Category: nature

The Read Aloud

Published on May 23, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

I was the guest reader in my granddaughter’s preschool class this past week. I’ve been meaning to join them for a read-aloud this entire school year.

(This is MY school. Yes, I’m claiming it. Mine. Where I taught preschoolers for ten years before my retirement in June 2020.)

The excitement was palpable as soon as I walked in – but not because of me. The children invited me to see their caterpillar cage – three eastern black swallowtail butterflies had emerged from their chrysalises that very morning! This spring, the preschoolers have been exploring all things nature, especially, how things grow and change. There were rich learning experiences throughout the room. In addition to butterflies, there was a gardening area where the preschoolers have been growing herbs from seeds and a worm composting bin. There are pens and paper for observational drawings and lots of magnifying glasses. It was a busy and engaging room.

My granddaughter introduced me as “Nana,” which really made me smile. I have been Ms. Ingram for so long in this school – but, not to her, not to her.

I shared one of my favorite nonfiction books about worms, Wiggling Worms at Work (by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Steve Jenkins) and kicked off the read-aloud by asking, what did they know about worms? Opening answer from a little friend waving their hand wildly: “I know I don’t like worms.” Hahaha. I love preschoolers! So ensued a lively book talk – with me peppering them with questions, and the children sharing their stories and wonders. I remember there was a rowdy ‘learning moment’ about using the word ‘castings’ rather than ‘poop.’ The read-aloud time passed in a flash – the next thing I knew, the book was read and our time together was over.

Learning is so unfettered when you are three and four years of age – you devour the world. What a gift to be back in the presence of these young minds, immersed in their energy, questions, and joy.

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Talking Points

Published on May 16, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

When we are out and about, here’s what I notice –

the bearded irises are still pretty even when lounging on the lawn,
the begonia blossoms into tiny angels, and
I'm so happy the peonies bloomed after the rains came through.

She offers me an entirely different take on the world. What does she notice?

She discovers it on cars.
It is also popular on the lawn’s edge.
She’s been appalled to find it lurking on the front steps.
Sometimes she stops in the middle of the street to bear witness.
As if this wasn’t enough, in recent days, it has begun appearing on the windows at the back of our house.

Have you guessed her obsession?

Animal droppings.
Especially - bird poop. Aviary guano. Foul of fowl.

This spring has dovetailed (ooh, there’s a pun!) with toilet-training and she is riveted. Yes, this is the number one topic of my darling grandchild. (I nicknamed her ‘Bird’ - so, I suppose I should have predicted this grimy interest.)

She has laser focus for every sighting. On our neighborhood walks, she gasps with alarm, needing to pause and inspect. She demands that every soiled area be cleaned up, immediately - and has been less than impressed when I refuse to do so, steering her away from the find.

The rule ‘out of sight, out of mind’ does not apply. Each of these moments is treasured in her mind, and shared as the primary gossip of the day.

What did you do, today, hon?
There was bird poop on the window!

Who knew the world could be full of such mystery and wonder?

I offer a simple poem, to remember this developmental stage of hers.

window washing

the gutters 
at back of house
are a favorite stop
for winged loiterers

heralding
foul of fowls
up, in, around

all to her delight
each discovery
so exciting

Nana! Gotta clean!

and so
spray and towel in hand
windows flipped open
I scour scrub rub  
sparkle shine
polishing away streaks

and she 
is right at my side
inspecting

Nature Triolets

Published on April 18, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

We have been having a bright and sunny spring, day after day of low humidity and mild temperatures. (Also, our spring has been rather frighteningly bereft of rain – oh, but who needs to worry about such things when the sun is shining?) (I do, honestly, I do.)

I glanced through my camera roll for inspiration for today’s slice, and realized – with the exception of countless photos of the grandchildren – I have three fun categories of nature photos from the past couple of weeks:

One: shadows,

Two: trees touching the sky, and

Three: my favorite spring tree: the redbud (which is in full bloom right now, here in the Mid-Atlantic – you see these purple blossoms popping up everywhere).

Well, I can’t just share photos and call it a slice, can I? (I suppose I could.)

Then, I saw Fran Haley’s inspiration on Ethical ELA’s Verselove, to write a triolet. Let me revisit those three categories of photos and share some happy spring triolets with you…and then I’ll call it a slice, lol. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them. This poetry form seems just perfect for capturing moments in nature, I think.

water play

sun and shadow in water play
dancing bobbing moving
to happen upon this sight this day
sun and shadow in water play
honestly, it takes my breath away
the image all-consuming
sun and shadow in water play
dancing bobbing moving

how hope emerges

purple buds upon the branches
showing how hope emerges
each little blossom simply prances
purple buds upon the branches
unconcerned about their chances
following perceptive urges
purple buds upon the branches
showing how hope emerges

striving together

trees strive for the sky
holding onto one another 
gently stretching way up high
trees strive for the sky
look up, as you pass by
how they form a loving cover
trees strive for the sky
holding onto one another

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Retreat Together

Published on April 4, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

This past weekend, a group of ‘empty-nesters’ gathered at our church’s retreat center, in rural West Virginia. Let me share a few words and photos.

The retreat center is small, with one central house for meals and fellowship, and three adorable cabins. It accommodates less than two dozen folks overnight. This was my husband’s first time visiting the retreat center since it went through an extensive remodeling. I have had the joy of being here twice for women’s retreats.

The weekend had no agenda and no schedule, other than meals. It was a time to share stories and relax together, to connect more deeply than those quick conversations before and after church services. The retreat center is in a very remote area, with no cell service. Just before you arrive, you have to drive through a creek. We literally “Forded” the stream, in our Fusion sedan – and both of us agree that it may well be time to get a bigger vehicle.

The view from mid-stream, as we drove through.

We all took turns with the cooking. Tony and I were on the Sunday breakfast team – my task was vegetable frittata. The kitchen is large and welcoming, making for a wonderful community cooking experience. People were in and out of the kitchen, getting their morning coffee and tea, and making conversation while cooks prepared the meal. (Sorry, no photos of food to share. Trust me, it was a yummy breakfast.)

We went on an arduous walk, through the woods and up this challenging hill. This is one of those hills where I breathed a sigh of relief at getting to the top, and boasted “oh, that wasn’t so bad!,” only to find there was another enormous ascent, just around the bend. This second one took my breath away. That dang hill was new to me – not something we had attempted at my women’s retreat. I was glad I did it – the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside were well worth the unexpected exertion.

One friend found this enormous feather along the dirt road…it is some 20 inches long. She let me bring it home! (I love feathers.)

It was a weekend of conversation and connection, to ‘catch up’ on one another’s lives. Such a gift, to be immersed in nature, together.

The view from the outdoor chapel, Sunday morning.

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SOLSC #31 – Savoring

Published on March 31, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

It’s our last day of SOLSC – thirty-one days of writing in community. I feel as if I have been on one big adventure with new friends. A huge shout out to Stacey Shubitz and the amazing TWT Team for this wonderful month of sharing together!

As this challenge ends, I find myself seeking a metaphor for daily writing and connecting with you. I wonder if this poem of mine, written a couple years ago, might work? In this poem, I tell about a walk with my two-year-old granddaughter, and her insistence on getting out of the stroller and running after a feather –

The Feather

feather, small and grey
lying in our walking path
once seen cannot be unseen
get out! you demand
so, the stroller’s belt I undo
together
we bend over
looking closely
only to have the wind
lift it 
into the air
sending it forward
beckoning
you and I in pursuit
laughing
following a feather

Thank you, SOLSC community for all the precious feathers – your precious stories – that drifted into my path this month. It has been so invigorating to write alongside you, to look closely, together. I am so glad I stopped to look and to savor your writing, and that you did the same for mine. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

See you on Tuesdays, at Two Writing Teachers, everyone!

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SOLSC #24 – Blooming

Published on March 24, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

It wasn’t simply Tony and I that were oh-so-pleased to have our home remodeling completed this past fall – my houseplants are overjoyed, too. They have been basking in the open floor plan and the extra light this great room now offers. They have grown and flourished over the winter. Let me tell you about this happiness.

Most of the remodeling was completed while the weather here in Maryland was still quite warm, so I moved the larger plants outside, to avoid the drywall dust, chemicals smells, and other hard aspects of the construction process.

Unfortunately, their time ‘in the wilderness’ coincided with some powerful rainstorms. One week when I was away from home, they received a torrent of watering, unlike anything they had ever experienced before. Every houseplant was swamped with water. I had to lay their pots on the side and drain them as best I could. Plant “TLC” began in earnest, and their return to the house in mid-October was a time of love and rejoicing.

Hardy plants like the philodendron and the dracaena recovered quickly. The fern was bent and nearly broken in two; I have been encouraging its strength with a velcro tie. This fern is probably my oldest plant, given to me in the late 1990s by my mother, on a rare trip by her and my father to our house for Thanksgiving. The fern sits happily by the light of the french doors, and is simply bursting with these fun yellow ‘seed’ flowers.

I was quite worried about my peace lilies; their leaves were torn and ragged, they were badly beaten by these late summer storms. You wouldn’t know it now! They are healthy and strong, vibrantly reaching upwards, as if exclaiming “YES!! WE ARE HOME!!” Here is one’s photo; you can see new growth happening:

Let me tell you about dear Anthurium; this personality owns the room and wants her story shared. Anthurium (and, yes, I call her by her full name) was a thank you gift from a parent at the end of a school year, some six or seven years ago. She is a smallish plant, about one foot in circumference, and I didn’t put her outside during the remodeling, I simply kept her upstairs – with plastic curtains at the stairwell keeping her apart from all the construction mess.

Fresh from the florist’s shop, she was regal: shiny green leaves and two of the most perfect bright red, waxy, heart-shaped flower spikes. These cheery flowers bloomed for many months, and then began to fade, finally disappearing entirely. We were working on our communication. Unlike most of my houseplants, I had trouble understanding Anthurium’s needs. I found her to be a rather exhausting combination of aloof and demanding. She finds it very hard to relax. I want to call her “prissy” but she is a friend, and that feels quite rude.

Finally, I found the perfect room for her: the upstairs guest room. Anthurium lives at the edge of bright and sunny, not wanting to be out ‘mixing’ with others – afraid she will fry her leaves – but definitely not receding into the shadows. She is a wee bit needy, expecting me to check in every day, offering her water; she likes her soil ‘just so’ – not dry, not overwet, just right.

Her guest room home is also known as Bird’s room, and Anthurium dearly missed hearing Bird’s chatter from the nearby crib while the kitchen and family room were remodeled. Bird was gone for many months, and, of course, construction dust and noise kept straying up the stairs, messing with her perfect little world. I feared Anthurium wasn’t going to make it through.

Well, Anthurium has proven to be as strong and resourceful as her housemates. Anthurium is so excited that the remodeling is complete that she is celebrating with a new flower – look closely, this sweet red growth is just beginning, a mere inch in length at present. I’m excited to watch her bloom!

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SOLSC #19 – Rebirth

Published on March 19, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

A full and lovely Sunday leads to a simple haiku and photos – spring is here, in Maryland.

bursting from the cold
gestation and rebirth
everywhere I look

SOLSC #17: Collaboration

Published on March 17, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

You’ve been poemed ♥️

Her text flashed across my phone screen while I was reading books to my granddaughter. Immediately, a new smile crossed my face, and Bird asked –

What is it, Nana? Let me see.

Even at two years of age, she understands that my attention was (ever so briefly) diverted, and that the phone is very captivating.

Nothing, hon – I’ll check later.

We went back to our good book, while I held this tiny morsel of excitement about the new poem that awaited me from my friend Dee.

We’ve been good friends for years and years – Dee is my high school bestie. We live many states apart, but have always kept close. Early last April, we did a weekend girls’ trip together, exploring Richmond, Virginia. Simultaneously, I was participating in the April poetry challenge #VerseLove through Ethical ELA (you should check this out!).

A prompt that weekend was offered by two writers, Gae Polisner and Lori Landau, to create a collaborative poem, where you take a line from one person’s writing and use these words in a new poem of your own. I read this poetry prompt aloud to my friend Dee, and right there on the spot, we decided to begin our own collaborative poetry journey.

Dee and I both love to write; we have been avid letter and email writers with one another through the years. We both keep journals, where we write to release. She had never really written poetry, and I am fairly inexperienced with poetry, as well – but we both enjoy poetry immensely. What if we used poetry as a vehicle to share with one another, to connect?

Just as Gae Polisner and Lori Landau shared about themselves, Dee and I created a single google doc for these treasures – Dee & Ree Write Poetry. It is our running log of collaborative poetry…a volley of words. I think I wrote the first poem; she read and reacted and found one line, one small morsel to use in her own poem. And away we went!

The google doc allows us to write when we – individually – have the time, and to respond whenever. There is no expectation of response time between poems; life can get complicated, stuff happens. There are times when I immediately answer her poem with a poem, and other times when several weeks pass before I find words. There are also no rules about what or how to write. Sometimes I create a poem using a particular poetry form, often it is just free verse. I enjoy sharing about what is happening in my life, and I also enjoy writing other poems that are my venting about the world. The google doc is a poetic conversation between good friends.

Here we are almost one full year out from the start of this experiment, and we both love love love the writing. We’re not even sure that our poems are any ‘good’ at all, but we love the window this writing has provided into each other’s lives. I know I am writing better, deeper, more wholeheartedly. Perhaps it is because I have a clearer idea who my audience is? I just counted how many poems are in this one document – there are 54 thus far this year, wowsa! We’ve each written 27…averaging two a month; how delightful is that?

This poetry collaboration has been one of the highlights of my past year, nourishing and joyful. Let me close with a recent poem of mine to Dee, using the line “we’re making new earth” from her preceding poem –

edge of spring

this chilly grey day at the edge of spring
the guys hung drywall and 
I worked in my son's yard
piling high the broken dried branches 
sweeping browned leaves from the deck
turning the hard soil to transplant 
extras from our place
yes, early this morning, 
Tony dug up mahonia, siberian irises, 
and wispy raspberry plants to share
we’re making new earth
I whispered to the worms
as I dug
I was surprised to see these
little soft-bodied beings
I’d imagined them much deeper 
in the ground this time of year
I guess winter is waning 
after what’s really been a wash 
of a winter, nothing but grey 
brown cold windy this year
still
everything is so clear with bare trees 
I cherish the way light peeks through 
I will miss this
I enjoyed the stillness
working by myself, dreaming
hearing the clunk-tap-gsh of my shovel
yes, I was making new earth

SOLSC #11 – Shower

Published on March 11, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

This month of March has coincided with a lot of unusual travel for me. We were at the beach for our anniversary, and now I am up in Connecticut for the bridal shower of my college bestie’s daughter. Talk about shifting gears – I went from lazing about outside in the warm sun to being in the midst of snow all around (more falling even as I write) and a very busy household setting up and preparing. The older sister of the bride, who is the hostess of this fun event, has planned every last beautiful detail. The theme is an Italian brunch, and she is a true gourmet, making everything from scratch. The house smells heavenly! I have helped create signage, wash dishes, move furniture – hopefully, many hands are truly making light work. We are all ready…and the guests arrive momentarily! I offer a simple poem for the day.

The view from my bedroom window, first thing this morning.

Snapshot of a Bridal Shower

a shower of the heart
a sister lovingly plans 
a fabulous party for the bride
feting her, before the wedding day

a shower of cooking 
a detailed menu 
choreographed timing 
a gourmet brunch 

a shower of surprise snow
waking to gentle flurries 
a kiss from mother nature
to welcome all

a shower of joy 
friends and family gathering 
they come bearing gifts
laughter and stories

SOLSC #9 – Beach Finds

Published on March 9, 2023

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

I love my long walks outside, and it’s been particularly delightful to walk the beach these past few days. I’m not a big swimmer; I am not a sunbather, either; no, I like to walk and explore. There are so many new and exotic sights. I love the feel of the sea breeze and to watch the ocean waves crash onto the shore. The water is cool and invigorating, washing over my feet – and that’s a thrill, too, to walk barefoot; I don’t do that when I’m walking in the woods back home.

There are very few seashells on this part of the Hilton Head beach – I feel as if that’s always been true, for as long as I have visited here. My parents retired here back in 1988, and I had many vacations here over the years, before my parents moved back north, closer to us children, in their frail elderly years. This is our first time back to visit the island since 2017, a bit of a nostalgia trip in some ways.

So, yes, back to my walks on the beach. Here, at low tide, the beach is vast and wide and flat and almost entirely soft and bare. Every now and again, you’ll come across something novel, such as a horseshoe crab or a jellyfish, beached on shore. Let me share photos of my special finds these past few days –

Check out this jellyfish – it is easily more than 12 inches in diameter, bigger than my big ol’ foot. There were several on the beach that were perfectly clear, but this one was different – I could see undigested small shrimp and other crustaceans, oh my. TMI, lol.

There are beautiful grasses and sponges in a variety of colors. I imagine these riding waves, feeling the ocean in and around their being.

Check out this strangeness. This blob was about 12 inches long, a gooey gelatinous mass. Google helped me identify it, labeling it a “sea pork.”

Last but not least, here’s my favorite sighting – I always feel as if I have visited Hilton Head, if I see a dolphin in the ocean:

Today’s our last day at the beach – let me go enjoy!