Summer's Special Deliveries

I love special deliveries, whether they are a purchase, an invitation to a significant event, new books, thank yous, or the Summer Poem Swap. This summer, I received many special deliveries and greeted each one with excitement. 

In particular, I received amazing gifts from poetry friends. Three poem swaps from Linda Mitchell, Jone MacCulloch, and Margaret Simon came in the mail at various intervals. On two different occasions, I received packages of the book, Great Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud, with my poem, Art Class, included from. These special deliveries came from the fabulous poet/publisher team of Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong.

Just recently, I received my last poem swap from my poetry friend, Margaret Simon the author of Bayou Song, Creative Explorations of the South Louisiana Landscape. You can read my post on the Bayou Song Blog Tour here. Margaret's delivery was a special one indeed. It contained a gorgeous hand-made book with a beaded elastic tie featuring a nature-inspired pin. Accompanying the book was a vivid photograph of a summer sunset that will be included in my summer gallery, "The Art of Summering". Margaret took ideas from my Poetry Friday post of 8/17/18 to create a poem centering on the word linger.

In the photo below, look closely at all the details in Margaret's handmade gift.

Margaret's poetic and DIY talents are evident.

Margaret lifted my word linger that I used in my post and created a poem that captures the spirit of self-care during the summer months. 

The next poem Margaret created is one that I will cherish and recall

as I wander along the beach watching the seagulls soar.

There are different sections of the book with vintage paper, black and white images to color, and plenty of blank paper to write. The interesting part of this book is the variety of vintage pages that will be used as writing prompts.

I appreciate the many poetic gifts that I received this summer.

Special Note: I am collecting digital offerings for my summer gallery, The Art of Summering, this weekend.

Now I am heading over to another poetry friend, Robyn Hood Black's site, Life on the Deckle Edge, who is the host for the Poetry Friday Roundup today. She is sharing some wonderful children's poetry and giving a nod to the Pomelo Books' newest poetry book, Great Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud. 

Making Memories at the Shore

Memories-

snapshots in time

glistening like brilliant jewels

tucked away in hearts 

waiting to be polished

For years, I tucked away my memories in albums, then indexed them in boxes, and finally resorted to unsorted piles. This was not an efficient way to recall lifetime events. The iPhone, has made it much easier for me to capture and store memories. 

Remembering helping my 14-month-old grandbaby set up for this photo taken by my daughter

Years ago when my family went to Disney World, I heard a catchy song, Makin' Memories. As the song says, "Taking pictures is making memories, catching little pieces of time, making them yours, and making them mine...Celebrations we can forget in a year. When we're making memories happiness can reappear." 

Photos do make happiness reappear so last night after returning from my family and extended family trip to Cape May, I diligently edited my photos. Each time I added a new photo, another memory from the trip was recalled. I lingered in those memories that included many shots of my precious little grandbaby at the Jersey shore. 

What memories have you captured with your camera this summer? 

Does each one add to your concept of summering?

Here is my morning Instagram post with one of my memories that was digitized.

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers.

Join me to read what others are slicing about.

Sharing Summer Poetry

A poet is a painter of the soul.
-Isaac D'Israeli

What a beautiful quote this is. Art and poetry are often paired when creating image poems. Can you visualize an array of heart-centered colors swirling and brushing across a page surrounding poetic thoughts?  

Each summer, I enjoy creating poetry with a digital artist's flair
from what I notice and wonder about in nature. 

In addition, I enjoy receiving little nuggets of poems from Poetry Friday's summer poem swappers under the leadership of the creative Tabatha Yeatts and receiving artistic expressions from social media friends for each summer gallery I design. (Summer Serenity, Summer Splashings,  Summerscapes,  Sunkissed Summer, and the upcoming  The Art of Summering) 

Poetry exchanges are one way to stay in touch with poetic friends around the globe and be creative at the same time. When my poet/slicer friend, Jone MacCulloch, emailed that she was sending me a package in the mail, I was ready for one of her vivid photographs but this line that she wrote added a sense of surprise to the expected package. Jone said, "It  (the poetry swap) was inspired by your grandgirl." Are you as curious as I was about what was to arrive? 

While Jone's quote, "Camera in hand/endless paths to wander/words arrive on wings," was not part of the swap, I wanted to include it because it conveys such a powerful message of what Jone's blog offers. Now, it's time for the reveal of what Jone sent me. It was a stunning framed close-up of a bee scattering pollen with a beautiful poem that paints a picture of summertime in action while alluding to my grandbaby's naptime.

With camera in hand, Jone created the following digital inspirations for my upcoming gallery, TheArtofSummering.

Next week, I will showcase Margaret Simon's summer poem swap that I received yesterday.  For now join me at Margaret's blog , Reflections on the Teche, for the Poetry Friday Round-up where she shares some of her Louisiana charms with us. 

On September 7th, I will host Poetry Friday with hopes of having The Art of Summering Gallery ready for an unveiling. Please join my CREATIVE CHALLENGE to create your concept of "summering" digitally.

Tranquility at Water's Edge

When dark clouds rest heavily across a summer sky, many beachgoers are dissuaded from traveling to the shore but today the beach lured me closer.

Was it greying clouds,

the heaviness of forecasted rain,

or a desire to be part of the sea's mystery?

The boardwalk stood still 

against a rushing sea

emptying itself of encumbrances.

Walkers, chatting at a low hum,

strolled its structure.

A solitary bike abandoned

celebrated tranquility.

It was a summer day to

notice and quietly observe.

©CV, 2018, Long Beach, NY

water's edge watches

stretching its ripples of foam -

peaceful accord

©CV, 2018, Long Beach, NY

When was the last time you took time to quietly watch waves move in undulating motion or fall into tranquility's arms? No matter where you live, take time to transport yourself to water's edge, listening to the gentle sounds of nature. 

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at

Two Writing Teachers

*The black and white photography will be shared at #TheArtofSummering Gallery next month. 

Summer Calls

The heat of sunkissed August days

lures Long Islanders to water's edge

practicing the art of summering.

Lingering at lunch with friends-

Watching boats pass on by-

Basking in sunshine-

Watching children frolic-

Listening to seagulls' shrillness

As they swoop down to grab lunch.

At the beach, even the gulls

reflect on the art of summering.

Finding life's balance is easier

at water's edge.

**************

Poetry Friday is hosted this week for the first time by my writing friend, fellow Wonder Lead Ambassador, and resident ornithophile, Christie Wyman. Christie offered a bird-related poem challenge for anyone who was willing to fly along with her. Since I am immersed in the collection of digital inspirations for my summer gallery, The Art of Summering, I wrote about the beach with its pensive seagulls who can be a raucous addition to the beach scene. You can see Christie's Padlet of fine feathered poetry here.

#StartStrong

Recently, I watched my grandbaby gingerly rise and take a few cautious steps across the deck. Then, she plopped down. She rose, tried again, and we all clapped. She was determined to triumph on her way to mastering walking.  We recognized and acknowledged her efforts as a life step in learning.

As we move into the new school year, I recall this event and am reminded that we, as educators, parents, and grandparents, need to be the champions of our children. 

We encouraged our little one despite her many false attempts at walking while guiding her on, and applauded her attempts to become a walker. She knew she was in a safe environment with people who cared for her well-being. So too, in the classroom, educators as positive role models and influencers, need to watchfully observe students' movements, encourage their attempts to succeed, and celebrate their milestones. In turn within a culture of trust, students must find their stride, aim for a goal, and move gingerly toward its completion. 

At the start of school each year, educators, guides on the journey of learning, bring their passions and dreams for a hopeful future. They steer the ship to cross endless waters with their students bringing them the joys of lifelong learning.

Are we ready for this journey? I see that many educators on social media are either already embarking on a new year of exploration and discovery or just about to start their school year. 

Let's navigate through clear and muddy waters to #StartStrong!

I'm Ready!

******

Celebrating The Art of Summering

Do you remember when you were little and the annual back-to-school question was "What did you do on summer vacation?" On #nt2t yesterday morning, Jeremy Bond, my Twitter friend, posed this as one of the questions for the global audience. In addition, he posted, "Would you have students answer the question? Why or why? Would you ask a different question?  

My reply to Question 5 was: 

😎

Today, I am celebrating the art of summering in an authentic way, collecting and designing a gallery of artistic expressions. I am thrilled with the response I am receiving from colleagues around the globe. Here is a sampling of digital inspirations received this weekend. 

Maine

There are many more that will grace the walls of my summer gallery. Interested in depicting your concept of summering? My invitation to The Art of Summering Gallery can be found here. The repository for the digitals is on Twitter at the hashtag, #TheArtofSummering. 

Come celebrate summer 2018 with me by letting your creativity shine. In return, I will celebrate your creative spirit and send the voices of those who create digitals around the globe. 

Many thanks to Ruth Ayres for creating #celebratelu to reflect and celebrate the positives of each week. 

Inspiration Behind the Poem

HAVE  YOU  HEARD?

Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong's new publication, Great Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud  has been published. 

As a blogger on the Great Morning Blog Tour, I would like to thank Sylvia and Janet for their amazing contributions to the field of contemporary poetry. Their zest for writing and gathering poetry is exemplified by the variety of Poetry Friday anthologies they have created. I am excited to promote their new creative endeavor, Great Morning!  This book is filled with poetry in various formats about the different aspects of school life and specifically for schools' morning announcements. This is an ingenious way to spread the power of poetry throughout a building and a must-read for school administrators and literacy leaders. 

I am honored to be one of the published poets in Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong's new publication, "Great Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud".

Being a member of the Poetry Friday family has enriched my artistic life and brought me full circle to one of the paths I chose as a young graduate student. Today, I present the inspiration behind the poem I wrote for Great Morning!

 Topic 22: Art

"Art Class"

While pondering the topic art class for a K-1 audience, I called upon my connected educator friend, Matt Grundler, who is an elementary art teacher in Plano, Texas. In addition to speaking with Matt for an hour, he sent me photos of his art studio and his students at work so I could gather my thoughts before drafting my poem for Great Morning! Below is a synopsis of the information I collected for my poetry writing task. 

Making ART with Little Hands
The Inspiration Behind the Poem, "Art Class"

Welcome to Mr. Grundler's Art Studio!
Little hands make art weekly.

Greeted at the door with enthusiasm, 
curious students find their place on the rug.
 Their adventure begins with morning meeting.

Then, off they go, 
ready to start creative play.

Sometimes, young artists collaborate to create.

Other times, they work solo.

There's always a new delight

waiting in the art room.

Green screen time 

fascinates creative minds

and stimulates new ideas.

iPads engage little ones.

Collage making connects art and literacy.

Each day, young artists

explore their creative side

with their innovative guide.

*****

Meet Matt Grundler,  Art Educator

Matt Grundler breaks the stereotypic art teacher mold. For one, he is a male in a predominantly female world of art teachers. He is a minimalist with a bright, open-space design for his art room at Brinker Elementary School in the Plano Independent School District, Texas that has now transformed itself into an art studio for elementary children. 

Matt, being an empathetic and compassionate teacher, models for his young artists and guides them on their journeys to find the artist within. You can find this enthusiastic connected educator on Twitter as @ArtGuy76, the co-moderator of K-12ArtChat. 

*****

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." - Degas

My Special Thanks to:

Matt Grundler for making me see the gifts you encourage your students to bring to life.

Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong for inviting me to find my inner voice for this particular project.

Pomelo Books for creating such a wealth of poetry resources for the educational world.

******

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by my writing colleague, Molly Hogan.

Please join me as I visit Molly's blog, Nix the Comfort Zone,  to read what she has in store for us.