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.

“Sunday School” for The Sunday Whirl Wordle 655, May 19, 2024

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Sunday School 

Memories dancing through my mind
sing lyrics of the hopeful kind—
church on Sunday, exultation
of a once-united nation.
Loud amens expressing hope,
unheedful of that misanthrope
squirreling away those nuts
of “ifs” and “whens” and “ands” and “buts.”
Forgetting brotherhood’s kind needs.
Choking peace lilies with weeds.
“Make American Great Again!”
expressed with a malevolent grin.
White-robed zealots burning crosses,
Proud Boys complaining of losses
promulgate a hateful nation
fearful of miscegenation.
Ladies sipping afternoon tea,
if you still have hopes for liberty,
rise up against that chanting mass,
hateful, vile-filled and crass.
They are the very anti-thesis
to those lessons taught by Jesus
back when we were innocent,
believing truth was heaven-sent.

 

Prompt words for The Sunday Whirl Wordle are: forget church dancers tea robes weed sing exultation hope squirrel nuts amen. Image by Ben White on Unsplash

Mystic Maze Orchid, for FOTD May 19, 2024

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For FOTD May 19, 2024

I love this orchid that was one of Sharon’s birthday gifts.

A Whiff, For SOCS, May 18, 2024

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A Whiff

What’s that smell
that spray can’t quell?
Smells a bit
like puppy shit,
but never fear,
no puppies here.
It comes alone
from Mom’s cologne.
Efforts relentless
to turn her scentless?
Those ends we sought
have turned to naught.
Each day or two?
A new pee-yew!!!!

 

Without a doubt, the absolute worst perfume ever invented on Earth was Ben Hur. Guaranteed to empty a room the minute its wearer entered!

 

For SOCS: What’s that smell? For this challenge we had to write stream of consciousness with no editing….Phew.

 

Succulent Wall for FOTD MAY 18, 2024

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For Cee’s FOTD

Foxgloves, For FOTD MAY 17, 2024

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FOR CEE’S FOTD

This is Your Life, Sharon!!!!

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Sharon-2024

We’ve been gathered for a few days to celebrate my friend Sharon’s 80th birthday. So far we’ve had a pre-birthday party for Sharon and two friends, an art day and a party preparation day. Tomorrow is the big day. I’ve had fun surveying all the treasures in her house as it is filled with first her own work and then the work of those she has done shows with over the years. She has huge books full of her photography, drawers filled with treasures gleaned from the Bone Room, the Tucson Gem and Mineral show and countless other sources. When I first met her in 1989 while doing shows, she made Universal Totems which you’ll see on the walls. Before that she was a weaver and you’ll see her throws folded neatly on a shelf in one of the photos. After doing years of shows with the totems, she turned to photography. Her photos are stunning and deserve to be in National Geographic or the National Gallery. Later she turned to incredible felt sculptures. You can see her whimsical animals on shelves below and see the over 400 felt cactus figures she made to give away at her party…and that she taught us to make. (See my earlier post.) Then there are the needlepoint pillows that display her own, not patterned artistry. They display portraits of her grandchildren and flowers and terracotta pottery and other subjects—60,000 stitches per pillow!! And they take months to design and produce. You will see Sharon, preparing one of 4 cakes for her 80th birthday celebration dinner—55 people expected! Also her husband John and three friends who came from Southern California and Mexico to help her celebrate–including me!

If you would like to explore more of Sharon’s work, you can find her online gallery HERE.

Click on Photos to Enlarge.

Sharon “adjusting” her flower vines in preparation for her 80th birthday party.
Sharon’s workspace and family wall
Sharon’s Grandkids, photographed by her
Sharon’s Kids, photographed by her.
Sharon’s Pillows–Needlepoint renditions of her Grandkids..60,0000 plus stitches per pillow!
Sharon pillows
House.. Art Collection
Sharon’s Universal Spirits–her creations
An amazing table made by an artist friend
Giclee of one of Sharon’s Photograph
One of Sharon’s photography books
Three more of Sharon’s books of photography.
.
More of her photos….
and more…20 in all.
More books of Sharon’s photos
The drawers next to her photo albums are filled with other treasures…
insects,
bones,
and other natural treasures.
John’s all pumped up for the party!
Orchids abound
More Hennig sculpture
Shelves full of the work of past participants in the same shows she did.
Sharon’s fantastic cloth stuffed creatures.
Three coconut cakes before whipped cream frosting

One No Trump for dVerse Poets, May 17, 2024

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 One No Trump

I must begin this sad narration

with these words of sad regret

for the state of our lost nation

 that has lost that noble way

carefully  planned in its gestation,

perfect in its founders’ minds,

but somehow skewed in maturation

by takeovers from the Trumpster set

 led by an idiot’s vain oration!

The dVerse Poets Magic 9 prompt today was to write *a poem in 9 lines
*meter and line-length at discretion of poet
*rhyme, a b a c a d a b a, with c and d unrhymed

Go HERE to read other poems that followed the propt.

 

 

For Fibbing Friday, May 17, 2024

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For Fibbing Friday the prompt questions are:

1. What did the fan say? Cool!

2. What really kicks off summer? Boot Camp.

3. Who rules the world? A Surveyor

4. What is the best thing to do to someone who snores? Get them their own room.

5. Who/what was your last unexpected house guest? Hurricane Sheila. Last house guest ever–expected or unexpected.

6. How does a blanket keep warm? It snuggles up to a warm body.

7. Why shouldn’t you snoop? Because ‘snot polite.

8. What is the worst thing that could happen to you? Nothing.

9. What do the gopher and mole do when they meet? Gopher supplies at the Mexican market and make molé.

10. What lurks in your backyard? Three dogs.

Bonus question
11. What is the best way to torture someone? Chuckle every time you see them.

Making Felt Cacti, For Thursday Trios

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Making Felt Cacti with Sharon, For Thursday Trios and couldn’t resist the 3 cent stamps! (Click on photos to enlarge and see details.) The stamps were among ones I took to Mexico 23 years ago and have never used so I brought them up to use on a package I mailed and gave the rest to Sharon to use. The Post Office attendant was a good sport about it and took our word that the stamps added up to the $6 postal fee!!!

A Week With Friends

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Click on photos to enlarge.

Sharon and Linda’s birthdays, reunions after many years, Malanna’s successful job interview, making good use of old stamps, good food, good friends, good cheer, temptations of the Chinese market, spontaneous dance, grandkids and wontons and the birthday cake decoration that wouldn’t die!!!