I was just realizing this morning that I have lived in Utah just over half of my life. In those twenty-two years, I have grown used to many things, and yet I do not think I will ever tire of watching the way light mingles in and against the mountains. It still mesmerizes me every single day.
Growing up in Oregon, I don’t remember light being quite this interesting. When the sun rose, it was just up. When the sun set, it gradually just grew dark. There were so many trees everywhere really that I don’t even remember watching the sun actually rise or set unless we were at the coast (which really is a phenomenal experience worthy of poetic ramblings for another day).
But here, in Utah, the sun rises in stages depending on where you are against and in the mountains. Just to the west of this picture, the sun rose almost an hour ago, and yet here, right against the mountain in this particular spot, I have the privilege of watching the sun rise against the mountains to the north while still in the shadows myself for yet another half an hour.
It reminds me of camping as a girl, that slowing down and taking the time to appreciate the beauty of nature all around me. I love that I have the opportunity to do that here just out my back door.
(Immediately after taking this picture, Maggie took off after a deer loping across the path; I was hoping it would show up in the photo…)