writing | Love, Laughter, and Life

Thank you, Sandra, for sending a copy of Spreckle’s to me, along with a sheet of cute stickers and a beautiful postcard! I learned about Sandra and her new book from Jena Benton on her blog. Thank you, Jena, for featuring Sandra!

Spreckle’s Snack Surprise is delightful. The front cover alone had me giggling and predicting that perhaps Spreckle would love to have some nice poppy little chicks for snack. But that would be horrible, right? The front and back cover read like a food container, filled with grocery-style information and ad copy. FUNNY and very clever!

But besides that, the story of Spreckle is adorable. Hatched on a farm, raised with chicky siblings, Spreckle needs a snack. Much to the reader’s dismay, obvious snacks peck around at his feet. But hold on, all will be well. We hope!

Why I Love This Book:

~humor

~clever wordplay

~assumptions

~food!

~dragon, chicks, chickens

~perfect illustrations

Thanks again, Sandra and Jena, for introducing me to Spreckle!

January 11, 2024
by Angie 1 Comment

Haiku Moment: allowed

only on my desk

are you allowed; come spring, no!

be gone garden snails

allowed by Angie Quantrell

tiny metal snail from Florence, Italy

December 29, 2023
by Angie 5 Comments

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.

December 20, 2023
by Angie 6 Comments

Haiku Moment: downside up

three little drops hang

downside up, gazing balls show

sky view around me

downside up by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley

December 13, 2023
by Angie 4 Comments

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

November 29, 2023
by Angie 2 Comments

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.