A Vast Field on Top of the World: Sunset

Early July 2020

It is sunset time, the exciting time for the sky. We are sitting on the top of a mountain arena. It is flat at 10,000 feet. It is the highest spot, save a few surrounding hills. This dome has a vast field on it amongst a deep forest.

We have been exploring our new retreat, wandering through rough back country roads in the thick forest as the sun’s light changes.

Light has been stretching out shadows and illuminating and coloring bringing a glorious yet peaceful experience to us.

The warm temperature of the day is succumbing slowly to night’s brisk bite. We have been danced with all of our senses through this day, Our skin feeling the lush caresses, as various scents of pine float up our nostrils.

We were soothed by the calm, then winds danced with light gusts and breezes gathering in the tree tops above.

During this evening’s walk, we have taken along a couple of shirts just in case.  When it is time, the wraps around our shoulders feel just right, but opened.

As this light changes, beams shoot through the trees, accenting color.

Bark reflects the evening’s light.

Hues of green gain florescence. The same phenomenon bathes the great field, which is still tan, awaiting the monsoon rains. Its warm golden glow invites us.

We sling two folding chairs and a cameras over our shoulders and walk off from camp.

There have been dark clouds to the south since noon. They have threatened, but the rain drops seldom have made it down to our level. Instead, wispy grey clouds of raindrops have been waving like an old man’s long beard, dissipating before our eyes, as we witness the skies.

Here on top, it seems that the weather and clouds circle around us, instead of rolling over unobstructed. The black clouds may be complimented by blue skies to the north, silver to the west, or fluffy white. They are creating gargantuan critters in their shapes.

At this time, things are breaking up. Our plan is to simply sit in the middle…somewhere. Out in the field, it is a 360 degree view, only distant trees are lining the horizon in a grand circle.

Out East, there is a slope down, an opening. Miles away, a distant mountain rises in dull purple and we can see a bank of clouds above it. Those clouds belong to New Mexico. The world is vast.

We have entered the great circle where 20,000 hands could join in communion. We are waiting to discover the “right” place. Out before us is a pile of volcanic rocks. We are soon looking at these as a perfect place to prop our feet as natural ottomans.

Waiting for the Show

They are many shapes, richly covered in healthy lichen of several colors. There are spots of soft golden lichen made to shine in the afternoon light.

We stand in awe, turning around slowly. Even out to the east the clouds are now illuminated in pastel colors.

The air is calm down here, as we watch turbulence above.

A face is imagined to the west, where there is still a dark bank, slowly allowing the sun to poke out. It has two holes which look like shining eyes looking down at us.  Like us, it seems to be enjoying this celestial display.

Another hole in the wall presents other grand beams of light in atmosphere, a fan spreading out under the cover. A golden heavenly glow lies hidden behind. Only a spot reveals that promise.

Otherwise, color emerges in every direction. It is as if several different skies in the distance. A 360 degree multiplex screen of viewing at a grand scale.

We climb on the rocks, getting just enough extra elevation. It is fun to step on the different spaces, avoiding crushing the life of the lichen. It is a sense of harmony, a challenging hopscotch in slow motion.

Clothing!

Change happens continuously in all directions, we await the last color configuration a deep scarlet burgundy across the dark grey rain clouds, whose beards swish, always grey.

The sun brings warmth up here, but now the air cools and chills, we wrap around something for comfort and head into the coming night in the forest. Tomorrow and for two weeks, this wilderness will be home.

Ranting on a Stump Again

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