IN CELEBRATION

10997722_10206329591141422_9000878684943843140_oWhen my writers’ group, which I still fondly refer to as Seven Chicks On A Sunday Afternoon, decided that we needed a name, the Write Now Salon was born. The WriNoS (wait till they hear that one) gather once a month and party free write to champagne prompts prepared by our group’s facilitator the beautiful and talented Laurie Lessen Reiche – painter, poet, photographer.

As anyone who has done a free write knows, some strange *$%&# gets put down on paper when you hand your muse a pen and set her loose for five minutes, especially when your favorite body part is the subject and the jump-off line is written in bold print:

In celebration of my bellybutton, I must tell you first about my toes. Continue reading

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WHEN RAVEN CALLS

FullSizeRender-1Raven clings to the towering worn-out 
pine like a shining star still snagged 
on last December's holiday tree.

But
    does he truly cling?

Perhaps it's simpler -
                       more effortless.

Perhaps he's merely perched,
perusing his neighbors welcoming 
their day.

Continue reading

Posted in ADVENTURES, HUMOR, POEMS, TEACHINGS FROM THE FAR NORTH, VIEW FROM MY SOAP BOX | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

WORDSMITH 101*

write-bookWelcome to Wordsmith 101. In much the same way as a personal trainer’s fortitude and determination sculpts slabs of sagging flesh into taught, defined muscle and the swordsmith’s attention to detail forges a molten lump of steel into a keen, sturdy blade, so does a wordsmith wield the mighty pen and fashion clumps of nouns, verbs, and adjectives into a vibrant spectacle you can smell, see, hear, and taste from the comfort of your beach chair. Continue reading

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DR. SEUSS SAID IT BEST…

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

So, I’m going to make it short and sweet.

Today is ibgdposterlargeThe challenge?
Getting a book into the hands of as many children as possible.
New, used, shiny, or worn –
your favorites from childhood, or something currently trending, like

Spread the joy of story.
It’s aFullSizeRenderuh, I mean, STUPENDOUS! feeling.

First Books does a nice job, if you need a recommendation.

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SCALE

Every Friday the folks at The Daily Post generate a themed photo challenge. This week’s ‘SCALE’ took me back to a trip we made in the summer of 2009 to the Ilulissat Ice Fjord in Greenland. To know that these ancient mountains of ice have completely dissolved by now is flabbergasting…

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IMG_0919 Continue reading

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8 Steps to Taking Rejection in the New Year

I’d like to introduce you today to Jennifer Reinharz, a fellow children’s book writer and super hero. If you spend some time at “Red Said What?” you’ll agree, she is indeed super AND my hero. In a recent blogpost, Jennifer shared her remedy for what we all must face at some time or other, that dreaded affliction known as Rejection. It’s all part of the dance. Isn’t it? So, let’s waltz on…

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SPONTANEITY, THE SPICE OF LIFE

If spontaneity is the spice of life,
our little road trip on Sunday was a mediterranean street festival on wheels –

a true feast for the tongue, delight for the nose, treat for the eye, and a joy for the spirit.

 

 

The first stop on our adventure was  Continue reading

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THE STOWAWAY

photo (26)Three hours in, and it’s a crapshoot as to whose self-control has disintegrated faster than tissue paper kissed by a lit match.

From where, oh where
did that blast of vile wind spring forth?

What insidious organ expelled you from its moonless abyss?

Or did you escape intentionally?
Continue reading

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ONE MORE REASON TO ‘TWAS

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‘Twas the 6th of January, one more reason to feast,
‘Twas not only Little Christmas, but the birthday of our beast.

Five years ago, she’d been placed here on earth
Apparently, with intentions
of spreading merriment and mirth.

For why else would a dog be so quirky and hell-bent Continue reading

Posted in ADVENTURES, EVENTS, FAMILY, HUMOR, LUCY and JAZZIE, POEMS | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

NO WORDS, but for three

Rest In Peace

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