#SOL22: Seasons
The one word that captures all of winter
in Iowa
SNOW!
The one word that captures all of spring
in Iowa
Showers?
or is it
Flowers?
The two collided on Sunday.
And we’ve been off kilter ever since.
Some flowers refuse to open.
Last night the temps dropped to 26.
Below freezing.
Two seasons simultaneously shredding the joy and anticipation of spring.
No black and white decision.
No “either/or” possibility.
Simultaneously.
Co-existing.
What else coexists in nature or in life that seems to be two complete opposites?
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Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOLSC21: Weather
Sunday: cloudy and rainy
Monday: cloudy and rainy
Tuesday: cloudy and rainy
Wednesday: cloudy and rainy
Thursday: cloudy and rainy
Friday: cloudy and rainy
Saturday: cloudy and rainy
An entire week: cloudy and rainy
I miss the sun
That bright, shining light
Is absent from our days.
Instead we have stormy weather
Deadly weather
Flowers slowly growing
Slowly beginning to bloom
The third crocus reveals its colors
And one daffodil opens.
When will others join the party?
Are they waiting for the sun?
Or just warmer weather?
How is the weather impacting you? What signs of spring are slowly appearing in your neighborhood?
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Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily forum during the month of March. Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL18: Signs of Spring
Signs of Spring
What do I see?
I see slivers of green
peeking through the brown grass
in the yard, the fields, and along the road.
Hopeful for fresh asparagus, daffodils and mushrooms.
What do I hear?
I hear choruses of birds
loud and excited
quiet and steadily constant.
Hopeful for woodpeckers and their staccato beat.
What do I smell?
I smell the earth
fresh-plowed and ready for seeds
anticipating the new growth.
Hopeful for abundant, fruitful crops to feed the world.
What do I feel?
I feel the sun’s rays
as day temps finally rise to 70s
and nights remain in the 50s.
Hopeful for no more sleet, slush, or snow.
Signs of Spring
What signs of spring are present in your region?
How will you celebrate spring?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. 
#SOL18: March 27 Spring
Spring?
Temps rise
Green tendrils peek out
Rain showers
Signs of Spring.
A snowstorm
Blankets the ground
Melting rapidly
Signs of Winter.
Back and forth
White and green
Rain and snow
A bit of Spring – a bit of Winter.
Never easy
Seasons overlap
Winter is leaving –
Spring is arriving!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this daily forum each March. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
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#CelebrateLu: Reprise
The sun is shining. The temp is in the 60’s and rising. What a fabulous weather report that takes me back to my farming roots! It’s spring and I’m thinking of home (after a writing workshop last Saturday)!
And yet . . .
Spring is a time to celebrate . . .
rebirth as plants nudge their way through the ground cover
life as baby animals appear with their families
longer days of leaving home in the daylight and still having daylight on the return at the end of the day
end of the year activities . . . concerts, track events, music contests
And all those dreaded LASTS . . .
The last time the seniors . . . before they graduate
The last time the juniors . . . before they move to the senior world
And so on . . .
But today I celebrate last Sunday’s reprise . . .
All seven of us who went to Rome . . .
Together . . . plus a few more!!!
“We set off on a journey to Rome, yes a religious trip, but also a trip to the heart of civilization. This is a city of 300 churches with 200 more in the suburbs. It’s a city of many diverse nationalities and personalities. It was a pleasure to be in a group of seven . . .
Mom
Brother
Sister
Brother
Uncle
Aunt
within a community of 52 pilgrims from an Iowa sponsored tour (plus folks from IL, WI, MO, and FL).” “SOL16: Travel Trivia”
Other posts about Rome are here, here, here, here, and here with this one quick photo from O’Hare before our international departure.
and here we were again . . .
But this time in Iowa
A band concert
Taking advantage of time together
Eight months later to gather for a celebratory meal (Leo & Shirley’s upcoming 9th anniversary)
And a high school band concert directed by a son / grandson / nephew/ husband / father . . .
Central DeWitt: Sunday, April 30, 2017
And always, one of the fans in the seats!
Home can be family.
Home may not be one specific physical place.
Where do you celebrate and call home?
Check out for celebrations at the link with Ruth!
Slice of Life 20: Changing Seasons
(During March, I am blogging daily as a part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge!) Special thanks to the hosts of the Slice of Life Challenge: Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna and Beth. More Slice of Life posts can be found at Two Writing Teachers .
Changing Seasons
A pumpkin
Five pumpkin pushers
A net
A court
A tournament bracket
Forty minutes on the clock.
And it’s one of the “First Four”
Where the team
Has to play its way into the NCAA Tournament.
A senior
Leading scorer
Held to two points
In the first half.
Second leading scorer
In the history of the university.
Second only to his father
Must come alive
During the second half.
Down, down,
Down the floor
Basket.
Down, down,
Down the floor
Basket.
Foul.
Missed opportunities.
Swish.
Who will win?
*
Overtime
Injury
Dayton
Dry spell
No baskets
Many fouls
Dashing hopes
Winner advances to Raleigh.
New Day Today
But wait,
Grapplers in the wings
NCAA today in Oklahoma
Winners all ten
Ready and primed
Time to shine!
A new day!
*
Hope,
Might have beens and could have beens erased,
Begin Anew!
163 days til the gridiron opens . . . .
The sports cycle continues!
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