Poems, bread, and an accidental metaphor...

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 all day yesterday. I got nothing done outdoors, the floors did not get washed, etc. Too chilly and damp. I need a dry and warm day to get floors done. Actually, I could use a warm, dry day to go sit on the deck, too. I'm starting to feel the pressure of the summer racing by, and I want to literally soak up as much warmth and quiet as I can, when I can. Soon enough, I'll have to build my Google Classrooms and think about that sort of stuff. I honestly do not want to yet. I'm still tired from last year. 

I fully understand now why people who are full-time teachers bail at 30 years or so. They go on to do other things, and enjoy a change of pace. As a part-time teacher, I don't have that luxury, so I must soldier on until the age of retirement (federal), assuming they don't move the goalposts again. Seven more years. I love teaching, but I am a lot more tired, and it's harder to rally. And this summer has not been all that restorative. I need some quiet time in every day just to keep my balance, and that's hard to come by. Perhaps I ought to just shut the computer, turn off the television, and just dwell for a bit. 

At any rate, here we are. Sunday. I'll try to take it slower. 

Blessings and hugs,

C