FIMBY

I especially love well crafted sentences and paragraphs. But words in general will do. Through Blogs of Photographers I found this way cool on-line application called Wordle, "a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide". You can input any text or even input a blog address or RSS Feed to generate a beautiful word cloud that you can play around with and edit to your liking.

I had planned to do this as a word-y activity with my kids yesterday but they had other plans. So I did one myself using the text of the blog I wrote about their crafting endeavors. Follow that??

I stayed up way too late last night, having a lot of fun creating this. I can think of so many applications for this - poetry, a gift of words for family or friends, memory/photo album embellishments etc...

Check it out and have some fun.

Just bought the new Plumb album Blink yesterday. I spent the evening listening to it and blubbering about how much my babies have grown up. I have never heard an album like this, melancholy mama pop tunes.

When is the last time you heard songs about the sleepless nights and the bone weary tiredness of caring for little ones? And the love you feel for your baby even though you're so tired you can't think straight. Those days are over for me now and though I really miss nursing I can't say I miss the years of sleep deprivation.

Simply said, I love my growing-up babies and I love this album. These are the lullabies and soul songs I would write and sing if I could write music.

If you are a mama buy it (iTunes sale price of $7.99). Today. Keep the tissues handy.

Favorite song of the day:

Me

I haven't had
A chance to sleep
And when I wake
I wake with your dreams
I guess my pillow
Holds some kind of key
To your peace
Your peace

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me

I haven't showered
And I tried to eat
But all your tears
Oh they needed me
I need some time, some time to think
But then I hear you
And what you need is...

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go

I wash your face
To make room for
All the kisses
Of tomorrow
And every day
That I get to
Be here with you
Is sweet

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
Oh don't be afraid
Cause you'll have is....
Me

My mom gave me a copy of this poem years ago when our 9 year old was still a baby. I love this poem and it has given me perspective when I've badly needed it and also been a reminder that I'm doing a good job.

I had hoped to post it on Mother's Day but I didn't have permission yet from the author. She is a friend from my growing up days, only then she was the mother of young children and I was a kid growing up, not terribly interested in mothering matters. Thanks Nancy for sharing your struggles to help encourage us.

Nancy Fowler Christenson ©2000

If forwarding or printing this poem, please include copyright & website info. To view other works by the author, visit www.cowgirlstory.com

This morning the kids and I read some funny limericks from A Child's Introduction to Poetry (not the greatest poetry collection but a fun book to read) and I was inspired to write a poem about today.

The Tougas children went out to play,
they stayed outside half the day.
So long math, handwriting and spelling,
where this spring's going there ain't no telling.
With weather like this it feels like May.

We spent a little time at Willow Pond farm yesterday and the kids discovered another hayloft.

A new dishwasher came
to our house yesterday
arrived in the most usual way.

Up drove the truck
unloaded its gear
the first new appliance of this year.

All dishes go in with nary a rinse
dirty utensils, pots even pans
quite a treat for these dishwater hands.

A shiny black surface
Stainless steel inside
places for all dirty dishes to hide.

Is it love at first sight?
Still too early to tell
confirmation will come with my utility bill.

Maine Spring Sheep
Chilly morning
at the farm
skittish lambs and ewes.

Last pick up
of winter roots
and unexpected greens.

Warming sun
melting
frozen mud.

An overcast afternoon
that tempts us
out of doors.

Longer days,
more time to play.
Mounds of dirty snow.

January by John Updike

January sunrise by Cloudysky

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor.
Milk bottles burst
Outside the door.

The river is
A frozen place
Held still beneath
The trees of lace.

The sky is low.
The wind is gray
The radiator
Purrs all day.

We awoke yet again
to a winter wonderland.
Only thing is
in April it's not so wonderful.

Then the beauty of bare trees, snow and sky
takes your breath away.
And the warmth in the morning sunrise
stirs your hope.

The robins are singing,
spring is still coming.