Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

It’s Saturday, time to celebrate at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE

Five days of tracking my food.  I try to be mindful of what I eat.  I want to track my food and exercise.  Tracking exercise is easy. Food? Not so much. Been I have been using “My Fitness Pal” app this week and it’s pretty painless.

TWO

This orchid which bloomed. I received the plant two years ago from a school parent.  It bloomed, blooms fell off, and it was ignored.  Two months ago I noticed the blossom shoot.  That’s pretty amazing.  I think it’s even prettier than the first time it bloomed.

THREE

Going to the Northwest Council of Computer Education conference in Portland, Oregon.  So great to be able to attend a conference and be with your peers.  It did make my head spin with possibility.

FOUR

The poems that are being written by fifth graders.  The are writing “Deeper Thinking” poems in response to their classroom nonfiction unit.   My two Friday classes were quiet like mice in their work. This idea came from Michelle when she had the Ditty of the Month Challenge in January.  It was based on Joyce Sidman’s poem in Winter Trees.  they will be on postcards and shared at this blog in April.

FIVE

One more spring photo:

What are you celebrating?

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Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Thank you Ruth for offering a place to connect and share celebrations.

ONE

THIS.  I have a poem in it.

TWO

Students are writing poems for their poetry postcards.  I love this time of year when I prepare to send out post cards.

Would you like one?  The information gathered will only be used by me to send you a poetry postcard in April.

Go to this FORM.

THREE

My after-school Poetry Rocks group. They are learning poems to share at a celebration in April for National Poetry Month.

FOUR

A successful Cat in the Hat night at my school on March 3 (further back than this week but it has to be mentioned). I love that families come to hear teachers read.  You never know how many there are until they come from the classrooms for cake.  This year 76 families attended.  We have a student population of almost 500.

FIVE

Happy birthday, Albert Einstein.  One of my favorite people.  Love this quote by him.

  What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Thank you Ruth Ayres for providing a place to celebrate our week. There has been much goodness in the week.

ONE

The CYBILS Awards have been announced! Head over to see the full list.  But I am so happy to announce that Voices From the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon. Here’s the blurb:

Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon takes the reader on a journey to August, 1963, when thousands converged on Washington in a march for civil rights. Through eloquent prose and verse poems that showcase a range of poetic forms and voices, the poets have recreated the individuals, both historical and imagined, who participated in the march and were changed by the experience.

A thoroughly engaging introduction by Lyon, a “Guide to the Voices” at the end, and all the interwoven stories in between combine to give us an authentic and accessible glimpse into the period and this important event — and offer older readers the chance to meet and imagine the widely diverse marchers, their personal backgrounds, and the private hopes that enticed them to join the march.

The immense amount of factual information contained in the poems invites further research, while the themes of civil disobedience, community protest, and racial tension serve as a mirror for current events regardless of where readers live.

The book’s timeliness–and timelessness–is summed up in this short verse, the title of which could easily be rewritten with the date 2015.

For All, 1963

If you contend the noblest end
of all is human rights, amend
the laws: The beauty of the sun
is that it shines on everyone.

Thanks to the judges:Diane Mayr, Renee LaTulippe, Matt Forrest, Laura Shovan, and Linda Baie.  They worked tirelessly to determine the winner from the Spectacular Seven Finalists.

TWO

Author Day at Silver Star. Author, Deb Lund, spend the day with us on Tuesday:

 

THREE 

Top Readers and Author Lunch:

Four

Having dinner with Deb Lund and other friends from my writing community.

FIVE

This week I leaned on my OLW: OPEN to address a work situation.  I hate conflict and it’s very difficult for me when there is conflict but it was a situation I in which I needed to be open.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

It’s Saturday.  Time to reflect on the goodness of the week. Thank you Ruth for providing a place to share.

ONE

It’s Winter Break.  I love having this time to regroup and reflect.  Time to bake, wrap presents, and enjoy family.

TWO

Receiving the best poetry package ever from Ramona as part of the Winter Poetry Swap. She included such wonderful treasures: a sparkly folder for poem collecting and two poems; “For Christmas” which I shared with my staff and then her Nativity poem.  They will be out every Christmas.  Plus the fantastic book MANGER by Lee Bennet Hopkins. It’s perfect for the holidays. And to finish it all a snowman ornament and pad for lists.

THREE

Our simple Christmas: Our Christmas was different. For the first time in 24 years we didn’t do anything on Christmas Eve with either girl. Oldest daughter worked and an oldest grand girl was at her dad’s and Youngest daughter and girls were in southern Oregon(coming up next weekend). So husband and I almost made it to Christmas Eve service but we decided to stop by friends whose daughter died of an overdose a year ago today. She was a year older than our oldest. Our friends have been raising her son for years. (these are husbands’s friends from high school). Then we went out to eat. I then baked two batches of cookies and wrapped presents. I have to admit, I rather enjoyed this Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Day, we went to oldest daughter’s for the day. oldest grand girl tried to get us to open one present every hour. The adults didn’t like that idea much. Santa brought husband into the 21st century with a smart phone. Husband made pizza and oldest daughter had spaghetti so we had the “Christmas Feast” oldest grand girl wanted.

No drama. Letting go of perfection.  This POST explains more.

FOUR

Being included in this fabulous gallery of poetry, Finding Fall.  Carol does such a wonderful job of creating art with our poems.

FIVE

The CYBILS Poetry shortlist is decided BUT it will wait until January 1 for the unveiling.  Am very happy with the list.

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Each Saturday people take the time to reflect on the week and then share at Ruth Ayres Writes. Here I am, once again a day late.  It’s been that kind of week with school and the home front and the need to sleep commanding my attention.  I missed my Tuesday post on Deowriter for SOLSC14. I missed Poetry Friday here as well.

But as I went to Ruth’s blog today and read her post on Personal Landmarks, I read words that reassured me that I am not alone.  There are times we all struggle. This statement reminds me of my capabilities: “I’m a writer who writes –15 minutes each day on her current story.”

So now to my celebrations of the week.

ONE

Family. They are there when you need them.  We had a week that the support and love of family was critical.

TWO

The CYBILS nominations of the Poetry books.  I think we have a great selection of Children and YA books to review and select finalists for January.  As the organizer, this has been one of the time commitments this week.

THREE

A co-worker and I engaged in a banter of Picasso quotes:

“If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes.”

—Pablo Picasso

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

—Pablo Picasso

“Nothing can be done without solitude.”

—Pablo Picasso

FOUR

Humor.  Thank goodness that my mother and father gifted me with a sense of humor.  Sometimes it’s gallows humor but it gets me through challenges.

FIVE

Kinders getting to check out their first book.  I just love their excitement when this day arrives for them.  They are so serious to choose the correct book.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About This Week

It’s Saturday.  Time to celebrate the week with others at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE

Students returned to school this week.  Everyone has the spirit and promise of a new year.  I love seeing that in not only the students but the parents and staff.

TWO

Students love reading and they want to know you are a reader.

Two comments from students (one actually a sigh)…in answer the question of “what’s your favorite part of the library?” The answer was “I’m surrounded by books.”  

The other was a sigh when I answered the question to “did you read more than ten books this summer?” I said no ( I read nine both kid and adult books). I rechecked my list after class and discovered I actually read ten books. So I plan to share my list.

THREE

Am reading Reading in the Wild by Donalynn Miller (was the PD online book for the summer which with shoulder surgery I missed). I. Love. It.  So needed this inspiration.

Als reading Countdown by Deborah Wiles. Incredible.

FOUR

Meeting with three other writers through Google Chat on my writing this week.  Such a great way to connect.

FIVE

Signs of fall sneaking in:

 

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Things About the Week

 

It’s Saturday. Time to reflect on the goodness of the week at Ruth Ayres’ Writes.

ONE

I was able to drive this week. First time since my surgery!  Woohoo! So thankful that my husband has been there to take me places and to appointments but it’s also so great to be able to be independent.

TWO

GRAND GIRLS!! The oldest we get to see a lot as she lives close. But the middle and the youngest live about five hundred miles south of us. Our visits are farther apart.  

 

Oldest and Middle: They are about 14 months apart. We call them “The Corporation” because these cousins are like sisters and what one doesn’t think of the other does. Like the gloves? They went to the doctor’s appointment with me.

Youngest:  We had time with her alone.  Sometimes when she’s with the olders, she’s the odd person out.

THREE

 

 

 

The water park. This is genius to have fountains where there once was a wading pool. 

FOUR

I finished reading Revolution by Deborah Wiles. I was powerfully moved by the book and wrote about it HERE.  AND the bonus?  I tweeted about it and received a reply from the author: “I *love* this review. Thanks for comparison to BrianSelznick’s work (humbled), and for mention of Ferguson. Another world, yes.”

FIVE

The CYBILS Award season has started.  I am excited to see that poetry lovers are applying to be either a panelist or a judge.  Are you curious or interested.  Go to the CYBILS site and read about it.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

There’s always so much to celebrate each Saturday. More celebrations can be found at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE
I love summer. Love the easier, slower pace of life. We left to visit our Idaho friends on Wedneday. One of the best parts f the trip is the ever changing sky.

TWO
While not the news I had hoped for, I found the source of my shoulder pain plaguing me for the past five months. Had an MRI on Monday. It revealed a complete muscle tear with a partial tear. I see the ortho surgeon on Tuesday. So I celebrate knowing what’s wrong and how to proceed.

THREE
Small town parades. We love the Buhl, ID Independence Day parade. This year we had oldest grand girl with us. She loved the throwing of the candy in to the crowds. One of the highlights for me is the gigantic farm machines.

FOUR
Found poetry at Hagerman Park. Our tradition includes the annual picnic in the park. Yesterday, it was quite warm. This was found painted on the sidewalk.

FIVE
And the evening f the fourth is always filled with fireworks. What is it about sparklers that are so magical? And why do kids love smoke bombs so much?

What are you celebrating?