#Sol16 - And Celebrating The Goodness

Every Saturday I celebrate with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and link with others who share their celebrations, too. It's a wonderful thing to find both little and big things in one's life to celebrate. 

          It's fitting to post these two together because Ruth is one of the creators of Two Writing Teachers, and one of my first commenters. It's great to share celebrations with her and others each week.

SOLC #5/31 - 

      Today, I'm continuing to slice with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Five of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you to all the "writing teachers": Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

        I had a tough week physically, and after a great physical check up last week, it was a surprise, and not fun. I have some dental problems that won't be resolved soon, am struggling to keep the pain manageable, won't give all the gory details, but have a little surgery coming in a couple of weeks that hopefully will save a tooth. What to celebrate: I had the good fortune to be able to get into my regular dentist, and then two other specialists the next day. They were helpful, gracious and kind, accommodated the added appointments. Wow, I was so relieved to have some experts see me. 

SOLC #4/31 Wanting To Learn Makes Learning Happen

SOLC #4/31 - 

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Four of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  
       This is my second post today. I'm hosting Poetry Friday today here. I know that some of you do participate.

      You may know that I have two granddaughters, six and four. And they spend time with me, some of which is spent reading books.
      You may also know that I read many books from pre-school to YA, including picture books, fiction and non-fiction. And I review them.
       And some may know that I'm retired, a former teacher of middle-school-aged students in an independent school, and a former lit coach.
      SO, my teacher's dream is to work at a bookstore, and now I do. I volunteer one day a week at a local, volunteer-only managed, used bookstore. I am in heaven.

         There is a reason for this introduction. 

Poetry Friday - A Writer's Poem

        Welcome to the first of March's Poetry Fridays. I have a quote shared earlier this week that feels like March to me. Our weather is as unpredictable as it can be, a lot of ups and downs.

From Charles Dickens' Great Expectations: "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

         While searching for something to share, I discovered this poet, Judith Pordon, who is still writing. She is published in a number of places. Here is a Wikipedia article, really the most I could find about her. 

          I just finished writing poems for Laura Shovan's birthday month challenge, and immediately started the March Slice of Life challenge connected to the blog, Two Writing Teachers. I know some you are also doing that. Writing is its own reward, right? But when it's a daily deadline, I seem to need a wider reach and inspiration. Even if I'm writing prose instead of poetry, I still turn to reading poems, and most of the time, I find a line, a word that helps me start.

         Judith Pordon's poem presents the idea of a blank page, also an inspiration, a desire to fill it up. See what you think!  And enjoy everyone's links today!

SOLC # 3/31Depending on your POV

SOLC #3/31 - 

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Three of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

         Our skies were covered with darks clouds yesterday in the early morning, and as I drove south, the streets were wet. A little rain had passed that way.  Then those clouds were swept away and left us with tremendous wind. The sun made things look nice, but the usual plastic bags and trash bits were blowing down the street and into the trees. Some leftover leaves also blew around, onto porches and into my car when I opened the door! 

Learning about other cultures

SOLC #2/31 - 

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Two of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

      
     Thanks also to Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at Kidlit Frenzy. It's a pleasure to discover new books where children can learn new things. This time, I'm writing about two books courtesy of PR By The Book whom I thank for sharing good books with me.

            The two following books have an interesting history. From the collaboration of a foundation in China, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, and the Design and Cultural Studies Workshop in Hong Kong, a program about living in the Forbidden City was created. Out of that, and working with The China Institute in America, the program and these books have been brought to an English speaking audience. These books, among others, will become special resources for students young and old who wish to know more about the Chinese culture. Both of them hold a lot of information, and it seems that some parts could have been broken into several parts, each suitable for different ages.