tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45877061746187255552024-03-19T08:10:45.612-04:00Beyond LiteracyLinkA dedicated space to ponder, reflect, and converse about life, literacy, and learning Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.comBlogger1640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-28345735424748602022024-03-18T23:49:00.009-04:002024-03-19T00:15:12.394-04:00Wearing of the Green 2024<strike></strike><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">What is St. Patrick's Day without a bit of green? This color can be found in clothing, decorations, baking, and balloons. It did not originate in Ireland although many people thought it did. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">My house was decorated with green decorations and mementos. Postcards from the turn of the 20th century were spread around the house as a reminder that St. Patrick's Day has been a part of the American culture for years. So you would expect that I would have festive green clothes for my little grandgirls to wear. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">The tulle skirts and green ribbons were at the grandgirls' home, not mine. I improvised when the middle child of the family spent the weekend. The Dollar Tree store had a giant sequin bow. It was a becoming look for my toddler grandgirl who decided to be silly for the camera. If you stopped over you would see that her cookies were green but that is another story...</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSJ-WFvqpBjZfTFRyuI56F3FzmmjAhbFyQ6SNs0QBBMC7vOUxZE32-6cxID_YgXqJfmoJe-WMBdCnH9ljxexZfMBrI2Gtm0Wv-sAc2LcrvEwwIb2yAP_f0QTr-FNdtY6NadoYKlKqDnE4-NEu3rkhlCmVnGzGa_Ag1nP4_5wBgDF6vPlDM1wrZ_U-kkw/s1620/Graphite-2024-03-17-11-30-44.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1216" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSJ-WFvqpBjZfTFRyuI56F3FzmmjAhbFyQ6SNs0QBBMC7vOUxZE32-6cxID_YgXqJfmoJe-WMBdCnH9ljxexZfMBrI2Gtm0Wv-sAc2LcrvEwwIb2yAP_f0QTr-FNdtY6NadoYKlKqDnE4-NEu3rkhlCmVnGzGa_Ag1nP4_5wBgDF6vPlDM1wrZ_U-kkw/w202-h269/Graphite-2024-03-17-11-30-44.jpeg" width="202" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">I hope your weekend was as festive as mine.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEUnbTUXmJld8wAcwEi44E-2Smqg62uMLLMKlnynyZyUrl3ISPIOCUEab7K31JYjYBzGjBpVfhjzuqvWNSR4SuUUD6vpgR0fdv_b2rpJfijWB_FPS4Zia_JqH_JcPwA3_METrw8z0UwFuLpAbS4LmSYAcjumVemJakwmboZlRY78E9QVs9Yn0caus/w98-h98/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; color: #333333; font-weight: 400; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="98" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptT1D7sIJEm6tpD5hs0HPkuEDz_wlUmp-FqHPY57lHlGyTtE1urx19LZaQaWVQzJ-NHF7HrYWE0EeQK0feti-3LuXv14hit-_9g0W1KUshbRcGiL_NJqkUzwPApAB5qj_6wgGnbiOJCJU26qH8XhDqJrTwJ3iF27J7L1vDvpnDz9uGAPVcP-Ak502/s640/Happy%20St.%20Patrick's%20Day.jpg" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" data-pin-me-only="true" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptT1D7sIJEm6tpD5hs0HPkuEDz_wlUmp-FqHPY57lHlGyTtE1urx19LZaQaWVQzJ-NHF7HrYWE0EeQK0feti-3LuXv14hit-_9g0W1KUshbRcGiL_NJqkUzwPApAB5qj_6wgGnbiOJCJU26qH8XhDqJrTwJ3iF27J7L1vDvpnDz9uGAPVcP-Ak502/w99-h101/Happy%20St.%20Patrick's%20Day.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="99" /></a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Thank you Two Writing Teachers for offering a Writing Challenge during March.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/18/day-18-of-the-march-solsc-sol24"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Day 18</span></a></b></div><p></p>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-16063074465659213282024-03-16T23:39:00.003-04:002024-03-18T12:40:40.442-04:00Celebrating National Reading Month<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><b>Did you know that March is National Reading Month! </b></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><b>March was chosen to honor Dr. Seuss's birthday. </b></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span><b>When I was a child, I fell in love with reading and libraries. There were so many to choose from in my city's grand public library. It was a magnificent structure in downtown Syracuse, NY that opened my eyes to magical wonders. The stacks in the children's library were filled with books about faraway places and times. I spent hours mulling over the precious publications and always walked away with a new stack of books.</b></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97Pd4HmzN-wdlVvTzQ8N9Cvm2Yn5q0DDuZCITdInrG9-BVelTd20BsNt2zj7n3SL1VsJYx5ENFddKY5goBdYq9Vn8hz20McKZ0zHP_CSHhFhScjobKz-gccGUCNEKhLRMJh813Z147-WNcrTAwVA8uI0msggqwRanEYpy56Zfglw7brh8PgW9OTaSg8I/s1256/Syracuse%20Public%20Library.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1256" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97Pd4HmzN-wdlVvTzQ8N9Cvm2Yn5q0DDuZCITdInrG9-BVelTd20BsNt2zj7n3SL1VsJYx5ENFddKY5goBdYq9Vn8hz20McKZ0zHP_CSHhFhScjobKz-gccGUCNEKhLRMJh813Z147-WNcrTAwVA8uI0msggqwRanEYpy56Zfglw7brh8PgW9OTaSg8I/s320/Syracuse%20Public%20Library.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span><b><span style="color: #444444;">But that library was not the only one that amazed me. Each summer when I visited </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/search?q=nonnie+and+library"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span>my </span><span>Nonnie</span></span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> in Rome, NY, we would spend time walking to the library. My love for reading increased with age. It's not surprising that <i>booklove </i></span></b></span></span><b style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">was one of the reasons why I studied to become a reading specialist. </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">My first classroom had a small area for books nestled in the corner of the cafeteria. My high school students were not readers but I had an intense desire to introduce them to the pleasures of reading. From there, I was asked to start a reading program for 7th graders in another impoverished setting. My love for books continued to grow as did the libraries I shared with K-12th grade students. To entice the elementary students to read, I offered schoolwide read alouds during holiday times. The teachers and I celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd wearing Cat in the Hat hats and reading to students. Then, after 25 years in classrooms as a reading specialist, I moved to central administration as a districtwide director of language arts. In that capacity, I was able to open libraries for classroom teachers in each of the 5 elementary schools. Now, I enjoy reading to my grandgirls with books I have collected over the years. </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><i>Heartnote to Students</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>books</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>open doors</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>to new pathways</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>enlighten, delight, and become</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>bestfriends</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>books</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>reach out</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>to all ages</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>as guides into literacy</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>learning</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>books</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>ignite imagination</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>offering </b></span></span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">content and</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">creative illustrations for story</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b>love</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">love</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">comes in</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">many forms</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">books offer pleasure, intrigue,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">heartthrobs</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>©CVarsalona, February 2024</b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Elfchen poems</b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM0sCzOyIZ5ODue0HqnHXcK05otF9jQ7IQbg7jnHOLSBPVPvj4ergsV2My3yERUR6NsW-Q71VC1eNsOrl_1vvt7UcjDnelqpa0rZZlDEJZH0TttQF0ii7jordYsh3L2t-f7b5Tuu8F-4lLDYjBm3K0SpWmRbryFKtrDRdsI8Hucdv4P-J2bIPS1Q9yuY/s4032/IMG_4725.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM0sCzOyIZ5ODue0HqnHXcK05otF9jQ7IQbg7jnHOLSBPVPvj4ergsV2My3yERUR6NsW-Q71VC1eNsOrl_1vvt7UcjDnelqpa0rZZlDEJZH0TttQF0ii7jordYsh3L2t-f7b5Tuu8F-4lLDYjBm3K0SpWmRbryFKtrDRdsI8Hucdv4P-J2bIPS1Q9yuY/s320/IMG_4725.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">I am celebrating the month of March by reading and writing daily. I am also celebrating my six-year-old year-old grandgirl's accomplishment as a reader. As a first-grade student, she reads fluently and enjoys chapter books now. I applaud all the parents who read to their child/children when they are little and continue to enjoy the pleasure of family reading at bedtime. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400;"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="color: #181818;">Once again I am sliding into </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/16/day-16-of-the-march-solsc-sol24/"><span style="color: #e69138;">Day 16 </span></a><span style="color: #181818;">of the </span></b></span><b style="color: #181818;"><i>2024 Two Writing Teachers</i> <u>Slice of Life Story Challenge</u> </b><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: 400;"><b>before the midnight hour clocks in<i>.2024 Two Writing Teachers</i> Slice of Life Story Challenge</b></span><b><span style="color: #181818;">.</span></b></div></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w124-h124/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="124" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Day 16</span></div></b></b></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-27818675467593884132024-03-15T02:07:00.002-04:002024-03-15T02:07:23.860-04:00Game On!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">When growing up board games were a favorite pastime, a "conduit" bonding families and friends together. Children learned the etiquette of fair play while playing board games. Many memories were made in the good old days.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">When we moved from Long Island to Virginia a couple of years ago, our “forever” board games, chess, monopoly, scrabble, and checkers, moved with us</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">. Now, they sit on a table in the loft waiting for my little grandgirls to visit. While this generation is absorbed in video games, board games are still appealing as a leisurely family and friends activity.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">What new games are in my house and enjoyed by my grandgirls and me? Tic Tac Toe, WordScapes, and Wordle are all online. My iPhone and my son's iPad await their turns with the little champs. For a solo game, I enjoy the <i>New York Times Wordle</i>. I found tips that are quite useful but in the end, it is all about strategy, vocabulary know-how, and persistence.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK_Jqt4ZiduPyO2FPdlqvYYyKwZBmYH5cP_eY_J4MwOxeu40vPxtWrjVsk4y9LCVvCSZ3QKgUs8uP7HLBSWynZ0ehyphenhyphen1xbfwgaX9hCoNdioRQenTpkNHq8RW3y1ZNihF0eFGcBf0iQyZXUdSXT9mK9p5Go2D4Ve5bpejbRPH0dZS-Bx18Kgw3mV7AgOf0/s800/Wordle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="800" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK_Jqt4ZiduPyO2FPdlqvYYyKwZBmYH5cP_eY_J4MwOxeu40vPxtWrjVsk4y9LCVvCSZ3QKgUs8uP7HLBSWynZ0ehyphenhyphen1xbfwgaX9hCoNdioRQenTpkNHq8RW3y1ZNihF0eFGcBf0iQyZXUdSXT9mK9p5Go2D4Ve5bpejbRPH0dZS-Bx18Kgw3mV7AgOf0/w511-h504/Wordle.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Wordle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">social phenomenon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">novel literary fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">with <i>can do</i> spirit</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">wordplay</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">@<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 700;">CVarsalona, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 700;">Elfchen poem designed with WordArt & Fotojet</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">🍃🍃🍃</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b>My Winning Games</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b><i>that beat the computer</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cv-iodcRJVppPPsNUSFf5ftex0kAL7RC73Ec96N_TnODPfhesmtXfkLtnsSd6Jv2hpZ_Q7lozYercBIP14N0o2EabZenOpRbWrhyxFmsJrSZuBMGSblg4nEww7oKEnkaE9oTU6JC30M9oq5Ee0RZXeTfn0n5z4e8Kz0I1MmqsznLLWH4FxrHuART3Tk/s599/Winner%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="500" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cv-iodcRJVppPPsNUSFf5ftex0kAL7RC73Ec96N_TnODPfhesmtXfkLtnsSd6Jv2hpZ_Q7lozYercBIP14N0o2EabZenOpRbWrhyxFmsJrSZuBMGSblg4nEww7oKEnkaE9oTU6JC30M9oq5Ee0RZXeTfn0n5z4e8Kz0I1MmqsznLLWH4FxrHuART3Tk/w148-h178/Winner%202.png" width="148" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPlCGm2JCQ5as4q9SakL9CGO5dwfMSXgcZCRoqYQ5PlAiRzXIrPVtu3UjcGt5CZ4ZzTJz3-kZhiktnmzeyjFfnOni9gymumUqh4jQrhGPt4FZT4zHNalxrxnlpaU3jxr7TJvJNq6G9rbhz32L_S6IgoBO7MdtfliQgTvS7aNgfurBuiWK4UcY1hYfGqM/s804/Wordle-3%20tries.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="664" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPlCGm2JCQ5as4q9SakL9CGO5dwfMSXgcZCRoqYQ5PlAiRzXIrPVtu3UjcGt5CZ4ZzTJz3-kZhiktnmzeyjFfnOni9gymumUqh4jQrhGPt4FZT4zHNalxrxnlpaU3jxr7TJvJNq6G9rbhz32L_S6IgoBO7MdtfliQgTvS7aNgfurBuiWK4UcY1hYfGqM/w147-h178/Wordle-3%20tries.png" width="147" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Heartnote to my almost 7-year-old grandgirl:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRiqUeZuMs1ysPIkraWYe9_dA_9_FTanDa_JtwNGds1F6MMMZtu6JIwuvRRVyFJ_zFXkO9dZqB_bV7-IBVHhXRZPv59sN9oCipszXxvI8aZ1ww5egGi5JfXvn6yXftYUMoiTd-wtwg1yKyVFF0CEX2Ug3E2dLOQDuZCTCq2SZGjHOoFytVlVRVX3dM4Y/s650/Games%20On.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="459" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRiqUeZuMs1ysPIkraWYe9_dA_9_FTanDa_JtwNGds1F6MMMZtu6JIwuvRRVyFJ_zFXkO9dZqB_bV7-IBVHhXRZPv59sN9oCipszXxvI8aZ1ww5egGi5JfXvn6yXftYUMoiTd-wtwg1yKyVFF0CEX2Ug3E2dLOQDuZCTCq2SZGjHOoFytVlVRVX3dM4Y/w374-h530/Games%20On.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700;">🍃🍃🍃</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">“There are thousands of five-letter words in the English dictionary,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">but it only takes one to win Wordle."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Alexis Benveniste and Jackie Frere</span></div></div><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1f1f1f; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: xx-large;">🍃🍃🍃</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #181818;">Spring starts prepping for her entrance as the left-over winter leaves toss around the yards. I'm joining the Poetry Party as author, poet, and host, </span><a href="http://tanitasdavis.com/wp/?p=13406"><span style="color: #e06666;">Tanita S. Davis</span></a><span style="color: #181818;">, opens her blog for Poetry Friday. Click here to read Tanita's pre-roundup welcome and visit other poets' blog sites.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenrwLLgVux95uQTVNkBPHcDbCYa9rVDE0qotk5Q22MFvh6nsfh5qqMRiATBVMflRmE_Aglc8xv47n3PNDBOCkZOxAFCRuLCqnD2e4e7dsOM-M-rKykb2dbSChbWfo_phhEKez-7tA2mqw6wPWcbpAaU7xU1997hf-dybLDvqKNXtOx1vaM3AAG32U1G4/s445/Screenshot%202024-03-15%20at%201.53.57%E2%80%AFAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="400" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenrwLLgVux95uQTVNkBPHcDbCYa9rVDE0qotk5Q22MFvh6nsfh5qqMRiATBVMflRmE_Aglc8xv47n3PNDBOCkZOxAFCRuLCqnD2e4e7dsOM-M-rKykb2dbSChbWfo_phhEKez-7tA2mqw6wPWcbpAaU7xU1997hf-dybLDvqKNXtOx1vaM3AAG32U1G4/w197-h220/Screenshot%202024-03-15%20at%201.53.57%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="197" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: 400;">Logo created by Tanita S. Davis</span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><span>I am also offering my Game On! blog post to the <i>2024 Two Writing Teachers</i> Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></b></span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="color: #181818;">. Click </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/15/day-15-of-the-march-solsc-sol24"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a><span style="color: #181818;">.</span></span></b></div><div style="color: #333333;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w124-h124/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="124" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444;">Day 15</span></div></b></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-64565054152617021852024-03-13T23:43:00.002-04:002024-03-14T12:03:09.908-04:00Springlike Day in Late Winter<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #12470f; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b>Nature often presents us with a loving gift. This week, we will enjoy the warmth of springlike weather. While entering our community the scene below was so inviting that I had to stop and capture the late winter scene. I hope you experience something similar. Springlike days are an amazing opportunity to pause and reflect on life. Does your park bench, front porch, or patio await you? Take advantage of the gift nature bestows this week in Northern Virginia. Next week, there will be huge dips in temperatures just when I thought winter would wave goodbye.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65BV0fUjN-R-145IA1EQ4rT8LQIyYatbjp9muunY8lS193mAlZlS4TF7L0j62ngwB81ElvOYr-cvje4RjEORv8I8GZsB2DfE6F0AaDr3S9XN1qfi2Y4anDy1FznJdO3sLxXKvV3prWkycxSqywg2Ydg3YNE4rHZy_9KgOAubPxu6Ki0g9Qhx_A6_M5JY/s640/Springlike%20weather%20in%20late%20Winter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="485" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65BV0fUjN-R-145IA1EQ4rT8LQIyYatbjp9muunY8lS193mAlZlS4TF7L0j62ngwB81ElvOYr-cvje4RjEORv8I8GZsB2DfE6F0AaDr3S9XN1qfi2Y4anDy1FznJdO3sLxXKvV3prWkycxSqywg2Ydg3YNE4rHZy_9KgOAubPxu6Ki0g9Qhx_A6_M5JY/w421-h553/Springlike%20weather%20in%20late%20Winter.jpg" width="421" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #12470f;">springlike days</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #12470f;">bud with excitement</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #12470f;">pause and reflect</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #12470f;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">©CVarsalona</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;">, 2024</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #12470f;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w124-h124/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="124" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #12470f;">Day 13</span></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #12470f;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #12470f;">This Slice of Life post is offered to</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/13/day-13-of-the-march-solsc-sol24" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></a><span style="color: #12470f;">, 2024.</span></b></span></div></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-47521649349031891952024-03-12T23:23:00.003-04:002024-03-13T00:30:02.330-04:00Day 12 SOLSC Let's Go Shopping!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I enjoy shopping like many friends I know. Searching for seasonal clothing or decor trends brings a sense of exhilaration when I find the right item at the right price. It becomes </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">tedious or even stressful </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">when shopping for a <i>must-have item</i>. Then, you</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"> may desire to shop to make yourself feel better. This is called retail therapy. </span><a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/is-retail-therapy-real" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><i>Web</i>MD</span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"> shared a study that "found 62% of shoppers bought something to cheer themselves up. A further 28% made a purchase to celebrate something." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Last Saturday, I organized a </span></span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">Ladies Let's Go Shopping Day, </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">marking our third</span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"> </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">trip to s</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">everal Stephens City, Virginia stores. We celebrated "Spring", a welcome change from the up-and-down weather of winter months. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">Two Creekside neighbors, Cheryl and Carolyn, joined me for this fun shopping and lunch experience. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">The day started with a sky full of gray clouds that brought incessant rain. The weather did not stop us from having a wonderful day </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">traveling from one shop to the next. Even when we carefully stepped over massive puddles, the experience was full of conversation and interesting shopping. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wMC0OJBIrpqOOTSkzjTkAAIOmR3EWSt8gY-lHRjtpwHRemUiS2uf0pG1xFsYW_W7TKpnwSHzoBGbjtM7nj5-vaBukgRLA7AqmEBAKmJf8hZUZVooF8mqmHJYFheD__mfcfQ5Es0uJlyOADBtkrIVvu4FfT9bIIICK416kprj19ehyWVRcYm4OYq7l08/s1590/Let's%20Go%20Shopping!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1376" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wMC0OJBIrpqOOTSkzjTkAAIOmR3EWSt8gY-lHRjtpwHRemUiS2uf0pG1xFsYW_W7TKpnwSHzoBGbjtM7nj5-vaBukgRLA7AqmEBAKmJf8hZUZVooF8mqmHJYFheD__mfcfQ5Es0uJlyOADBtkrIVvu4FfT9bIIICK416kprj19ehyWVRcYm4OYq7l08/w358-h414/Let's%20Go%20Shopping!.png" width="358" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">The three of us enjoyed our shopping and lunch day out. The trunk was stuffed with our bags and goodies. The delicious smell of fresh bagels wafted from the trunk.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Let's Go Shopping Again</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">ladies-only shop and lunch event</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">enjoy</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">seasonal</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">experiences</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">fashion</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">enjoy</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">decor</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">sweets</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">conversations</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">enjoy</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">ladies-only event: shop and lunch</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">©CVarsalona</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;">, 2024, </span><a href="spring-like days bud with expectation nature’s loving gift"><span style="color: #e06666;">skinny poem</span></a></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVZdYPGvhWGsZqIZ3LQSy0ky9JxECjrGJG69RN7_s59u6Vh4uW44MqA9-wwqngZBcxjmqtLmMRJUevdyYkYJQWHwsgE-5F_jw4oH49ACrB6Y1TNkFRASxDNenSBg5ynJpeCkm4zngzH7Bmomx0p3kyyBn5SwoF_Mty8BeJQ3jD5mTZjfrfbwlHgCneOk/s650/Let's%20Go%20Shopping%20Trip%203:9:24.HEIC" style="clear: left; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="519" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVZdYPGvhWGsZqIZ3LQSy0ky9JxECjrGJG69RN7_s59u6Vh4uW44MqA9-wwqngZBcxjmqtLmMRJUevdyYkYJQWHwsgE-5F_jw4oH49ACrB6Y1TNkFRASxDNenSBg5ynJpeCkm4zngzH7Bmomx0p3kyyBn5SwoF_Mty8BeJQ3jD5mTZjfrfbwlHgCneOk/w319-h399/Let's%20Go%20Shopping%20Trip%203:9:24.HEIC" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><i>For some, shopping is an art: for others, it's a sport. </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;">-Pamela Klaffke</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #444444;">SPRING IS IN THE AIR </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Enjoy shopping for trends!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w124-h124/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="124" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #444444;">Day 12</span></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #7f6000;">T</span><span style="color: #444444;">his Slice of Life post is offered to</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/12/day-12-of-the-march-solsc-sol24/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></a><span style="color: #444444;">, 2024.</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both;"><br /></div></b></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-72647180418094550142024-03-11T00:04:00.013-04:002024-03-11T01:25:12.029-04:00Oscar Glam<p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #7f6000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Are you a movie fan? My family is. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #7f6000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">We eagerly awaited the 96th Academy Award Show.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #7f6000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">At 7:00pm we gathered in our Great Room to see Hollywood's tribute to the movies tonight. Glamorous gowns, dazzling Tiffany jewels, and trendy tuxedos provided an appealing opening. Each celebrity added his/her personal touch to make the evening a magical one. The award show was well-designed with dazzling presentations and exquisite sets. </b><b style="background-color: white; color: #7f6000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">The magic began and ended on time, a rarity as far as previous Oscar Award shows go. There were no glitches seen and much to discuss at the end. The host, Jimmy Kimmel, delivered humor throughout the show. Words of peace were shared by one of the Oscar winners at the end. That was a touching moment.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Below you will find my heartnote to Hollywood. What is a heartnote? Click </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/03/new-month-new-challenges.html"><span style="color: #999999;">here</span></a><span style="color: #7f6000;"> to read my blog on March 1st.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ1ayb4eRNRwsoA34HrOzO5k-3__GFhBQ9MrHR9TTp_R8_Lp35VPXzVxg_2bnMxGu4StbVr_1Sr9NWngmKjTI0GPEmgg91jc7f0XwjTCmWQWNKB_DuNoqwnfd_KyCqYAkrHbWG3PU1TP0aK4kiqfxJN5E6_fntbLI-Goic44mRBx49oo9phDaGx6AGx4/s308/Screenshot%202024-03-11%20at%2012.30.12%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="136" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ1ayb4eRNRwsoA34HrOzO5k-3__GFhBQ9MrHR9TTp_R8_Lp35VPXzVxg_2bnMxGu4StbVr_1Sr9NWngmKjTI0GPEmgg91jc7f0XwjTCmWQWNKB_DuNoqwnfd_KyCqYAkrHbWG3PU1TP0aK4kiqfxJN5E6_fntbLI-Goic44mRBx49oo9phDaGx6AGx4/w43-h95/Screenshot%202024-03-11%20at%2012.30.12%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="43" /></a></div><p></p><div><span data-canva-clipboard="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"></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #7f6000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">HEARTNOTE TO HOLLYWOOD</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fdVyeYPnOMTIZKiLQd0Qd1T2qlVdQmJu4fLcrgppf-5Ts-prelc0t-gFOnBPdeScGfyvgqpVXjjoTBdk2yehG9Syl3PXPUZuDARjXRz0_idlZQFqyuSxObBGNv1j8HyOHB8dZLaDxRQrFkXDbvbolo9BDOP-mxG0CAUmizHg0_se09G_Baaa1SwC4u8/s1794/Oscar%20Glam%203:10:24%20Draft%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1794" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fdVyeYPnOMTIZKiLQd0Qd1T2qlVdQmJu4fLcrgppf-5Ts-prelc0t-gFOnBPdeScGfyvgqpVXjjoTBdk2yehG9Syl3PXPUZuDARjXRz0_idlZQFqyuSxObBGNv1j8HyOHB8dZLaDxRQrFkXDbvbolo9BDOP-mxG0CAUmizHg0_se09G_Baaa1SwC4u8/w600-h464/Oscar%20Glam%203:10:24%20Draft%202.png" width="600" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>This Slice of Life post is offered to</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><b><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/10/day-10-of-the-march-solsc-sol24"><span style="color: #999999;">Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></a><span style="color: #7f6000;">, 2024.</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w169-h169/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="169" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Day 10</span></div></span></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-43474120825936370892024-03-09T23:56:00.011-05:002024-03-10T00:42:35.562-05:00International Women's Day 2024-Call to Action<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Atrocities still exist and women still need support to be treated equally with dignity.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Yesterday was International Women's Day, a day to "Invest in women: Accelerate progress". The day began with opening remarks by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous at the UN Official commemoration of this special day dedicated to women across the world. Her speech ended with the following thought: "Be the light that brings hope and that accelerates progress towards an equal, sustainable, and peaceful future."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>Call to Action</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpJdFWZZe5zuHC6aQxh1YlYq4hCmiXToOU49fUswcM3xVXNGHNy5N3ACWMXEu4YhPEL6uAqNS9qlOw0W4nrprtE8eDfXqJYI1yfCRwZ8wxLS1atEEpxoSo9q08b5WqLxrQhND8rbPAGcgdqRmRPHOGLvopW5pVmBbA2hDY7UHjUk17-arRFjv14cN3gI/s1426/Screenshot%202024-03-09%20at%2011.10.56%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1426" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpJdFWZZe5zuHC6aQxh1YlYq4hCmiXToOU49fUswcM3xVXNGHNy5N3ACWMXEu4YhPEL6uAqNS9qlOw0W4nrprtE8eDfXqJYI1yfCRwZ8wxLS1atEEpxoSo9q08b5WqLxrQhND8rbPAGcgdqRmRPHOGLvopW5pVmBbA2hDY7UHjUk17-arRFjv14cN3gI/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-09%20at%2011.10.56%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Ways to Help</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">invest</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">in women</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">around the globe</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">accelerate their progress toward</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">equality</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">recognize</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #351c75;">need for</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #351c75;">global gender equity</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #351c75;">that haunts many lands</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">acknowledge</span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;">©CVarsalona, draft- </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;">Elfchen poem, 2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xxx-large;">👭</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Teachers, how can you assist in "</span></span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Investing in women and accelerating progress"?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xxx-large;">👭</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">This Slice of Life post is offered to</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/09/day-9-of-the-march-solsc-sol24/"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></a> 2024<span style="color: #351c75;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #351c75; font-weight: bold;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w169-h169/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="169" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #351c75; font-weight: bold;">Day 9</div></span></span></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-18947135871646417062024-03-08T18:16:00.007-05:002024-03-10T00:20:17.247-05:00Just One of Those Days<p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #351c75;">I have been working on a new-to-me-poem format for a few weeks. Have you ever tried many times to complete something that just would not gel? Here is my dilemma. I wanted to try to compose an Abracadabra poem. Unlike the phrase used in magical tales, the wish did not come easily as a 1-2-3. </span></b></b></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #351c75;">To make an Abracadabra poem with the proper rhyme scheme I needed to take out the "r"s in the word. I was left with an abacadaba rhyme making a 9-line poem also called a Magic 9 poem. While recuperating from a sinus-respiratory infection I have spent several weeks indoors. Every week, I have tried multiple times to create this poem. I went through draft after draft and finally settled on the following digital inspiration. The vase filled with flowers became the final inspiration that pushed me forward.</span></b></b></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN1d44F2I5559DsPpzBiYqOyjEm8wuxwWuO6LUIRgCQsl0J3rZiGz_PYzN2jUWrJ-ihK1dXbREudCAPpQDyQEzT1i_cyw1jbH_AsaevMMMvjRS5T6aywfgoqImRxMfUypV2v9QNAtRta3Xtzi8QT-IE5r44HqdW4aXLRHXcEbpZcoWik1N8cVSZKsQRg/s732/Flowers%20Convey%20Wishes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="518" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN1d44F2I5559DsPpzBiYqOyjEm8wuxwWuO6LUIRgCQsl0J3rZiGz_PYzN2jUWrJ-ihK1dXbREudCAPpQDyQEzT1i_cyw1jbH_AsaevMMMvjRS5T6aywfgoqImRxMfUypV2v9QNAtRta3Xtzi8QT-IE5r44HqdW4aXLRHXcEbpZcoWik1N8cVSZKsQRg/w477-h675/Flowers%20Convey%20Wishes.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Abracadabra! Did you know that this word originally was part of Mesapotamia's Aramaic language? The phrase "avra kedabra" translates to "I create as I speak". May you enjoy the magic of this poem that I send out to my Poetry Friday and Slicer friends. Excuse the lateness of this poem but I fell asleep this afternoon after a week of trying to get back into the flow of life.</span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><b style="font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="180" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfWbeLcylnfwjlbbCP0WTuaP-K0NV8s90mJ2FOJJZDeN7meyjD4r37WIA72djc2DvgNq-szE87t0T4KjZIiJ2SqaH9xBLlz1BxHSF83EUptEFPso94tlvUUwXC4qc3N4iJjFMkKvApjx0scBTdXoytZKT5fEF9Lsd8wkCeLFBbjYDC5KiArtypvNTMas/s1600/Poetry%20Friday%20Logo.jpg" width="180" /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><span style="color: #351c75;"> i</span></b></b></b></b>s hosted this week by</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> a very talented kid-lit author, poet, and friend, Laura Purdie Salas.</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">She introduces us to her new book,<i> Oskar's Voyage </i>so</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">click </span><a href="https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/poetry-friday-is-here-and-so-is-oskar/"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #674ea7;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> to read Laura's blog post. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">There are links to bring you to other writers' posts. </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup!</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-48162" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" height="334" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?resize=60%2C60&ssl=1 60w, https://i0.wp.com/laurasalas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Can-a-tiny-chipmunk.jpg?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w" style="background-color: black; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 300; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: start;" width="334" /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">This blog post is also part of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge.</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Papyrius; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w169-h169/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="169" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Day 8</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Click </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/08/day-8-of-the-march-solsc-sol24/"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #674ea7;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> to read Slicers' Slice of Life for Day 8 of the writing challenge.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b>NOTE: I will travel to different blog posts and leave comments throughout the weekend.</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></b></b></b></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-27076044561594134582024-03-06T01:49:00.004-05:002024-03-06T22:59:32.616-05:00Heartnote for Teachers<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Teachers, are there moments in your day that you stop to pause? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Do you look into your classroom observing the children who sit before you?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"> Does each child have a different look? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">These are some of the questions I have posed to myself over the 25 years of teaching reading, 10 years of being a districtwide administrator, and 8 years of consulting with districts as a teacher of teachers, and adjunct teaching at the local college. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">In your classrooms, you see the sparkling eyes of imaginers who look out beyond yours. You notice the knowledge-seekers who sit erect and weary-eyed children whose heads droop due to lack of sleep. Some of your students are troubled; they try to mask their inner, revolving feelings. Most children listen intently, some fade out fast, and others hold on tightly to bits of information you provide. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Precious treasures surround you.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"> Eagerly, you help each student process and create as you bring joy and delight to each day. You are a welcomer of knowledge. I lover of mindful interactions and an encourager who leads students to interact peacefully with each other. You mastermind these</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"> moments that bring students together and foster interesting pathways to learning. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">I send a heartnote of gratitude to each facilitator of learning. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQRx4saD7sHEdRfgurCIGJM8QWsiTRYIebTERHn0RDs-G2mchXwmnpSpb0OA4oFsjNlsMbemYSbVVeomPsl-HWw_5raXTlze9uw8ImU0yf3yZZE6uM47FdosrA-oRslFCUpRlLysZPKT9QUl0qMo3SyfQV1UrLgoD6cTtDridBADZleT7_8YbxZa2chA/s700/HEARTNOTE%20To%20Teachers.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="700" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQRx4saD7sHEdRfgurCIGJM8QWsiTRYIebTERHn0RDs-G2mchXwmnpSpb0OA4oFsjNlsMbemYSbVVeomPsl-HWw_5raXTlze9uw8ImU0yf3yZZE6uM47FdosrA-oRslFCUpRlLysZPKT9QUl0qMo3SyfQV1UrLgoD6cTtDridBADZleT7_8YbxZa2chA/w452-h350/HEARTNOTE%20To%20Teachers.png" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">This was supposed to be Day 5's Slice of Life but time passed quickly.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Oops, the magic deadline hour dinged as I was almost at the end of the post.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/06/day6-sol24/"><span style="color: #76a5af;">Two Writing Teachers</span></a>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #500808; font-size: 18px;"><b><u>Day 6</u></b></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV42F9x-rzmXMooGRFOl-rbclQ-YT-yGRhwE_uSpSmLiAeDiVjqBJ3hSFxZhdX7yxMTdDaUDWDKcLc3Sk7iY2YMAm7DNcrlnC7ObZnwa1FApGLuePU05m1GGUZv0s7mJa26wxdEwvzWEo2HPHaQPk7T_JaH0DOLLcdQhUkwOj4StDHRLC7TNlpWfDSkp0/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #500808;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV42F9x-rzmXMooGRFOl-rbclQ-YT-yGRhwE_uSpSmLiAeDiVjqBJ3hSFxZhdX7yxMTdDaUDWDKcLc3Sk7iY2YMAm7DNcrlnC7ObZnwa1FApGLuePU05m1GGUZv0s7mJa26wxdEwvzWEo2HPHaQPk7T_JaH0DOLLcdQhUkwOj4StDHRLC7TNlpWfDSkp0/s1600/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" width="137" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #500808;">2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #500808;">Carol Varsalona, 10-year Slicer</span></span></div></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-10470019549933037232024-03-05T22:54:00.502-05:002024-03-07T21:25:02.494-05:00Gathering Goodness<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19 px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">As I write my heartnote for today, I contemplate the theme for this month's Spiritual Journey theme, Gathering Goodness. Our host is </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2024/03/sol-731-and-sjt-gathering-goodness.html?sc=1709849158015#c884336118761055360"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Ramona Behnke</span></a><span style="color: #444444;">, a reader, writer, slicer, and friend. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Today's slice of life is a reflective one. How can I gather goodness? Will I be observant and see life through earth's small beauties? Will I feel a gentle wind passing through the air en route to spring? Will I be grateful no matter what life brings to me? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">After leaving our clubhouse for a meeting, I noticed an ordinary scene. I paused to soak in the goodness of nature. A tree spreading out its limbs and an erect lamppost stood against a springlike sky. They were guide posts persuading me to look deeper. I noticed billowy clouds peeking behind the tree, the brilliance of late winter sky, and realized that something as simple as this scene could bring goodness. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">Dear </span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">Spiritual Journey and Slice of Life Friends</span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">I invite you to gather goodness as I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gZBU0HP6qpvhfuGbnu39evULeTMEwLNCuCXqXmSod8R0e1il6FH5kNOy_9TMRPXEJbYdrOtZYsnHe_aEGTm7WQ6qW1Q38-kfYy8xvgcbIEqgRsb3atYQACdRW_joW7lQz2MDRqorG7yJxKGoUpyGRPV7ZE6HuDNsIn_62LrAcXKJEL3kzWeAHGhsbKA/s1388/Gathering%20Goodnes%20(March%202024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="928" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gZBU0HP6qpvhfuGbnu39evULeTMEwLNCuCXqXmSod8R0e1il6FH5kNOy_9TMRPXEJbYdrOtZYsnHe_aEGTm7WQ6qW1Q38-kfYy8xvgcbIEqgRsb3atYQACdRW_joW7lQz2MDRqorG7yJxKGoUpyGRPV7ZE6HuDNsIn_62LrAcXKJEL3kzWeAHGhsbKA/w308-h461/Gathering%20Goodnes%20(March%202024.png" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos of Regency at Creekside, Northern Virginia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">💖</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVARzMKONDiz-AkFLNAFaNYhSX9zZArjJS9pefRI0rFVj_cZBUoIgZlO8_I37RD5TPsrcKPu5h6TuHiqUXiGjFtOpc8Hi5qy2XszwMJuuoE_ghY336037FN9U5YwEMvh4MYgBaXiwSNxwbyhuOd3UNquWa5tue5h64TNCTaL0Iw5YjmEcnVqaqpZAgHqY/s600/Gather%20in%20Grace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="426" height="756" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVARzMKONDiz-AkFLNAFaNYhSX9zZArjJS9pefRI0rFVj_cZBUoIgZlO8_I37RD5TPsrcKPu5h6TuHiqUXiGjFtOpc8Hi5qy2XszwMJuuoE_ghY336037FN9U5YwEMvh4MYgBaXiwSNxwbyhuOd3UNquWa5tue5h64TNCTaL0Iw5YjmEcnVqaqpZAgHqY/w537-h756/Gather%20in%20Grace.jpg" width="537" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>💖</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">When I think of the word, goodness, I see the image of Mother Teresa. Imagine the humbleness of this saint who said: <i>" I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world." </i>To<i> </i>me, this inspirational quote is full of goodness.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #363e41; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineZ0k5Wp_8M4wl9Cyv8jZhyphenhyphendM1KtYM4S5GcM7Es4dDfJwTBW69Ix8MaqIuF6LH1dhZBHdQHiDwDsnLH3gZku9UifSWul97_T0Tdf_Wj0b6HIp-STht7zKifsFqmTx_CAYdzdhNsAHlxyAncBg_UozCqFrNy1fMMxsvAgyiN13fWIQtSZqvIEJqOlQPd2S/w200-h200/spiritual%20journey%202024.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #363e41; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><a href="https://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2024/03/sol-731-and-sjt-gathering-goodness.html?sc=1709849158015#c884336118761055360" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Ramona Behnke</span></a>, host </span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div><p><span><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #363e41; font-family: Papyrius; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">I hope you take a walk with me. Let's visit the websites of Spiritual Journey</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"> bloggers and Slice of Life slicers who bring their own brand of goodness to the penned page.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #363e41; font-family: Papyrius; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Papyrius; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #363e41; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihdvUZsPjHydsYgCH3nemWWlkfX_V0QrS-bRK7mhpv4Klf7ioyhPCFOysV3O-nefr9GX-9PZZtrul2f4XxdvpXtpqCzoCfTF5tD4NItxLGI456aDnAPqnEJ5Bf3a9kNLecqVDffguDUKnr_T49iGjalfnIL5FAT76oVwEly7JRdCnE-9B5yl74AqIziM/w169-h169/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" width="169" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/07/day-7-of-the-march-solsc-sol24"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Two Writing Teachers</span></a><span style="color: #363e41;">, Day 7</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #363e41; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">10-year Slicer at Two Writing Teachers</span></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-30467382908698245322024-03-04T23:03:00.004-05:002024-03-04T23:23:54.569-05:00Swimming Glee<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/03/new-month-new-challenges.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Heartnote</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"> for Family Swimmers</span></span></h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2xVXPOVz6fUZwHdVUO5R71qLNOci-sT5NLF1Luph471ei-b-IlYczULhlsKdsWxSDVvKoVT1TfPdkvELlCl0fIfCRwGFUT0_XWyCpudiF2eSIKtuYMs9NPXLf03w3HRlEfT0J7iM0ql3x6IxWCRKd2V1fsysIIXsHqzyf2eCXsJS9zdRbakDU5GOuCQ/s320/Swimming%20Glee.jpg" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Swimming Glee</span></h3><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>gathering</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">family relaxes</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">smiles float while</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">soothing water swirls surround</span></span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">togetherness</span></span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">©CVarsalona, March 2024</span></span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Elfchen poem</span></b></b></b></b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">On a Sunday, the community indoor pool is quiet. No one but the lifeguard is there. The oldest grandgirl jumps in the water without fear, while the middle child has trepidations without her water floaty. We make light of the missing floating to coax her into the pool. Finally, she sees how much fun everyone is having. Grandpa entices her to use the noodle to take a ride around the pool with him. He gently helps her float along. Her sister who is already on the swim team at age six is showing her ability to swim across the pool and play water basketball. Besides the wonder of a spring-like day that shines through the glassed swimming pool, the smiles on the family's faces make the day even more delightful. My camera clicks away as a memento of togetherness. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><i><b>Slice of Life</b></i><b> thought: Grandparent sitting has its perks!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The family gathering in the pool was the perfect setting to join the Slice of Life Sunday Zoom conversation with </span><a href="https://raisealithuman.wordpress.com/about/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Stacey Shubitz</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"> and </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/author/bets577/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Betsy Hubbard</span></a>. <span style="color: #0b5394;">The event was enjoyable and it is always delightful to meet up with slicer friends whether they are familiar or new to the Two Writing Teachers community. Thank you, Stacey and Betsy.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/04/day4-sol24/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Two Writing Teachers</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b>Day 4</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV42F9x-rzmXMooGRFOl-rbclQ-YT-yGRhwE_uSpSmLiAeDiVjqBJ3hSFxZhdX7yxMTdDaUDWDKcLc3Sk7iY2YMAm7DNcrlnC7ObZnwa1FApGLuePU05m1GGUZv0s7mJa26wxdEwvzWEo2HPHaQPk7T_JaH0DOLLcdQhUkwOj4StDHRLC7TNlpWfDSkp0/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV42F9x-rzmXMooGRFOl-rbclQ-YT-yGRhwE_uSpSmLiAeDiVjqBJ3hSFxZhdX7yxMTdDaUDWDKcLc3Sk7iY2YMAm7DNcrlnC7ObZnwa1FApGLuePU05m1GGUZv0s7mJa26wxdEwvzWEo2HPHaQPk7T_JaH0DOLLcdQhUkwOj4StDHRLC7TNlpWfDSkp0/s1600/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" width="137" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">2024</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Carol Varsalona, 10-year Slicer</span></b></div></div></div><p></p>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-33874952616284827542024-03-01T02:32:00.008-05:002024-03-04T23:26:02.428-05:00New Month, New Challenges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>March is here once again. The ground hog's prediction for spring to come early is definitely coming true in Northern Virginia. The cherry blossom peak time for showcasing the white and pink bouquet of colors starts on March 23rd. Of course, this doesn't quite connect with our community's Potomac cruise to see the cherry blossoms on April 4th. So we won't see what nature offers in prime time but I will have a chance to take photos and enjoy the beauty of a lazy cruise ride and lunch. </b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span><span><b><span style="color: #333333;">As I said last Tuesday in my </span><a href="at what will be during March's slice of life spree"><span style="color: #45818e;">Sneak Peek blog post</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">, "It's</span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #0c343d;"> time to take a peek at what will be during March's slice of life spree." But before I do that, I </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/01/a-winter-pause.html"><span style="color: #38761d;">pause</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;"> to step back to 2015 when I signed up for the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge. I am sure that you will get the picture of what happened during March back then. Yes, it was heavily snowing on Long Island, NY where I used to live. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimm-yD8DlcjkU3EBSZ77WHPB5cZAWPbfQHRCecSUi8cDyj3MBpHWhoractX7s7jVqPVy4XlK_aHhlxdw29vMLM6s7aXqC2IjU0W-s1wDUKOi-TTMsmfZZlVXQ0BIYkG7ffOHkDHS9k6A/s1600/Breathe+in+fresh+air.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimm-yD8DlcjkU3EBSZ77WHPB5cZAWPbfQHRCecSUi8cDyj3MBpHWhoractX7s7jVqPVy4XlK_aHhlxdw29vMLM6s7aXqC2IjU0W-s1wDUKOi-TTMsmfZZlVXQ0BIYkG7ffOHkDHS9k6A/s1600/Breathe+in+fresh+air.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/03/story-to-be-told.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Story to Be Told - 2016</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0c343d; text-align: justify;"><span style="clear: right; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzhT4M_Wskr3iyTdGnQubDCxchrtoxckBkTgvuwWHgpqcz3bN39MomDBV5CX9QmQlDYUprqEi_wEvzDfeWB4-cKNztFmGkwHEPKsc7gOb5ZF_Y33ZSZiDtz0hB_G_Vd60G6bu7QtUlvy4/s1600/March+-+In+Like+a+Lion.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-like-lion-slice-of-life-challenge.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">2015</span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;">One goal this March will be to look into the past while being in the present. Photos and digital designs will inspire me to write heartnotes to nature, family, and friends. In case, you missed my ramblings about heartnotes click </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/02/welcome-to-pre-valentine-poetry-friday.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">. In my sneak peek post, the last stanza of my poem stated that I would be ready to share my theme today. Heartnotes it is! There will be small deliveries from my heart to my readership each day that I write. You will find memes, nature photos, digital designs, and perhaps more family photos. All will be wrapped in poetry as a prelude to National Poetry Month in April. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;">What is a heartnote? See the above package and imagine this.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">↓</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1028" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifujMxwSnV-V_6fmWWrV5fnbnUHwCFUfIXAnM1J49gUugwi3uTJ0hX2bBqgkLggTOPyhaUsQnq2IcDAuZYawYjqJRk4P9Nh-Pq_icyDOzf0Om_vZQTQE_9uS8Q68qBde8KorAHgsNiUsEW83BZgJPvJ4KEd4eimhpSm6c_ryv4ByHXofdUDa3KNtPRSbc/w353-h357/Heartnotes%20Poem.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" width="353" /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: right;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Fly across an indigo sky with me this March in search of mystical beauty or take a nature walk as I snap photos. Whatever delight there is outdoors this month, I desire to capture it. This past month, I spent most of my time indoors recuperating from a respiratory/sinus infection that does not want to remove itself from me. Perhaps, you will create your own heartnote and send it to me to showcase. We'll see what nature and life will offer. My notebook is ready.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;">📓</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Now, it is time to kiss the stars goodnight. I thank Laura Shovan for her fun 12th Annual February Poetry Project that she hosted. While I did not feel up to writing each day, I added several new drafts to my notebook. The <i>game was on</i> and all the players brought their best game plan in the form of a poem to Facebook. You probably guessed that the theme was about games. Each day, prompts were posted by different poets, and poems were created by each member. On my day of posting a prompt, I shared this. "Your mission today, should you choose to play, has to do with childhood playtime. Think back to the era when you were a child." I had fun that day reading all the poems that were written. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Here is one poem that I never had a chance to unveil. It was based on a memory of a college friend who did travel to Woodstock and The Who's famous hit song, <i>The Pinball Wizard</i>. I found out that The Who were at Woodstock singing in 1969. Years later, I saw the Tommy rock musical on Broadway with friends. This is what I created about The Who at Woodstock.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6OxuGP8__FdBBRyMfoQRTsThmz7jX1of2bBG4odTja5pvV6y0e3JKDbA_T57rDI-ukWgaogD__9sIurwrS5OFF4T4vkMzZwGlXTZ3gwv-aVzi_k7UoYZlQQaOZxQbHg1k3ohUM1sPjJH4u6KR1PlsflSp77cISeEHhp64dm8DZHvbCTJjNkpr6vx_pU/s1280/Screenshot%202024-03-01%20at%2012.41.30%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="472" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6OxuGP8__FdBBRyMfoQRTsThmz7jX1of2bBG4odTja5pvV6y0e3JKDbA_T57rDI-ukWgaogD__9sIurwrS5OFF4T4vkMzZwGlXTZ3gwv-aVzi_k7UoYZlQQaOZxQbHg1k3ohUM1sPjJH4u6KR1PlsflSp77cISeEHhp64dm8DZHvbCTJjNkpr6vx_pU/w236-h556/Screenshot%202024-03-01%20at%2012.41.30%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">↓</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(230, 230, 230); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6PuyxXdOrqGPNe-6TrL99JlfzKgS6zKfCqcR9yX5k46xWJx4ut7iADdZIWP3hYTUFY10CRpFVhsFtnyy7szhbTgKFVq8b0gp6vjrmRgpwZnZVa4tDh1D-uT_pL7tUEjW91Atd6uky9cFmOBkaqLYS8nOshQm7BX1jWcFAyqUFuBbKs0Hw4OCt2f8Nlpg" style="color: #6a6a6a; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6PuyxXdOrqGPNe-6TrL99JlfzKgS6zKfCqcR9yX5k46xWJx4ut7iADdZIWP3hYTUFY10CRpFVhsFtnyy7szhbTgKFVq8b0gp6vjrmRgpwZnZVa4tDh1D-uT_pL7tUEjW91Atd6uky9cFmOBkaqLYS8nOshQm7BX1jWcFAyqUFuBbKs0Hw4OCt2f8Nlpg=w143-h143" style="background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box transparent; border: medium; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="143" /></span></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y9kelKMwO1LhoasutHh7XArERq6s3MdTtPWwXEIlinU6VS7Z4_gE10lbkJjFtrHZC2NAWOU7sIlHG-Z_DmZKVKvW2PjF6Qc0Bww4cIB9k6z8MQuvzECNbI9TWsHTH6eVqJYCxJ23P9P_k2a-Eap3v35Gn1g62DVoeTD4CvqKvDia6H9ASxRp1CfJydU/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y9kelKMwO1LhoasutHh7XArERq6s3MdTtPWwXEIlinU6VS7Z4_gE10lbkJjFtrHZC2NAWOU7sIlHG-Z_DmZKVKvW2PjF6Qc0Bww4cIB9k6z8MQuvzECNbI9TWsHTH6eVqJYCxJ23P9P_k2a-Eap3v35Gn1g62DVoeTD4CvqKvDia6H9ASxRp1CfJydU/w137-h137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" width="137" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /></b><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I am celebrating the beginning of the March Two Writing Teachers</span></b><b style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"> Slice of Life Challenge and the </span></b><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by my dear, long-distance friend, Linda Baie. Linda is sharing her acrostic poem, "Choice". Click </span><a href="https://www.teacherdance.org/2024/02/poetry-friday-make-choice.html?sc=1709271029155#c6392722866961348397"><span style="color: #134f5c;">here</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;"> to read her acrostic poem that features questions for us to ponder. Then hop over to the </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/03/01/day1-sol24"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Two Writing Teachers' community website</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;"> for opening posts from around the globe. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">I look forward to reading blog posts throughout the weekend. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">-Carol Varsalona, 10-year Slicer, Poet</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Happy March 2024!</span></b></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-40152046836572939432024-02-28T00:56:00.015-05:002024-02-28T01:47:30.860-05:00Sneak Peek of March's Slice of Life Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>March is here once again and I hope the groundhog's prediction is correct. It wasn't just one groundhog but many in the Eastern section of the USA that announced spring will be early? </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Each March, I participate in the Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge by </span><i style="color: #0c343d;">Two Writing Teachers.</i><span><span style="color: #0c343d;"> This marks the 17th year that the writing challenge has been in existence. The challenge provides slicers from around the globe the space to reflect, write, and meet up with colleagues. Find out more about this fun-filled daily challenge during March</span><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/02/20/soltues022024/"><span style="color: #45818e;">here</span></a></b><span style="color: #0c343d;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>Time to Write</b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>take a peek</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>at what will be</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>during March's</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>slice of life spree</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>each writer will</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>pen a post</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>stretching words</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>that can evoke</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>emotions,</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>happenings,</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>successes, or</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>gatherings</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>I am ready</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>to share my theme -</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>come back next week</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>you'll see more memes</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>©CVarsalona, 2024</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRiQVumA7Qmq6aD3cznEo4CWlcTLE_Cnn1_1J9zjCxAH7K6TMJKQGCIK9E40_Yap971yBWWYGGZtws6YblWBHxTqY8PN-CW8x7mr1bSmovOiv3e0394KjLvGWF88wlbq6hNcqsAUG4FH28vG9Rvv9wgEbqkc_TbMEZ9A5xgwBvhqj7bO2_z0-MoWw8R0/s563/Little%20Lila%20Meme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="563" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRiQVumA7Qmq6aD3cznEo4CWlcTLE_Cnn1_1J9zjCxAH7K6TMJKQGCIK9E40_Yap971yBWWYGGZtws6YblWBHxTqY8PN-CW8x7mr1bSmovOiv3e0394KjLvGWF88wlbq6hNcqsAUG4FH28vG9Rvv9wgEbqkc_TbMEZ9A5xgwBvhqj7bO2_z0-MoWw8R0/w375-h299/Little%20Lila%20Meme.jpg" width="375" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #0c343d;">As Baby Lila is almost ready to embark on her first crawl, I crawled into a writing moment with this sneak preview poem for the February 27, 2029, </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/02/27/soltues022724/"><span style="color: #134f5c;">17th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge</span></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">.</span></span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSMTKjsmbsNr4eXdC1ksrRYbgA2kMsOw7pwdiCokXFqznbpw3Iqzqa71uf52xV77ea9hX8kKqyf1Ic3QdFuJdQXY1C0wigfuaz_JyF0YVjWQOhonBiQFrU3dyIDn8iemDnsLYMK8AtKldJN3xs1NbgFB8RZOkYXD0V7dr1iqGerM_5C3hG2UlokxTizI/s774/Screenshot%202024-02-28%20at%2012.15.30%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="774" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSMTKjsmbsNr4eXdC1ksrRYbgA2kMsOw7pwdiCokXFqznbpw3Iqzqa71uf52xV77ea9hX8kKqyf1Ic3QdFuJdQXY1C0wigfuaz_JyF0YVjWQOhonBiQFrU3dyIDn8iemDnsLYMK8AtKldJN3xs1NbgFB8RZOkYXD0V7dr1iqGerM_5C3hG2UlokxTizI/w168-h168/Screenshot%202024-02-28%20at%2012.15.30%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="168" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Happy Slicing to my Slicer friends and thank you to my readers for your support and comments.</span></b></b></b></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-68334929108763775332024-02-23T01:07:00.010-05:002024-02-23T01:46:42.575-05:00Loveuary's Emotional Ties<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8785333514048101515" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 626px;"><p style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">As one of the #PoetryPals, I'm joining the Poetry Sisters, </span></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span justify="" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://tanitasdavis.com/wp/" style="color: #4c4c4c; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Tanita</span></a></span></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span justify="" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">,</span></span></span> </span><a href="https://laurasalas.com/blog/" style="color: #e06666; text-decoration-line: none;">Laura</a><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">,</span></span></span> </span><a href="https://ayearofreading.org/" style="color: #4c4c4c; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Mary Lee</span></a><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">,</span></span></span> </span><a href="https://lizgartonscanlon.com/blog/" style="color: #e06666; text-decoration-line: none;">Liz</a><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">,</span></span></span> </span><a href="https://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/" style="color: #e06666; text-decoration-line: none;">Sara</a><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">,</span></span></span> </span><a href="https://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/" style="color: #e06666; text-decoration-line: none;">Tricia</a><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #500808; font-size: 18px;">, </span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;">and</span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span><a href="https://www.kellyramsdell.com/blog" style="color: #e06666; text-decoration-line: none;">Kelly</a><span style="color: #990000;">,</span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: 18px;">for their February challenge.</span></span></span></p><p style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #500808;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">This month the Poetry Sisters invited all writers to create epistolary poetry in the form of a love poem. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">Epistolary poems are, quite literally, </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 20px; text-align: left;">poems that read as letters</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 20px; text-align: left;">. As poems of direct address, they can be intimate and colloquial or formal and measured (<i>Academy of American Poets</i>).</span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #500808;"> I decided to create a small bank of </span><i><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/02/welcome-to-poetry-friday-be-my-valentine.html" style="color: #4c4c4c; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e06666;">heartnotes</span></a> </i>(aka valentines)<span style="color: #500808;"> that tugged at my heartstrings and led me in different directions. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #500808;">I see love through my family as they share precious life moments, smiles, laughter, and joy. Ordinary moments bring us together to discover what love is. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Love's Emotional Ties</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></i></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><u>This poem is dedicated to my 2nd grandgirl who has a bright smile</u>. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: 18px;"><b>Childlove is the beginning of lasting friendships!</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBivBpPy5hG1sZgdocFMpSkQBIOMAqdGTCOoJoR8ExULRLErzlz-oUjrIgsVYMVOMQK0aC32i7LCPminczpdGpGzvd_6yNM7UodzU7ZNlT9eaxHdcuWJdkwHJvWniCq_9VwL5s5jiM1YullhIu8Ri-LcrcjMS8PMww2a37LevuVoF9YnBDNKBfB25-c/s753/Friendship%20Is.jpg" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="753" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBivBpPy5hG1sZgdocFMpSkQBIOMAqdGTCOoJoR8ExULRLErzlz-oUjrIgsVYMVOMQK0aC32i7LCPminczpdGpGzvd_6yNM7UodzU7ZNlT9eaxHdcuWJdkwHJvWniCq_9VwL5s5jiM1YullhIu8Ri-LcrcjMS8PMww2a37LevuVoF9YnBDNKBfB25-c/w500-h353/Friendship%20Is.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #660000;">small poem</span></i></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">It is my hope that this little 4-year-old miss will grow in love to bring</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">continuous sunshine to those around her.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">The poem below shares the love of little sisters who happen to be my grandgirls.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AUL-so0EKAxvx3kH0LI8w-EbdTX1nP2mWWZABav9XYpAQr43gSEDduaTI8euUMNixXUQifO8DTztlPkOZt-a0RJzypfOkiNPDLF92zW9rGPZQ1paFmntup8n9Ml3ssJbvKv8J-byfYJUloIqGbxlNfHzgn4cnE81x9xK2UlGCMHwznpqlLdlYSM688I/s786/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20at%2010.20.51%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="786" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AUL-so0EKAxvx3kH0LI8w-EbdTX1nP2mWWZABav9XYpAQr43gSEDduaTI8euUMNixXUQifO8DTztlPkOZt-a0RJzypfOkiNPDLF92zW9rGPZQ1paFmntup8n9Ml3ssJbvKv8J-byfYJUloIqGbxlNfHzgn4cnE81x9xK2UlGCMHwznpqlLdlYSM688I/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20at%2010.20.51%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">childlove </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">priceless treasure</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">like glistening shells</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: 18px;"><b>swishing in ocean waves</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">keepsakes </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #660000;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></i></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #660000;">Elfchen poem</span></i></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #333333; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">Dear Me,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">There have been six and a half years of being</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">a Grandma like my mother and Nonnie.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">What have you learned?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">There is a special love </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">seated deep inside a heart.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">It is a thumping, wondrous love</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">that offers more </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">sweetness than chocolate and</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">warmth on cold winter days.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">It is an intangible love</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">that melts hearts,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">mends broken wings,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">and floats in imaginative minds.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">It is the purring of a gentle kitten,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">the whoosh of baby's sleeptoy,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">and the softness of a furry blanket.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">It is the God-given gift</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">to Grandmothers who</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">cherish family life.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;"><i>Love, Me</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b style="color: black;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></b></b></b></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b style="color: black;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">epistolary poem, #PoetryPals</span></b></b></b></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>💖</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">⇣</span></b></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #444444; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Grandma Love Is...</span></h3><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">gracefilled</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">a gift</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">of enduring love</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: 18px;"><b>fountain of perpetual devotion</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #660000;">forever </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Elfchen poem</span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lXzL0yncoJrwQZW_p5PpgfK5Fy3UiQkTEnTVoEhnJ1XqN64tcZIyR1na7sTOETQ6gxCJ55ZLbXpuSRxZdh5JDeRJG9bZgB6F7zJiWcgE1B_tiZWirTHt8TRa0jkHD5KeIRgZUjxExd30XgfXdbB5Z7cMYUS8P7U8-cmrIp2AZhyphenhyphenLjNbUBUdLcEqRbWk/s1014/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20at%2011.15.56%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lXzL0yncoJrwQZW_p5PpgfK5Fy3UiQkTEnTVoEhnJ1XqN64tcZIyR1na7sTOETQ6gxCJ55ZLbXpuSRxZdh5JDeRJG9bZgB6F7zJiWcgE1B_tiZWirTHt8TRa0jkHD5KeIRgZUjxExd30XgfXdbB5Z7cMYUS8P7U8-cmrIp2AZhyphenhyphenLjNbUBUdLcEqRbWk/w142-h180/Screenshot%202024-02-22%20at%2011.15.56%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="142" /></a></div></span><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Look, at me!</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">I love this french fry,</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Mommy gave me.</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Yummy in my tummy!</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Do you love food</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">As much as I do!</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Meme Poem, Created by Grandma,</span></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH76YjWsMDHoOiAWVSqAtDpvKzxOl6PKWpT0-IUo6Gw1kNlGeRNqIC19t2JfxJR4OjteuR6L8cB3vazRsAiS218cxB2VmTp0KpoQlJRVP-D2KfP_IpanRpNG3A3CZPBZhpaMChlO8KdGdEdvAlFQ4JXoAbPtQgHz7MAzjNJubiYktHomxICQ0IbvsChM/s2902/IMG_4996.HEIC" style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="2902" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH76YjWsMDHoOiAWVSqAtDpvKzxOl6PKWpT0-IUo6Gw1kNlGeRNqIC19t2JfxJR4OjteuR6L8cB3vazRsAiS218cxB2VmTp0KpoQlJRVP-D2KfP_IpanRpNG3A3CZPBZhpaMChlO8KdGdEdvAlFQ4JXoAbPtQgHz7MAzjNJubiYktHomxICQ0IbvsChM/w201-h201/IMG_4996.HEIC" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="201" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">May love surround you and your family.</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjGLdLsVgBAbsSdeSeNlHe_4M_VrXofYQG8xKSyguwt5ZJfr1LBCBy8hPJVR07wZsK4O-r1KGHQfxGAXhI-2SS-AgPXF8_1JPbX3AyvJUvAm5j3rBTjMmVxy4d9QGbDDR-i2MPk5zpoz1OqfGhiUGhbH8ZdR4yDnCuu2w8CrHi4wZejh-9GNP32UAfFE/s347/PF%20Loveuary%20Logo.jpeg" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="347" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjGLdLsVgBAbsSdeSeNlHe_4M_VrXofYQG8xKSyguwt5ZJfr1LBCBy8hPJVR07wZsK4O-r1KGHQfxGAXhI-2SS-AgPXF8_1JPbX3AyvJUvAm5j3rBTjMmVxy4d9QGbDDR-i2MPk5zpoz1OqfGhiUGhbH8ZdR4yDnCuu2w8CrHi4wZejh-9GNP32UAfFE/w248-h179/PF%20Loveuary%20Logo.jpeg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b style="color: black;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Is at</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b style="color: black;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">Tabatha Yeatts blog,</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black;">"</span><a href="https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/" style="color: #4c4c4c; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #e06666;">The Opposite of Indifference</span></a><span style="color: black;">" where </span></b></b></b></b></b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660000;">she is</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black;"> "Open for Poetry Business".</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black;">Tabatha has a wonderful story poem about Scheherazade. Check it out.</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">❤</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;">💘</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-90576623987620815322024-02-08T21:49:00.005-05:002024-02-08T22:39:52.634-05:00Welcome to the Pre-Valentine Poetry Friday Roundup<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">💗</span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></b><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">💗</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-72c4da8d-7fff-a04a-bb84-10a3a44c00c8"><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Great Vibes", cursive; font-size: 32pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Welcome to the </span><span style="font-family: "Great Vibes", cursive; font-size: 32pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Poetry Friday Roundup</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">💗</span><b style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></b><b style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">💗</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">As your host today, I invite you to</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/01/spiritual-journey-one-word-2024.html"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">pause</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> and share the poetic goodness of the Poetry Friday community whose poets are always in harmony with one another. During these<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b></b></b><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;">pre-Valentine days, let's remind ourselves to follow our hearts. </b></b></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><br /></b></b></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;">"It (the heart) knows the way. Run in that direction." -Rumi</b></b></b><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"> </b></b></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg1a5yq40_QdIiRdIb-pRjxtOGyjXn5l9M0G-QutEKc5NWD-kdV1-T27fBqiMzYkuAwtbMZ7uYcKvwK4m2k-gp2w1_EAwhA8WYWPGubGj84DZRf10GdEoy1M0FuUNfDTemCsnZNZCSKDe6FHkUryEiRTH15RshCr20LORyOCiPxOtrdrgRuStqUJKenM/s1272/Winter%20Valentine.jpg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1272" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg1a5yq40_QdIiRdIb-pRjxtOGyjXn5l9M0G-QutEKc5NWD-kdV1-T27fBqiMzYkuAwtbMZ7uYcKvwK4m2k-gp2w1_EAwhA8WYWPGubGj84DZRf10GdEoy1M0FuUNfDTemCsnZNZCSKDe6FHkUryEiRTH15RshCr20LORyOCiPxOtrdrgRuStqUJKenM/w440-h324/Winter%20Valentine.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">This winter, many beautiful New Year Poetry Postcards have been sent by poet friends thanks to the endeavors of </b></b><b style="background-color: white; color: black;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/blog/category/new-year-postcards"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Jone Rush MacCulloch</span></a></b></b></b><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">. Each time a postcard was delivered, my day was brightened. </b></b></b></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: var(--global-md-spacing); margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b></b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdK7X_gpRJ8VWLrBjOI08ERnd4Kou5fh9RictFl7H0nayN9R3nzlhS2pURu2sTMx-RfhLVTUNlPB9sEX3dp3VrKWaMyTtG6f09lYbI4ZYqIqi5YTzOZ8cwrl7kbv6LiegL25fXgiXDulUgki6hkt-iC-NQXfWu3SP3Fi2EH2j2bOBYoo7OfVd8UzTk7M/s1000/Patricia,%20Linda,%20Tabatha,%20Gail.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1000" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdK7X_gpRJ8VWLrBjOI08ERnd4Kou5fh9RictFl7H0nayN9R3nzlhS2pURu2sTMx-RfhLVTUNlPB9sEX3dp3VrKWaMyTtG6f09lYbI4ZYqIqi5YTzOZ8cwrl7kbv6LiegL25fXgiXDulUgki6hkt-iC-NQXfWu3SP3Fi2EH2j2bOBYoo7OfVd8UzTk7M/w650-h476/Patricia,%20Linda,%20Tabatha,%20Gail.jpeg" width="650" /></a></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5eyTbcUZ5zF0QfWuBIPz5hgiAPc7mGaFyvvkK5ASDDDipvphfrxpyXqtAcIhI_zELGFfLtXbBy05mIBZVh3PfjqgcLpbNJoR8un-7wbkhv7ubJ4-Yi85qJ8GMA_HWQjHEdnm5YfHStVqIQJrvjZXVPXLQRSmM5N_7hyLEEz3Iv13XCd1iXAPEXdrE5k/s750/Joyce,%20Mary%20Lee,%20Carol%20L,%20Mary%20Lee.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5eyTbcUZ5zF0QfWuBIPz5hgiAPc7mGaFyvvkK5ASDDDipvphfrxpyXqtAcIhI_zELGFfLtXbBy05mIBZVh3PfjqgcLpbNJoR8un-7wbkhv7ubJ4-Yi85qJ8GMA_HWQjHEdnm5YfHStVqIQJrvjZXVPXLQRSmM5N_7hyLEEz3Iv13XCd1iXAPEXdrE5k/s750/Joyce,%20Mary%20Lee,%20Carol%20L,%20Mary%20Lee.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="487" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5eyTbcUZ5zF0QfWuBIPz5hgiAPc7mGaFyvvkK5ASDDDipvphfrxpyXqtAcIhI_zELGFfLtXbBy05mIBZVh3PfjqgcLpbNJoR8un-7wbkhv7ubJ4-Yi85qJ8GMA_HWQjHEdnm5YfHStVqIQJrvjZXVPXLQRSmM5N_7hyLEEz3Iv13XCd1iXAPEXdrE5k/w649-h487/Joyce,%20Mary%20Lee,%20Carol%20L,%20Mary%20Lee.jpeg" width="649" /></a></div>Patricia Franz, Linda Baie, Tabatha Yeatts, Gail Aldous </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><b>Mary Lee Hahn, Joyce Uglow, Carol Labuzzetta, Linda Mitchell</b></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZZlaaoM1tvbff7P-pKGxFepznJR97XCageNx6ZOR8dWnn_tE5c4LhzHxxgfwPSdBzaVrJOFxlB5t-XheArem7xvv4NwQ-uMGHsoBgB_D84PVD9cQSC5YtxONqMCaw8Y27cnCtRXY-bkMKj8RECpShlWtnmPfwabLRQqkJvPY_2Eyj2H0ldfl8IWICv8/s957/Michelle%20Kogan,%20Marcie%20Flinchum%20Atkins,%20Molly%20Hogan,%20sticker%20from%20Margaret%20Simon.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="800" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZZlaaoM1tvbff7P-pKGxFepznJR97XCageNx6ZOR8dWnn_tE5c4LhzHxxgfwPSdBzaVrJOFxlB5t-XheArem7xvv4NwQ-uMGHsoBgB_D84PVD9cQSC5YtxONqMCaw8Y27cnCtRXY-bkMKj8RECpShlWtnmPfwabLRQqkJvPY_2Eyj2H0ldfl8IWICv8/w659-h577/Michelle%20Kogan,%20Marcie%20Flinchum%20Atkins,%20Molly%20Hogan,%20sticker%20from%20Margaret%20Simon.heic" width="659" /><b style="color: #cc0000;">Michelle Kogan, Molly Hogan, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Margaret Simon (sticker)</b></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2249" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4IFHZn3crYmcvAkIezbl32nWJM5fZJfGQsTprRff92kdyhWOjdotVI51I-Bj6mH4LTO5i2qXZuwgElUrh7aMNffqvMA6aU8CyPPUYgiAaXaO_aboSQhHHTJWoQ9K0M0FhzFwIJk6P66GtmzLnSTkqixID3-HJuR46fz0dtIRZdzH4vbUhzd4VEKI5ZM/s320/Denise.jpeg" width="198" /><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnpUdr1r_hbULSVkV6S_MwYNwk4dYxFGzRLq4SZyjHHErW6PNCM_udrLo7rvyCrPTTKlxXJEEpDIxc5tdImTjW7xTEIJAmt39qxbRjNmJ9K-PWuCMXp3D6ny2ZJuJDziNErSeXybfdGxGGo6yeu2f6iLC5TA8N0YnsaXgfejQbjXorEL8zF5vGT0zW0E/s320/IMG_4977.jpeg" width="240" /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;">Denise Krebs</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;"><b style="text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1028" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifujMxwSnV-V_6fmWWrV5fnbnUHwCFUfIXAnM1J49gUugwi3uTJ0hX2bBqgkLggTOPyhaUsQnq2IcDAuZYawYjqJRk4P9Nh-Pq_icyDOzf0Om_vZQTQE_9uS8Q68qBde8KorAHgsNiUsEW83BZgJPvJ4KEd4eimhpSm6c_ryv4ByHXofdUDa3KNtPRSbc/w432-h438/Heartnotes%20Poem.jpg" width="432" /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; white-space: normal;">💗 </span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; white-space: normal;"><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Exhale only love. - Rumi </b></b></b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; white-space: normal;">💗</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Architects Daughter',cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-weight: 700;">💗</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">pause and observe</b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">breathe in nature's fragrance</b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">breathe out love</b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i>©CVarsalona, 2024</i></b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">💗</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">For those interested in sharing a Valentine, add your <i>heartnote </i>to your blog post.</b></b></b></p></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Great Vibes", cursive; font-size: 32pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg539s5grNisXntmB2hfQyXVqw1OiR_HoR_Fv8LPpuAx6WUFL0NNlVftHXpkYUiDIKY1EdPKAD_8-RjwOMDr3slAijKhyJo_TKxiUsE54_JCjC3U9Zs20PixhBuu_mI99ulLAQOddXNayO7UkgJc01qjds0UWyyUmI0-fAQnLPK1xiipB2vj6cxDBKGj4/s1454/POETRY%20FRIDAY%20HEART%20LOGO.png" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1056" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg539s5grNisXntmB2hfQyXVqw1OiR_HoR_Fv8LPpuAx6WUFL0NNlVftHXpkYUiDIKY1EdPKAD_8-RjwOMDr3slAijKhyJo_TKxiUsE54_JCjC3U9Zs20PixhBuu_mI99ulLAQOddXNayO7UkgJc01qjds0UWyyUmI0-fAQnLPK1xiipB2vj6cxDBKGj4/w175-h241/POETRY%20FRIDAY%20HEART%20LOGO.png" width="175" /></a></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;">Poetry Friday poets, writers, and bloggers, please add the link to your blog post below. May your Valentine's Day be filled with sweet thoughts and treats.</b></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Papyrus;">💗</span><b style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></b><b style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">💗</span></span></b></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p></span></div></span></span></span>
<link href="//www.blenza.com/linkies/styles/default.css" media="all" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link><script src="//www.blenza.com/linkies/loc_en.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="//www.blenza.com/linkies/opt_defaults.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="//www.blenza.com/linkies/misterlinky.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="//www.blenza.com/linkies/autolink.php?mode=standard&owner=cvarsalona&postid=09Feb2024b&meme=frf" type="text/javascript"></script>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-21097894030547317452024-02-08T13:04:00.867-05:002024-02-18T16:13:59.212-05:00Be My Valentine!<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: left; white-space: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvYoBEVGO3g8a1IoZnWFoVE-XPBat6e-Bdl5rRimMyOR9QGJSaoqHLgx6DVpayOrTJC19kq6_0I-KdwrbEPflTUH1B0HP-RR4RPgrtTW2DnG_8izOVsQtQTLtbJrmSSpN1Pzzs7vJoKw3KulE8DTqB3GGxRbvHP4Arna3Lna2TmwGVmMhG2rWFWHheXk/s1150/Screenshot%202024-02-16%20at%2010.53.26%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="1150" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvYoBEVGO3g8a1IoZnWFoVE-XPBat6e-Bdl5rRimMyOR9QGJSaoqHLgx6DVpayOrTJC19kq6_0I-KdwrbEPflTUH1B0HP-RR4RPgrtTW2DnG_8izOVsQtQTLtbJrmSSpN1Pzzs7vJoKw3KulE8DTqB3GGxRbvHP4Arna3Lna2TmwGVmMhG2rWFWHheXk/w622-h78/Screenshot%202024-02-16%20at%2010.53.26%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="622" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">💌</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">Valentine's Day has always been a family day to pause and be grateful for love displayed and love given from the heart. For a couple of weeks, I've been under the weather with a lingering cold so this Valen</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #990000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">tine's Day was a different type of day. Only part of the house featured Valentine's decor with mementos from the past. The meal of choice, heart ravioli was postponed. Valentine heartnotes were on hold. Yet, the family was able to video chat with the grandgirls, watch them open Valentine cards from schoolmates, and eat a delicious-looking chocolate cake with raspberries. Sitting on my table were a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a stunning-looking card. The spirit of love endured.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8_FT3t2pVV1qM7zCMzXWFLno9R7Wii_Dcn9wkdcT-SEvsEWPOgpdoPe8Vi2nRQCQR2_WETsUBPqgsDzEMrxVI6oosa9t0owuJtLHY-Gz92olp5r0nZtAaV1IGriu9ADMospGuOnvxZvhGYwKwBnAt-QKn9FyolcjRjnCFsf2-r_W1IYoATRPUNB4iUw/s740/***Love%20Is...Voltaire%20Quote.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="356" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8_FT3t2pVV1qM7zCMzXWFLno9R7Wii_Dcn9wkdcT-SEvsEWPOgpdoPe8Vi2nRQCQR2_WETsUBPqgsDzEMrxVI6oosa9t0owuJtLHY-Gz92olp5r0nZtAaV1IGriu9ADMospGuOnvxZvhGYwKwBnAt-QKn9FyolcjRjnCFsf2-r_W1IYoATRPUNB4iUw/w179-h373/***Love%20Is...Voltaire%20Quote.png" width="179" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOv6su1gP1KFWVI1fwLbOsEgCUSH2G8DcAbZlthz0PQeIcqqug4HFVg9pMeWcfztllL4dFXrjdbmBeTQBF8kdygw4z4L5I35iDvdSx_EuYcU5SwjnoaJZCX2d2sZ8IE2lg1P7GIWUCgioQ5sjEDlPr053sQ9WG5rDL5ZF_5LdQyIrYODShQhzGKSDYUY/s527/Heartnotes_Haiku%202024.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="510" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOv6su1gP1KFWVI1fwLbOsEgCUSH2G8DcAbZlthz0PQeIcqqug4HFVg9pMeWcfztllL4dFXrjdbmBeTQBF8kdygw4z4L5I35iDvdSx_EuYcU5SwjnoaJZCX2d2sZ8IE2lg1P7GIWUCgioQ5sjEDlPr053sQ9WG5rDL5ZF_5LdQyIrYODShQhzGKSDYUY/w290-h335/Heartnotes_Haiku%202024.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">My gift back to the family is different handmade heartnotes and a new date to celebrate family love. </span></div></div></div></span></span></div></span></span><b style="font-weight: bold;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Lao Tzu's wisdom withstands time. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4v__0mQz24Sea4lSL9uGwkBt7tyrpSzhDjXW5jGTs7k6RDw5YZbeaY3C_I14s4im_hqsE2YK_Q1jyp0FdAXXDmniCXu3RRc6Fzjxab8eX0l_yGzC4l2yrUnLh4zT5cWFxfqE7s7w4YJ11mRGLbU7XuD1-772geWtkh6nFjXB9prcpoPoT8VAyQ5zHJM/s500/Giving%20Poetry%20Postcards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4v__0mQz24Sea4lSL9uGwkBt7tyrpSzhDjXW5jGTs7k6RDw5YZbeaY3C_I14s4im_hqsE2YK_Q1jyp0FdAXXDmniCXu3RRc6Fzjxab8eX0l_yGzC4l2yrUnLh4zT5cWFxfqE7s7w4YJ11mRGLbU7XuD1-772geWtkh6nFjXB9prcpoPoT8VAyQ5zHJM/w451-h342/Giving%20Poetry%20Postcards.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Poetry postcards open the heart to lasting memories. Below are two more postcards that brightened my winter days. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus;">from Jone Rush MacCullock</span></div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2463" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR3aWY1nG9KODm7wFRjghRD46VWITvILb7vQ95nh6MxiHwwHILkdf3_z91MrxUA-LFaryBOEJMPSKhmV9dKksN9reMmAjFSKkm5hjISgDhmYm5rlTq9HlIZcC5iNEjRq5h6Advaaqs8BBa1hD5rG4qyM_QobfUYeT3SkDjKrvam-DRp1K7qRE5Mk9mAM/w445-h307/Jone.jpg" width="445" /><b style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: left;">from Robyn Hood Black</span></b></b></div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKackO_ullxS_QjgNRkQ8iQS7LvvLsnw3nVqJKRL0a_FwUYwX9647q5f3rsVqLy8enir4Ux3-DbkvRoCihDX2qWUkLbM9BlH63AkhCTWlYs1Ht3QIYXmSEexEk2XbVTDEfXUpOgYuih5j_LifdvRB_-mis3XUwjkrDAGaU1aILDsbhEuoiR5Gj0G8Rik/s3369/Robyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3369" data-original-width="2432" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKackO_ullxS_QjgNRkQ8iQS7LvvLsnw3nVqJKRL0a_FwUYwX9647q5f3rsVqLy8enir4Ux3-DbkvRoCihDX2qWUkLbM9BlH63AkhCTWlYs1Ht3QIYXmSEexEk2XbVTDEfXUpOgYuih5j_LifdvRB_-mis3XUwjkrDAGaU1aILDsbhEuoiR5Gj0G8Rik/w281-h390/Robyn.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">May the joy of heartnotes bring you winter cheer. If you missed last week when I hosted Poetry Friday, you can find more poetry heartnotes </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/02/welcome-to-pre-valentine-poetry-friday.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>. <span style="color: #990000;">This week </span><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2024/02/15/poetry-friday-is-here-2/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Margaret Simon</span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> hosts Poetry Friday. She offers two poems with contrasting thoughts. Love and grief stand side by side. </span></span></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 102, 51); color: #265e15; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-17159" data-attachment-id="17159" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Margaret Gibson Simon","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Poetry Friday 2024 - 1","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Poetry Friday 2024 – 1" data-large-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=500" data-medium-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-permalink="https://reflectionsontheteche.com/poetry-friday-2024-1/" height="222" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=300" srcset="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=300 300w, https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=600 600w, https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/poetry-friday-2024.jpg?w=150 150w" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif") right bottom no-repeat; border-bottom: none; border-image: initial; border-left: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right: none; border-top: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="222" /></a></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: left;">Logo designed by Margaret Simon</span></b></b></div></b></b></b></span></span>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-24848720298270467752024-02-06T23:49:00.009-05:002024-02-07T00:40:01.162-05:00Game On<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">February is a special month for author/poet, </span><a href="https://laurashovan.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Laura Shovan</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;">. </span><span style="color: #274e13;">She celebrates her</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;">birthday with a community of poets by offering an annual February Poetry Project. This year marks her 12th poetry project with games as the theme. The goal is to draft a poem daily based on a prompt generated by one of the community members. Each day a new game-inspired prompt is posted. Today is Day 6. Heather Meloche is the prompt provider. Her lead in thought is <i>humans aren't the only ones who play. Many animals play for a variety of reasons.</i></span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>I mulled over a series of ideas until one commercial sparked my thoughts. Hallmark Channel shared a promotional commercial for an upcoming event, <i>The Great American Rescue Bowl. </i>The cuddly players are none other than rescue animals, a few of which are from the Hawaii fires last year. Each animal has a story and wishes for a forever home. After viewing several videos and articles, an image poem evolved. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: var(--secondary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFJt0c2ZgUKcavUSnw8xVhy3nmkyKnb_7XRQ4EDfRMUh6SgafPWWfIOsr_er4sXFOzk8qNi6cmeqEkE9FDsmgMNRd8RJ_bRxvlzWDXRw0i0MdInHlm4ZvA5Fa-dymG5yViup1LhD-7ZbEoOSVym7G8QkVsWgc8LxSkfJw5n9MVt-HsKUY-ej-yYvAFtQ/s1122/CV%20Paw-Wonderful%20Playtime.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="793" height="695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFJt0c2ZgUKcavUSnw8xVhy3nmkyKnb_7XRQ4EDfRMUh6SgafPWWfIOsr_er4sXFOzk8qNi6cmeqEkE9FDsmgMNRd8RJ_bRxvlzWDXRw0i0MdInHlm4ZvA5Fa-dymG5yViup1LhD-7ZbEoOSVym7G8QkVsWgc8LxSkfJw5n9MVt-HsKUY-ej-yYvAFtQ/w448-h695/CV%20Paw-Wonderful%20Playtime.jpeg" width="448" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">On Super Bowl Sunday The Great American Family hosts a fur-flying, paw-running game that will endear you to the players. Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens will "take to the field" in the second annual Great American Rescue Bowl that celebrates 80 years of the North Shore Animal League America saving animals. The game's on! Which team, the Cuddlers or Adorables, will take the lead? Maybe your fur-friendly pets would be interested in watching the "cutest game on TV" and an exciting halftime. </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">✎</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus;"><b style="font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #274e13;">It's time for me to post at Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for worldwide reflective writers. Click </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/02/06/slice-of-life-tuesday-19/"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a><span style="color: #274e13;"> to read various </span><i style="color: #274e13;">slices of life </i><span style="color: #274e13;">written by educators</span><i style="color: #274e13;">. </i></b></b></p><div style="background-color: white;"><div class="x1cy8zhl x78zum5 x1q0g3np xod5an3 x1pi30zi x1swvt13 xz9dl7a" style="align-items: flex-start; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 12px;"><div class="x1iyjqo2" style="flex-grow: 1;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xi81zsa x1yc453h" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: block; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv1XMgM4GophxahZFAzqQQfzyD_KM3DN53hET_xyHIInwbvNxQKdyhyPV-_CNGYQV64XEZtu2WAj_R3e2gu2xEaqd6jGcJnvPVuboT9eENQrXqGw_JnlwfSRLjXX6pTVBBbRvcjLIgsOA8iFhhmiaIVsCifFs66O1uRwz-463ekwVlimPQgJ_vL-92TU/s137/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="137" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv1XMgM4GophxahZFAzqQQfzyD_KM3DN53hET_xyHIInwbvNxQKdyhyPV-_CNGYQV64XEZtu2WAj_R3e2gu2xEaqd6jGcJnvPVuboT9eENQrXqGw_JnlwfSRLjXX6pTVBBbRvcjLIgsOA8iFhhmiaIVsCifFs66O1uRwz-463ekwVlimPQgJ_vL-92TU/s1600/Slice%20of%20Life%20logo.png" width="137" /></a></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-22195462377137484532024-02-02T11:48:00.005-05:002024-02-02T12:22:56.442-05:00Grandma Love Is...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">I am blessed to follow in the line of grandmothers whose devotion to their grandchildren was essential to each grandma's well-being. My grandmother, Nonnie, was my guide, opening my eyes to the beauty of gardens, the love of baking, the secret to making pasta sauce, and a desire to be a lifelong reader. My mother, Grandma Kay, was not only the grandma to my children but to the neighborhood children. She was generous, hardworking, and devoted to her grandchildren from birth to their college years. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">My family moved to Virginia because we wanted to be closer to our grandgirls. It has been a whirlwind, a few years trying to settle in and be filled with the spirit of familial love. I pause today after a long day of Grandmasitting for a sick baby yesterday. There were cuddles, hugs, drying of tears, playtime, eating with fingers, and lots of love to make yesterday a last memory.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagyPznY1zdDZOZIr5LtTW5iROQIU6WrPsdOTRirASiea5rAFwaJOFdVUvjP-ClVIGAxwsJ0_EXS_tEVncDZ1GdnwnLkjcpROAQJOYNhn3hLw14WKNsSmaN2MrEbyRjNhk6Nc84qryn5gikBF1G6HyR398MF9aJYCrtXPDS1l1IeNru_Uxrt-xr-xv3w4/s4030/IMG_4936.HEIC" style="clear: right; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="2856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagyPznY1zdDZOZIr5LtTW5iROQIU6WrPsdOTRirASiea5rAFwaJOFdVUvjP-ClVIGAxwsJ0_EXS_tEVncDZ1GdnwnLkjcpROAQJOYNhn3hLw14WKNsSmaN2MrEbyRjNhk6Nc84qryn5gikBF1G6HyR398MF9aJYCrtXPDS1l1IeNru_Uxrt-xr-xv3w4/s320/IMG_4936.HEIC" width="227" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">Baby #3 feels better at the end of the day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95)" style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">Today, I return to the grandchildren's house. It is a special day of pride and thanksgiving. My oldest grandgirl invited me to her class' Poetry Cafe. We have talked and written toddler poems throughout her six years but today she will be recognized as a 1st-grade young poet. She announced yesterday that one of her topics is video games. I eagerly await the recitation.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstmnUIP5v34AIk1pnT5VnRPPZoBU0n3yHCiN443p9dKceBXQcgZgsHUJBm3himY4E-Eedhzt1vCUrtiWck-bVLOuiGUzpRFoFITcaOSRVQj7t90R6SyRy24smvjErNtekAE61drRSGHHWnwviTUvfstNLOOpmeYMiWNUUK8IqtYzLGQ7VB5VtSIlH5Ls/s1542/The%20Girls%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1542" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstmnUIP5v34AIk1pnT5VnRPPZoBU0n3yHCiN443p9dKceBXQcgZgsHUJBm3himY4E-Eedhzt1vCUrtiWck-bVLOuiGUzpRFoFITcaOSRVQj7t90R6SyRy24smvjErNtekAE61drRSGHHWnwviTUvfstNLOOpmeYMiWNUUK8IqtYzLGQ7VB5VtSIlH5Ls/s320/The%20Girls%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">Holiday Happiness, 2023</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><ul class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_2-0-2" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95); counter-reset: section 0; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style: none; margin: 1.25rem 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-underline-offset: 0.125rem;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1rem 0.8125rem; padding: 0px;">"It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace." – Christopher Morley</li></ul></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">Grandma Love Is...</h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">gracefilled</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">a gift</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">of enduring love</b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>fountain of perpetual devotion</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">forever </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">Elfchen poem</b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">This blog post is a follow-up post on </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: 24px;">Love Is...</span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>You can read my first post with poem written for Spiritual Journey Thursday <a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/02/love-isspiritual-journey-thursday.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>.</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>I also wrote a humorous piece for Baby #2 <a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2022/03/march-musings-grandma-love.html"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>.</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></div></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Mary Lee Hahn is our Poetry Friday Roundup host today and she and her Inklings group are ready to whisper secrets to us. Shhh! It is going to be a poetic goodness treat today so check in <a href="https://ayearofreading.org/2024/02/01/the-poetry-friday-roundup-is-here-3"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgKWv74rmuce9xHnMxiuVc4DCVR9zwl3d2R7O4frsi-7EN3eOPA97zlck9wQEasvXz5IwAxC6dUey1B6EkmdsuubFcivoCYKGx5-4MkUQ6OoofK5a1kNsI44WRMdPVmyC4cZ8jvEUJY-f_yJvdiAoJ4gTAnYIQNh-x-r8Q7RcVe0Bmd2ZR1rsZmaKRgM/s347/PF%20Loveuary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="347" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgKWv74rmuce9xHnMxiuVc4DCVR9zwl3d2R7O4frsi-7EN3eOPA97zlck9wQEasvXz5IwAxC6dUey1B6EkmdsuubFcivoCYKGx5-4MkUQ6OoofK5a1kNsI44WRMdPVmyC4cZ8jvEUJY-f_yJvdiAoJ4gTAnYIQNh-x-r8Q7RcVe0Bmd2ZR1rsZmaKRgM/w168-h121/PF%20Loveuary.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><u><span style="color: #e06666;">Loveuary Special Note</span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 20px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: 20px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">I follow Mary Lee as <u>Host</u> of the Poetry Friday Roundup next week.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: 20px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Since I have been thrilled with the Poetry Postcards I have received, I'd like to continue with a Pre-Valentine Roundup. If you choose to do so, please add your <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">V</span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">alentine wish/poem/card</span></b><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"> to your post next week. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: 20px;"><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></b></span></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-67151173891194151862024-02-01T07:17:00.006-05:002024-02-01T07:19:33.610-05:00Love Is...Spiritual Journey Thursday<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #cc0000; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Love is space and time measured by the heart. - Marcel Proust</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Vollkorn;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG9Jtc3CFkz-GoVTMoZzujqGHx9_Qmy53tpodN9uMce2P8NSW4khvYy3q9n-qhmvyieUXXIPCiqh1kgqqIWtqCdWo5mQqMsq1rJ51wdksQu182pvq_OQLtiVRQd1neiLgD0n6_A7M1oTwhyTNJcaZx1l5ZkwOj-1K3jGNy9uDzYzVyQCPXqMJYOGr5=s1132" style="color: #4c4c4c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1096" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG9Jtc3CFkz-GoVTMoZzujqGHx9_Qmy53tpodN9uMce2P8NSW4khvYy3q9n-qhmvyieUXXIPCiqh1kgqqIWtqCdWo5mQqMsq1rJ51wdksQu182pvq_OQLtiVRQd1neiLgD0n6_A7M1oTwhyTNJcaZx1l5ZkwOj-1K3jGNy9uDzYzVyQCPXqMJYOGr5=w393-h406" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="393" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">February is Loveuary</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">love</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">spans years</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">underlies frosty pathways</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">weaves golden moment threads</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">together</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">love</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">brings sunshine</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">sorrow and connection-</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">selfless act of being</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">together</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">love</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">finds space</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">a timeless union</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">a surrender of souls</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">oneness</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Elfchen poem series</span></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;">It is quiet in the great room. The fireplace is glowing and warmth surrounds me. I found a song on YouTube that brings a peaceful ending to the day: love, hope, and possibilities. Please join me as I listen to a song of love and praise? Click </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLlQOwnsexU"><span style="color: #990000;">here</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"> to fill your heart with Phil Wickham's official lyric video, <i>Falling In Love</i></span><span style="color: #e06666;">. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">1 Corinthians 13:8 holds a message of endurance and promise. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Love NEVER Fails</span><span style="color: #990000;">!</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #e06666; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">The GREATEST Love of All! </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Click </span><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://youtu.be/0Ty2Thjtb1w"><span style="color: #990000;">here</span></a>.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e06666;">With deep love and conviction, Patricia Franz, the host of Spiritual JourneyThursday, offers the topic, </span><i style="color: #e06666;">Love Is...</i><span style="color: #e06666;">, for our reflection.</span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Click </span><a href="https://patriciajfranz.com/blog-love-is/"><span style="color: #660000;">here</span></a><span style="color: #e06666;"> to read her post that beautifully wraps her topic into prose and poetry with a message about the reality of everyday love. "Love is showing up."</span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">💗</span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">💗</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TMhliWeZ0xyGYq7D4n6Sm52nHzCFir5KOiCBBoDd98KUSFACm0nYegHYXxC2tVQuSEAWj-WD3Haapo_xDndiRpUg3TKn-7tkvnU3aspZdqVCPu9QCpkRhaPamk3dvWWtB49NkJFu8ks7t-doChgzHcBt7OgLWWFru5sVGLW4P0qTE5Q7R2SFyjM9858/w224-h224/spiritual-journey2024.png" width="224" /></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: \;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;">May you be filled with the spirit of love as you walk the spiritual pathway this month.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-28590122197753066982024-01-30T19:49:00.006-05:002024-01-31T00:40:34.056-05:00January Poetic Journal Entries<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Winter winds flutter side to side with quick, light movements.</b></span></span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"> </span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">They </span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">slip through the night, bringing chilling weather. Even the inside of the house feels cool. Morning wakeups are challenging. I grab layers of workout clothes and rush to various exercise programs. Just like me, January has its own routines.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Below is the continuation of a series of Elfchen poems for this year's poetic journal. You can read the initial poems that show the transition from the end of December 2023 to the beginning of January 2024 by clicking <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</span>.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">brisk</b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">winter wind</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>awakens </b>the earth</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">January's chilled breath whispers </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Brrr!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="2500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji91DycRQywUJT4NzAq2H4h47Xy-csljI6pVrOD6kgNiZ3B6D4GCLz_z34nbkfTG53S2bMlCvISEHxY0bN70EkhpIgUfh8q1-57gBr3WekxX9GTfhyphenhyphenLaZCegFlBE7IOZFWH-27EzPHe7dggaC4CTSe7Np0-fjWUSWOeRBr1RccpQFSVQvorqt6g0OtRbk/w376-h282/Fog%20Jan.%202024%20Derek.jpg" width="376" /></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">fog</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">sweeps in</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">like a cloud</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">mystifying my quiet neighborhood</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">otherworldly</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">Photo by Derek Varsalona, January 2024</b></b></b></b></div></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">This month, two snowstorms arrived, followed by heavy rain, fog, brisk winds, and a few magical spring-like days. During these blasts of weather changes, I enjoy watching the landscape change.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwhyphenhyphen9ItQCJdH7YT4XJ6n7i6nN9TECc7DWt1i5OkfaCTByuY9McyBC83bXjTGJ44oDj-Aqv_eRK5C4bnzMiPwhd0LNIY8StAMZKy9L1hWm29JJroas1RTvXzAIU2lxsIcYKfBKebG89sKTs-MYlcZvLP2hf7j0rQzpt8G0D0YJBIp4-NCc85XdKm83LRk/s804/Winter's%20First%20Snow%202024%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="804" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwhyphenhyphen9ItQCJdH7YT4XJ6n7i6nN9TECc7DWt1i5OkfaCTByuY9McyBC83bXjTGJ44oDj-Aqv_eRK5C4bnzMiPwhd0LNIY8StAMZKy9L1hWm29JJroas1RTvXzAIU2lxsIcYKfBKebG89sKTs-MYlcZvLP2hf7j0rQzpt8G0D0YJBIp4-NCc85XdKm83LRk/w407-h305/Winter's%20First%20Snow%202024%20.jpg" width="407" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Today, there is a gray sky looming above. Something is brewing. The temperature is lowering. It is time to listen to the weather report. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Soon, </b></span></span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">the Ground Hog will make his weather prediction. Check on February 2nd if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowMu08paVPmo-EmJ5mc_L4pDM_gtb_LaShhL3d7okwEhyphenhyphenZT7tBSVFiwjXu4Ql_XzvNxapoT88MhIhpkAhyyFuGJa2ckIgOLaHbtxtFLY12qZQUd0kpga7d3oxbUXDaghL-UbcyO50RtabjIQUUdzDkHAa20XDsYLWC-h_1VZeTQEhwTuzw3Z4VV0ilXY/s1600/Two%20Writing%20Teachers.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1600" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowMu08paVPmo-EmJ5mc_L4pDM_gtb_LaShhL3d7okwEhyphenhyphenZT7tBSVFiwjXu4Ql_XzvNxapoT88MhIhpkAhyyFuGJa2ckIgOLaHbtxtFLY12qZQUd0kpga7d3oxbUXDaghL-UbcyO50RtabjIQUUdzDkHAa20XDsYLWC-h_1VZeTQEhwTuzw3Z4VV0ilXY/w135-h135/Two%20Writing%20Teachers.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I am eager to visit the <i><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/2024/01/30/its-tuesday-join-us-for-slice-of-life-sol24-4"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Two Writing Teachers</span></a></i> community tonight because before today I have not been able to find time to write a Slice of Life. For those educators who live in snowy areas, stay warm by the fireplace (like I am tonight).</b></div></b>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-15377900670899496522024-01-26T01:41:00.001-05:002024-01-26T01:41:45.650-05:00Winter Transition: Poetic Journal<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z3QVvZwN7p4qwF-5RzvEjPTYKQz7PD6-eQaM0l_nt8F825Jh6VDR3buxT0gY5rF_VDmVhIhHoZowejxhCT8cY9GFVzmQJ-GqLLAHn8cqxeUXKhcY4FhUg5TvpBUfjErYfuc7jjIwI1sJDNhm_zxuP-ljG7Q_LAqHsZElLGqR13sLiN4aWy6tYdTa9lk/s386/Lady%20Winter%20in%20Frosted%20Blue.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="312" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z3QVvZwN7p4qwF-5RzvEjPTYKQz7PD6-eQaM0l_nt8F825Jh6VDR3buxT0gY5rF_VDmVhIhHoZowejxhCT8cY9GFVzmQJ-GqLLAHn8cqxeUXKhcY4FhUg5TvpBUfjErYfuc7jjIwI1sJDNhm_zxuP-ljG7Q_LAqHsZElLGqR13sLiN4aWy6tYdTa9lk/w130-h161/Lady%20Winter%20in%20Frosted%20Blue.png" width="130" /></a><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Winter enters each year searching for different designs to dress Earth in style. She whispers, roars, or spins new tales with the weather as her topic. Recently, Winter chose a </span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">frosted blue color to match the recent meteorological changes, two snowstorms with schools closed and rain following. The fireplace warms the house as I sit quietly writing. Several projects are available to work on, one of which is the digital journal I started before the end of 2023</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: #073763;">and</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><a href="https://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/blog/category/new-year-postcards"><span style="color: #999999;">Jone Rush McCulloch's New Year Poetry Postcard</span></a><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">project.</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">🌲 </span></b></b><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Winter Transition: </b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Poetic Journal</b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">🌲</span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;">One Year To The Next </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">end-</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">of-</b><b style="text-align: justify;">year reflections</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">one word thoughts</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">wait for 2023's nearing</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">closure</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">anticipation</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">countdown pairs</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">with Waterford crystals</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">bidding 2023 a cheerful</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">transition</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2024</div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 18px;"><b>gloriously arrives </b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;">with cheering fanfare</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 18px;"><b>and colorful worldwide celebrations</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 18px;"><b>expectation</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">winter</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">breath breathes</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">slowly before introducing</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">2024 wishes of hope</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">pause</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">windy</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">winter storms</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 18px;"><b>sweep across states</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">roaring as 2024 continues</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">disruptions</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="412" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSdWRg_OlBoTZPqM-ABV5IH1IWO_fIERcgBmgSeBKlZYByRVJcpDYDjRlbhkZqxw5SroTkaotxWr_-zUIQcq29SpcwOEV2Sxj6RaS6Bd2I_12mYw6BAzV0QW7gsZxU5lbcM8p8eNuFDtlJEBicgwqv18Iwx9u6-YZoTOdP4Owu44cgdyrQTrczjWur70/w203-h434/End-of-2023%20Collage.jpg" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;" width="203" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #073763;">©CVarsalona, 2023-2024, Elfchen poem series</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">******************</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Papyrus;"><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">The Poetry Sisters' January 2024 Challenge</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span>The ekphrastic poem below is offered to The Poetry Sisters,</span></b></span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"> </b></span><b style="font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span justify="" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://tanitasdavis.com/wp/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Tanita</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://laurasalas.com/blog/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Laura</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://ayearofreading.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Mary Lee</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://lizgartonscanlon.com/blog/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Liz</span></a><span>. </span><a href="https://saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Sara</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span>Tricia</span></a></span><span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">,</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> and </span></span><a href="https://www.kellyramsdell.com/blog" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #999999;">Kelly</span></a></span><span style="color: #073763;">, </span><span style="color: #073763;"><span>invited</span><span> </span><span>for their </span></span></span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #073763;">January Challenge. They are celebrating paper artwork on pinantas by the</span></b></span></b></span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span><b><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="color: #073763;"> imaginative artist</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">,</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="https://robertobenavidez.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">Roberto Benavidez</span></a></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="color: black;">.</span></span></b></span></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0b5394; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><br /></span></b></span></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0b5394; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><b style="color: black; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span>"Play celebrates the power of imagination and the child in all of us." </span></b></span></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span>-Roberto Benavidez <a href="https://robertobenavidez.com/" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #999999;">Craft in America</span></a></span></b></span></b></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLeckxMi52GaOcfnmokSBaiUMjePDFmkhIIG_7OU1iEZyiG-Yo1FxKuFD8O8fZCVbrJa4VUlG8HXiuBVUD6Co0O4V5vYlvKgzyuqWqLYECegzl5cb18VupTE8gsy6q2GL_ScQ0piyev2hJNCPy1OAiTnlVFFFcWBouCVnuscNF78WdXu9MxLI1wlKkA0/s657/Paper%20Pinata.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #073763;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="657" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLeckxMi52GaOcfnmokSBaiUMjePDFmkhIIG_7OU1iEZyiG-Yo1FxKuFD8O8fZCVbrJa4VUlG8HXiuBVUD6Co0O4V5vYlvKgzyuqWqLYECegzl5cb18VupTE8gsy6q2GL_ScQ0piyev2hJNCPy1OAiTnlVFFFcWBouCVnuscNF78WdXu9MxLI1wlKkA0/w305-h302/Paper%20Pinata.png" width="305" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b><span><b style="font-size: 18px;">It's time to join the Poetry Friday Roundup at our host, Susan Thomsen's blog, <a href="https://chickenspaghetti.typepad.com/chicken_spaghetti/"><span style="color: #999999;">Chicken Spaghetti</span></a>. You can read her original poem, Ano Nuevo which is a response to the Poetry Sisters' January Challenge. </b></span></b></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></b></span></b></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><span><b><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH8Hxhyphenhyphenc7RIq4DsMYOdO4awU5EMDxJugHrc5XXYMn1JHZf9uu2vQfCCXfOxLrmb78nuEZypgC3ROcJPG4Fs3w3pjDnAoRpio9wIyHY_3qaZErbvsVAQHZSoAMwg-hgh18d0LHUt_j92BVwbRpKUm9fmNUdIFUT_-rdNpnCv3qEEMX4SLO9zS2jF8yKH4/s320/Poetry%20Friday%20Star%20Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="320" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH8Hxhyphenhyphenc7RIq4DsMYOdO4awU5EMDxJugHrc5XXYMn1JHZf9uu2vQfCCXfOxLrmb78nuEZypgC3ROcJPG4Fs3w3pjDnAoRpio9wIyHY_3qaZErbvsVAQHZSoAMwg-hgh18d0LHUt_j92BVwbRpKUm9fmNUdIFUT_-rdNpnCv3qEEMX4SLO9zS2jF8yKH4/w142-h141/Poetry%20Friday%20Star%20Logo.png" width="142" /></a></div></span></b></span></b></span></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-16209489776037106132024-01-19T16:53:00.003-05:002024-01-22T17:20:02.263-05:00It's a Snow Day<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: 18px;"><b>Snow fell silently in the night becoming the first snowfall this year. I was surprised when I woke to a beautiful scenario. Fresh white snow blanketed Earth reminding me of New York winters.</b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><i><b>First Snowfall</b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">-surprise-</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">winter storm</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">breaks the record</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">newborn snow cradles earth</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">nostalgia</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy-0MvwxGdk27GlAhMjDJIgSuIdEeWcfeTFFlEBAGQO_ctscdcLdubOm2_e4UzF34TTDcTEWYw5kN7TCY4FcITPgdnbQ33YKKntkZ_F_VNQ3Lf4MP9EOazt-OVPL7fwv-4bVIj18raXtV9-TSYGVPNyl8G4QmOssErtNzqGpYlYjrhD0WRZUpy1uD6MY/s1600/Clip2Comic-2024-01-18-23-49-10.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1230" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKy-0MvwxGdk27GlAhMjDJIgSuIdEeWcfeTFFlEBAGQO_ctscdcLdubOm2_e4UzF34TTDcTEWYw5kN7TCY4FcITPgdnbQ33YKKntkZ_F_VNQ3Lf4MP9EOazt-OVPL7fwv-4bVIj18raXtV9-TSYGVPNyl8G4QmOssErtNzqGpYlYjrhD0WRZUpy1uD6MY/w228-h297/Clip2Comic-2024-01-18-23-49-10.jpeg" width="228" /></a></div></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">snow</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">brings smiles</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">to grandgirls' faces</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 18px;"><b>even in the cold</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">temperature</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQwLl5SxF1JdP51eI89c6nTXxliVtp9fSmSRq6xCp_lQ9rpP_JAnWVXUuPmXilMgz9FA1gDtDrXEZDQr1QyedXm_jNMKUa6sl_Wh6XhnJfNU8JJ2zCv5IUqg-fcaoGnk8lE7QAhbdDSObVryP1AAMCS05NZmOOn-BJddwGZQdFmFVP5jPCfZrLA0m2Ew/s1620/Graphite-2024-01-19-00-34-46.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1216" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQwLl5SxF1JdP51eI89c6nTXxliVtp9fSmSRq6xCp_lQ9rpP_JAnWVXUuPmXilMgz9FA1gDtDrXEZDQr1QyedXm_jNMKUa6sl_Wh6XhnJfNU8JJ2zCv5IUqg-fcaoGnk8lE7QAhbdDSObVryP1AAMCS05NZmOOn-BJddwGZQdFmFVP5jPCfZrLA0m2Ew/w243-h325/Graphite-2024-01-19-00-34-46.jpeg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="color: black; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="color: black; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></b></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Winter's Second Shift</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vGVCR0O2mU1-opnDYWugYlVB9pp7PFjGjWB8OJV4iE_7ZQcVJLJNNbGYgNdKbij0zEG6DTI-_S0Y0iEfd7MW1Zly0OxwhDhTZTnY7-vutiCFVwyNfvp9h_p3iVjxmLe3SnQGMUV5rEnwANQLpnMmiMyKl37SFpGHyK7o0puBX338EiAZSO7As6q2O3s/s4032/IMG_4777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vGVCR0O2mU1-opnDYWugYlVB9pp7PFjGjWB8OJV4iE_7ZQcVJLJNNbGYgNdKbij0zEG6DTI-_S0Y0iEfd7MW1Zly0OxwhDhTZTnY7-vutiCFVwyNfvp9h_p3iVjxmLe3SnQGMUV5rEnwANQLpnMmiMyKl37SFpGHyK7o0puBX338EiAZSO7As6q2O3s/s320/IMG_4777.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">winter</span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">watercolor scene</span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">evokes fond memories</span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">of pristine virgin snow </span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">uninterrupted</span></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">©CVarsalona, January 2024</span></b></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;">Snow still falls late on this winter afternoon. There has been a steady stream of downward movement. Only the plowed streets show the wear of trodden movements. It's quiet and serene. No sounds break the silence that nature provides. Peace on Earth is gratefully accepted, as is </span><span style="color: #073763;">another artistically rendered peaceful scene sent to me from artist/poet, </span><span style="color: #073763;">Michelle Kogan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkzdC5oP89aoa03m5pVOnDori77kvrAB69lFWTqZC_D8g3SDw6ylmYE_HqQAQt5TaiFIVuA1tIBL0GrUEWhWQ1OokTV_-oKUVqowgfZsH3d0e0pw9PV4NOHUPYyGHVvMr5gDO2jcaYYb7VN7rrIxTIOMqviucyEooJZZxfcFYGT7C81gYr4ErZusmub8w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="1882" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkzdC5oP89aoa03m5pVOnDori77kvrAB69lFWTqZC_D8g3SDw6ylmYE_HqQAQt5TaiFIVuA1tIBL0GrUEWhWQ1OokTV_-oKUVqowgfZsH3d0e0pw9PV4NOHUPYyGHVvMr5gDO2jcaYYb7VN7rrIxTIOMqviucyEooJZZxfcFYGT7C81gYr4ErZusmub8w" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">old growth forests...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">let's flourish them through many</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">generations!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">©Michelle Kogan</span></b></b></b></b></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div></b></b></b></b><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">❆❅❄</span></b></b></b></b><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">❆❅</span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #073763;">After a long week of snow cancellations, doctor visits, and family paperwork, I am pleased to enjoy a few moments of nature's peaceful snowstorm (#2) with Poetry Friday's host Robyn Hood Black. As I and two neighbors prepare to host our community's Winter Wonderland Tea Party, I am also pleased to read through Robyn's Tea Time blog. What a serendipitous happening!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKVsnunSNOzUyGuQdn8KaAJs8KnxGtiMr0BxCTejTS9FEsRU62hn7Cm5hQQC4-Xyi10qvFxiNU9btwJNkuKvMuPtPNLkUkhfBYJbeHE5mFfO68y4EFTu0XRalGCb27PX7INnBp65FXYvJHswjZeyOdXjIWfqQPdM1tRL6TtjyzQlOOlHom1Q2a4Op-Fmw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3064" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKVsnunSNOzUyGuQdn8KaAJs8KnxGtiMr0BxCTejTS9FEsRU62hn7Cm5hQQC4-Xyi10qvFxiNU9btwJNkuKvMuPtPNLkUkhfBYJbeHE5mFfO68y4EFTu0XRalGCb27PX7INnBp65FXYvJHswjZeyOdXjIWfqQPdM1tRL6TtjyzQlOOlHom1Q2a4Op-Fmw" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Thank you Robyn for this beautiful translated haiku by Issa.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">rising into</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">the year's first sky...</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">tea smoke</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">There's more poetic goodness at Robyn's blog, <a href="http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog/posts/43900"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Life at the Deckle Edge</span></a>. Enjoy the weekend. Snow seems to be the major headline in many parts of the USA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7XWrnNM2OWm3XV7hwcLQUWRmvZ_hsd2uAOSpRT6_PdMyZVroFOVVREIApj4JkocVLj1UbMgBTtjjOuc-P4rdujVqJnd8UZnpPXbFJtNopJv1x3-HF0EqOOULCJWAcODk6yL9NrMGghcUyaAT4xanHKS9FZQHJjaBvrURuBqfisUqQPDvXtRbCYWacKA/s878/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20at%204.50.16%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="662" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7XWrnNM2OWm3XV7hwcLQUWRmvZ_hsd2uAOSpRT6_PdMyZVroFOVVREIApj4JkocVLj1UbMgBTtjjOuc-P4rdujVqJnd8UZnpPXbFJtNopJv1x3-HF0EqOOULCJWAcODk6yL9NrMGghcUyaAT4xanHKS9FZQHJjaBvrURuBqfisUqQPDvXtRbCYWacKA/w222-h295/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20at%204.50.16%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="222" /></a></div></b></b></b></b></div></b></b></b></b></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-36391890905622201742024-01-11T23:24:00.007-05:002024-01-12T11:32:26.135-05:00A Winter Pause<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span>As winter moves on, it finds a cozy corner to snuggle while temperatures in Virginia move from extremely cold to a high of 46 degrees, making it feel like spring (until the wind starts blowing). I pause each day either bundled up in layers, splashing under the pounding rainstorms, scraping beautifully etched snow drops off my car, or pretending that spring is coming. I sit by the fireplace wrapped in a throw and find a couple of minutes to ponder why I feel the need to perpetually move.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;">Finding Winter Pause Moments</span></span></p><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufWeJ0Zn4JEMKUJ9N6c5TX70M3AG0QjhiwFd9QpYzR3bSLcmAxA6G1PTX-YngpOYdla6L-TtjPeXfItNmZf6mO-eOjdvph4gKdNn8cpsEQR_YaXa6hldGzJGqD5DaVUPI4OBbBAb5Ib8zXtT7-xuqMueXonKUHnw0lBshyURP2V5K0M_c9R5x-cBOG_M/s320/Rainy%20Winter%20Night.jpg" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;" width="187" /></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">time</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">moves incessantly</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">warranting a pause</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">intentionally meant for slowdown</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">moments</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">©CVarsalona,</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> January 2024</span></span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="298" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81QxTzkhwm7-iAubzTynk4c-AWKGOtLBQkKk7az8frjjy_bu-P7oFgsX82beZvsJU12rldXaDyPKK89jJjKKocxcK3uQbshaSNtqcgOk-yMpm-lXeWEWgjy61M8BOW6l9cjWlwtTwN6nt9HWQbg_PNrez4sIWmYAtD9zj8SjOau72Sio_WqteAeqTO5k/w187-h229/CV%20January%20.png" width="187" /></div></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">quietude</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">indulges in</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">stillness as dusk</span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">offers reflective paused moments</span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">calmness</span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">©CVarsalona,</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> January 2024</span></span></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNNaOAYsnwIHNLSQZiJYhA5wMkxhXu9gtw_XBy_015GRGSmhOK2T2vI4XZCQ7neyKKDfBlA8-6ll9f4QzF6xvxet50Hw54hZRTu_ethu3QvPtGxxs0ui5qFS40veJkN9LGqxZCtaYyGpzESb_lkpyX30CJRyLpLWhn6hcwUxMT2YI6TYES54eirb9Nr8/s2000/CV%20Barren%20Trees%20copy.tiff" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNNaOAYsnwIHNLSQZiJYhA5wMkxhXu9gtw_XBy_015GRGSmhOK2T2vI4XZCQ7neyKKDfBlA8-6ll9f4QzF6xvxet50Hw54hZRTu_ethu3QvPtGxxs0ui5qFS40veJkN9LGqxZCtaYyGpzESb_lkpyX30CJRyLpLWhn6hcwUxMT2YI6TYES54eirb9Nr8/w211-h281/CV%20Barren%20Trees%20copy.tiff" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">winter</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">trees swirl</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">shooting into sky</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">as sentinels of serenity</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">pause</span></div></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">©CVarsalona,</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> January 2024</span></figcaption><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></b></p><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">With my one word, pause, </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">I am</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"> intentionally searching for quiet moments to bring the gift of the slowdown.</span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17px;">Photos are from Long Island before I moved and Northern Virginia.</span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">****************</span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Time is creeping onward to the midnight opening of Poetry Friday. I am ready to pause and enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup with Tracey Kiff-Judson's blog. Click <a href="http://traceykj.com/joomla/index.php/a-token-for-your-thoughts"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a> to read interesting information on the game of Monopoly. </span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></figcaption><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyoiBgzBswe5R8KuXCJ3bvzQ_vUhnatWYHTDhkHvAxHnhGf7tpnkaI1oAehyphenhyphen5NMh6XGzEOYPXhFvin018Mn6fwWVu5d315lZYkfmuMKWbP6CRm4fSJmuN-Wk3YmSM5HevMb_VFPxwlrpTAB91DcgFn0inDtGQvs0BV7CX8U0QKdw7CtnNanCEPnftMwQ/s1280/P1050275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyoiBgzBswe5R8KuXCJ3bvzQ_vUhnatWYHTDhkHvAxHnhGf7tpnkaI1oAehyphenhyphen5NMh6XGzEOYPXhFvin018Mn6fwWVu5d315lZYkfmuMKWbP6CRm4fSJmuN-Wk3YmSM5HevMb_VFPxwlrpTAB91DcgFn0inDtGQvs0BV7CX8U0QKdw7CtnNanCEPnftMwQ/s320/P1050275.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 19px;">Poetry Friday</span></div></figcaption>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-75563934332976485742024-01-05T13:57:00.005-05:002024-01-06T00:28:52.297-05:00Holiday Poem Swap 2023<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Holidays are a special time of year. There's Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. They bring joy and the spirit of "just being" with family. There's another holiday event that connects me to dear friends in the Poetry Friday community. It is the Holiday Poem Swap designed by </span><a href="https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tabatha Yeatts</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. Each year, Tabatha creates a sparkling logo for chosen partners who exchange poems and a present. </span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(153, 102, 51); color: #265e15; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-17087" data-attachment-id="17087" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"tabathay","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Holiday Poem Swap 2023 logo - 1","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Holiday Poem Swap 2023 logo – 1" data-large-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=500" data-medium-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg" data-orig-size="1080,1080" data-permalink="https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2023/12/15/poetry-friday-winter-poem-swap-continent-to-continent/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo-1/" height="231" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=300" srcset="https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=300 300w, https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=600 600w, https://reflectionsontheteche.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/holiday-poem-swap-2023-logo.jpg?w=150 150w" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif") right bottom no-repeat; border-bottom: none; border-image: initial; border-left: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right: none; border-top: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="231" /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">This year, I am delighted </span></b></span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">to partner with a hometown poet friend of mine, </span></b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://janicescully.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Janice Scully</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">. Janice has a broad career background. Not only is </span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;">she a writer and poet but followed in her mother's footsteps and chose nursing as her initial career. Then, she moved on to medical school and became a doctor. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;">Janice's Holiday Poem Swap arrived with a lovely assortment of items to make me "most happy". The Christmas card was an artist's rendering of Christmas in the city that reminded me of holiday time in New York City. Her lovely poem, <i>I'm Most Happy,</i> is filled with imagery, rhyme, and a beautiful ending. Please see the poem below. Inside the card was a note about the handmade journal that Janice found in New Orleans. The journal is unique and has two envelope pockets on the first and last pages. It appears too pretty to write on but it will share many a thought and poem. I did not know that Janice sewed until recently. From different pieces of pink material, Janice stitched a lovely bookmark. This reminder of my own sewing days with my mother will be a keepsake and assistant while I read and write.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><img height="455" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/w8Y61h4atuaqJUNEsWZ7gPVNiJgkGfzfqF1wOUdBa6uEuvImo2bIAzOCgwEBwIHMGRY62CRU6KBbpp8pqYAWHCGXOh2Yl3R3stWI_mfTE033iFKncVRGB69xk6kRgvvBdApHRRgOwuNdivZiRfhdGZkmCg=w639-h455" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" width="639" /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;">This swap present is a gift from the heart. After much thought, I decided to concentrate on my hometown of Syracuse where Janice resides in one of the suburbs. I did research about Salt City, read some of Janice's poems, found a news article about her family when she was young, and then created a slide show. Where did I start? I borrowed a line from Janice's poem, <i>Begining,</i> that became my strike line. "At the beginning is where everyone in the world begins." Her poem gave me the incentive to write a golden shovel memoir poem about my beginnings in Syracuse. With an enjambment, I ended my poem with "Life/Begins with trust and faith. I learned this in Syracuse". I moved on to historical photos of places that were memorable to me during my pre-teen years. The next slide showcased Janice's card to me with a poem I wrote for her about Christmas. Then, of course, I needed to write about Syracuse's snowy winters that can start in November and end at Easter. On the thank you slide, I shared a small poem in appreciation for Janice's lovely Holiday Poem Swap. I wrapped my thoughts around a memorable line from Janice's <i>I 'm Most Happy</i> poem. </span></b></p><div aria-level="3" class="LGOjhe" data-attrid="wa:/description" data-hveid="CBgQAA" role="heading" style="background-color: white; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px;"><span class="ILfuVd" face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" lang="en" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="hgKElc" style="padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b style="color: #274e13;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="406" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_uqvQ8aqWDzpHdgz0gNRBlRXdE62HfhiaZMjx3sA-WKOyW1cuympDuIIDm6x-8gV0ulzBAe7sA9XzVYtQOjGre1b-M_5smrLBOcjbGPtb0_WPhi88gTPXsSMEb-MuP_blYxFEECK5uM62ONdSKeJtRurbJudkXL03agi5Nu71n2DDmhPVJ3F9Dvx_Jg/w210-h138/Screenshot%202023-12-28%20at%203.51.44%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="210" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To Janice from Carol, Holiday 2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">🌲🌲🌲</div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">swaps</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">personalized, artful</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">rich in content</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">hold dear to recipients</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><b style="color: black; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">gifts</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;">To Poetry Friday Friends from Carol, Holiday 2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><br /></div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="color: #274e13;">My one word for 2024 was unveiled on 1/4/24 for January's <i>Spiritual Journey</i> that Margaret Simon hosted. Click </span><a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/01/spiritual-journey-one-word-2024.html"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">here</span></a></span></b></span><span style="color: #274e13;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;">🌲🌲🌲</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #274e13;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span>I am eager to join the Poetry Friday community at our host's Marcie Flinchum Atkin blog <a href="https://www.marcieatkins.com/2024/01/04/poetry-friday-roundup-word-of-the-year-2024-and-new-adventures/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">here</span></a>. Marcie dazzles readers with her beautiful nature photography and accompanying haikus.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-size: 18px;"><span><b><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zzDGR1ZoguAvVlJDq_XYieniH17kmZLoIFiQ83xOTg-SLc54DKINFYTjH8-vL2O1WiNt3MnWKTlUnBjMeT3xwl8X4IS24CuaKH_t4AuqJ8P6vG8YNpljQ2ic5HUt23p9lAZ9K1FtFpo/w219-h162/Poetry+Friday-Winter.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="219" /></b></span></b></div></b></span></span></figcaption></div></span></span></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587706174618725555.post-82121010363928571582024-01-04T14:37:00.003-05:002024-01-06T00:18:26.963-05:00Spiritual Journey-One Word 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">This morning a quiet sensation flowed through the chilled wind. </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">Winter announced its arrival with freezing temperatures and icy crystals that decorated my car windows. I felt the push-pull of Nature reminding me to </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">to breathe in winter's frosty breath and feel replenished. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">A</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">s I swept crystals off the car windows, </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">stillness surrounded the grayish morning</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">. A</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">wed by the magic </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: left;">of the winter scene, </span></span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">I listened to the sounds of quietude, finding peace within. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">move slowly on</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">winter's frosty path-step back</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">just <i>be</i> and <u>pause</u></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">witness small moments</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">reflect, renew, replenish</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">breathe in stillness</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><i>pause </i>intentionally</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">breathe in earth's quiet stillness</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">with verve</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;">©CVarsalona, 2024</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9akAij0znRJUFyFU-b2ssELnj9v1jYthuHV7mQ1pEgbYi_i6ElgwzvnY3pv4dBwjBbyTkGCE9FLRlrhEf_3lxmKC_451mJI3J8rmpUq3O3PMiPWrdzcBNIun9it1UHnngZVM5IIREgenTB7kCsVCFvjADSMQ7Ua8W0ojNLBJmdtACByH_VzF75Lhavo/s428/Frosted%20Winter%20Final.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9akAij0znRJUFyFU-b2ssELnj9v1jYthuHV7mQ1pEgbYi_i6ElgwzvnY3pv4dBwjBbyTkGCE9FLRlrhEf_3lxmKC_451mJI3J8rmpUq3O3PMiPWrdzcBNIun9it1UHnngZVM5IIREgenTB7kCsVCFvjADSMQ7Ua8W0ojNLBJmdtACByH_VzF75Lhavo/s320/Frosted%20Winter%20Final.jpg" width="237" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Happily, I went to yoga where I heard a mantra that sparked a plan. </b></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">"A New Year, a New You!"</span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"> This </span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, <i>Be</i>. </b><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>Have you thought about pausing to witness quiet moments? It is the mindful, intentional pause that allows us to focus on, and be engaged in the moment not the hustle and bustle of life's to-dos. I have spent years as an educator and educational leader studying the art of mindfulness. Today, while scurrying to yoga class, I solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, <i>Be</i>. I decided to cultivate mindfulness with an intentional <i style="text-decoration-line: underline;">pause</i> each day. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>inhale</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">one word</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>stillness announces</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>my hope-filled wish</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><i>pause</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><b>©CVarsalona, 2024</b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><b>While researching how to practice the <span>pause, I found</span></b></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"> a quote from Eckhart Tolle: </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">"In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just Being." </span></b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">My one word, "Be", guided me last year. Adding an intentional <i><u>pause</u> </i>this year will strengthen my spiritual walk. I hope you will join me as I pause, reflect, and renew my spirit throughout 2024</b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">. May the magic of winter also encourage you to pause and witness </b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">quiet moments?</b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b>🌲</b></span><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">🌲</b><b style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;">🌲</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">I look forward to joining </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;">the Spiritual Journey community hosted by </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 17px; text-align: justify;">teacher/</span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">author/poet Margaret Simon at <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.com/">Reflections on the Teche</a></span><span><u>.</u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Here, I will find poetic goodness and spiritual enrichment flowing. </span></div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNBoVfwPo2P2Vm2zYqn0iwHcTEWCXLAkYa84Ky0atfuWcFB7Fk1W1hPgXIVvYqTHqfA8gJTpuIyTAt8A4R2EEV4pDJs1koVa86D_Ay0RYSgwVv99NicqvWlAYpIU3-TAdxKBxb6pyDPK1FKLFZ7mxZHa7Nf0advYIggzP9KojU0rF0VAE12WswglPXj0/s978/Screenshot%202024-01-03%20at%2010.45.21%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="978" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNBoVfwPo2P2Vm2zYqn0iwHcTEWCXLAkYa84Ky0atfuWcFB7Fk1W1hPgXIVvYqTHqfA8gJTpuIyTAt8A4R2EEV4pDJs1koVa86D_Ay0RYSgwVv99NicqvWlAYpIU3-TAdxKBxb6pyDPK1FKLFZ7mxZHa7Nf0advYIggzP9KojU0rF0VAE12WswglPXj0/w270-h269/Screenshot%202024-01-03%20at%2010.45.21%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="270" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> Logo designed by Margaret Simon</span></div></b></span></div><div data-hveid="CAwQAQ" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div aria-controls="_qVyVZZj4Cvmh5NoPrc-qwAk_7" aria-expanded="true" class="dnXCYb" jsaction="AWEk5c" jsname="tJHJj" role="button" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: flex; max-height: none; outline: 0px; position: relative; width: 652px;" tabindex="0"><div class="L3Ezfd" data-ved="2ahUKEwjY8JGppcGDAxX5EFkFHa2nCpgQuk56BAgMEAI" jsname="pcRaIe" style="color: #202124; height: 48px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 652px;"></div></div></div>Carol Varsalonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com14