I’m sharing my reading of an excerpt from my latest book, The Wine Diaries: Musings on Divorce Paired With Wine. From Chapter 4, Life Unexpected, I read “What I’ve Learned So Far”. This is one of my favorite essays in the book. I think you will relate to the message that small, compounded moments make up what we call our LIFE. That’s why those moments are so important and even more so than the big, dramatic ones that we anticipate for months or even years.

I’ve been reading so many books lately. Trying new authors has been stimulating and fun. Along with this I’ve become aware of some minor book pet peeves I have. Let’s dish…

Gratitude can strike at any time. Mostly they are the small moments and little things said that matter the most to me. Here is my list of moments when I feel grateful;

I typically have more than one book on the go. I will read one on my kindle and also one paperback (real life) book. I don’t know why, but it is necessary to me to have a book in my hand at some point during the day. It’s as if my kindle, e-reader doesn’t count. Strange, I know. The good thing is that this ‘feeling’ causes me to read twice as much.

Today I’m responding to Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge Prompt: Circle of Life. The following is a form of Haiku, called a Senryu in a 3/5/3 syllable structure.

I had to look up these poetry definitions, too. I am more a free verse girl, when it comes to writing poetry. However, joining this challenge was a good brain bender. This kind of writing has a way of tweaking word patterns. I confess that I used the Syllable Counter because counting syllables quickly had me questioning my English language skills. *insert laugh track*

If you love to write poetry, do pop over to Colleen’s site to find out more about or join, her Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenges.

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Apple falls
Nearer the tree
Than I knew

I am you
And you could be me
Certainly

My journey
Ironic ending
Circles me

I said I wrote a Haiku. I didn’t say it was good. Learning…

Hello, dear friends. What’s been on my mind is our deteriorating environment and my role in it. Specifically thinking about the cost of convenience. As I place a crack-caffeine, coffee pod into my Keurig machine…I’ve come to realize I’m not doing my part.

Sharing…a poem today. Still on this winter theme…the snow is gone now and the sun is trying to shine.

Cozy sweaters, wood burning fires, art projects, blankets, red wine, books, afternoon tea…

I’ve been thinking lately about how January gets a bad rep. When it comes to the twelve months of the year, this one tends to be the least favorite of all. The post-holiday season let-down. The failed resolutions. The introspection on our flaws and efforts to correct them…these are at the forefront.

Welcome to a new decade, my friends. This whole new year thing kind of snuck up on me. I know I say that every year but when it hit me upside the head that a whole new decade was starting…well, I began to question my goals here at the blog.

“And what does January hold? Clean account books. Bare diaries. Three hundred and sixty-five new days, neatly parceled into weeks, months, seasons. A chunk of time, of life…those first few notes like an orchestra tuning up before the play begins.” ~ Phyllis Nicholson from Country Bouquet (1947)

Merry Christmas, Escapees. Here we are facing the last week of the decade. Hope it was a good one for you. Today, I announce the winners of my new book giveaway! But first (or you can scroll down to see now) I’ve rounded up the best of the blog for the decade.