Fires in Colorado

We are in a dangerous situation in Colorado. At least 9 wildfires rage throughout the state. Many of our beautiful wilderness areas are burning. Fires have destroyed homes and businesses and have caused the evacuation of thousands of residents from one of the major cities, Colorado Springs. 

Insufficient moisture started this past winter with low snowpack. Spring was very dry with little rain. Forests already have a great deal of dead-wood from beetle-killed lodgepole pines. The understory is like tinder ready to ignite. Some of our fires started from lightning strikes and others were set by humans either purposely or by carelessness. 

Here in Summit County where I live, we have no fires burning at present. However, we are surrounded by wilderness which seems ready to ignite. We watch the skies for storm clouds which might bring needed rain but also dreaded lightning. We hear the news and see the video coverage of devastation in other areas.  

My husband and I go about our days normally. We are ready if we must evacuate, but meanwhile there is nothing we can do but live our lives. We realize others are not so lucky and are suffering. I cannot imagine the destruction of the wilderness I love, but I see that it is happening all over our state.

As the sun sets on another day, I'm grateful for the beauty all around me. I give thanks for the men and women who are working hard on the front lines of the fires, trying to save habitat and homes. I hope for rain to wet the mountains and the forests and the grasslands. Meanwhile, we watch and wait. 

Front Yard Wildflowers

In late fall, when there is a foot of snow on the ground at my high attitude house, I mix sand and wildflower seeds.

I fling the mix upon the snow and wait.

When the snow melts, I begin watching my front yard.

Senecio and Purple Lupine

Icelandic Poppy

Paintbrush and Lupine

Columbine

By the first day of summer, there is a riot of color.

Patience pays.

Advise to Myself

Remember:

Old Man of the Mountain Alpine Sunflower facing east toward the sun

If conditions become harsh, turn toward a sustaining warmth.

When the path is steep and rough, increase resolve.

tiny Pygmy Bitterroot - high alpine tundra  

Fragility doesn't equal defeat.

Balsamroot growing in talus

In inhospitable conditions, hang on and thrive.

Red Fox

Show confidence - walk on the wild side.

Taking in views of South Park from Black Powder Pass (approx. 12,000' altitude)

Life has both peaks and valleys. Understand and appreciate both.

Fox photo taken in my back yard, Breckenridge, CO.

All other photos taken June 11, 2012, on high alpine tundra of Black Powder Pass, Summit County, CO. 

Finding Our Way

My friend, Mary, gave me a series of quotes on cards for my birthday. 

I flip to a new one each day. 

Here is today's:

do not follow where the path may lead

go instead where there is no path

and leave a trail

The quote reminded me of our recent hike in Bryce Canyon, UT.

We came upon a rock slide just at the point where we had to ascend to get out of the canyon.

What to do?

The way was narrow and blocked by huge boulders and scree.

We squeezed through a narrow opening in the rock and started up.

You might say we made our own trail.

It was an adventure within an adventure!

Mary and I on my 68th birthday on May 9.
Her 64th birthday was May 10.
We're wearing our Birthday Girl shirts!
(Photo by Mary's husband, Bob.)

Breathing Space

At dawn, with the moon hanging low in the sky, the Earth seems to pause. I stop in the silence and breathe. Anything seems possible.

Here's what I tell myself:

Be aware. Life is what's happening now.

Photo taken at sunrise, Bryce Canyon, UT.

Musings on Imagination

Light and shadow form a bear on the rock.

Sometimes, imagination opens just a sliver.

What is hidden is revealed.

Possibilities emerge.

Creativity expands and makes connections.

The mind awakens.

Light playing on rock inside Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ.

Nightfall near Antelope Canyon

In western United States, there are vast tracts of land apart from human settlements.

Without man-made light sources, eyes adjust to more natural illumination as the Earth revolves on its axis.

Day turns to night.

Burnished light pours like elixir from Heaven.

We raise our faces to the Moon.

Photos of the night sky taken near Antelope Canyon, just outside Page, AZ.

Look Closely

focus

beyond the obvious

wonder lives

Photos taken at Phoenix Botanic Garden

 

Life Is Short-Treasure Friendship

On April 27, I'm going on a Girlfriends' Vacation with Mary, Di, Helen, and Sue. We're all retired teachers and met in the early 90's at Breckenridge Elementary School. Now we're scattered in different locations, but we try to gather to make new memories and have some fun at least once a year. We'll all spend a week in Mary's home state of Arizona. The second week, Mary and I will travel through Arizona into Utah to do some hiking and sightseeing. I treasure these special friends and look forward to our adventures.

As I get older, I've come to realize how important friendship is. Do you make friends a priority in your busy life?

To read a post about the trip by Lucinda B. Rabbit, visit LIVE and LEARN.

Cherish friends!

Can You Change Your Mood?

I've been feeling a bit prickly the last couple days. Do you know the mental heaviness I'm talking about - when something isn't quite right, and you're just generally out of sorts?

Sometimes, I need to change my mood. I really believe that when I experience these subtle downswings, there are ways to switch to a more positive frame of mind. Often, just getting outside for some fresh air is enough. Other times, I need to practice a technique my friend, Mary, taught me.

I take a walk, allowing random thoughts to come into my mind. If the thought is bothersome, stressful, angry, sad, or generally a bummer, I open an imaginary trapdoor in the back of my head. I move the thought I want to eliminate to that door and let it topple onto the ground and roll away from me. I keep moving forward, cleaning out negative thoughts and sad feelings until I begin to feel my mood stabilizing.

Now this is important: Problems still exist - I'll have to deal with them (hopefully productively) at another time. But, mentally, I feel a relief - a more positive attitude where I can feel appreciation, joy, and calm.

My focus turns outward instead of inward.

I feel more connected.

Small things give me pleasure.

The present moment seems enough.

What helps you feel better?

Exercise? Food? Music? Hobby? Shopping? Meditation? Prayer?

How do you change your mood?

PS I'm learning a new blog application (Blogsy) for iPad in preparation for my trip. I'm going to publish this post from that platform. It's giving my old brain a bit of stress - but hopefully building some new circuits, too. Now, my plan is to go outdoors and practice this technique to relieve my frustration!

Celebrate Differences

I spend 6 hours at the Apple store in the mall one day. The first hour isn't too bad because I have a One to One session before the store opens. However, I also have a Genius Bar appointment to deal with some problems I'm having with my computer. The store gets crazy-busy as soon as it's officially open for business. The decibel level of people talking around and above each other is deafening. I'm uncomfortable with so much noise and turmoil. However, I sit quietly on one of the high black stools awaiting my turn. I breathe and try to relax. I start watching the "geniuses" who are dealing with other customers. One is a young girl with spiky hair, long shaggy bangs dyed neon pink, bright red lipstick, purple glasses with square frames, and a glinting silver hoop in the right corner of her bottom lip. I see how she listens intently to the older woman she's helping. I see her smile encouragingly. I note that she's completely engaged in what she's doing and totally unselfconscious. I begin to think she's lovely - an exotic specimen from another planet. I am intensely pleased when finally she finishes with the other customer and calls my name, beckoning me toward her. Then a wondrous thing: She introduces herself and her name is the same as my grown daughter who was once (and possible still is in her heart) a rebel child. I am immediately in love with this geekily-odd young woman and feel an intimate connection with her - I believe I'm in good hands. She is meticulous and organized in handling my problem. She takes my computer into the inner bowels of the store where in a few hours it is miraculously restored (free of charge) to working order. When I come back to retrieve the computer, I thank her profusely. She gives me a vivid smile, her piercing sparkling in the overhead light.

I think to myself: "Vive la difference!"

Please let me remember this encounter the next time I'm not sure I "like" another person's appearance. 

It's who we are inside that counts.

Imperfectly Perfect

I'm practicing using a new Macro lens which fits on top of my zoom. As you can see, I have a way to go to achieve clarity. I think steadiness is necessary, so maybe I'll need the tripod. But, this image of my blooming cactus, though blurred, reminds me of something beyond what it actually is. In my imagination, the bloom morphs into something more nebulous, something spiritual and positive. So, I'm sharing it with you. After all, we're all imperfect.

I walked in the city today in bright sunshine with wind swirling blossoms off the trees and through the air. My spirit also soared as I caught the eyes of others out enjoying the day. Often, smiles were exchanged. I felt a sense of renewal, hope, and energy. No matter our differences, we are connected in ways we cannot always fathom. I give thanks for this day and for you - to whom I am also connected in ways I sometimes ponder.

Learn from the Animals

Kindness and gentleness are always the best options. Surely, I can put aside petty grievances and try to find common ground. 

This week I'll focus on sharing kindness and finding grace in others. 

Denver Zoo, March 2012

Alone Versus Lonely

I've been thinking about loneliness and solitude.

When I was younger, raising my Family, teaching and working outside the home, I rarely experienced solitude. However, in the midst of busy interaction, I was sometimes lonely. Now retired, I am often alone but rarely lonely.

 As I hiked by myself yesterday, I pondered the healing aspect of solitude. Sometimes I crave a quietness of spirit that can only be achieved by being fully present and alone with myself. I feel that if I can't be good company for myself, why should others want to spend time with me? 

I use solitude to rejuvenate, so I can give myself to others without reservation. Loneliness is often indicative of sadness. However, for me, solitude (the time spent alone) is uplifting.

Do you welcome solitude or crave constant company?

When you're alone do you immediately feel lonely?

Sometimes, I like to ask myself these questions.

We are all different - no answer is right or wrong.

Swinging into Spring

It's spring in the Rockies.

But, I won't be swinging anytime soon.

I've been running/walking the main trail behind my house on top of the packed snow. I go in the early morning before the sun's warmth penetrates the forest, and the snow gets slushy and unstable. I'm staying alert for bears just out of hibernation. So far, I've only encountered bossy squirrels that chatter at me for intruding. I know there will be more snow, but for now I welcome the warmth of spring. We are in the melt and freeze cycle that signals the change of seasons at high altitude.

Spring at High Altitude

Spring is elusive in the Central Rockies of Colorado. High altitude means winter white usually reigns until late May. However, in this low-snow year possibly we'll see bare earth a bit sooner. Traditionally, we get wet, heavy snow storms in March, April, and May sometimes changing to sleet, hail, or rain. So far, March's precipitation is minimal.

 There are no cold, white pillows on the evergreens. Snow on the high peaks glistens like merengue melting in the sunshine.

Seed pods left over from fall announce their prickly presence in early-morning's sepia glow.

Tiny pine trees sway unencumbered, casting graceful blue shadows.

 Creatures venture out of their high rise condos to sun themselves and search for food.
Bears awaken famished after their long slumber. Coyote, fox, moose, elk, and deer find secluded spots to give birth. Perhaps the female moose who frequents my back yard will soon bring a gangly baby to graze. The air warms and the light softens. Animals, humans, and finally plants begin to stir in spring's slow caress. We start waving goodbye to winter hoping it won't overstay its welcome. We know it's in no hurry to leave.

Life as Story

Two (possibly) unrelated happenings:

I was sitting in the sun today at an urban coffee shop reading on my Kindle. A woman passed my table wearing so much perfume that I nearly gasped. I don't know what the scent was, but my senses registered "Too Much." In her defense, she was a woman perhaps close to my age, and she looked very chic (compared to myself). However, she reeked (which I do not). 

As I was trying to think of One Good Thing about the woman (I decided on stylish), a man approached my table and asked if he could take a seat. Thinking he meant literally take the seat I wasn't using and place it at another table, I answered, "I'm waiting for my husband." 

"Too bad," he said and went to sit on a nearby bench.

I looked around and there were plenty of seats available. So, I wondered if he actually meant, "Could I sit here with you?" I could see him in my peripheral vision - he seemed to watch me, but maybe I was imagining it. Here's the thing - my white hair is short and spiky and on this day as on most days I'm wearing running shoes with black yoga pants and an exercise t-shirt under a fitted lightweight black jacket. Alas, I'm not stylish, but I do think I have a fetching smile. As I sat mulling about both the woman and now the man, my husband finally arrived on his bike. The guy on the bench got up and ambled away when my husband approached the table. We sat and talked for awhile as people came and went and the sun warmed our backs. I didn't mention the woman or the man. Finally, when I walked home, I thought of stories and how Life is made up of interconnected happenings. Eventually, we make a book of them in our heads to amuse ourselves or to remember. Today, there was a woman whose scent outranked her appearance and also a man with dark hair who may or may not have been hitting on me. 

Life's happenings come spiraling at us and somehow we connect them into Stories.

Early Morning, Tenmile Range

the mountains wake

craggy peaks catch first light

reflecting from rising sun

molten gold leaks down slopes  

glows along serrated ridges 

inky dark recedes

a chilly day is born

Never Ending

Occasionally, I meet someone in the wilderness behind my house. A question I'm often asked is, "Where does this trail lead?" Usually, I give a straightforward answer based on where they want to go and how much time they have to spend. But, the truth is I believe that the trail goes on forever. One path leads into another until a lifetime could be spent exploring the vast forests, high peaks, and lush meadows. That's how I like to think of it, as an unending possibility waiting to be admired and investigated and as a wild adventure poised to happen. 

rabbit tracks in snow

in the midst of your busy day

remember the deep silence

of winter's wild places

and feel renewed