive pickup truck struggle to get out. Then the young lady with a Subaru Forester like mine needed pushed and dug out. I will let nature clean my car off and the contractors to plow the parking lot. I measured again this morning and I still see 16 inches. But the sun’s out. 
“I don’t have a philosophy. I have a camera. I look into the camera and take pictures. My photographs are the tiniest part of what I see that could be photographed. They are fragments of endless possibilities.”
Saul Leiter
Fort Collins Natural Areas have become the place for me to go. I started going primarily because the coffee shops were not allowing dining in due to state mandates. So in March of 2020 I began making coffee at home and going to Pineridge Natural Area to journal, read, connect with nature and get in a walk. My first explorations of Pineridge were made in 2014 but then lost touch with it until March. Then in June of 2020 I discovered Reservoir Ridge which is only about 4 miles away. When I look at my archives there are twice as many images at Reservoir Ridge than Pineridge while only exploring it in half the time. I seem to be drawn to it in a more photographic way.
For the past 5 months I’m out to Reservoir Ridge at least once a week. Yet, this past week was the first time I saw this old water pump, I mean really saw it. It sits along an irrigation ditch and a row of trees so I’ve seen it many times, but never really saw it. As soon as I saw the pump this past week something in my mind kicked in, I really saw it and envisioned the above image. I walked out there to it and accepted the gift. So, I wonder what else I’ve not seen out there. I’ll keep you posted.
solitary fence posts
ms
without the meadowlarks song
unbroken silence
Our first forest fire started back in August and every since then I seldom see or hear the meadowlarks singing when visiting the natural areas. I assume they moved farther east onto the plains due to the smoke and ash. And, now that it’s colder we will see less of them. Spent some time journaling about missing their enchanting song this morning.
“How we think about making photographs can change how we make photographs and, therefore, change the photographs we make…”
David DuChemin
Took the bus this morning to coffee and also to drop off my ballot at the drop box located on campus. Taking the bus is much easier than driving and finding a place to pay to park. I also need the walking. I took this image as I stepped off the bus. It has been several weeks since we have been able to see Longs Peak due to the smoke from the fires. A cold front brought in high winds yesterday that cleared the air, blew leaves into Kansas and also brought much needed moisture to the Cameron Peak fire. More wind is predicted for today, both a curse and a blessing. It was nice to not smell smoke this morning.
I noticed this morning an increase in visual pollution
as three contrails were etched on the blue sky.A question arose, instead of going back to what was,
what if we kept the blue skies clear, every day?I like clear blue skies.
ms