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

Form poems, Kids, People, Personal, Spiritual Journey Thursday

Special Day (Spiritual Journey Thursday)

Welcome to Spiritual Journey (first) Thursday, hosted here today. This month we’re exploring the topic “special days.” Following my thoughts, below, is a widget where you can leave the link to your post. Somebody's turning seven! (Photo © 2018 by V. Nesdoly) The look on the face of my four-year-old granddaughter—of excitement, anticipation, I’m-ready-for-the-spotlight—said it… Continue reading Special Day (Spiritual Journey Thursday)

People, Personal, re-post

Cheerleaders (a poem for Family Day)

Today is Family Day in B.C. In the year since I first posted the poem below, we’ve discovered that our littlest granddaughter’s developmental delays are most likely caused by cerebral palsy. And so a family very precious to us is walking a new-to-them path with lots of challenges—and the sentiments expressed by little A’s grandma… Continue reading Cheerleaders (a poem for Family Day)

Kids, Personal, Poetry Friday

Bear Scare

In the vintage Saskatchewan farmhouse where I grew up, a door that looked like every other in the house opened to a stairway to the basement. At the bottom of the stairs was another door to a dark and vacant cell that was once a coal chute. From somewhere I got the idea that that… Continue reading Bear Scare

Biography, Book Reviews, Non-fiction

Let’s Pretend We’re Normal (review)

Let's Pretend We're Normal: Adventures in Rediscovering How to Be a Family by Tricia Lott Williford My rating: 5 of 5 stars “Mr Responsible died, suddenly and tragically. He was sick for only twelve hours. ... A thief named sepsis stole his breath and his heartbeat, and his spirit slipped right through Curly Girl’s fingers,… Continue reading Let’s Pretend We’re Normal (review)

Form poems, Personal, Poetry Friday

The grandma poet

The last few weeks have felt unusually busy. When that happens, I find it hard to get in the poem-writing zone. Last weekend was a case in point. It was Canadian Thanksgiving. We had the kids and grandkids here for a visit. It was such fun, but there was hardly a minute left over for… Continue reading The grandma poet

Book Reviews, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Eyes to See (review)

It was an afterthought that prompted Becky Keep to ask the nurse practitioner to check five-week-old Jesse’s eyes. An observant grandma had commented that those baby eyes didn’t seem to be following normally. That last-minute request set the Keeps on a four-year journey that they never dreamed they’d be taking. Eyes to See: Glimpses of… Continue reading Eyes to See (review)