Mandalas for inspiration

I bought The Little Book of Coloring for Calm: 100 Mandalas for Relaxation in Minutes by Madonna Gauding this winter and have enjoyed coloring these small designs as a soothing activity.  

Then, I began to see how utilizing one creative outlet can inspire another one.  In my case, the mandalas inspired me to write cinquain poetry.  These simple, 5-line poems are an enjoyable way for me to keep writing even when I have little time.

The circle of sunbursts in this mandala inspired my poem, Ideas.

  Ideas

flashes of inspiration

pearls of wisdom

on the right track

in the flow

The woven and circular patterns in this one inspired my poem, Infinite.

Infinite

no beginning

never ending

life after life

timeless 

The center spiral of this next one brought to mind movement through a tunnel toward a light, which became this memorial to my parents.

The blue and green outer rim represents life on earth.  The colored dots represent my parents' birthstones (Dad = pink tourmaline and Mom = green peridot) as they spiral in decline toward the tunnel.  Dad went a few short years ahead of Mom.

Final Journey

sadness, pain

waiting, praying, releasing

to the light

home



The outer rim and circles of this one suggested a stairway, and my nervousness about heights inspired the poem, Staircase.

 Staircase
steep, spiral
climbing, slipping, falling
in my mind
vertigo

Permission to post these mandalas on my blog was granted by the publisher, Roly Allen .

Writing Success

Just wanted to share my delight in having three of my works accepted by Screamin' Mamas magazine!  (This is the fruit of my new-found free time after graduation.)

1.  Their March issue included my poem "Change" (see photo below)
2.  An upcoming edition will include my poem "Collections."
3.  Also, my personal narrative, "Death of a Dryer" tied for second place in their Creative Nonfiction Contest this spring.  

I was excited to receive the complimentary copy of the March issue and was amazed at the beautiful artwork, photos, and unusual stories it contained.  Even the quality of the paper was impressive.  I have been savoring each page of this issue and look forward to seeing the next one.

Please check out their website at www.screaminmamas.com

A Photo of Freedom

    This picture is the best way I can describe how graduation feels!! 

    In December I finally completed a degree in K-12 Special Education.  

    Having some extra free time now is amazing!  

 

Farewell to Sophie

Almost 11 years ago we adopted Sophie (a Schnauzer-Terrier mix) from the Nebraska Humane Society.  She was 5 months old and Monica was 3.  They grew to be good buddies.  As the youngest, Monica loved having someone else in the house to boss around, and Sophie tolerated it well. Peter (age 8 at the time) was the one who had been asking for a dog.  He slept by Sophie's kennel to keep her company the first two nights in her new home. 

 

Monica and Sophie, Nov. 2004

Our 3 older kids also bonded with Sophie in their own ways.  Carolyn and Andrea  owned guinea pigs, so they loved having a dog, too. Sophie was interested in those little varmints, but very gentle with them when they ran loose in the kitchen. Joe, for his part, preferred to be less hands-on.  After all, pets are messy and require a lot of care.  I still think he enjoyed having her around, although he wouldn't admit it.  Tom and I had both grown up with dogs in our families, so having a dog in the house came very naturally to us.  

About 2 years ago Sophie went blind and was diagnosed with Cushings disease.  She still enjoyed walks around the block and managed to find her way around the house.  It was sad to see her bump into things, but she adapted well. 

Andrea found information that indicated the best thing to do for a blind dog is to get another dog.  So we did!  Lulu the Cockapoo joined us a few months after Sophie's diagnosis.  We found her at the Nebraska Humane Society, too, and she has charmed her way into our hearts as well... even Joe's! 

 At first Sophie wasn't sure about this house-guest that didn't leave, but they became friendly.  I think it was a comfort to Sophie to have Lulu home with her when we were all gone during work/school days.

Two weeks ago Sophie gave up the fight with Cushings.  It was so hard to see her decline and to say goodbye.  When I came across this photo yesterday and showed it to the kids they remarked, "She was so skinny then!"  A symptom of Cushings is weight gain, so she looked much different in her later years (just like humans change as they age).

I've noticed a lot of newspaper obituaries show photos of the deceased when they were much younger, so I felt this photo was the perfect one to post in loving memory of our very "good dog."        
                                                           We miss you!

(See post with photos of Sophie and Lulu on Nov. 24, 2013.)

Christmas Song Revision

"It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"

                                                               by Meredith Willson  

       with updates by Janet Sobczyk, 2014

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere we go;
Take a look at the shopping malls, with signs so shiny and tall
and shoppers with enormous bags in tow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Stuff in ev'ry store,
But the happiest sight to see is the fam’ly that will be
On your own front porch.

A pair of tall fashion boots and a basketball hoop
Is the wish of Carol and Joe;
Movies to show and piles of snow
Are the hopes of Moni and Pete;
And Mom and Dad enjoy a chat with ev’ry friend they meet.

                     
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Durham Museum, Andrea wants to see ‘im,
The sturdy kind with tinsel and lights aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the Mass will start,
As the choir begins to sing, peace is the grandest thing
Right within your heart. 

       Merry Christmas to All!

Halloween Prank

About 3 years ago my boys decided they were too old for Trick-or-Treating and opted to stay home to give out the candy instead.

Joe slouched on the bench with a mannequin's arm sticking out of his jacket and newspaper stuffed in his pantlegs.  Peter hid in the yard waste can nearby. 

Only the older kids were willing to approach the porch. Maybe the screams tipped off the families with little ones; I noticed they avoided our yard entirely.  But the older ones had a great time daring each other to go up and get a piece of candy from the stuffed (?) figure on the bench.  They weren't sure he was alive until Joe moved... right when the brave dare-taker reached for the candy in the bowl!

As the dare-taker's friends laughed, Pete would jump out of the can and scare them!  Then they would all take off running to the next house, screaming the whole way.  We didn't seem to use much candy that year.  :)

 

 Note:  I do not recommend this type of Halloween fun, though, because that year in the news there were some kids who ran into the street scared and one got hurt.  I am grateful the boys' bit of "harmless fun" did not harm anyone.

Time Left Behind

After redecorating my bedroom, I spent some time enjoying the newness of it.  This poem is the result. The photo is my daughter, Carolyn, at a historic farmhouse.  The white curtains and her resemblance to my own blonde appearance at the same age of 3, inspired me to pair it with this poem.

Carolyn at Living History Farms in 1992

Time Left Behind

by Janet Sobczyk, 2014ⓒ

Freshly painted room

yellow and white

sweeps away old gloom

feels calm and bright.

Sprawled on bed

drinking in peace

my soul feels fed

                           my stress is released.                                                

House is quiet

here all alone

no more inner riot

no more ringing phone.

Lying and gazing

at window nearby

something quite amazing

snares my drowsy eye.

White cotton curtains

on summer’s breeze

dance like they’re flirtin’

pretty as you please.

This mesmerizing waltz

trips a memory

as present day halts

time floats free.

Fade to Gramma's room

on her big bed

slumber comes soon

for little sleepy head.

Sheets so cozy

fresh and clean

from dear Grandma's

ancient washing machine.

Lying and gazing

at window nearby

something quite amazing

snares my young eye.

Curtains, sheer white

                            dancing on breeze                             

swirling in the light

pretty as you please.