#QuarantineLife Musings

The afternoon sun was playing peek-a-boo as I walked around my garden marveling at the blossoms of spring. My lilac bush, full with fragrance, filled the air with a familiar scent from my childhood. I indulged in the freshness of the perfumed air while walking past the brilliance and plentitude of my rose bushes. The garden was still except for the soft music of Yanni's Butterfly Dance. I felt at peace.

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, 

where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike." -John Muir

In this tranquil setting, I stepped out of my comfort zone and created a video of quarantine life. Wrapped in an outdoor mask that I made, I luxuriated in spring's bountiful blessing for a few moments. Then, I quickly shared my passion for writing and designing a gallery of artistic expressions that shares Earth's beauty. Please take a few more moments to visit Nature Nurtures! padlet. 

I hope the short jaunt there allows you to breathe in the freshness of spring while wandering through the collection.

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday so I am traveling to Two Writing Teachers to be quieted by the inspiration of pens scribbling across the page.
See the first piece I found there.

The Art of Summering Mini-Gallery: Goodbye to Summer

After traveling to Central New York and admiring the beautifully painted autumn landscapes, I returned to a humid Long Island and asked, "Is it really time to say goodbye to summer?" The truth of the matter is as Oscar Wilde said, "And all at once, summer collapsed into fall." With that being said, I wish to send summer off in style now that "The Art of Summering" Gallery of Artistic Expressions has officially been unveiled on the following social media platforms: Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram. 

In the introduction to the gallery, I wrote: "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 would like to take you on a mini-gallery walk of The Art of Summering to see the many shades of summer from Poetry Friday poets' perspectives. There are 10 stops on the global tour so without further delay, let's begin. I have selected one digital artistic expression for each stop. 

First Stop - A Virtual Journey 

Travel Photos

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

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

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

Fourth Stop - Summer Art

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

-Thomas Merton

Fifth Stop - Children's Corner

sweet summer life

lives in the spirit

of the child

©CV, 2018

Sixth Stop - Digital Art

Seventh Stop - Summer Florals

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

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. 

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

Ninth Stop - Summer's Alluring Call

Tenth Stop - Time to Say Goodbye to Summer

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

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 

Moving On to Yet Another Season

The Art of Summering video, created by Carol Varsalona, can be accessed here.

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)

May the fond memories 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. -Carol

🕶

This week's Poetry Friday Roundup is at the blog site of my friend, poet Laura Purdie Salas. Laura is excited about J. Patrick Lewis' newest anthology, the poetry of US, that holds four of her poems. Today, she shares a gorgeous image poem that she created for the new anthology.

Evening Thoughts

"Evening Thoughts", my short video created with the digital video platform, Animoto.

It was later in the day. The long ride back to Long Island from Virginia seemed endless. Just then, as the sun began to set and Manhattan was faintly visible in the muted haze, I felt a burst of energy. Peacefully, I watched the sky change colors before my eyes. 

From one side of the bridge to the other, I turned to capture nature's magical moments. Poetic thoughts rumbled in the corners of my mind, as my husband continued the drive.

It was surreal as the sky transformed itself before my eyes. Exhaustion from the endless, slow-paced ride in traffic seemed to be a faint memory. Transforming the photos into digital art allowed the last hour and a half of the journey to become a joyous occasion.

Today, I found this quote by Ayn Rand that speaks to the pure pleasure of gazing upon a Manhattan sunset. “I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York's skyline. Particularly when one can't see the details. Just the shapes. The shapes and the thought that made them. The sky over New York and the will of man made visible..."

At Two Writing Teachers, it is Slice of Life Tuesday. Join me there.

Trust in the Message of Renewal

Hope radiated from the darkness. It floated in the air with the distinct aroma of incense. A single candle processed in. From that light the darkness was extinguished as candles were lit one by one. With faith and trust a community moved quietly into the light and so the Easter Vigil progressed. All reverently listened and reflected through every pause and reflect. A message of faith, hope, and renewal was proclaimed and we trusted as a family of believers.

Now, Easter morning is here and the sun is breaking through the grayness. We will gather as a family once again to walk the beach and find renewal in nature. Later, in the tradition of Easter joy, we will join friends to dine and celebrate. 

Please watch the short Animoto video I created documenting my Easter preparations to send out Easter blessings to all.

On DigiLit Sunday, Margaret Simon, is discussing the topic, trust today. When creating digitally, it is important to note that trust is essential as we send out our messages across the universe. With trust, I float my video and post out, hoping that my thoughts on trusting in the message of renewal will be accepted. 

In trust, we 
collaborate,
create,
and export.
In trust, we
grow as a
community.
In trust, we
appreciate
and
understand
that from
trust hope
grows.
In trust, we 
become one.
We renew
our quest
and 
step lightly
onto
enriched
paths.
In trust, we
renew 
our journey.

©CVarsalona, 2016 

Today marks the twenty-seventh post of my Clearing a Path series for the Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Challenge. Please see other slicers' posts here.

DigiLit Sunday