Don't Cry Just Come Back Tomorrow!

Snow is melting. My chalk is out. I am happy to see the sun. But more than anything else I am happy my daughter can wear shoes that are socially acceptable without socks. IT'S SANDAL TIME!
My daughter is a sweety but put her in socks and she can be a down right terror. We love her, but the sockless boot wearing and sockless shoe wearing gets...well...smelly. I mean really. I'll just put it right out there the girl's feet would burn the hair out of your nose if you got too close. Now there are also other articles of clothing she does not like and I will leave that out of this post, but lets just say today she got to wear a dress, sleeveless, with sandals and there was not a tear shed. By either of us. Hallelujah, thank you spring.

Now, onto other business.
Today was Chalk-A-Bration. Check out the chalkers here.
Today was the last day of March SOLSC, but please join us tomorrow at TWT for the Tuesday SOL.

It has been wonderful getting to know so many new people through this process. I love SOLSC and appreciate all the readers and commenters that stopped by here on their way around the links. It is fun to share a space in this community. I hope I will see some of you at ALL WRITE!!! in June or maybe a few of you at nErD CampMI in July. If so, please leave a comment so I remember to search you out! Until then, happy April (write a poem) and happy spring.

Chalk-A-Bration March 2014

YAY! It is finally here. Spring has arrived and I cannot think of anything else, especially when I write. 

I hope you will join in with a piece of chalk and a chunk of sidewalk in your own neck of the woods to share with us here! Just write a poem or illustration, take a photo and link it up here from your blog!

My two shares and some of my children's work is below. I haven't seen my kids this excited about chalking in a LONG time. They were squealing when I told them it was time for chalk!

 I love 

the warm sun

 The neighbors even joined in a bit! 

 A road leading later to some hopscotch!

Outside

bike ride

sun chased

red faced

clear sky

happy sigh

"Spring's here,"

I cheer!

A Recipe Called Delicious

Okay, so I made up the name. But it is delicious! 

It starts with spaghetti.

Then into the bowl goes some shaved peppers, grape tomatoes, as many olives as you can handle and marinated artichokes. I usually add some minced mushrooms, but alas I am out. 

 I could have made my own pesto, super easy to do, but the jar was too tempting. Less cleanup!

Then mix with pesto, add a little sunlight and you have, Delicious!

Sprinkle on some shaved parmesan cheese if you want a little more salty taste!

This is dinner. We call it green spaghetti. YUM!

Fill in Your Own Title

It's chilly.
Layered, I pull on
fingerless gloves with
the mitten top.
Sliding the black band
over my head phones
they are already playing
Tune Yards shuffling
to Temper Trap.
I didn't say we liked
the same music;
we probably don't.
But we are under
the same sun
that is blinding
and beautiful
causing drivers
to move with their hand
in a permanent high five
position.
I give them an imaginary
smack as they go by
spattering their mud
on my shoes
and spraying me with gravel.
My eyes are lit
with brightness that has been
sleeping.
While the snow
has been mounting
now defeated by warmth
she looks like road kill.
As I go past, occasionally
I take ballet steps across her
and daintily step to the ground
as though reaching for
the princes hand
outstretched for me.
But no, I am alone
and honestly
glad to be
with the puddles
and browning snow.
The bits of life that
are revealing themselves
and birds that chirp
on this sunlit run.

Colleague Talk

I am so grateful to all my colleagues. I had conversations with each of these people today and upon reflecting on their friendship I am grateful to each of them.

Robin,
You remind me how grounded I am and push me to new levels. I appreciate your loving heart and calming demeanor. You always know the right thing to say and help me steer the ship. Your encouragement has helped me get where I am and will help me go where I'm headed.

Kris,
Thank you for the conversations. When I talk to you I am reminded that I am not far off but instead sailing in the right direction. I feel motivation build when we talk of writing and slicing. Your moments that you have shared here in the slicing world and the moments you share in your teaching life help us all.

Cindy,
You have always been someone I can go to for support. When I first began teaching in our building and still today I can come to you. I can be honest about my struggles and gain support from your experience. You share and go beyond to help your students and colleagues move forward.

Brock,
Every day I have worked with you I can count on your positive attitude. No matter what the turmoil or success may be it is approached with a smile and encouragement. I appreciate the "rock" you have become.

Stephanie,
Even when it has been weeks since a conversation we can pick up right where we left off. We can joke about the past and enjoy the glimmers of our future. Your hugs are real and feed my soul with a bit of comfort that no one else can give me.

Liz,
I may not see you every day but when I do it brings a smile to my face. Not everyone has this kind of presence but you evoke happiness wherever you go. You are tender but strong.

Kim,
You always have time. I don't know how this is possible with the "to do" list you must have, but there is always time. I appreciate the guidance and support you offer. Your passion for encouraging readers lead my son to read three chapter books in five days. Thank you.

Angela,
Whether it is stormy or sunny in our classroom I can count on a little bit of dancing with you each day. The joy we share together never gets old and our silliness gets us through the tricky moments pushing us toward the better ones. Your constant support and loving heart the past two years have made all of us better.

There are more. There are so many more people I am lucky to know. People I am lucky to have support and love from each day. I work in a place where it doesn't matter what test is on the next corner or what craziness awaits the the next curve, because we support one another to get to those places. I don't think you can find that. I believe it found me and I am grateful.

4 More Posts

I'm almost there and so are you. We've made it 27 days and there are just four more after today.

Today I bought four cartons of organic strawberries to go with the strawberry jello and Redi-Whip snack for my daughter tomorrow. She will be seven. She's telling everyone she will be nine, or twenty depending on the time of day. It's funny to watch someone gain so much personality over the span of their life. She is a spunky girl who seems to make everyone smile with her infectious grin. I have watched her grow from a child who would chew on her board books to a child who goes to bed with a book under her pillow. She carries a stuffed dog, Biscuit, everywhere she goes...still. She is my little girl but one day she will leave Biscuit at home. One day she won't fit in that new pink and black polka dot dress she wants to wear for her birthday. One day she will be nine and then twenty and she will be amazing.

A Poetic Reminder

Tonight was my son's spring concert. It was adorable. They had singing, dancing, recorders playing and beautiful little voices. We were on our way home late this evening, well, I should say late for kids. I looked out my window at about 7:30 when my husband quickly pulled over the car. We have a thing about sunsets or really any kind of moment we want to capture of the sun with our camera. I think we pulled over and turned around a total of four times to get the perfect shot. Most of those are on my husband's phone, they don't do the scene justice, but I got a few shots as well. It reminded me of some poems I wrote a while back and I decided to search for them on my other blog I Think in Poems.

Contrails and the Light

Bright white beams

stripe the sky

contrails wisp

and climb up high.

Yellowed light beams

stripe the grass

coming then going

in daylight’s pass.

Earth’s Rhythm

Alone and brittle

the last leaf to fall

a tumbling tempo

a breakable ball.

Winter memories

replaced with blooms

puddles pinked

by sunset hues.

Summer sand

a stinging splash  

long days to come

storms will pass

Life sings a song

seasons hum

my heart beats

earth’s rhythmic drum