art, writing, Writing Prompts, Writing resources

Creative Challenges – do you play along?

I’ve just finished my second year of creating an ink drawing every day in October! This art challenge, called #Inktober, is only one of the many creative challenges that I’ve participated in over the years. These creative challenges span the calendar year. Opus, our local art supply shop company, sponsors Opus Daily Practice—a challenge to… Continue reading Creative Challenges – do you play along?

Book Reviews, Memoir

End of the Spear – review

One of the riveting stores of my youth was of the five missionaries killed by the Auca Indians of Ecuador. So when I found End of the Spear by Steve Saint in our church library, I eagerly plucked it off the shelf. Author Steve Saint is the son of pilot Nate Saint, who flew the… Continue reading End of the Spear – review

Poetry, Quotes

Apples

Fall is the season of delicious new-crop apples. We're working on a bag of this year's Spartans--crisp, juicy, sweet-and-sour… so good! Today, a couple of apple poems to celebrate this delicious fall fruit. Apple Collection Because they come in wood, brass, marbleclocks, tiles and trivets Because their roundness pleasestheir coats of red, yellow, green and… Continue reading Apples

nature, Poetry

Autumn on my mind

Today is the first day of fall. How quickly the summer sped by! The changing of the season along with the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth and others among my family and acquaintances is on my mind as I post today’s blog of two poems from the archives. Autumn Foliage - © 2022 - V.… Continue reading Autumn on my mind

Book Reviews, Poetry, Quotes

Trespassing on the Mount of Olives by Brad Davis – review

“Though I have never been to Mount Olive, New Jersey,I have spent years of my reading life on the Mount of Olives,trespassing, looking for a brown-skinned teacher…” writes Brad Davis in his book’s title poem, “Trespassing on the Mount of Olives.”* The poem summarizes well the quest which Davis shares with us in the collection… Continue reading Trespassing on the Mount of Olives by Brad Davis – review

Poetry

Seasonal Junction

September Sunflowers Slowly the days have been getting shorter, the nights coming on sooner. Though our August went out in a heat wave with balmy temperatures morning to night, this first week of September the mornings have been positively chilly. Yesterday on our pre-breakfast walk, both hubby and I wore gloves to ward off the… Continue reading Seasonal Junction

art, wall art

Summer Art Shows

t’s hard to believe we’ve just turned the page to September. Where has the summer gone!? Actually I have had a really nice summer. Though we didn’t take any of our usual week-long trips away, I have immensely enjoyed this season at home with daily morning walks and the rhythms of a week off, a… Continue reading Summer Art Shows

art, Poetry, wall art

Walk the Beach

Are you taking some beach time this summer? For us It looks like actual time on the beach will be rare. And so I go there vicariously. Last week I dug out a beach photo I took on our Salt Spring Island vacation in 2012 and did a painting. I could almost smell the ocean… Continue reading Walk the Beach

nature, Poetry

Summer collection

I hope you're enjoying your summer! Here are a few summer poems for these end-of-July, beginning-of-August days along with a few photos of my town's whimsical umbrella display from last summer. HOLIDAYS Another newly minted coinrolls from the satin purse of nightadds yet more hours of wealthto the collectionof summertime perfection. © 2013 by Violet… Continue reading Summer collection

nature, Poetry

Heat Wave

HEAT WAVE Yesterday’s feverbroke in the eveningThis morningcool soothing airbathes face arms legsthe neighborhood refreshedas if it sleptdeep and exhaustedafter sickness But sun’s warm hand upon my backwarns temperature is risingand burning heat will soonagain blister the brown grassmake bright-eyed impatiensand roadside chicorydroop in the dazzling delirium We will lie in darkened roomssplayed under whirring… Continue reading Heat Wave