Celebrating Nature

This was a week of observing, enjoying, and appreciating nature. It started with the build up to Mother's Day. On Long Island the day always signifies the start of the planting season so days leading up to the event are filled with anticipation. Where can I find the healthiest plants?  How do I want to design the garden?   What color choices would be available?  This year I set out to find the answers to my questions with eager anticipation so that my flowers could be chosen in time for Mother's Day planting.. 

I was not disappointed. East end growers brought a truckload of plants in brilliant hues of pinks, reds, purples, and oranges against a backdrop of lush greens to western Long Islanders ready to purchase and plant. Unfortunately, rain interrupted the planting and left a residue of mud and dirt that was tracked into the house. There was no complaining since friends on the west coast of the United States are suffering from a drought. 

With planting in place, I could step back to notice the pleasures of the different gardens we planted. The herb, vegetable, and meditation gardens were for the most part ready for spring so I had time to reflect on what had been accomplished. All seemed fine. 

The azaleas were just starting to show color when I found a gift from Mother Nature. My bright orange plant that I think is also an azalea bloomed. Each year I eagerly wait for this sight that signifies the start of the spring gardening season. I celebrate nature as it is reflected in my garden.

Mother's Day this year was celebrated with friends and family at Old Westbury Gardens, a 1906 Gatsby-like estate owned by John Phipps, heir to a U.S. Steel fortune. The majestic and well-manicured grounds are part of the National Register of Historic Places and a most appropriate spot to celebrate springtime and Mother Nature's gifts. As I walked the expansive grounds, I was in awe of the beauty of the land. The various colored tulips, the tallest I've ever seen, were glorious sights. 

The photos of the day are worth seeing 

and will become one of my cherished memories. 

I couldn't resist photographing what I called
wish flowers when I was a child. 

I celebrate nature because it is:

inviting

invigorating

peaceful

contemplative

a gift from above

Naturally Appealing Tranquil Refreshing Engaging

In what ways do you celebrate nature?

Join me as I continue to celebrate nature with the design of Spring's Symphony Gallery that will be unveiled at the end of the spring season. Information can be found at the May Blossom post here.

Now please visit Ruth Ayres Writes for Celebrate This Week.

There you will find many writers discussing their week as a celebration of life. 

Writer's Voice

As I begin to open a site for eduheroes to raise their voices as a collective body of practitioners, I search for quotes and poems that would give validity to the power of voice. 

Below is a sampling of what I found. 

Sylvia Plath, in Letters Home, writes:

I write only because

There is a voice within me

That will not be still.

Tom Romano, in his article, The Power of Voice, states, 

To become accomplished writers, students must do more than master grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They must develop a presence on the page.

Shel Silverstein wrote a poem titled The Voice,

There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
"I feel this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong."
No teachers, preacher, parent, friend.
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you-just listen to
The Voice that speaks inside.

These led me to create my own thought. 

Please visit Poetry Friday that is being hosted by Diane Mayr at Random Noodling. She is rounding up all Poetry Pardners but first provides us with a short poem of her own. 

Hypocrisy's Mask

Adapted from free photo at dreamstime.com using PicMonkey

Do we have one face that we show the world and another we keep to ourselves?

Do we speak out on what is "right" and then act differently? 
Do we talk the talk but then not walk the walk?

Do we understand what makes a virtuous life but forget its value?
Do we wear the mask of hypocrisy?

What if we stop judging others?
What if we practice what we preach as we walk the walk?

What if we look beyond our own world to journey in others' shoes?

What if we make room for the positive and let go of the negative?

What if we discard the mask of hypocrisy that causes the disconnect?

Can we let go of all the pretense, insincerity, and falseness that binds us?
Shall we begin our new walk by pondering our thoughts and actions?
If so, we can discard the mask of hypocrisy 
as we walk strong in the light of positivity.

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Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, 
and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1-2
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Below is a short video that could be used with students 
to introduce the term hypocrisy. 

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This week, the theme of hypocrisy is being explored at Holly Mueller's Spiritual Journey Thursday site. Please visit to read the thoughts of the writers.

Recollections

When I was a child I loved visiting my grandmother who would spin magic during springtime. Everything she touched came alive. Even chores took on new meaning. Little did I know back then that each loving act Nonnie engaged in was a poetic expression of love for family. 

Life was full during springtime that rolled into summer. I spent curious childhood days watching Nonnie move from chore to chore with ease and enjoyment. Each task was lovingly carried out and I delighted in being the little helper.

Churn the clothes

round and round.

Hang them up

Clip clasp sound.

Tend the garden

roses first

snip snap smells 

readily burst.

I followed my Nonnie with curiosity and respect, as though she was the Pied Piper. Everything we did seemed like fun. When I wasn't engaged in chores, we would take long walks to the library or the drug store to buy the latest fashion comic. Although Nonnie could not read or write in English, she valued education and fostered a love of reading for her granddaughter. Her passion for life spilled over, influenced my quest to learn more, and increased my desire for playful adventures. I explored the nooks in the big white house, romped through the lawn, and ran between each garden bed to smell the fragrant flowers. I imagined myself as a traveler roaming new lands and grew up longing to see the country Nonnie left to come to America in 1920. 

There was so much that life offered with Nonnie. Harvesting vegetables and grapes was another fascinating adventure that awaited me as the little helper. In the back of the large white house that stood next to a beautiful park lush with trees was a vegetable garden. A huge vine of grapes stood tall at the entrance. Next to that was an extensive plot with varieties of vegetables and giant tomatoes to cultivate. Life was full with sights, sounds, and tastes of springtime that rolled into summer.  

Each morning, I would go to the kitchen, the hub of the house, to watch Nonnie prepare the food. The kitchen was such a happy place filled with the robust scents of fresh basil, parsley, vanilla, anise, and lemon icing. During the week, Nonnie kneaded dough into sweet Italian confections, created perfectly-formed handmade noodles, and washed clothes with a wringer that flattened each item with the twist of a handle. I loved to watch her pin clothes with large wooden clothespins and hang them to dry in the sun. I can still visualize the wet items flip flopping in the breeze.  I learned to be a very good assistant who passed the clothespins to my grandmother, learned to shuck peas, make Italian sauce from bushels of fresh tomatoes, prune roses, and enjoy life all due to a woman who may have been tiny in stature but large in heart. 

Years went by and childhood matured into motherhood. Balancing work and home life was time-consuming. Chores did not sing the same tune as in Nonnie's world. Life changed through the decades. Housework was no longer the sole work of the mother. There were other responsibilities to be met. What did remain constant was that spring rolled into summer just the same and life was full with feelings of family and love. 

Mother's Day is a day to recollect the love that fills our lives while remembering those who shaped our existence. Families bond, friends chat, celebrations are plentiful. Each year, I recollect memories of a loving grandmother and a wonderful mother who were shiny examples of motherhood. 

With the voices of angels,

eyes as sweeping as the sky,

and hearts as deep as the ocean,

my two mothers filled the air with love,

exemplifying that moment to moment-

giving is a gift of the heart. 

Storytelling is a gift of the heart that mothers seem to deliver to the children.

My love for storytelling comes from the women who offered it to me during springtime that rolled into summer each year.

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Each Tuesday, Two Writing Teachers offer writers from across the nation the opportunity to share their Slice of Life. Please visit the site where you will find interesting texts to read.

Celebrating Connections

This week was a week of Observing - Reflecting - Connecting - Sharing.

I Celebrate Connections!

When you listen intently to the voices around you, you are able to make deeper connections with your surroundings, family, friends, colleagues, and nature. 

Connections were a common theme for me this week starting with the #NYEDChat convo on Monday night with Jimmy Casas and Jeff Zoul. The lively discussion that trended on Twitter revolved around the topic of "What Connected Educators Do Differently" which, by the way, is the name of the 2015 book written by Todd Whitaker, Jeff Zoul, and Jimmy Casas. Prior to Monday's threaded conversation, connections were made with thought leaders, bloggers, teachers, and administrators via flyers and tweets that were circulated throughout the Twittersphere. #NYEDChat's Moderating Team worked diligently with Zoul and Casas to create a lively and engaging hour of power-packed statements. Educators from across the states raised their voices to share perspectives on how social media has influenced their professional lives. Strong voices joined the chat to celebrate the new age of connected learning.  

In the world of connected education, teaching with closed doors is replaced by open door, shared learning. Face-to-face and virtual professional learning communities and networks offer opportunities for individuals to connect with each other in a spirit of collegiality. Online educational chat communities such as #NYEDChat offer conversations on timely topics that allow educators to link and learn with each other. What connected educators do differently is that they passionately embrace new learning, openly share their practices, anecdotes, stories, and challenges, as evidenced by #NYEDChat's Monday night convo. As lifelong learners, they lead with their hearts and are committed to finding new avenues to affect change in teaching and learning.

In the past few weeks, #NYEDChat heard the news that it was nominated for the prestigious Bammy Awards in the Twitter Chat Community category. As the voice of New York State educators the Moderating Team of Bill Brennan, Vicki Day, Blanca Duarte, Dan McCabe, Lisa Meade, Starr Sackstein, Dennis Schug, Tony Sinanis, and I have been elated with the news. The announcement circulated and additional connections were made.

From the virtual world of connected educator conversations on Twitter to face-to-face professional development, I traveled this week. Each connection strengthened my belief in reflective practice as a common bond among educators who wish to become difference makers. Honing skills through the building of content knowledge and sharing ideas with each others in a reflective community of practitioners is the glue that cements the bonds of connected education. The journey from unconnected to connected is a notable trend that is beginning to take hold as educators realize the value of moving beyond closed doors to sharing practices and perspectives about teaching and learning with those across the globe in a 24/7 environment. The world has become smaller with the advent of social media. 

Shifting to a personal level, I noticed a mood change in my locale this week. Spring decided to make its full entrance on Long Island, a much awaited event. With the temperature rising and the sun shining brightly, I connected with the earth. Gardening, decorating my patio, and reflective writing allowed me to connect in a creative way with my inner self while enjoying the fellowship of family and friends. 

In the realm of possibilities and the spirit of moving beyond my comfort zone, I decided to try out a new tech tool, Sumo Paint, an online image editor. In the above collage, the picture of the nature preserve to the left is the real time photo. To the right, I altered the picture using Sumo Paint to create a poster, water color-like effect. Then, I took the images and created a collage with PicMonkey, a favorite tool that I use for the various online galleries of artistic expressions that I create. You can connect with me in the newest online global gallery, Spring's Symphony, that I am creating. The invitation is here. 

I would be delighted for you to celebrate connected voice with me in the future. Enjoy springtime and don't forget to observe, reflect, connect, and share in meaningful ways with those around you. 

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Because connections are so important, I am offering this post to two writing communities where many connected educator voices are raised each week: Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week and Margaret Simon's DigiLit Sunday.

DigiLit Sunday

May Blossom

Nature sings each spring

its tune of renewal and hope.

(May Blossom is an antique postcard dated 1912

that is part of my ephemera collection. I designed the

layout as an advertisement for Spring's Symphony Gallery)

Spring appears to have made its full seasonal debut on Long Island this week with sunshine, warmth, and gentle breezes. To honor the season of renewal, I invite all to join the global, online gallery that I am designing. Your offering of a poem and accompanying photo will grace the collection titled Spring's Symphony. You can read more about the invitation here and here.

Spring blossoms, delicate and bright,

bloom with cheerful delight

against a backdrop of green. 

What a magnificent sight!

Leaf

Leaf is spring's shaped word,
a bold background of green-
framing delicate petals word,

a silhouetted tribute of spring word,
a gentle rustling in the breeze word,
pointing toward the sun word,
a fancy-edged,
vividly proclaiming renewal word.
Leaf is a silent spring word
anxiously awaiting its blossoms.
Hush! Wait! Blossoms blooming!

Carol Varsalona ©2015. All Rights Reserved

The above poem, Leaf, is my attempt at Nikki Grimes' wordplay exercise challenge. I am offering this free verse poem as part of my tribute to the season of spring to Michelle Barnes at Today's Little Ditty. Michelle is curating the poems for Nikki Grimes' challenge.

Since it is the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, it is fitting to give thanks to the students who make teachers' days bright and worthwhile. I want to thank Jone Rush MacCulloch for enlisting the students at Silver Star Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington in spreading poetry love during National Poetry Month. Hannah P. sent me this card that shows her love for poetry and wordplay. My family was really excited when the mailman delivered this special treat. Thanks Hannah P.

Silver Star Poetry Project

Please visit the Poetry Friday Roundup where Michelle Barnes is the host at Today's Little Ditty. Today's offerings seem to be filled great delights. See you there. 

No Need for Perfection

Open a fashion magazine to see the fabulous trends for the spring. Look at the new car ads. Today, in my AOL mail, a notice said "Resources for Perfect Projects." The pursuit of perfection still exists in media as evidenced by the above email ad but being free from flaws and defects is unrealistic. Holly Mueller sent out a tweet this week inviting us to write for Spiritual Journey Thursday with the topic being Let's Get Real-No Need to Be Perfect! 

While the world of media may still promote the perfect image, in the educational world of connected colleagues, perfection is not the norm. These educators provide steps for students to interact in a culture of trust and positivity with the goal of striving to be the best one can be. A growth mindset honors the process by which each learner develops. Missteps, imperfections, and failure occur along the way but they are are just bumps in the road. Reflection leads learners to accept the detours and continue the journey onward. All is accomplished without perfection being the end goal. The image below was created to remind us that the pathway to success does not depend on attaining perfection. 

We need to take a second look at the world today to release a spirit of positivity. Seeing life as a series of steps on a journey of development is the path toward academic, personal, and spiritual growth. As the instructors in the yoga studio say, "There is no need to be perfect. Do your best." 

Not all the blooms on the branch blossom at once. They wait until they are ready. When their color pops, their beauty graces the neighborhood. Each one is different and unique. In comparison, the learners in our classrooms open the petals at different times. We appreciate their springtime growth as part of the journey of life. Nature creates a flow of life that awakens the earth. It exists not as perfection but an example of the acceptance of what is. 

Philippians 3:12 states, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Let's Get Real. There is No Need to Be Perfect!  

Listen to the song below that exemplifies this thought.

Now please visit Spiritual Journey Thursday created and hosted by Holly Mueller.

Celebrating Emotions

I often think about how fragile and uncertain life is. There are so many ups and downs that one cannot predict how any each day will flow. Emotions affect our personal and professional lives. Because we need to deal with both the positives and the negatives, I celebrate the emotional merry go round of life in a positive manner. 

This week at the PO-EMotions site, Mary Lee Hahn was in the last phase of her month long poetry challenge, writing a new poem daily based on the prescribed emotion of the day. I joined this week and wrote poems on contentment, optimism, and pride. While writing about these positive emotions, I was faced with a disappointment that I did not expect. I went to the orthopedist for a follow-up MRI visit thinking that my rotator cuff tear was healing due to physical therapy and exercise. Instead of hearing good news, I was told that surgery was to be expected. Number 2 disappointment came today when I heard a proposal that my team thought was strong was not accepted as one of the NCTE presentations. It is difficult to accept disappointment and keep a positive attitude when reality hands you a lemon and not a peach. 

In order to stand strong we must overcome any negative shifts that enter our lives. We must continue to be positive. I try to follow the old saying, When one door closes another opens. It is hard to wait but it is something we must do on the journey of life. You can read my thoughts on waiting here. 

Today, two people wrote powerful thoughts emphasizing to me that emotions are universal and part of the human existence. Ross Quintana tweeted, "You never know the great library of life experience that each person has inside." Tonight I read Ruth Ayres' post on her forever family that was both personal and touching. If she had not courageously told her story, I would not have known the range of emotions she experienced this week. 

Disappointment may be one of the emotions felt but it can be balanced by other emotions, if we look for the bright and positive parts of our week. 

Below is an inspirational poster that I created using a new tool.

Keep-Calm-o-Matic is quick and easy to use.

To round off the post, I found a delightful video on You Tube called The Feeling Song. It was written for children to highlight feelings and emotions but it has implications for adults. "We're feeling feelings every day. We're experiencing emotions all along the way..."

Each week I enjoy celebrating with Ruth Ayres at her site Ruth Ayres Writes - Discover Play Build. Please visit Celebrate This Week to hear how the writers of the community enjoyed this week.

DigiLit Sunday

Today is DigiLit Sunday so please visit Margaret Simon's site, Reflections on the Teche, to read how the community of writers have integrated technology into their lives and teaching.

A New Month, A New Challenge

A new month unfolds today. It fills my heart with the anticipated pleasures of word weaving as I continue the poetic journey I started. 

April ends.

A sigh of relief-

All is accomplished!

May blossoms.

New thoughts grow

into a bouquet

of rainbow wonder.

I once again invite ALL to LISTEN - OBSERVE - REFLECT - WRITE for the new gallery that I am designing. Spring's Symphony is dedicated to the sights, sounds, and colors of the season. It is my hope that this month will see the blossoming of a garden of poems from across the globe. 

How does the garden grow? 

with scents of spring,

a sprinkling of creativity, 

the chorus of nature's tunes, 

and the colors of an artist's palette 

May all who read this post, be inspired to weave their own tapestry of poems as the season of spring finally finds a home on earth. Whether you have written for Winter Whisperings Gallery or previous ones is not a prerequisite. An open heart, an observing eye, and a love of language are the essential components needed to compose a poetic expression that reveals your perspective on the topic, spring's symphony.

When I found a trio of lovely perennials standing upright from the cracks of a enduring winter season, I felt the eternal longing for hope to prevail. With optimistic hope for a season of warmth, I  discard the clothes of winter and wait for the earth to be robed in brilliant hues.

May your spring days be filled with observations that crystalize into budding gems of thought.

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I want to extend a special THANK YOU to my fellow, inspired colleagues at various sites that I frequented during National Poetry Month for their creative challenges and multi-faceted poetic gems:

Jone Mac Culloch - Double "LL" Challenge

Laura Shovan - What Are You Wearing project    

Mary Lee Hahn - PO-EMotions

#digipoetry site created by Margaret Simon

and

Jama Rattigan for publishing news of my Winter Whisperings Gallery at her 2015 National Poetry Month Kidlitosphere Events Roundup

Waiting

Many times we find ourselves in a state of waiting. We eagerly wait for the weather to change, spring to splash color over the earth, a baby's birth, a milestone event, or the right moment. Being still in the moment helps us during the waiting period but oftentimes, eagerness interrupts the flow of stilled quiet. 

To counteract interruptions, breathing exercises learned in yoga quiet the chatter and allow stillness to enter the space on the mat. There is a hopeful expectation of what is to come: restful peace. But how do we continually rest in the moment to embrace the stillness?

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

Listen for the first rush of spring.
Life awakens in the hands of the Maker.
Wait in stillness.

Thank you for joining my Poetry Parade during National Poetry Month. 

Daily writing has strengthened my ability to observe, listen, and wait patiently for words to flow. This is a process that cannot be rushed. Both a sense of fulfillment and relief are felt at the end of the month long Poetry Parade. 

Please visit the two sites that I am offering this post to:

Spiritual Journey Thursday, a site created by Holly Mueller to bring together a community of faith-based writers. 

Image created by Leigh Anne Eck

#digipoetry created by Margaret Simon to create a space for writers to continue their poetry writing during the month of April.

Bring Spring Inside

While the weather has been a bit cool for spring fever to rise, there are ways to bring spring to life inside your home. I have been redecorating with the theme of renewal. As I pack up objects that have I have treasured through out the winter, I think spring. With a thoughtful eye, I rearrange and redecorate to brighten the home with color.

Turquoise has been the trendy color of the season. Looking for turquoise colored pillows for my newly renovated family room led me shopping tonight. After a few weeks of searching I found what I thought would add a touch of spring to the room. Alongside turquoise vases, plates, and towels were my lucky find. I am proud that I made the right color choice to brighten my house. 

While I wait for the Mother Nature to sprinkle the earth with dustings of color and blossoms of variegated hues, I intermix faux flowers and branches to bring spring inside. Words float in my mind creating a poetic expression of color fitting of spring. 

As I surf the internet tonight searching for decorating ideas, I come across a blog post in which the author shares the same feelings I have about spring's late to the show entrance. Bringing spring inside helps me think spring. Soon, spring will decide to find a home and enjoy a much anticipated stay. 

Photo from EARLY BLOOMING: BRING SPRING INSIDE

THINK SPRING!

Mary Lee Hahn is the creator of PO-EMotions.
The emotion of the day is PRIDE.

At this site that Margaret Simon created,
digital poetry is being offered daily during
National Poetry Month.

Thank you for joining my Poetry Parade.