Thursday, December 28, 2017

O Christmas Tree

It was a magical sight! A Christmas tree lit up with a fragile package of life under its boughs. Parents, two sets of grandparents, aunts, and uncles gathered for Baby's First Christmas to watch a little bundle of energy's movement.  

I sit back now and reflect on this magical Christmas in which my grandbaby Sierra Kathryn became the focal point. Past Christmastimes flash before me. I see my mother's 1940 manger, an array of Christmas trees, and children's faces but this year one image looms brightly-an angel of glee and cheerfulness who brings joy to all.  

Could there be a better blessing than this sweet child with a beautiful  smile and loving ways?
Life is full! 


Isn't it amazing how one small child can bring healing to life? 


Last week, I was fortunate to have witnessed the magnificent light show at the Morman Washington D.C.Temple. I created a short video using the Magisto platform. You can access that here.


I'm joining Mary Lee Hahn for her #haikuforhealing project and Poetry Friday where Heidi Mordhorst is the host. 


It's #ThankfulThursday and I want to thank all those who graciously offered their talents and poetry love to help me build my Autumn Ablaze Gallery.

Friday, December 22, 2017

O Autumn

O Autumn, Autumn! O pensive light
and wistful sound!
Gold-haunted sky, green-haunted ground!...
-Effie Lee Newsome
You can read the rest of the poem here

While yesterday was the Winter Solstice and the first day of winter, I am still celebrating autumn. To mark the occasion, I unveiled my Autumn Ablaze Gallery on social media yesterday. You can access it here.  

With vibrant, harvest colors, the global gallery showcases the brilliancy of the 2017  autumn season. Thanks to the Poetry Friday community and other writers, photographers, artists, and student voices, the gallery is full of artistic expressions. Here is a sampling of what you can see at Autumn Ablaze Gallery.





Special Thanks To:
Janet Wong for gathering new poetic voices to the gallery.


Now, I am heading over to Buffy's Blog where Buffy Silverman is hosting a Merry Happy Poetry Friday!

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Unveiling of Autumn Ablaze Gallery

Where there is autumn, there is brilliancy 
and landscapes ablaze with color. 



Welcome to Autumn Ablaze Gallery
honoring Mother Nature's annual autumnal gala.⤵

Above photography by Devin Hartnett, Kent Kristensen, kmechling, Carol Varsalona

Have you been inspired by the beauty of the season? Joy flows from encounters with nature. The calendar may have turned its pages but you can relive autumn's wonder-filled changing landscape here at Autumn Ablaze. Mother Nature herself, festively dressed in harvest-colored hues, is ready to host the gallery unveiling.  


Before entering the digital gallery, filled with poetic thoughts and photographic delights, listen to Frank Sinatra croon about autumn leaves.

Autumn 2017 prepared a bountiful feast for our eyes this seasonTake a peek at the different sights of autumn in the short trailer/travel log created for viewing here. After that, travel the trail to the gallery.

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"Autumn that year painted the countryside in vivid shades of scarlet, saffron, and russet."-Sharon Kay Penman (offered by Jackie Yun)

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autumn is ablaze
golden-tinged trees color life
with inspiration
©CVarsalona, 2017
Notice the vivid colors of autumn.

Breathe in the air of autumn.

Wonder as you wander on fall days.
Chris Sweetman, England




Great Falls, Virginia by Chris Militzer 



Taste the sweetness of fall.


Hear the leaves crunching under your feet.


Be inspired by the eye-popping artistic expressions
created for this global gallery
Enjoy the gallery experience as you travel across the globe. 

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf."  -Rabindranath Tagore 
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Are you ready to dance with the leaves? 
Ramona Behnke, Washington
Listen to "When the Leaves Come Falling Down"
by Van Morrison, submitted by @Perapiteticus

Terje Akke, Estonia

"...Trees giddy with color, almost garish, like gypsy dresses."
-Anne Lamott
Autumnal
Pale amber sunlight falls across
The reddening October trees,
That hardly sway before a breeze
As soft as summer: summer's loss
Seems little, dear! on days like these...
-Ernest Dowson




Morning awakens to a stilled quiet.










From morning to night, autumn colors the world with memorable sights.




Autumn Inspires!
On the water,
the canoe turns
toward a horizon
I do not know.

I paddle-pull
under a bridge,
listen to the rumble
of a passing car

like thunder from rolling clouds.
Under a bridge
where teenager
hunches over his cig,

where wooden gates
direct water
as if one could
contain such a wild thing.
-Margaret Simon, 2017


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For your listening pleasure, "Autumn in New England"
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Jane Whittingham, Autumn Song sung in Japan
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Children's Corner
 ⤵
The above video can be accessed at goo.gl/b8RnQM .
Enjoying Fall by Ramona Behnke

Story time
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Children love Halloween so...
Teresa Gross
Drawing by Michelle Kogan


Reflect on the Progression of Autumn

First Snow in Estonia by Terje Akke

The community of reflective writers has continued to grow since the first Reflect With Me Gallery of Artistic Expressions in March 2014.  I am grateful to all who offered their creativity and talents to this gallery. 


Contributors to Autumn Ablaze Gallery
@AlaskaTracyGrady, CynthiaNesdoly, Violet
@anjonneveldGrimes, NikkiPhillips, Moe
@binghamtonuGross, TeresaPlatt, Rita
@gary_henselHahn, Mary LeeSalas, Laura Purdie
@i2learnHankins, Paul W.Schaub, Michelle
@kathyiwanickiHarsham, BrendaScully, Janice
@math912TeacherHartnett, DevinShepard, Kiesha
@PerapiteticusHealy, Jane HeitmanSilverman, Buffy
#GatewoodGatorsHerzog, RebeccaSimon, Margaret
Akke, TerjeHodgson, KevinSmith, Donna
Alyssa H.Hogan, HollySnider, Grant
Arend, MattHoward, Mary, Dr.Steinglass, Elizabeth
Baie, LindaHoward, SpiriStillufsen, Heather
Behnke, RamonaJetter, RickSweetman, Chris
Bryant, JenKelley, SteveSzaj, Julie
Bryne, JacquiKristensen, KentBetty Lynn Tims
Buhr, DanielkmechlingVan Iderstine, Barbara
Calmenson, StephanieKogan, MichelleVardell, Sylvia
Caplin, MariaLaminack, LesterVarsalona, Carol
Campbell, RobynLake, LillianWallace, Ken
Cator, LeiaLatham, IreneWeston, Mark E. Ph.D
Coda, RebeccaLewis, J. PatrickWhittingham, jane
Cleland-Sipfle, KateLalotra, ManavWirtz, Rita
Deem, EllenKlostermann, Penny ParkerWong, Janet
Diller, DebbieMacCulloch, JoneWyman, Christie
Duarte, BlancaMatzinger, SimonYun, Jackie
Eck, Leigh AnneMayo, Jane
Euwer Wolff, VirginiaMayr, DianeStudent Voices:
Farnum, SeanMcGriff, Kay
Feinberg, OnaMeller, FaigeAndrew-5th grader
Flynn, CatherineMilitzer, ChrisJane-Kinder
Foley, KevinMitchell, Linda Landon
Forrest Esenwine, Matt Mitchell, SeanMadison, 4th grader
French, MarkMueller, HollyWyman's Wonders-Kinders
Ghinga, CharlesMurphy, Sally


You can visit the following global galleries that integrate the arts, technology, and poetry by clicking below.
Thank you for perusing the Autumn Ablaze Gallery. It has been a pleasure to relive the vibrancy of autumn with colorful and inspiring digital inspirations from across the globe. 

You may enjoy this video, "Autumn Colors", that emphasizes the fall season in all its glory.

Please leave a comment or tweet a response so that the joy of this gallery and the work of all those who contributed can be spread throughout the world.

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." 
William Cullen Bryan

Until we meet again, I send holiday wishes and happy new year thoughts to all. This has been a joyful creative venture and I look forward to the next season and what it brings.
 - Carol