• clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes

    Prayers and Hopes

    January 1, 2024

    Real security can only be found, if at all, in a world without the injustices that now exist, and without arms.

    Kathleen Lonsdale

    It was 19 degrees with clear skies and sunshine when I left the condo this morning, our first day of 2024. However, we are expecting to reach 50 degrees later. Kathleen Lonsdale’s quote stirs my hopes for this coming year. So I would like to share my prayers and hopes for the coming year. May our troubled and broken world embrace a year filled with peace, love, compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness, love, mercy, kindness, justice, love, and healing. May we respect and protect all human lives, their rights as equals, never less or greater than, always discovering our common ground. May we let go of the heavy chains of anger, hate, fear, judgements, prejudice, resentments that weigh us down, separate and divide us. May we see with the openness of new eyes, not defined with preconceived images of our minds or another’s images. May we choose faith over fear. May we have the awareness we are all connected in unimaginable ways within this landscape we call earth. May we respect and protect our life-giving natural world as vital to our existence and not abuse it. May we spend more time within the beauty of Mother Earth, walking gently on her sacred soil, fully embracing the gift she is while accepting her embrace. May we venture into the mystery of the unknown that lies ahead of us with trust! And last but not least, may we all enjoy the gift of sharing with our neighbors from our box of Enstrom’s Almond Toffee (to die for I’m telling you). And, thank you for the gift of your presence in my life, even if it’s virtual!!

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Happy New Year

    January 1, 2021

    I spent some time last week creating a slideshow of favorite images from 2020 but I was not satisfied with it. And, just as I’ve not had any Christmas spirit this year, the mood for a slideshow was not there. Instead, I decided to greet the first sunrise of 2021 with a mocha, my journal and camera and post that image. I always start each day’s entry in my journal with the date. So this morning I smiled when I wrote 2021 because I have hopes for the coming year and the needed healing for our wounded world; politically, economically, environmentally, socially and spiritually.

    As I journaled a car pulled up beside me and a young couple got out and sat on the small bench. They wrapped themselves in a blanket and joined me in greeting the new year’s first sunrise. They agreed to let me include them in the photo. I hope and pray for any who read this post to have a wonderful year in 2021.

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  • bees,  Self-portraits

    Happy New Years

    January 1, 2015

    The New Years Eve Party
    The New Years Eve Party

    Here’s a self-portrait of the party animal. Lights were out by 10:23 and blankets were pulled up around my neck due to the sub-freezing temperatures. This is what happens when you’re facing your 65th birthday in 2015, carry an extra 15-20 pounds at the waistline and have a difficult time staying awake past 11:00. I stopped trying to stay up till midnight and welcome in the new year a few years ago. I figure I’ll see it in the morning feeling refreshed after a good nights sleep. In my past I did not need a holiday to party and drink, any day worked. I actually was more interested in the “four” bowl games on New Year’s Day. We’d set out unhealthy snacks and overdose on both all day long. When the kids were younger it was fun to make them a big breakfast and watch the Rose Bowl Parade. I hope everyone has a blessed 2015 and Happy New Years!

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  • Art,  Art/Design,  Creativity

    Last Post of 2014

    December 31, 2014

    My sisters Santa carving and a twisted cross I'm working on.
    My sisters Santa carving and a twisted cross I’m working on.

    I’m just not a photographer who posts 12 of my favorite/popular images of the year. It seems 12 images is too small a number as I enjoyed more than that number. Lightroom shows just over 5,300 images archived for the year. Almost the same number as 2013. Over 50% of my images were taken with the Fujifilm X-E1. My peak shooting months were May and June, signifying I prefer fair weather shooting. But, the year was not just about photography.

    Fulltime retirement started in March and life not the same. I’m now on a fixed income, which really is not much different than while I worked. Pay raises are only for the higher ups. I now know how much of my income was spent on the luxuries of life. I worked more for the “extra” spending money than just paying the bills. Spending on unnecessary things is what our culture throws at us on a daily basis. I learned that well. The flying was definitely taking a toll on my body as I have less trouble with my back since I stopped flying.

    I travel less now that I’m not flying, staying around home more. Some of that is because I want to stay closer to home and I no longer have someone paying for a hotel room. My street photography is almost entirely focused on Fort Collins. I did make a couple of road trips in the car, taking my time driving rather than hassling with air travel. And, I spend more time in the local nature areas in Fort Collins.

    My daughter and two grandchildren moved out in July so I now have my condo to myself again. I no longer need to knock on the door to use my bathroom. That also means I don’t have to close the bathroom door. And, flatulation sounds are again the norm in my kingdom. On a more serious note, I so enjoy the solitude in my life for reading and my prayer/meditation.

    I picked up a carving knife and couple gouges, gifts from my dad, and have successfully not cut myself, yet. We will see where this leads me. It supports the quiet and solitude I enjoy.

    I made a second Blurb book as a gift to my family for Christmas. I have about 90 images in the book from the over 60,000 images in my archives. I included a few words and thoughts of my own words and added some of my favorites. I’ve also created a portfolio book of black and white portraits. I would like to be able to shoot more portraits over the next few years.

    I ate way too much fudge this season and may have to buy bigger pants. 🙂 But, I did that last year. And, my New Years Eve plans: hot apple cider and reading or carving in my recliner. I’m pretty wild, ya know! Enough babbling. My wish is for everyone to have a safe New Years Eve and that the coming year bring you joy, adventure and good health! Happy New Year!

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  • People/Portraits,  Self-portraits

    Happy New Years

    December 31, 2010

    The Hotel Room

    This is how I’m spending New Years Eve. One of the first things I did when I got to my hotel room after a 14 hour duty was pull off the shoes and socks while at the same time taking off my tie. There’s a real knack for doing this without falling over and requires lots of practice. Anyway, the four of us were too pooped to go out so I ate some leftovers I brought along, took this silly self-portrait and then will probably be asleep by ten. We are back out again in the morning to do it all over again with new passengers and new adventures. Happy New Years to everyone and please be safe. See ya next year. Tweaked this one with Topaz Adjust.

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