charliedoggett.net
When I watch an animal gazing like this I cannot help but wonder, “At what does he gaze?” Us humans tend to think he is looking for food, and maybe he is – but could he not also be gazing at some beauty unseen by me? A Rufous-naped Wren in my Guarumo Tree during my breakfast.
Gazing on beautiful things acts on my soul.
“There is poetry among the wildflowers’.”
―
Sure! I look for nature everywhere! And noticed yesterday morning when I left the Coffee Shop that the vacant lot across the street had this mass of yellow swished across it. Wildflowers!
Beauty is where you find it! And those trees are kind of nice too! 🙂
“Wildflowers are the stuff of my heart!”
―
¡Pura Vida!
“When the destination becomes gracious, the journey becomes an adventure of beauty.”
-John O’Donohue
One week from today I return to the Costa Rica South Caribbean (Atlantic Coast South of Limón) for my 5th trip there, not counting 3 other visits to the North Caribbean (North of Limón or Tortuguero NP).
I’ve been “mulling over” (That’s a late 1800’s English idiom meaning “to think about” or “to ponder.”) what my 
photography focus would be this time (see previous focuses below–mainly birds!). I originally thought I was going during Carnival week, but got the dates confused (It’s the last week of October not August) so Carnival is no longer the theme for my photos and ultimately a photo book. 🙂 Here’s my previous South Caribe galleries & books:
Browsing Blurb’s Bookstore travel and art photography books (for ideas) I came across the above quotation by John O’Donohue in a book and decided next week’s destination is such a “gracious” place (both the Hotel Banana Azul and the Caribe) that the friendly, loving, kind graciousness of the place will make it truly an “adventure of beauty!” So now my mind is running in a thousand directions of how I can photograph that gracious beauty!
Of course there’s the beauty of nature as my sunrise photo above from another year depicts. The graciousness of the people there presents opportunities for grand portraits or activity shots. While the graciousness of the sea, or the forest, or the wildlife, or the plants . . . oh my, oh my – the destination becomes so gracious!
Soon I start my next adventure of beauty! ¡Pura Vida! 🙂
I arise today Blessed by all things, Wings of breath, Delight of eyes, Wonder of whisper, Intimacy of touch, Eternity of soul, Urgency of thought, Miracle of health, Embrace of God. May I live this day Compassionate of heart, Clear in word, Gracious in awareness, Courageous in thought, Generous in love.”
~John O’Donohue
¡Pura Vida!
 |
| La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| Guia Miranda La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| Sunbittern (the way he is mostly seen, blending in with the rocks) La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| Sunbittern (a short flight) La Mina, Costa Rica |
 |
| Sunbittern (posturing to scare a predator, like 2 large eyes of a larger animal) Some butterflies do the same thing. La Mina, Costa Rica |
You can see this unique place from Rancho Naturalista lodge near Turrialba, Costa Rica
And I have now added the bird photos from this trip to my Costa Rica Birds photo gallery.
Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood
Let the smell of wildflowers flow free through my blood
Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves
Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.~Bob Dylan
And a “Feeling Old” story from today. I came back from Turrialba with a bad cold or “flu” they call it here. I tried an over-the counter thing that did nothing, so to avoid two visits and long waits at public clinic, I went to my old private doctor, Doctora Candy, who was not in today but her new intern was seeing patients, Dr. Andres Carmana.
He looked like a little boy, one of those young men out of university and medical school who just looks younger than he is (“not yet wet behind the ears”), but really nice and efficient as he explained things to me professionally in English in a very young-sounding voice. Gave me 3 prescriptions. And I almost smiled when he told me “You can just call me Dr. Carmana.” You know you are old when everyone who serves you looks to you like a child. 🙂
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
 |
| At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
See also my photo gallery called Rancho Naturalista Flowers which includes flower shots from my 2015 trip to Rancho Naturalista
 |
| Heliconia Bud The hint is almost as beautiful as the exotic tropical flower that will follow in my garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica. Shot from my little garden bench by the door. |
 |
| While along the Yorkin River in a Bribri indigenous people village I captured several shots of the forest & its textures. East of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
 |
| Strangler Fig Tree by the road in front yard. |
 |
| Palm Tree behind my Guarumo Tree in side yard which is my front yard, balcony |
 |
| Guarumo Tree leaf, up close. This is a type of cecropia tree. Leaves are the favorite food of sloths, and the seeds of Keel-billed Toucans! Mine has to get a lot larger for animals though! |
 |
| Yellow Bell Tree is the name I choose from many it is called. My front yard will be beautiful with 4 of them come February-March! |
 |
| Ylang-Ylang Tree, is known for its wonderful smell or aroma! Mine is new, but hope for the aroma before a year is up! A source of perfumes! |
 |
| Unknown Tree (for now) I see out my kitchen window. |
Want to improve your health? Go Live Near Trees says an article in The Washington Post.
A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my fathers, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and I care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live.
~Hermann Hesse, Bäume. Betrachtungen und Gedichte
 |
| Frangipani (or Plumeria) tree in Alajuela. |
Beauty is before me.
– Navajo Poem
All of nature is beauty to me and in Costa Rica I feel like I am surrounded by nature more than anywhere else I have ever been. And as a walker, I truly walk in beauty! (You see more walking!)