Slicer Meet Up

The power of a Zoom meet-up is the conversation, exchange of information, and comfort of talking from home. 

Late yesterday afternoon, I read that Two Writing Teachers offered teacher workshops on Zoom. I missed the afternoon class but signed up with the thought that the windstorm would cease and my husband and son would be able to chase down the cushion to my patio chase lounge before the meet-up began. So at 8:00 pm, I turned on Zoom but the strangest thing happened. I could hear Tammy Evans and Erica J. speaking to each other but the video kept going on and off.  I tried the restart and the update buttons but that did not resurrect the video. After about 5 minutes of trying to Zoom with the slicers, I finally accomplished the task and had a wonderful hour of constant talk. It was like being with friends I have not seen in a very long time. 

It was great chatting about new formats we found at other slicers' blogs, how we get our ideas, and slicer blogs that we enjoy reading. I started to use the "Currently" format then changed my mind. I decided to use a simple poetic format, the hay(na)ku, that I shared at my recent professional development keynote address on Zoom for RSCS- Reading Specialist Council in Suffolk County, Long Island.

A new format for writing challenges: the hay(na)ku

-PD slide I provided for classroom or personal use-

Other samples for student use during  

SOLSC for students and National Poetry Month:

writing

small poems

celebrate students' thoughts

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poetry

lifts spirits

beyond printed pages

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celebrate

slicer stories

gifts to friends

Hay(an)kus written by ©CVarsalona, 2023

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 It's time to join Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge - Day 15.

Grateful for Treasured Moments

 We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” -Thornton Wilder

Treasured moments are small ones

filled with thanks for life and living. 

Within these small moments, 

families come together, 

snap photos for posterity, 

and mindfully enjoy the present. 

©CV, 2021

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Pausing-in-prayer before eating allows us time to give thanks and open our hearts to what we are grateful for in life. 

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Thanksgiving:

While Thanksgiving 2021 brought only part of the family together, it was a delicious, memorable meal that was a welcomed break from my husband's rigorous medically-prescribed diet plan. This was our pre-party for a weekend event that would bring a  surprise twist for our family gathering.

A Few Days Later:

Imagine our surprise when we awoke on Saturday morning and the turkey did not thaw out in time. EEK! Plan B was put into action. My husband drove to the local grocery store to search for a fresh turnkey that would feed seven. Upon entering the house, he excitedly told his tale. 

"There were at least 75 frozen turkeys and only one fresh one in the bin. The other good news is I only paid $3.60 for this 17 1/2-pound fresh turkey!"

A phone call let us know my daughter, son-in-law, and grandgirls would arrive.  The call was interrupted by an excited 4-year-old who could not wait to tell her news to Grandpa.

"Grandpa, we bought a chocolate cake for Grandma."

A few hours later, two pretty boxes came into the house. I could hardly wait to see what was inside. When it was time for dessert, the boxes were opened. Sierra decided to add four colorful candles to the chocolate cake. These were placed next to the birthday girl sign. 

"Mommy loves red," Sierra said.

I replied, "Did you know that I love red too?"

Aurora wanted to be raised higher to see the "happy" (short for a happy birthday party). The girls and I squished on one swivel chair for the traditional family event. An off-key tune was sung (so says my husband) and I along with my two little loveys blew out the candles. A bite into the chocolate cake brought me to another happy place. The yumminess of the chocolate and the creme layers was just too delicious for words!

Reflection:

The events of Thanksgiving 2021 seemed to erase the sting of last year's pandemic life and channel a new feeling of being blessed. 

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Thanksgiving

a holiday

to gather together

with good food

family conversation

harmony 

©CV, 2021

Note: The above poem uses a hay(na)ku and reverse hay(na)ku  poetic form. A hay(na)ku has lines of one, two, and three word(s) for lines one, two, and three respectively. A reverse hay(na)ku reverses the order.

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The Power of Gratitude:

November ends a month of gratitude but in reality, it does not stop on November 30th. Let us all remember this. 

Thank you to my friend, Laurie Saurman, who shared this graphic on gratitude at her Facebook post.

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Thank you to my son, Derek Varsalona, for taking this beautiful photo in West Virginia while on a mini-vacation with his sister, brother-in-law, and little nieces.

weekend plans develop

inspiring an

autumnwatch

©CVarsalona, 2021 & Photo by ©Derek Varsalona, 2021, West Virginia

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Gratitude for the weekly Slice of Life offered by Two Writing Teachers.

Hay(na)ku of Gratitude

Lately, I watch November winds shift chilling the air and tossing crumpled leaves into garden beds. Days grow shorter and the sky darker. These are task-filled, ordinary days, yet they are days of thanks for small accomplishments. 

During gratitude month, I join other writers who find time to recognize earth's beauty and praise small moments through writing. I use a simple, contemporary poetic format, hay(na)ku, created by Eileen Tabios in 2003, and a photo by my daughter to create a gratitude poem.      

november

pauser of life

shifting our perspective

©CV, 2021. photo by Devin Hartnett 

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” -William Arthur Ward

My little grandgirls turn any day into sunshine by their presence and joyful spirits. I am thankful for their smiles, their love, and how they change my perspective on life. 

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I join Two Writing Teachers for Slice of Life Tuesday.

Recollection of Fall

I recall a glorious walk last fall on a clear day that radiated with the sunshine of spring and the warmth of autumn. Instead of a quick jaunt to the ocean, my husband and I traveled a short distance to Hempstead Lake Park, a beautiful place for a walk.

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It was one of those rare days that spoke of the majesty of the earth. Walkers congregated at different bends of the trail to celebrate the beauty of the season. The nature path strewn with scattered leaves and fallen trunks was lush with the fruits of the season. Red-orange berry bushes, popping with color, lined the path. Scampering squirrels raced hurriedly across the wooded trail as dogs promenaded with their owners. A faint hint of horse hooves clomping on the adjacent trail was evident. Serenity surrounded the inner sanctum of the woods. Only the crunching of leaves underfoot broke the morning silence. Off the beaten trail lay an expansive glistening lake that sparkled with slight ripples from the slow gliding ducks. Massive trees stood regally as their multi-colored leaves showed signs of changing colors. Two couples stood nearby to soak in the abundance of nature's gifts that were showcased under the sun. 

radiance

of morning

reflected in leaves

©CV, 2019

What I attempted above is a prose poem called a haibun, followed not by the tradition haiku but a Hay(na)ku, a poetic form that I recently learned about. I added a digitized form of the nature photo I took last fall. This sequence of poetry and digital artwork will be featured in my upcoming Abundant Autumn Gallery of Artistic Expressions. 

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Now, I am off to connect and collaborate with online friends at Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life Writing Challenge.

Connections

"We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep."

-William James

While alone last night, I heard a thunderous sky bellowing, rains pounding but did not lament. I knew that the earth was being replenished. When I woke this morning, a glorious spring day filled my window with sunshine. I felt comforted that the rains accomplished their task and earth was replenished. By mid-afternoon, my roses were blooming in beautiful shades of pink while the last of plump peonies made their debut, replacing droopy ones. My garden was alive with different shades of green. I wanted to capture the glory of springtime in a digital form of muted hues and so I created an artistic representation of my garden filled with greenery. 

As I searched for poetic words to accompany the digital, I came across a 21st Century poetic form, Hay(na)ku, invented by Eileen R. Tabios, so I played around with ideas. Clearly, I need to work at this form but below is an early Hay(na)ku attempt.

It is with a spirit of conscious connectedness that I compose my thoughts tonight for the week was one of connecting and collaborating.  This afternoon after my garden tour,  I sat down to connect with my Spiritual Journey first Thursday group hosted by Ramona Behnke. Her topic, connections, was an easy fit for my week of conscious connections, and so I composed a follow-up to my SJ1stT post. 

Just what is a connection? Brene Brown defines it "as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, hear, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they drive sustenance and strength from the relationship."

I am one 
traveler on
a journey called life-
one tiny part of a universe
of thoughts and spoken words,
drawing strength from communities
filled with positive energy and caring spirits.
With gratitude, I respond by capturing nature's
beauty filled with the colors of earth's splendors. 
I connect with the earth, life, and wonder of all that lies within. 
©CV, 2019

I, like others, may lead separate lives but are "connected in the deep" when we become part of a collegial community. It is a privilege to be a member of the Poetry Friday family of friends. Tonight, my artist-poet friend, Michelle Kogan is hosting Poetry Friday here.

REMINDER: Deadline for #digitalinspirations of any artistic format for my upcoming #SpringSplendorGallery are due by June 13th.