Hatching a Plan

Today, March 21, 2015, marks the end of the winter season. Remember the statement, March comes in like a lion and walks out like a lamb? Well, March did come in roaring like a lion but is not ready to walk out gracefully. It still wants to roar. 

This week, I traveled north to Albany, NYS' capitol to attend a curriculum conference. Although I saw green grass and only a little vestige of snow, I was greeted with whipping winds and dipping temperatures. On a humorous note, this morning the Albany weatherman apologized for his weather report. Tomorrow is the first day of spring but in reality it appears to be a throwback to winter. Snow is coming back to dust the earth. Winter seems to be quite the trickster this year, wouldn't you agree?

Now, as I prepare for one more smack of snow, I am hatching a plan to continue to remain positive about Mother Nature and Mr. Winter. I will give myself the gift of time to design the Gallery of Winter Whisperings since I am attending a conference and the artistic expressions are still coming in.

It's time to hatch a golden plan,

not with silly green eggs and ham.

Try poetry and photos - Shazam! -

an artistic venture of grand purport

to stretch imaginations and transport

minds to wander, recalling winter bliss

while not thinking of wind's bitter kiss.

Indeed!

Winter entered with quite a roar, held court,

and listened intently to many a loud retort. 

Now, it transitions to yet another spring.

When will I hear the sweet robin sing?

This post is dedicated to three blogging sites that provide an avenue for me to be expressive. Please move over to the following sites to read a variety of perspectives as winter transitions to spring. 

Poetry Friday hosted by Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core.

Day 20 of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge on Two Writing Teachers.

Heidi Mordhorst's Forward...March Challenge at my juicy little universe where the word of the day is hatch. 

Ringing in the New Year with a Look Back and a Look Forward

The New Year brings a promise of possibilities. I pause in the stillness of the early morning to reflect on the myriad of choices I have to start the day. Since it is Friday, I am eager to open the Poetry Friday site and see what offerings are awaiting me. In my quest to challenge my technical skills, enjoy new readings, and write to grow as a learner, I created a museum type showing of the Finding Fall Gallery that has the feel of a New York City gallery. If I accessed the final copy correctly you will be able to enjoy the variety of perspectives on the season of autumn and recollect your fall memories in the process. (Click here to be emazed.)

As promised, I am now ready to send out the invitation to the 5th gallery of artistic expressions. Read below and see if you can determine what the new title of the collection will be. I hope I can encourage many more Poetry Friday community members to offer a poem and accompanying photo. The submission deadline will be the end of February for a March showing. 

Did you guess the title of the new gallery?

-Winter Whisperings-

I included my One Little Word (OLW) for 2015 in the poem-LISTEN!

I will listen to the words in each and every offering to the Gallery of Winter Whisperings and showcase them in an inspiring design. 

Here are the easy steps to engage in reflective writing for this gallery. In doing so, you will assist me in building the collection.

1. Find that special winter site that allows you to listen.
2. Pause, observe, reflect.
3. Capture the image and couple it with a poetic thought or poem.
4. If you want to experiment with photo editing tools, try PicMonkey, Canva, or Word to superimpose the poem onto the photo.
5. Include your name, Twitter handle or website, and location of the  photo.
6. If you are not familiar with the above tools, send me the original photo and poem and I will combine them.
7. One or two student poems are welcomed per teacher, as long as the  teacher submits one, using it as a mentor text for her class.

May your winter be filled with the blessings of the New Year. 

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Now greet the first Friday of January at 

The Miss Rumphius Effect 

where Tricia has already started 

ringing in the New Year with Poetry Friday.