I posted some updates on my poetry on Wednesday. I’ve been busy writing some other poems for Summer Swaps, and anything else that inspires me. Beyond that, I’m halfway through writing my chapter for a textbook on teaching with awe. It’s due in August, so I need to be diligent on finishing. Summer has finally…
observations
Why Wasn’t the North Rim Fire in the Grand Canyon More Visibly Reported?
Knowing only politics makes us ignorant. My husband was the one who saw the news brief on his phone yesterday morning. He told me that a wildfire had destroyed the lodge at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and that part of the park was closed. Searching my phone and social media, I couldn’t…
My Independence Day Observances: 2025
How Did You Celebrate Independence Day? I’m sharing an article I wrote and posted on Medium this week. I hope you enjoy it. It does have a call to action, although it is not poetry. I did not write a Poetry Friday post this week. July 4th is a holiday in the United States that…
Poetry Friday: Rain, Rain, Rain
Hello, Poetry Friends! While much of the country has been captured by extreme heat, we have been getting an overabundance of rain. In the last forty-eight hours, our neighbor’s rain gauge has recorded 6.5 inches. I’m ready for some sun! My week has been busy. Monday, I was on the road for much of the…
Poetry Friday: Edits, Swaps, and Chapters, Oh, My!
I am still getting back to normal after our trip to Yosemite. We’ve been home a little over a week, and my time management has been lacking. On Monday, I volunteered at the public gardens where I had helped last year and found that I’m still questioning my fit. It’s also an hour away, and…
Poetry Friday: Yosemite National Park
Happy Poetry Friday! This week’s round-up is hosted by children’s author and poet Buffy Silverman on her eponymous blog. Thanks for hosting Buffy! My husband and I spend May 28th – June 3 in three of our National Parks. We first went to Yosemite for four days, followed by Sequoia and Kings Canyon for two with…
A Busy Week
It’s Friday again! How the heck did that happen? Time just moves too fast! Last week, we brought home a trailer load of boxes that had been in storage since our move to the cabin in 2022. We meant to get the totes out before now, but – as you know, life happens. When I…
New Monarch Activity Pack Available for Self-Study
If you’ve followed my blog for any time, you’ll know that I’ve been an active monarch conservationist for the last 25 years. Over that time, I’ve taught hundreds of community members and thousands of school-aged children about the Monarch Butterfly, their life cycle, habitat, and migration. For me, trends in monarch conservation have come and…
Poetry Friday: Eternal Ephemerals
One of the things I learned about when I worked at a local land trust was spring ephemerals. Going into the job, I didn’t know much. I knew a lot about other topics, but spring ephemerals had escaped my attention. After I worked at the Mississippi Valley Conservancy in 2019, I learned to look for…
Poetry Friday: Glorious Weather
We have been enjoying some great weather this past week. With that gift has come the ability to get out in the yard. While I was cleaning up the new native garden bed by the road, I found this maple seedling pushing its way out of the seed coat. I couldn’t help but write a…









