Poetry Friday: Christmas Is Approaching

I figured I would write a Poetry Friday post this week because I’ve missed posting to a couple of them. Janice Scully is our host this week on her blog Salt City Verse. Please visit her page for her poem about Democracy and some Christmas Cheer as well.

Janice will be one of the featured poets in my upcoming ekphrastic nature anthology for middle-grade students. We’ve worked well together and I appreciate Janice’s enthusiasm for the project.

It’s been a busy month from mid-November to mid-December. The holidays always creep up on me.

Let’s Back Up

My last Poetry Friday post was the Friday before Thanksgiving. All three of my boys (now adult young men) joined us for Thanksgiving. We had a smaller group that last year but it was still special because all three of my boys were home. I was most thankful for that. We spent three days – two nights together and I loved every minute of it.

Some of you know that I was making a quilt for my eldest son. I finished it right before he came up for the holiday. It turned out well. He liked it and I was proud of my effort but the arthritis I have in my hands was exacerbated by finishing it.

More Traveling

A few days after Thanksgiving, my husband and I took a road trip to Western New York to visit my Dad. Many of you know my Mom passed away at the end of July. My Dad seems to be doing okay – although lonely – missing mom’s company, especially in the morning.

We spent a week with him and got rid of 18 totes of housewares he no longer needed. I brought one tote home with us filled with some Christmas ornaments my mom made in a ceramics class she took and some kitchen accessories I could use.

We got home and started to decorate the house.

Christmas Time is Here

Yesterday, I finished the tree decorating. The mantle was done before that. I’ve been able to wrap a few presents and added a small, single-colored tree to our living room. It’s green with pre-strung lights that run on a menu of 9 settings. I only have red round ornaments on it. It’s very festive. My husband really likes it.

Today, I did some baking. I made my second batch of German Gingerbread Cookies and a batch of savory tree crackers. We are going to La Crosse to see some friends this weekend.

I’m Published

When I was at my Dad’s I submitted three poems to the Dirigible Balloon. It was a Sunday night. By the time I woke up on Monday morning, I was published! The poems can be found here:

https://dirigibleballoon.org/poem/A-Series-of-Poems-on-How-Trees-Wear-Snow

I plan to write more of these this winter! These are the first poems I’ve had published by someone other than myself! I am stoked!

Winter Poem Swap

I received my winter poem swap today from Linda Mitchell. She wrote a fun poem about socks, and sent me a pair! I loved it!

Her gift/poem will go out tomorrow! She knew I was traveling and I hope she won’t be too surprised (I hope) that her package is a little late. I changed gears for her at the last minute.

Anthology Update

With the tasks of the season, the anthology has been hard to attend to. But, I am doing my best to get the poems and photos uploaded, a little more than a quarter way through the layout.

You’ve all been great to work with. Thank you!