• landscape

    It finally happened….

    On a wet and rainy day

    We have been spoiled the past three days with sunshine and temperatures in the 50’s. I even sat outside in the sun the past two days and journaled. I was amazed at the difference in our world when the constant use of machines is cut in half. I could sit there and here the wind blowing through the branches with perfect clarity since there was almost not background traffic noise. Many do not know what true silence is.

    This morning is overcast and much cooler. Rain mixed with snow is predicted for later this afternoon and evening. Already have one walk in and plan on a second early this afternoon.

    Just to let you know I did attack that pile of stuff in the corner yesterday and pretty much have it looking good. Threw a lot of it away. Yes, it finally happened.

  • Albert Einstein,  fall season,  leaves,  Plants,  quotes

    I’m impressed…

    This time the artist, Nature, used the tools of leaves and freezing rain to create these two images. I’m impressed. I can’t do that! However, I can take a digital copy of it.

    “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” 

    Albert Einstein
  • Creativity,  Dewdrops,  landscape,  leaves,  Metro Parks,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes

    Growth in my Photography

    Morning dew on the leaves at Inniswood Gardens

    “I beg you, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” 

    Rainer Maria Rilke

    While living in the Westerville, Ohio area I was exposed to nature areas that were so different from my home state of Colorado. I was enthralled with all the green, the insects , the soft diffused light and the amount of rain. I was not used to all the rain and for sure had to adjust to the overcast skies. I cans still in my memory recall the distinct fragrance these forested areas offered, telling me how alive they were.

    At the time I was traveling 3-4 days then home for 3-4 days. These extended days off gave me the opportunity to explore the Metro Parks in around the Westerville area. I found two  parks within about 10 minutes of my apartment so I ventured into those worlds on regular basis. One was Inniswood Gardens and the other was Blendon Woods. And, the days I was traveling were opportunities to explore new cities, peoples, cultures and almost unlimited photo opportunities. It was during this time I feel I began to grow emotionally and spiritually which in turn allowed my view of the world to grow. And, this emotional and spiritual growth was the seed to the growth of my photography. 

  • clouds,  landscape

    Storm clouds or squalls

    Storm clouds on Colorado’s eastern plains taken in 2011

    “It takes a real storm in the average person’s life to make him realize how much worrying he has done over the squalls.” Bruce Barton

    I am learning the storm clouds I see on my inner horizons of life may be nothing more than squalls.  These squalls could be depression, worry, fear, loneliness, insecurities, fatigue, catastrophizing. On the other hand, the storms in life are things like illness, loss, or death, suffering, a broken camera lens, or a memory card failure. Ya know, true storms!

  • musings,  window

    My Mind Can Wander

    A refreshing rain began falling yesterday morning just as I was leaving a local coffee shop. When I pulled up in my condo it was pouring, so I sat in my car to wait out the rain. I found it peaceful for the next 10 minutes. As I sat there my mind wandered back to the coffee shop I had just left and to one of the regular customers there. 

    He sits at the same table almost 6 days a week from 7:00-10:00 am, reading one of the larger national newspapers, from front to back, and sipping on a large iced tea. Of course he is known by both the baristas and the customers. The other regulars will keep the table reserved for him in case he’s late and he has conversations with other customers on a regular basis. My wandering mind was thinking about how differently we spend our time in the coffee shop, and I imagine that’s true outside the coffee shop. I prefer spending my coffee shop time visiting with a friend, reading an uplifting book, writing in my journal,  and fighting the battle to spend as little time on the internet as possible but I almost never read the newspaper. I would rather fill my mind with positive images and thoughts, which is an unreachable ideal. A smile came across my face and I laughed at myself because my idea of coffee shop time would bore him, and probably many others, into a glazed-over-stupor. As I thought about it more, he’d also be bored sitting in my car listening and watching the rain. Sheesh, can my mind wander and not just when it’s raining! 🙂

  • coffee shops,  fall season,  leaves

    No Frost, Yet!

    Fallen Leaves
    Fallen Leaves

    It is 36 degrees now. No frost this morning since we’re above freezing but everything is wet. Now at a favorite coffeehouse, Bindles. Decided I needed a pumpkin cream cheese muffin to go along with my cup of coffee. A good decision. Life is good!

    Our leaves this year did not have the color as in the past due to our dry conditions. The leaves turned brown before the colder weather could bring on the reds and yellows. Still a pretty time of the year to me.  Have a great day!

  • grass,  leaves,  Plants

    After the Rain

    Water Drops After the Rain
    Water Drops After the Rain

    Both Friday, Saturday and into Sunday morning we had lite rain and mist, the gentle sort of rain that is hardly noticeable but everything is wet. The rain let up about mid morning Sunday. I could see the raindrops on the bushes outside my condo so I grabbed the camera to see what photograph may be given me.

    This past weekend was graduation so all around campus traffic was a mess and you might as well forget about finding a table at any restaurant. Needless to say there were all sorts of colorful umbrellas everywhere. More photo opportunities. 🙂

    I’m writing this on Sunday evening and scheduling it to post on Monday morning. And, the weather app is predicting more rain on Monday.  Hope everyone has a super Awesome week. 

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  snow

    Where’d Spring Go?

    Fresh Snow
    Fresh Snow

    A cold front has moved in and brought much-needed moisture but also cold temperatures. The rain began yesterday afternoon then became a mix of rain and snow. Some periods were just snow as you can see in the above image taken from my porch around 4:30 pm. All is well this morning as the snow accumulation was no more than a dusting. But now we live with the cold for the next 36 hours. I’m hoping the mountains received a lot more snow.