Hello, blog friends ~

This week Willow invites us to write a poem about a day in October that is important to us. And she asks that the poem be an Abhanga - a 4-line poem with 6-6-6-4 syllables and a rhyme scheme of abbc. 

On October 5, 2011, the computer genius Steve Jobs passed away. As he took his final breath, he uttered six words: "Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!" We can only imagine what he saw, but what we know for sure is he passed away in awe.

My poem highlights Jobs' last words. I am one of the many who is inspired by his life. His commencement address at Stanford University is legendary. I listened to it again today and couldn't hold back the tears. Amazing person, amazing life.
​

I hope you have a great weekend, dear friends. If storms threaten, may they be gentle. I'm busy with family activities - even while it rains. ❤️

Hello, blog friends,

In the high desert, we've had some wild weather. Today we awakened to two successive Flash Flood alerts. It's the Monsoon Season, and she loves to be noticed.

Throughout the night, Ms. Monsoon flashed her glory and sounded her arrival, streets quickly flooded and lower areas pooled with rain. She seems to be quieting down a bit now, but the warnings are in effect until this evening. It probably comes as no surprise that this weather phenomenon inspires my poem today, especially since Willow invites writers to focus on the season.

The assignment this week was to write a particular poetic form: a Korean three-lined poem of 44 - 46 syllables called a Sijo. This is the first Sijo I've written, but given my new friend, Ms. Monsoon, the words came easily. I hope you enjoy it. 😊

Have a wonderful day, dear friends. I wish you sunshine and cool breezes -- and I wish the same for me. 😊

Hello, blog friends....

It was a long drive home, but alas, we are in sunny Arizona after a fun-packed family reunion. The photo below captures some of the family. Trust me, it's complicated herding the crowd for a photo. I'm standing behind the young woman in red. 😊

The photo below captures the original 7 -- sort of. I'm the eldest (at the right), and at the end is my youngest brother. We're ten years apart (yep, Mom was a busy soul.) Next to me in the photo is my niece - her mom (my sister) could not make the trip, and my niece decided we needed a substitute. 😄

We all had a glorious time -- thanks to my sister in the black and white outfit. She arranged everything. I think her long nursing career and her years in academic administration must have helped her deal with our unruly bunch. 

This week's TankaTuesday warmed my heart. Eugi asks that we focus on the Harvest Moon. Well....Idyllwild's elevation is about 5,600'. The skies were glorious when we were there. Each day and night were picture perfect. (I think my mom somehow had a chat with the weather gods.) 😊

My poem is a simple one. I hope you enjoy it. 

Have a great week, dear friends. ❤️

Hello, dear friends ~ 

I'm tucked away in the small town of Idyllwild, in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. It's a beautiful area -- perfect for a family reunion, which is why I'm here. My mom, had she lived a few more years, would be 100 years old today. We've a cake and dozens and dozens of her loved ones to sing Happy Birthday tonight. I'm sure the locals and the four-legged creatures will enjoy our song fest. 😊
 
Here's a public photo of the town.... quaint and sweet, don't you agree?

This week's Tanka Tuesday prompt by Yvette added to my sense of family. She mentions National Hispanic Heritage Month and asks that we focus on our heritage. Well...mine's a bit complex. I'll explain.

My dad grew up in the worst of the Great Depression in Oklahoma. Mom grew up next to the California/Mexican border. They met in San Diego at the US Naval base. And I was their first born of nine. They settled in Brawley, CA - a farming area that is about 86% Hispanic. Three of my sibs married Hispanics, and now we all enjoy fiestas!

There were rules in our family's home. We were never to criticize anyone because of their skin color, their religion, or their income. And I've never heard any family member violate these rules. But my three very pale sisters and I grew up wishing we had brown skin like our friends. 😊

Today I'm sharing a poem I wrote a couple years ago. My excuse is the Reunion festivities. This poem tries to capture time. 

​Have a wonderful week, dear friends. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

Each year as the 9/11 memorials begin, I remember where I was and what I was doing when the news reached me in Northern California. I remember the gripping fear I felt because my son was working in an office building very near the Twin Towers, and I could not reach him. But most consumingly, I remember the terror that accompanied the realization that our country was under attack.

As a nation we pause to give tribute to those who lost their lives, and we pause to thank those who tried to assist during this great tragedy. My gratitude extends to our men and women in uniform, as well as the medical teams and the average citizens who tried to help. 

I wish I could say that this horror was a one-time event, but truthfully, history repeats itself in multiple ways across our beautiful planet and throughout the ages. It seems that we humans have not learned much over time. Even as I write, the lyrics of John Lennon's song, Give Peace a Chance echo through my mind - written in 1969.

I often look to nature for comfort. It is there that I escape and rest my busy heart. I suspect you may do the same. There's a steadiness, a predictability, as well as extraordinary beauty -- each feeds our soul, even when the weather is stormy. The photo below is from this morning's early walk. 😊

​Melissa Lemay offers the poetry challenge for this week. She invites us to create Pi-Ku poems, tiny 3-line poems with a syllable count of 3-1-4. I decided to escape life's worries and chose to focus on the night sky. I hope you like it. 

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends. May blessings fill our days! ❤️

Dear blog friends,

It's been a busy week of high winds, heavy rains and floods, and abundant electrical strikes. We haven't experienced this much activity since leaving the Midwest over five years ago! I wrongly imagined the high desert to be a weather-quiet area, but I was mistaken. 

After one crazy day of meteorological drama, we were blessed with a double rainbow. Below is a photo from our backyard. You can barely see the second rainbow, but I promise it's there. 😊

This week, Robbie hosts Tanka Tuesday, and she offers an interesting challenge. She invites participants to include alliteration in a poem. This was a first for me, but with the rainbow in mind, I gave it a try -- with a couple of the lines. I hope you like it. 
​

I will close with an interesting discovery. It turns out that a double rainbow is associated with spiritual values or meaning. Who knew? I've attached an article that I stumbled upon that offers 9 spiritual explanations. All that I can claim is that seeing a double rainbow inspires awe. ❤️

Have a great rest of the week, dear friends. 

Hello blog friends, 

Summer is drawing to a close in our area, but it is not leaving quietly. While in beautiful Sedona, a violent storm hit our home area of Chino Valley with high winds and torrential rain. We decided to return earlier than planned and found neighbors dealing with downed trees and flooded streets. We were one of the fortunate households, as we had minimal damage. 

We've lived in this area for over five years, and this is the first time we've experienced a true Monsoon. It's a phenomenon that folks talk about, but until this happened, I didn't pay much attention. 

I had hoped to share photos with you, but I promise to do so when we return in another month or so. If you've never visited Sedona, put this beautiful area on your "to do" list. You'll be in awe of the red rocks, the sense of sacredness, and the peace the draws you into your heart. ❤️

Colleen Chesebro offers the prompt for his week's Tanka Tuesday, and she invites contributors to focus on color via metaphors. My simple poem attempts to capture my recent experience of summer's fury. I hope you like it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends -- hopefully void of monsoon fury. 😊

Hello, blog friends...

It's hard for me to believe, but I'm celebrating my 80th birthday this week. And to make the occasion memorable, hubby and I are heading to Sedona -- one of my favorite places on this beautiful planet. The mountain town is only an hour from us, and the drive is quite pleasant. 

I'll be hiking and taking in the sights for the rest of the week. The red rocks and the blue skies fill my heart - and soul. If you've not visited, I hope you'll have a chance to follow my lead soon. 

This week's Tanka Tuesday is hosted by Yvette. She invites us to write a syllabic poem about treading slowly. Well, I'll be doing plenty of that. These days, I'm careful about my climbs and adventures, but the pure pleasure of being in such majesty keeps me moving. Life is a rare gift, don't you agree? Let's enjoy the moments.❤️ 

Take good care of yourself and have a wonderful week. I'll be in touch soon! 😊

Hello blog friends,

We've had a few noisy nights/days, and I thought I'd share the experience with you. A local friend, Dana Gassaway, posted the image below on Facebook. It is from his My Lightning Tracker app. On August 10th, there were over 400 lightning strikes in our area! Amazing, don't you agree? 

I don't recall a time when I've seen such a firework display. When I was a kid, we'd count, one - one thousand, two - one thousand, and I started doing that automatically but stopped soon after. The strikes were coming too quickly and were very near.

Anyway, Willow is the host for this week's Tanka Tuesday, and she invites us to consider the change in season. I'm not sure Arizona is ready to say goodbye to summer, but the fireworks display could be a transitional phenomenon. We'll see...

My poetic contribution is a simple one, and it reflects upon the once straw fields - now green from the rain. Because of the storm, there's a beautiful freshness to our high desert area that takes my breath away. 

I hope you have a great week, dear friend. And if you're blessed with weather drama, please share. ❤️

Hello, dear blog friends!

I've recently returned from a 4-day retreat in Sedona, AZ led by Anita Moorjani. It was entitled From Healing to Whole, and true to its title, each day was filled with exercises and discussions focused on healing and wholeness. It was a wonderful/magical experience. 

During the retreat, I didn't turn on the television. I didn't even call my family or friends, because my phone wouldn't work. It was meant to be that I spent time in silence. But, traveling back home, my phone began working. I learned about the Spokane fire, because my brother and his family live there. I got a text message about my doctor (and friend) who suddenly passed away. And I dealt with Sunday's traffic. I wasn't ready for the 75 MPH speed limit. I would have been fine with a 55 limit. It was overwhelming.

Time away from the ruckus of life offered a contrast that helped me appreciate what I had forgotten -- me. I too easily get caught up in the busyness of life - and the craziness. But being away, and not being able to use my phone, helped me remember. Which leads me to this week's poetry prompt.

Melissa Lemay gave us this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt. She asked that participants focus on an experience of forgetting. I've shared what the retreat showed me, but when I got home, and watched the news with my husband, something else emerged. 

My poem attempts for address a collective experience of forgetting. I hope you like it. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. And may we all remember who we are. 😊

Good morning, blog friends...

I've a story to share, but first I'll explain this week's Tanka Tuesday instructions. Yvette Calleiro asks participants to focus on a dream - one that came true or fell apart. My story is not exactly a dream, but it materialized after deep prayers for a loved one. Could a dream also be a prayer? Or maybe a prayer part of a dream? 

❤️

My story ~

Two months ago, I shared that my beautiful daughter-in-law, Kathy, had lost her battle with cancer. The next day, when I took my morning hike, she was on my mind. I was absorbed in thought when I noticed ravens making a lot of noise in a particular tree. This was unusual. I stopped and stared into the tree, then gasped. I very large Great Horned Owl stared back at me. My first thought was a silly one -- do they bite humans? I decided not to find out and kept walking. 

The following day I had a similar strange experience. Again, I was thinking of Kathy when I neared the tree where the ravens had been protesting. I paused to see if the owl was still there. It wasn't. I restarted my walk and abruptly stopped. Three large Great Horned Owls stood on the fence about ten feet from me. I froze. They were very still - only their eyes moved. As entrancing as it was, I decided to slowly resume my hike. 

When I got back to the house, I called my grieving son to see how he was doing and then shared my encounters. His response blew me away. He said, "Mom, Kathy's favorite bird was the owl. She loved them." We talked more and concluded, the owls were her messengers. 

In all my years, I've never seen owls up close like this, nor have I ever seen a threesome. My simple Haiku ~

❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. We're deep into the Monsoon season, with rains and unexpected flash floods. We need the water, so this is a blessing -- sometimes, an exciting one.

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....