Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 30/31: Crocheting With Cats

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 30/31: 

Crocheting With Cats

"Herbert! I'm trying to crochet!" Herbert's paw pounced on my yarn. I gently pushed Herbert out of the way. Within moments, Herbert was back on my lap.

"Herbert! Stop it!" Herbert batted at the green yarn and ignored my scolding. His paws grabbed at my yarn. I pushed Herbert out of the way for the second time. 

I adjusted how I held my yarn and attempted to focus on my pattern. Herbert jumped up again - this time he was on his back, the yarn between his paws. He tried to catch the yarn between his teeth.  

"HERBERT! That yarn is mine!" His eyes taunted me. I retrieved my yarn and re-positioned my grip on the yarn. 

"HERBERT! COME ON! Let me get this row done." I pulled the yarn away from Herbert. He grabbed at my yarn again, causing an entire row of stitches to unravel. This time Herbert clutched onto the yarn so tightly that I needed to pry it from his two paws. 

Why was I even trying to reason with a cat? They always win. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 29/31: Spring Hope

 For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 29/31: 

Spring Hope

Last week Saturday we had a massive spring snowstorm. Although the forecast had been around 3 inches of total snow accumulation, we ended up with 13 1/2 inches of wet, slushy snow. The snow would have been beautiful had it not been at the end of March. The roads were terrible. I felt that all signs of spring were erased in less than twenty-four hours. It was so depressing. 

To my surprise, as I returned from a walk on Monday, I noticed that a significant amount of snow melted. New growth was emerging. It felt like spring was a possibility again. Here's a haiku I wrote in response.  

Saturday's snowstorm/

removed spring hope. Yesterday's/ 

new growth brightens mood. 

Saturday afternoon

Monday afternoon

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 28/31: Ten Things I'm Trying To Get To: 2023 Edition

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 28/31:

Ten Things I'm Trying To Get To: 2023 Edition

Last year I made a list of ten things that I wanted to get to within the year. I like to think of them as mini-goals. You can read about them in this post. Reflecting on my list now, I was able to accomplish many of them, but not all of them. 

Here's my list this year, not in any particular order or importance:

go tent camping at least once

get better at making amigurumi crochet

learn how to use an over lock sewing machine

incorporate more vegetables in meals

learn how to play pickle ball

visit at least one new-to-me Wisconsin State Park

blog at least once a month during the entire year

paint the second story walls on the inside of my house 

incorporate strength training into my exercise regime

learn how to use the grill better

Like last year, I tried to select items that were manageable to me, both from a cost and time perspective. A few of my items are a repeat from last year (and are in even more manageable chunks).

What are you trying to get to this year? 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 27/31: Begin Where You Are

 For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 27/31:

Begin Where You Are

Recently, in the post Solace and Connection, Leigh Anne mentioned a book called The Curious Nature Guide, by Clare Walker Leslie. Intrigued, I looked up the book and realized it was on sale through Kindle. I purchased it and immediately began reading it.  

At the beginning of the book there is a recommendation to begin where you are. Even if you are only able to look through a window, readers and writers are invited to list six or seven nature observations you see, hear, or feel. I paid attention as I took a mid-afternoon walk yesterday. Below is what I noticed:

snow, sunshine, 

puddles, mud, 

deer, gnats, 

red-tailed hawk, robin

3:00 PM, 

March 26, early 

spring, Appleton, 

WI on a 

neighborhood walk

**************************

Nature is a way that I can find solace and connect. Between assessing research papers and preparing for Monday's lessons on Sunday, noticing nature was good for my soul. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 26/31: Weekend Coffee

 For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 26/31:

Weekend Coffee

One thing that I look the most forward to on weekends is my morning coffee. It's the same coffee that I take to school each day in my travel coffee tumbler- brewed at home using my brother's hand-me-down Keurig coffee machine. On weekends I can linger with my coffee - my fingers wrapped around the mug handle. The warmth of my coffee mug somehow makes me feel calm and safe. I inhale the scent of coffee. I savor each sip. 

One of my favorite mugs that a colleague made for me

In contrast, on school days I never have time to enjoy my coffee at home. Three people, including one teenage girl, share one bathroom in my house. It is a frenzied race each day to simply get out of the door so we all make it to school on time. My coffee is transported in my tumbler. Between checking lesson plans, making copies, and updating Canvas is when I take little coffee sips. Often, I am not even sitting down. For me, coffee on a school morning is just not the same. It's still a necessity but does not hold the same kind of magic as weekend coffee. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 25/31 The Spring Snowstorm

 For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 25/31

The Spring Snowstorm

so much depends

upon

a strong spring

snowstorm

our city street 

blanket

concealed any new

growth

My mentor text was William Carlos William's, "The Red Wheelbarrow"

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 24/31 Keep Arriving

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 24/31

Keep Arriving

When I am leading a Literary Club session, we often begin with reading a poem and lifting a line from that poem as a quick write. Thursday's before school meeting was no exception. We listened to author Marwa Helal read "the poem is a dream telling you its time." The phrase "...keep arriving" really stood out to me. I used this phrase to jump start my writing. 

Below is my quickwrite:

"Keep Arriving" 

When we finish formal schooling, 

it's tempting to think

we've accomplished all we can - 

as if we're done learning.

Are we ever really done

with wonder?

Are we every really done 

with trying new things?

Are we every really done

with striving for improvement?

I never want to be done learning.

I hope to keep arriving.