Today is...

Today is...

Today is
lighter than
yesterday;
high clouds
split wide with
seams popping
show blue;
breezes
curl up into
my helmet,
dazzling me with
smells of fields mowed,
leaves burned,
roses blooming,
the tide turning;
the sun's warm hand
on my shoulder
makes me smile;
and for the very first time
I am thinking of
more than

  clutch -
    shift -
      break -
        throttle.

by Donna JT Smith, 8/27/16

by Donna JT Smith, 8/27/16

Is It Ever Late?

Happy Poetry Friday!  Today's fun is hosted by Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe.

Now, contrary to the poem below... there is a time-limit here.
Yes, there is such a thing as "late".  So, HURRY!  There are a couple of days left.  Four days before September 1!

I will be assembling materials to create a cool refrigerator magnet for someone!  Maybe it will be you. Get me your offering of a picture and a writing (preferably a poem, but prose is fine) about your refrigerator by end of day August 30 or point to it in the comments!

Next Friday, I will announce the winner and reveal the stone/tile magnet prize featuring your picture, poem or both picture and poem.  Or one I’ve just made up, just for you.  You can tell me which you’d like if your name is the one drawn from my motorcycle helmet.  It's the Great Refrigerator Race... of sorts.

Late

Look at the date

Me thinks the fate

Of leaves can wait

I’ve not yet cleaned my plate

Or slate -

Human condition -

Running late -

Is it innate -

A human trait?

Of all the creatures

We have clocks

Yet we’re the ones

With hurried walks

The others know

The time of day

And simply move

Within the sway

Of trees and breeze

And waves in bay

In harmony with

Making hay

With no confusion

No delay

They go about

Their day to day

Yet still they've found

Some time to play

And I am left with

Lots to do

And little time

To see it through

Perhaps I need

An un-timed event

And see how all

Time-freed is spent -

How slow the hours

and minutes went

When I've pursue a

Timeless bent

Just jotted this... punctuation is not done... maybe more to come or some to delete...
I've been busy lately so haven't been writing much.  Visited grandkids and have been riding some.  Been restless and less sitting as I lose weight.  Down 49.5 pounds as of yesterday... holding steady today.  I am over halfway to where I want to be... though I don't know where I want to be as I am pretty happy already where I am... a lap to sit on for grandchildren... able to walk a long distance... able to hoist a leg over a motorcycle and ride... finding chords on my mandolin that has waited for me in the corner of the bedroom... restless is where I am.  I have a feeling there is something I'm supposed to do soon, but it hasn't presented itself in full yet.  I'm getting glimpses and inklings, but it's too foggy and dim yet.  Meanwhile, I will put in another load of laundry, help some homeschoolers learn to read, try to focus on my houses - cleaning and selling this home and moving to Gull Haven soon (was supposed to be this summer, but looks like maybe this winter).

Tabatha's Refrigerator and a Poem

As you may or may not know, it is Refrigerator Month here, and I'm featuring refrigerator stuff all August long!  If you have a refrigerator "thing" you want to share - a picture, poem, prose - Link at the linky at the "Refrigerator" tab above, or send me an email.  I will put it right here, as I am doing with Tabatha's today!  And I will put all the names in a motorcycle helmet and draw one out for a grand prize of a stone tile refrigerator magnet, featuring something you sent in... or your choice of picture/verse... So far, Tabatha wins... I will check my email again, but I don't think there is another entry and we are half-way through the month!

Emailed refrigerator offering from Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference :

"Another Shot from my Fridge"

"I guess the subject line says it all. We got Walt Whitman finger puppet magnet recently -- I think of him as "Uncle Walt."

Joy's postcard is one that you read rightside up and upside down (it's an elephant upside down). Clever!"

It's Poetry Friday hosted by Julianne at To Read To Write To Be.  Go visit to find more poetry gems by poetry miners!

And now, a refrigerator offering from me:

Ode to the Odorous

Receiver, giver, preserver,
Made of plastic and metal,
Cool to summer's touch,
With pudding to settle
And good stuffs for kettle;
A heart of cold.
What's found beyond her
Closed thick door?
A place to wander,
Sweet calls to ponder
The icy depths where
Sustaining hopes lie
In bits to boil or
bake or fry,
Crispy or dry
For palate shy
or cuisine bold;
But toss the stuff
begun to mold
and gross to hold.
She cannot keep
Forever more
Sustenance
Behind her door
Cleaning is a dreadful chore. 
It must be done -
This is my plea
With sponge in hand
Why always me?
Do none else see?
No one steps up?
No volunteer?
I need your help,
Please come near;
Help me don
My hazmat gear!

Donna JT Smith, 2016

Today's fashion-forward gear.

Your grandma's gear...

Refrigerator Wraps

So I was just browsing around on the Internet today and came across Refrigerator Wraps.  And since this is refrigerator month, I'm featuring this.  I have nothing to do with this company, so if you decide to redecorate your refrigerator using a cool wrap, I don't get a penny!  Or a dollar... or even a cold drink.

They sell heavy duty vinyl adhesive covers for refrigerators, to transform them into vintage and custom designed refrigerators.  They look pretty amazing and seem especially good if you have a not-so-new looking refrigerator that you'd like to spruce up!  I imagine that refrigerator magnets would still work with this coating on it, but you may need slightly stronger ones, or just keep posts off the refrigerator so people can see the new look.
It might be nice to have a refrigerator that looks like a bookcase full of your favorite books, but the front of a VW is nice, too!

I'm hoping to have some refrigerator posts from some of you soon!  But if not, it's still been fun and I'll just order myself a stone refrigerator magnet, I guess.  I WIN!

Click on the REFRIGERATOR link above to put in your link to a refrigerator blog post, because I don't want to be the one to win.
If you don't have a blog but want to submit something, send it to d+J+T+s+1+9+7+2 then the at symbol and y+A+h+o+o+dot +com.  Is that cryptic enough not to get a bot's attention? I hate spam.  But that is my email that is full of commercial and spam emails.  I'll have to look carefully for yours so leave a comment letting me know you've sent me something!

Also check or tweet at #mycoolrefrigerator!
 

Posts on the Refrigerator

Postcards posted on my refrigerator...
These creations were sent to me for the Summer Post Card Exchange organized by Amy Souza of Spark!
I put them on my refrigerator to display them, then I studied my refrigerator magnets. I picked out words to go with each card first then decided to swirl them in a kind of free association poem (?).
From left to right the cards are from Cathy Pratt, Alisa Lasker, Amy Souza and Kim Cerrudo.

It's another fun summer!

I Wish You Rides & Refrigerators

It is Poetry Friday, hosted by Tara at A Teaching Life, and I have another sweet poem to share from the Summer Poetry Exchange.  This one is from Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, from The Poem Farm.  She sent along some yummy treats from her recent trip to Spain even - which will be eaten ever so slowly and savoringly!

Amy's beautiful poem full of wishes brings to mind some of the reasons I wanted to try this motorcycle riding thing!  I think you will understand the fascination perhaps when you read it.  I've had lots of warnings to be careful, and stories of falls, and sundry reasons for NOT riding a motorcycle.  But to temper those I've received lots of words of encouragement and looks of amazement; along with the exhilarating rush of air, the discovery of beautiful back roads, the shared special times with my son and husband, and the plain old amazement in myself for ever actually doing this!

Thanks, Amy, for your poem.  I like how it fits and feels!

I Wish You Rides

I wish you rides
on country roads
where children wave
as you zip by.
I wish you rides
through wind and sun
where you are one
with earth and sky.
I wish you rides
beneath bright stars
twinkling secrets
in your ears.
I wish you rides
to visit friends
you have not seen
for many years.
I wish you rides
full of thinking
full of beauty
strong and bold.
I wish you rides
and rides
and rides
from now
until
you're very old.

by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, all rights reserved

Thank you, Amy, for all your wonderful wishes...and for including my one little word for this year - BOLD!
Bold is how I'm feeling this year, how I'm living this year, how I'm seeing myself...

**********************************

Now, about that refrigerator of yours...
I'm looking for posts about your refrigerator this month.  I picture and a few words... poem or prose.  Inside or outside. What's on it, or in it?  On top?  Front, sides?  What does your refrigerator say about you?  I'm posting random things about my refrigerator and my life - sometimes a story, sometimes a poem.
When you have a post, link it under the REFRIGERATOR tab above (just below the title).  At the end of August there will be a prize - a marble refrigerator magnet with a picture and/or writing from your post.  If you post more than once, I will put your name in once for EACH individual post.  So more links to posts, more chances to win!  And winning is an exciting thing!  I've been posting since August 1 about this, so check back on the old posts for poems and pictures of all things refrigerator.

Unattended Refrigerator Artwork

Don't forget, August is Refrigeration Contemplation month.  Or Refrigerator Ruminator Month.  Or Refrigerator Investigator Month.  Or Just Chillin' Month.  I just don't know.  BUT I do know that you can participate and contribute by clicking on the REFRIGERATOR link just below the blog title.  It's Refrigeration Decoration month!  Yeah.  Maybe that's it.

For the explanation post about REFRIGERATORs, go here. Post your link  to your REFRIGERATOR image and writing right there! Make sure you use the actual unique URL, not just your home page, or the link will go to your most recent posting instead of the one specific page you want!

Check back often and see what others have said about their REFRIGERATORs!  Lots of cool fun for August!  Let me know if there are any problems with this page.  At the end of August, I will be doing a random drawing using each authentic unique link on this page (so more links more chances to win). The winner will receive a marble tile refrigerator magnet featuring their poem or picture (or both if possible) to put on their refrigerator (refrigerator not included).
I'm just posting random stuff about refrigerators this month, so it should be exciting reading!

*************************** 

Ever wonder what the stuff on your refrigerator does when you aren't around?

Me neither.

But evidently someone does.



Maybe we should, too.

Kitchen Nights

What happens when
we leave the room
and no one's there to see?
Do pictures come
alive and dance
and have an art party?

The light inside
the fridgedare,
is it still glowing now?
We've shut the door
so we can't see
who's eating all our chow;

The dishwasher's
loud hum and spray,
in obvious delight,
Could mean that all
our dinnerware
is in a water fight.

The oven door
is closed and dark
Does it join in the fun?
Some little cakes,
perhaps some bread
Will rise before the sun?

The broom and mop
sweep up and swish,
so we will never know
The messes made
in kitchen fun
and frolic in moon's glow!

by Donna JT Smith, 2016


See you tomorrow for Poetry Friday!

Write On...Write Off!

A Zen move... or a Hai-ku move... or what was that movie?
Write on, write off... wipe on, wipe off...
Of course!  Karate Kid!  Ha!  I love when things just come together, like I planned it and I didn't.  My daughter sent this picture after I'd written the beginning of this post.

Guess who just started karate.  Yup, grandson.  First day.  Almost 5.

 At any rate, one day my daughter showed me how her kids could write on the refrigerator... drawings, letters, whatever!  And by using dry erase or water-based markers, she could simply wipe off what they'd written.  Ta-da!  I mean, Fa-da!

Of course, instruction in how you use markers is necessary... like which surfaces are okay and which aren't!  And don't have any permanent markers lying about - that's a good tip ALL the time.

She has tried regular waterbased markers, but you may need to use rubbing alcohol to get off any marker that has been on the surface a while.  It may leave some residue as a shadow.

Funny story about residue, which surfaces are okay and which aren't and not having permanent markers accessible... 
I learned, or rather our whole family learned those lessons when our daughter was about her own daughter's age with an almost 5 year old brother.  Her brother was "turning her into a clown" when I found them both all quiet and nicely playing upstairs with the washable markers. Washable does not always mean cleanable. I could not use alcohol to remove the marker (as the pharmacist suggested), as the coloring was all around her eyes and down her arms.  She had to look bruised in the face for about a week before it all wore off... teacher's kids!  

So always be aware of where the markers are - and where your children are, for that matter - especially when they are playing nicely.

Anyway, the same holds true with regular dry erase markers.  The best ones are the washable dry erase for clean up ease.  I'm wondering if there's any pre-spray out there that would keep the surface less likely to retain any color, like using spray starch to "prime" the surface.  Just a thought.

A HUGE dry erase board has been right there in your kitchens all this time.  Why haven't we just been writing notes, stories, poems, lists, telephone numbers, etc. write on them all this time?  They are the perfect height for everyone.  And if you place it right, you can have up to three sides (no one wants to write on the top).

Here we can see one of the artists at work:

There is no right place to start, nor wrong place, for that matter.

Checking out other artist's work is always helpful.

Has anyone else used their refrigerator as a dry erase board?  Any tips?

Don't forget, August is Refrigerator Derby month.  Or Refrigerator Alley Month.  Or Refrigerator Regurgitator Month.  Or Poetry on Ice (box) Month.  What am I calling this?  I don't know, maybe I'll know tomorrow.  BUT I do know that you can participate and contribute by clicking on the REFRIGERATOR link just below the blog title.

For the explanation post about REFRIGERATORs, go here. Post your link  to your REFRIGERATOR image and writing right there! Make sure you use the actual unique URL, not just your home page, or the link will go to your most recent posting instead of the one specific page you want!

Check back often and see what others have said about their REFRIGERATORs!  Lots of cool fun for August!  Let me know if there are any problems with this page.  At the end of August, I will be doing a random drawing using each authentic unique link on this page (so more links more chances to win). The winner will receive a marble tile refrigerator magnet featuring their poem or picture (or both if possible) to put on their refrigerator (refrigerator not included).

Refrigerator Smile

Refrigerator Haiku - Frigiku

This was NOT a candid shot, though everything was a "found" item on my fridge already... just organized to showcase it, and to write a poem.  I love keeping my magnetic words on the refrigerator for impromptu "writing" or thought plopping.

The magnetic diamond shape (used as a nose here) I just found a couple of days ago at a local touristy place where I got a fill-it-yourself bag of magnets of various shapes.  They are very strong and so distractably shiny. I'll still have the clip magnets for the grandchildren to use, but these will be nice because they don't take up as much room and cover other items.

Get ready for a handy refrigerator tip tomorrow!  From my daughter.  I'm going to see if she can take a picture of her refrigerator to send to me to use.  If not, I'll do a picture here!  Stay tuned for more refrigerator fun!

Remember to post your link above, by clicking on REFRIGERATOR! Here's the link to yesterday's post that explains it, pretty much. Pretty simple and open to interpretation, really! Have fun!

Refrigerator Smile

icy freezer breath

leaves hot people shivering

happy summer songs

Refrigerator Alley

I have always been fascinated with refrigerators.  When my aunt died years ago, we hadn't visited with her in a long time, but wanted to speak at her funeral. As we were considering what to say about her life and what mattered most to her now I suddenly had an idea. I said to my brother, "Look at her refrigerator.  It tells a whole story about a person or a family."  From the inside to the outside, top to bottom, side to side... it tells more than you think.  Even if it is clean.  Nothing on the outside.  Meager fillings on the inside.  It still says something.  What does YOUR refrigerator say?

Here's the challenge:
Sometime this month, take  a picture or pictures of your refrigerator and all it's trimmings.  Post your pictures and write about it... poetry or prose (but, of course, I especially like those poetic responses)!  I think you will be amazed at what you find is important to you and those who share this treasure chest - the cold (?) heart of your kitchen.

On the tab above by the title, click the REFRIGERATOR tab and add your link to the other refrigerator posts.  If you want to do more than one post about your refrigerator, PLEASE DO. Go ahead and link another page/post - you can put a 2 by the second one, 3 by the third post,(I don't need to continue, right?), so people will know to go there again and see another cool posting by you!  Have fun!


In all its glory
 it tells a story
From inside out
 without a shout
It gives us clues
 and blatant trues
Of you and yours
  oh, those white doors
Such inner cool
 you cannot fool
When freezer speaks
 the truths it leaks.

PS  Don't decorate your refrigerator for the occasion!  This is a candid shot - don't let it know when you will be taking its picture.  I hate when a refrigerator poses for a picture, don't you?  They always look so fake smiley!  Got one of someone leaning in perusing the fridge? You know what? Prepping your refrigerator should be okay, too! Maybe just tell us if you prepped it, or if it was a candid shot. Why should we care? We like to comb our hair before getting our picture taken don't we? It's your choice. Or your refrigerator's. You could try both ways.


See you tomorrow with another refrigerator posting!