winter winds blow brisk
dark skies strip warmth, steal hope, joy;
remember summer
hold tight, my dear ones
bundle and cocoon yourself,
summer will return
Haiku and photo by Angie Quantrell
Tag Archives: Haiku
Haiku Moment: fall explosion
woods, stream, leaves, and fall
collide, put on nature shows-
such beauty explodes
fall explosion by Angie Quantrell
Photo Credit: Angie Quantrell, Hood Canal, Belfair State Park, WA state
Haiku Moment: sixteen degrees
october? sixteen?
leaves, pumpkins, frosty fall-yes
but not freezing temps
dig out the hats, scarves,
mittens and gloves, heavy coats
cheers for toasty drinks
sixteen degrees by Angie Quantrell
Brr, baby, it’s cold outside! Low teens in October? Frozen pumpkins, water sources, fingers, and noses. My grand thinks now it should snow and there will be icicles and sledding. It’s definitely cold enough, but clear blue skies portend otherwise.
To a week complete with an earlier tiny window of snow flurries (we saw nary a speck), come on winter, we’re bundled up tight.
How’s your weather? What’s your favorite cold weather toasty drink?
Haiku Moment: fall passion
colors scream intense
vibrant, exploding passion
swan song before cold
brilliant gemstone hues
garden offspring demand gaze,
dried promise for spring
hastily comes foe
winter breathes down our neck, quick!
capture fall passion
fall passion by Angie Quantrell
Souvenirs of the long summer growing season. Just like that-blink-and cold winds usher in the end of heat and beginning of cold. Get out today and store fall beauty in your mind’s eye to save for the dark cold snowy white and gray days of winter.
Haiku Moment: the stakeout
freeze, hold your cat breath-
shopping at mole hill mountains,
stakeout meal to go
stakeout by Angie Quantrell
Monet. Checking her dinner options. Patience always wins.
Haiku Moment: shred
give it to me, grrrr
i’m gonna rip you to shreds
old shirt, you die. die!
shred by Angie Quantrell
Ginger LOVES her new 9-ply T-shirt rope. Too bad
1. It’s white. That was the only color I had.
2. It’s really gonna die soon.
3. Chocolate labs are ferocious players. We need toys. Lots of toys. Please send toys.
Haiku Moment: new skin
tight, binding, seamless
stretches, swells, cracks wide open
crawl out with new skin
new skin by Angie Quantrell
*Meet Taylor’s pet cat-faced spider. All legs on deck to help with pest control.
Haiku Moment: creeper
if I could but creep
on fence and stalk, spinning webs
you’d watch out for me
creeper by Angie Quantrell
Welcome, cat-faced spider. Eat all you want. But please, keep your webs from my face.
Scenes from a Writing Residency: Holly House & Hypatia-in-the-Woods
Holly House
Last January I was elated to learn I had been granted a special writing residency and retreat at Holly House and Hypatia-in-the-Woods. What a great way to begin a new year!
Beautiful tree-lined drive into Holly House. Loved this walk!
Located outside of Shelton, Washington, not far from Olympia, Holly House would be overlooking Hammersly Inlet if it weren’t totally surrounded by a mixed forest of deciduous and coniferous trees. The setting is absolutely gorgeous. Cool, green, shaded, quiet, peaceful. Did I say peaceful? And all mine for the week.
Welcoming front patio. Spiders especially loved this area.
After shopping for enough food to last 3 months, as if grocery stores did not exist 5-7 miles away, I arrived before lunch on my appointed Sunday. Outside appearances did not prepare me for the spacious and beautiful inside environment. Incidentally, Holly House is very close to the small house size my honey and I want to build for ourselves.
Cozy living room. This chair is perfect for reading!
I’ll let the pictures do the talking. I had everything I needed for a creative, imaginative, stress-free week. Loft bedroom, large bathroom, living room, dining area, kitchen, and even a deck with the most perfect table and chairs.
Perfect tiny kitchen. Ignore my mess. It was everywhere!
The side deck let in so much natural, green light. Ahhh. I enjoyed reading and working outside in the soft green sunlight.
The loft bedroom had plenty of storage and space. Wide open windows brought in light and fresh air.
Me and more of my mess. This was my main working area (can you tell????). The view in front of me was a HUGE and very pleasant distraction. I didn’t mind in the least.
TV window. No electricity required.
I was so blessed to visit and stay at Holly House. The neighbors (a couple and their huge dog) were fantastically helpful and reassuring. After all, I was in the middle of the woods in the middle of nowhere. And I heard there had been evidence of a bear. My imagination supplied the rest of the excitement.
The Hypatia-in-the-Woods board was wonderful. I enjoyed a potluck one evening, getting to meet most of the members. I was met by Carolyn at Holly House. She brought me some snacks and gave me a working tour of the cabin. Every single thing I could have wanted or desired was provided. Or all I had to do was ask. Thank you to all who gave me the opportunity and welcomed me to Holly House.
I’m so thankful for my writing residency. Thank you, Holly House, Hypatia-in-the-Woods, neighbors, and the Hypatia board. Thank you!
If you ever have an opportunity to go on a writing retreat or residency, do it! Worth every second.
Haiku Moment: frog hotel
mystery black holes
bright eyes peek out . . . who goes there?
old wood frog hotel
frog hotel by Angie Quantrell
#scenesfromthepasture
Love, Laughter, and Life 