Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

I shuffled and sorted my poems yesterday, and there are 47 of them in a very rough approximation of a manuscript. I will be spending a lot of time with this project, and maybe refining some of the poems, moving them around, seeing what the hell they have to say to each other and to me. But it's started.  Today, we have church and breakfast. I have some house chores to attend to. And then there's our guest poet/community open mic at 3 at The Frost Place-- this week's poet is someone I do not actually know. I've only communicated with her via email. So, this will be really fun! If you're local, come on up and hear Abbie Kiefer! Bring a poem to share! And yes, I baked bread yesterday. It is so satisfying to bring the simplest of ingredients together into a cohesive whole, then knead the dough, and then let it rise. I think there's a connection there between my poetry ms project and the bread. Maybe I should write that? The forecast for today is better; it poured al...

Well, the weather has upended my plans a little today, but I really don't mind all that much. I was going to wash floors, but it's damp/chilly, and they would not dry quickly. I'll try again tomorrow. They aren't gross, just it's time, if you know what I mean. Instead, I'll bake some sourdough bread. That will be nice, and it'll warm up the house a bit. This cool/wet trend is helpful for the garden, but it's really inconvenient for the pool and for sitting on the deck with coffee.  That all said, I hope to begin shuffling poems today. I have so many copied off, and I think I might have an organizational principle figured out (book in three sections). I changed the working title, and maybe that'll help me figure out which poems go in/out and where. And I drafted a new one yesterday! It's been a bit since I've written anything much. Partly due to my time being really pulled elsewhere (four-year-olds hate it when you are on the computer, unless ...

 Holly and I went to the movies yesterday, as the day turned cool and rainy. It was the best choice for us; we went to St. J where the popcorn is good and they use real, Cabot butter. We had great seats, and the live-action version of Moana did not disappoint. There's a bit more music in this version, and the mythology/backstory for the main characters was fleshed out a bit, too. And Dwayne Johnson was fabulous, as one would expect.  Today, we have the last day of art camp, we have swim lessons, and we are going to mess around with clay after lunch. I have laundry to do (no surprises), but in general, my brain is turning toward my manuscript I promised myself I'd be working on. The working title has staled, and I'm thinking more about what do the poems do, both as a group, and individually. What I need to do is sit down and pull out the ones I truly think resonate. And I'm sure there's some to discard, some to maybe tweak a bit-- in short, I need some time alone.  S...

Got up with some goals in mind, and the broccoli/cheddar quiche is already out and cooling, the spiced blueberry pie is in the oven, and the bills are paid.  After breakfast I'll get some chores done, and we'll get to the bank.  If the pool water is not frigid, I hope to get in there today-- I know Holly would love it.  All of this, of course, is deflection. The news cycle is scary as hell. The "priorities" that are being touted do not align with the very things that would make life survivable for so many thousands (millions?) of people. It's a weird version of the Hunger Games, and we are all paying and paying tribute, only to see people sicken, die, get hunted, hurt, and struggle to live in a way that can make meaningful things possible.  On the NH state level, the incomprehensible choices being made that affect public education, local taxes, and the state of home-schooling children by removing all of the guardrails are all things that hit the news this morning....

We got thunder, lightning, and heavy rain for about an hour, then it moved on, mercifully. Other places had it far worse. We did not lose power, either. The local bear, however, decided that it was prime time to hit not only Meg's trash, but ours as well. What a mess. And we don't put much out-- but this nuisance bear is an almost nightly visitor. Meg has no shed to put her trash into, but she has a locking strap on the bin. That bear is not stupid, and has all the time in the world to puzzle out ways to get into things. ugh.  Today, it's already 70 and muggy. The sky is beige. The sky was yellow most all day yesterday, due to the wildfire smoke drifting our direction. I hope it clears, but we'll deal with whatever we get. G has the pleasure of hauling Holly to her various things this morning, as I have a follow-up eye appointment. Pray my eyes are better. This is really annoying/scary.  If I can, I will head to the grocery store today (member discount day!). I'm su...

As much as I am trying to limit my intake of the horrors in the news, they leak in around my best efforts.  The spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional trauma we are caught in is crippling us all in ways that will likely never fully heal.  We can laugh, shallowly and without real humor, at the absurdities. We can nod our heads alongside the small victories, knowing full well that they are likely temporary, and will be shredded by the ugly machinery that is the corruption overshadowing everything.  We cannot, however, look away when people are dying, needlessly, cruelly, and as the result of a toxic level of suspicion, hatred, and willful ignorance. Body counts are tied to funding, and the funding is wrenched away from senior citizens, children, the environment, wildlife, and the future that, for all intents and purposes, is forever marred and stained for us all.  The monuments to brutal excess are already being erected. May God have mercy on us all. Help your neig...