A New Year's Tradition

Back in the spring of 1975 my family moved. We moved from a cluster of friends where - as my mom once described it - we grew up in each other's houses - to a town about an hour away.

As New Year's Day approached one of our old friends invited us and another family to dinner on New Year's Day. It was wonderful fun to see our friends again - between the three families there were nine children who at that time ranged in age from about 13 to 2. There were complaints that there were no radishes - or not enough radishes - or something in the salad (this actually became important later).

When the evening was over one of the other families said "Next year we'll do this at our house."

This year it's at my mom's house. That's right. 2011 and a tradition started in 1976 is still going strong.

There are traditional gifts: Radishes for my dad who once complained that there weren't enough radishes. Every year he gets radishes now. It wouldn't be New Year's without them. Bananas from my Mom to the other families because one summer when we were all at the shore she kept pushing bananas on everyone until it became quite the joke. The sailors get salt - because they are old salts. Someone else gets hot pepper jelly.

The players have changed somewhat. Those nine children have grown up; gotten married - one tragically died way too young. Some have moved away so getting to the party isn't alway possible every year. Each year, whoever can make it does.

There's a whole new generation of children. Ranging this year from teenager down to toddler.

There are the millennium boys. New Years 2000 we have a picture of three of us, looking very pregnant. Our sons were all born within the same week of February. Fun for boys of that age to have friends who are the same age - almost exactly.

The woman who started it all, is no longer with us. She lost her battle with cancer over a year ago - and we all miss her terrible. But tomorrow we will gather and she will be with us in spirit and we will remember the way she was always cheerful and always made us laugh and how she started one outstanding tradition.

Happy New Years, everyone!

A Shakespeare Poem on Friday

No, not a poem by Shakespeare, one about him. You see, my 13-year-old daughter is supposed to be writing a research paper. The topic she chose was about the debate some people go into about who "really" wrote Shakespeare's plays. (For the record she thinks he wrote them, and I agree.)

Anyway, while she was supposed to be busily typing up her paper, she got to thinking about Shakespeare's son, Hamnet and this is what she came up with.

Hamnet Shakespeare

by KRM

Papa comes home, smiling, whistling,

He tells us stories of London

And

Perhaps performs a skit or two

He picks me up

Tells me I’m more handsome

Than the last time

He saw me

Was that six months hence?

Susanna and prissy Judith

Both tease me as we set the places

Mother chides us,

Our father is home, be on your

Best Behavior

Papa tells us he could

Care less, He loves us

As we are

I wonder secretly to

Mother,

‘Why isn’t Papa home more?’

Mother has no good answer. She smiles

Tells me what I’ve heard before

“Work”

Other Papas have work

Here in Stratford.

Why does our Papa

Work in London?

He’s an actor, Mother says

He writes plays,

He’s a player, he acts

For the public, the king, the queen

Sometimes.

Papa and Mother sit before

The fire, talking about

Us

I think.

My twin, Judith

Tells me it’s

Rude to listen, to work on my

Latin like a good boy

I stick my tongue out

At her.

She’s a prissy girl,

What does she know?

Papa and Mother argue

She says for him to come

Home more often

He says it can’t be done

She says others manage it

He says he loves her very much

There’s writing he must get to

She says ‘The children

Need a father’

He says, ‘they more need a mother’

He smiles at me, peering from behind the door

Curiosity getting the

Better of me

Mother doesn’t see me

She’s angry

Angrier than

She is at me

Sometimes, when I

Don’t do my schoolwork.

Papa sits by the fire, writing.

Feather scratches the paper, I wonder

What he writes.

He tells me to come to him, to

Listen to a scene.

He writes other things, too

Things about “Anne”

My mother.

He crumples that up

And tosses it into the fire

I watch the flames envelope

The paper

He tells me about the stage

I tell him about Susanna and Prissy Judith

He tells me I’d be a great actor

Stealing the stage

I say

I want to go with him to London

He says maybe one day, Hamnet.

It’s August,

I’m sicker than sick

Mother says she’s called for

Papa,

But I don’t want Papa

I want to be well

Prissy Judith, and Susanna are

Reverent by my bedside

I think about Papa

Maybe I’ll go to London

With him after

I’m well

I tell Mother this

She cries.

I think about Papa

The way they’d argue

How he’d write about her

I tell her this

She cries again. She tells

Me I’ll be well again

Soon, soon, soon

But by then

I knew

I wouldn’t be

Hamnet Shakespeare died in August 1596 from unknown causes. It's also unknown if his father was present at the time.

Thankful for School Newspapers

Jillian, a high school student who edits the The Panther Press did an interview with me for her school paper. How cool is that? You can read that interview here.

Thankful for...Warranties

I'm especially thankful for warranties that I didn't know I had.

Specifically for the ones on my son's glasses frames. The frames that snapped in half when he was cleaning his lenses at school today.

The warranty that means the glasses will be replaced at no expense to me.

It will be a few days before the replacements are available, and he has to wear his old ones until they are, but at least the situation is as positive as it can be... considering it started with a pair of glasses that snapped in half.

Thank You, Veterans

Really. That sums it up. Thank you to the men and women who are willing to make the supreme sacrifice so that we may live free.

"Thank You" doesn't even seem sufficient. But it's what I've got.

So on Veteran's Day - the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I - I join with others throughout the country and world to say Thank You, Veterans.

Thankful for ...

Hmmm, this is a little tough today. The broken microwave is on my mind. And the leaky washing machine. I'm not particularly thankful for either of those things. I mean, I'm thankful for the things, I'm not thankful they are not working properly.

But how can I turn that around in my head? How can I be thankful in light of things that don't make it easy?

1. I'm thankful I have a washing machine and a dryer. Even if it leaks water, it still washes my clothes, and I'm very glad about that.

2. I'm thankful that the microwave is a convenience, not a necessity in my life. I can function without a microwave until we get a new one. It will force me to finish my tea while it's still hot as opposed to constantly re-heating the same cup of tea during the course of the morning - but I really should be able to drink a cup of tea in less than an hour - so it shouldn't be a problem.

3. I'm thankful that if necessary we can replace these appliances. It will not mean less food on the table or some other sacrifice if we have to go out and buy something new. We may not be wealthy, but we don't have to do without. And for that I really am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Blankets to Give

Today I'm thankful that I have a skill I can use to help others.These blankets were all made to be donated through our church's Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Mostly they were made with donated yard. And will probably be given to the local Ronald McDonald House.

It's Friday, Therefore Poetry

What am I thankful for today? That I have a daughter who writes beautiful poems. And she shares them with me and encourages me to share them with the world.

And today I have. You can find my daughter's latest poem over at my other blog, Simply Put.

Thankful for Rainy Days

It's rainy today - and although I need to go out to the store and get some milk and orange juice, it's pretty much going to be a hang around the house and relax kind of day.

We all need those kind of days. The kids have off from school this week, and while many people in our town take off for exotic locations (mainly Disney World) we stay home. Everyone likes some days when you don't have any obligations hanging over your head.

And rainy days seem to be giving you permission to watch a movie in the middle of the day or curl up with a good book.

So, I'm thankful for rainy days.

Thankful for Health and Family

Today we are going to the funeral for my husband's uncle. It's difficult to be thankful under these circumstances. But I am thankful that our uncle is now at peace, because he endured a lengthy illness and had not known peace in quite some time.

I am thankful for family that gathers around in time of adversity.

And I am thankful for our own health. It is not something that should be taken for granted.

It's Election Day

Day Two of Thirty Days of Thanksgiving.

Today, I'm thankful that we live in a country where we have the opportunity - not to mention the responsibility - to vote for the people who represent us in government.

For the most part, when you go to vote today you don't have to worry about bombs or armed mobs blocking your way. There are places in this world where those are the obstacles votes must face on election day. I'm thankful those are not my obstacles.

Also, when the voting is over and the votes have been counted, if a new person is chosen to fill a position, on the appointed day, the former official will pack up his personal belongings and vacate the office so that the new person can take over.

There may be hard feelings. But there will most likely be no bloodshed.

And for that I am very thankful.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 1

A couple of years ago I did this and I want to try again.

There's got to be at least something I'm thankful for on each of these thirty days of November.

Today I'm thankful for sunny skies and cool temperatures that really make me realize that Fall is here. I'm thankful that the kids have the week off from school and we can relax a bit - and start our NaNoWriMo projects. That's right - both kids and I are all participating in National Novel Writing Months. My husband figures he'll read a novel and leave the writing to us,

What are you thankful for?

Does this Mean They are Growing Up?

Today I took my son to Party City so we could get him something to wear for Halloween. He stood there, looking bored, while I suggested different things. Finally I asked him, "Do you even care?"

And he said "No."

Hmmm.

So, we left without a costume. For the Halloween parade at school he will wear what he wore last year.

As far as trick-or-treating. He'd be okay if I just bought him some candy. I think his sister might agree.

So it looks like the end of an era.

Why do these things always take me by surprise?

Vacation

My excuse for not blogging this week? Vacation - and very spotty internet connection. Plus we were very very busy. So, here's a quick rundown of how the week went.

1. Monday: Bushkill Falls.

We hiked the "Red Trail". That's the big one. You can see all the waterfalls, but it takes several hours. We were exhausted when we were done. Well, everyone except my son, so the two of us took a paddle boat for a spin. I don't think my legs will ever forgive me.

2. Tuesday: Dorney Park. No pictures from there, because I didn't feel like carrying my camera around an amusement park. We all managed to get sunburned though. Fun times!

3. Wednesday: The Martin Guitar Factory.


Awesome tour! It takes a month for them to make one guitar from beginning to end. And of course we all know what kind of guitar my son wants now.

After the factory tour we went to Lancaster, PA for some shopping and good eating!

4. Thursday: Gettysburg, PA. It's a very humbling experience to realize how many men were killed or wounded on those battlefields.

5: Philadelphia. Here my daughter tries to get some inside information from the signers of the Constitution at the National Constitution Center.

6. Saturday: We started out the day at Valley Forge and wrapped it up at the PAYA Festival.

This fabulous event was put together by a fifteen-year-old book blogger. And just look at some of the fabulous company I was in! That's me with Amy Brecount White, Jeri Smith-Ready and Stephanie Kuehnert. There were 18 authors there for signings, and there were also writing workshops.

So, what did you do this week?

The T-Shirt Pillow Project

Okay, admit it, your kids have tons of t-shirts you don't know what to do with. I can't be the only one who feels like I'm drowning in these things. Every sports team, camp, special event all seemed to be marked by a t-shirt. And then the kids grow.

Some of the shirts are not ones I wanted to get rid of. They had a special meaning for us and I didn't want to just put them out in the next clothing drive. So, I came upon a really easy project.

T-shirt pillows.

Material needed:

t-shirt

stuffing

sewing machine

needle and thread.

ruler and pencil

Directions:

1) Turn t-shirt inside out

2) Using ruler and pencil draw a square or rectangle that encompasses the design on the t-shirt

3) Using sewing machine stitch along those lines, leaving a space a couple of inches big for stuffing purposes,

4) Turn pillow right-side out. Stuff sleeves and other extra t-shirt material inside pillow.

5) Use stuffing to get the pillow to the plumpness you want it.

6) Sew up opening.

And that's it. Quick and easy and cute!

(some of the pillows in the picture have not been stuffed yet - which is why they look a little limp)

Five on a Friday

Okay, if I'm going to get my act together on blogging, I need to blog once in awhile. So, here are five random things on a Friday.

1) I've decided to start a new story. I have no outline, no plan and no title. Only the vague idea that it should have a quest and supernatural elements. The file is very originally called "new" and so far I have 7000 words.

2) Took my daughter to the doctor to see if we can pinpoint the cause of her wrist pain. X-rays weren't conclusive, so we had to schedule an MRI. Fun summer activities to be sure!

3) Went to Runaway Rapids with the kids and their cousins. The kids had a blast!

4) Yesterday we made a stop at the library. My daughter said she would return a couple of things, but wouldn't get anything out. She took out Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty, Maureen Johnson's Scarlett Fever, The Lord of the Rings and a graphic novel of Robin Hood. Good thing she didn't want any books.

5) And I've begun making a quilt.

Have a great weekend!

Blogging Again

Summer is a time to kick back and relax, right? And I guess you could say that kind of relaxing spread on over to my blogs where there has been less than little activity going on. But that is going to change.

Starting with today.

And today I'm blogging over at YA Authors You've Never Heard Of. It's a great new venture put together by Christine Norris. So if you head over there you can find out why I'm not famous even though I had a book published (It's because Oprah doesn't have my number).

Tuesday's Proverb

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish. (Proverbs 11:28)

Five on a Monday

1. On Friday night I took my daughter to see her friend in a stage production of Grease. It was super fun and very well done. The teens who were in the show had a lot of talent and enthusiasm. And of course the songs from Grease just kind of make you tap your feet and feel happy.

2. While we were at the show I put my son and husband in charge of making some rhubarb/strawberry ice cream. We'd found the recipe in a magazine. I'd picked and diced the rhubarb and purchased the rest of the ingredients. They did a good job of cooking it up and making it into ice cream. To go with that, the following day I made rhubarb/strawberry cobbler. Yum!

3. Two baseball games this weekend. One on Saturday and a make-up game on Sunday. I think the first game ended in a tie, but there is apparently a dispute about that. We may have lost. Sunday's game was a definite win though.

4. While I went to my son's baseball game on Saturday, my daughter and husband were busy volunteering scoring archery targets for the tri-state Wheelchair games. I'm very proud of my daughter's enthusiasm for volunteering whenever the opportunity arises.

5. We introduced the kids to Gone With the Wind this weekend - watching part of it Saturday and part of it Sunday (that is a very long movie). My daughter loved it, my son didn't seem to quite get it (I also don't think he tried that hard). It had been ages since I'd seen the movie, and I'd forgotten just how good it is. Gotta love Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara.

Words of Wisdom on Wednesday

Hey, I don't know if I have any thing particularly wise to share, but I thought I'd try a new blog feature and see where it takes me.

1. Always look on the bright side of life.

2. Think about How Lucky You Are.

3. Don't be afraid to fail.

(I saw this video first over at HipWriterMama)

If you

4. If you look for the bad, that's what you'll see. The same is true if you look for the good. Quick story: I was in the supermarket the other day rooting through the bin where the sale yogurt had been dumped. There was an elderly woman doing the same thing. Making small talk I mentioned there wasn't a lot of variety, since there only seemed to be two or three flavors. The old woman agreed and then went on about how the whole country was falling apart because it didn't use to be like this and what were we coming to. Her only consolation was that she'd be dead soon. Um. Okay. But I looked around at this huge grocery store full of an outstanding variety of fresh and prepared foods and couldn't find the end of the world in the fact that the sale yogurt wasn't the best organized. It's all a matter of perspective - so have a good one!

5. Have a happy Wednesday!

Tuesday's Proverb

He who seeks the good commands favor, but he who pursues evil will have evil befall him. (Proverbs 11:27)

Poetry Friday - The Anniversary Edition

In honor of our sixteenth anniversary today, I'm going to share a love poem for Poetry Friday.

How Do I Love Thee?

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love three with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love three with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

And just to show that after sixteen years, we're still on the same wavelength, I gave him a new desktop computer for an anniversary gift and he gave me a new laptop! (Our kids are really happy about that, they get use of the old ones now.)

The Poetry Friday Round-Up is at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. Check it out.

Tuesday's Proverb

Him who monopolizes grain, the people curse-- but blessings upon the head of him who distributes it! (Proverbs 11:26)

Played Paddleball

No, not me. I didn't play paddleball. I had the honor of being on a committee to select 20 high school seniors to receive $200 scholarships. There scholarships in various categories - and the number of applications varied, so sometimes the decision was easy, sometimes difficult.

But I learned a few things.

1) If you have the opportunity to fill out a scholarship application - even if the scholarship is a small one - take it. Three students won scholarships because they were the only applicant in their category.

2) Well-rounded is good. The kids who had a variety of activities and jobs really shone through as being active and interesting. Sometimes there would be an application filled with events and honors - but they all had to do with one thing, for example dance competitions. And that's great, but I found myself wondering "does this student do anything else?"

3) Don't be afraid to sell yourself. Some of these kids took what would be a simple or minor activity and made it sound pretty stellar. More power to them for being able to present themselves in a positive way.

4) If you have been doing biological research on a molecular level and are creating new organisms (and you're still in high school) chances are you'll win lots of scholarships.

5) If all you've done in your four years of high school is "play paddleball", maybe it's better not to bother filling out the application at all. (Which goes against "thing I learned number 1", but still...). Honestly, we had one application where the only things filled in were that the student had made the honor roll (these are Gifted and Talented scholarships, so honor roll is pretty much expected) and was in the paddleball club where his/her (identities were shielded from us) responsibility was to "play paddleball."

I don't believe in stressing my kids out with dozens of activities, but I do hope that by the time senior year of high school rolls around they have more to put on an application than "played paddleball."

And to apply that to a greater life lesson. If you were filling out an application right now - would there be more than one thing on it? Has life outside of high school continued to be well-rounded? Or do you just "play paddleball"?

Tuesday's Proverb

He who confers benefits will be amply enriched, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

Bragging on the Kids

The past few months my kids have garnered a few honors that make me mighty proud, and I feel like bragging about them a little.

1) My daughter was chosen to represent her grade at school at the Young Writer's Night.

2) My son's art work was chosen to represent his school at the Young Artist's Night.

(These are both events in our town).

3) My son was nominated to attend a Young Scholar program over the summer.

4) My daughter is receiving a Mayor's Youth Volunteer Award.

I'm very proud of both of them!

Tuesday's Proverb

One man is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer. (Proverbs 11:24)

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 5

Once again it's Poetry Friday and I have yet another installment of my daughter's original poem Tessa in Wonderland. The first four parts can be found here, here, here and here.

Tessa in Wonderland

by KRM

Part V

Horatio’s paws balled around

The reins,

“Spade? Under the rule of…

of…”

He couldn’t say it.

Queen Heart.

Queen Heart.

“Queen Heart,”

There. I’d said it.

Horatio’s furry face twisted

Into a grimace

“The only Province

Unclaimed

Is Diamonds…

Diamonds who actually

Likes Heart,

But is unwilling to give in.

They’re willing to fight, though.”

He hissed.

“Is there anything

We can do?” I asked

“Sell these Carrots in town,”

Horatio said.

“And then go home.”

There’s nothing we could do.

Carrots sold,

And we rumbled

Down an empty road to

Horatio’s home.

It was almost peaceful,

And I leaned against the

Rabbit as he drove along,

Silently, yet tensed.

A scream

Pierced the lazy twilight.

“NO!

DON’T LET THEM!

NEVER!”

And then…all was silent.

Horatio handed me the reins,

A look of horror on his furry face.

“That was my

father’s voice,”

He whispered,

And got out of the

Cart.

“Straight down the lane,”

He told me.

“I’ll be faster on foot,”

And he darted away.

I stared at the reins,

And gently urged the animals

On.

When we reached the house,

It had been ransacked.

“My father,”

Horatio whimpered,

Coming out

And helping me out of the cart

“I can’t find him.”

The Poetry Friday Round-Up is at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Check it out.

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 4

Once again it's Poetry Friday and I have yet another installment of my daughter's original poem Tessa in Wonderland. The first three parts can be found here, here and here.

Tessa in Wonderland

by KRM

Part iv

Spadedeck.

It’s wonderful

Hustle-bustle of city rhythms

The Frogs selling chocolate covered

Worms and Flies,

Giant Butterfly Messengers

Zooming around,

The thieves,

Patrolling the streets,

Asking for things,

The little shops

With amazing displays in

Their windows

The town square and

Clock Tower

The Theaters and

The restaurants

And the Castle

Looming in the distance.

Horatio drove right by,

Pointing

Landmarks out

Telling me who

To avoid

As if I’d need to know.

The rabbit brought me

To his house

And told me that I could

Stay there till

I figured out how

To get home.

I told him I wouldn’t be

There long, then.

Spadedeck.

The card soldiers

Marching in,

The Megaphone bird

Proclaiming that

Her Majesty, Monarch

Of the Heartlands,

Queen Heart,

Had officially won

The cold war

Against her sister Province,

Spades,

And had conquered.

The only Province

Unconquered

Was New Club.

The war was

Almost over

Tyranny,

Complete dictatorship,

Was now

The unfortunate

Future.

The Poetry Friday round-up can be found at Paper Tigers. Go, check it out!

Tuesday's Proverb

The desire of the just ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath. (Proverbs 11:23)

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 3

Tim Burton may have his vision of Alice in Wonderland, but my daughter has her own. And in time for Poetry Friday here is part three of her original poem: Tessa in Wonderland.

Tessa in Wonderland

by KRM

Part III

“Spades?”

I said.

“As in the shovel?

Or the card?”

The rabbit had helped me into

His cart,

And I was sitting next to him.

It was weird,

He was as big as I was.

“As in the Province.”

The rabbit said.

“By the way,

I’m Horatio,”

“And I’m Tessa,”

I said,

Tucking

A strand of loose

Hair behind my

Ear.

“Where are we going?”

I asked.

“To my home.

It’s

In the outskirts of

Spadedeck,

Capital

Of the Spade Province.”

I nodded solemnly,

Looking down

At my sneakers.

I wished

That mom knew

Where I was

So that she

Could come get me,

Or that I hadn’t

Left my phone at home.

I wished

I knew

What would happen

Next.

Parts I and II of her poem are here and here.

The Poetry Friday round-up can be found at Some Novel Ideas. Go check it out!

Great Contest for Writers and Readers

To share her joy at her big news with as many people as possible, Beth Revis is having a contest with two prizes. One for writers and one for readers. Go check out her blog and enter to win some awesome prizes.

But if They Don't Buy it, There will be Less Revenue

I was listening to the radio this morning and the politicians in NY discuss the importance of a tax on sugared beverages. Basically a soda tax.

It was put forward that NY needed the money this tax would generate. And if this tax wasn't passed then that multi-million (or maybe billion - I wasn't listening that closely) gap would have to be made up another way. So it was imperative for the financial health of the state that this tax be approved.

But these same politicians seemed to have a secondary reason why it was so important to pass this tax. People are fat. And getting fatter. And soda isn't good for them. So a tax will help to keep them from drinking as much soda. It will make them healthier and thinner and the world will be a better place full of rainbows and unicorns (okay, I added that last bit.)

Now, is it just me, or is there a problem with this model? If you desperately need the money, but your tax is going to alter behavior so that not as much of the product is sold - won't that eat into the proposed tax revenue?

Good thing I'm not a politician or an economist. I think my head would explode!

Tuesday's Proverb

Like a golden ring in a swine's snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition. (Proverbs 11:22)

The Storm is Passing - Five Things on a Monday

And I don't mean that in a figurative sense. The storm that pounded the Northeast this weekend is now just cloudy skies and light rain. But I figure I can come up with five things to say about it on a Monday morning (and that will keep me from railing against losing an hour of sleep this weekend.)

1) There are a lot of trees down near us, but none hit our house. A neighbor's garage does have a large tree lying across the top of it though.

2) We did not lose power. Though areas of our neighborhood did. The most we lost was for about a minute and then we simply figured it was easier not to reset the clocks until later when we had to reset them for DST anyway.

3) The sump pump almost always went on when needed. Yes, the rug in the basement is soaked. Yes there were times the pump didn't go on. But for the most part it worked - and the electricity staying on was a big help there.

4) The pounding hail and thunder on Sunday morning helped wake up our sleepy daughter in time for church. :)

5) Boiling drinking water is a pain in the neck. Just saying. But if that's the worst of our inconveniences I guess we're doing pretty good.

Tuesday's Proverb

Truly the evil man shall not go unpunished, but those who are just shall escape. (Proverbs 11:21)

Tuesday's Proverb

The depraved in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those who walk blamelessly are his delight. (Proverbs 11:20)

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 2

This snowy Friday, I bring you the second in a continuing series by my 13-year-old daughter.

Tessa in Wonderland

by KRM

Part II
When I awoke, I immediately knew
It was NOT a
Dream.
The headache
I’d acquired from my
Run-in with the tree
Was real enough
The scrapes on my knees
Were real
I pinched my arm
And felt it,
This was no dream.

I propped myself up
Watching a cart or two
Filled with
Human-sized frogs
Card people
Walruses and
Things like that
Pass by.
Wondering if
Maybe they noticed me.
I never realized
That they were trying hard
Not
To.

“What is this place?”
I asked passersby
Who ignored me
Completely
Like the others.
I kept asking
Until a
Chocolate-colored
Rabbit
Slowed his mules,
Reigns held tightly in
His brown paws,
One ear was flopped
Over his right eye
And it twitched slightly.
“Where am I?”
I asked.
He stared at me.
“You’re an otherworlder?” He said
In awe

“I guess.” I said,
Rubbing my scraped knees
“Well, Otherworlder
This is
The Spade Province
Of
Wonderland.”

MsMac is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-up over at Check it Out. So go and check it out!

Thursday Thoughts

It's snowing here.

Again.

But there have definitely been some bright spots in my week.

The sump pump not working as expected and causing a couple inches of water in the basement was not one of them.

But seeing my son's face as he got the bright-yellow 21-speed mountain bike he's been wishing for as a 10th birthday present was definitely one of them.

(I would post a picture of my son with his bicycle, but it appears my camera decided it wasn't necessary to save those pictures. Hmph.)

Another bright spot was the review I discovered yesterday at Not Enough Bookshelves. Go ahead and read the whole thing. My favorite line was:

You know when you've had a rough day and you just want to curl up on the sofa and devour a whole bar of chocolate, but you can't because of that pesky diet? Well, When Mike Kissed Emma, is the perfect alternative.

On the writing front, with one book ready to send out in the hopes of finding it a publishing home, I've started revisions on another story. This one is a time-travel Civil War story and should be a lot of fun to really dig into.

Lent has gotten off to a good start here - though birthday celebrations during Lent are always a challenge. Unfortunately with a birthday at the end of February my son will be celebrating during Lent more often than not.

And as a final thought, I leave you with a picture of my 10-year-old.

Tuesday's Proverb

Virtue directs toward life, but he who pursues evil does so to his death. (Proverbs: 11:19)

Poetry Friday - Tessa in Wonderland, Part 1

Knowing that I like to showcase her poems on Poetry Friday, my 13-year-old daughter has written me a series of poems specifically for Poetry Friday. Here is the first one.

Tessa in Wonderland

by KRM

Part I
I remember falling
Out of that tree’s
Strong arms,
The ground crumbling
Beneath me
As I fell into that
Sinkhole.
At least, that’s what I thought
It was at the time
Everyone
Told me that I had
Had a bad dream
But I knew it was anything but
A dream.

I fell through the hole
Yelling as loud as I could
Limbs flailing,
Then I hit the ground,
And I continued to yell
As I rolled
Down a hill,
Scraping my knees
Ripping my grass-stained overalls
My tumble only stopped
When a huge oak tree,
Ironically the same kind that I had
Fallen out of
Stopped my journey
After that
It was only
Darkness

Wonderland was a scary place
No one trusted the other
Rabbits talked
Flowers sang
Trees indulged in meaningful conversation
A girl from the otherworld,
Like me,
Is regarded like a freak
Because we hardly ever make it down there.
Wonderlanders had their own
Troubles,
It was surprising I made it out
Alive.

TO BE CONTINUED.....

The Poetry Friday Round-Up this week is by Irene Latham at Live. Love. Explore.