• grass,  John O'Donohue,  landscape,  natural areas,  prairie,  quotes,  trees,  writing/reading

    Longing to Wander

    May 2, 2020
    Nature trail at Arapaho Bend Nature Area

    “The wanderer is one who gives priority to the duties of longing over belonging. No abode is fixed. No one place is allowed finally to corner or claim the wanderer. A new horizon always calls. The wanderer is committed to the adventure of seeing new places and discovering new things.”

    John O’Donohue

    I just read the above quote from O’Donohue’s book Eternal Echoes two days ago. It so rings true for me. Yes, call me a romantic but as I approach my 70th birthday in a couple months, I still have those inner urges, the desires of the wanderer. I’ve been in my condo for 20 years now, it is my abode, it is a sanctuary for quiet, a place to meditate, read and write, a place to rest my head and keeps me warm and dry, and it is a physical place. The wanderer does not have that abode but journeys toward those new undiscovered horizons. I believe those new horizons are a sanctuary, a place of quiet for us to discover. We can just be, wherever we are, even wandering. So, today I’m dreaming or longing of wandering.

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  • Art,  lifestyles,  natural areas,  trees

    Sprinkling of Hearts

    April 27, 2020

    A sprinkling of hearts to cheer the heart

    I found these two hearts in the trunk of a large cottonwood tree along Fisher Nature Area a couple days ago. Since then I have found several others. I’m not sure but I think it is peoples way of saying thanks to first responders and front line health workers. Or, just passing along some love.

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  • clouds,  lake,  landscape,  natural areas,  reflections,  sunrises,  trees

    The new norm

    April 24, 2020
    Dixon Reservoir and the Pineridge Nature Area

    I have always loved to watch white, fluffy, billowing the clouds. This morning at Red Fox Meadows the clouds seemed whitier, fluffier, billowingier, and dramatic, against the blue blue sky. Not sure if that’s due to my time in isolation or the cleaner air or both. But, it seemed to me everything was crisp, felt clean and fresh. I apologize because I’m unable to express what it is. I will say this, if this is the new norm then I don’t want the old norm.

    Later I drove to the Pineridge Nature Area and glad I did. It’s a nature area of mixed trails around the Dixon Reservoir and along the small ridge in the background of this image. People were out walking and running these trails. It is up against the foothills so away from traffic. It was serene for me and I plan on returning. It will be a good place to exercise and get me out the neighborhood. You may see a few more images from this area.

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  • Creativity,  grass,  lifestyles,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes

    Snow is in the forecast

    October 9, 2019

    Backlit grass on my walk along Fisher Nature Area

    “Recently, photography has become almost as widely practiced an amusement as sex and dancing – which means that, like every mass art form, photography is not practiced by most people as an art. It is mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power.” Susan Sontag

    Interesting to note that she wrote this back in 1973. 

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  • landscape,  natural areas,  prairie,  sunsets

    Sunset Walk

    January 7, 2019

    I enjoyed a sunset walk at the Cathy Fromme Prairie Area this evening. I needed some exercise so in spite of wind gusts of up to 30 mph I ventured out there. This is another nature area I can enjoy the quiet along with the songs of my meadowlarks. Sometimes if the wind is blowing, like it is today, the traffic noise from Taft Hill Road will drift out across the prairie. Nevertheless I was bundled up against the cold wind and enjoyed the peaceful time there.

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  • clouds,  fountain pens,  journal,  landscape,  natural areas

    Sunbeams

    September 18, 2018

    Sunbeams
    Sunbeams

    Spent some time yesterday afternoon at Fossil Creek Reservoir as I again needed to distance myself from the constant man-made noise within the city. I don’t make it out there very often and after returning wonder why I don’t. It is one of the  larger nature areas in the city. It’s primarily a place for birds. During early spring part of it is closed due to nesting eagles. While enjoying my time there I saw an eagle, a heron, several white pelicans, a lot of Canada Geese and ducks. It is a birders haven as there are many more birds that visit the nature area. You may see and hear more about this area.

    Found a place to journal
    Found a place to journal

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