bemuzin

A door is defined as “a hinged, sliding or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room or vehicle or in the framework of a cupboard. “

Unmistakeably manmade.

And yet, the synonyms for door include “portal, opening, entrance and exit.”

 The synonyms for portal include “gateway”. Furthermore, portal also means a metaphorical opening to another world.

Can you hear me sighing with relief? I probably would have stretched the definition of door anyway in order to participate in Norm’s Thursday Doors. But I like it when I can ‘do it my way’ while still complying with rules.

Similar to Joey’s lament last week about her lack of interesting local doors, I don’t find nearby compelling manmade doors, not least because I’m not wandering urban settings while temperatures blaze in the 90s.

Hence, with Norm’s permission, I’m making a metaphorical leap from doors to portals, openings and gateways which abound in nature and draw me in with their promise of ‘more’ on the other side.

I snapped the following photos while walking the Teller Farm Trail east of Boulder – an open space easement through a working farm. Can anyone claim this easement isn’t an opening to God’s country?

On the Front Range (east of the foothills and Rocky Mountains), we have many such plains trails where openings like this one between trees frame one of nature’s enticing portals.

Even though I know the other side will likely be no different than where I stand, I am compelled to walk through if for no other reason than the ethereal sensation ‘passing through’ provides.

Note how overhead clouds make shadows on the mountainsides.

Because it’s a farm, we see portals like this.

It’s actually a weathered wooden ramp to load cattle into a truck to transport them ‘to their destiny’, most likely a feedlot on the eastern side of the state. The truck backs up to the opening and cattle are prodded into the truck bed. When you look from the side, you can make out a little of the ramp structure (missing its floorboard) that cattle reluctantly plod up, not unlike walking the plank!

Because it’s an easement, and cattle are docile creatures (unless provoked, rutting, or you come between Mama and calves), our hike gives us an up close and personal look at local grazers.

Is he hiking or snacking?

This photo below reminds me of Uncle Louie’s farm in Michigan.

 Thank you, Norm!