Did you know the month of May....

The month of May is thought to be named after Maia, the mother of Mercury.
Maia is the Oscan Earth-Goddess, and an ancient Roman Goddess of springtime, warmth, and increase. She causes the plants to grow through Her gentle heat. Her name means "She Who is Great", and is related to Oscan mais and Latin majus, both of which mean "more". She is also called Maia Maiestas, "Maia the Majestic", which is essentially a doubling of Her name to indicate Her power, as both "Maia" and "Maiestas" have their roots in latin magnus, "great or powerful". She was honored by the Romans on the 1st and 15th of May, and at the Volcanalia of August 23rd, the holiday of Her sometimes husband, the Fire-God Vulcan.

Did you also know that because the Roman festivals of the unhappy dead and of the goddess of chastity occurred in May, it was considered an unlucky month for marriages.

My plan for this month of May is to plant my garden. I will be working on it this coming weekend. I'll begin working on it Friday afternoon. Saturday, I will be walking for a cause which touches me personally. I will be walking for MS, Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed with this debilitating disease in 1993, although symptoms date back to 1986.  http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/COCWalkEvents?px=6628054&pg=personal&fr_id=18645

What are your plans for this fifth month of 2012? Planting a garden or ideas for a new book?
What ever your plans are for this first day of May, live it to the fullest.

Monday's Poem~ A New Beginning~For my daughter

A New Beginning

© Troy Martin, Jr.

A little egg under her mothers wings.
Yet to be born into the world of things.

A crack and a pop out she came.
Old and new, it was all the same.

Well nourished by mom, she began to sing.
Ready to learn of life and everything.

Innocence of new, she started up her flaps.
Not knowing of life, and all it's traps.

Mother watched on, with a big chuckle.
As she sprang out of the nest, with no buckle.

Back and forth, she swayed, on the ground.
As her mother watched for danger, all around.

She tried and tried until that day.
Fly she did, but not in a graceful way.

The day came, like mother knew it would.
For her child to fly away, like she should.

Off towards the horizon, fling she went.
Mother watching from afar, knowing it was time well spent.

Many times, the hailstorms of life beat her down.
Sometimes in flight, all the way to the ground.

Lessons well learned, she still lost her way.
Fluttered home to mom, with nothing to say.

Under mothers wings once more, did she heal.
The grace of mothers, no one can steal.

By grace did she heal, down to the core.
Ready to take on life and its challenges once more.

She flew from the tree, mom proud to see.
She became the strongest sparrow, that ever would be.

The eagles bowed down, had nothing on her, by the way.
She flew, glided and God, did she soar that day.

Happy Monday. I chose this poem today in tribute to my daughter. She is currently going through a tough time. I know she is strong, intelligent, and wants what's best for herself and her daughter. I am sure the day will arrive when I see her soar, just as anyone who knows her true spirit believes for her.
We all have to believe in ourselves, and not look for the easy way out. We all travel on life's many roads, and eventually we come to a crossroads and must make a choice. Dig deep within your soul, and choose to travel the road which is both positive and enduring. When you are raised with morals, and you arrive at a difficult crossroad, fall back upon those morals to see you though it.

Where ever the last Monday of April leads you, make it positive, joyful and please send positive thoughts to my daughter,

Do you know that today....

Do you know that today in the year 1913, Gideon Sunback patented the zipper?
Imagine the world without zippers!

Have to zip out of here and go to work at the winery. I hope your day is zippy!

Sunday's Poem~ Butterfly, Butterfly

Butterfly, Butterfly

Hoping to catch your eye
Circling around you, oh my
Butterfly, butterfly, come into the light
Oh, what a beautiful sight
Flying so gracefully
Into the sky, the butterfly
Trying to catch a butterfly
Fly, fly, fly, butterfly
There he sets upon the mums
I'm having so much fun
Here's another on the sill
Your standing so still
You go to touch him
There he goes, the butterfly
I hear a tapping on the window
It's the butterfly, fly, fly, fly
There he goes into the sky
Flying so high, the butterfly
I'll see you another day
Butterfly, butterfly, away

Sharon Adamson


Have you had the pleasure this spring to be seeing butterflies? I have been watching the wonderful creatures fluttering around my yard, especially around the rose bushes.
What do butterfly's mean to you? To me they represent freedom and change.
Where ever the final Sunday of April leads you, notice how many butterfly's you encounter, and be sure to smile.

Choose to be Happy!

Life is about choices. Everyone of us have to make several choices each and every day.  Do you choose to be happy? The only source of happiness and unhappiness come from inside yourself.
Happiness is not something that comes to you, it is something you create. Waiting for something or someone to change in order to be happy is actually waiting to live your life. Life throws us many curve balls, it's how you react that counts, not what happens to you.
Its all in your attitude. When you adopt a positive attitude, life becomes easier.
Happiness is in your own hands. Think in a positive way. When you encounter what you consider a problem, do your very best to look for all the good points. I know myself, when an issue arises which I wasn't expecting, during this time we can't see the forest through the trees. Once the issue passes, and we remove our emotions from it, more times than not, the reasons become clear. Everything has at least one good point. Even sickness has its positive side. I know for myself, after I as diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis over nineteen years ago, my life as I had known it now looked dismal and scary. Once I chose to be positive about this situation I now found myself in, my life took a turn for the better. Yes, I still suffer with this debilitating disease on a daily basis, but it's how I deal with it. I take control of my daily situation with it, I do not let it take control over me.
Positive thinking is not enough on its own, however. We also need to fix the problem or prevent it from happening again. In my situation with this disease, I listen to my body and rest when it tells me to, I do my best to live a stress free, happy, upbeat life. Yes, I still have my issues with it, but I always remain positive.
We can turn suffering into non-suffering. We can even turn it into happiness. Whether we suffer or not depends solely upon us. It doesn't depend on what happens to us.
Everyone wants to nothing but good. But things will be even better if we can train ourselves to be more patient and to think in a positive way. If we can do that, then we'll have a definite guarantee that regardless of what we encounter, we won't suffer as much or as easily as we did before.

Enjoy your day, and find happiness!

Saturday's Poem~ Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose

She came in my dreams last night,
She left a yellow rose and a love note on pillow next to me,
As always the inscription read,
'we are friends for ever and in the eternity'.

Since a rose is a rose,
why the red rose shines in the glory of love?
why the white roses remind us of our departed souls?
and why the yellow rose shines the rays of friendship in all of us?

Like sunshine bursting through grey clouds,
The aura of friendship emanates from its golden petals,
The frozen dew drops on its soft satin petals,
glorifies tears on my cheeks in the times of sadness,
Its mere presence and the fragrance,
fills my heart with the scent of warmth and affection.

Yellow rose you are perfection in creation,
I wonder why you have to wither away in time,
With every falling petal, a heart is broken,
with every withered yellow rose, a token of eternal friendship is lost.

Jay P Narain

Any day now, my yellow Japanese roses will be opening. I will post a picture once they open.

Did everyone have a great week and an even greater Friday? Any big plans for today?

I will be visiting our library to finalize the new writers group I'm forming. The grass needs cutting, I'll do that in the afternoon.

Where ever your Saturday takes you, enjoy!

Real Excitment before I left work yesterday

Our winemaker, Brian was pulled over by our local police on suspicion of yesterday's bank robbery. Brian had been up at our our location working on swamp coolers! It was quite the scene to watch approx. 7 undercover cops, sheriff's and local police fly into our parking lot. I had just closed the tasting room at 5 pm when this happened! Never a dull moment! Have I mentioned how much I love my job?


The third operator steams a singer.

Friday's Poem~ Rain, Rain

Rain, Rain

Rain, Rain, wash over me,
cleanse an purify me,
your drops, so soothing n' smooth,
lull me to sleep, content, not blue,

Rain, Rain, drops abound,
clean my body n' soul,
make me new,
with no walls around,

Rain Rain, my roof you seek,
your floods wash over me,
the emotions do peek,
cause rain is life-giving,
much zeal to thee,

Rain, Rain, clean my body,
for you always make me,
feel so fancy n' so free,

Rain, Rain, refreshing to me,
for during the rain,
no refrain from sleepin I see,

Rain, Rain, stay with me,
cause I'm in love with you,
you leave me unchained,
feeling worthy, not blue.

Richard McClellan

Late afternoon Thursday, a wind storm blew through our area, with a few drops of rain. We are in dire need of rain. It's supposed to rain this evening and clear up to sunny skies for my Friday.

Where ever your Friday takes you, my wish is that you have sunny beautiful skies and a quiet end to your work week.

Thursday's Poem~ Lightening Bugs

Lightening Bugs

When I was a curious little girl
I chased bright blinking lights
Into the darkness of the night.

The lighting bugs were shifty.
They were not easy to catch.
Finally, they met their match.

I placed them into a Mason jar.
I punched nail holes into the cap.
With fascination, I would rap…

Constant tapping prompted flickers.
Their lights dimmed as I went to bed
At sunrise, they were certainly dead.

I grieved and wondered why…
What could have blown their fuse?
Regretful, I did not mean to abuse.

Now I know to let them stay in the wild.
Leave them alone to dazzle with a pride.
Don’t seal them up and take them inside.

7/5/07      

Theresa Ann Moore

 

 

How was your Wednesday? Mine was busy. At the winery, we've been painting the vast space since early February. Today, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In between painting some trim, I enjoyed conversing with customers and having them sample our honey wine.

A couple of Mesa University  girls came in to taste. I enjoyed talking with the girls about a variety of subjects. Somehow, we got on the subject of how different scents open up your brain to memories of the past.  I told them a story about when I was a child and one Christmas, I received an ice cream maker. Being the third of six, (all females,) after I made ice cream the first time, I was the first to taste it, as my siblings stared, wishing they were me.

My sisters, anxiously anticipating my answer, ask me, "what does it taste like?"

Bending my head, my left ear facing the floor, eyes staring into the air, I responded, "it tastes like lightening bugs smell."

Have you ever experienced this?

One of the girls from the University asked myself and her friend, "what are lightening bugs?"

This girl was born and raised in southern California, and evidently, lightening bugs do not reside in this region.

I love my job, I enjoy meeting people. Everyone has a story, and I listen.

Whatever you do on your Thursday, enjoy and listen, you will probably hear a future book.

 

 

 

Wednesday's Poem ~Sleep - a poem by Sir Philip Sydney

SLEEP
Sir Philip Sidney

Come, Sleep; O Sleep! the certain knot of peace.
The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe,
The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release,
Th' indifferent judge between the high and low;
With shield of proof shield me from out the prease
Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw:
O make in me those civil wars to cease;
I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.
Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed,
A chamber deaf to noise and blind of light,
A rosy garland and a weary head;
And if these things, as being thine by right,
Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,
Livelier than elsewhere, Stella's image see.

How was your Tuesday? I had a sleepless night and I'm looking forward to placing my head onto my feather pillow and slowly closing my eyes.

Any plans for your Wednesday? Where ever this last Wednesday of April takes you, make it the best you can.

"What?" I ask. "Is that you soft, fluffy pillow calling my name?"

Tuesday's Poem~ Some People

Some People

Some people want to die
some people want to live
some people want to take
some people want to give

Some people have family
some people have friends
some people love life
some people wait for it to end

Some people need the help
some people help the need
some people want to share
some people love the greed

Some people are weak
some people are strong
some people are right
some people are wrong

Some people are smart
some people are fools
some people are wise
some people need school

Some people have no mind
some people have no heart
some people keep us together
some people tear us apart

True Pain

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday. My day was both good and not so good. I believe this poem says it all.

Where ever your Tuesday leads you, I hope you are one of the strong, have a heart, have family and friends, and someone who wants to share.

Monday Mistake

In  my earlier blog about stress, I said to enjoy the last Monday of April, I'm rushing the month, must because of the great heat wave we're having. We still have one more Monday this month.

Enjoy your second to last Monday!

Monday's Poem~ Stress

Stress

A definition, friends, of stress:
Your own reaction to a mess
Stresses may be large or small
Sometimes they're not perceived at all
Examples: Say a lack of cash;
A just-avoided freeway crash;
An allergen that's in the air;
The barber says you're losing hair;
Fifty on a spavined horse;
Attorney's letter re divorce;
Wetness, dryness, heat or cold;
Callow youth or getting old
Stress from pains to pleasures range
The common element is change
Adapt or die, and that's a fact
And so our bodies must react:
The heart speeds up, the gutda slows down
Facial muscles snarl or frown
Bronchial tubes expand and then
The blood absorbs more oxygen
Widened pupils search the void
Adrenal glands secrete steroid
Serum glucose starts to climb
More insulin works overtime
Stressed physically or mentally
Muscles tense to fight or flee
The midbrain boils with rage and fear
While cortex plans to save your rear
The point is, stress is not unique
It doesn't mean you're dumb or weak
A part of mankind's constitution
Bequeathed to us by evolution
Common both to man and beast
It proves you're still alive, at least.

By William Goldsmith, MD

Everyone has stress in their lives, it's how we deal with it that counts. I like this poem and it is appropriate for my day today! The one thing I have learned in fifty-two years is not to take on other's stress. We all have different stresses in our lives, and I feel it's how we deal with it, either makes you or breaks you. I have learned to let other's stresses roll off my back like water off a duck.
I hope everyone had a fantastic, stress free day. Where ever this final Monday of April 2012 leads you, make it the best and don't stress, tomorrow the sun will rise and we get a new beginning.

Sunday's Poem~ Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis hardly prays!
By camouflage, it takes its preys;
It hunts insects that fly all days;
A carnivore, it always stays!

Its eyes see well for sixty feet!
It lives on branches green to eat;
Sometimes, its color looks like wheat;
It turns its neck full circle neat.

The female kills the male in sex;
Big ones can eat a frog and vex;
They are not poisonous at all;
They climb quite fast a tree or wall!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 7-27-2008

Dr John Celes

Did everyone have a great Saturday? Here in Western Colorado the weather couldn't have been better. 84 degree's today. After I cut the grass and worked in my soon to be vegetable garden, Brett and I enjoyed a nice cold Fat Tire beer. While Brett was working with our Japanese rose bushes, he observed a    recently laid mantis ootheca attached to a branch on the roses. We're excited to see the praying mantis return. Last summer we had several who hung out in our garden. This is the first time in my nearly fifty-three years alive to see this. I'll be anxiously watching this ootheca evolve.

Where ever you find yourself today, please make the best of it.

Poem for Saturday~ The Robin's Bath

The Robin's Bath
by Evaleen Stein

A flash and flicker of dripping wings,
A wet red breast that glows
Bright as the newly opened bud
The first red poppy shows,

A sparkle of flying rainbow drops,
A glint of golden sun
On ruffled feathers, a snatch of song,
And the robin's bath is done.

Did everyone have a wonderful Friday? I had the day off from the winery so my husband and I purchased some Miracle Grow soil for my free standing garden box Brett built for me a couple of years ago. I'm happy to say I planted radishes, snap peas, and spinach today after placing the fresh soil into the box. A few day's ago, a wind storm blew through and left a lot of down branches in our yard which Brett and I also had to clean up today. Beautiful blue skies,and warm sun helped our projects get completed quickly. As the sprinklers quenched the parched landscaping, a robin enjoyed the droplets as they scattered about.

Where ever your Saturday leads you, enjoy!

Friday's Poem~ SIMPLICITY - How happy is the little stone

SIMPLICITY - How happy is the little stone
Emily Dickinson 


 How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.

Simplicity, what a wonderful concept. In the year 2006, I chose to modify my life. I left a good paying position, sold most of my personal possessions, and moved across country  to write a much simpler, stress less chapter in my life.

Six years after I began writing this new chapter, I find myself happier then ever. I now live a simple, stress free, wonderful reality.
What ever road your Friday leads you, make it as stress free as possible.




I

Thursday's Poem~ The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I chose the Rainy day poem for today because it is going to be a rainy day here on the Western Slope of Colorado.
Where ever you're Thursday leads you, whether it's wet or dry outside, make the best of it.

Wednesday's Poem~ Life Is Fine

Life Is Fine by Langston Hughes

    I went down to the river,

I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!

I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.

But it was High up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--
But for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine

What a great poem! No matter how hard life gets at times, it always gets better. Tomorrow is another day.

My hope for you is that your Wednesday is wonderful, and no matter what your day brings you, be sure to smile, (it makes people wonder what you've been up to!)

Tuesday's Poem for my granddaughter Miah

I Miss You
I always enjoy myself
When I spend time with you
We need to see each other more often
As our visits are too few.
Our time together is precious
And it goes by too swift
Every time I see you
You always give me a lift!
Author Unknown
I love you Miah

Monday I met my daughter in Vail, our halfway point for my granddaughter to go home after spending her spring break with me.I had a great time with her as usual, and can't wait until the next time we see one another, we're hoping in June.
My vacation is also over, I'm back to work at the winery today.

Where ever this Tuesday takes you, make it the best you can!

Monday's poem by Alvin Schwartz~

There was a man who lived in leeds,
He filled his garden full of seeds.
And when those seeds began to grow,
It was like a garden filled with snow.
But when the snow began to melt,
It was like a ship without a belt.(???? That line I don't get!)
And when the ship began to sail,
It was like a bird without a tail.
And when the bird began to fly,
It was like an Eagle in the sky.
And when the sky began to roar,
It was like a lion at my door.
And when the door began to crack,
It was like a pen knife in my back.
And when my back began to bleed,
I was dead,dead,dead indeed!

Alvin Schwart

Last evening I asked my granddaughter if she knows of another poem. I handed her a pen and paper and she wrote out the above poem. My granddaughter is ten. Needless to say, I was amazed.

I chose this poem today because my granddaughter is heading back home today. I'm happy she wanted to spend her spring break visiting us this past week.

Where ever your Monday leads you, be sure to grab an extra cup of java and enjoy the day!

Sunday's Poem~ by Emily Dickinson

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for the bee's experience               
Of clovers and of noon!

Emily Dickinson




I chose this poem for today, because on Saturday, my granddaughter and I attended the Palisade International Honey Bee Festival. We enjoyed live music and entertainment.  The winery I work for had a booth for the occasion with Mead (or honey wine), and other bee items. Other vendors shared their bee and honey products and  of course there were food vendors galore!   

Where ever your Sunday leads you, make it a great experience!

Reminder ~ New Writers Group

Please e-mail me at: write2donnalively@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the writer's group beginning in May in Palisade, CO.

• The group will meet at the Palisade Library which is located at 119 West 3rd Street Palisade, CO 81526
• We will meet on the 2nd & 4th Friday's of each month with the first meeting to be on May 11, 2012.
• The exact time of the meeting will be known in the near future.

The purpose of our writing group is to:

• Support each other in our writing
• Share information pertaining to our writing
• Edit our writing
• Critique our writing

If you are interested or know of someone who would be, please contact me at:
write2donnalively@gmail.com

If there is a certain time of day that works better for you to be able to meet, please tell me in the e-mail you send.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Donna

Saturday's Poem~ Will to Live

Will to Live
I think of all things that show a zest
For life, the dandelion beats the rest.
The little winged seeds from its white fluff ball
Settle and grow with no urging at all.
Settle in most unlikely places
And soon there's a crop of dandelion faces.

They are man's worst pest, but a child's playthings.
Sometimes I wish I had light down wings
Like a dandelion seed, and could settle at will
On a velvety lawn or a sun-spread hill,
And live with the eagerness and zest
Of the wanton little dandelion pest.
-MARY TRIPLETT

Happy Saturday! I came across this poem today and knew this was the poem for me.
I spent the last few days on my knee's pulling the beautiful yellow pests from my yard. Waking today, no one would imagine how much time I spent removing the pests, because more wonderful dandelion faces were smiling back at me.

Where ever your Saturday takes you, take a moment and smile back at our wonderful yellow faced friends.

What is Paraskevidekatriaphobics?

Paraskevidekatriaphobics — people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th —

Happy Friday the 13th! Are you superstitious?  Did you know this year there are 3 Friday the 13ths, and they are thirteen weeks apart!

I personally am not a superstitious person. I know of people who will not leave the house on the 13th if it lands on a Friday.

I have to admit, I've owned a black cat which I walked in front of, I've walked under a ladder.

Do you or someone you know believe in these superstitions?

• It's bad luck to pick up a coin if it's tails side up. Good luck comes if it's heads up.
• Don't step on a crack on a sidewalk or walkway.
• A bird in the house is a sign of a death
• It's bad luck to count the cars in a funeral cortege.
• A frog brings good luck to the house it enters.
• If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter
• An acorn at the window will keep lightning out

Hope you had a fantastic Friday the 13th!

Friday the 13th Poem~ By Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson did not write many poems, although he had a great appreciation for poetry. He read and quoted widely from poets. From the age of fifteen until he turned thirty, he kept a Literary Commonplace Book, in which he pasted newspaper clippings of favorite poems and prose.
When he was confined to bed by illness, Jefferson wrote "A death-bed Adieu" for his daughter, Martha Randolff. It is said that on July 2, two days before he died, Jefferson told Martha that he'd composed a farewell in her honor, following his instructions, she found the verse in a small box after his death.
"A death-bed Adieu. Th:J to MR."

Life's visions are vanished, it's dreams are no more.
Dear friends of my bosom, why bathed in tears?
I go to my fathers; I welcome the shore,
which crowns all my hopes, or which buries my cares.
Then farewell my dear, my lov'd daughter, Adieu!
The last pang in life is in parting from you.
Two Seraphs await me, long shrouded in death;
I will bear them your love on my last parting breath.

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States was born today, April 13, 1743.

Where ever your Friday the 13th leads you, enjoy!

Thursday's Poem by Robert Frost~ The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Can you relate to Robert Frost's poem?
At some point in our lives, usually more than once, we all arrive at a fork in the road where we must make a choice, which path to choose?
Take a minute and think about a fork in the road you've experienced. Years after you made that decision did you ever wonder, what if? What if I chose plan B?
I say don't look back, don't wonder what if. You are where you are today because it's where you are meant to currently be.
Remember, you are the person you are because of the road you traveled to get where you're at, at this very moment.

Where ever you're road leads you today, make the best of it. Remember, there are no wrong paths, only learning experiences.

Today's Poem~ Like Little Ships

LIKE LITTLE SHIPS...

All of the good things that we do
Like little ships put out from shore
Hurry along before the waves
And then in a twinkling are seen no more

But who can tell how bravely they'll sail
Or whether the way will be long or short
And who can know in what happy heart
An act of kindness will come to port!

J. Kyler McManus~ author

For every one of us, life is full of special dates which are nice to remember, but unfortunately, are also easy to forget!  I discovered today's poem in a little Days to Remember book which I received in the late 1970's

Smile, and where ever your path leads today, make it memorable.

What happened on this day in the year 1849?

The Safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt on April 10, 1849

Do you know that....

Did you know that the name "Easter" comes from the Saxon goodness, Estre, deity of dawn and spring and pagan symbol of fertility?

Today's Poem~ Dreamland by Christina Rossetti

DREAM LAND
Christina Rossetti

Where sunless rivers weep
Their waves into the deep,
She sleeps a charmed sleep:
Awake her not.
Led by a single star,
She came from very far
To seek where shadows are
Her pleasant lot.

She left the rosy morn,
She left the fields of corn,
For twilight cold and lorn
And water springs.
Through sleep, as through a veil,
She sees the sky look pale,
And hears the nightingale
That sadly sings.

Rest, rest, a perfect rest
Shed over brow and breast;
Her face is toward the west,
The purple land.
She cannot see the grain
Ripening on hill and plain;
She cannot feel the rain
Upon her hand.

Rest, rest, for evermore
Upon a mossy shore;
Rest, rest at the heart's core
Till time shall cease:
Sleep that no pain shall wake;
Night that no morn shall break
Till joy shall overtake
Her perfect peace.

I really like this poem. During a period of time when I was in my pre-teens, and  I would go to bed at night, I would press the palms of my hands hard over my eyes until I would see what looked like little stars in the darkness of my mind, then I would 'see' little green aliens, sitting in a spaceship. They would ask me what I wished to dream  that evening when I drifted off to sleep. I would tell them, mentally not verbally, and I would drift off to sleep dreaming what I asked.

Maybe that's why unlike other children, I didn't mind going to bed, except of course when I was spent the night at my grandparents. Then I would be yawning but proclaiming I wasn't tired!

Unlike my granddaughter who is visiting me this week. When she's tired, she tells me she's heading to bed and off she goes!

Wherever your day takes you today, make it the best!

How to Recognize and Overcome Victim Mentality

Monday's Poem- If I Had my Child to Raise Over Again~ by Diane Loomans

If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again
by Diane Loomans
If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love


I came across this poem today and was very impressed with it. I can totally relate with the author of this poem. I believe that we do the above with our grandchildren.
I'm enjoying time with my granddaughter this week. Today, we filled the air in my mountain bike tires, then she rode, I walked around town.
We pulled dandelion's from the front grass, and worked in the heat of the afternoon expanding the vegetable garden.

She found two Easter baskets filled with candy, stuffed bunnies, bubbles and other fun items.

Dinner is cooking now, ham, cheese potatoes, asparagus, and deviled eggs. My husband is a great cook!
I hope everyone enjoyed their day.

Today's Poem from my granddaughter

The Start
The start is the beginning
the beginning of life
the beginning of everything.

The start is the beginning
the beginning of me
the beginning of the future
the beginning you'll see.

You see I don't have to flee
because it is the beginning
the beginning of me!

Miah Koenig
10 yrs old

Days With You~ Poet: Julie Hebert- Beautiful Poem about a friendship

I hope you enjoy today's friendship poem. Days With You Poet: Julie Hebert, (c)2012 A day with you, Was always so cool. I loved to just, Hang around. We never had to, Plan anything to do. We could just sit, Or walk around town. We'd talk and laugh, About things we'd heard. Or maybe about, The boy next door. No matter the topic, We'd always find logic. And that's why, Our friendship will never bore. I chose this poem today because Friday, I received an unexpected surprise in the mail. My friend, Mary Alice who lives in New Jersey, surprised me with a beautiful, genuine Peridot bracelet, bearing a sterling silver bead with the word "Strength" engraved in it. Mary Alice knows me like no one else! Thank you my great friend. I love you and miss you!  My Friend Mary Alice My hope is that everyone has at least one wonderful friend like my friend Mary Alice!

The Change of Times

When I was growing up south of Cleveland, Ohio, I was raised catholic. This meant, catechism classes on Tuesday evenings, and church on Sunday. It also meant on Good Friday, my  sisters and me would have sit quietly for two hours in the afternoon and reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus.
I'm the third of six girls in our family, with us first four all being around a year and a half apart in age from the previous one. After number four, there is a five year gap, the youngest two also a year and a half apart from one another.
Us four older one's would have to sit and not talk the entire two hours, which was nearly impossible for me since once I began talking around the age of four, (yes I was a late bloomer,) there was no shutting me up.
I recall one time, my father telling me when I was around thirteen, I would loose my voice one day because I talk too much, that our voices only have X amount of words to speak. I recall slightly tipping my head, eyebrows scrunched and telling him, "that's okay, I'll keep talking until I'm not able."

Back to sitting and praying in quite on Good Friday~ it was difficult but I must confess now that I'm much older and wiser, that time wasn't so bad. After all, it did give our mother a short time of peace and quite since our two younger sisters were usually napping at this time of day.

The change of times though. I planned on meeting my daughter and granddaughter in Vail, CO today and bring my granddaughter back so she can spend her spring break with me on the Western Slope of Colorado. Last evening when I spoke to my granddaughter, she told me that there was a change of plans because in October they had a snow day, and they were making that day up on Good Friday! What? I thought at first she was playing a late Aprils fool joke on me, and I asked her that, to which she replied, "No grandma, no Aprils fool joke, we have school tomorrow!" I could hear she was sincere.

I must confess, I no longer practice the catholic faith. Maybe Good Friday isn't a big deal any longer. But although I don't practice, I still respect other's faith. I feel my granddaughters school should also.

Tomorrow is another day, and our plan is to meet in Vail. I will still enjoy the company of my granddaughter for the entire week, before my daughter visits the following weekend. I hope my daughter enjoys her peace and quiet to study (she's in college) the week her daughter is enjoying her time with grandma.

My granddaughter

National Multiple Sclerosis Walk

I blogged earlier this week that I would update you on my participation in the May 5, 2012, Grand Junction, Colorado Multiple Sclerosis walk.
I have registered a team called TEAM TALON. You are welcome to read my personal page by clicking on the MS link displayed on my blog. This is an important fundraising cause for me since I suffer with the disease.

Please tell your friends and family to click onto my blog and join me in the fight for a cure. I hope you can join my team and walk with us.

Today's Poem~ On May Morning by John Milton

Today's poem is from CMarieK


On May Morning
 by John Milton

Now the bright morning Star, Day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing,
Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

Maya Angelou Phenomenal woman poem April 4, 1928

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

Poem of the day~ This one comes from my 10 yr. old granddaughter

This is your Granddaughters favorite poem... I would say that she's a weirdo, but I'd probably hear that she takes after me, LOL! And Miah knows it by heart, as she's been reciting it ever since I asked her what her favorite poem was about 20 minutes ago! LOL!

The Hearse Song A Traditional Children's Rhyme
 Don't you ever laugh as the hearse goes by,
For you may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet From your head down to your feet.
They put you in a big black box
And cover you up with dirt and rocks
All goes well for about a week,
Then your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
hey eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A big green worm with rolling eyes Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes.
Your stomach turns a slimy green

Let's Remember Martin Luther King Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King

One of many quotes by Martin Luther King. Today marks the 44th anniversary of his assassination. Let's not forget what he stood for. He was the  principal leader in the civil rights movement in the U.S. and a fervent advocate of nonviolent protest, Martin Luther King, Jr. challenged segregation and racial discrimination on many fronts

Today's Poem:

The Conqueror Worm

by Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1843)

Lo! 'tis a gala night
   Within the lonesome latter years!
An angel throng, bewinged, bedight
   In veils, and drowned in tears,
Sit in a theatre, to see
   A play of hopes and fears,
While the orchestra breathes fitfully
   The music of the spheres.
Mimes, in the form of God on high,
   Mutter and mumble low,
And hither and thither fly-
   Mere puppets they, who come and go
At bidding of vast formless things
   That shift the scenery to and fro,
Flapping from out their Condor wings
   Invisible Woe!
That motley drama- oh, be sure
   It shall not be forgot!
With its Phantom chased for evermore,
   By a crowd that seize it not,
Through a circle that ever returneth in
   To the self-same spot,
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
   And Horror the soul of the plot.
But see, amid the mimic rout
   A crawling shape intrude!
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
   The scenic solitude!
It writhes!- it writhes!- with mortal pangs
   The mimes become its food,
And seraphs sob at vermin fangs
   In human gore imbued.
Out- out are the lights- out all!
   And, over each quivering form,
The curtain, a funeral pall,
   Comes down with the rush of a storm,
While the angels, all pallid and wan,
   Uprising, unveiling, affirm
That the play is the tragedy, "Man,"
   And its hero the Conqueror Worm.

This has been my favorite since I was around 13!


I've received a couple of poems, please keep them coming, April has 30 days!

Wherever life takes you today, make the best of it and enjoy the ride.

Still time to send me a poem

There is still time to send me a poem for tomorrows blog. Feel free to send me a poem you personally have written or a copy of one of your favorite poems. I'm waiting.....

April is National Poet Month~ Send me a poem

Spring
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Nothing is so beautiful as spring— When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing; The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling. What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning In Eden garden.—Have, get, before it cloy, Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning, Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy, Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning. In honor of Poet month, I am going to post a new poem everyday this month, and I hope you can help. Please send me a poem. It may be one you have written or a personal favorite. If you have never written a poem, pick up a pencil and let the words begin to flow onto paper. Have fun with it, I'm looking forward to reading and posting your poems this month. Enjoy and be sure to visit each day this month to see if your poem is published in my blog.

Did you get fooled yesterday?

Happy Monday! How many of you had a trick played on them yesterday for April Fools Day? I did, but not until after 8:30 last evening. My granddaughter called me and shared a piece of information that had my heart all pumped up, and not in a good way! I couldn't believe what she told me, and she knew she shocked me, then she began laughing and yelled, April Fools!" We both had a good laugh.
I cannot reveal what she told me because it is personal, but I can tell you this, my granddaughter is wise beyond her years!

Wisdom. Did you know that if you search the word wisdom  in amazon.com in books, there are 38,375 books about wisdom?  Where would one begin?

Speaking of wisdom. My children's book, shown below is available through amazon.com as a kindle edition. If you have children between 8-12, they may be interested in reading it.

The Magical Mishaps of Fairy Miah Moo is about  Fairy Miah Moo, a nine year old fairy who awakens one morning and discovers she has grown to the size of a human child, and her parents have vanished. With the help of Wizard Tigeroni Macaroni, and three new furry friends, Fairy Miah begins her journey, to unravel  many mysteries, after she discovers that her new friends’ parents are also missing. Did their parents abandon them? This story has adventure; it teaches and explores the magical arena of magic spells. It shows that sometimes things are not what they seem to be.