Waking Moment Almost everyone I know who walks in the countryside has heard this familiar sound, a soft “Coo, Coo, Coo” followed by a pause, then a repetition. I hear it best when my surroundings are quiet and calm. I experience it on my morning walks or when I’ve stopped for a time [...]
Worker Bee If you’ve got bees, enjoy the buzz! This is what I was thinking as I prepared our flower beds. I am now seeing (and hearing) what native plants have given us in return. In retirement I have found a new desire that never occurred to me a few years back while [...]
Laying in Wait ...not everyone is on board with this change... The wolf is viewed as dangerous and threatening, even though their presence can be beneficial to the environment. This is because the wolf is unpredictable when approached, a trait they have in common with people, well at least some people. Some wolves [...]
Flying Across the Colors ...a Bluebird Appeared Out of Nowhere... Colorado hikes are never routine because the scenery changes. What I remember from the last time I visited looks different now. In fall, Colorado aspens have an explosive color change. It happens first on the highest peaks and slowly invades lower altitudes. The [...]
The Song Session —A Chorus of Chirping— It’s a regular part of summer for us to hike in the woods and not just for the exercise. The inspiration, spiritual peace, experience of solitude, joyful conversations, and especially the visuals that surround us, call us back again and again. Hiking drives the creative process [...]
First Light on Marmot Trail You’ve got to be kidding! Ever since I embraced Staunton State Park as my favorite place to hike the trails, I’ve made it a point to challenge myself. With its beautiful scenery, it’s easy to get carried away and venture further and further out before heading back. I [...]
Rams Horn Lodge I knew this photo would make a good subject for a painting. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area is home to many places rich with beauty, dotted with scenic mountain lakes. One lake in particular has drawn us to visit it whenever we head to Yampa, a tiny mountain town roughly [...]
Seeking Shelter in the Pines Talk about a blast of color! I have lived in Colorado over fifty years and still have not been able to see some bird species that are native to our state. The common ones, sure. But when I come across one that I have always wanted to see [...]
A Tough Nut to Crack How am I ever going to paint this guy? That is what I was thinking when I saw this tufted, or tassel-eared, squirrel watching me just off my hiking path. In nature he stands out because of his dark body against all the pine needles that surround him. [...]
From the Timber to the Lake As I left, the quiet prayer that is carried inside me became audible that day. Being in nature helps me to sort things out about my life. It provides the calmness I need to cope with all the busyness that goes on during the winter months. Being [...]
