Friday, August 21, 2026

On My Mind

Summer is flying by.
I see this in the green fullness of leaves,
in the advance of seeds forcing petals to the ground,
and in the silence of birds fledged, fawns grown, and caterpillars metamorphosed.

Dragonflies are dancing, and the breeze rustles through fat cattails in the bullrushes.
Three little frogs dive into the water, plop, plop, plop, swimming for cover.
As I walk through the park along Piney Creek
my body absorbs the buttery light, and my mind relaxes in the fragrant calm.
Summer is fulfilled.

Fat Cattails in the Bullrushes
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 14, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

Since my trainer Julie took a full-time job with Castlerock Parks and Recreation,
I've been lost.  I worked out with Julie for over 20 years.
But I'm slowly getting it together and exercising regularly again.

I'm walking about 1.8 to 2 miles a day, 6 days a week, after doing morning stretches.
I've met a lot of people and dogs as I've roamed.
I have slowly realized that I love this morning walking time.
(Really, it would be so much easier to lazily linger over coffee. 😂)

Nature's Garden
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 20, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved




An Unknown Artist Left This Composition on the Trail for the Delight of Walkers
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 19, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved




Rock Art to Match a Weathered Utility Marker Post
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 19, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved




Rabbitbrush Beginning to Bloom
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 19, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved



Quiet Reflections in Middle Pond
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 19, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

I have spent over two months studying A. C. Grayling's The History of Philosophy,
after several years of reading about philosophy in other books and magazines.
It has not been easy!  (And I'm still not finished THOP.)
But the more I dig into philosophy, the more fascinated I am.

I am really interested in questions like:
What is the meaning of life?
What is real?
Does God exist?
Why is there something instead of nothing?
What is knowledge?
How do we know what is true?
What is consciousness and how does it arise?

I am intrigued by the ideas that reality is quantum in nature,
that human consciousness arises from quantum-level processes in brain neurons,
and that conscious experience may be deeply connected to how the universe works.
I am grappling with these complex ideas, but in them I see the potential for things
like the resolution of René Descartes' mind-body dualism,
the existence of souls, and perhaps a cosmic mind - God.
I'm searching for explanations and understanding that make sense to me.
(Like everyone for thousands and thousands of years. 😂)

Source of Image

After a number of months at home, I'm getting antsy.
Perhaps I've been reading too much philosophy.

I'm going to take a brief break from blogging.
I'll be back on Friday, September 25th ~
Well except for a very brief post for IWSG Day on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Adventure and family are calling!
I think hearing Alter Ego performing their Metallica Medley will give my brain a break.

Alter Ego on Fremont Street
Downtown Las Vegas
Nevada, USA
June 1, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

Every day brings me closer to returning to Hawaii!
I am relieved that we have our condo at the Royal Kuhio in Waikiki again.
My hula buddy Carolyn keeps me updated on everything happening in Waikiki,
this special place filled with people I love.

Here is a photo from the Royal Grove on last Wednesday evening.
If it's Wednesday evening in Waikiki, I'm at the RG.
I can't wait to return!

Some of the Royal Grove Regulars
My Hula Buddy Carolyn Is Dressed in Black and Wearing Glasses 
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
August 19, 2026
Photo Posted by Sachico Miyoshi on Facebook



Have a great weekend!
 


 Till next time ~
 Fundy Blue
 
Standing Into Danger                                    https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
 Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.

My next post will be 
Friday, September 25th, 2026 🤞 

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved





Friday, August 14, 2026

A Little Eclipse Humor

Have you ever seen a total eclipse?
I have only seen partial eclipses, but I long to see a total eclipse.
I've been trying to talk Terry into going to Luxor for the total eclipse next year,
followed by my long-desired trip to Petra, but so far, no luck.
All I can do is hope this Middle East turmoil will be resolved by then.

Total Solar Eclipse over San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain 
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Photo Credit:  NASA/Bill Ingalls



Path of Totality
Wednesday, August 12, 2026



Breathtaking!  ~ San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Credit:  European Space Agency

I had to enjoy Wednesday's eclipse by watching CNN's coverage.
It just didn't match the magic of watching even a partial eclipse:
the silence and awe that falls on the world as the moon covers the sun.
The world stands still and holds its breath ~ waiting, hoping for life's return.

Since then I've been entertaining myself with some funny eclipse memes.
Here are my favorites:





Me staring directly at the eclipse with no glasses like a fool of a Took






























Have a great weekend filled with optimism and laughs!
 


 Till next time ~
 Fundy Blue
 
Standing Into Danger                                    https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
 Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.

My next post will be 
Friday, August 21st, 2026 🤞 

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



        

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

IWSG Day: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 ~ Writing Regrets???

    



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 

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: 
As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy August, Everyone! 
I hope that July has been good to you!
I've already heard Labor Day ads, and I am not ready for that!
Terry and I have enjoyed summer at home, but coming up is a whole lot of traveling.
I'd like to share some gorgeous summer photos,
but I've been chasing big machines and men in hardhats.

Now What???  In Spades
Heritage Eagle Bend
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 3, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

Yesterday was something else.
I never saw so many big machines and men in hardhats on our street ever.
The workers laying the AT&T fiber optic cable for hyper-fast internet drilled into a gas line.
Oops!
It was very exciting around here!
But all's well that ends well, and there were no fires, explosions, or injured people. 

The Culprit #1
Heritage Eagle Bend
Aurora, Colorado, USA
August 3, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

Which leads me to my writing regrets.
My regrets are that I haven't fulfilled all my writing goals, and time is getting short.
There is a simple reason, I'm continually distracted by life.
Like yesterday when I ran around during my writing time
in 100ºF (37.7ºC) temperatures chasing big machines and men in hardhats.

Whether by career demands, health crises, other passions, adventure calling or endless curiosity,
I've been distracted endlessly.
Life is just too fascinating!

The Culprit #2
Flying Like Superman Under the Canopy of Fremont Street
Downtown Las Vegas,  Nevada, USA
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved

So really?  Do I have big writing regrets?  NOT!
I've had a rich and full life, and I have completed a lot of satisfying writing.
I'm an optimist.  I still have time.

Happy creating in August!
May life be rich and full for you!
Take care!



Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.

My next post will be Friday, August 14h ðŸ¤ž 


BTW, I'm saving the story the gas leak for a later post.


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.