Poetry Friday - Gifting Is the Best!

  It's Poetry Friday, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske is hosting HERE at The Opposite of Indifference. Thanks for hosting, Tabatha! 

  

             A.A. Milne - Winnie-the-Pooh - “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”

           For anyone who is participating or has participated in exchanging postcards during this mid-wintertime, you know what a joyful thing it is to receive some real mail, among the numerous pieces from everyone else who wishes to sell me something, a product, a membership, a visit from the "window" people! 

         And, this year, in the midst of our crazy, worrisome time in the US, it's especially marvelous to take the walk to my mailbox (We have 'blocks' of boxes in my neighborhood.) and discover a huge treat!

        Thanks to Patricia Franz and Mona Moelkel for the lovely art and poems! Not only are what they sent wonderful gifts, but I realize they've also given me, along with others, a gift of their time spent creating! 

Here’s a ditty of thanks

For all of the labor

Sent through air to a box

I opened to discover,

What they created and penned –

Beauty like no other

                     Linda Baie © 

Poetry Friday - Gifting!

 

I sat in a nearby park to watch!

 It's Poetry Friday! Thanks, Ramona Berhenki HERE at her blog, Pleasures from The Page, for hosting. Her sharing of an anthology from Lee Bennett Hopkins titled "School Supplies" feels just right for this beginning of the school year. 

        With all the turmoil and disasters happening in the world, finding gifts in my mailbox lifts my spirits. Among other lovely things, like Wednesday night's super blue moon, the summer poetry swap created by Tabatha Yeatts brings beautiful surprises that, like the cliché, keep on giving.

          I shared those from Tabatha, Denise Krebs, and Patricia Franz earlier in the summer. This past week, I received more creative bounty from Janice Scully and Jone MacCulloch. 

         One thing I also want to acknowledge is Janice's thoughtfulness. After I sent her a package, she replied with thanks and asked about her own gift sent. I never received it! Sadly, USPS is not always reliable. But Janice put together a second gift and that one arrived! Thanks so much, Janice for a poem of address to the marvelous redwoods and for Billy Collins, a favorite!

         Earlier in the summer, Jone wrote to ask if I had a One Little Word for the year. I did not, but did share that a favorite word is "serendipity". You'll see how Jone created a journal cover from learning about that word! Thanks for your creativity, Jone. You've given me a poem but also a journal's cover with secrets. I'll enjoy its message while capturing other favorite words!

             Jone also sent me a created calendar with poems from her for every month!

        This is a card made from the journal you can see in the picture above. The quote is penned there, and my word, 'serendipity' adds to others among the blooms! Also, Jone sent two poem postcards (below), one to keep and one to send with parts of my own words to Patricia! I think she knows how much I love the ocean!

Poetry Friday - Still Smiling

  

        Poetry Friday is with Jama Rattigan HERE at her website, Jama's Alphabet Soup serving up a delicious poem of leftovers. Thanksgiving is on its way!  Thanks for hosting, Jama!

       I am traveling next week to be with my son and family for Thanksgiving and gratitude is on my mind. I've kept this poem from Your Daily Poem in a file titled "gratitude" and read it more than once during the year. It's a lesson to me for the best of living. I see that Mary Lee has commented which I almost never do. Now that I'm sharing one of Jayne Jaudon Ferrer's poems, perhaps I should comment more to tell her how much I enjoy waking up to a poem every morning. Here's the beginning of 

Some Days Most Things Go Well, 

                                        by Rob Baker

despite feeling puffy lately,
you’ve lost five pounds
                   —or gained five
but shrug it off
as an acceptable price
for good cake, wine,
and camaraderie;

all eighteen commute lights
glow green
                 —or red,
but the pauses
slow your pulse,
 

           the rest is HERE

         I wonder if you who have read this special poem might have one brief moment you 

would add in the comments, that small "something" where you are able 

to see the best of both worlds in it?

         My mail comes late, ugh,

           some days not until seven.

           But I have learned that

           when I walk the block

           to the locked group of boxes,

           my wonderful mailman, Mickey,

           is often there, still smiling

           after his long day,

           glad to chat and say "How are you?"

           excited to hand me

           the letters and magazines.

           Now I'm smiling while

           walking back home.

                               Linda Baie ©

  Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, however you celebrate!

       

Still Those Little Things!

  This weekend I celebrate with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and link with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for starting this meme that offers a place to celebrate together!

      I've felt rather stuck about this post in the past couple of days. I can celebrate that it was a good week, and the ordinary days are those I savor. After a wonderful trip, I was happy to be home, and to find enjoyable days. I wrote about the challenge of the word "ordinary" some time ago, wondering why we (I) think I have to find something really special for this post. I do struggle with it even though I relish those little things that make my life good. I thought all day yesterday, in the midst of working at the bookstore, on my way home, cleaning in the afternoon, could not find a way into writing--until late evening when I read a few more poems by Mary Oliver.  This time I discovered "Gratitude" in which Mary takes a line at a time and answers her own questions. It is not as eloquent, but does reflect my celebration. Thus:

What did you notice? 
        The cloudy sky, bringing rain our way. The rose by my fence, opening more each day.

What did you hear?
        The robin's cheer, a hawk's wild scream. The neighbor's one year old's laughter.

Poetry Friday - Gratitude

Carol Wilcox hosts Poetry Friday at her blog, Carol's Corner. I'm grateful for all those who share their love of poetry on this day.

          Being grateful for people, for their deeds, for the life I have is something to contemplate especially in this week of our Thanksgiving. A list would be long if I named specific things. It would be even longer if I thought of the goodness in all my life. At  Today's Little Ditty, Michelle H. Barnes invites guest poets to share insights into their writerly lives, and then offer challenges, sometimes in theme, sometimes in form, or both. This month, Rebecca M. Davis, a senior editor for Boyds Mills Press and for WordSong, asked everyone to write about kindness, a specific act or moment. If you go to Michelle's post, you can read the varying ways different poets chose to respond. I chose to write of a part of my life that was very tough, yet made easier by people new to me at that time, although we became close through a common goal, caregiving. Thanks to Michelle for offering the inspiration, becoming words that felt good to say in gratitude.

                        Witness  

         Here was a prescription of hugs.

         My husband, in a closed place,

         with dementia,

         among others the same.

         They all missed loved ones,

         yet didn’t know what they missed.

         They wandered, always searching.

         The staff touched,

         patted,

         hugged,

         smiled

         along with the meds, spilled trays, angry words.

         I was there every day.

         They gave me hugs, too.

          It’s not a desk job -

          changing beds,

          giving baths.

          singing songs, talking,

          walking to the garden,

          walking down the hall, walking up the hall -

          no step-count, but I bet it was more than ten thousand.

          Those smiles, the soft words,

          meant I could go home to sleep

          till the next day.

           Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved

Grateful for Book Love

      I'm grateful each Monday for the sharing of books that happens because of the following blogs:

Sheila at Book Journeys
Jen at TeachMentorTexts
Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers

          Thanks to these tireless hosts and all of those who link up, my pocketbook is empty, but my reading life is rich!  Happiest of holidays to you all!

The following book meets the challenge made by 2014Latin@s in Kid Lit (See the button on the right to explore this terrific blog resource.)

What The Moon Saw - written by Laura Resau

          Fourteen-year-old Clara Luna has never met her grandparents. Her father left them in their small village in Mexico to find a better living in the U.S., has never returned, and now those grandparents have sent an invitation for Clara to visit. What happens to her and what she discovers about herself in the months of the visit is the story told beautifully by Laura Resau. The chapters alternate between Clara’s story when she discovers she is a healer, and then her abuelita’s, also a healer. It’s self-discovery, adventure, with a little romance included despite the clash in culture. At first, I wondered how a girl from the suburbs could possibly make it in this tiny village with small  huts for sleeping and cooking only. The spiritual aspect of the story also entices. It’s almost as if we are in a dream, with Laura’s gorgeous language. Here’s one short part as Clara first tastes mushrooms on her pizza: “Usually mushrooms taste like dirt to me, but these taste like forest secrets.” The book is worth the experience of different ways of living, and looking hard at self as well as being present. I loved it!

Celebrating 700 posts! Whew!

         This is the Tuesday Slice of Life community, hosted by the Two Writing Teachers each Tuesday. This is where I started, and it fits, doesn't it, to have #700 arrive on a Tuesday? My first post was the beginning of the Slice of Life Challenge in 2011. My first commenters were Tam, Elizabeth E., Tara, Ruth and Mary Helen, all still here, although Elizabeth seems only to do the March challenge. I appreciate everyone's support, warmth, inspiration, laughter, intelligence and spirit. And I applaud those I read online, and meet at conferences for showing creativity, humor, sorrow, beauty, kindness and love. There really isn't anything more to say but THANK YOU! 

Tweet at #SOL14 

        My favorite quote, from Rainer Maria Rilke — 'And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.'

the wordle from my tags-click to enlarge

Slices of Pumpkin Pie

       Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Visit to see all the other slicers' posts.  It is always a pleasure!

          I had an estate sale earlier this year, and sold quite a few things, many of them old pamphlets, books, etc. that belonged to my husband’s and my family.  I don’t keep everything!  But I have kept one pamphlet that I’ve read often since I was young, full of wise essays and poems about Thanksgiving.  It was given to me by a teacher in high school.  In the inside cover there is a part of a piece I’d like to share, by a B.W. Eva, credited as editor.  The title is Thanksgiving Thoughts. 

       The words:  “Thankfulness is a state of mind.  It implies appreciation, joyousness, courage, hopefulness and moral strength.  The sum of human comfort during the year past has been greater than last year, as it is each successive year. It is a thankless heart indeed that does not recognize this.  The best part of it is that gratitude is within the grasp of everyone. No soul is entirely bereft.”          

       There are other words that inspire me, yet few talk about the need for courage.  In challenging times, doesn’t it take courage to find things to appreciate?  Finally, there is a quote from Cicero:  “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.”

A Final Post With Colorado Ties!

The March Slice of Life Challenge- 31 of 31  

         Thank you Ruth and Stacey, at Two WritingTeachers, for this wonderful month!

     

     

      Tweet at #Slice2013

        I know that the following is a love song, and I also know you may chuckle because it’s a John Denver song, and I’m from Colorado and we love all things John Denver.  There is a park in Aspen dedicated to him.  It has large stones in a kind of amphitheater with the words from some of the well-known ones carved into them.  One autumn my students and I were going to travel to that area to study different areas of energy conservation, and we practiced the songs before we went.  We visited the park and held an impromptu concert for any visitors there, and visitors were there!  It was a lovely place, by large boulders in a stream, shady and cool, just as John Denver would have loved. 

the only photo I could find that I could use

        One of the songs that especially touched us was Annie’s Song, a favorite of many in my class and me.  I have thought all today and the recent days of what I would write in reflection of this month.  It has been a month of challenges, both with the daily writing and my daily life.  Yet I am proud that I persisted, staying up late to be sure I got the piece written, and trying to make each piece “count” for something.  I also think I increased my reading speed because I wanted to read as many slices as possible, and give supportive comments.  I couldn’t make it to everyone, even those I regularly read, some days.  

On The Move

Tuesday Slices of Life, according to Betsy at Teaching Young Writers, are served by Stacey and Ruth every week at Two Writing Teachers.  It's a good time to visit!   


This will be the start of something big!  At least for me, right now, Dec. 11th.  I've been in my new house (home) for two days.  I'll be writing about this move for a while, and two weeks before Christmas is not exactly the time for a big move, yet, I did it!  I am grateful for

friends: helping move all my kitchen and art, and others who unloaded the attic several weeks ago

packers: so kind and ensuring that everything was packed safely & prepared

movers: who worked fast & tirelessly from 9am to 7pm, lifting, loading, then un-loading.  Finally, moving a few things again per my direction so I could access certain boxes first, etc.

family: helped through these past months supporting, working, calling

colleagues: asking often how things were going

finally:  service workers, who changed the cord on the stove I brought because it didn't fit the plug here, who showed me how the water heater worked when I didn't have hot water (the former owners had evidently turned it off to save energy), and the person who set up my cable, phone and internet service.

             All helped with expertise, cheer, patience and kindness.  I am so grateful.

      I visited my husband early yesterday morning and it took about 7 minutes to get there!  I am going to work this am; it will take about 5 minutes.  My daughter and oldest granddaughter Ingrid came by yesterday, and took me out to dinner. Ingrid goes to her preschool about 17 blocks north!  It took about 3 minutes to arrive at the restaurant.

      Sorry this is so filled with minutiae, yet it's those little things, as many of us say again and again, that are meaningful to our lives.

For now, a few photos of organized chaos.

Giveaway From Last Week

          I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day, with family and friends, watching fireworks and listening to beautiful music if that is what you like to do.  I spent the day with my daughter and family, visiting, playing with the grand girls, trying to beat our ever-present heat.  It was a good day! 
          I wonder if you have a favorite patriotic song, one that brings that tightness in your throat as you stand to sing with the crowd?  I love hearing all the armed services songs played and sung, and then seeing those who serve or have served stand for the rest of us to see and give our thanks to them for their service.  I am grateful and know that they, and their families, make great sacrifices for the rest of us.  In Colorado, the National Guard has lately been doing extra duty helping to fight the fires all over our state.  We are all grateful for them, and also for the seemingly tireless firefighters who've been working for over a month now to stop the fires.  So, on the 4th of July it was time to give special thanks for all those who keep us safe.

          
       Last week in this post, I shared about a new anthology for older middle-schoolers and high-school-aged adolescents, who are questioning their sexuality, feeling so alone, most often teased and bullied, wondering where to turn for answers.  That book was The Letter Q, Queer Writers’ Notes To Their Younger Selves, edited by Sarah Moon.  I also wrote that the publisher, Arthur A. Levine books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.  would send one copy of this book to a winner selected by July 5^th from those commenting to this post.