I voted on Tuesday in local elections. Did you?! © Carol Labuzzetta, 2026

I’m jumping in late today for Poetry Friday because Jone is our host this week. She has been such a support to me over the last couple of years that I try to return support to her in any way I can. Please visit her website @ https://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/ for all the latest. She’s been busy and so very good for the world of poetry!

This week has been super busy. My husband and I voted in our local/state elections on Tuesday. We were pleased with the results for a Democratic State Supreme Court Justice.

Wednesday is our morning out for breakfast. We went and enjoyed one of our favorite places.

I’ve been working on a new website – leaving WordPress after June of this year. I’ve been on this platform since February 2017, when I started a blog to write for Slice of Life in March of that year. It’ll be an author website, not just a blog. It’s been fun to see it come together.

Tuesday was the 2nd book birthday for Picture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for Students. It’s for sale on Amazon, here. I now have copies at a local gift boutique, too, in the town closest to us. It’s where I have my jewelry on consignment. I hope they are seen there by local teachers and patrons.

In addition, I’ve been participating in the 100-day challenge, making jewelry each day, crocheting, or painting with watercolors, as the spirit moves me creatively each day. No one can accuse me of being idle, for that I am not!

My husband has been busy cleaning up our yard, which is mostly a mixed hardwood -coniferous woodland. I’ve contributed a little by picking up random sticks and adding them to the piles he has to shred.

The snow is almost gone. But the lake is just starting to open. I took these photos at 7:15 pm tonight, and as you can see, it has a ways to go.

Lastly, I am working on some other writing and dabbling in some poetry. The start of this poem was inspired by a tree in our yard that was starting to bud.

The tree with a slight pink cast reminds me that Spring is supposed to be coming. © Carol Labuzzetta, 2026.
Outside the window 
Pink blossoms glow
Covered by a new light snow

Spring is supposed to be here
But it is not, or so I fear
It must be somewhere

© Draft,  Carol Labuzzetta, 2026

And another, which is not for the younger set:

The damselfly of the swampy bog, 
gets lit when being chased by a frog.

She flys to and fro reaching all the
Places a frog cannot go.

Taking delight when alit on a mossy log.
She spies the frog drinking the pond's green grog.

Instead of chasing her with his tongue, 
The frog seems content with pond scum.

© Draft, Carol Labuzzetta, 2026.

And I'm reading three books at once, which is a feat for me. But one is a book on writing many types of poetry. I'm enjoying it. The other are fiction novels, and both quite good as well. 

As we head into the weekend, we have travel plans - to meet friends in Eau Claire for dinner and then go to the Twin Cities to see our youngest son and his fiancée. I'm looking forward to enjoying both.

Thanks for stopping by! Take care and be well. Thanks for hosting, Jone!

16 responses to “Poetry Friday: A Busy One”

  1. Denise Krebs Avatar

    Carol, I’m glad you are here! Have fun with friends and family this weekend. What a joy. I love the “pink blossoms glow / covered with a new light snow” My daughter in Minneapolis was expressing her longing for spring recently too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      Thank you for your kind words Denise. You are always so supportive and welcoming. We were in St. Paul two weekends ago and it was nice. We walked around without coats and ate dinner downtown. This week is to be cold and rainy. I hope it passes quickly!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Alan j Wright Avatar

    Carol, you weren’t kidding. Your post is packed with news and details. Life can be busy and stimulating at the same time, as evidenced here. As the late Warren Zevon famously said- ‘Enjoy every sandwich.’

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      Yes, a busy life can be rewarding, Alan. I agree. I’d rather have it that way than boring and dull. I wanted to thank you for the recommendation you gave me a while back with the Ruth Shaw book – The Bookshop at the End of the World. I finished it last week and thought it was an entertaining and enjoyable read. Thanks, again.

      Like

      1. Alan j Wright Avatar

        Great to hear, Carol. It pleases me to know my humble recommendation proved beneficial to a fellow reader.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

        It was an enjoyable read. Thanks, again.

        Like

  3. Tracey Kiff-Judson Avatar
    Tracey Kiff-Judson

    Carol, I loved this post! It felt like a letter from a friend. : )

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      And, so it was! Thanks, Tracey!

      Like

  4. Linda M. Avatar
    Linda M.

    I love that glow. What a beautiful color pink is.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      I do too. I love pink. I wonder if it’s because I had three boys and didn’t get enough of the color when they were young! (Although, I am glad I’m a boy mom.)

      Like

  5. Mona Voelkel Avatar

    Carol, your poem where “your pink blossoms glow” give me hope as spring seems far away! Have fun with your travel plans!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      Thanks, Mona! Has spring arrived for you yet? We are supposed to be wet and cold this week. Although, we’ve had some nice days earlier this month.

      Like

  6. Karen Edmisten Avatar

    “Spring is supposed to be here” — ha, yes, how many times have we all saiid that?! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar
  7. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
    Susan.Thomsen

    The frog drinking pond scum gave me a chuckle, Carol. I hear spring will make an appearance this week around here. We’ll see. I’m not holding my breath.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      LOL. I’m glad. It was kind of funny. We are at the start of a rainy week – I hope it passes quickly. The wet and gray begins to wear on my nerves after a while. Hope you see some sun!

      Like

Leave a reply to Karen Edmisten Cancel reply