Thank you dear friends for your thoughts, concerns, and prayers.  We are definitely improving, but still are taking medicines to help us win over the bronchitis we've been fighting for the past (Mom - 3, Me-2)  weeks.  Now on to more pleasant things!      We definitely are seeing signs of spring!  Warmer weather, much more greenery - trees,  grass, shrubs ... lots more colorful flowers, and today I walked out onto my front porch and looked up to see the birds nest that had been atop of our pipe going up to the roof has a whole family of baby birds in it! (I'm sorry that I couldn't take a better picture of the family for you to see them really well.)  

During National Poetry Month  (APRIL), there were many things that happened that I wanted to blog about, but just didn't have time.  My birthday was on April 14th, & while it wasn't a "BIG" birthday, my family really went BIG with the gifts! This was the first birthday that Mom was with us, and so I'm sure that was part of her "BIG" gifts.  From Mom came two BIG gifts.  One of the gifts is a brand new refrigerator with French-doors, with a large freezer under the fridge. (This has helped since there are five adults living in our home!)  :-)  A second gift from Mom was just planted in the past two weeks (since I've been sick). Our neighbor had to wait for some decent weather to plant it, and she did a beautiful job! It is seen in the next photo. It will one day be a flaming  red bush!  The BIG gift from my husband was planned and then ordered  last month; then for the past 3 days we

 have been watching the progress of the gift being built around the front porch. So ... here is a collage with the "before" & "after" pictures. It really changes the way our home looks!  Our new friend/helper/ house cleaner hadn't been to our home since we had been sick ... and actually drove past us!  Our blue goose had to move to the other side of the porch, but she at least helps folks to find our home ... how many people have a blue goose, after all?  Hope-fully we'll have a better picture of the whole front of the house with the porch addition once we have planted flowers & set other items like chairs on the porch.

Did anyone else have some nasty thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and flash flooding last night? The last picture is what I viewed from inside my house. As I looked out the front door, I saw a new look ... plus hail!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In closing, I've put a quote that I put as my FB cover ... after having read that same quote as part of my devotional meditations one day.  It is a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.   

 I John 4:18-19  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us."  Blessings to you all of my friends!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been keeping busy since my last post.  I've been at meetings, written up minutes, had dental surgery, I've been to a bridal shower,  a missionary shower, 2 weddings (one was actually last month), taken Mom to Urgent Care & then to her doctor for bronchitis, & now I myself have bronchitis (yes, 2nd time in less than two months).  Here's a few pictures of the things mentioned.

Niece's wedding & time with our younger son, DIL, & 2 younger grandchildren. (Oldest on was in a karate tournament, in which she won a 1st, a 2nd, & a 3rd prize.)

Next is from the other wedding we attended, which was my former private student, Nicole.  The other couple in the professional photo are long-time friends of ours who shared a table with us.

 The last pictures I am posting are gifts from Mother's Day (& Grandma's Day, too).   Mom also received some beautiful flowers, so you can see we've been enjoying the outside brought inside our home! (The 2nd & 3rd photo collages)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you around on Xanga!

My old laptop has been giving me problems throughout April, and so we decided to replace it. We just picked it up about three hours ago, and it is so wonderful to have a good reliable computer again!!

Prompt # 28: Growth.  This is two poem styles in one. The first one is both a "picture poem" and also an "acrostic."  (Both are to be read from the bottom of the poem on up to the top.)

HEIGHTS  

TO new

WIDENING

 OUT

 REACHING

 GRADUALLY

© cjj – 2014

 

Prompt # 29: Conceit.  This is an epitaph (like what is found on a tombstone), & my own little poem here follows a rhyme pattern of - AABB, & has 6 syllables per line.

 

© cjj – 2014

 Prompt # 30: Patience. This final poem is a Kyrielle.                    

A kyrielle is written in rhyming couplets or quatrains. It has a refrain in the 2nd line of the couplet, or if written in a quatrain as mine is, the refrain is in the fourth line of each stanza. The entire line does not need to be used in the refrain.  Each line within the poem consists of only eight syllables. There is no limit to the number of stanzas a Kyrielle may have, but two or three is considered the accepted minimum.

 

Patience we're told is a virtue.

For this, Job is cited you know,

And Moses was patient, too.

First Place: GOD! He loves to bestow --

Patience, a fruit of His Spirit.

Through trials our patience will grow,

For God promises strength, so don't quit!

Patience is God's gift to bestow.

 © cjj – 2014

         Here's a resource for many of the pictures, picture lines, animations, etc. that I use which are free to use!   If you aren't familiar with it, it has a HUGE number of resources which can be used on your blog.

I have been learning patience as I have been working on my defective laptop this past month. I'm so thankful that we were able to get this new one. I have plenty of things to blog about from the month of April, but will do so gradually now. I want to have a permanent reminder with my pictures and narrative of what all happened in April, 2014.

A huge thanks to Val for her National Poetry Month prompts, and for her continual, faithful reading and encouraging of all of us who tried to use the prompts for prose, poetry, pictures, jokes, etc.    

 

Well, here are four more poems to go with the prompts #24-27. 

#24. KIBBLE is a quatrain (4 lines per stanza) with a rhyme scheme: ABAB/CDCD (Stanza 4 is what is called “approximate rhyme.”)

                         "Kibbler"

I'm a fan of chopping veggies,

But I like to do it by hand,

And we're not talking some wedgies,

Or even cubed or a small strand.

 

And since a “kibble’s a pellet . . .

The size of a coarsely ground grain;"

And I cut them tinier yet,

It’s as “kibbler” I've gained fame!

© cjj – 2014

#25. "Wool Socks"

(One of the forms of the cinquain: #s of syllables=2,4,6,8,2)

Wool socks!

Yes they are warm

But they itch so badly!

So glad for other options to –

Wool socks!

© cjj – 2014

.

 

#26. "Oil Change" -  This next poem I used a type new to me called the Sedoka.

The Sedoka is an unrhymed poem made up of two three-line katauta with the following syllable counts:5/7/7, 5/7/7. A Sedoka, pair of katauta as a single poem, may address the same subject from differing perspectives.

 "Oil Changes"

I formerly used

Only vegetable oil,

But then olive oil I met.

 

My car needs new oil,

It’s important to change it.  

So it's off for an oil change!

© cjj – 2014

Prompt #27. DOG HAIR is a quatrain, plus a couplet. Each line (including the title has 7 syllables.  The rhyme scheme for the poem is: ABABCC

?   ?   ?   ?

"Interrupting Know-It-All"

(Background-- Contemplating to oneself aloud, "while the unwanted advisor cuts into" ones thoughts.)

Red, brown, yellow, black, and white ...

"Wait, I know that children's song!"

Long, short? Wavy, straight? Curls tight?

"For your style? Rose red and long!

Need help choosing? Here's the way ..."

No! My next dog: Hair - spiked gray!

 

© cjj – 2014

I really have enjoyed writing the poems ... & never thought I could write them "on demand" or so many!  But here we are entering into the final week (after the three that I'm putting up tonight. I must say that I am looking forward to writing fewer blogs, so that I can spend more time visiting you my friends & commenting on your poems, & your photos, and other writings. Some of you "do it all," ... I don't know how you do it!!  

    

Prompt #21: Tomatoes (Four couplets, rhyme scheme: AB/AB/AB/DD)

 Tomatoes for sale,

I heard the boy say: 

 ~   ~   ~   ~    ~    ~

“May serve it with kale,

. . . Atop a fillet,

 ~   ~   ~   ~    ~    ~

Beside a roast quail,

Make sauce for souffle...”

  ~   ~   ~   ~    ~    ~

Stop! I must buy these now –

I am hungry for chow!!

© cjj – 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Prompt #22: Hard Boiled Eggs

 (Three couplets, rhyme scheme: AA/AA/BB)

          

            "My Favorite Ways to Fix Eggs"

 

Even though I like my eggs fixed fried and scrambled too,

And omelets, soufflés, Benedict, poached, and “peek-a-boo,”

Thankfully hard boil-ed eggs can be a great choice, too,

Since Val picked “hard boiled eggs” as a theme for me and you!

         

SO . . . Egg salad, ‘tater salad, deviled eggs, and more –

Easter eggs brought by the “Bunny” through the kitchen door!

© cjj – 2014

     

Prompt #23: “I do not wish to contend.”

          

Hmm…interesting concept:

“I do not wish to contend.”

 

I had polio when three.

 And how could I fail to be

      ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?

     

A fighter, yes – but also

On God and folks to depend?

 

God’s blessed this gal so freely,

With grace and courage daily.

       ?   ?   ?   ?   ?   ?

How could I then ever state:

“This is it, I will not fend!”

© cjj – 2014

 

G-H-O-S-T-S   

              Aromas, flavors,                            

          touches, sights, and sound:                    

                Each sensation as                                

                                    "a ghost" bringing forth

                                   mem'ries that abound.

© cjj – 2014

(5 lines of 5 syllables; rhyme scheme: A-B-C-D-B)

Fountain pen   

I dip into the deep ink well

So filled with thoughts and tales to tell,

And as I guide my tool with glee,

With bated breath I wait to see

What things my fountain pen will write

To inform and, -- to bring delight.

© cjj – 2014

(6 lines, 8 syllables, rhymed couplets: A-A-B-B-C-C) 

                    

  RESURRECTION

All praise to the Father, Who in His great plan

Sent Jesus, His Son – the eternal God-Man

              

 To Earth to reveal to the world God's great love

And provide our Salvation as planned above.

He lived amongst humans; for our sins He died

on Calv'ry's cross, then even death He defied!

For just three days later He rose from the tomb,

And now, “Hallelujah!” We're saved from sure doom –

Each one who receives His gift freely given!

Thank You, Father for Your Son's resurrection!

© cjj – 2014

 

To my knowledge, I made up a couple of my own poetic forms, mixed with other readily recognized forms.

The first one kind of wrote itself -- as I was trying to fall asleep last night! The syllabic count: 2/3/4/5/5/4/3/2 & the rhythmic pattern: A/B/A/C/C/A/B/A. Also,  lines #1 & #8 are the two-syllable title.  

Prompt #15: Wind Chimes

These wind chimes hang near our kitchen window, above Mom's chair at our dining table.  Quite often she will lift up her head to make it hit the shells to make music while we are at the table.

Wind Chimes:

Take me back

To former times,

Of tropical isles,

Lush flora for miles,

And sun-filled climes,

Breeze – no lack!

Wind chimes!

© cjj – 2014

The other two are poems are acrostics, but with the first one I used the syllabic count of - 2/2/4/2/2, with no rhyme pattern.

Prompt # 16: YOUTH 

YOUTH

Youth: young,

Or old --

Unimportant!

Then-what?

Health, hope!

© cjj – 2014

Prompt # 17:  STEEPLES  

Steeples

Stoical

Towers

Ever

Expressing

People's

Lofty

ExpressionsT

Supernally

© cjj – 2014

 

This was a gift sent to me by my son, his wife,  & the grandchildren.  It is NOT a real cake. It  is all flowers, with some candles around the  pink rose in the center on top. 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SENT ME  VARIOUS BIRTHDAY GREETINGS!

   I am off to bed now, but will plan to catch up   with you all over the next few days.  Birthday   & other things have kept me away from Xanga this week.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was a Junior in college, I had a wonderful roommate named April Jenkins. One of her nicknames (that I called her) was “Jenks” – thus the unusual twist on this prompt.  

 H i j i n k s

 Hi Jenks,

Let's make dinner,

And drinks.

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Roomie,

Let's play a joke,

On Bea.

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

We “thinks”

 Dorm life's fun with

Hijinks!

© cjj – 2014

The type of poem that I wrote is the “Musette.” I got the following description here.

The Musette, created by Emily Romano is a poem that consists of three verses of three lines each. The first lines have two syllables; the second lines have four syllables, and the third lines have two syllables. The rhyme scheme is a/b/a for the first verse; c/d/c for the second verse, and e/f/e for the third verse. The title should reflect the poem’s content.

 The second poem which is for Monday, also has a different take on it.

 Cabin Fever

Mom, is it time to leave yet?

I'm ready to go . . . you bet! 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~  

 You said ten days ago 'twas time,

But no bells, or whistles, or chime!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 I'm having cabin fever, Mommy!

Wait . . . just heard the doc say, “It's a SHE!”

 © cjj – 2014

 61 years ago on April 14, I made my appearance in this world. When I saw “cabin fever” for the prompt, I thought - “Thanks, Val! This will work out just fine!”

 For this poem, I used a style called The Con-Verse, created by Connie Marcum Wong, consists of three or more 2-line rhyming stanzas (couplets). The meter of this form is in syllabic verse.

Rhyme scheme: aa,bb,cc,dd,ee AND Meter: 7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11
(Syllabic verse only counts the number of syllables in a line.)
This form consists of three or more couplets which ascend by one syllable up to and until you reach a syllabic count of eleven which would contain ten lines.This process may be repeated for a longer verse. If repeated, you must begin your first couplet with the syllabic count of seven again and continue from there.  

 

Once again I need to combine poems .... this time not two, but 3 days of poems in one post. The first poem I wrote is a diamonte: You need to think of a subject and its opposite and its opposite, and then follow the format that is at this  site, about 5 poetry forms down the  page. 

Encouragement

Supportive, Prayerful

Caring, Sharing, Inspiring

Uplifted, Hopeful, Downtrodden, Dismayed

Depressing, Disheartening, Defeated

Downcast, Dispirited

Discouragement

© cjj – 2014

Have you ever noticed how many negative words begin with the letter “D”? (Also – devil, demon, etc.)  

Well, here is a Bible verse quote (& there are many of them) on the topic of encouragement; this one reminds me of the kind of friends whom I've found here on Xanga!  “Your love has given me much joy and comfort, . . .for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people.” [Philemon verse 7]

The next poem is a pretty standard style with 3 stanzas, each with four lines of 7 syllables.  The rhyme pattern is - ABCB -  DEDF - GHIH.

SNOWBIRDS

"Little birds, you are so brave,

Standing on the snowy crest,

With courage facing the cold!

Do you have a nice warm nest?”

 “Human friend, God made us so,

Our friends and fam'ly remain.

Yes, we love the wind to blow,

And live in open places.”

 “Much time's spent on finding food,    

Dark-eyed juncos is our name,                

Found only in Nearctic --        

Snowbirds truly is our fame!"

© cjj – 2014

MEATLOAF

 Meaty, juicy, flavorful –

Make me daily, many ways!

So versatile; never dull --

Not even once the same!      

© cjj – 2014       

     

Rabbit --

Magical, mystical

Charming, Alluring, Enchanting

Makes me wonder:

“Easter Bunny?”

© cjj – 2014

 This is another cinquain. There are three patterns of cinquains according to this site, & I'm using the second pattern.  I'm still hopping around to your sites, so am keeping this post short & simple!