More Mandalas

More Mandalas from The Little Book of Coloring for Calm by Madonna Gauding that I colored and added simple cinquain poems to describe.

The jagged lines in this first one seemed such a stark contrast to the center circle, so I used bold colors and a calm blue to create the feeling in the cinquain.

Friction

irritating, annoying 

nerves on edge

seek quiet space

calm

This next one was inspired by the propeller shapes in the middle ring that made me think of a plane  circling the field at the center.  The sunflowers and green circles around outer rim represent the plants. 

 

Plane

yellow, old

swooping, turning, spraying

over the fields

crop duster 

The small circles in this one reminded me of heads.  The 10 octopus-like arms reminded me of multi-tasking.  The center, colored yellow and orange, represents energy.  The use of blue for the outside rim symbolizes the calm and focus that teachers strive to create in a classroom.

 

Juggler

planning, multi-tasking, caring

lighting a spark

in 25 students

Teacher

This last one seems self-explanatory.
 

Bouquet

fresh, fragrant

thoughtful gift

of roses and thorns

love

The mandalas were used in this post with permission from the publisher, Roly Allen. 

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.