Stay in the Now

Burgeoning signs of spring cuddle the earth in warmth. Morning begins its ritual of awakening. A bluish, spring sky and its cottony puffballs of clouds float on by.  Time moves quickly so I pause to breathe in the essence of springtime. 

spring morning unfolds
blossoms drink in life's essence
stay in the now
©CVarsalona, 2024, haibun 

It's time to slowdown and stay in the now
as fellow slicer friend, Terje Akke from Estonia, would say. 
Small treasures from Estonia
Nature Photo by Terje Akke

On this last day of National Poetry Month, I will continue to watch the blossoms in my garden and on my Poetry Parade Padlet bloom. The above photo and the combined image poem below will be showcased on the padlet and be part of my new gallery of artistic expressions. Please add your offerings.

May spring's sunlit day and seasonal rains allow your garden to burgeon with joy.

 I now join the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for reflective writers.

Summertime Peace

It's August already. July slipped by under a halo of heat and tissues. I flip-flopped between feeling healthy enough and ready to enjoy summer's charms to wondering if I would ever stop being attacked by allergens in the air. It's been three weeks of allergy meds, inhalers, and not feeling right but Sunday starts a week of breathing in sea air and tossing worries into the Atlantic Ocean. I can imagine the breathing view of Cape May's painted ladies proudly facing the beach. We already missed a well-planned anniversary weekend trip to the Chesapeake shore in Virginia so I am eager to find tranquility at the Jersey Shore next week. 

ocean waves ripples

sunkissed sands meet endless seas

peace floats within

©CVarsalona, 2023 - Photo by Terje Akke

A while ago, my long-distance teacher/writer friend, Terje Akke, shared a photo of Estonia. Her picture provided a few moments of evolving peace. I've kept the photo of the beach scene waiting for the right moment for a small poem to appear. I dedicate this image poem to Terje with the hopes she has found time to just be this summer.

Time to Just Be

a feather light to touch

shares space with summer sand

summer nurtures souls

©CVarsalona, 2023

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

May the month of August bring summertime peace to all!

It's the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers a place to reflect and meet up with educators around the globe.

Enjoying Springtime

“Let us find inner freedom in each lucky moment that we encounter, like a sun-basking butterfly that finds peace on a cherry blossom petal.”

 – Erik Pevernagie

The weeping cherry tree planted in my Virginia garden stands tall in its early stages of development. According to legend, the gift of the cherry tree brings good luck and future happiness in the days to come. I thought the beautiful little buds were going to fall down during the daylong rain but they did not so I can continue to enjoy the sight.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a meeting place for reflective writers around the globe. I am offering this slice for 24 of the 16th Annual SOLSC! #SOL23 March Writing Challenge. It is Multi-lit Friday so in honor of my international slicer friend, Terje Akke from Estonia, I ask: "Kas sa naudid kevadet?" (The translation should read, "Are you enjoying spring?")

Hetk-a moment in time (found poem)

During the month of March, Two Writing Teachers offers the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Educators around the globe gather to write small narratives, Slices of Lfe. My colleague in Estonia, Terje Akke, and I have been reading each other's slices for many years. Terje is an accomplished educator leader/teacher, writer, multicultural blogger, and photographer. On February, March 3, 2023, Terje wrote a descriptive piece that flowed like a prose poem. I was moved by her title, hetk- a moment, and decided to write a found poem. Below you will find the paragraph I chose to create a poem with her words about a moment in winter.

Today is the last day of my winter holidays. My husband is at work and daughter in choir practice. I sit in the morning silence on the living room sofa I love this warm and soft nest where I enjoy texts that others have written and collect my life slices and thoughts. The clouds rush along the blue sky and the world is full of hurrying people. Even though the clock is ticking away in seconds, I sense that here and now the time has stopped and allows me to breathe in peace and contentment. The sun peeks through the clouds, tickles my cheek, inviting me to play outside. Maybe later. Let me stay in this light moment of being. -©Terje Akke, 2023

Winter Moment

winter at work

practicing silence.

a warm nest

collects thoughts.

clouds rush.

hurrying people

sense time stopped.

breathe in contentment.

sun clouds invite play.

stay in this moment.

Be!

©CVarsalona, 2023 (Found Poem)_Terje Akke, 2023, (Photo of Estonia)

Stop for a moment to watch the video, "Science of Silence - Hetk.

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge

Day 11

I Stayed the Course

It is almost 11:00 PM. I hoped that I would be able to write in a quiet space but two different games are being watched in two separate rooms. The blare of the fast-paced sporting events is loud and clear but then, a thud, a pouring of rain, and a loud whooshing wind overrides any other noise until all cease at the same time. The quiet is relished during this reflective time. 

I STAYED the COURSE but it has been a tough one, writing for 31 days and responding to other slicers' writing. I am happy to say that I did finish the March SOLSC! #SOL21 challenge as did many of my slicer friends. Some days, I snuck in just before the midnight hour with a sigh of relief. Most days, I promised myself I would write earlier in the day. At any rate, I am proud to say I documented my life move to Virginia from Long Island, New York each day. It will be fun to look back and see what I had to say about the stressors, strains, and excitement of making a transition to a new place and lifestyle. 

Throughout this month of writing, I read, commented, and corresponded with so many educators from around the states and as far away as Estonia. Among the different types of writing, I learned how to say Bon Apetit in Estonian from Terje Akke and also learned a new form of poetry from Arjeha, the sijo. 

With this March Musing 2021, I stand in awe of all my slicer friends who also withstood a month of writing while balancing many balls. I thank each and every person who visited my blog and took the time to write a comment. I read all the comments but many times, mostly towards the end of the challenge, I did not have enough time to write individual thank yous in the comments.

I stayed the course!

Through thick and thin times

Moving from Long Island

To a new home in Virginia.

Celebrated joyous moments.

Gingerly transversed many rough trails

On my way to this destination-

The final stop of the slicers' March journey.

In faith, I wrote daily,

opening my heart

to the whispers of my soul.

 

From my March 2, 2021 Slice of Life

With a new commitment to writing poetry for the month of April, I'm off to join a community of poets for National Poetry Month. I will start the month off with a poem at Spiritual Journey Thursday.

Day 31 March SOLSC! #SOL21 at Two Writing Teachers

I appreciate the space Two Writing Teachers opened to all writers. 

TWT, thank you for the badge!

In Praise of Springtime Blooms

“Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is.” 

-Jessica Harrelson 

Every spring, nature offers a gift to the world, an explosion of buds in an array of colors.  Even though there is a pandemic still raging and the sky is gray on many days, spring's new life signs are continuing to bloom and flourish.  I take a walk into my garden and my heart is lifted.  The hosta plants are a bright green and the peony bush is starting to bud. 

On the other side of the globe, my slicer friend, Terje Akke, is also admiring springtime blooms growing in her Estonian landscape.  She often shares photos from her native land and I add them to the galleries I create. The following blue flower spread is one of the pages from my upcoming new gallery, Nature Nurtures 2020.  I added a 15-words-or-less poem connecting our love of nature and photography.  Thank you, Terje for your beautiful photos and thoughts.

Nature is a constant source of comfort, the main character in my upcoming new gallery, Nature Nurtures 2020. 

Enjoy Vivaldi's Spring to further awaken your senses.

“The poet, the painter, the sculptor, the musician, the architect, seek each to concentrate this radiance of the world on one point, and each in his several work to satisfy the love of beauty which stimulates him to produce.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature

It's Slice of Life Tuesday and time to join Two Writing Teachers.

From Estonia to NY, Nature Nurtures

When my Estonian writing friend Terje Akke shared the following beautiful photo from her homeland, I sighed

blue-purple bloom,
effortlessly beguiling,
springs forth from earth
burgeoning budding-day calls
bringing hope to the hopeless
©CV, 2020

🌸

and followed with a handmade, paper collage card with pressed dried petals.



If I could go to the Post Office, I would have tucked inside the card a poem
but instead, I send a virtual card with wishes
to stay safe during quarantine life.

It's time to join Two Writing Teachers for Slice of Life Tuesday and 
add my National Poetry Month poems of hope with a special announcement.

March Musings '19: Dandelion Dreams

The world brightens today as spring makes its entrance. My mind drifts back to childhood. Dandelions, perky and bright, grew wildly in our lawn. There was something magical about them as they stood upright, bursting with brilliant color. They were mine to pick, carry inside, and offer as a tribute to spring. Another quick thought flashes: Mom laughingly accepting my gift, recalling dandelions being Nonnie's edible treat.  Dandelion dreams dance in my mind as I blow their seeds into a stream of indelible memories.  

dandelion roots

brilliant bitter edible-
spring's field of dreams

©CV, 2019

Terje Akke, Estonia, 2018

days of play dance in my mind

springtime memories reveal

wild dandelion dreams

©CV, 2019

Thank you, Linda Baie, for suggesting the topic for Day 20 of Laura Shovan's Poetry Project.

Linda Baie, 2018 

Day 20 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

Celebrating Communication with a Global Friend

I like to connect via Twitter with my global friends about teaching and learning either through chats or blogging. It is amazing to be virtual friends with so many like-minded people who are student-centered and creative. This weekend, Terje Akke, one of my educator friends from Estonia, created her celebration post about an idea that has been marinating for years. Excitedly, I read her post to see what photos Terje would include. She is a wonderful photographer and writer who has been giving her students the gift of writing in the great outdoors but her real desire for years has been to have her students experience how writers go to unexpected places for ideas. Recently, her dream was realized.

In Terje's blog, she described the unusual place she took the children to write. It was the Estonian Art Doll House.  I found Terje's photos of the doll museum to be quite engaging. I could picture the young writers milling about the house being greeted by an assortment of dolls. I especially liked the photo Terje included of a Victorian Queen of Hearts type doll. I started playing around with rhyme and decided to draft a short poem for the students to remember their experience. Who knows, maybe they will create their own person poems for each of the dolls they saw.

I am grateful for the connection I have made with Terje. You can see her photographic work in my recent gallery of artistic expressions.  Terje has given me a gift. She hasprovided me with insight into the teaching methods and lifestyle of Estonians and continues communication to share ideas. There are many other photographers and educators from across the world that I have met through Twitter. Being able to connect virtually with others across regions makes the world seem more accessible to me.

I celebrate with Terje this week to continue the commitment to celebrating life that Ruth Ayres started. 

Celebrating The Art of Summering

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

My reply to Question 5 was: 

😎

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

Maine

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

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

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

Celebrating Winter Together

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home." -Edith Sitwell

Sitwell's quote reminds me that winter is the time of year for stepping back and enjoying the warmth of family and fremily togetherness. It is the time to look inside, enjoy moments of solitude but also the time to let JanYOUary shape our winter lives. Make the most of winter! It is our launching pad for one word goals to propel our 2018 dreams and hopes.

Photo by Devin Hartnett, West Virginia

NOTICE
unblemished snow,
winter's whitened creation,
artistry in motion, that quietly enters,
inviting all travelers to linger in solitude,
savor the beauty of untouched paths.
Listen to nature's calling, awakening
life to hushed stillness and peace.
WONDER in silent tribute as
 frosted trees celebrate
a world tucked in
 tranquility and
hope.

©CVarsalona, 2018

Tomorrow, I look forward to a winter walk exploring Manhattan with my family. Who knows what sights and sounds I will find because New York City in winter is a happening. May your weekend be filled with winter magic and celebrations of life. I am off now to Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres and her community of writers. Join me.

News:

This week I will invite all to create alongside me for my newest gallery, Winter Wonderland. This is everyone's chance to voice positive thoughts about  the season of winter, whatever it may look like in your locale. You can see some of the digitals that have been gathering for this year's winter gallery at #WinterWonderland18 and visit last year's winter gallery here.

Autumn Writing

I look out my window each day, wondering what new surprise nature will provide. I slowly discover a rhythm, inspired by the tinges of autumn I see. Writing finds its way into morning. I settle in. From consciousness to paper, words appear as I reveal my inner thoughts. What starts as a glimmer of an idea becomes a messy synthesis of flowing words. With faith and a rewrite, voice will rise on wings that fly. 

🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁

While leaf peeping is not a robust activity on Long Island this October, I seek autumnal beauty through the eyes of others. 

My colleague, Sylvia Vardell, captures the beauty of autumn's colors in the following image poem.

Thanks to my friend, Barbara VanIderstine, 

her magnificent photo of upstate New York provided me with inspiration to create a tribute to autumn.

🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁

Today is the National Day On Writing. 

I celebrate the power of the written word through poetry.

Why do you write? 

Share your thoughts on social media with the hashtag #WhyIWrite.

🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁

Share your digital expressions on the beauty of autumn at my upcoming gallery, #AutumnAblaze. The invitation can be accessed here.

I'm off on a leaf-peeping adventure but before I go, I am checking in with others at Poetry Friday. 

Today's Poetry Friday roundup is hosted is my writing friend, Leigh Anne Eck who offered the following for Autumn Ablaze. Her poem was inspired by Terje Akke's photo of autumn in Estonia.

🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁