Hidden Messages

August 10, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

“I’m not as smart as you. I’d probably be okay if I was smarter.” “That’s not true, June. You are very smart.” “Do you really think so?” My sister and I are doing dishes after supper. June suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. “You got 96% in your nursing program,” I remind her. “Intelligence is not your […]

Forlorn

August 9, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This sweet bushtit landed on my path while I was visiting Redding, California this past spring. After playing with the image, what emerged was a forlorn little fellow for whom I wrote this haiku. My heart goes out to all those in Redding, and elsewhere in the world where forest fires are ravaging lives. (Submitted […]

Self-Talk

August 8, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

What I liked about starting a new school as a kid, was the opportunity to change my approach to life. In the early years, I was known as a tough girl, a fighter. I decided to leave her behind when I moved schools in 5th grade, and focus on being smart. Instead, I learned to […]

Lens-Artists Challenge: Blue

August 7, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Blue is the promise of Arizona’s skies in February; It is the delight of neon dragonflies on a summer’s day; It’s nature’s artistry unsurpassed. (Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is blue.)

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #10: Conversation

August 6, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat. “What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that […]

Home: A Wrap

August 5, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

We arrived Wednesday, our vehicle stuffed full, including a blow-up mattress for me, who would be camping out the remainder of the week. Ric would travel back and forth, staying at the RV, and I would manage deliveries, and oversee the laying of new floors. I set up in the living room (bedroom carpets were […]

Nurturing Thursday: Thought for August 2

August 3, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Originally posted on Cee's Photo Challenges:
I decided to play with along with Becca today and participate in her Nurturing Thursday. For the Love of Challenges I’ve gathered a list of challenges and their hosts. So if you know a challenge host, please direct them to my blog. Feel free to contact me anytime.…

One Word Photo Challenge: Positive

August 2, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Positive is my granddaughter’s signature thumbs up! Or the enthusiastic greeting of a beloved pup: A visit from a favourite bird, can set my day up right: As can the sudden appearance of a butterfly so bright: (Thank you to Tourmaline for this week’s challenge: positive. All photos are from my personal collection.)

Hunger (Haiku)

August 1, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

(Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge is sates & fuels. I used glut in place of sates. To participate, click on the link.)

Ghostly

July 31, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

“What can walk but has no legs; sleeps during the day, and is awake at night?” This is our six-year-old granddaughter’s latest joke. “A ghost!” On a recent visit to Northern Ontario, I photographed this solo loon. There is something so haunting about the call of the loon, and I’ve been pondering it ever since. […]

Relevance of Story

Stories have power. Parents, teachers, public speakers, and therapists understand that the secret to engaging an audience or connecting with others is through illustration: storytelling. I see it in the eyes of the my grandchildren, who love to hear tales of family history. I’ve seen in the eyes of students, when recognition and understanding light […]

Is This War?

“War is hell. You can’t photograph a flying bullet, but you can capture genuine fear.”– unknown The bomb has droppedcontrol slips from our grasp We pray for a parachutefor someone to pull the cord numbers escalate,lives plummet We offer encouragementisolated voices faltering moment of impact imminentthe implosion inevitable impact reverberatesresponsibility moot. ( Image my own.)