An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
reading in the quiet of predawn
ms
leads to reflection and contemplation
…the gift of this day
our soul needs these rituals
as we offer our limitations and gifts
…the gift of this day
in these sacred moments we discover
in the ground of our very being we are love
…the gift of this day
The more I see of unmechanised places and people the more convinced I become that machines have done incalculable damage by unbalancing the relationship between Man and Nature. The mere fact that we think and talk as we do about Nature is symptomatic. For us to refer to Nature as a separate entity — something we admire or avoid or study or paint — shows how far we’ve removed ourselves from it.
Dervla Murphy (1965)
Had my quiet time then headed to Pineridge Natural Area to enjoy the colors of this new days beginning. I had no intentions of heading to the natural area when I got up but I could see clouds on the eastern sky and figured there could be a chance for an interesting display of colors. I was not disappointed. As I stood there taking in the colors I could hear a couple of owls calling to one another across the waters of Dixon Reservoir. Afterwards I met a friend for coffee and conversation at Starry Night. It was a great way to start the day.
The sun now shines from a clear blue sky and our temperature reached a lovely 70 degrees today. I sat outside and journaled, soaking up the sun. Yet, they predict a cold night and a mix of rain and snow for tomorrow. I may need an extra blanket tonight. Going to meet friends later this evening. Hope you had a good day!
Our first stop on our Peak to Peak highway drive on Sunday was Mary’s Lake. Hardly any breeze so the lake was smooth as glass. Every plant still in the shade, had a coat of light frost on it. Marys Lake is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. There are 2 dikes on the shoreline of Mary’s Lake, located approximately 2 miles from Estes Park, Colorado. Mary’s Lake serves two primary purposes: it acts as an afterbay for the Mary’s Lake Power Plant, and it helps regulate Colorado-Big Thompson Project water on its way to the Estes Power Plant. I guess another purpose is to provide beautiful reflections.
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.
John Burroughs
I awoke early yesterday morning, couldn’t go back to sleep so I got up earlier than I wanted. It has been a busy day but a very good day so I needed this sunset and the quiet at Claymore Lake last night. Hope everyone is having a good Labor Day weekend.
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
John Muir
Drove to the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. Sun had just set. No wind. A subtle pink color in the clouds to the north. Walked to the edge of the reservoir and setup my tripod. Waited and watched. I was given the gift of this moment. Just what I needed. Beauty does that.
Above the mountains
the geese turn into
the light againPainting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.Sometimes everything
has to be
inscribed across
the heavensso you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find thatfirst, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart.Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone outsomeone has written
something new
in the ashes of your life.You are not leaving.
David Whyte
Even as the light fades quickly now,
you are arriving.
As David Whyte’s poem suggests I arrived in time for the sunset offered by Nature.
A cool north wind
ms
invites the tall grass
to dance.
An intimate silence
invites us to pause
to listen.
A golden reflection
invites the gift of this day
to begin.