Author Archives: lifelessons

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

Cry Me A River–Cee’s Which Way Challenge, 2015, Final Week

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Cry Me A River

She’s been showing us the way to go for all these many weeks–
searching for direction through photography that speaks.
Roads and forest pathways, windows gate and doors.
There is no single portal that this challenge abhors.
It always was the hardest for me to try to fill,
like lugging all my photographs up the tallest hill.
I think I usually took this theme a good way ’round the bend,
but Cee’s supply  of “Which Way” shots never seemed to end!
Soon “Which Way” will be over, and there will be no more
photographing every river, sidewalk, bridge or door.
We’ll go back to snapping cats, flowers, churches, peoples–
bending over gardens and hanging off of steeples.
I hope there’ll be new challenges that tell us where to go,
for when it comes to what to shoot, some of us are slow.
But on this very final week, let’s all just bid adeiu
by crying Cee some rivers–and sending in a few!

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/09/23/cees-which-way-challenge-2015-week-38-final-week/

Call for Submissions: 8 Free Writing Contests/Publications

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It is always a pain to try to find places to submit and actually, I rarely bother, preferring to just write and publish on my blog, but Amber Dykstra (no relation that I know of) makes it easy for us with this well-constructed and informative list. Anyone want to join me in a challenge to make at least one submission? In this age of electronic submissions, it is much easier. I challenge you. Let me know if you accept the challenge and what work you submitted to whom!

Amber Dykstra's avatarvellichor cafe

Today we have 8 contests/publications awaiting your work! Make sure to read each of their rules and regulations, and follow them to increase your chances of publication. May the odds be in your favor! And don’t forget to check out our Submission Calendar for more contests!

View original post 612 more words

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Night and Day.”Have you ever had an experience that was amazing the first time, but terrible the second time around? Or vice versa? What made it different the second time?

One is Sufficient!

I finally have the answer for the prompt you gave today,
for the difference between one and two is just like night and day.
The first time a prompt is given, my heart is light and gay;
and the second time it comes around, I’ve learned to just say, “Nay!”
But the third time  that I see it, I simply must get gruff.
For when it comes to Daily Prompts, just one time is enough!!!!

In the Womb (Zinnias): Cee’s Flower of the Day, 9/23/15

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In the Womb (Zinnias) IMG_5394 IMG_5389 (1) IMG_5392IMG_5398 (1)
For more flowers, see:  http://ceenphotography.com/2015/09/23/flower-of-the-day-september-23-2015-gitts-perfection-dahlia/

Dawn–by Jan Arnold (Guest Blogger)

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Jan Arnold wrote this wonderful response to my poem, “Sacrificial Offering.”  Because she doesn’t have a blog, she sent it as a comment; but since some don’t read comments or perhaps read my poem before she sent this, I wanted, with her permission, to make a special post for it.

red dawn 2 red dawn
photos by Jan Arnold

                            Dawn

I read your words and wonder why
You chose to miss each morning sky
And in exhaustion there you lie
Upon your rumbled bed.

You laud the quiet of the night;
Distractions gone and you are right.
Each day brings brain fog that you fight.
I think you are misled.

Your body needs its nightly sleep,
Circadian rhythms, REM that’s deep
To heal, refresh and health to keep.
That is what I’ve read.

So toss that nagging clock alarm;
Sleep deprivation causes harm.
Think of your South Dakota farm
And rise to see dawn’s red.

Those predawn early morning hours
Are quiet with creative powers.
A muse denied, oh how she glowers.
Give dawn a try.

Predawn and sunrise feed the soul
With inspiration new and whole.
She awaits you and your hyperbole.
Say yes, you will not die.

You’ll blog in dark but let it be
After sleep has welcomed thee;
And you have awoken naturally:
Alert! Just wait and see.

I guarantee you’ll not be dry.
The words will come and thoughts will fly.
You will adjust come by and by.
Can you agree?

I’ll wait and see.

–Jan Arnold

*

Sacrificial Offering

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Sacrificial Offering

When the light of morning begins its sweep,
my alarm begins its ceaseless beep
and I leave my bed in a stumbling creep.
With only four scant hours of sleep,
the wall of morning seems rough and steep.

There’s an appointment I must keep.
The dogs who have not made a peep
now howl and bark and moan and weep
as they hear me digging deep
into the harvest they hope to reap.

Their kibble now I scoop and heap
into their bowls. They twist and leap.
As the light of morning ends its creep,
Its rays fall long and harsh and steep,
and they cease to howl and weep.

As they graze their bowls like starving sheep,
it’s now their jaws that twist and leap.
But the price of feeding is not cheap,
as our appointment once more we keep;
for I’ve had merely four hours sleep.

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Yum!!!! Cee’s FunFoto Challenge: Sense of Taste

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Yum!!!!!

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DSC00533 (1)DSC00424DSC09920 - Version 2

For more tastes, go here:  http://ceenphotography.com/2015/09/22/cees-fun-foto-challenge-sense-of-taste/

Aloe Bloom: Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 9/22/15

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                                                        Aloe Bloom
(Click to enlarge to full size)
Version 2 IMG_5316 IMG_5299I love the fragile waxy bloom of the aloe.  In a cluster, they look rather scraggly, but individually, I think they are exquisite–both in their variegated and subtle coloring and their simple fluted style.  I was experimenting with placement.  Chances are you’ll see a few other “posings” tomorrow!

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/09/22/flower-of-the-day-september-22-2015-maarn-dahlia/

She Calls Herself a Spinster

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As much as it maligns the saintliness of us mature ladies, I must reblog this clever rhyme. I love the clever puns and I must say I’m impressed at how quickly okcforgottenman spun his tale!

okcForgottenMan's avatarserial monography: forgottenman's ruminations

                  She Calls Herself a Spinster

She calls herself a spinster with a sly and sultry smile.
At seventy-eight, she knows so well the art of luring guile.
A silken string strewn on his face from her outstretched bony hand
is not seen by the younger man she knows that she will land.

This young man is manly, which must lead to his demise.
A spinster spider knows too much and casts her come-on lies.
She twirls him round and round and round and round again once more.
He’s dizzy now and lustful. She has him to his core.

He’s bound up in her silken web, her web of love’s deceit.
Her sweet perfume, her purring tongue, the web of his defeat.
At his last gasp engulfed in thread, he knows that he’s been had.
But he would not trade in his fate. His last breaths are not sad.

She’s…

View original post 75 more words

“Juguetes”– Shannon’s Creative Photo Challenge/Games

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“Juguetes”–Shannon’s Creative Photo Challenge/GamesIMG_5344
“Jugetes” is Spanish for “Games,” and I made this retablo to honor all the favorite games of the past.  Perhaps you’ll recognize the little numbers game, where we had to shuffle the tiles within a set frame to get all the numbers into sequence, or a harmonica, games pieces from different games including Monopoly and Scrabble, a toy duck, doll, toy boat, a guitar, toy horse, dice, toy car, soccer ball, paint and marbles.  The star shapes are cut from a plastic Slinky toy made in the shape of stars.  I was very happy to see this prompt, Shannon.  Thanks so much!

IMG_4713Mexican Train is wildly popular among expats in Mexico.  This particular version is called “Chickenfoot.”  Strangely enough, the Mexican name for Mexican Train is Cuban Train–“Tren Cubano!”

For more pictures on the topic of “Toys,” go here:
http://abstractlucidity.com/2015/09/16/shannons-creative-photo-challenge-games/