Spring in California is magnificent. On the same day, one can go to the beach and in an hour or two, one can reach the mountain to ski on fluffy snow. It sounds rather tiring, but a lot of wealthy people in this area live exactly like that. The weather is always very comfortable, not too warm, not too cold, it’s always Spring even in the winter. Heavy coats and heavy garments are not part of our wardrobe. I forgot what it is to live in cold weather. I look at my garden and feel like a parent watching the kids growing year after year. I see how it has grown from seeds, how time and my various moods have changed it and how much food it has produced for me. I feel so proud, a city girl like me has shaped a non-descriptive, anonymous yard into a beautiful garden.
Author Colleen Chesebro has a different Spring.
“Here in Michigan, it seems like we are in our third or fourth winter. Most days are sunny, but the biting wind makes it hard to enjoy the sunshine. Occasionally, southerly winds caress me with warmth, which is spring’s way of flirting—like a pretty girl who doesn’t realize her own beauty. Those warm days help me forget all the cold days.
Much of the snow has melted and last year’s spent leaves litter our front yard. I’ve spent some time thinking about what I will plant in front of our house this year. So far, I know I’ll plant flowering bushes (hydrangeas, come to mind) after the old maple tree stump is removed and I can enrich the soil.
After the maple tree—what will I plant out front?
Spring, inside the house, blooms in unexpected places. My Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter cactus blooms on a southerly facing windowsill.”
Spring sunshine brings blooms
pale blooms bask
in sun’s afterglow—
spring awaits
© Colleen M. Chesebro
Are you ready to learn how to craft Japanese and American poetry? Consider this book the first step on your journey to learning the basics of how to craft syllabic poetry. Inside, you will discover many new forms, syllable combinations, and interpretations of the different Japanese and American forms and structures of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, renga/solo renga, gogyohka, haibun, tanka prose, the cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry.
So… what are you waiting for? Let’s craft syllabic poetry together!
I’ve done the work of researching these syllabic forms for you. Word Craft: Prose & Poetry is available as an Ebook and a Print book. mybook.to/WordCraftProsePoetry Let’s write syllabic poetry together! ❤
Blog: https://wordcraftpoetry.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColleenChesebro
Your teaching sounds very much like art, much success to you.
Stay tuned for the next feature on Tuesday. Allow me timidly to advertise my books.
Valentina Cirasola is an interior-fashion consultant, author of 6 published books, a storyteller, and a blogger of many years. Her books are non-fictional practical ideas to apply in the home, fashion, cooking and travel. Get a copy of her books here: Amazon and Barnes&Noble
Valentina Expressions 
Apr 12, 2022 @ 11:06:22
I loved going up into the mountains and lakes of Big Bear when it got too hot in LA, and ‘spring’ in LA was a 1000k away from spring in England, but still interesting and enjoyable. My husband played at RAF Lakenheath many years ago – late 1960s with his band, on many occasions, it was part of the ‘circuit’. Thanks for this.
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Apr 12, 2022 @ 15:56:54
Spring in California is very enjoyable. I am glad you experienced it. Thanks for visit and the comment.
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Apr 13, 2022 @ 07:51:23
Oh, yes. I lived there many years. I enjoyed my visit to your blog. Have a great weekend. xx
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Apr 11, 2022 @ 18:11:27
Hi Valentina, it is lovely to see Colleen featured here. She has been hugely helpful and inspirational to me with my poetry writing and I am forever grateful for her guidance.
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Apr 11, 2022 @ 19:39:31
I am happy to hear that Robbie. I learned about her from just featuring her here. Thanks for the visit and the comment.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:34:07
Many thanks to you, Valentina, for your lovely hospitality. I appreciate you. ❤
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 03:58:17
My pleasure Colleen.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 00:38:46
Colleen knows how to spruce up every season – despite the cold winter. Beautiful to see her featured here today. ❤
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 00:50:26
Debby, creative people know how to build beauty around them. Welcome back.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 15:46:12
This is so true! Thank you. ❤
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:34:40
Thanks so much, Debby. ❤
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 20:38:05
Valentina – a marvelous interview with a brilliant poet who inspires us to embrace our creative spirit. Thank you for a great way to start my day!
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 00:23:24
I am happy to hear that. Happy Spring, Rebecca.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:35:20
Thank you for your kindness, Rebecca. ❤
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 15:21:50
Lovely poem and commentary about Spring Colleen. 🙂
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 16:51:02
I agree with you, Colleen’s poem is lovely. Happy Spring.
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 20:38:51
Happy Spring Valentina. x
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:35:53
Thanks, Marje. It’s been a rainy spring… much like in the UK. ❤
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 07:35:31
Yes and stormy too! More windy weather last night!
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 14:23:59
Wonderful to have a fellow Michigander here with you, Valentina!! Yes, our weather is weird.
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 16:48:49
Thanks for the visit, Annette.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:36:33
LOL, Annette! ❤ It's been an interesting start to spring, for sure. ❤
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 12:34:50
Such a contrast between spring in California and Michigan! I lived in California for 10 years, and loved the climate.Nice piece by Colleen.
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 16:47:56
Hi Sharon, I think we pay a high cost of living just because the weather is so nice and we can enjoy a life of leisure. I love the view of spring from Colleen living in a different latitude.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:38:45
Sharon, we’re retired Air Force, so we’ve lived in California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Florida, and now Michigan. I’m originally from Wisconsin, but Michigan is where most of my close friends live, so it was the perfect move. ❤
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 03:55:23
You have experience with cold states living, Colleen, I would die in those climates.
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 11:26:46
LOL! I grew up in Wisconsin. My favorite was California but we can’t afford to live there. My husband was born in Long Beach. ❤️
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 23:17:04
You are right, they make us pay even for the air we breathe.
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Apr 07, 2022 @ 23:20:32
I know! It’s horrible. 😳💖
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 08:05:26
Lovely Colleen and Valentina.. love the house Colleen and your poem..♥
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Apr 05, 2022 @ 16:42:55
It is fun to host authors in each season. Thank you for the visit, Sally.
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Apr 06, 2022 @ 13:42:19
Michigan is like East Anglia was back in the early 1980s, temperature-wise… we do get more snow and cold here than in England. Yet, the humidity is almost the same. When we found this house, it reminded me of the house I lived in at RAF Lakenheath. We’re slowly getting everything fixed… it’s a process. ❤
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