Celebrating Togetherness

Photo from degreed.com

This week, I celebrate togetherness leading up to Valentine's Day. 

This is a special time of year for me, a week to celebrate family love and friendship connections. During the days prior to the Valentine's Day holiday, traditions take prominence in my life. The house is decorated with antique and family memorabilia. Cards are purchased by family members for loved ones and ephemera is proudly displayed, signifying bygone years of card giving. In addition to the decorations, we cannot forget a special dinner topped off by a Valentine's Day cake. The celebration is special and often brings back fond memories.

Vintage Cupid doll

This year I was surprised by a lovely bouquet of red and white roses, carefully placed in my crystal vase by my husband and son. Surrounding the flowers were carefully chosen cards. While these were strategically placed in the kitchen, being in typically non-observant in the morning, I passed right by them until my husband called attention to the gifts. We had a good laugh over that. 

I surprised the two of them later in the day with a homemade cake. 

Roses give a spring-like touch to the winter landscape

Here is my Valentine's Day thought. 

Hark to hearts that adorn my rooms.

Hark to the cherubs singing their tunes.

Love to my family that makes me smile

and sweet memories that linger awhile.

Tribute to years of wedded ups - downs.

Patience in togetherness knows no bounds.

Peace and goodwill on Valentine's Day

for love I honor in a special way.

Listen to My Funny Valentine by Frank Sinatra, 
an oldie that my mother would have appreciated.

Besides all of the family goings on this week, I celebrated togetherness in a writing community with teachers new to Twitter. During a day long workshop on reflective writing, I led teachers through several exercises in which they created their one little word and an acrostic poem to accompany it, among other activities. A sample of the work that was shared on Twitter by the educators is below. 

Created by @ocscience

Created by @ocscience

Created by @hillarybrom

Created by @dlocova

Celebrating togetherness, whether it is personal or professional time, 
is a special part of my life.

<><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Now, follow the link to Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week site to hear how the community of bloggers celebrated their week leading up to Valentine's Day.

Winter's Tiny Perfection

All week long I have been turning my attention to the positive side of life and referencing an attitude of positivity during professional development sessions with teachers. In early February one of the storms left a perfect pair of icicles on my holly tree.  Below you will find the image I created that was featured in my February celebrate post. While it melted during one of the rare days of warmth, yesterday a new collection appeared. This reminded me that I never finished the poem I started. Below, you will find the finished product.

Winter's perfection,

translucent crystalline beauties

kissed by winter's freeze,

stand erect.
Frozen in 
temporary time,

an icy pair 
wait patiently
for snowsun 

to turn its gaze
and melt them 
into 
dewdrops 
for a frozen earth.

Stand tall, 
winter's perfection.
Shine and glisten.
Drip, drop, drip drop-
when ready, let go!

Before writing this post, I closely observed my surroundings while listening to sounds. How often do we neglect to notice nature's beautiful stillness as we busy ourselves in everyday pursuits? How often do we take the time to celebrate the small moments? 

As I read through a River of Words once again, I realized that the ordinary can become extraordinary. William Carlos Williams celebrated everyday, common objects in the lives of ordinary human beings. Jen Bryant eloquently honored Williams works in her book about about him. She states, "By stripping away unnecessary details, Williams tried to see the thing itself...with great intensity and perception." Below is Williams' poem describing his perception on winter snow.

This practice of viewing small moments and objects with an observing eye and a listening ear has served me well lately. I leave you with a soothing song for a winter's night in hopes that you will be interested in offering your own original, digitally combined winter image and poem for the Winter Whisperings Gallery.

Now turn your attention to the offerings of Poetry Friday at 

Cathy Mere's site, Merely Day By Day.

Look Inward and Upward

When winter's cold weather calls you inside, find comfort in silent, meditative moments. Melt away the frigidity of the outside world and relax in quietude. Stillness will be a blessing after a day pondering life's enduring questions. Turn inward. Stretch; release your thoughts. Melt the cold away. It is in these contemplative moments that we look upward to find the peace we need to greet another day.

In the silence
listen to your breathe.
Look inside.
Declutter your mind.
Focus;
let go;
surrender your thoughts
into the stillness.
Turn your attention
inward and upward,
allowing stress to
fly away.
Reach out.
Look for possibilities
within the heart
and outside of self.
Take a leap of faith.
Trust in the
impossible. 
The Divine Peacemaker
calls us to believe!

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always. 
Psalm 105:4
(New International Version)

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29
(New International Version)

If I am an expression of the divine (Alice Walker) then, I need to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:12) 

Now look for other blogger responses to Holly Mueller's call for Spiritual Journey Thursday  responders. Each Thursday, Holly and the faithful community of bloggers come together to pause, reflect, and write on a topic. Blogs from January and February are devoted to each blogger's one little word journeys, starting with Holly's word, focus. 

We have covered my OLW, listen, Michelle Haseltine's word, fly, Leigh Anne Eck's word, turn, and Margaret Simon's word, reach. This week we are focusing on Justin Stygles' word look. I thank Holly for her guidance in choosing "just right" topics and bringing this community together. I am grateful for our connections and hope others are drawn closer to their spiritual journeys.

Winter Weary, Try a Slice of Positivity

When I woke up today, I was listening for the weather report and how the roads would fare on Long Island. When I heard it was National Umbrella Day, my curiosity was piqued. How odd, I thought! Umbrellas in winter and then I stepped outside to see what I would find. Rain, sleet, ice??? No, not today. Brrr! Very Cold. Ice was everywhere. I stepped lightly down the stairs so I would not take another tumble as in the last storm. 

As I started my car, once again I heard about National Umbrella Day and wondered how people around the states would celebrate the umbrella. I was thankful that I did not need one to protect me against sleet, chilling rain, or heavy snowfall. 

After a day of working with close to fifty teachers and the message of positivity still fresh in my mind, I composed this light poem. 

nbcnewyork.com

Rain, sleet, ice,
triple threat-
snow will suffice.

Slipping, sliding,
swoosh,
difficult driving!

Rain, sleet, ice,
doesn't end.
Got some advice?

Umbrella to go,
spring no- 
odd for the snow!

National Umbrella Day
is here in style.
Want to celebrate for awhile?

Tip of the Day: 

Winter Weary, try a Slice of Positivity to awaken the heart to a myriad of possibilities.

I bring you Gene Kelly who taps his way into showers with his umbrella and an optimistic look at life. I thought his song and dance would add a charming touch to National Umbrella Day while warming  the hearts of Long Islanders.

Now stroll over to the Two Writing Teachers for the weekly Slice of Life. Here's a bit of backchannel information that I found out at NCTE 14. There are actually six writing teachers, of which I met five: Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, and Beth. I was amazed by their friendly demeanor, collegiality, and warmth that I felt upon our first meeting. I hope to meet Anna someday at one of the national conferences. Enjoy reading the slicers' posts. 

Celebrating Life, History, and a Childhood Memory

Today is one to reflect on the positives of this week and celebrate life, history, and a childhood memory. 

Despite the week's snow, ice, and cold, there were many warm moments that sustained me. When the ice started to melt today, my family and I decided to take a short road trip to Brooklyn, the place my husband grew up. The roads were clear and the day was full of sun and energy when we approached Brooklyn. We passed the majestic Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Zoo, gently covered in snow. I wanted to stop and take a photo of the snow but there was no slowing down on this major road so I captured the impressive arch as we drove by. 


We continued past many renovated brownstones that were gleaming. All of these architectural structures reminded me of an antique card showing the splendor of the Brooklyn at the turn of the 20th century. I celebrate history today. 

When we arrived on Flatbush Avenue, the shoppers were bustling about. Neighborhoods were crowded and parking scarce. My husband was delighted to find a parking spot right in front of the Kings Theatre, our destination. This 1929 "movie palace" was open to the public this afternoon after a 95 million dollar makeover. We thought that the lines would be long but were pleasantly surprised when we were escorted in right away to the security area. As I walked through the metal detector arch, beeps went off. I then realized that it was my knee replacement that caused the commotion. The security woman and I had a chuckle over that. 

When inside I marveled at the grandeur of the grand foyer. The staircase reminded me of a 

scene in the movie, Titanic. I ascended the stairs marveling at the grandeur of the Kings Theatre. Then, I recalled the old movie theatre in my home town in central New York and the school field trips there. While it was grand, it did not compare to the opulence of Kings Theatre that is said to be the charm that will restore Brooklyn to past glory. 

The docents inside the theatre welcomed guests and provided background information on the restoration project and the theatre's acclaim as a new concert venue. As we milled around, we met a gentleman who showed us a black and white photo from the 1970s. He told us that the child on the stage with other children was him. Then, he spoke of his childhood memories when his aunt was the manager of the theatre and the day in 1977 when the theatre was closed down. He distinctly remembered that his aunt cried on that day. My husband exchanged his story of his childhood days going to this theatre and even sticking gum under his seat (as many rambunctious boys would do). I wanted to speak more to the gentleman but he was whisked away with the photographers who were involved in a photo shoot. 

At the end of the tour, I decided to treat my husband to a Franki Valli concert at the Kings Theatre for his upcoming, end-of-March birthday. We strolled over to the Box Office to look at the seating plan and chose the mezzanine seats that were available behind the VIP/Club seats. So now, we will be coming back to Brooklyn in another month to celebrate a bit of Brooklyn's history with family. 

Impromptu road trips can be a fun family adventure!

Good by for now, Brooklyn.

Now please join Ruth Ayres at her site, Ruth Ayres Writes Discover, Play, Build as she Celebrates This Week: LXVIII with bloggers in her community.

Sounds of Silence

For the past two days, I have been mixing words with images while listening to either the reverberation of my breath as my yoga instructors have encouraged or the sounds of winter's icy stillness. Perhaps, this practice has come about because of Laura Shovan's call to create sound poetry. Those who have tried have been quite successful. For me, to engage in this practice, has been a process. 

Since listen is my one little word this year, I have listened intently in silence to the sounds of the earth, sky, and rooms. I've attended yoga classes to declutter my mind and focus on hearing my breath, as my instructors have encouraged me to do. During this process, I have tried to quiet my thoughts to be in synchronization with my breath. What flows are my newly spun words and image that came from this attempt at achieving stillness. 

Listening to the song, Sound of Silence, takes me back to a throw-back decade. Enjoy the listening experience. 

Now travel over to Elizabeth Steinglass' site where she is hosting Poetry Friday with a DIY Recycled Rocket craft and her original poem. Various offerings will be there for your reading pleasure this weekend. 

Reach for Possibilities

In the muted morning light

I travel Long Island's highway

looking for avenues 

that intersect my thoughts.

I scan scenes

that flash on by;

search surroundings.

My thoughts fly across the roads,

not pausing as they go.

I focus;

listen to winter wind;

hear its moaning.

A dark sky transforms itself.

Silence breaks. 

Cars hum under a

pink and blue horizon,

heading east.

I turn inward,

thinking of the 

repetitive nature of highway life

and then, I reach for possibilities.

"But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up: and he arose."

Mark 9:27

With guidance from above, we can drive onward! 

Breathe in the Breath of Life today to be inspired as you reach for possibilities!

Travel to Holly Mueller's Spiritual Journey Thursday site to continue your readings of this week's Spiritual Journey Thursday blogs. Today, Holly is honoring Margaret Simon's one little word, REACH. 

Listen for this word so that its call will open your heart. 

Enjoying a Winter Watch

Not to be redundant but the weather seems to be playing a significant role in my life these days, as in many others across the states. Even Malverne Mel, Long Island's groundhog, had to take a back seat as the snow hit twice yesterday. While the media sent out weather alerts, the various ground hog ceremonies continued. Three out of four groundhogs predicted six more more weeks of winter. With this in mind, I am not sure how many more snow days can be taken so districts are being cautious. On the other hand, the frigid, snowy conditions are quickly leaving their mark, making traveling a difficult prospect. Yesterday in the early morning hours, several school districts were being reported as delayed openings only to be changed to closings shortly after.

It is a perplexing time for those of us who wait patiently to see if we need to travel Long Island's highways to our professional development sessions. Navigating the highway system is not taken lightly, for traffic heavily flows across Long Island on normal school days. When the weather is out of the norm, extra caution has to be used because driving is more problematic than usual. 

Having vehicles off the road yesterday was a blessing. Today, the sun is shining so bright that it is misleading. Twenty degree seems like forty but under the snow is ice and bumpy terrain. Snow shoveling is much more difficult than usual, even without the falling snow so when headlines come from the media with such lines like,  New York Area Snowstorm Delivers Biggest Punch to Long Island, Connecticut - Arctic Blast Targets 1,500-Mile-wide Swath of US - 23 States Have Been Affected by Extreme Weather Conditions, you know that it is time to slow down, focus on the road ahead, and keep a positive attitude about winter. You never know when a whispering calls you to enjoy the season in an interesting new way.

As an observer of nature and a listener now (to honor my OLW), I spend time watching outdoor scenes change daily. There has been much action lately. The backyard has been dressed by Mother Nature in winter white many times already. 

Today, I found a very large squirrel with a huge nut in his mouth enjoying a winter hop. I was curious as to why this squirrel was out and about so I googled why a squirrel would be outside in winter. From my findings and the assistance of PicMonkey, I turned a basic shot into a poster. Maybe a poem will come out of this quick peek at winter. 

As you can see, despite the challenges of the cold weather season, I am still learning to appreciate the beauty, stillness, and sometimes the solitude of winter that provides me with time to reflect. Taking photos of a favorite winter spot, lingering in thought, and crafting a poem or poetic saying to accompany the photo has inspired me to design the Winter Whisperings Gallery. If interested in joining me as a reflective writer focusing on the season of winter, please access more information here. I would be delighted to see different perspectives on a season that I am learning to truly appreciate, despite the obvious challenges this year. 

Since it is Tuesday, please head over to Two Writing Teachers who weekly hosts Slice of Life. There you can read more slices from this writing community. I was fortunate to meet most of the leadership team at NCTE 14.

Celebrating Nature's Gifts

January turned into February this week and brought a mix of cold weather, snow upon snow, and ice to Long Island. Many adults complained of the discomforts resulting from winter storm 2015 while little children enjoyed the snowy, off-from school days. With 
positivity as my mantra, I have reflected upon the wonders of winter here and here. While keeping true to my OLW, listen, I am noticing seasonal changes in a different light now. Positivity has brought rewards. 

While coming home from yoga class yesterday, I spotted a tiny gift of nature and knew that this natural creation would be the focal point of today's reflection. A perfect pair of frozen delights were seen on my holly tree. I reflected on the pair's crystalline beauty and perfect points that hung tightly to bright green leaves. Stillness surrounded nature's creation. I watched and listened to winter's sounds realizing that unless there was a storm, frigidity, and snow there would be no tiny perfect icicles dropping from my holly tree. 

Today, I celebrate the end of a very challenging week of winter storm 2015 that left Long Island with school closings, icy roads, and minor spills (one of those would be me at the end of my frozen driveway).

Here's to a wonderful day of cooking, baking, and congregating with friends. From the savory smells of my kitchen to the sounds of Superbowl XL1X Party, I sit and wait to hear if the upcoming storm will cancel another professional development program. The Long Islander newscaster is reporting on the welcoming winter weather and a winter wonderland in Iowa. Yes, I did hear this right! Here's to looking for winter delights in the midst of snowstorms!

Join Ruth Ayres and friendly bloggers of the Celebrate this week community 

who share their weekly stories. 

Reflecting on Snowstorm 2015

With the arrival of the snowstorm of 2015, Long Island saw record amounts of snow this January. Schools were closed for one-two days this week leading to children's gleeful noises heard throughout the neighborhood. Twice this week, I observed my little neighbors creating their own tiny hill of snow to sled down. Each time I watched them playing in the snow despite the cold weather, I thought children appear to be resilient to weather changes. Their imaginative spirit reminded me of the snow forts that my sister and I created when were small.

This January, Michelle Heidenrich Barnes created another challenge, a "deeper wisdom" poem modeled on Joy Sidman's What Do the Trees Know? from WINTER BEES. Thinking about the shovel that was used many times this week by my son and the two little girls' imaginative snow fun, I created this short poem. I must admit that creating a "deeper wisdom" poem is not an easy one to craft. Here is my humble attempt.

What do winter shovels know?
      To slice the new-fallen, glistening snow- 
      Creating mounds away to go-
      Protecting humans from what nature bestows.

What do winter shovels know?
      That children enjoy making tracks-
      Undoing parents' diligent acts-
      Creating wonders of icy packs.  
(c) 2015 Carol Varsalona                                                               

Continuing my conversation with the snow that started with Chronicling "Historic" Storm 2015, I write:

Your expected arrival
brought frigidity and 
a spotted terrain.
While adults struggled
children's dreams were
realized.

As you can see, the snowstorm provided me with many ideas to write about while building a positive stance on the winter season. A poem about the slushy side of snow made its appearance last Saturday for Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres.

Now stroll over to These Four Corners where Paul Hankins is hosting Poetry Friday. Enjoy the various offerings of the week.

Turn Away From Darkness

                                         During long nights of winter,

                                                  silhouetted in frost,

                                                  leave broken yesterdays

                                                  to look upon the cross.

                                                  

                                                 Lift your eyes heavenward

                                                 away from frozen hopes                                                        

                                               Focus in the darkness.

                                                 Stillness calls you to cope.

                                                      

                                              Listening to the silence,

                                                 turning away from fear,

                                                 wake up to letting go

                                                 to hear Him. He is near.

                                         

                                                Possibilities await

                                                as fears fly out of sight.

                                              Turn away from darkness

                                                that shackled you last night.

2 Corinthians 4:18 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Now turn your eyes Spiritual Journey Thursday created by Holly Mueller. Each Thursday, Holly and the faithful community of bloggers come together to pause, reflect, and write on a topic. January and February's blogs are devoted to each blogger's one little word journeys, starting with Holly's word, focus. We have covered my OLW, listen, Michelle Haseltine's word, fly, and now Leigh Ann Eck's word, turn. I thank Holly for her guidance in choosing "just right" topics and bringing this community together. I am grateful for our connections and hope others are drawn closer to their spiritual journeys.