• landscape,  seasons,  snow,  winter scenes

    Sun’s Out

    March 15, 2021

    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. 😊

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  • Fujifilm X-T3,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  quotes

    What else have I not seen?

    December 6, 2020

    “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.

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  • haiku,  landscape,  sunsets,  writing/reading

    Unbroken Silence

    November 23, 2020

    solitary fence posts
    without the meadowlarks song
    unbroken silence

    ms

    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.

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  • landscape,  leaves,  mountains,  Plants

    I Voted

    October 12, 2020
    Longs Peak in the distance

    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.

    Not all leaves ended up in Kansas
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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  rants,  writing/reading

    Every day

    May 27, 2020

    Clear blue skies in eastern Colorado sunset

    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

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  • landscape,  poetic journal,  snow,  trees,  winter scenes,  writing/reading

    Yesterday’s storm has passed

    April 17, 2020

    Snow clinging to branches

    Blue skies and sunshine bring their warmth this morning.
    I see tree branches bending over under the snow’s burden
    I watch as the sun’s warmth weaken the snow’s grip, 
    causing small glistening snowstorms to flutter downward.

    I check on the nesting geese, standing on my toes to look in
    They stretch their necks to check on my presence. All’s well.
    Looking up, the sky seems bluer, no contrails, less pollution.
    I listen to the quiet, the music that soothes this soul.

    I’m filled with gratitude for this wonderful world
    and the gift of being present, a part of all this beauty.

    Yesterday’s storm has passed

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