Slice of Life: Tiny Pleasures

My daughter went to Utah to hold babies and help out after Will's brother and wife had twins in November. 

Everything was arranged for Will to watch the boys, but when Jack spiked a fever, I offered to take Ollie for the day to make things a bit easier for Will. And then I took Jack on Tuesday because a low grade fever the day before kept him from returning to school. And then it was only right that Robby would have a day with Grandma on Wednesday. It was so fun to have them visit one at a time!

Robby arrived with a Lunchable (a rare treat in their family, maybe purchased because Mom was out of town). When we started lunch and tore open the package, he went right for the sweet treat. (I try to honor my daughter's wisdom that nothing has to be eaten in a particular order.) As we were discussing the treat and he was chasing the small pellets around the table, he wanted to know why it had a particular name. We queried Siri who replied,  "Some say that _______ were named after a reference in the Dr. Seuss Book, If I Ran the Zoo, where a ______ is mentioned as one of the creatures the narrator would collect for his zoo." Have you figured it out yet? 

I picked up the small box and searched to see if there was any interesting information on the package. I told Robby they were strawberry flavored to which he replied, "That must be why they are so tasty." 

The sweet treat he was enjoying? A snack size package of Nerds. Apparently you don't get two flavors in the small boxes.

I'm still savoring the delight of having my grandsons visit one at a time. Every day with my grands is a grand day for learning and thinking and talking and listening! 

Here's to tiny pleasures that sweeten our days!

Poetry Friday: "In the Company of Women"

I recently discovered a new-to-me poem, "In the Company of Women" in How We Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope edited by James Crew. Here are a few of my favorite lines that speak to the delight of hanging out with friends:

"Make my cup overflow

 with your small happiness.

I want to hoot and snort and cackle and chuckle."

You can read "In the Company of Women" in its entirety at poets.org.

 Marcie at Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting 

this week's round-up of poetic goodness.

Slice of Life: Gathering Words I Love

Are you a word collector? 

I've loved gathering words from podcasts and IG posts this month. I'm not a January Jumper. I don't jump on the bandwagon to start a diet, go to the gym, get organized, set a new routine, and/or figure out my resolutions when the calendar turns to the new year.

I've enjoyed gathering (gather is my OLW for 2023) words that "speak to me" this month. 

I totally agreed with Kendra Adachi's advice in The Lazy Genius, podcast #295. Starting fresh does not have to mean starting over. She emphasized the following words: Instead of beginning, work on continuing. Instead of fixing, choose one small area of your life to work on tending. Instead of the big change, focus on starting small and nurturing this one area. Instead of evaluating, spend time reflecting, just looking back at the past year and noticing. Here are Kendra's 30 Lazy Genius Questions for the Start of a New Year. Think about what sparkled last year. Instead of a big annual do over, focus on your seasonal needs. Learn to pivot and adjust your expectations and let go since we are never in full control of our lives.

Yesterday, I saw a reel on IG that I loved and then it was gone. I texted Monica Packer (About Progress podcast) since she had posted it. The reel came from Instagrammer, strugglecare (KC Davis), who addressed the yo-yo self-improvement syndrome that afflicts some at the beginning of a new year. Her nugget of wisdom? Real functional improvements to our life happen slowly and gently.

How about it? Which camp are you in? Are you a fast and furious resolute beginner of a new year? Or are you reflecting and planning a slow and gentle tending of the new year based on your current needs? I bet you know where to find me.

Slice of Life: Gathering Enchantment, Magic, and Wonder

My acrostic for Poetry Friday included the words, "Watch for enchantment." Enchantment's been on my heart ever since I read this article from Time magazine and shared it on FB. And since gather is my OLW for 2022, I've gathered some enchantments, a bit of magic, and some small wonders to share with you today.

Enchanted describes how I respond to Christmas lights. When I left daughter's house one evening this past week, I responded to Christmas lights and turned down a street that was not on my way home. I'm so grateful for folks who haven't taken down their lights yet. And knowing how way leads on to way (or lighted street leads on to next lighted street), I found myself following all the holiday lights that beckoned to me. And the best part? Rather than being totally lost at the end of this adventure, I just turned on my navigation for home.

We've had creatures around ever since Santa left these fun blankets. Enchanted creatures living in your home is a special kind of magic.

My daughter's out of town this week and so I've been helping with the grands. Yesterday after our youngest grandson left, I noticed this wonderful impression left behind of his visit.  It's precious and wonderful. I hope you can see the hand prints on the blanket that covers our brick hearth.

Today when the oldest grand came to visit, he helped me put lights on the deck (who says you can't do that in January?), make monster cookies (his favorite), create a magical Magna Tile town, and explore a box of "Gags" that I unearthed in a box of Christmas decorations. We planted the chattering teeth and the gorilla hands in Grandpa's bed. And then he modeled the silly spectacles for me as I explained to him that we have a picture somewhere of his mom and Uncle Blake and Grandma and Grandpa all wearing the silly spectacles. Doesn't he look professorial?

I hope you'll find time to gather enchantment, magic, and wonders as you navigate this first month of a new year!

Spiritual Journey Thursday & Poetry Friday: New Year Musings & My OLW for 2023!

Margaret at Reflections on the Teche is hosting our first Spiritual Journey Thursday of 2023 with a reflection on purpose, her OLW for 2023.

 

The Poetry Friday Roundup is with Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core.

I composed this post in my writer's notebook*, the first time I've written in it in some time. It felt good to sit in my recliner, notebook in hand, to think about the new year and a new word. I was proud of myself for writing early, but then yesterday was crazy. So my SJT post joins my Poetry Friday post.  

(*I just discovered today that Ralph Fletcher has a new and expanded edition of his book, A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer within You. It releases on January 10. Hurry now to place your pre-order. I loved using this book when I was teaching. I'm sure I'll find a young writer or two who would appreciate this new edition of an old favorite of mine)

This acrostic poem reveals my OLW for 2023 and some of the feelings I have about approaching a new year.

 

Goodness me! 

A new year's arrived. 

Time to still the

Hustle. Watch for 

Enchantments. Find hope and goodness.

Revel in wonder.

 - Ramona Behnke

 

My next poem brought to mind a familiar poem by Bobbi Katz "What Shall I Pack in the Box Marked 'Summer'?"

 What Will I Gather in 2023? 

Words, Moments, Stories

Photos, Empty Boxes, Loose Ends

Friends, Loved Ones, Ancestors 

Hope, Goodness, Faith

Laughter, Love, Light

- Ramona Behnke

 

I'm still not sure where my journey with gather will take me, but for now it feels like a perfect word to guide my steps in this new year. Leave a comment and tell me what you will gather in 2023.