The mat awaits. Breath.
Mind, body, spirit stills.
Mindfulness blossoms.
About
I tinkered around and I finally figured out how to add an About section to my menu. Cue Happy Dance!
Do you have an about section on your blog? If not, why?
With teachers from six continents participating in SOLSC, it is impossible to know where everyone hails from. Giving the reader context from which country you are from helps us with social context and background knowledge. It is like giving us a decoder key to the foundation of your words!
Without further ado, I invite you to read about me:
Hello!
Thanks for dropping by. This site is dedicated to explore and hone my craft of writing. In homage to Wordsworth, it’s a space to fill with the breathings of my heart. My heartbeats are pitter patter of words. Words to share slices of my life with the community of writers from the Two Writing Teachers. This is the fifth year that I am participating in the SOLSC.
My name is Heidi and I live in Vancouver, a gem of a city nestled between mountains and ocean on the West coast of Canada. I’ve been teaching for over 25 years. I am a former district early literacy mentor, currently teaching a grade 3/4 class. I am mad about books! My classroom is infused with literature. Reading and writing go hand in hand, it is a symbiotic relationship. I’ve chosen the moniker of Book Dragon for WordPress as a nod to my infatuation with books. I am thrilled that my zeal for literature has not gone unnoticed. I am delighted to have been selected as a juror for the 2022 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Book Prize from BC Yukon Book Prizes.
Food Family Fun
Food Family Fun is the tagline for my friend’s new café bistro. She served it up for her inaugural musical evening – an Irish sing along. Capacity limited to 25 made for an intimate evening of raucous laughter and smiles.
I’ll be sure to come back next month for another special evening of food, family, and fun.
7 on Sunday – Questions Edition
Why do I still need to log on to many WordPress sites? I’ve entered my password ad infintium.
By the end of the challenge, will I have read slices from all of our SOLSC participants? We are more than half way done our challenge and I am still discovering slicers.
Why can’t I add an about section to my blog? I’ve gone and fiddled with the settings and may have to switch to a different blog template to be able to do that.
Why do only a handful of bloggers have an about section? I love reading where someone is from. It helps give context to world views and experiences. (Hence my desire to create an about section for myself.)
How much of an investment of time would it take me to add tags to all the slices on this blog? This is the fourth year I am using this blog. I’d like to be able to quickly search for past slices and see how I have grown as a writer. I’d also like to be able to rapidly find anchor texts to share with my students. (FYI it is my fifth year slicing.)
Is poetry, lists, or narrative, Slicers favourite mode of expression?
Will I ever meet in person Slicers that live in the Pacific Northwest? (I live in Vancouver, Canada and excited about Canada easing travel restrictions. As of April 1st fully vaccinated travellers won’t have to get Covid abroad prior to returning home.)
DripDripDrop
I live in a region that is classified as a temperate rainforest. I know rain. I closely know the shades and tints of rain, and everyone of its permeations.
Today I had the pleasure of being reacquainted with an atmospheric river. Sheets, and sheets of wet stuff lashing all and sundry. Driving? Be prepared to have your windshield wipers dancing in triple time. Having a truck trailer come by you in the other lane? Pray for visibility as your car gets engulfed with water.
I ventured forth in the morning as I had several errands today to attend to.
Swish swish swish went the windshield wipers.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh went the water on the road.
Splash splash splash went the deluge hitting my car from passing vehicles.
ENOUGH! said my mind, my body in agreement hands white knuckled.
I pulled off the road and into the parking lot of a favourite restaurant. Food calling to warm my body and soul. Palak Paneer, Mutter Mushroom, and the lightest and most tender naan accompanied by masala chai. Warmth spread within while I listened to the rain against the window panes going
Drip
Drip
Drop.
Achoo!
“Achoo!”
The sound, like a lightning bolt, jolts me awake. My cat Cleo is perched at the side of my pillow. “Good morning” I reply. I roll over to my back. Cleo follows and nestles onto my chest, purring. I pet him, a willing cat servant.
All the while thinking, I’m not the only one with seasonal allergies.
Happy
I was blindsided how happy I was this morning. Have I forgotten what happy is?
What caused this surge of positive emotion, you may ask?
A ‘normal’ activity
I got my body moving
to beats
with people
in community
Granted the activity was designed for seniors
but
I was participating without pain
something my body is intimately acquainted with
Also
I needed to manage my post concussive brain. It appreciated the modified pace.
Juggling the emotional labour of maintaining my physical body is wearying
Today I had an hour of freedom
in Zumba Gold.
.
.
Effervescent joy
illuminating spirit
lightness of being
50 Good Things in Life
Terje blogged yesterday about 50 Good Things in Life. I loved the concept. Here is mine:
- vaccines
- universal health care
- massages
- a physiotherapist that can work miracles by rebooting your body
- Pilates
- yoga
- getting a mani & pedi, along with your bestie
- bike lane infrastructure
- pitter patter of raindrops against window pane, with you snuggled inside warm and dry
- a crusty loaf of bread
- an almond croissant, flaky and light
- fresh brewed coffee with aroma perfuming the air
- London Fog, made just right
- crisp green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette
- cracking open the cover of a brand new book
- clean air
- clean water
- mountains
- meadows
- brooks
- sunrise
- sunset
- museums
- art galleries
- community centers
- public libraries
- home cooked meals shared with a loved one
- belly filled laughter
- tears shared with a friend
- hugs
- smiles
- empathy
- walks on beach
- forest bathing
- home baking
- dog’s tail whipping back and forth in joy
- purring cat nestled in lap
- pen with smoothly flowing ink
- finding something you misplaced
- snow peas picked from the garden, opening with a crisp snap
- central heating
- a downy duvet
- children’s laughter
- learning a new skill
- becoming immersed in another culture
- hikes and picnics with friends
- scoring a good deal
- an afternoon nap
- unfettered time for writing
- satisfaction knowing you did your best
As years step forward, one by one, will this list remain the same? How would a list such as this grow and change over time?
Whoops!
I had a lazy Sunday planned out: reading and responding to slices, calling a friend, and finishing reading a book.
I planned to head to Costco for the end of the day – it’d be quieter and have less stimulation for my brain. Throughout the day I jotted down a list of what I wanted to pick up. It has been months since I’ve been and there were a few staples to pick up.
Cue late afternoon. Clock on wall says 4:15 pm. Time to get out the door. Enough time to drive there and be done by 6 pm closing.
Grab my phone en route out door. Screen comes awake and states it is 5:16 pm. I forgot to change the clock on the wall for Daylight Savings time. I guess I’m not going to Costco today.
Whoops.
Top Twitter Accounts
1) @Goodable – We all need a dose of good news. Say goodbye to negativity with a boost of happy new.
2) @CanadaPaintings – just what you need for a timeline cleanse – beautiful art
3) @bunsenbernerbmd Bunsen and BEAKER Dogs who teach science, empathy and cuteness with FUN!
4) @brittlestar – comedian and ‘The Internet’s Favourite Dad’
5) @pernilleripp – Danish educator living in the USA and creator of the Global Read Aloud: One Book to Connect the World
6) @Jess5th – a teacher discovering every day how to use reading and writing to make the world a better place
7) @Jarrett_Lerner – children’s author (farting robots!) and coordinator of #kidsneedmentors
These are my top 7 Twitter accounts to follow. What are some of your favourites?
Wordsmithing 