Standing Into Danger

Friday, October 24, 2025

Open Your Eyes ...

"Open your eyes, and see what you can with them before they close forever.”

This quote from the wonderful novel All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr is one of my favorites.

I remind myself all the time to open my eyes and see.

During the past few days we have had beautiful fall weather,

and I have been walking along Piney Creek taking in all the sights.

I'm delighted to be home and to have the time to wander,

to say "Hi!" to my favorite trees and to search for animals.

Juvenile Cottonwoods Surround Their Likely Father

(the big dark trunk in the background)

Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, USA

October 21, 2025

Here are some things I've opened my eyes to see:

Alert Mule Deer ~ Don't you love those ears?

(near the entrance to the park)

Aurora, Colorado, USA

October 21, 2025

Cottonwood Tree

(near the entrance to the park)

October 21, 2025

Milkweed Seeds

I've been watching the milkweed slowly spread along Piney Creek for years.

Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, USA

October 21, 2025

My "Upper" Pond

There are many, many ponds along the length of Piney Creek,

but there are three along the east side of Heritage Eagle Bend where I live.

Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, USA

October 21, 2025

Common Mullein Stalks Are Everywhere This Fall

October 21, 2025

Old Man Cottonwood

October 21, 2025

Old Man Cottonwood is my favorite tree in "my" section of the park.

I've been photographing him for many years.

I like to visit him to see what's new, touch his branches, and talk to him.

I feel vindicated in my actions after just finishing an amazing book,

The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger, last week.

Some of the Lovely and Rooty Textures at the Base of Old Man Cottonwood

October 21, 2025

Leaves Caught in a Crotch in Old Man Cottonwood

October 21, 2025

Old Man Cottonwood

Here you can see how he's toppled over exposing his base in the left background.

This is why I call him old ~ He's fallen and he can't get up.

October 21, 2025

I remember asking one of my high school science teachers, Jerry MacLean,

if he thought that trees could communicate.

He told me I'd be better served, if I stopped looking out the windows

and paid attention in class.

I hope Mr. MacLean has lived long enough to read The Light Eaters!

If you read it, you will never look at plants the same way again!

Till Next Time, Old Buddy!

October 21, 2025

I encounter lots of people along the trail following Piney Creek.

This guy blew by me peddling his recumbent bike

with Van Morrison blasting "Moondance" in all directions.

Simpatico!!!

I like to roam off the path searching for less obvious life

The Last Dandelions of the Year

October 21, 2025

A Damselfly

What bright blue eyes and a long body you have!

October 22, 2025

Prickly Pear Cactus Hides in Dry Areas

October 21, 2025

Asters Still Bloom in Scattered Spots

October 21, 2025

A Ruddy Darter Dragonfly

October 21, 2025

The park is very quiet, its life preparing for the coming winter.

I never tire of seeing bullrushes, leaves against the sky, duckweed blanketing a pond

or a path with with leaves to shuffle through.

Fluffy Bullrushes aka Cattails

October 22, 2025

Almost Gone

October 22, 2025

Leaves Resting on a Duckweed Blanket

October 22, 2025

It's Impossible to Resist Shuffling Through Leaves

October 23, 2025

And if you're lucky like I was today (Thursday),

you might chance upon some wildlife you've been searching for.

I was pulling a U-e on the way home, and there were the deer beside a house:

Mama, her two almost grown fawns and a fourth unfamiliar deer.

The moment I hit my brakes and rolled down my window,

Mama and her offspring were moving away while the fourth deer looked on.

Serendipity!

October 23, 2025

Mama and Her Fawns

October 23, 2025

Mama and Her Fawns by Our Driveway

July 21, 2025

May you see wonderful things in your corner of the world!

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, October 31, 2025 🤞

On a completely different topic ~ The world recently lost a member of the Moody Blues.

John Lodge, the legendary bassist, singer, and songwriter for The Moody Blues died on October 10th.

I've loved the Moody Blues and their music since I was a young teenager,

and I was fortunate to see them perform at Fiddler's Green in Greenwood Village in the late 1980s.

Sadly only Justin Hayward remains.

Here is one of my favorite song of theirs "Isn't Life Strange" written by John Locke.

The Moody Blues ~ "Isn't Life Strange"

Filmed at Red Rocks, Colorado in 1992

Isn't life strange?

A turn of the page

Can read like before

Can we ask for more?

Each day passes by

How hard man will try?

The sea will not wait

You know it makes me want to cry, cry, cry

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were and here we are

Isn't love strange?

A word we arrange

With no thought or care

Maker of despair

Each breath that we breathe

With love we must weave

To make us as one

You know it makes me want to cry, cry, cry

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were and here we are

Isn't life strange?

A turn of the page

A book without light

Unless with love we write

To throw it away

To lose just a day

The quicksand of time

You know it makes me want to cry, cry, cry

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were

Wished I could be in your heart

To be one with your love

Wished I could be in your eyes

Looking back, there you were

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: John Charles Lodge

Isn't Life Strange lyrics © Johnsongs, Halesouth Ltd., Sparta Florida Music Group Ltd

Friday, October 17, 2025

On the Move

I'm back after traveling to Las Vegas twice in two weeks, once without a computer.

We were meeting up with different friends, Jon and the East Coasters from the US

and then Janeth from Ottawa, Canada. Hectic, but fun!

An Artsy View of Vegas ~ The Arte Museum

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8, 2025

Best of Friends ~ Jon and Terry

Benny's Smokin' BBQ & Brews at Binion's

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

*Note the roll of paper towels. They're needed for scrumptious ribs!

Terry and I Split a Rack of Benny's Ribs ~ So Yummy!

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

We crammed everything we could into our visits,

and my special thing was listening to my favorite band Alter Ego at the 1st Street Stage.

They had transformed into Alter Igor for Halloween.

Kevin Vecchione, Rich Embry, and Dancer ~ Alter Igor

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 7, 2025

Base Guitarist Kevin Vecchione and Dancers ~ Alter Igor

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 7, 2025

Terry, Jon, local Jim, and the East Coasters (Harv, Scott, and Catherine)

enjoyed their Mattress Poker Game at the Palazzo.

They had a tournament pot of $150.

Terry placed 2nd winning $60 and Jim 1st winning $90.

Jim, Terry, and Harv ~

As Harv's Sidekick, Monkey Jacques, Oversees the Exciting End of the Game

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 2, 2025

Harv, Terry, Me, Scott, and Catherine ~

Enjoying a Meal at Andiamo Steakhouse in the D

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Janeth and I took in an immersive exhibit at the Arte Museum on the Strip.

It was fabulous! Mind-Bending!

A Mind-Bending Experience at the Arte Museum

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Pungsokhwa (genre painting) of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea ~

Showcasing the Energetic Dance Moves of Samulnori

Arte Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

During our two trips we saw lots of sports events

(football, baseball, hockey) in different venues.

A definite fun time was Wednesday Night Hockey in Bar Canada at the D!

I was definitely thinking of my blogging buddy Debra who is a big Oilers fan!

Unfortunately the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Calgary Fames 4-3 in a Shootout. 😱

Cheering for the Edmonton Oilers!

Arte Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

We ate so much great food, which is why I don't want to step on my scale! 😂

At the Chart House in the Golden Nugget

Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 1, 2025

Janeth and I at the Chart House

I will not show the food or us gorging! 😱

Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8,, 2025

I do love Las Vegas!

It takes me away from everything!

I did gamble a little, and I had a win of $288.00 when I won a progressive Straight Flush.

I am not a whale. I am a low roller.

My Big Win!

The D, Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8,, 2025

So now I'm home for a good stretch! Yay!🤞

Vegas and Alter Ego will just have to manage without me!

Happy weekend!

Drummer Daniel Conway ~ Singing His signature Hotel California

I think it's better than the Eagles original.

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

October 8, 2025

Now that I'm home, maybe for two months, I'm determined to get on top of my blogging.

We shall see, because life is full of surprises.

Wishing you happiness, fulfillment, and energy!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 🤞

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

IWSG: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 ~ Gingerbread Girl

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are

Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's optional question is:

What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy October, Everyone!

I hope all is well with each of you.

Tough question this month!

Tough in that it's hard to choose my most favorite thing I've ever written.

Was it my short story "Ugly Little Bastards"

that was published in "The Antigonish Review," a Canadian literary journal?

My research paper "A Bestiary for 'The Saga of Pliocene Exile'

by Julian May with Notes on the Pliocene Epoch"

for my Paleontology Certificate for the Denver of Museum and Science?

My short story "Dare Double Dare"

that was published in the IWSG anthology "Voyagers: The Third Ghost"?

My research paper "Reflections on Eternity" which compared Milton's "Paradise Lost" with Tolkien's "Silmarillion?"

There are so many things I've written that are favorites,

because I poured everything, heart, mind, and soul, into them as I wrote.

I Can't Believe It!

Copies of Voyager: The Third Ghost Arrive

Photo by Terry Barbour, May 1920

I have decided on one, and my choice surprised me.

It's a blog post titled "The Lansdowne Letters: The Pervert and the Sandwich Man."

Just reading it now made my heart beat faster and my throat close.

It's the story of my run in with a pedophile when I was eleven years old.

Mom, Our Beloved Dachshund Gretchen, and the Five of Us

Not Long Before I Met the Pedophile

Late Spring, 1961

Landsdowne House, Ontario, Canada

Why on earth would this be my favorite?

Because I finally had the courage to write it.

Because this and a second event changed the person I was

and impacted my life for decades.

I'm still struggling with writing about the second event.

Together they made me the Gingerbread Girl.

Run, run as fast as you can ...

Wikimedia ~ DylanIsChilling ~ License

It's part of the memoir I've been trying to write,

the memoir I've been struggling with forever.

Even this morning I woke up and thought,

"What if I just say "Screw it!"and let it all go.

Play "Royal Match" and "Words with Friends."

Kick back and enjoy the rest of my life.

Take up painting? 😂

But, I can't.

I've just got to slog on.

I'm looking forward to seeing how others respond to this month's question.

Have a healthy, happy, and creative October!

Take care!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be Friday, October 10th 🤞

Just so you know, I monitor my comments before publishing them. This means your comment won't appear immediately. I will not publish mean spirited or commercial comments.

Pages

Friday, October 24, 2025

Open Your Eyes ...

Friday, October 17, 2025

On the Move

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

IWSG: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 ~ Gingerbread Girl