Granddaddy and I are walking around “the horn.” I am puzzling over why he calls this path “the horn.” When he says it, I know he means the journey from his house down the gravel road past the formidable, fairy-tale-dark woods with a tiny cemetery in the clearing, past unpainted houses in various stages of … Continue reading First, do no harm
Today’s post serves a dual purpose: My daily Slice of Life Story Challenge and Spiritual Journey Thursday, organized by my friend Margaret Simon on the first Thursday of the month. Thank you, Margaret, for the invitation to host. I chose to write around the theme of “balance.” Not necessarily what you may think… ******* It’s … Continue reading Equinox
I was sixteen years old the first time I went to New York City—that’s the same age, according to his own writing, that St. Patrick was kidnapped in Britain and carried to slavery in Ireland. I didn’t know this fact at the time. I arrived in the city that long-ago day with my high school … Continue reading In the name of St. Patrick
“Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, compute, and communicate using visual, audible, and digital materials across disciplines and in any context. The ability to read, write, and communicate connects people to one another and empowers them to achieve things they never thought possible. Communication and connection are the basis of who we … Continue reading What is literacy?
The big question on Day Three of our Teacher Summer Writing Institute: How do I see myself as a teacher of writing—no matter my grade level or content area? The day became a collage of images and symbolism. Teachers were tasked with using postcards and personal artifacts as metaphors for teaching writing. They used these ideas … Continue reading Seeing me
Let me preface this post with a restated confession: I am not exactly a fan of snakes. But they, like all of nature, have lessons to teach, if one is willing to learn. I hope to always be teachable, so… Early in the summer I found a snakeskin in my garage. Just a little one, … Continue reading Shedding
A Spiritual Journey Thursday offering While walking with my son this week, out of nowhere a shape descends upon us… A dog. Not just any dog… A pit bull. Wriggling all over for joy, jumping up as if he knows us. Begging to be petted and to play. Glossy back coat, merry eyes, laughing face … Continue reading What is virtue?
I love the mid-monthly Ethical ELA Open Write for educators. The kickoff for July is hosted today by Mo Daley, who offers the invitation to explore your name, and who you are, through poetry. I happened to write a post about my name in March: Frances. This morning I rework it here, with a few … Continue reading What’s in a name poem
Today, the first Thursday of the month, my Spiritual Journey gathering writes around the theme of “Nurturing Our Summer Souls.” Deepest thanks to my friend, teacher-poet-artist Carol Varsalona, for hosting. Summer itself is about journeys, is it not… In my previous post, A walk back in time, I told of a long-awaited trip to the … Continue reading Apothecary of the soul
One of my favorite things about spring is the return of the house finches, which build a nest and raise a little family on my front door wreath. I am treated to a bird’s eye view of tiny life coming into the world. As some of you know from previous posts, the finches built the … Continue reading Tiny trembling life
lit bits and pieces 