Hello, blog friends ~ 

I've a little update to share. Last week, my husband and his son and two grandsons took several days to visit Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon. The three generations had planned each stop and left excited about what they would see and experience. 

After their visit to the Canyon, three of the four started to feel sick. One went to the doctor and was told he had shingles because of a rash, but the others did not have the rash. When they returned home, the three tested positive for COVID. No one even thought of that possibility. 

When they thought back on their journey, they wondered about the Canyon tower, which they climbed. There was a large tour group that filled the inner space, and they were shoulder to shoulder with strangers. Could that have been the source? We'll never know.

On a happy note, the three are feeling stronger by the day. And, so far, I haven't fallen victim. 

Be well, dear friends, and have a great week. 

Hello, blog friends ~ 

I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer. Here in the high desert, we experience cool evenings and mild daytime temperatures, which are perfect for growing strawberries. I mention this because poet guru Colleen Chesebro is the #TankaTuesday prompter this week, and she asks that contributors focus on a beloved or hated fruit. AND if we feel inspired to do so, she invites us to include a recipe.

I'm a fan of strawberries, and I grow them in my garden. Each burst of red brings a smile and the anticipation of a culinary feast. As a child, I particularly enjoyed my mom's strawberry pies. I don't have her recipe, and I doubt she used one. "A little of this" and "a little of that" is how she cooked. Somehow, her desserts were always magical. 

My poem is a simple Tanka, syllables of 5-7-5-7-7. I hope you enjoy it.

As I mentioned above, I don't have my mom's recipe, but I found this old gentleman's post and had to smile. He's much like my mom, and his ingredients are ones she used. So...enjoy this brief how-to video and imagine my mom or yours rolling out the dough. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. With all that is going on around us, let's take time to eat some pies and travel back to childhood. 🍓🍓🍓

Hello, dear blog friends.

It's #TankaTuesday, and Selma is the host. She invites all interested folks to write a Rensaku focused on relationships. Well, with all the turmoil on our beautiful planet, I've chosen to address the need for communication.

Looking back at this past week, I wonder what was achieved through the violence. Those who destroyed property felt empowered, and those who didn't felt more justified than ever. When we don't meet each other on common ground, we only see what we want to see across the divide, and it is dehumanizing.

Yep, I'm a counselor by training, but I'm not a pacifist. I'm a realist who strives to build bridges of understanding. From my perspective, life is too short not to do so. My poem ~ 
​

I leave you with a rendition of a song by Guns N' Roses -- Sweet Child of Mine.  I suspect we've all heard it, but these days, it's worth listening to again.

In war, there really aren't any victors. The brave men and women who honorably wear the uniform often face a life burdened by memories and injuries. Those of us who did not serve watched the conflicts on television--from a place of comfort. 

Many members of my extended family served in the military or are currently serving. Because of their bravery and the efforts of those who meet on the broken bridges of life, we can embrace hope. I'm immensely grateful to all who work to establish peace.

I hope you enjoy this reflective version of Sweet Child of Mine.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. ❤️

Hello, dear blog friends ~ 

Late yesterday, I heard from my youngest son. He is being treated at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He had just learned that the surgery was successful and was very happy -- as was I. Though lengthy treatment lies ahead for him, there is now much needed hope. 

Each of us has our personal sorrows and challenges, and we suffer greatly when these heartbreaks touch our children. Sometimes we forget that we are more alike than different, but our human frailties remind us of that truth. 

My poem today was sparked by the above phone call, and it attempts to respond to this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt. Poet Colleen Chesebro invites us to focus on the full moon by writing a Tanka Puente using a quote from the Pioneer Woman at the center of our poem.

Here's my contribution:

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Let's all search for the Light. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

The high desert of Northern Arizona is alive with color, and the transformation is awe-inspiring. In addition to blossoms, it's a delight seeing the pronghorn with their fawns.

A special treat of Spring in our household is the yearly visit of the quail family. This little tribe lives under one of our cypress trees in the back yard. Once the chicks have hatched, they chatter to us throughout the day and walk along the fence. You can see them in the photo below. ​

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. ❤️