Weekend Coffee Share, Spring Forward

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Green Tazo tea with ginger is my wakeup elixir for this morning. How about you?

Bixby and I are on the porch in mild temperatures. However, the wind is quite gusty, and I read that it’s going to usher in some quite cooler temperatures. They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. It was raining throughout the day yesterday. Thus started my Spring Break.

I will say this, the rain certainly inspires our greenery to be even greener!

Muddy grass won’t stop Bixby! 🐾

I wasn’t bothered by the weather, though. I left work yesterday and headed to the mall, where I bought some super comfortable shoes. They are also cute, though you can’t tell they have zippers on the sides.

I’d wear sneakers every day, if I could.

They are sort of a sneaker style, but the material kind of dresses them up. Work wear, in my opinion.

After the mall, I went to meet my boyfriend. We spent some time together and had excellent barbecue for dinner! We also watched Curb Your Enthusiasm and laughed out heads off. We are both Seinfeld fans and have an odd sense of humor. 😆

So, I get to rest and blow off steam for a week. I really need that. I’m not sure what’s up today, but I’m sure I’ll have some family time. I hope to get some writing done for Ellie’s story in the upcoming days. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be going with my boyfriend and some friends to the Celtic Fest, my favorite activity to ring in the spring!

Never mind that I’ll have to be layered up for Celtic Fest. It was cancelled two years in a row due to COVID-19. I’m so excited to go again. I’ll soak up the laughter and great music. Who says there can’t be a Springtime of the soul in the midst of chilly, gray weather?

Wearing the green 🍏

Have a great weekend all, and a happy week to follow!

*Currently rereading Wuthering Heights

*Currently writing Ellie, the Time Traveler

*Currently loving the music of Albannach and playing Wordle or Blokudoko

Advertisement

Morning Bliss. #poetry

Photo by WARREN BLAKE on Pexels.com

Poem by Pamela Schloesser Canepa, (c) 2021

~~~

The dog comes back in, pep in his step

dirt stuck to his back, paws gray.

I laugh at his small blissful rebellion

As he will be bathed today.

I hope he got the best from that moment!

~~~~~

The sun peaks in gently, not fierce

Where I’ve left the door open a crack…

I hear the birds as I breathe in the fresh air;

and though soon, oppressive summer will be back,

Today, it is still Spring.

~

Sun salutation!

• Visit the origin of today’s word prompt challenge: https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/rdp-monday-bliss/

Weekend Coffee Share, Lounging Around

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, Spring break edition! It’s a beautiful Spring day, my porch foor is wide open, and birds are regaling me with their song. My dog even slept late today! I must confess, my Spring Break has been more Emily Dickinson-like than Kerouac inspired.

Allergies have kept me indoors for much of the week. Being off work has allowed me a lot of time to nap, thank goodness. Being an educator, I am pretty careful and got a COVID test Tuesday. The results were negative, so of course, I am just having an allergic reaction to the exuberance and re-birth of nature. It is getting better, otherwise my porch door would not be open. Still, I’m sort of regretful that I could not get out and enjoy nature much. I won’t let it weigh on me too heavily. I’ve had coffee with honey several days this week, knowing that it would not overtake my lethargy, and I was right!

Yesterday, I sat out in my yard, half in the sun, half in the garage, with my loyal dog at my side. He loves to sniff the smells of nature, and today, he is listening to the birds on alert mode. Maybe he can interpret their song?

I did do some reading this week for a book club I participate in; the book was Of Mice and Men, a re-read for me. It’s fairly short, a plus for someone whose focus is challenged like mine is; it’s rough when I’m juggling the teaching requirements, and it’s rough when my sinuses are affecting my brain. At any rate, I love Steinbeck’s descriptions of the countryside, and it is interesting how a dream and a goal could keep an easily agitated man (Lennie) focused. This book could be interpreted so many ways, and I recall how the ending bothered me when I read it as a teen. Steinbeck threw quite a punch; he is an excellent writer.

It has been about a week since I worked on the Ellie novel. You can imagine how unfocused I have felt all week. Still, I am not out of sorts. All things must take their time: allergic rhinitis, writing a novel, pollination of our naturescape. I have a photographer friend who takes marvelous photos of bees, flowers, and landscapes, so I’ve been enjoying those sights from afar. I did write a short poem mid-week in response to the #RDP word prompt: Pursuit. I chose a minimalist approach. You can view the poem here: https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2021/03/08/in-pursuit-of/

Upon feeling a little better yesterday, I made an appointment and will get my COVID vaccine shot today; I just have to drive a little further. My voice is still raspy, but I do not feel feverish, congested, and lethargic like I did days ago. Hopefully, the after-effects won’t be so bad, but I am sure more rest will be in order.

Once I am fully vaccinated, I plan to participate more actively in the world around me, which seems to be in full swing here in Florida. For now, I am drinking juice and getting my rest so I can be back to work next week with a voice that commands respect, authority, and, yes, understanding.

Weekend Coffee Share. Happy Easter!

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at https://eclecticali.wordpress.com/ . I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter, whether you are simply celebrating spring time, Passover, or the resurrection of Jesus, whether you are religious or simply spiritual, or even agnostic. As I grow older I am firmly believing it is not my place to judge one’s beliefs but to respect all.

Maybe I am developing a live and let-live philosophy. After all, I do believe in Jesus’ teachings that we should love one another.  I wish it was more pervasive in our world.

I was blessed to help my son celebrate his 23rd birthday on Friday! I feel blessed that he made it this many years, and I have decided that is how I will see every new birthday that I come across, as well. A blessing.  Even though I seem to get more aches and pains as time passes, it is all a blessing.  Well, some of it is downright laughable, so plan on seeing some jokes from me in future posts, as time goes by.  🙂

Saturday, I got some much-neglected writing done; it was such a good feeling!  I am too busy right now and can’t wait until the course I am taking is completed.  This summer, my character and I have a date to resolve his life crisis.  I will leave it at that for now.

We enjoyed a beautiful church service on Easter with music and an inspiring message.  I am in an interesting spot with my faith.  I need more time to just sit and enjoy things, like a puppy enjoys play and greets the sun with stretches, like an elderly woman gets the biggest smile with a visitor and is filled with gratitude, or the way a toddler just wants to be held by its mom.  I am tired of analyzing the nuances of my faith and trying to make sense of it.  This is where I am for now.  The concept of Jesus is the feeling of being totally accepted and protected; he would do anything for me.  He is at once a friend and a parent, and I can’t make sense of it right now.  I can only feel it, but it is unconditional, and I strive for my parenting to be the same.

After church, we had some down time between lunch and dinner, and everyone was watching TV or videos in the house in different rooms.  While I enjoyed the show I was watching, I felt like something more was needed.  It was a beautiful day outside!  I convinced my son we should take the dog to the park and don’t regret it for a minute.  He pulls on the leash and sniffs everywhere, tinkles and marks his spot all over the place.  His gusto is admirable.  In this photo he had already been trying to lead us all over the park.  I am wearing my peace-sign t-shirt.  There is no better day for a peace sign, a loving dog, family, and sunshine.

How about some peace in our world as well?  Unconditional, non-judgmental acceptance of others?  We do not have to accept violence.  We do not have to accept hate.  We can only fight it with love. We must continue to love our families non-stop, no matter what happens in the White House or in the world.  Have a great week, brothers and sisters.

Weekend Coffee Share: April 7, 2019

Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at http://eclecticali.wordpress.com

I had a lot of work this weekend that involved computer time, but I got a little relaxation in, so I’m going to express most of it in photos.

Friday night TV on the recliner at my boyfriend’s house.  Seinfeld rules!

I finished this heart-breaking book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Saturday. WW2 Holocaust, #historicalfiction.  It has quite a deep message.

I took the time to get my toes pedicured as well.

Saturday I wore my new dress to church. I have to wear it before Lent is over, besides, the weather here will only get hotter.  Now I’ll retire it until fall.  You can’t beat a black dress, and with polka dots to boot!  Now I have to start wearing pastels to celebrate Spring!

Have a great week, my friends and fellow bloggers!

Weekend Coffee Share. Get Outdoors!

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at https://eclecticali.wordpress.com/

Bixby is representing my Coffee Share, since yesterday was National Puppy day!

The weather has been beautiful! Yesterday, I enjoyed a festival with my son called Gastrofest which, as you might guess, is all about tasty delights. We wondered around in the breezy spring weather listening to the Jazz fusion band that played there. No, I didn’t have a pulled pork donut, but I did have pulled pork, and it was scrumptious!

I hope you’re enjoying your beverage of choice, whether coffee, tea, or a smoothie. I had a mock mojito and drank my hot coffee before leaving the house. Though I indulged dietarily, my son and I did walk over a mile between the parking and the event. I think it balances out. 🙂  Besides, all of that walking gave us plenty of time to bond and talk.  All in all, it was a great day!

On the writing scene, I have not done as much as I’d like, but I published a poem on my blog within the last week, a reflection on my past and personal growth that also truly reflects the nineteen nineties.  Have a look: In the Nineties

I have also been promoting my book, Detours in Time which is on Kindle Countdown until about midnight tonight.  Check it out at Detours in Time on Amazon

I hope you all have had a great week and that the weather is quite pleasant in your area as well!

Weekend Coffee Share….Belated

Welcome to my belated Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Eclectic Ali!  Had I posted this on time, well, it wouldn’t have sounded very different.

I’m experiencing allergy issues and/or laryngitis.  Briefly, I suspected strep throat, though I don’t think I could have held out this long if that were the case.  So, my weekend consisted of Mucinex, salt-water gargling, Netflix watching, a little bit of reading, and a little bit of writing.  That, and posting photos of my dog on Instagram.  It’s a new hobby or escape of mine, the world of #dogstagram.  Check it out.  You can find my canine angel at Bixby_Fluffikins!  He cheers me in any mood, and all the other dogs at #dogstagram are a joy as well!

At any rate, the annual St. Patrick’s Day tradition pretty much always finds me recovering or nursing an allergy related malady, so I barely even participate, despite finding out from Ancestry DNA that I am 2% Irish.  At least this year I didn’t get a stomach bug!  (Those are probably related to my public school teaching job).  That’s a story in itself.  Enough belly-aching. Pun not intended….

I’ve been working on revising my WIP, a sequel to Detours in Time!  Yes, I think I’ll have it all done by this summer, and I am due to send it off to an editor, today or tomorrow.  So, I have been neglecting the blog a little.  I’ve overloaded myself on Netflix, and the new obsession is Travelers, a mysterious sci-fi series about people from the future coming back to set certain things right.  I’ve been reading how to write a screenplay, started another installment in the Irish Lottery series by Gerald Hansen, and I also started reading The Shack for a book club. Why did I start two books?  One is on Kindle and the other paperback, so it depends on mood and how long it takes the phone battery run out of juice.  That, and, I have to be in the right mood for how to write a screenplay.  Though, it all looks familiar, but I am taking notes and bookmarking.

Speaking of Book clubs, my church’s book club decided to read my book, Detours in Time, and we met to discuss it this last Thursday.  I, with my hoarse-y voice, was not going to miss it for the world.  I was asked to prepare discussion questions.  So I did!  It was interesting and was quite an honor! If you have a book club and would like to read a sci-fi book that focuses most on characters and moral dilemmas, consider this one.  Let me know, and I will supply discussion questions!