Solar Eclipse 2024

Parts of North America silently waited for nature's moments of totality. on April 8, 2024. News stations aired programs. Libraries distributed solar eyeglasses. People huddled in parks, yards, and special event areas to watch a spectacular sight, the moon passing between Earth and the sun. News stations captured the event minute by minute as the moon blocked the view of the sun. We watched ABC News coverage. Each area from Mexico to Maine shared their 4 minutes of totality as the sun darkened the sky followed by sunlight. 

My son, husband, and I moved between the news and our backyard as we waited for the event. Then, the sky clouded. What would we see? My son asked Siri, "What time will the eclipse occur here in Northern Virginia? Much to his surprise, we would only see a partial eclipse. Regardless, I decided to capture the event even without solar glasses. How did I do this? I cleverly moved my iPhone toward the sky but did not face the sky. I started clicking my iPhone camera. Click! Then, I remembered the Pink Floyd song, Total Eclipse of the Sun, that my husband likes. You can listen to it below and then read my trinet poem introduced to me by the Australian poet, Alan J. Wright during a Poetry Friday Roundup. This poem has seven lines and lines three and four have six words in each line. All the other lines have two words per line. The trinet has no restrictions for rhyme, subject, or syllable. 

Total Eclipse of the Sun

The above photo was captured while watching the sky, shapeshift. Can you see the yellow light around a black object in the middle of the photo? Shortly after I took the photo, the sky became more gray in color and the weather became cooler. What a surprise! I came inside to watch ABC's coverage of the awesome totality moments-solar eclipse in New York State. I can imagine how fabulous it was to be there. 

INVITATION

Please consider offering one image poem of

⤵

for my 2024 National Poetry Month Project

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See more information on my new Gallery of Artistic Expressions and take a peek at my Poetry Parade Padlet. which will showcase my poems and other artistic expressions by writers, poets, and others.

I offer this Slice of Life to Two Writing Teachers. with gratitude for accepting my slice late.

Poetryliscious Poetry - NPM 2022

I am pleased to say that I successfully completed the 15th Annual Slife of Life Story Challenge with a comprehensive index poem to catalog my month of daily writing. Two Writing Teachers' challenge is a wonderful writing experience in which I met new slicers and enjoyed blogging alongside writers I've known for years. I am grateful for this special group of educators. 

I am now ready to dedicate April, National Poetry Month, to the writing of poetryliscious poetry throughout this month or capturing the "humanity of the moment" in photos to capture the "humanity of the moment".

incessant rain splashes lawns

washes negativity

away as dark clouds hover

springtime reigns-coldness settles

©CV, 2022

🌧

Slicers, I invite you to join me to wash away any negativity in the air as springtime reigns.

I will create a Poetryliscious Gallery viewing of original artistic expressions, such as photos, image poems, inspirational quotes, poetry, etc. to celebrate National Poetry Month.

If interested, please add your work to the padlet I created at 

https://padlet.com/cvarsalona/q1uymnafyupx3w8c

or

send your work to me and I will add it.

The deadline to send your work is Tuesday, April 26th.

Padlet

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for a meeting place on Slice of Life Tuesday to connect with a community of reflective writers.

Autumn Gallery Walk Shares #oneword2021 Choices

“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth." -Rainer Maria Rilke

WELCOME

to

Abundant Autumn Global Gallery

🍁🍃🍂

I invite you to:

Enjoy the simplicity of a gallery of artistic expressions that will get your hygge* on.

(*Danish term for "comfort and coziness that engenders a feeling of well-being".)

Experience a relaxing multimedia gallery walk through autumn amidst the flurry of a pandemic. 

Sit back, inhale the smell of wood-burning fires, fresh scent of the countryside, and the taste of apple cider.  

Embrace the beauty of earth with your senses. Is it not true what F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in The Great Gatsby?

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."

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Be inspired to connect with nature and find peace during an awe walk.

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Pause to listen to a soulful tune by Eric Clapton here. 

Follow the Abundant Autumn playlist here.

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Seek the artist within to create autumn as a celebration of all it brings.

I am autumn

before now I was firefly

today I'm a jack-o-lantern smile

tomorrow my name will be falling leaves

secretly I know my name wood smoke

My dream is to become Jack Frost

My name once was harvest moon

-Linda Mitchell

🍁🍃🍂

Autumn shimmers and shines with positivity.

🍁🍃🍂

Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What person can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the spaqn of his or her world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horison? -Hal Borland 

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a child stretches

two hands connect with love-

nature's hope

©CVarsalona, 2019

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Even in the midst of a pandemic

↓

↓

and

↓

↓

Then, as earth dropped its radiant veil,

simplicity appeared in the stillness of autumn.

Alan J. Wright, 2020

🍁🍃🍂

In gratitude for

↓

↓

squirrels scavenge

in search of earthly seeds

winter approaches

©CV, 2020

Terje Akke, 2020 Estonia

↓

and

earth seeks renewal and peace

Offered by Steve Kelley

in a new year of possibilities.

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Thank you for joining me on the final gallery walk of 

Abundant Autumn Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions

life journeys forward

crispclean leaves surrender-

autumn's delight

Collaborative image poem by Jackie Yun, @ManjuRajputMSEd, CVarsalona

Photo by #chazchaz via Al Dhalla

🍁🍃🍂 

I extend appreciation to the photographers and poets who offered inspired contributions:

@ManjuRajputMSEd

#chazchaz

Terje Akke

Kathryn Apel

Linda Baie

Jolie Buchanan

Al Dhalla

Michelle Griffin (@math912teacher)

Devin Hartnett

Steve Kelley

Diane Mayr

Linda Mitchell

Kiesha Shepard

Carol Varsalona

Mark Weston

Alan J. Wright

Jackie Yun

@ManjuRajputMSEd

and

Morgan (student)

↓

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For those still waiting fortheir one word 2021 to appear, perhaps this gallery walk has presented you with some fine choices (see highlighted words).

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Previous editions of the Abundant Autumn Gallery:

Abundant Autumn Gallery Unveiled

Welcome to Abundant Autumn Gallery, 2nd Edition 

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Today is the Poetry Friday: Happy New Year hosted by my poet-teacher friend from Haiti, Ruth Hersey. She shares more poetic goodness at her blog site. Please click here.

Nature Nurtures! Special Invitation

The world is a place we do not recognize now. Silent, somber streets, masked faces, and loneliness exist. But even in the midst of these trying times, mankind is uniting and discovering a new pathway through the muddle. 

As April begins its spring ascent and Easter nears, it is time to recharge our senses. Discover quiet corners to read, write, or bring family together during our #QuarantineLife. Step outside your door, take a walk. Discover nature's beauty and bounty. Practice social distancing and shelter in place during your walk as you uncover what nature holds in its embraceable arms. Raise your voice, list your noticings, pen your poem, or tell your story of determination to heal troubled hearts.

I invite you to join me during National Poetry Month here at my blog and on social media to bring voice and the artistry of nature into focus.  If you supply visuals, original photos of what you see around you as the season opens, nature photography, inspirational quotes, image poems, digital art, and/or poetry, I will share the beauty of this world throughout the month. With the theme, NATURE NURTURES!, a gallery of artistic expressions and stories will evolve to heal troubled hearts and global lands during these challenging times.  

We must remember the healing properties of nature.

Nature Nurtures.

-Sanchita Pandey, Lessons from My Garden

Come together as a global community to let your voices rise with hope and positivity as we fill social media with the glory of nature's healing gifts. All families, educators, students, and community members are invited to join me in this creative endeavor. Student work can be created during remote learning writing or creative activities. Please use the hashtag #NatureNurtures2020 on Twitter where I will curate the collection and add to Nature Nurtures! Padlet that can be found here. All work must have your name and location at the bottom of a 450 px jpeg or png. Deadline: April 30th

Remember nature inspires,

nurtures, and

holds the secrets

to discovering a

positive pathway to peace.

Gallery of Winter Wanderings Unveiled

A few months ago when Winter arrived on the East Coast of the United States, she garbed herself in dramatic grey and white hues while introducing her bright floral line in other locales.  Being the diva that she is, Winter took center stage on the runway many a time. Today, she is making a comeback as the premier model in my exclusive gallery of artistic expressions, Winter Wanderings.

Take a front seat to view the runway show with amazing sounds and sights from Lady Winter's couture seasonal line. Here, global writers and colleagues offer digital tributes to a surprising season of fluctuating temperatures, battering blizzards, splashing rains, and marshmallow-flavored days. Are you ready to be captivated by the spirit of one grand fashionista?

Let's start the gallery walk by listening to the gentle music of George Winston.  

At NCTE 15 on a cold afternoon in Minneapolis, national consultant and writer, Lester Laminack, fashioned the title Winter Wanderings. Writers from across the globe came together to showcase their photographs and poetic thoughts in various shades of digital designs for Lady Winter's tribute collection.  

Please enter the gallery and enjoy the show.

 

Here is a surprise ornament for Lady Winter's collection from J. Patrick Lewis, the former U.S. Children's Poet Laureate (2011-13).

Perhaps it could be said that written poetry is simply a way of revealing and celebrating the essentially poetic nature of the world itself."  
from Lee Bennett Hopkins, NCTE Profile of Valerie Worth
submitted by Michelle H. Barnes

A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything.  ~Ali Edwards 
Submitted by Tammy and Clare from Teachers for Teachers

In January, one little words were chosen to guide writers' journeys.

Lynzee, Elementary Student, Louisiana

Madison, Elementary Student, Louisiana

Lady Winter's styles were seen from coast to coast and across the seas.

Snowfall became the gentle reminder that winter arrived in blushing white style.

Be dazzled by the photographs shot around the world. 

These images capture the exquisite beauty of the past season.
Photographers are credited at the end of the 2 1/2 minute short video.

Across the Universe song  offered by Sean Gaillard

for the Photo Corner.

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.

~Robert Frost, submitted by Joy Acey

Winter animals are intriguing to watch as they busy themselves or not.

Lady Winter's blizzards dosed the earth with mounds of soft marshmallow-like designs.

As the snow fell softly upon the earth, inspiration filled the air.

Drum Roll please - Songs to applaud Winter

Offered by Jama Rattigan

Offered by Tabatha Yeatts

Lady Winter bid earth her goodbys for a brief interlude and

then came back for another round because parting was such sweet sorrow. 

What did most folks say in response?

I extend my thanks to all of the contributors to Winter Wanderings for their perspectives on the versatility of the winter season.

Gallery visitors, thank you for sharing reflective time with the Winter Wanderings' community of writers. Please leave a response in the comment section or at #WinterWanderings and @cvarsalona on Twitter to recognize the efforts of the gallery contributors. This gesture of community spirit is appreciated.

You can visit the previous eight Reflect With Me Galleries at the following links.

-Autumn's Palette
-SummerSplashings
-Spring’s Symphony

-Winter Whisperings

-Finding Fall

-Summer Serenity 
-April Awakenings

-Reflect With Me-Bring a Community of Writers Together to Celebrate Life & Teaching 

It has been a pleasure to present the stylistic designs of Lady Winter's seasonal line through a poetic lens. Now that the runway show of this collection has come to a close, please remember that within the depths of the soul creativity lives.

Writers write, artists create, and photographers capture images
to allow voice to rise.   

Please join me during the month of April as I engage in "poetryliscious" writing and conversations. You can find more information here. 

In addition, an invitation to my upcoming creative project, Spring's Seeds, the tenth gallery of artistic expressions, will be sent out soon. 

Let's plant seeds of inspiration to grow poetry love across the globe during National Poetry Month.

Carol