Georgia O'Keefe's mountain

As so often happens when I looked through my pictures this evening, 

I came across pictures of Ghost Ranch. 

A picture of "Georgia O'Keefe's mountain" spoke to me. 

The colors and the time of year, I think. 

This was taken in October of 2009.

 

For some reason, I played with the picture using iPhoto.

I suspect that with a better program I could have preserved some of the texture in the foreground.

Still, it is an intriguing view.

See you along the Trail.

Contrasts

 

Looking through some digital photographs, 

I came upon this one of moon and trees.

Someday I may say something profound about this image. 

For the moment I simply ponder and revel the contrasts it contains.

The photo was taken on October 26, 2009 at Ghost Ranch.

See you along the Trail.

2 September 2011

Shire on the Hudson

An era ends

Friends once commented that I have some amazing pictures of sunrises at Ghost Ranch. I had to correct them.

I have no amazing pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises - no drab pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises - I simply have no pictures of any sort of Ghost Ranch sunrises.

I do have a number of pictures of sunsets at Ghost Ranch including this one from the summer of 2008 - some folks may think some of them are nice pictures.

I post this picture today because Eric is on his way home from the ranch. He has completed his fourth year on the College Staff. He and friends drove to Tulsa yesterday; he flies to Cleveland tomorrow.

The summers at the ranch have been times of great joy and a good, good learning experience for him. I was able to get to see him three of the years he was there - actually I was able to be there for two weeks during two of those summers.

However, since he is scheduled to graduate in December, this will be his last summer - at least as a member of the college staff. And that brings some tugging at my heart strings. I am sure I will be back to the ranch - it seems likely that Eric will be back to the ranch - there are possibilities that we may be there together sometime.

But . . . an era has ended . . . life, as life always does, moves on. And as the sun sets on this part of life, I dab a tear, give thanks for what was, cherish the memories, and look forward to what the next sunrise brings (even though it will be well into the sky before this night owl sees it).

See you along the Trail.

Hummingbird

 

I took this one at Ghost Ranch a couple years back. It is outside the Agape Center, although there are a number of places at the ranch where one can spot hummingbirds. Amazing creatures.

See you along the Trail. 

Service Corps, Ghost Ranch

A portion of this year's vacation was spent at Ghost Ranch on the Service Corps. (Note that the description gets the basic gist of things, but "help in food service, housekeeping, library, museums, and, on occasion, some off-Ranch community service" is not really a part of the work any more).

This was the first time I had ever done this. It probably will not be the last.

On the one hand, participation in the Service Corps involved paying (half-price for room and meals plus $50 registration) to do work that I go out of my way to avoid doing at any of the places I call home.

On the other hand, participation in the Service Corps provided an opportunity to meet and work with amazing people and to make a difference at a place that means a great deal to me - a place where I belong - a place that feels like (yet another) home.

Weighing these two factors, the other hand wins.

Hand down. One fine day, I will see you at Ghost Ranch.

Until then, see you along the Trail.

Canyons

As it so often does,
the Trail turns toward the east -
into the risen sun.
Behind red rock canyons lie;
canyons made of steel loom ahead.

19 July 2011
Denver International Airport 

View from the casitas

Taken in the area of the casitas at Ghost Ranch where the college staff live. Georgia O'Keefe's mountain in the background.

See you along the Trail.

Night on the mesa

Lightning pierces the blue-black night
illuminating the cholla;
the moon fights through a cloud,
turning it a pale white;
a soft breeze sweeps across the mesa,
bringing a gentle chill;
the silent night is broken only by the
chirping of crickets and the
thumping of the dryer.

11 July 2011
Ghost Ranch, NM

What passes for vacation

The Trail led to Denver today - after some last meetings in Indianapolis.

We arrived about 8:30 Denver time tonight - in time to see a beautiful sliver moon hanging in an sky turning from blue to darkness while the clouds over the Rockies glowed red in the sunset. By the time we made it to the rental car lot, the moment had passed so it will remain a memory rather than an image preserved in pixels.

What passes for vacation in my life begins tomorrow. We drove from Denver to Colorado Springs. The next few days will see wandering in this area; then the Trail turns north - to see Sue, whose husband Steve just died. A couple days at Rocky Mountain National Park follow. The memorial service for Steve takes place on Saturday. Then we head south to Ghost Ranch, then back to Denver and to Manhattan.

General plans are in place. The specifics will be chosen each day - or maybe the day before - and at least some of them will be reported here in words and images.

See you along the Trail.

Skins

Several films viewed today including Skins a favorite - a painful, powerful, poignant film. Graham Green, a favorite actor, is in the cast. It's a tale of brotherhood, brokenness, healing, reconciliation, revenge, renewal and more.

Each time I view the film, it takes me back to the time I watched it at Ghost Ranch with Sid Birt and others. At one point, reflecting on a character's behavior, Sid looked at me and observed, "He's something of a strange police officer." I nodded.

And at the climax of the film, I looked at Sid and said, "But he's quite a brother."

Check it out.

See you along the Trail.

Two day report

Monday 9 August
I made all three goals - eating well, getting 30 minutes or more of focused exercise, and walking 10,445 steps.

Eric got back from Ghost Ranch. It's always nice to have someone in the Shire.

I painted the woodwork in the second guest bedroom.

Tuesday 10 August
Plumber (who was supposed to come yesterday) came today. Did his plumbing, but also talked religion. Asked if I belonged to a whole gospel church. Not quite sure what that means. I thought of several smart responses - "No, we cut out the middle 5 chapters of each of the synoptics; and only use the first and last chapter of John." I refrained and came up with something vague.

All three goals achieved (although I would really like to eat a six-pack of Snickers bars). But did eat well - not as well as some days - but still within the limits; walked for 35 minutes on the treadmill; and did 11,879 steps. Eric went to the gym with me.

We started putting the second guest bedroom back together. That should be finished tomorrow. It will be nice to have only one bed in my room again.

Watched "Lonely Are the Brave" - an old one with Kirk Douglas. Pretty interesting - dealt with loyalty and being out of time and place in a changing world. Walter Matthau and Carol O'Connor were in it as well. Dalton Trumbo did the screenplay. Need to learn more about him.

See you along the trail.

P.S. I stole Eric's picture from his Facebook page.

Pumping iron

Prime goals for today were to keep active and to protect my foot where a blister is developing. Both were achieved. This did mean that the goal of 10,000 steps fell way short - the total was 3779.

However, I did do 30+ minutes in the gym (another goal). Nancy Eng MacNeill went with me and helped me figure out some of the weight machines.

That was pretty cool. I can feel my muscle mass increasing even as I type. Plans to run for governor of California dance through my head. I will be adding some weight work in the days ahead.

Eating also went pretty well. May have overeaten at a dinner hosted by Sara and John. But if I did, it was on higher protein, lower carb foods.

I spent most of my time inhaling steam off a concoction of ginger, lemon, and honey. I am either having massive allergy issues or I have developed a cold. Or I may have both going on at the same time in an effort to have it all. We will see what tomorrow brings.

The hummingbird picture has nothing to do with the day as far as I know. It is just a cool picture from this summer at Ghost Ranch.