Dear blog friends,

It's been quite the week in our area. The Monsoon has arrived in all its fury, and as I write, dark clouds are complaining, sobbing sheets of rain. There are warnings of flash floods and precarious driving conditions -- so hubby and I have decided to stay home and watch/listen to the unfolding drama. 

                                                                ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

This week's Tanka Tuesday prompt is provided by Colleen Chesebro. She asks that we do a modified Tanka -- a bussokuseki. Basically, this ancient Tanka form simply adds an additional line of 7 syllables.

Rain or shine, nature provides a resting place for my soul. No surprise, my simple poem tries to capture some of its wonder. I hope you like and can relate to it. 😊

Rain or shine, let's all have a great week. ❤️

Hello blog friends ~

Summer is exalted in the high desert of Arizona. Temps climb from the 60s in the early morning and reach 100 by midday. I try to walk the trails at the first sign of light. It's just me and little creatures who are outside at that time of the day.

This past week, I stumbled upon the research of Dacher Keltner, Ph.D. His focus is awe, and he claims that being in nature or other awe-inspiring situations improves health more than any other emotion. Rather startling, right? I had never thought of this possibility until I listened to a podcast on the topic. I've added a link, just in case you'd like to check it out.

Sooo, following Dr. Keltner's lead, we all need to escape into the natural world and breathe in the awe that it evokes. I can truthfully say that my early morning hike transforms my day. 😊

This week's Tanka Tuesday prompt, provided by Colleen Chesebro, inspires awe. She asks that contributors write a Puente poem (two Tanka poems separated by a quote). My poem focuses on nature and tries to capture some of what I feel on my walks. I hope you enjoy it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends, an awe-some week. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

I've been traveling these last few days, accompanying my husband on visits with his California kids. Instead of the vast Arizona pastures and distant mountains where we live, there are very busy freeways but also glimpses of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Quite the contrast!

Willow's prompt for this week's #TankaTuesday is perfect for my travels. She invites us to focus on a memory, and I've many stirring in my heart, and one of them is described below. 

Decades ago, I took three of my children to New Mexico. The boys wanted to whitewater raft down the Rio Grande River and my daughter opted in as well. I planned to watch them from the shore, but they tricked me. Long story short, I stepped into the craft to help my youngest and the raft began moving. 

Initially terrified, I confess to having had a great time. The youngest fell into the rapids but the guide skillfully retrieved him. Otherwise, we emerged wet and happy. BTW, in the photo below, my daughter and I are on the far side of the boat, and my two young sons are by the rear guide. 

My tanka poems reflect on life's river. 

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends. Wherever your river may take you, I hope it includes plenty of laughter. ❤️

Hello, dear blog friends!

With all the noise surrounding us, nature becomes a respite. It doesn't matter where we live. If there's a tree somewhere, we can find peace. And, if we've a four-legged friend, our day can be magical. Don't you agree?

​This week, Melissa Lemay invites folks to write a lai poem for Tanka Tuesday. Never heard of this poetry form? If not, just know it's a first for me so you're not alone.  A lai is a nine-line poem of 552-552-552 syllables and a rhyming scheme of aab-aab-aab.

My contribution tries to capture summer days. I hope you enjoy it. 

I hope you have a wonderful week. I'm excited, because I'll be with four of my sibs this weekend. We always reminisce about our shenanigans on the farm and share stories of our kids and grandkids. Simple pleasures fill the heart, don't they.  ❤️ We all need more of them. 

If you have a couple minutes, here's a short video on how trees communicate with each other - and maybe us. Who knows, perhaps in a couple of years, we will have tree interpreters.  Wouldn't that be fun? 😊

Have a wonderful week, and if you chat with trees, please share....

Hello, dear friends.

I just returned home last night from the East Coast. It feels like I've been traveling forever, but that's just my old bones squawking. I'll be catching up for a while, I suspect. 

Yvette provides this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt, and it's perfect for the season. She invites us to write of something related to a vacation, including a favorite place. Well...growing up in a desert, and now living in the high desert, I have a special love for the ocean. A couple times a year, hubby and I travel to California's coast and bask in the water and salty air. I love every minute of it!

My poem is a simple tanka related to my special vacation site. Hope you like it. 😊

To shift gears a bit, my trip to the beautiful state of Connecticut was a solemn one, even though there was plenty of laughter and family time. I traveled there to help celebrate the life of my beautiful daughter-in-law and be with my kids and grandkids. 

​My son created this video for the Memorial. Just 58 years young, Kathy was an angel to all who knew her.  Kathy Memorial Video | Videos & Movies on Vimeo 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Each of us is blessed beyond measure, so let's enjoy those blessings. ❤️

Dear blog friends,

We had unexpected visitors this past week. Hubby's daughter and son-in-law were required to evacuate their home in Southern California due to the fire threat. Fortunately, their house was not damaged -- and we had a precious time visiting with each other. My heart goes out to all who were not as fortunate.

In our area of Northern Arizona, fire is a very real threat, but there are regular "controlled" fires to mitigate that possibility. We often see smoke rising in the distance over the grazing fields and farmland, but those fires are for our protection. 

I've been quiet for a bit, because my computer had a meltdown and had to go to computer hospital. Fingers crossed, it seems to be working now. BUT...I will be flying back East next week to be with family and celebrate the life of my beautiful daughter-in-law. I will try to visit blogs over these next couple of days. ❤️
​
~ ~ ~ ~ 
This week's #TankaTuesday is led by Melissa Lemay. She invites us to write a Haiku. I've decided to focus on gardeners and farmers. With the change in seasons, folks are planting seeds for a summer harvest. I wonder if you are working in your garden as well. 😊


Have a wonderful week!

I hope the rest of your week is blessed with much laughter. And whatever you might be doing for country and/or for family, thank you. Your legacy will not be forgotten.😊

Hello blog friends,

I've a story and a poem to share -- prompted by Melissa Lemay. She hosts Tanka Tuesday this week and invites poets to use one the paintings of Romare Bearden as inspiration. I had never heard of this artist prior to Melissa's post, but when I looked at his work, I was drawn to the one featured below. My story ~ 

Years ago, while working in Connecticut, I attended a meeting in New Orleans. It was the first time I had traveled to that area and was quickly entranced by the music.

From the windows of our meeting rooms, I could hear the street musicians. Then at night, the area transformed into a lively medley of competing singers and their drums or guitars. People danced and sang in the streets, and, of course, had a drink or two. I had never experienced anything quite like this before. 

By nature, I'm a quiet person. I'd rather escape into a museum than a street party. But, if truth be known, I enjoyed being around the frolicking people and the groups of musicians. Although I was overwhelmed by it all, I soon forgot my timidness and had fun dancing. Music has a wonderful way of freeing the spirit. 

My poem:

​I hope you have a wonderful weekend, dear friends. Let's find a way to celebrate... 🌞

I hope to visit your blog sites this week, and perhaps catch up a bit. In the meantime, I wish you a miraculous week! 🌞

Dear friends,

I have an update about last week's post and, separately, a poem for Tanka Tuesday.

You may recall that I posted about a hanging votive and asked whether anyone had information about such artifacts.

Writer John W. Howell responded to the challenge and provided a fascinating AI explanation. Thank you, John!  Here's what the AI determined:

​The main symbol: the double-headed eagle:

The most prominent symbol on your piece is the double-headed eagle, and that carries a lot of meaning:

1. Byzantine / Eastern Christian symbol

• The double-headed eagle dates back to the Byzantine Empire.
• It represents authority over both East and West—a kind of spiritual and imperial unity.

2. Religious meaning
In a church context, it’s often interpreted as:

• The union of church and state (historically)
• Or more broadly, Christ’s dominion over all directions / the whole world

3. Orthodox association
This symbol is still widely used in:

• Greek Orthodox tradition
• Russian Orthodox tradition
• Serbian and other Eastern churches

So its presence strongly suggests your votive lamp has Orthodox or Eastern European roots, rather than Western Catholic.

The surrounding design:

A few other details reinforce that:

• Pierced (openwork) metal
  • Not just decorative—it allows heat to escape and light to glow outward.
• Scrollwork handles / vines
  • Common in late 19th–early 20th century ecclesiastical metalwork
  • Often symbolize growth, life, or divine connection
• Hanging chains
  • Typically used to suspend the lamp in front of an icon or in a prayer corner

What it was used for:

This type of lamp would have been:

• Filled with olive oil
• Lit with a floating wick
• Hung in front of:
  • An icon
  • A home prayer space
  • Or inside a church

It’s called a vigil lamp (sometimes lampada).

Bottom line:

• The symbol is not a random decoration—it’s a strong cultural marker.
• Your piece most likely comes from an Eastern Orthodox tradition, possibly Greek, Russian, or Balkan.
• The double-headed eagle = authority, unity, and divine oversight, rooted in Byzantine heritage.

The votive above holds a special meaning for me. It belonged to my mother, and her faith gives me hope -- especially during times of sorrow. My beautiful daughter-in-law has struggled with cancer for over a dozen years and now faces her final days. If you were to meet her, you'd be taken aback by her courage and her love. Soon, she will be dancing with the angels, and this thought evokes great tenderness. ❤️ My poem is inspired by her journey.

Tanka Tuesday's prompt for this week is hosted by Willow. She asks that we write a 3-line, 3-stanza poem in which each line contains exactly 3 syllables. My simple poem ~ 

I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. Every moment is a gift to be treasured, so let's laugh and hug often. 'Till next week... 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends, and if you have any insights on this mysterious vigil light, I'd love to hear them. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

I have two poems to share and two stories to tell. First, Yvette hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and she has invited us to focus on something fun or annoying. Well, since we're in the Easter season, and chocolate candy abounds, my poem is intentionally playful.

I remember the Easter egg hunts with family and friends. And, I also vividly recall the mess. But truly, who can get mad at a little guy like the one in this Canva photo? You may not want to give the child a hug, but chuckles abound, don't you agree? 

​Growing up on a farm, we mostly had hard-boiled eggs dyed with food coloring. But...there were a few chocolate bars for us to munch on as well. How about you? Did you participate in Easter Egg hunts, and was your basket full of delights? 

My second story:

​A couple of decades ago, I accompanied a friend to one of Paramahansa Yogananda's temples in Los Angeles. I knew nothing of Yogananda at that time, other than he was a Hindu priest.

My friend and I walked the grounds and then went through the temple. In the main gathering room stood an altar, and on it rested the images of six holy men. One was of Jesus. I was very surprised, but as I looked around, I began to understand. These six holy men taught a message of love. All were Hindu, except Jesus, who they believed embodied their truths. 

For many of us, this week is a time of prayerful reflection on universal truths. Despite our differences, I believe we are all brothers and sisters, and Love provides us with the pathway Home. 

My simple Tanka poem:​

​Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends....

May your week be filled with laughter, and may your crossroads be simple ones. 😊 I'm heading to Phoenix for several days, where my husband has multiple appointments related to his accident. It's a dreaded drive, but I'm hoping we'll be surprised by a miracle. ❤️ 

Hello, dear blog friends,

​I have another poem to share. This week, Willow hosts Tanka Tuesday, and she has asked followers to write a Nonet focused on mothers. She explained that in the UK, Mother's Day was celebrated a few days ago - on March 15th. In the USA, we will celebrate that special day on May 10th. 

With all that is happening in our beautiful world, pausing to remember our mothers sounds good to me. My mom had nine babies, and many of my memories of her include her holding one of them. Later, she cherished cuddling with the grandchildren.

In the photo below, you'll find Mom in purple in the first row. BTW, this isn't all the grandchildren. Some couldn't make it to the gathering. Yep, we wear name tags when we gather to avoid mix-ups.   😊 

​

Hello, blog friends...
​
This past week has been quite the rollercoaster, hasn't it? Rather than giving the ups and downs any more energy, I invite you to consider something that Rumi, a Sufi poet and mystic, wrote 1,400 years ago. He said, "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop." 

Perplexing? Yep. His words convey a connectedness to all creation that I rarely think about, but these days I find myself considering it more often than before. 

So, while pondering Rumi's ocean, I read Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt. She asked that we write a syllabic poem inspired by a piece of art. I knew I wanted a scene of an ocean and chose a painting by Sergie Vinogradov. 

My poem is a simple Tanka. Remember, "You are the entire ocean in a drop." 

Let's have a great week, dear friends... ❤️

Hello, blog friends...

I'm sure you'll agree that life's challenges can overwhelm us at times. Being the fixer that I am, and probably you are too, it's hard to stand at the sidelines, when others are suffering. We want to make things better for them. And when we can't, it's a weighty burden. For me, prayer and deep silence offer solace -- usually through nature.  

When I read Robbie's Tanka Tuesday prompt for this week, I smiled. She asks that we write a syllabic imagist poem. This simple assignment took me away from pressing challenges to something beautiful - a butterfly. And after I wrote the poem, I realized the poem was about each of us. 

I hope you enjoy it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends... ❤️

Hello, dear friends...

I have a personal reflection and a poem to share. The two are interconnected by the season and the emotions evoked. Melissa Lemay hosts this week's Tanka Tuesday assignment, and for an in-depth explanation, please click on the link above. 

So...first, a brief reflection:

Nature has been my escape since I was a child. If I can disappear into the desert sand, or a forest, or walk the perimeters of a farmer's field, or stroll a seashore, I'm at peace. I listen, and I breathe. It is my way of silencing fear and embracing the Creator's love. Always, the worries and sorrows of the day fade amid this holy exchange. 

As I've shared in prior posts, my parents had nine children, seven of whom survived. I am the eldest. For eight years, we lived in a one-bedroom home with a converted attic for the four girls.

The home was always a busy and noisy place. I share this because I attribute my yearning for silence to my childhood. 😊 Notice the trees behind the house. I'd climb those trees and sit on a branch alone. No one knew I was there. It was my place to dream about worlds far away, and especially about bible stories.
​

My poem tries to capture the wonder I feel in nature...​

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, with opportunities to bask in nature's healing energy. ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~

I have a story to share about how life can change in an instant. On Valentine's Day, my loving husband brought me an armful of red roses. My gift was a breakfast at a favorite restaurant. When we got home, tummies full and happy, hubby decided to take a ride on his bike. Shortly after this, a friend ran breathless to our front door to tell me that my husband had been in a terrible accident. Within minutes, the blare of sirens filled the street. An ambulance took my husband to the hospital, where doctors determined he had to be airlifted to a special neuro hospital for surgery.

The happy news is that my husband was discharged yesterday. He must wear a brace for "at least" two months and cannot drive or do much of anything without assistance (mine or the walker). 

While the beautiful red roses have lost their petals, something far more glorious has taken their place - a deep gratitude for life.       

My apologies for being absent from social media. Now you understand why. Plus, there was no WiFi in the hospital. ❤️ I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, full of laughter and tenderness....and no accidents. I think I'll never look at a rose the same again, for it has become a reminder of the gift I've too often taken for granted. 

​Have a great week and lets celebrate the moments... 

I hope you have a wonderful week, and a very happy Valentine's Day. I'm thinking roses....❤️

Hello  blog friends,

Well, we've survived a tumultuous January, and according to the infamous Punxsutawney Phil, we have six more weeks of winter ahead of us. More storms, more snow, probably more upset folks. 

Yvette Calleiro offers an interesting solution. She hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and in her post, she explains that the Latin name for February means "to cleanse." (who knew?!) Anyway, Yvette invites us to consider purification or atonement in a poem. What does it mean to us? How do we incorporate that theme in our lives? 

I've shared that I lived in Japan for five years, among the Burakumin. It remains the most transformative experience of my life. My then-husband and I supported ourselves by teaching English. Living in the outcast community meant our rents were low — and conveniences nonexistent. Folks in these communities have very little water. They, and we, used the public baths. It was the 1970s.

When I think of Japan, I think of my neighbors, the nearby temples, the Zen Master I studied with, and the aroma of incense which permeated the air.

Some Japanese clear their homes of emotions or unhealthy energy with incense. And, when they pray, they often use this fragrance. Incense is both a purification ritual and a way of lifting their supplications. I believe most major religions use incense in a similar way, and my tanka tries to capture this practice. 

I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. And, if you use incense, I'd love to know what it means to you. 🌞

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Let's find ways to laugh!  😊

Hello blog friends,

I hope you've had a great week thus far. I've been busy with guests and fell behind in my reading. Like many of you, I have a Kindle clamoring for attention. Thinking about those books, I've dedicated this week's Tanka poem to writers. 

Melissa Lemay offers the prompt. It's an unusual one in that contributors are asked to create their own syllabic pattern. I've written four stanzas of six lines with 4-5-9-9-4-3 syllables. 

To each of you -- thank you for the journey. ❤️

And indeed, I honor you. Blessings to one and all.

Hello blog friends,

This week, Robbie Cheadle invites Tanka Tuesday participants to respond to an oxymoron, a phrase that seems to contradict itself. I've chosen the phrase historical present. But first, my explanation.

My Grandma died decades ago and had very little to call her own. When she was widowed, my father purchased a mobile home for her and put it close to our small farmhouse. When I could, I'd escape our busy household and visit with Grandma. She told me stories of traveling via horse and wagon, and explained her family's struggles during the Great Depression. One day, she told me about the treasured clock she purchased with Green Stamps. It looked like a boat, and I'd never seen a clock like that.

After Grandma passed and when my dad was ailing, he asked me if I'd like the riverboat clock. "No one else wants it," he told me. I was elated. 

The clock now sits near our kitchen/dining room, and throughout the day, I notice it and think of Grandma. The past and present meet through this Green Stamp relic. 

Here's my simple Tanka poem:  

Do you have something special from your grandma? I am deeply grateful for this simple gift and ever so glad my sibs did not want it. I think it was meant for me. ❤️

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends.