Blue Heron

Last night, I got to do something I absolutely love about this time of year. I spent time on our patio swing and watch the sky.

blue heron

glides across evening sky

homeward bound

What a lovely sight.

One Deep Breath: Finding Common Ground

This is a prayer for my brother.

family abyss

long bridge--meet halfway

common ground awaits

Said daily.

Save the Date: June 18, 2007

Annieelf from "Scenes from a Slow-moving Train" blog, will be in town. Here is her post of a recent meet up in California: Scenes from a slow-moving train: The Chocolate Triplets.
So fellow bloggers if you would like to meet up with Annie in Portland, save June 18th. It will be in the early evening and I am still thinking of a place to meet. Suggestions are welcomed.

Book Review: Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer

I don't usually do book reviews on this blog. That's for my school library blog. BUT! I just finished the advanced copy of Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor.

One word: WOW!!

I am a historical fiction type girl. I always want to know about the spark, the event that led the author down the path to write the story. This is funny because I was all about the faeries, fairy tales, and make believe worlds as a child. I read and re-read Tolkein. Then I switched to a more eclectic approach in my book choices and fantasy got left behind for the most part.

Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer brings me back to the world of fantasy. I thought that I would read it lickity-split (and I wonder if Laini has been thinking, why is she taking so long to read it). It is a book to savor. And that is exactly what I did. Savor. I didn't allow myself to rush my reading.

Magpie Windwitch, the faerie, chases after devils that "mannies"or humans have released from bottles. She travels with crows who are both funny and protective of their Magpie. The troop heads to the forest of Dreamdark when the fiercest of the devils, the Blackbringer, must be caught. He really is creepy. I have to tell you, I was at the edge of my seat as I finished the book this afternoon.

Laini's writing is tight, flowing, and the language rich. From the prologue, when baby Magpie, is blessed by the animals to the end as she and her family of crows and other friends head to the next adventure (can't wait for the sequel), you, the reader, are mesmerized.

As I have an advanced copy, I can't wait to get my own hardback. I will be putting it in my library next year. (It will be available at book stores the day school gets out).

Thank you, Laini, for making Dreamdark such a fabulous world to be a part of for a while.

The Play: "Finding Aesop"

Sunday Scribblings is about the word, "simple". So here it is, a plain and simple collage about last week's play. We try to keep it simple at elementary school. Simple and fun.

Please visit Sunday Scribblings.

Sunday Scribblings: Mask

All in places
Hiding faces
Behind the masks
Created
Roles earned
Lines learned
Transport viewers to
New places

This is for the students I am directing in the school play. We perform tomorrow. I have been consumed by this event this past week. For more masks, click here.

What's in the Box?

This is the second month I have participated in the "swap" at Create a Connection. Quite fun. What was even funner was the person who sent me the beautiful journal last month, got my name again this month. You could also say poor her, I suppose.
Last week was a horrid week for me. Lots of stress upcoming school play, crummy stuff at work, and just a genuine funk. I haven't wanted school to end like this in a long time but I am ready for summer.

So Thursday I came home to a box, which I am sorry to say, I didn't photo before opening. But look at the goodies. They all made me smile. I especially love the cool bookmark pen. I have thank yous to write and so the notes are just perfect. Thank you, Cheeky, for making my week a better one.

I must mail my box off to Colorado tomorrow. This is really fun. It inspires me to random things for others. It is a great way to lift the spirit. Now I am off to sew on the tortoise costume for the play.

What Flower Are You?:

I am a Violet What Flower Are You?

"You have a shy personality. You tend to hesitate before trying new things or meeting new people. But once people get to know you, you open up and show the world what you are really all about."

I don't know about the hestiating to try new things. I do know that as I get older, I am more selective about what I tell. I hate making idle chit chat so in that sense, going to parties where I don't know many is not fun.
My school persona is different that my at home persona. At school, I am a leader, I talk to everyone but I am also quite content to be home and not talk much.

Poetry Thursday: Humor

We have been invited to write a humorous poem for Poetry Thursday. I have been dealing with annoying allergies this spring. This popped into my head. To be honest, I don't do rhyming much so I am a bit surprised.

Sunny day, pollen count
Runny nose makes me pout
Flowers grin at the bees
Would someone pass
Me Kleenex, please
Wonder why my eyes must cry
Allergies the bees reply
Stay inside, instead of out
Sunny day, pollen count

To smile or laugh out loud, visit Poetry Thursday.

RX for Stress: Grandchildren

I am not having a good week. Decisions are being made at the district level that impact my job. I can't change it. My attitude has been less than pleasant.

Yesterday I took care of my two granddaughters. Together, at the same time for the first time. What a blast. One is two and a half year and the other is 16 months old. The best part about watching them is they self entertain. You take their lead.

In Portland, it was gloriously warm. In fact, the warmest day of the year so far. So we spent time in the yard. My daughter placed a tub of water on the lawn. The girls splashed around with the toys, got all wet, and cared less. When they got tired of the water (evidenced by drinking it instead of playing in it), we changed focus.

Lessons in giving and taking. Lessons in figuring out how to stand your ground. Lessons in being kind. Lessons in being independent(the 16 month old would not let me put a tee shirt on her. She wanted to put is on herself. Never could get it on) Lessons in playing and laughing. They were all there yesterday with these two little ones.

My daughter and son-in-law were grateful for being able to go house hunting without daughter and niece in tow. I am grateful to have this powerful medicine; spending time with my granddaughters. Reminding me of what is important. I think I can go to work with joy in my heart today.

One Deep Breath: Nuture

Outdoor garden planted

breeze songs, bird songs-listen

uplifted soul dances

child dog speaks- woof!

imagination runs free

hug the moment

My two year old granddaughter in our dog's kennel.

For more about nuture, visit One Deep Breath.

Hitting a Wall

I have been a diligent writer of this blog for months. I have written a minimum of three times a week. I wrote everyday in April.

I hit a wall last week. I wrote a haiku last Monday and that was that. Wow. I am surprised. How do you go from writing every day to not writing?

I have allergies. They have been flaring. I am co-directing the school play and it doesn't seem ready for our performances next week. I feel like I am eating too much sugar along with dairy products, food items that are sensitive to me. I want school to be out and we still have more than a month.

So there you have it. I hope this week it better.

Seven Random Things/ Habits about Me

At Mimmsical Creations, Tammy tagged anyone who would play. I want to play so here are seven random things/habits about me.

1. I am left-handed. I always make sure I sit where being left-handed doesn't interfere with eating.
2. I walked the Portland Marathon in 2000 and did the two day walk for breast cancer in Vancouver, BC in 2004. I don't walk so much these days.
3. I hum a lot.
4. Memorizing poems and passages are very difficult for me.
5. I daydream and love taking naps. If I could I would make it so we would have to have a nap at school.
6. I wake up early, even on the weekends.
7. I am guilty of having clutter piles of paper. Lord knows, I try to be neat.

So technically, I should tagged seven people. But I am not. However, if you wish to play, let me know that you did in the comments. Thanks.

One Deep Breath: Sleep

I love sleep. I love naps more. So I am happy with today's prompt: sleep.

nap requirement

sun rays, couch, good book, sniggy*

dogs' snuggle time

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*"sniggy" is a comfortable blanket

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

sleep dream time

synchronize breath, pull close

love energy

Am having trouble with spacing. Grrr...

For more, please visit One Deep Breath.

Ocean

Early morning

Waves splash, crash upon the rocks

Seagull skims surface

Just spent the weekend at the coast. It's funny. In California, I always went to the "beach". I arrived in Oregon and found out we visit the "coast" and in New Jersey they go to the "shore". No matter, there is something restorative about time at the beach.

It is restorative even if daily walks on the beach aren't taken. My weekend was that kind of weekend, our college women's weekend. The five of us have had a beach weekend for almost twenty years. It is the "no children, no men, no dogs" weekend. We are friends, the kind that our roots are deep. Yet, we collectively don't see much of each other on a weekly or daily basis throughout the rest of the year.

The early days consisted of wine and chocolate, our main staple it seemed. Shop, eat, drink, talk, repeat. Stay up late. These days, wine and chocolate in moderation. I nod off on the couch as the four other women converse.

We have raised our children, taken on parenting roles as our parents have aged, and experienced the death of a parent. Sometimes dogs are invited. It seems we are more content to be sitting more, sleeping in more, and listening more.

Women's weekend fun

laugh, share in each other's presence

restorative time

Poetry Thursday: Reflections

Poetry Thursday is giving a free week. A week to do as we wish. Perhaps a poem will surface and/or perhaps those participating in NaPoWriMo need a break or a time to reflect.

Hi, I am Jone and I am a poet. I wrote 30 poems in 30 days. It sounds somewhat of a recovery group.

NaPoWriMo pushed me to write every day. I have not ever written for that many days in a row. I only missed one day of actual writing of a poem. I feel pretty proud of myself.

I walked around a little lost on Tuesday. I didn't have to write so I didn't. I took a break. The break led into Wednesday. So how does one keep up the practice? I am trying to form the habit of writing in daily pages. Can I do a page a day for thirty days?

I wrote a lot of haiku. Sometimes I feel like that's cheating. They are so short but they are also so in the moment. I try to stay in the moment. I wrote some pantoums, a style I was introduced to and like quite a bit. I was glad for the daily prompts from the women of PT. Some days, it was the seed I needed.

I didn't comment on other people's writing as much. No time. Some days after teaching all day, after schools activities, and other commitments if was enough to get a poem written. I feel bad when I don't get around to the blogs to comment. It is this little neighborhood community and I missed the conversation. I do appreciate the comments and visit by others.

How do you choose a favorite poem over your other poems? They are your little creations. But I have a few I think about. Two are haiku, two are pantoums and one is free verse.

Day Five
Broken threads, dried up little cloth worms
Discovered while cleaning the garage, looking at theremains of your library. Rest here.

Day Fifteen
Mother’s pearl necklace in hand
Her last gift
Offered as peace and understanding
Son receives it graciously
(Rest here.)

Day Seventeen and Day Twenty Written after the news of Virginia Tech. My cousins go to school there.

Day Twenty-one
Garden Tips
In the dead of winter
read seed catalogs, poems for the
garden (rest here)

Also on Day 21
Rooted
Uprooted my roots at seventeen
Transplanted to Oregon, a college girl
Roots needed fresh soil
Good growing environment (rest here)

It was a good month. I feel a like I have sowed many poetry seeds this month. I can tend to them like my garden.

If you read any of my poetry for April, I would love to know which, if any spoke to you. For more Poetry Thursday responses, go here.