Saying Goodbye

           On Tuesdays, the Slices of Life are shared through the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Thanks to Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz, we are able to connect to many lives throughout the year.  

            According to Rainer Maria Rilke, 

               And now welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.  

           It's been quite a year, this year of 2012. The challenges I met were fearsome, and I am proud I did meet them with grit and thoughtfulness, for my husband, my family and for myself.There were as many highs as lows.  I originally chose comfort as my One LIttle Word, yet couldn't manage to keep up with all the prompts given.  I did, however, remember that word, and it gave me something to hold to during all these past months.  

One Good Book of Poetry

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  There are lots of great books to learn about.    There is another meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.  Enjoy the visit!

           I've had such a busy week with company and wonderful Christmas celebrations.  I only finished one book, but it was a good one!  I’m trying to read all the poetry nominations for the Cybil’s awards before I am given a list of the finalists for the 2^nd round judging. 

          This time I read Outside your Window, A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Mark Hearld.  It’s a beautiful compilation of poems and information about nature through all the year, beginning with spring.  

One Bright Christmas Moment

      Our final Poetry Friday, and the new year invited is hosted by a blogger friend nearby, Carol at Carol'sCorner.  Thanks Carol, for hosting this final poetry celebration of 2012!

       Among all the celebrations, one moment I will hold closely, a young girl so happy in a princess dress, asking if we want to watch her Christmas dance.  She is giddy with the joy of the music, of the promise of gifts to come, and cousins visiting. 

New Home-New Christmases

On Tuesdays, the Slices of Life are shared through the Two Writing Teachers blog.  It's Christmas Tuesday this time.

       This year, Christmas is in my new home.  So far, it's been fun and busy, like all Christmas times.  My son and family are in for the week, and we're going to my daughter's later today for our gift-giving and celebrating.  Some of the traditions are the same; I made the usual cookies and wrapped the gifts, hiding some surprises.  Although I moved just a couple of weeks ago, I've managed to find all the "needed" items, and first put up the kitchen tree, just like years past.  

What Really Matters

      Heidi Mordhorst is hosting Poetry Friday today at Juicy Little Universe.  Thanks to Heidi, the day will be filled with the pleasure of reading poems and thoughts about poetry.  

              It's the first day of winter, time for reflection for the holidays and the new year ahead.   Writing this week has been a challenge of what to say, what to do, how far to talk with students, how to support my colleagues, etc.  I'm posting a poem today that I found a few weeks ago.  I saved it then, but didn't realize how very important it would be to read and re-read at this time of grief for those who have lost loved ones recently.  

What Matters, And What Doesn't
                          by Gautam Sen

Are you French or Indonesian
Or Korean or Papua New Guinean
Or Nicaraguan?
Are you black or brown
Or white or yellow?

         The rest of this lovely poem is found here at the Your Daily Poem site.

Happiest of holidays to you all!

Reflection, Connection

        The Wonderful Slices of Life can be Found Linked at the Two Writing Teachers Blog
      It was not easy posting today.  Yesterday I wrote about books, not so hard.  It was straightforward with a clear purpose.  Today the slices are more open-ended.  When I try to write about any topic, it didn't seem so important.  I found that I couldn't find a way to make the topic interesting.  And so I didn't write, just began to read my blogger friends' posts.  They wrote such wonderful thoughts, they told things I didn't know yet, and they showed me that I could write and it would be okay, no matter what.  I thank them!

            I remembered this: In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death.  Anne Frank  I have kept it for many years as part of my own philosophy and will continue.

Books Are Precious

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  There are lots of great books to learn about.    There is another meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.  Enjoy the visit!

         At this sad time, I found a quote that touched me.  I hope it gives some comfort to all of you:  “Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.”

             -- Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
         And-As I was reading other's posts, go to Gregory Pincus' GottaBook.  He shared a poem that you will love!

If you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

Don’t Feed The Boy – Irene Latham, illus. by Stephanie Graegin

An Early Gift for All

      This holiday Poetry Friday is hosted by Jama Rattigan at  her blog, the marvelous Jama's Alphabet Soup, with a very special guest.  Please come by to enjoy what Jama is serving today and that which all the Poetry Friday celebrants have to share.
        As many of you know, I have been opening boxes of memorabilia from years of family collecting, stored in attics and basements.  And then, my husband took it to save, and now I have moved, am continuing to comb through everything with the anticipation of an estate sale in order to find a new way of living, still with numerous special things from my past, but with the inspiration to live a little more lightly!  I have moved, have been in my new home nearly a week, and the word of the day is "boxes" and "finding the correct light switch".  The days and nights have gone well, and I am looking forward to more.
        Among many lovely little pieces of the past, I found a beautiful old book copyrighted 1910, titled Stevenson on Friendship.  It includes short quotations and essays of the thoughts of different kinds of friendship, with people, nature, various concepts like industry.  Robert Louis Stevenson is musing about all these things, seeming to share his thoughts as from his journal.  It is something I wanted to share with you all.  Because Stevenson is such a sentimental writer, the words are quite poetic, and I love especially one where he speaks about the stars.  I found the passage here at Google books which I discovered is from a book by Stevenson titled Will O' The Mill.

On The Move

Tuesday Slices of Life, according to Betsy at Teaching Young Writers, are served by Stacey and Ruth every week at Two Writing Teachers.  It's a good time to visit!   


This will be the start of something big!  At least for me, right now, Dec. 11th.  I've been in my new house (home) for two days.  I'll be writing about this move for a while, and two weeks before Christmas is not exactly the time for a big move, yet, I did it!  I am grateful for

friends: helping move all my kitchen and art, and others who unloaded the attic several weeks ago

packers: so kind and ensuring that everything was packed safely & prepared

movers: who worked fast & tirelessly from 9am to 7pm, lifting, loading, then un-loading.  Finally, moving a few things again per my direction so I could access certain boxes first, etc.

family: helped through these past months supporting, working, calling

colleagues: asking often how things were going

finally:  service workers, who changed the cord on the stove I brought because it didn't fit the plug here, who showed me how the water heater worked when I didn't have hot water (the former owners had evidently turned it off to save energy), and the person who set up my cable, phone and internet service.

             All helped with expertise, cheer, patience and kindness.  I am so grateful.

      I visited my husband early yesterday morning and it took about 7 minutes to get there!  I am going to work this am; it will take about 5 minutes.  My daughter and oldest granddaughter Ingrid came by yesterday, and took me out to dinner. Ingrid goes to her preschool about 17 blocks north!  It took about 3 minutes to arrive at the restaurant.

      Sorry this is so filled with minutiae, yet it's those little things, as many of us say again and again, that are meaningful to our lives.

For now, a few photos of organized chaos.

Just Two, But So Worth Reading!

Visit Myra, Fats, & Iphigene for marvelous talk about books at Gathering Books, including this  Reading Challenge. 

And-

Jen and Kellee host this kidlit meme at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  It's terrific to find new books to enjoy & share!  It's Monday! What are you Reading? is another meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers reviews of all kinds of books.  

 If you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

The two great books: 

A Rainbow Gift

          There is always something interesting when one visits Robyn Hood Black’s blog, Read, Write, Howl.  Today is no exception, because she is hosting Poetry Friday!  Come join us to read some beautiful words.  Thanks to Robyn for hosting, and don’t forget to check out her new blog, Artsy Letters, all about creativity and sometimes talking about her new Etsy shop.  Beautiful things can be seen there!

Looks like night, but it was about noon.

         There is such allure about rainbows.  We wish upon them, we write songs about them, we use them to study weather, and we hope someday to find a pot of gold, and perhaps  meet a leprechaun, because we’ve finally made it to Ireland.  Today’s post is about the phenomenon I saw yesterday. Luckily I could take a photo quickly.  I found one possible explanation for what I observed yesterday (in my photo above).  It is called a “firecloud”.  According to a news report here, “They're given the colloquial name of "fire rainbows" and they are due to high, wispy clouds that are made of tiny ice crystals, and if the cloud is at the right angle to the sun, the crystals will refract the sunlight (much like a prism) into the colors of the rainbow. 
I was enthralled, and had to write a poem about this phenomenon.

Heading Toward Normal - Maybe?

Stacey and Ruth. wonderfully creative women that they are, host the Tuesday Slices of Life where each blogger links up a post to tell people how life is treating them.  Come visit!

     I need to make this brief, but wanted to let everyone know that I’m still celebrating, my move and my (NOW) 401^st post.  I just don’t have time for true reflection, perhaps next week? I found a quote about learning that fits who I am as a teacher. I like to learn, and hope that there is something for each student and person with whom I work that they might take away.  It is: You learn something every day if you pay attention.  ~Ray LeBlond   I think in my blogging that attention has been paid, and I’m proud of that.

Some Terrific New Books With my 400th Post!

     Jen and Kellee host this kidlit meme at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  It's terrific to find new books to enjoy & share!

          It's Monday! What are you Reading? is another meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers reviews of all kinds of books.  

        If you’re on Twitter, use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

There are many things to celebrate today.  Most anyone who reads my posts regularly knows I am moving, and a week from today I will be in my new home, still not all out of the old one, but close.  I have managed to complete this task!  Hurrah!

I have family and friends who have helped me so much in these past weeks.  This past Saturday, eight friends came to my house, gave up their Saturday morning and helped me move the contents of my kitchen, all of the framed art, and other miscellaneous pieces.  I am so grateful; they saved me much time, energy and money. 

And, today is my 400^th post!  Through all the great times, and all the tough ones, I have persisted and kept the blog going.  I have made many friends and connections all over the world (so exciting), I think I have improved my writing, and I have loved every minute of the doing.   It’s been a beautiful learning journey since March 2011.  I appreciate all of you who comment, and you who have shared your own stories with me.  THANK YOU!