Open spaces

Saturday was too nice a day to spend indoors. With a chance of snow on Sunday and Monday it will be the last 55F (17C) day we'll have for awhile.

I needed to get out of the apartment so I got on the motorcycle and took a ride out to the Plains Conservation Center. It was easy to get to and looked like a good place to spot some hawks. I saw several large hawks and a lot of prairie dogs.



Over the past few years I have come to value our parks, trails, open-space and wildlife preserves more than I use too. I buy an annual State Parks pass each year as a way to help support the parks. Living in the big city for the last 30 years, the parks and open-space preserves provide a place to go for a few hours to get away from all the hustle and noise of the city.

For no particular reason

For no particular reason I decided to go out and just take pictures last Saturday.



I let the camera do all of the work so I could pay more attention to basic composition.



I tried to make sure horizontal lines were horizontal and vertical lines were vertical.



I tried to be more aware of background and foreground clutter.



And, I tried be practice the use of the rule of thirds and natural framing.



I think the outing was a good exercise and I am pleased with the results. I want to practice making use of depth of field next; I might be able to use depth of field to eliminate some background clutter. I'll take a tripod with me next time too.

Your homework this week is to practice gratitude

"Take time every day to notice the gifts that life has given you.

Give thanks, every day, for whatever is appropriate: good health, good friends, the beauty of the sky or a piece of music, democracy and freedom, healthy children, springtime, the extra change you found in the couch, whatever ...

Keep a small journal or list of these. Don't go to bed without writing them down!"

Rev. Mike Morran, Bright and Spirited Path: Love and Justice (Denver: FUSD, 2010).

Wednesday November 10, 2010

• I am grateful that I woke up this morning.
• I am grateful that I was able to talk to V & K this morning.
• I am grateful that G. telephoned me this afternoon.
• I am grateful I discovered what was wrong with my radio tonight.
• I am grateful I have something to do tonight besides watch TV.

Thursday November 11, 2010

• I am grateful for short meetings.
• I am grateful for Cliff Bars.
• I am grateful I actually had some meaningful useful work to do today.
• I am grateful for the Blogger Template Designer.
• I am grateful I have a warm dry place to sleep.

Friday November 12, 2010

• I am grateful I saw the wild hawk this afternoon.
• I am grateful to be invited to attend a wedding tomorrow.
• I am grateful I saw Jupiter & a 1/4 moon together in the night sky tonight.
• I am grateful for the comments I receive on my blog.
• I am grateful I have wholesome food to eat.

Saturday November 13, 2010

• I am grateful I was able to go outside and take pictures this morning.
• I am grateful I was able to attend a wedding and reception today.
• I am grateful for crunchy fall leaves on the ground.
• I am grateful it didn't snow today.

Sunday November 14, 2010

• I am grateful I was able to sleep in an extra hour this morning after a long night.

Monday November 15, 2010

• I am grateful I was able to take the afternoon off.

Tuesday November 16, 2010

• I am grateful that TN was able to find a better job.
• I am grateful I was able to talk to SB this afternoon.
• I am grateful my colleagues are open to switching to a different product.
• I am grateful this is the last night of this class.

It's a wonderful life unscripted

An unscripted video blog post.