I am thankful for a fresh start each morning, yes, I am!
Now here’s a fun idea I discovered on a recent walk through a beautiful neighborhood in Seattle. Just perfect for National Poetry Month!
We’ve all seen the Little Free Libraries. My dream is to have one, but it hasn’t worked out yet. And the Free Sticks collections for dogs.
How about a treasure swap? I walked past this cutie on different days.
Adorable.
So, not only poems, books, treasures, and sticks, but what else would littles and their people enjoy swapping?
Rocks, plants, art (OH, I’ve seen pictures of that, but not in person) . . . what would you like to trade?
tiny lives scramble
tunnel secret roads beneath
mystery bark world
secret roads by Angie Quantrell
Cowiche Canyon Trail, Central Washington
I have these great ideas, inspirations, kernels of dreams. If possible, I jump on them right then, or at least scribble down a note to remind me of the idea so I can (hopefully) look back later and recapture what I was thinking.
Like the beginning of this card idea I started on my carefully rinsed and dried teabag. The sepia tone is perfect for making a card. The leaves pop off the teabag. I love how it looks. But now what? What should I do next? How can I amplify the idea into something beautiful? I am currently stumped on this project, so it sits on the table, waiting.
It’s like that in the picture book world too. I have (what I think is) a great idea, an inspiration, a kernel of a story. A brilliant idea. I jot it down. My mind plays with it, seeking a path to follow, wandering from this to that. My ideas often come to me as a title, a play on words, an interesting character, or a wishful suggestion of a setting or event. And then what? What should I do next? I have file folders and notebooks full of ideas. Waiting.
The creative struggle is real. It’s time consuming. It’s messy. Just ask my honey. But should I let the challenges stop me? When I hit that block-that wall-should I stop? No. Maybe I need to see the wall as the opportunity to take a deep breath, let my mind wander, do something else. Perhaps the wall is just a good resting spot to dream, pray, and let the “now what?” follow its course.
this lap is mine, mine,
mine, mine, mine. I will not share.
go away. my lap
mine by Angie Quantrell
Monet claims her favorite lap. And her beloved human. (Not me).
Fussy Flamingo
Words by Shelly Vaughan James
Pictures by Matthew Rivera
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020
Fussy Flamingo is a tasty, delightfully pink picture book just right for little flamingos. Thank you, Shelly Vaughan James for sending me a copy of your lovely book! It is so sweet!
I love Lola! Lola is a shrimp eating flamingo. Except she does not eat shrimp. So she is not pink. Lola eats other things and looks beautiful. But she is picky (quite like several young ones I know). Shrimp are not her thing, much to the dismay of her beautifully pink parents.
Fussy flamingo Lola is adorable and funny and perfectly like a picky eater. This picture book is a FUN read!
Why I like Fussy Flamingo:
~Adorable Lola
~Lola tries several ‘other’ foods, which make her turn different colors. But not pink.
~The simply shared facts about flamingos (eat shrimp and turn pink, wade in water, etc.)
~The humor
~The repeating refrain after each of Lola’s (not shrimp) meals
~The satisfying ending (which I will not spoil)
~The gorgeous illustrations
~The fantastic flamingo back matter
Thank you, Shelly and Matthew, for creating Fussy Flamingo.
Cowiche Canyon Trail
Central Washington
Cowiche Canyon Trail
what were you before
the elements had their way
worn mystery rests
worn by Angie Quantrell
Cowiche Canyon Trail
Central Washington
Honey Note: My honey was looking over my shoulder at this post and contributed, “OH, Cowiche CAN-yon!” He is a part of my writing and hiking journey, yes he is. 😉
Love, Laughter, and Life 