Tiffany Painter

Spring Cleaning
I took the spring cleaning outside this week. Fortunately, I had help from my son who didn’t realize what he had signed up for when I asked. We spent two long days planting new shrubs, clearing out years of leaves that had built up around the plants, and cutting back the dogwoods that needed a good trimming. It was when I brought out the leaf blower that I quickly realized I could not tackle the outdoor cleaning the same way I do the indoor. Whereas the vacuum cleaner can get all the dirt and leave the carpet with nice marks to show off the hard work, a leaf blower just sends leaves flying in all directions. You can imagine my surprise when I was often attacked by the very leaves I was trying to send in a different direction. After many attempts to leave not a trace of these old, decaying leaves, I realized how futile my desire at reaching indoor completion was. I was never going to get rid of all the debris. I could spend all day chasing those leaves around with that blowing machine, but there would always be some lurking behind a rock or under a low lying branch. After a very long afternoon of leaf-cleaning, I had to accept that sometimes good enough is good enough. My son was much quicker at reaching that conclusion, but he hung in there with me. The next day a friend came over and gave me the kudos I needed on my lovely yard. I will hold onto that one day of feeling like I completed my yard spring cleaning. At the end of that day a hail storm swept through and a yard full of leaves knocked from the trees greeted me when I went out to inspect the damage. I guess I’ll be getting to know that leave blower again.
5/26

secret escape hatch
inviting door left ajar
to accept or not
5/29

favorite helper
assisted with all the chores
ready for some rest
5/30

newly in the ground
small and unsure of future
much growth expected
5/31

some days can’t just pick
one color isn’t enough
need a splash of pink
6/1

passage meant for me
promise of light at the end
pass the long shadows
June 1, 2024

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, perfection, spring, summer, Walks with Zephyr
Defrosted
With every degree the temperature rises, I feel my soul defrosting. It turns out I need more than just a sunny day; I need all the warmth that comes from summer. Like a turtle poking its head out of its shell, I turn my face upwards to absorb all of the energy the sun provides. I arrange the patio furniture, prep the garden, and hang the wind chimes. My dog follows me around with anticipation. He too looks forward to afternoons spent together outside in the shade. We are summer buddies who prefer being outside taking in all we can from long summer days. We are just at the beginning when everything is fresh and new and the possibilities are endless. Breathe it all in.
5/23

more than just a tree
support arm for holding dreams
soaring through the air
5/24

new friend in the yard
little buddy for us all
needs no maintenance
5/25

music in the air
calm sound restores energy
with just gentle breeze
May 25, 2024

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, scbwi, seasons, summer, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
Too Much to Read
When you write, the piece of advice you often hear is to read a lot. I took this advice to heart, but I may have gone overboard. At least in terms of preparation. My TBR pile is at the point it’s causing me stress. Actually, piles with an “s” because I have sorted them. There’s the basic reading pile of books that I’ll share with a small group of fellow readers. This pile is on my nightstand and is now threatening to knock over the lamp. It’s a hard pile to get to the bottom of because as I share books with my friends, they share books with me that get added to the pile. It’s mostly fiction, but there are some nonfictions in there because I love Anne Patchett essays. In my office there’s a basket of middle grade (children) books that I want to read to support my writing. The basket is completely full but I have another one arriving in the mail today. That’s part of my problem. I love to support independent book stores and their events for authors and always end up purchasing the book being discussed, even when it’s an out-of-state store. I have two more piles of books on my work table, one for library books and one for writing craft books. The craft books tend to get started, but then I may bounce around reading sections that apply in the moment. Wait, that means it’s not actually a TBR pile and more of a being read pile. But that still leaves the library pile; the one causing me the most stress. All the other piles can stay as long as necessary, but the library pile has a deadline. I have to finish these by next week. It makes me sad knowing it won’t happen and I’ll have to return a couple of them unread. As it is, I had to create a reading schedule just to get through most of them. It’s like being back in school with homework. “I’m sorry I can’t go to dinner with you. I haven’t finished my daily reading allotment.” And if that isn’t bad enough, I have to give the books back. That’s the way the system works. I only get to borrow them for a couple of weeks. When it’s a really good book with a pretty cover, it’s hard to push it through the return slot knowing I won’t see it again. This is the kind of stress I’m dealing with. I won’t even bring up the books waiting for me on my kindle and audio app. It’s easier to pretend they don’t exist since I can’t actually see them. I may have to admit I have problem, but for now, I must go do my homework.
5/12

cat resting on lap
listening to rain outside
enjoying warm tea
5/13

after the rain falls
the sun comes out to spotlight
highlight of the day
5/15

purple wall delights
scent of spring greets everyone
slow down to enjoy
5/17

trying to find peace
in a world full of noise
turning off the phone
5/18

mornings together
best when spent outside watching
shadows disappear
May 18, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, reading, scbwi, TBR, Walks with Zephyr
Fan Girl
I had an exciting week. Well, exciting for an adult. An adult who lives a pretty uneventful life. A Tuesday night kind of excitement. Basically, exciting for me, but maybe not for everybody else. You get the idea. Anyways… I got to meet a favorite author in person at the launch of her book tour for the final book in her fabulous kid lit series. If you’ve read The One and Only Ivan book and its two companions, then you know who Katherine Applegate is. She has written many other books for children as well. In the kid lit world, she is kind of a big deal. The part that made the evening so wonderful was her attitude. She was all about lifting others up instead of keeping herself alone on her pedestal. There were plenty of kids hanging on her every word, and she was friendly and encouraging to all of them. She was gracious when the long line of people snaked around the room with people waiting to get their books signed and talk to her. This was after a day of hosting two school events in a new town. I know the kid lit world is a small world, but it was nice seeing someone at the top not only take time for her fans, young and old, but actually seem to enjoy it. I’ve been to an author event where that wasn’t the case. Interestingly enough, that was an author who was an actor first and co-wrote a series for kids with an author. He couldn’t even act like he was interested in the reader. I know it was just one event and he may have been having a bad day, but it came across as he was above everyone in that line. Katherine Applegate showed how much she appreciated the people who love her work and wasn’t going to just phone it in. Her enthusiasm made it fun to be around her. She is my kind of role model. She works hard and earns her achievements, but she wants to bring everyone along for the ride with her instead of leaving people behind. We can use more people like that.
5/6

peeking through the rocks
mocking all my weekend work
steadfast little weed
5/8

quiet water day
floating along with a friend
soaking up the sun
5/9

wind blowing across
changing the water’s surface
hiding what’s below
5/11

deciding next step
plunge in the cold water or
stay on shore with friend
May 11, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, kaaaauthor, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
Perfectly Imperfect
Does anyone else get tired of trying to be perfect? Perfection surrounds us everywhere. At least that is what media wants us to believe. But even as a writer, I am always striving for just the right word or phrase, just the right plot development or cliffhanger. Writing is actually more time spent revising. Ugh, it’s overwhelming sometimes to always be going for perfection. That is why I love writing my haikus. I never go for perfection. They are simply just random wonderings or observations I have in my life. Oftentimes they are created right before I post them and there is only time for a quick proofread. I think of them more as a conversation rather than a debate. You don’t really prepare to talk with friends, but you might have to research your points for a debate. So if you catch mistakes in my haikus or blogs, chances are I caught them too, afterwards. It’s like when you replay a conversation later and regret something that was said or misunderstood. I prefer to think of a world that is more forgiving of imperfections. I may groan or laugh, depending on the mistake, and then I move on to wonder about something else. If you are reading this I hope you can appreciate my imperfections and come to learn that life is more fun down here below the perfection bar.
4/29

ready for the show
waiting for curtains to rise
reveal star of the show
4/30

little lost scooter
waits for tiny hands to find
for the journey home
5/2

some days stand alone
bravely holding head up high
facing what may come
5/3

under the grey clouds
common lilac brightens day
spring scents drifting by
5/4

introvert wakens
slowly unfolding itself
greatness emerges
May 4, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, perfection, poetry, scbwi, spring, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Puzzle of Life
It happened. I crossed over to the other side and started a puzzle. I might be a puzzle person now. As I struggled through the first step of just spreading the pieces out right side up and separating the edges from the middles, I started to see the value in puzzles. They improve your problem solving skills. You have to determine what exactly you need and then search through all the options to find the piece that is the right color and has the right shape to solve your problem. This sounds a lot like life. Sometimes you think you have the right solution, but the shape is just a little bit off and you have to search some more. Once I was on the path to honing in on those important problem solving skills, I realized I was also learning how to be patient and not need instant gratification. Putting together a puzzle takes time. I am not going to finish for a while, unless I give up everything else and lock myself in the room. It’s raining here today so maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, but realistically, it will be slow going. We live in a world where we have gotten used to instant gratification. We like to be validated often and feel that sense of accomplishment frequently, but sometimes we need to wait and let life happen. Life is about the journey and not the finish line. Puzzles are like that. Finally, we might not see the big picture until the end. I might get all the pieces for a part of the picture, but I won’t get to see the two cats resting on the couch in front of all those pillows with the plants hanging in the background until the end. Remember, it’s a journey? Imagine if there were puzzle classes or puzzle time in schools. Not only would kids be learning valuable life lessons, it might just help with the mental health crisis. Something to think about while I search for that piece with the right shade of purple.
4/21

so many weekends
watching kids playing their sports
from foldable chairs
4/22

lovely view today
early blooms survived the cold
brighten scenery
4/24

lone duck swims early
before daily pace quickens
enjoys solitude
4/25

few favorite things
kept always ready for play
so many choices
4/27

edges may be smooth
what’s on the inside completes
then the picture shows
April 27, 2024

change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, puzzles, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Seasons of Life
When visiting a friend this past week, she referred to being in “this season of life.” This got me thinking, of course. For her, the seasons are in relationship to somebody else. She is in the season of having very young kids. I am well past that season with my adult children. My thinking took me in another direction, a more personal one. Spring is about rebirth and starting out. Childhood is when we are in the spring season of our life. Kids do grow like weeds after all. Their gangly limbs just seem to blow in the breeze as they run from one place to another. Summer is for staying out late and having fun. The first few decades of adulthood are when we seem to live life to its fullest. We don’t have to answer to parents; we don’t have to have everything figured out; we try new experiences to see what we like; basically, we finish growing up. Fall eventually comes around and things slow down. We are more settled in our lives and have expectations. Some of us are pretty settled in our routines. Leaves change colors and fall like our hair. As things turn cold, winter comes creeping in. The trees stand bare and try to survive the cold, dark days. But they have wisdom and grace that the saplings lack. Those summer flowers die off and become fertilizer for the new growth that is just around the corner. If you live someplace like I do, you know the seasons are not perfectly aligned and there will be some crossover. Summer likes to revisit in the fall and spring may pop up early before winter is done. After breaking a lifetime into the four seasons, I thought about where I am at. Age wise I know I am sitting fulling in fall. But there are times when I forget and think it is still summer for me, until I walk by a mirror. As winter inches its way closer, I remember that it is a gift to get to enjoy all of the seasons. Some people don’t live with all four seasons.
4/15

chair with best view
sits alone by the water
at peace with oneself
4/16

when the rain is done
and the sun breaks through the clouds
the cattails can dry
4/17

some want a house with
white picket fence, others want
fence with a white house
4/19

trying to stay warm
while gently snoring away
a chilly spring day
4/20

uninvited guest
blanket of snow dampens mood
party crasher leave
April 20, 2024

change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, seasons, thankful, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
There’s Hope
I call myself a silent protester. I won’t buy alcohol at the grocery store (this is a relatively new thing in my state) because next to practically every grocery store is a little independent store trying to survive selling just alcohol and it takes away valuable shelf space from food I used to be able to buy. I stopped buying books on Amazon and look for independent book stores or local ones who support local authors. These are just little things that make me feel like I’m doing good things. But let’s be honest, it doesn’t really matter. This week though, I “attended” a webinar that focused on making an impact. I learned of kids who are making a difference. Kids in high school and college who are taking a seat at the table to get their voices heard. They are speaking out against banned books. They are uniting their classmates. They are going to Washington to make sure all sides are heard. They are not being silent. When so many people are growing more and more disenchanted with our democracy and not even voting, there are young people who are standing tall and challenging the old ways for the right to read. I am in complete awe of these kids. It gives me hope for the future to know there are some who were able to learn how to think critically even when the establishment did all it could to prevent it. These kids are the future leaders.
4/8

another Monday
things to do, yet here I sit
doing all I can
4/9

taking in the view
before a cool morning swim
all is good
4/11

caterpillar tree
dawning of spring renewal
watching for next phase
4/12

take your dog to work
had to adjust to make room
guess we know who’s boss
4/13

new day’s arrival
bright things are coming today
full of so much hope
April 12, 2024

change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, spring, Walks with Zephyr
Alone Time
My husband was out of town this week. Anybody who lives with a fellow human knows how exciting it is to get the house to yourself. I love my husband, but I really enjoy not sharing the remote. And I love only worrying about what I want to eat, and when. There is a freedom to not having to answer to anyone else in the house. Well, any human that is. I still had roommates this week: one high maintenance dog and one needy cat. My two furmates like things done a certain way. Our days started early and with movement. No lazy mornings with a cup of tea. Their needs had to come first. They both needed to eat, one had to go outside to visit the yard. Then the daily walk needed to happen for the dog so the cat could have some quiet time. Once back from our hour of checking on things in the neighborhood, I could squeeze in some breakfast for myself while the dog enjoyed his morning Kong. It wouldn’t be long before the cat was crying for his attention. I then needed to provide him with a lap so he could get some cuddles in. But I couldn’t get too comfortable with the peaceful pet, because the dog would be ready to play ball at the park. So out again with him. Finally, around mid-morning, they both were ready to settle down for their rest time. I could then run around getting everything done that needed to get done for the day, in and out of the house. I was able to spend many afternoons working on my book revisions, but only after another trip to the park for the dog and sharing my work space with a curious cat. No chance of getting lost in creating because they were both willing to alert me when it was getting close to dinner time, and no, they could not wait just one more minute. So after more feeding and more playtime. I could finally sit down with the remote. Unfortunately, in the process of searching for something to watch I kept finding shows that I wanted to watch with my husband. It was a struggle to find something I didn’t think he would want to watch. Too much pressure with all that freedom. The dog couldn’t seem to settle down without everyone being home and the cat would get mad if I had to get up for something and took away his lap. It wasn’t very relaxing. I’m not sure who will be happier to see our missing roommate this afternoon. I hope he is ready to take the dog to the park because I need a nap, probably with the cat.
4/1

fresh haircuts for spring
ready for season of growth
color change comes next
4/2

sunless chilly nights
April showers turn frosty
when sun looks away
4/3

follow laughing sound
not alone, just overhead
what is so funny
4/5

tree of leftovers
last seasons foliage clings
past expiration
4/6

first flower to show
after winters long slumber
sprouted out of earth
April 6, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, pets, poetry, Walks with Zephyr
Spring Rebirth
For many people, it’s Easter weekend. For those who gave up something for Lent, you’ve just about made it to the finish line. I don’t participate in Lent, but I do respect everyone who can commit to that. Don’t worry, this is not going to be a religious post and I’m not trying to indoctrinate anyone to my way of thinking. The last time I tried that I was a teacher. And my students still couldn’t remember to put their names on their papers. I clearly lack the ability to force someone to give up their beliefs for mine. This post is about my favorite thing: Spring. Since Easter falls in the spring and has some similarities to this time of year, it gets mentioned. Easter has to do with rebirth, and if you look outside you can see rebirth everywhere. When I don’t have to put on all my heavy layers for my morning walk, I feel like a new person. When the sun is still shining when I’m making dinner, I’m practically singing with joy. (Don’t worry, I would never actually sing and I am still struggling with my voice). Even better, nobody can complain about it being too hot or there are too many bugs. It’s that perfect time of year full of hope and promise but not humidity and misery. So whatever your religious beliefs are, go out and enjoy your own personal spring rebirth.
3/24

eye watching me pass?
path to underground world?
just trash can igloo
3/25

skiers rejoicing
as are book-loving spouses
peace and harmony
3/26

art imitates life
snow slid right off the picture
life imitates art
3/28

snowy river bank
season coming to an end
great melt off begins
3/30

following the dark
sun pierces through the heavens
birth of a new day
March 30, 2024

Granby County, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, spring, Walks with Zephyr, Winter Park