only on my desk
are you allowed; come spring, no!
be gone garden snails
allowed by Angie Quantrell
tiny metal snail from Florence, Italy
Haiku Moment: allowed
Category Archives: The Writing LIfe
Haiku Moment: playtime
i often wonder
why the couch looks like this-yikes-
playtime strikes again
playtime by Angie Quantrell
inspiration: Monet, destroyer of couch and assorted other household locations
I woke up one morning composing this haiku in my head. I was literally playing with words and counting out lines while I was in that between fully asleep and fully awake stage. That’s never happened before. I grabbed for my phone to take notes before my eyes were even fully open. LOL. My honey thought something was wrong, I grabbed the phone so fast.
Have you ever sleep-dreamed a poem or story idea?
Monet would like to know. And wonders if you have a couch she can destroy, or at the least, rearrange.
Haiku Moment: downside up
three little drops hang
downside up, gazing balls show
sky view around me
downside up by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: autumn’s end
purple-y icing,
frosted blooms hanging on for
dear life-autumn’s end
autumn’s end by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Tree Hunting ’23
Ah, the good old family tradition of going tree hunting. That’s what we like to call it here in the northwest. After purchasing forest permits, we loaded up and drove to the nearby mountains to hunt down our tree. We found this fun creation. Not sure about the purpose, but it was great for photos. And possibly, with additional brush and a campfire, it might be quite cozy!
Poor people. They just have to put up with my attempts at taking pictures! As the almost shortest member with arms just as short, selfies are often quite comical.
Dogs (3, but never in the same picture), adults, and grands had a great time. A heavy blanket of snow added Christmas cheer and plenty of opportunities for the dogs to race, roll, and rumble. Snow gear was welcome in the often up-to-my-knees snow.
The Bachmeiers and Aucutts, plus Bear and new canine member Timber, crowd into the tree shelter. I mean, look at that! The dogs are facing forward and almost everyone is looking AT the camera. It’s a Christmas miracle.
The Quantrells also get a gold star (even grinning Ginger) for faces forward, eyes on the camera. Two Christmas miracles in one day!
The senior Quantrells took their turn in the tree shelter with all the grands. All eyes on the camera! Whoohoo! In the category of who is taller than Nana, the answer is nearly 50%.
My partner in life, love, and crime. We wish you all “Happy Christmas!”
Book Review: Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble by Mirka Hokkanen (Holiday House)
Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble
By Mirka Hokkanen
Holiday House, 2023
Will you just look at this early reader I Like to Read Comics picture book by Mirka Hokkanen? Fun, adorable, and engaging. Thank you, Jena Benton Lasley and Mirka Hokkanen for sending me this most excellent comic picture book! Our family will enjoy reading it over and over again.
There is double trouble in this installment of Mossy and Tweed, when a new unicorn arrives on the scene, upstaging Wise Old Unicorn. Much fun and adventure follow in Gnome Woods. Two thumbs up for Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble.
I adore maps that set the scene, and Mossy and Tweed does not disappoint. It makes me want to go exploring.
What I like about this book:
~ graphic novel comic
~ early reader, just right for those who are learning to read
~ imaginative
~ fun characters and setting
~ easy to read illustrations and format
~ great story
Thank you, Mirka and Jena. Well done!
Rubber Stamping Christmas Cards Fun
I LOVE rubber stamping. This year was short on time to create, due to so many things. As December approached, I realized I needed to supplement my stash of Christmas cards. So, I dug out the embossing powder and hot gun (because I haven’t used them for quite some time, and I had IDEAS), some favorite (and a few new) rubber stamps, washi tape, colored pencils, and decorative papers.
Fun, fun, fun for me! Living in an RV, space is at a premium. I began by allowing myself just a few craft items to play with in the evening. Embossing pad, powder, and hot gun. Then next evening, OH, I need the cardstock, fun paper, and paper cutter.
After that, OH, I keep forgetting the washi tape and glitter tape. Don’t forget the colored pencils. And yes, a few more stamps to add sentiments inside and to the back of the cards. And that bag of paper scraps would be perfect to add to some of the cards!
LOL. By the end of the week, I had a bunch of new cards, but also several trips of supplies that needed to be returned to the Huckleberry Hutch and put away.
But it was worth it. Fun cards! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
What craft do you LOVE to do? Especially during the holidays?
Haiku Moment: life spark
seven years it took
from walnut to parent tree
life spark so divine
life spark by Angie Quantrell
photo and art by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Seven and a half years ago, my husband found this walnut (seen in sketch) wedged in a small flower bed at work. Whether accidentally dropped or carried and deposited by an animal, the walnut had that spark of life and sprouted right where it could never survive due to the rest of the surroundings. So he brought me home a baby tree. A BABY baby tree. I was holding a baby tree in my hand, one that would possibly outgrow me if it survived, grow to both amazing heights and depths, and produce hundreds if not thousands of new offspring.
This year, year seven, my husband found a walnut near a fruit tree as he raked leaves to put on the garden beds. Hmmm. And then he realized the connection between the nearby walnut tree and the walnut. He found a total of three, though we’ve been watching every year to see if “this” was the year of harvesting walnuts. We nearly missed it! There could have been more, but we have an active wildlife scene going on here in the pasture.
Each walnut is filled with potential, and the spark of life given from God, to grow, reproduce, and fulfill its purpose. We are the beneficiaries. Shade, leaves, wood, food, beauty.
Life spark.
Our baby walnut tree, which is indeed taller than me, is resting for the winter so it can grow more babies. Meanwhile, it adds a festive touch to the pasture as it wears Christmas lights.
Haiku Moment: heart chewing bug
a random leaf i
think not, rather a love note
signed, heart chewing bug
heart chewing bug by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: frosted
lingering beauty
gleams brightly, clarion glow
frosted in autumn
frosted by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Love, Laughter, and Life 