Winter got you down?

I came home and found a large white envelope on top of the mail. It contained a certificate awarding me Honorable Mention by the Springfield Poets and Friends for my humorous poem, Gym Dandy.

I also was asked to contribute an article for publication to the St. Louis Writer's Guild publication, The Scribe on essay writing.

And I had a personal essay about meeting Chuck Berry accepted by the St. Louis Writer's Guild for their upcoming anthology on St. Louis.

That's my twoot-twoot-twoot.



Yesterday the weather was gloomy and the sky bleak. We drove about an hour to Alton, Illinois and saw a few eagles on the river, not many. But it was fun to take a drive and stop for lunch.

I spied an eagle soaring above the car and told Bill to pull over. By the time we parked and got the camera ready, the bird had taken off in another direction. But it was one of those nature 'moments' that make me all mushy inside.

We walked along the river bank a short distance until our teeth started chattering. I was thrilled by the sound of the ice cracking as it layered and lapped up to shore.

We saw a large red dog or more likely a coyote, and this incredible tree which had been gnawed by beavers. Sometimes we all feel like we're teetering like this tree, but somehow we find the strength to stand strong, despite all the knicks and knocks.


If winter gets you down as it sometimes does me, just think, spring is 11 and 1/2 weeks away. Meanwhile, write something, anything for your own satisfaction, and stay warm.

Snow has arrived, 5:30 p.m. and I am going to snuggle in, eat a bowl of homemade chicken stew, and garlicy buttered hot rolls, and later a couple of mini chocolate donuts as I watch for school closings. Keeping my fingers crossed.