Welcome the Season of Renewal

I welcome a new season into the world but am perplexed that it rushed in with loud whooshes of wind. Night winds turned into early morning winds with slower speed and different swirling sounds. It was then that I realized it was Day 2 of the new season of renewal. Did Mother Nature open its azure skies to remind me, and the world, that "When one flower blooms, spring awakens everywhere" (Walter C. Hagen)?

Life is fragile, uncertain, and when you least expect it becomes a bump in the journey. I am in the middle of a unexpected happening that is gushing with whooshing winds. Yet, the beginning of spring soothes my soul. Holding on to the idea of spring, a season of renewal, alters the fragility and uncertainty of life. Spring becomes the magical potion for a spiritual awakening.

See entire poem by CRossetti here.

INVITATION to CELEBRATE the SEASON of RENEWAL

Reception this weekend-please attend.

Enjoy ebulating excitement and the

Newness of nature's season.

Embrace life's awakening and  

Wonder about the beauty of cherry blossoms. 

Applaud the sweet song of the birds-Pause,

Let's all launch the season together.

©CVarsalona, 2025

The above logo was created by Rose Cappelli, the host of the Poetry Friday Roundup. Rose shares spring poems by E.E. Cummings and Billy Collins. She also has a draft poem on Spring. You can see the poetic goodness offered by the Poetry Friday community at Rose's Imagine the Possibilities.

Today is Day 21 of the March SOLSC #SOL25.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

It's Another Cookie Day!

"There's no end to imagination in the kitchen."-Julia Child

Baking is my creative attempt to let my imagination run wild. These past afternoons instead of busying myself with the myriad of chores waiting for me, I decided to engage in procrastibaking, the art of baking when you should be doing anything else. It has been fun taste-testing new ideas for cookies based on old recipes. I must admit that the clean-up is rather messy and adds one more chore.

dozens of homemade confections

line my long counters

biscottis, chocolate chips, and coconut cookies

old recipes bring back 

 memories of past Easters

baked with love for loved ones

©CVarsalona, 2023

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

This Grandma never runs out of cookies and hugs!

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

C ounters with

O verstocked surprises

O ffer

K neaded delights

I ndulge in more than one 

E njoy the varieties presented

S atisfaction guaranteed 

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Of course, there will be a few dozen cookies for Leigh Anne Eck's Slicer Party!

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

My Slice of Life

Day 29 of Two Writing Teachers

16th Annual March SOLSC! #SOL23

Pennsylvania Welcomes Tourists

As we traveled to Pittsburgh for a framily wedding, I saw this sign and knew I had to photograph it. It became the opening of the photo album I created for the wedding couple. It is an inspirational slogan created by the Pennsylvania Tourism Partnership. Karen Winner Sed, Co-Chair of the PTP stated, "Happiness is a universal aspiration. Whether you are looking to explore the outdoors a historical attraction, or an urban setting the overarching motivator is happiness." Happiness flowed throughout the wedding weekend. Smiles were everywhere but it did not take a sign to bring out the sunshine that lit up faces. Happiness is an inward emotion that does bring smiles.

 What made me happy this weekend in Pittsburgh?

• The Priory Hotel was a beautiful setting for an elegant wedding. It was built in 1888 and was refurbished beautifully.

• It was such a joyous moment when I was able to hug all my framily friends and enjoy special times with them. There are now several new little ones to bring love and laughter into our group.

• The wedding was a beautiful celebration of a dear couple who were embarking on their own pursuit of happiness journey.
• We took a brief walk through a part of Pittsburgh's history, the Strip District filled with boutique stores, larger shops, and restaurants. While it was cold outside, it was still fun seeing what Pittsburgh shopping offered. The long street reminded me of shopping in China Town in New York City.
• The drive home was pleasant and we had a delicious meal in a restaurant we love that is only an hour away from home. 

Because we were busy all weekend, I missed a couple of slices. Tonight, I am joining, Two Writing Teachers for their Slice of Life Story Challenge, Day 20.

Pack Our Bags and Go

Am I an organized packer of our bags when traveling? Frankly no. I have been working on this for years. I think I am getting better at this but my son is not and always needs assistance so nothing is left behind. A case in point is the year we were going to my mother's burial and my son left his dress shoes at home. Thank goodness that my husband had his hush puppies. Proof number 2 is that his toiletry bag is missing from our Disney trip in late January. So you can see why packing for a trip regardless of how long it is makes us all worried that something will be left behind. I checked and double-checked the trunk before taking off to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a framily wedding. 

Packing

P  acking 

A dd only what is needed

C hallenge myself to

K eep it simple

I  nclude toiletries and makeup

N o extra clothing

G et on the road with the hope all is in the bag

©CVarsalona, 2023, designed in FotoJet

***

 It's time to join Poetry Friday Roundup. Thank you poet/Kidlit author and friend, Laura Purdie Salas for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Click here.

Logo by Linda Mitchell

AND

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge Day 17.

NOTES: 

• This post/slice is an extension of my Day 16 Slice of Life that can be accessed here.
• We are almost at our destination so I will respond to comments throughout the weekend.
• Happy St.Patrick's Day-We will celebrate with the framily tonight at the Welcome Party for the wedding! It's at a Pittsburgh pub. 

Reflect-Recharge-Rise (#PoetryPals Challenge)

At the end of July, the Poetry Sisters, Tanita, Laura, Mary Lee, Sara, Liz, Andi, and Tricia, challenged writers to create an acrostic poem taken from Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise. As I pondered this exercise, I went down a rabbit hole searching for the right words and format. Perhaps, after a few days, I am ready to toss out into the universe my thoughts on rising amidst a discontent world full of challenges. 

"But still, like dust, I'll rise" is the strike line I use in my offering.

Be aware of discontent.

Uttered on a restless night-

Tempting hearsay, chains of talk,

Such disruption isn't right. 

There're too many waging tongues

Inclined to talk out-of-turn,

Likely not being kind with

Little need for deep concern.

Listen to earth's stilled silence

Instead of the malcontent.

Know that each life is precious.

Each day should be well-spent.

Discover new approaches to

Undertake with gratitude.

Slow down. Be in the present.

Try out a new attitude.

Imagine all the people

Living together in peace,

Looking into a future 

Rising with hopeful belief.

Inspired by hands united

Stretching across the globe

Elevate voices ignited.

REFLECT - RECHARGE - RISE

                                            ©CVarsalona, 2022

Written with gratitude to Maya Angelou and John Lennon.

******** 

As the night grows still and a hush surrounds the house, I find satisfaction that I completed another writing challenge. Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for bringing together a united group of dedicated eduwriters who meet each Tuesday to share their slices of life. 

Just Tired

Have you ever been so exhausted that you nod off with your computer in your lap? This has happened to me too many times. I think back to my last cataract surgery. A bit too much anesthesia was the culprit. I continue to wonder what causes my exhaustion and all of a sudden I nod off. About thirty minutes later, I woke up too late to meet the deadline for submission to the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers but I decided to write anyways since my mind was racing and it is Cataract Awareness Month.

TIRED EYES

There is never enough time to savor the fullness of life.

It (time) slips away from me as I write,

Retreating into the netherworld.

Energy-sapping motion

Depletes my tank-

Edging me closer to 

Yet another night of

Edgy

Sleep.

Now, I need to reprogram my thoughts so I can go back to sleeping and hopefully not wake up until the morning. Good night!

Thank you Two Writing Teachers and Amy Ellerman for adding the above quote tonight.

Vacation

"A vacation is nothing to do and all day to do it in." -Robert Orben

Summer vacation is coming to a close. Back-to-school ads are common. Educators think ahead to their classrooms and schools. Students enjoy their last days of leisurely living.  There is still time to "just be" during this summer. 

I think back on my mini-vacation to the Jersey shore with the grandgirls and

 

sigh with happiness!

During these last weeks of summer, I pause to reflect on what vacation means and how I can savor the last weeks before Labor Day.

Vacations, whether they are full weeks, mini-trips, or just day trips, are for dreamers, wanderers, and all who desire a change of pace, time to live in the slow lane, and "just be".

Post Cards from Cape May, New Jersey, Summer 2021

 

Goodby vacation. I'm off to enjoy my last weeks of summer. How about you?

Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers.

Ending Thoughts_SOLSC 31

Once upon a time, there were:
31 days of writing,
31 slices of thoughts,
March Musings 2020,
Floating from my laptop
Out to the world of social media.

During March 2020, I experienced:

T ime well spent
H oning
I   nner thoughts 
R unning through my mind
T ugging at my
H eartstrings
Y earning to 

O pen 
N  ew portals
E  very day in April for National Poetry Month writing.

Today, I'm celebrating writing with my global community of slicer friends. Congratulations to all of us. We did it! We sliced, corresponded, commented, shared our writing. While the journey was tough during the trying times of COVID-19, we made it to the end!

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for the opportunity to write daily this month.

💮💮💮

Please Join Me

during National Poetry Month for my series,

Nature Nurtures.

💮💮💮

Each year since March 2015, I have engaged in Two Writing Teacher's Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Slicing allows me to ponder life, literacy, and learning, capturing small moments poetically through writing, photography, and digital art. Welcome to the Last Day of 31 days writing with Two Writing Teachers. 

Commentary on Social Distancing_SOLSC 14

A  cool breeze filters through the open window with a dull, grayish sky opening day. There are no birds singing their tunes. I wonder why. Is life here in my suburb close to Manhattan finding its way to cope with the pandemic? Is nature responding to the crisis? Do the birds understand the concept behind social distancing? I imagine this gray day moving toward Manhattan as I write. 

May this poem help us understand the gravity of the pandemic's reach and bring us closer together in thought as a global community during this trying time.

Each year since March 2015, I have engaged in Two Writing Teacher's Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Slicing allows me to ponder life, literacy, and learning, capturing small moments poetically through writing, photography, and digital art. Welcome to Day 14 of 31 days of writing with Two Writing Teachers.