Hi All

Hi All,

Our house is still in disarray with boxes everywhere, but every evening Dan and I retreat to our back deck and enjoy the view. I uploaded a few pictures to share with you.

The view above is from our deck if you are standing at the railing. Our wireless connection is on the other side of the  wall in our office so now you know where I am while I write to you.

This next view is what I see from my chair. Dan mounted the bird feeders yesterday and our yellow peppers in the pot on the rail were harvested for yesterday’s soup.

 

The stand of trees above has two chairs in the center where Dan and I can picnic in the afternoons. It’s also fun to sit under the trees when it’s raining (with umbrellas of course). All of these pictures are a bit fuzzy because they were taken with Dan’s cell phone.

Both Dan and I hope that all of you are enjoying your summer days. Let us know if you are ever in the Western NC area. We would love to see you. Contact me through email at psaurino@gmail.com. Our address is:

407 Monteith Gap Rd

Cullowhee, NC 28723

I wish you the best,

Penny

A SHYku

Through the dark sky he will fly
I will be the mystery person
Heart attack cake will be mine

Recipe Request as per Miranda

Hey,
I don't have the recipe for Birthday Cake. But Miranda strolled by my desk as I was eating my salad and requested the recipe.
It can be eaten hot or cold.

Chicken Wild Rice Salad
1 Box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice
Grilled or baked chicken (cut up)
1 can green peas
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
2 scallions
Creamy Italian Dressing to your liking.
Chill
Eat hot from microwave or cold from fridge.
It will last me 5 meals!
Master Do

Give Them Cake

The cake was way better than my photograph. Ian and I discussed the total awesomeness of "the cake". Ian decided it was so decadent it should be renamed Olgetree's Heart Attack Cake.

Whatever the name, we hope you will share the recipe for both the cake and FROSTING. Yum.

How are you feeling about your month?

Hello,

I have missed hearing about what is happening.

What are feeling about your experience with Cherokee Rose? What have you gained? What ideas are you throwing away?


Has this month changed you as an educator? Do you have a plan of action for the next school year? OR ARE YOU EXHAUSTED AT this point and can not think anymore?

I was more exhausted.

Ode to the Potato

HOW LONG DOES THIS HAVE TO BE?

I don't know.
How long does it need to be?
Puzzled expressions appear.
No, they say,
How long do you want it to be?
I clench my teeth,
sigh and take a gentle breath.
How can my message overcome the tradition?
This is your story,
your poem,
your essay.
Tell it to yourself until you think it is done.
Make the reader in you happy,
and the reader in me
will most likely be content.
The old question
isn't going to be answered here.
Two pages,
fifteen-hundred words,
no longer pass these lips.
Perhaps some will turn in ten lines,
ten wonderful lines which
they will claim by saying,
Yes, I wrote this. Can I read it to you?
Others can't write fast enough.
Stay out of their way as
the pencil chases thoughts across the paper,
turning away from the edge at the last moment,
balancing on line after blue line,
writing from bell to bell;
some of them outside writers too.
They have stories to tell.
Perhaps with time
the old refrain will be replaced
with a new litany.
Will you read this and tell me what you think?
Certainly.
Can I submit this for publication?
If you wish.
Do I have time to do another draft?
I think so.
Easier questions to answer,
asked with a different urgency.

by Pete (Iowa City, Iowa)