Winter Weather Advisory

 

Winter Weather Advisory

The flakes no longer fall.

Instead, they gather on the

ground and in trees ready

to surprise the complacent.

Their weight still may bring

down lines and limbs.

They drift with the help

of just a little wind.

Maintain conditions favorable to

sprains, skids and spins.

And don’t forget about exposure.

After all, each step we take

is recorded by the snow.

 

 

Share experiences from storms you have weathered.

 

 

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Tuesday Photo-Move It

 

This is both how and what I have been moving recently. We had a pretty significant "snow event" last Thursday.

I grew up in Buffalo, New York. Sometimes snowstorms in Kansas City wouldn't be considered snowstorms in Buffalo. This one, I think, would be a snowstorm anywhere.

So, I spent a few hours moving with the shovel. I also had to dig around in the closet to find the boots. (See prints in foreground.)

We are getting another round of snow. I am going to be moving this way once again!

Thanks to Veronica Roth for this Wordsmith Studio Photo Prompt. 

Show us your favorite mode of transportation. Take a photo, post it, then place a link on the prompt page.

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Remembering Nina Simone

Nina Simone was born February 21, 1933, so today we celebrate what would have been her 80th birthday.

The Nina Simone website provides information about her extraordinary life and provides an opportunity to listen to some of her music. In reading her biography, I was most surprised to learn that she did not start out as a singer. Rather, she was a child prodigy on piano. Once she did raise her voice, she did so not only in song, but to fight for freedom and equality.

The following poem was inspired by a quote from her, which is included as the epigram:

Remember

There’s no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.-Nina Simone

In a perfect world,
you would remember
each of us by name.
But, the world isn’t
perfect, is it?
In fact, it was an
imperfect world
that drove us to
our place in history.
We marched and
sat where it was forbidden.
Felt the force of
the hoses and insults
and the impact of
the beatings and bombings.
We fought for change and
new opportunities.
Maybe you will do the same.
If you do, we hope someone
remembers your name.


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Tuesday Photo-Black and White

 

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Photo Prompt is Black and White. The challenge is to convert some photos to black and white and see what a difference that makes.

 

I thought this was a great exercise. Of course, I started out by trying to pick photos I thought would lend themselves to black and white. Some did. Some didn't. Later, I tried some that I thought would really "miss" being in color and found out I was wrong about them.

 

I had four black and white tints to work with. It was really interesting to how one tint could make a dramatic difference.

 

Thanks to Rebecca Barray for highlighting this process. I will definitely think about using it in the future!

 

Have you ever used this technique? Give it a try and share the results with us in the comments section of the prompt post.

 

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The Staying Power of Grief

I attended a funeral this week. I grieved for a friend and her family and for the loved one they had lost.

 

I also experienced, or perhaps I should say re-experienced, some of my own grief. Grief has a long memory and has many triggers.

 

Certainly funerals are primary ones. The same rituals and, perhaps, even some of the same words and songs. I remember more than one instance of having difficulty going to the first funerals after the death of family members. One time,  I let go of the steering wheel and went to open the door to get out of the car and my hands were shaking.  My emotions were still that raw.

 

You don't have to have had a recent loss to have a "grief flashback." There are a couple of songs that were out when a friend of mine died of cancer. She died more than 20 years ago, but when I hear those songs I still have a reaction and may still be brought to tears.

 

I try to remember that these  instances are just another part of grieving and feel the feelings that are brought up, even when I am really caught off guard!

 

Just Beneath the Surface

Grief hides in

the jungle of our emotions

ready to stage a sneak attack.

A picture, a song,

a place, a date

may trigger an ambush

no matter how much time

has passed since

the loss occurred.

This opponent will never

sustain a mortal wound,

but its target may learn

how to recover more

quickly after a strike.

 

 

Related Link-I Keep You with Me-Looking at Grief with Verse

 

 

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Tuesday Photo-Chinese Lantern Flower



Do you know there is a flower called the Chinese Lantern? The first time I saw this flower was last fall.

 

I'm posting the photo in recognition of the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese calandar, it is now the Year of the Snake.

 

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art held a celebration last Friday and opened a new exhibit: Journey through Mountains & Rivers-Chinese Landscapes Ancient & Modern. The exhibit will be open until April 28. Stop by to see the exhibit and take advantage of the special programming related to it.

 

 

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National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Yesterday was National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This day is celebrated throughout the country with various events held on numerous days to recognize the achievements of female athletes and encourage continued participation by girls and women.  Click the link for more information about the history of this day.

 

Here in Kansas City, we are fortunate to have a very special event-The WIN for KC Women's Sports Awards Celebration. This luncheon, which has an attendance of about 1,500, recognizes the achievements of local women and girls in sports and the contributions they make to others through their involvement with sports. Like the organization itself, the luncheon reinforces the benefits of participation in athletics that extend well beyond the competition.

 

They Fought to Play

They fought to play.

They had the skill

and competitive fire.

But, even more

was at stake.

Lessons that would

never be lost.

Giving your best effort.

Working with others to

achieve a common goal.

Making a comeback.

Growing in confidence, and

oh yes, self-esteem.

They fought because

they knew the opportunity

to play sports wasn’t

just a game-changer.

It was a life-changer.

 

 

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Tuesday Photo-Detailed

This is a close-up of an afghan that my Aunt Lydia crocheted for me. She was my father's sister, and we lived upstairs from her and Uncle John until I was about nine. They were like a second set of parents.

 

A lot of love went into all of those stitches. Each time I use the afghan, I feel like I'm getting another hug  from auntie.

 

Thanks to Veronica Roth for this week's Wordsmith Studio Photo Prompt. Take a picture of some of the details in your life, click on the link to the prompt and share a link to the photo in the comments.

 

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