Halloween Digital Delights with Poetic Flare

There is a trickster in the house.

Boo! It's Grandpa!

Halloween is an experience down memory lane.

I remember it well-

present (above) to past years (below).

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 Let's move backward in time to college days. 

With flashlights, we trod lightly on the cemetery grounds.

 Teaching days brought a Harvest House

scenario for the entire school. There were

decorations, read out louds, refreshments, and fun.

In the neighborhood, 

families gathered together for trick and treat. 

Adults enjoyed costume parties.

Little grandgirls chose their fashionable wear as Disney characters.

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Halloween's Coming!

It's time to light up your imagination.

Now that the digital artwork has been presented, I turn to poetic flare.

Halloween Delight

Momentum rises. 

Halloween is around the corner. 

It specializes

Not as a mourner,

A magical night it is.

Are you ready

dear little miss?

If not, go steady.

Walk down the streets

But beware

Of gobbly treats.

and smells in the air.

Laugh and enjoy

The darkness of night

Don't destroy

Or cry with fright.

Halloween dances

In clothes of black

As he prances

Call him Jack.

©CVarsalona, October 2024, quick write

Country Living

I hope you enjoy a taste of my Halloween-inspired digital art and poem for my little grandgirls. You can see more of my Halloween digital artwork taken in my Long Island neighborhood before we moved by clicking here.  

"l love Halloween and I love that feeling: the cold air, the spooky dangers lurking around the corner." 

Below is a song for little children to sing on Halloween.

I presented my treats so now I share a Halloween trick: 

Find me as a costumed character in the above digital artwork.

Have a Fa-Boo-Lous Halloween!

Now, I am turning the Poetry Friday corner to link in with one of my favorite poet friends, Matt Forrest Esenwine who hosts today's Poetry Friday. Click here to find out what Matt is sharing. You will read a plethora of good news about Matt's success in the Kidlit literary world. I always enjoy book reviewing his work so stay tuned!

I invite everyone to join me next week as I host Poetry Friday. 

Bring your delightful photos, quotes, digital artwork, and poetic goodness. I am excited to share our poetry community's wonderfilled offerings.

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Let your imagination take you wherever it wishes to go. - Carol

March Winds

As I made my way to my exercise class this morning, the winds of March blew throughout our community.  A Christina Rossetti poem reminded me that she, too, felt the strength of the wind in the 19th Century. She asked an interesting question at the onset of her two-stanza poem: Who has seen the wind?

I may not have seen the wind early this morning, but my friends and I certainly felt its chill and force. In the late afternoon, the March wind continued to roar even louder while I sat in the house. My patio became dishshelved and the top of the table umbrella broke off.

Yes, the wind was forceful today so I say, HANG ON to your patio furniture, dress in layers, and WONDER what's next.

Pinterest Winter Art

Who has seen the winds of March

come rummaging by?

Picking up furniture, as if

he's the strongest guy.

His strength and power

swoops everything in sight

within one single hour

he soars into the night.

©CVarsalona, 2023

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Parents, Teachers, and Librarians: 

As the winter winds of March come roaring in like a lion, have some fun with children. Read Wonderopolis - Wonder of the Day #1407 and check out the fun activities for a science lesson.

Write a poem like I did to get ready for April's Poetry Month, or listen to music(see below).

You are my child

You came like the winds of march

With all the love in your eyes

You are my child

You came like the morning lights

With all your love, in your eyes.

Stanza three of Winds of March, a song by Journey. 

🍃

As the wind continues its willful path of making the tall trees sway and

bushes shimmy, I wave goodbye and join

 Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge - Day 14.

Nurturing Your Summer Soul

Summer is a beautiful time to nurture our souls. Its lulling voice can be full of peaceful ripples or in-the-moment meditation so I try to take advantage of its beauty whenever I can. Of course, I need to hit the pause and reflect button to slow down the pace of life in order to make time for possibilities. 

“Repose, leisure, peace, belong among the elements of happiness. If we have not escaped from harried rush, from mad pursuit, from unrest, from the necessity of care, we are not happy.”  -excerpt from Happiness and Contemplation by Joseph Piper

For me, the beginning of the summer felt like a steeplechase race with a long to-do list. I was not nourishing my soul although I thought persistence would help me meet my expectations. Mid-July, I realized that the hustle and bustle pace needed to be reassessed. Was the constant heat making me aware of that? Rest and relaxation were needed. It was time to reflect on my one word, appreciate. 

I appreciate the summer months. They are God's gift to life, a time to be restored bodily and spiritually but I don't always stop to "gift" myself with the space and time to allow myself to just be. (Mylinda Baits, 7 Soul-Nurturing Strategies for Those Who Support Others}

Sunday was my 46th anniversary and it was time for my husband and me to live our best sweet-summer-life getaway and just be at peace for two days. While we did not travel to the ocean, we did retreat to the countryside where the weather was teeming rain but that did not dissuade us from relaxing. Quiet alone time, a gorgeous cottage, and great food allowed us to see nature in a different way during our short summer celebration. 

"Nature is the purest portal to inner peace."

Angie Weiland Crosby

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"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you. it will be enough."

Meister Eckhart

Songs nurture my summer soul. Thank You!

 Thank You! Dewdrops still my soul.

Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash

Nature's Shimmer Touches Life

drip-drop sounds break through silence 

dewdrops as visible as diamonds

glisten in the storm's aftermath

my soul benefits from

summer's morning shimmer

©CV, 2022, gogyoshi

A gogyoshi is a Japanese poem consisting of a title and five lines. No other rules!

Earth's beauty inspires me. Thank You!

What nurtures your summer soul? 

Link your blog post or artistic expression so the Spiritual Journey Thursday community can read your post and comment. You can add a graphic, photo, or poem to the Poetryliscious padlet here. Thank you for celebrating with me this month.

~Carol, August host of Spiritual Journey Thursday.

Thank you, Margaret Simon, for your direction in bringing this community together.

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THURSDAY

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Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery, Section Three

It seems eons ago that "Summer filled her veins with light and her heart washed with noon (C. Day Lewis). Memories of summers on Long Island's sandwashed shores drift on, replaced now by new surroundings. A gentle creek, quiet pond, wooded nature trails, and miles of country roads evoke new memories. I ponder my one word, begin, inhale the autumn's cooling breath, and invite you to savor summer days at this third section of my global gallery of artistic expressions.

Linger in the familiar conviction that life begins over again with summer as F. Scott Fitzgerald did when writing about Long Island's Gold Coast summer days in The Great Gatsby.

Through the blending of art, technology, and poetry, pause to relax 

as you begin a global gallery walk at the Muddy Pond in Northern Virginia.

new hope, new beginning

with each rising sunbreath-

life at the crossroad

©CV, 2021

Breathe in the fresh scent of summer, drift into relaxation mode, and

be lulled by the sound of Chris Rea's, Sweet Summer Day video here.

Travel to Estonia's peaceful lily pond photographed by Terje Akke.

Preview the Experience Estonia video here to discover more about this beautiful country here. 

Discover the beauty of the Oregon Coast in summer.

"On a clear day the Oregon coast is the most beautiful place on earth-clear and crisp and clean...the air fat and salty and bracing, the ocean spreading like a grin." - Author, Brian Doyle

Photos by Rita Wirtz

Morgan & Dad, Kite Flying at Oregon Coast

Listen to Dolly Parton sing Sweet Summer Lovin here.

Now, feast your eyes on beautiful East Coast beaches and lakes.

Long Island, NY

Westcott Beach, NYS

Devin Hartnett, Bahamas

Recall outdoor vacation days across USA.

Cape May, New Jersey

Cheryl Foos, Mt. Ranier, Washington

sunrise to dusk water

cascades in a zigzag flow

earth's scenic moment

©CV, 2021

Photo of Wahconah, Massachusetts by Laura Toledo

@alaskatracy, Alaska Fireweed

Bonnie Nieves's Summer of Self-Care,

an inspirational travel log

Sink into sunset moments!

Rita Wirtz, Oregon

@jackczajkowski

Let evening thoughts arouse interest in nature.

Carol Varsalona, Lake Anna, Virginia

Be renewed by inspiration gathered in summertime.

Arthur Plitt, @Reikiarthur

From the pages of Two Writing Teachers

"The Amen of nature is always a flower." -Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr.

PicCollage by Rita Wirtz, Oregon

From digital inspirations in all medium forms, is evident that summer sights and scents move us to not only romanticize our summer days but inspire us to transition to a new season.

Thank you for strolling through Section 3 of my Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery. 

As you look back on prior gallery rooms:

- Introduction to Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery

- Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery, Poetry Friday Edition

Take a moment to listen to Taylor Swift's song, August, here.

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Thank you to inspired social media colleagues, family, and friends who contributed to this edition of my global gallery, Nurturing Our Summer Souls.

Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery, Section 3 Contributors

@alaskatracy

@jackczajkowski

@Reiki,arthur

@ThisIsAwesomeEd

@tracyscottkelly

Terje Akke

Les Buchanan

Kim Douillard

Cheryl Foos

Devin Hartnett

Bonnie Nieves

Tre O'Hagan Marigliano

Laura Toledo

Two Writing Teachers

Carol Varsalona

Rita Wirtz

Jackie Yun

and

Morgan, student

Cover Art by Jan Annino, Fran Haley, Donna Smith, Carol Varsalona

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I am also grateful to the gifted poet, Irene Latham, for hosting this week's Poetry Friday Roundup. You can find two of Irene's ArtSpeak poems at the Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery, Poetry Friday Edition.

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Please join me when I unveil my last edition to the

Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery for a final look at Summer 2021. 

Stay tuned! Let nature continue to inspire your thoughts and being.

Unveiling of The Art of Summering Gallery

It's a smile; it's a kiss; it's a sip of wine...
it's summertime!
- Kenny Chesney


🕶
Summer is a state of mind that adds positivity to our days. 
Recall your life living summer moments and pause to:

There is an art to summering:
Sun simmering,
Heat chasing,
Waves churning-
Iced tea sipping,
Porch sitting,
Fan swaying-
Sparkler swooning,
People  celebrating,
Sunsets blazing-
Friends visiting,
Quiet chatting,
Babies playing-
Family planning,
Trip taking,
Cameras shooting-
Endless choosing,
Daily relaxing,
Summer happening!
©CVarsalona, 2018

There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." - Sarah Kay


🕶

While the official end of the summer season drew to a close, my mind still drifts back to the pristine beach where a gentle breeze brings relief from the persistent heat. I hear the roar of the foaming waves singing their summer song, and savor those cherished memories. 

To preserve the memories of summer and allow voice to rise, I created this global gallery of artistic expressions,The Art of Summering, with its brilliant array of art, poetry, nature/travel photography, digital art, and music. Take a gallery walk with me to see the many shades of summer across the world. There are 10 stops on the global tour so let's get started.

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First Stop - A Virtual Journey 

Travel Photos

"Traveling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." - Ibn Battuta

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Second Stop - Sunrises and Sunsets Around the Globe
"There are sunrises and sunsets every single day, and they're absolutely free. 
Don't miss so many of them." 
-Jo Walton Winter

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Third Stop - Animals of Summer

"Again and again, the cicada's untiring cry pierced the sultry summer air like a needle at work on thick cotton cloth." - Yukio Mishmima, Runaway Horses: The Sea of Fertility, 2

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Fourth Stop - Summer Art

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

-Thomas Merton

Laura Hill Timpanaro

The Sand Bar by Thomas Cooper Gotch submitted by Tabatha Yeatts

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Fifth Stop - Children's Corner

Click HERE to see the BUNCEE Slide Share

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Sixth Stop - Digital Art

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Seventh Stop - Summer Florals

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." - Gerard De Nerval

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Eighth Stop - Music

"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. 
You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body."

The above quote by Oliver Wendall Holmes was offered by Tabatha Yeatts along with the following song from the Queen of Soul.

Click HERE to enjoy the "The Art of Summering" playlist of 29 songs that I gathered on YouTube.

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Ninth Stop - Summer's Alluring Call

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If you travel far enough, you can find snow-tipped mountains and inspiration in summer.

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Tenth Stop - Time to Say Goodbye to Summer BUT... 

STILL Lingering in the Memories

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Thank you for joining me on The Art of Summering Gallery Walk. 

 Carol

Each season, the gallery concept that I began in 2014 grows in volume. May it continue to lift artistic voice across the globe, provide a joyful reading experience and encourage creativity, as it fills social media with beautifully-crafted digitals inspirations. Please leave comments on this blog, Twitter, or Facebook so that we can all grow as writers.

      

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"Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance." - Yoko Ono

Let the sunshine of summertime, fill your soul, and increase your vitality to find the abundance of autumn! May you continue to notice, observe the living world around you, wonder, and savor each life living moment.

I've traveled different paths each season, 

held onto treasured moments, lingering

in their memories, for they have been

nourishment for my soul. 

©CV, 2017 

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Many thanks are extended to all the poets, photographers, artists, bloggers, writers, teachers, and students who offered digital inspirations for The Art of Summering Global Gallery. The responses to the concept of "summering" were varied and unique.

Contributors to The Art of Summering Gallery
@HolisticSailor	Cuffe, Laurence	Howard, Spiri	Nesdoly, Violet	Wong, Janet
@Teach4spclneeds	Day, Suzi	Hughes, Justine	Nestor, Janet	Wyman, Christie
Alba, Cheryl	Di Stefano, Carl	Hughes, Stephan	Norden, Sharon	Yeatts, Tabatha
Alaska Tracy	Finley, Todd	Hutmacher, Kimberly	Pollard, David	Yun, Jackie
Ajmani, Kumud	Flowers, Lisa L.	Jago, Carol	Quinn, Chris	Zabala, Maria
Akke, Terje	Flynn, Catherine	Kelley, Steve	Salas, Laura Purdie
Alyssa H.	Foley, Kevin	Kogan, Michelle	Shepard, Kiesha
Atkins, Jeannine	Forrest Esenwine, Matt	Kristensen, Kent	Silverman, Buffy
Apel, Kat	Gross, Teresa	Lake, Lillian	Simon, Margaret
Baie, Linda	Guidoccio, Joanne	Latham, Irene	Smith, Donna
Barnes, Michelle H.	Hancock, Patty	MacCulloch, Jone	Steinglass, Elizabeth
Behnke, Ramona	Harsham, Brenda	Macken, JoAnn Early	Tamez, Eugenia
Bigi, Jessica	Hartnett, Devin	Mayr, Diane	Thomas, Kathleen
Boynton, Sandra	Hersey, Ruth	McGriff, Kay	Tilton, Valerie
Bradbury, Shawn	Herzog, John & Rebecca	Meller, Faige	Timparano, Laura Hill
Burtsfield, Dani	Hodgson, Kevin	Mitchell, Linda	Vardell, Sylvia
Cator, Leia	Hogan, Jennifer	Moran, Pam	Varsalona, Carol
Chow, Janet	Hogan, Molly	Mr. Terborg	Weston, Mark E. Ph.D
Coombs, Katie	Howard, Mary, Dr.	Murphy, Sally	Wirtz, Rita

YOUNG POETS (#StuVoice)

Leonie Bennett's Students

Brannon

Callie E.

Camila

Leticia Citizen's Students

Karter

Morgan

Neeve-#WymansWonders' Kinder

Olivia Van Ledtje (@thelivbits)

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Archived Galleries

If you click on a specific title you will be directed to that gallery.

2014

Reflect with Me: Bring a Community of Writers Together to Celebrate Life & Teaching 

April Awakenings

Summer Serenity

Finding Fall

2015

Winter Whisperings

Spring's Symphony

Summer Splashings

Autumn's Palette

2016

Winter Wanderings

Spring's Seeds

Summerscapes

Autumnventure

2017

Winter Wonder

Springsations

Sunkissed Summer

Autumn Ablaze

2018

Winter Wonderland

Sense-sational Spring

The Art of Summering Video

You can access it here.

UPCOMING GALLERIES

Abundant Autumn

Wintering Fun

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"And all at once, summer collapsed into fall."

- Oscar Wilde

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Join me for my #AbundantAutumn journey around the globe.