Tiffany Painter

Spring Is in the Air
This past week marked the start of spring. I am thrilled! I absolutely love spring. The trees are starting to blossom, green is starting to show in the yard, temperatures are rising, and there is MORE DAYLIGHT. As someone who must have plant DNA, I live for light. It fuels me like nothing else can. After the short winter days where I tend to retreat like a turtle, nothing stirs me to action like a sunny day. I want to be more active and get more things done. My creative brain wakes up and imagines words, colors, and possibilities. Of course, spring in this area can bring more snow and send us all back inside. But my friend, the sun, will quickly melt it away and invite us out again. Spring snow never lasts for long. I hope everyone feels the joy of a few more hours of sunlight and feels the same awakening to possibilities as I do.
3/19

weather weighing down
want to keep it together
maybe by summer
3/20

searching for the light
following one who always
finds joy in the day
3/21

directing traffic
perched above, out of the way
many eyes watching
3/22

look closely above
against the lovely blue sky
new buds opening
3/23

somebody’s lost toy
becomes a hidden treasure
brings joy to my friend
March 23, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
Accountability
So I’ve been absent for a few weeks. It turns out you can’t always dodge the germs all around. And when one thing takes you down, another is happy to keep you down. When you throw a trip on top of this, your creative brain will strike. At least that’s what happened to me. A bout of stomach flu was followed with two weeks of a respiratory cold. The cold hit on the day I flew out of town which meant having no voice at the airport. Being away from home meant not enough rest. By the time I got home from the trip, I was only fit for long naps and mindless TV. I could only stare at my journal. Seventeen syllables were just too many for me to count. I couldn’t wonder about anything other than where did I leave my cough drops. But today, a friend reached out to me about my lack of posts. She didn’t do it to nag, but she said she missed seeing my weekly haikus and wonderings. This came at the end of an all-day writing conference; my first full day amongst the living. Knowing that somebody missed my writing and creating after being surrounded by fellow artist all day, I knew I owed it to her to get back in the game. I don’t have anything witty or crafty to say, but sometimes the first step back is just turning the computer on. To all my readers, I hope to enlighten you with something great next week.
3/9

little turtle friend
garden company waiting
for summer reading
3/11

loyal office mate
willing to discuss effort
prefers muted aid
3/13

they say storms coming
must prepare for heaps of snow
trees blanketed in
3/14

another March day
when everything has shut down
trapped on the inside
3/16

spring blossoms must wait
Jack Frost holding on ridgidly
branches must defrost
March 16, 2024

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr, winter
Fake – Appearing Otherwise than it Actually Is
Here we are in the middle of winter. That time when we are surrounded by white, have limited daylight, feel a frost in the air, and … What is with all the sunlight? Does it really say almost 60 degrees on the weather app? Is that the grass I see in the yard? This winter is fake! Or is it fake summer? Well, fake spring. Warmer weather, longer days, signs of vegetation. Whatever you call it, I love it. I really think my family tree must have a sunflower somewhere on it. I can feel myself stand up taller and lift my head to the sun. As far as I’m concerned, it can continue to pretend to be spring as long as it wants. I know the naysayers will start to spout off about the lack of snow and worry about water levels. And I know that is important. But for these few days, or maybe even a week or so, let’s enjoy fake spring. March is just around the corner and reality will set in. Snow shovels will get used again and gray skies will hang over our heads. There will probably be some fake winter in April when it is supposed to be spring. But today, I’ll be standing tall enjoying this fake season and soaking up the sun.
2/19

playing hide and seek
challenge when trees have no leaves
struggle to dim light
2/20

dogs are like children
cats resemble teenagers
full of many moods
2/21

when given a gift
blue sky, warm breezes blowing grass
leave treadmill at home
2/23

enjoy fake summer
shadow of park bench by lake
before snow returns
February 24, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr, winter
Leftovers
People tend to have strong feelings one way or another about leftovers. I have met people who state they don’t eat leftovers. They usually say this with some contempt for those of us who do eat leftovers. I actually feel bad for those people. They are missing out. I’m not saying all leftovers are good. There are a few things that I really don’t like as leftovers. Just ask my husband about the chicken enchiladas I recently made. My husband was thrilled to take some the next day for lunch. I tried to eat one though, and could not get past the sogginess of the tortilla after it spent the night in the sauce. So when it comes to anything that can get soggy, I will stand by the “No leftovers for me” people. But, there are so many things that make worthy leftovers: Chinese food (sesame chicken over rice), pasta (really anything from an Italian restaurant), pizza (more Italian), most meats (steak after a barbecue). The list just keeps going. Think how great the second meal is when you had a great time enjoying it the first time. Leftovers are like a screenshot of a happy day. And they take the pressure off of over eating. If you save part of the meal rather than stuffing yourself, you can have a second meal the next day. A meal that is already prepared and doesn’t mess up the kitchen. Besides, I hate waste. If my eating a bonus meal means less food getting thrown out, I’m happy to do my part. There really are so many perks to leftovers. If I haven’t tempted you yet perhaps the thought of leftover desserts will win you over. Who doesn’t love the leftover pies at Thanksgiving? Now that Valentine’s Day is over, technically all those chocolate hearts are leftovers. I for one, will continue enjoying those leftovers for a few more days.
2/12

power to make light
such a useful winter skill
when sun works part time
2/13

my inspiration
trying to get me to play
not much of a work dog
2/14

enjoying the view
greeting the lake with a song
brightens day for all
2/15

swimming through the sky
face looking right into the sun
mighty beast hiding
2/16

watching and waiting
tide has turned and taken sun
snow softly falling
2/17

last night’s snow weighs down
sun working hard to lift up
snow creatures lurking
February 17, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr
Cleaning Out the Basement
I was recently cleaning out some boxes in my basement when I came across some old clothing and cross-stitched towels. I had no idea what they were until I found a note. My husband’s grandmother had attached a hand-written note letting us know these items had belonged to one of her relatives, and therefore, one of our relatives. The problem is I don’t think I ever met this person. The note written in her shaky cursive meant more to me because I knew her and liked seeing something she had touched. Those items that must have been important to somebody once, went back into the box and stacked with the other boxes in my storage room. This got me thinking about all of the other things in my house that came from people who have since passed on. What will happen to all this stuff after me? What is the point of boxes of things tucked away taking up space? I don’t see how that honors or remembers anyone. My own grandmother made me several blankets as I grew up. I have the purple one from when I was ten and shared with her my favorite color was purple. She made me other purple things that year, but the blanket is what survived. There is the peach one she sent me off to college with because my new comforter was peach. Then there is the blue one she made when I got married and the new couch my husband and I picked out had blue strips on it. These blankets are kept out and get used. My kids got to meet their great grandmother and still remember her. I don’t think they remember her the person so much as see these blankets and remember she was once part of their lives. I hope they never end up in a box in some strangers basement. When all the people who knew her are gone, the blankets need to go, too. I crochet blankets now and have made my children each one. I hope they use them and someday their kids enjoy them as well. Things should be enjoyed and not boxed up in the basement. That’s how I like to remember people. Besides, I have enough boxes taking up space of my own stuff I can’t seem to part with. I mean how can I throw out that apron I painted when I was a Brownie?
2/4

the sound of the birds
hidden in melancholy
only calls pierce through
2/5

sunny side of lake
crackling sound of melting ice
captured water freed
2/7

morning gathering
just stopping for a quick drink
before flying off
2/9

sky blanket covers
as the flakes begin to fall
follow the trail home
2/10

trees covered in white
winter’s frosting greets today
quiet, snowy walk
February 10, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr
Stream of Consciousness
Somebody’s awake and starting to pace. Wait. Is that rain I hear? Ugh. It’s going to be a wet walk. Now he’ giving me his whimper. Okay, let’s go feed him. Oh, it’s not too bad out there. We’ll have to skip the lake because it’ll be muddy. Maybe it’s stopping. What does the weather app say. Wow. It’s going to rain all day. Better than snow that has to be shoveled. Of course, it’s been wrong a lot lately. I’ll just sit and scroll on my phone for a few minutes and give it a chance to stop. It’s not stopping. I guess I may as well get it over with. Okay raincoat, it’s your lucky day. Oh this isn’t too bad. It’s kind of nice. Maybe I’ll write about how nice a quiet walk in the rain is. Is that a pebble in my shoe? I can’t take my shoe off in the rain. Maybe if I just tap my foot a little it will move. That’s better. Oh, it’s back. Tap, tap, tap. Perfect. Nope. Tap, tap, tap. Good. Ugh. It’s just a tiny little pebble. Why is it so irritating. It’s like that story Princess and the Pea. I wonder if Dad’s relative was right and we’re descendants of Pocahontas. That could make me a princess. Princess and the Pebble. Hmm. I’ll have to think about that for a story. It’s really raining now. Look at how much water has filled up over there. I hope it runs off before it can freeze. I don’t think my sweats are going to resist the water much longer. I hope Zephyr doesn’t mind if we skip part of our walk. He’s not stopping to smell anything. I’ll just go right instead of left at the corner. Maybe he won’t notice. Now wind? Come on! It’s blowing the water off my hood into my face. Time to be a turtle and pull into my collar. Almost home. Stupid glasses. Don’t fog up. Good thing I put Zeph’s orange coat on. I’d never be able to see him. So much for these fleece-lined water-resistant sweats. The wet fleece is sticking to my knees. Yay! There’s my house. Just a few more minutes of this stupid rain. Wait. We should go in through the garage. That dog is going to shake when I take his coat off. I just hope I can get out of the way. Nope. I hope he doesn’t want to play ball for a while. We need to dry off. Stupid rain….That was the start of my day. I hope you’re having a dry morning.
1/30

every step is marked
oblivious app awake
always being watched
1/31

basking in the sun
thrilled not buried under snow
soaking it all in
2/1

opposites at play
lake water frozen across
sun shining down warmth
2/3

always has last word
leaves party with spectacle
guests left marveling
February 3, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, Walks with Zephyr
To-Exercise-or-not-to-Exercise
Whenever I start to get in a groove with working out, something happens to throw my schedule off. It happened again this week. After the busy holiday season, I got back into my routines and settled into an exercise schedule that seemed to be working. I know I need more recovery time than I once did, but I wanted to aim for two weight days and two cardio days a week with longer yoga on the other days. I hate weight days! But, I thought I could manage just two days a week. And then, I started to feel something in my chest. That raspy feeling that warns you a cold is coming. I quickly moved into a proactive state of mind. First, I cut out a cardio day and tried to rest more. By day two, things had not really gotten any worse. A few times I felt like my head might be getting stuffy, but that was fleeting. Made the decision to skip weights and continue resting. By day three and still not any better or worse, tried some yoga. That was okay, even the downward dogs, but felt extra tired by late afternoon. Now, here I sit on day four of not really sick but not 100%. I am wrestling with the decision of to-work-out-or-not-to-work-out. Knowing I have an activity planned for late afternoon today, it looks like another rest day for me. I don’t want to be tired for that. Tomorrow looks like a good day to get back to my schedule. Sundays are a good day for a fresh start, and fortunately we get one every seven days. ***Disclaimer: I have to be really sick to short-change my dog. I’ve still been taking Zephyr out for his morning walk. We enjoy that hour when the day is still new and full of wonder.
1/22

swirling clouds above
mirrors the frozen water
waiting for the sun
1/23

the sun is coming
with all its glorious light
break out your best shades
1/24

standing all alone
challenging ice-covered lake
which one will melt first
1/25

time to judge a peer
summons arrived to step up
seat in jury box
1/26

powered by the sun
even reflected off moon
light energizes
1/27

looking across clouds
only waves on frozen lake
with splashes of snow
January 27, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, winter, wondering
New Normal
It was just over a week ago that I complained of the cold, before the arctic front came through and really showed me what cold was. Life has a way of testing us and helping us appreciate what is right in front of us. Before, I thought a seventeen degree morning was a frigid walk and didn’t exactly enjoy it. After several days of below zero with some blowing snow thrown in, seventeen degrees is absolutely lovely. My mark for what distinguishes a too cold morning from just a cold morning has changed. Life has a way of changing our perceptions. I’ve heard people refer to life after extreme situations as the new normal, but what does that mean? Life is fluid. It is always changing, always in motion. That is normal. A normal life is one with ups and downs. A new normal would be one that stayed constant and never experienced change. Whether this is normal or new normal for you, you’ll still need gloves and a hat this morning, but probably not in a few hours.
1/14

went in for just one
came out with three for the stack
ready for the cold
1/15

all are snug inside
tucked away from the snow, but
still a snowy trail
1/17

watching pink blanket
spread across the evening sky
from behind the glass
1/18

too cold for the snow
hiding from the wind blown drift
soon shoved out the door
1/19

fooling nobody
fake tree towers aloft
spilling all the tea
1/20

open house today
may be a fixer upper
has unique decor
January 20, 2024

change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, winter
Baby, It’s Warm Inside
In case you are living under a rock, it’s cold outside. Very, very, very cold. There is no point in discussing the outside weather. Even a baby can figure that out. Since we are all inside this weekend, unless you are like my husband and out skiing because fresh powder is calling, let’s discuss how warm it is inside. For me, happiness can be found inside on these frigid days. Fireplace turned on (yes, I make fire with a switch), extra cups of warm tea (coffee if you prefer), stacks of books ready to be read (the kindle is charged, too), and a few shows ready to be watched (or those movies being nominated for everything that you haven’t seen yet). The Danish have a word for just this kind of weekend: hygge (hoo-gah). Since they spend most of their winters living with these frigid temperatures, the Danish had to create a way to be happy. Hygge basically means getting cozy and enjoying the good things in life. Mark Wiking even wrote “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well” and shared the ten principles of the hygge manifesto: atmosphere, presence, pleasure, equality, gratitude, harmony, comfort, truce, togetherness, and shelter. Since the Danish are often ranked as the happiest people in the world, I think I will be enjoying some hygge this weekend.
1/7

starting from my chair
with cup of tea and new book
perfect adventure
1/8

hiding from the cold
perfect place to curl up
chair fit for a king
1/9

I know it’s cold out
and too dark to play ball
ready with plan B
1/10

place for lost things found
hidden treasures brought back home
just waiting to play
1/11

blustery outside
created tranquility
content in my space
1/13

dancing in the cold
wind blown hair leading the way
laughing with my friends
January 13, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, hygge, joyful, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, winter
New Year, Bah Humbug
Why do we have to start the new year in the dead of winter? I am cold and perfectly happy to stay under the covers a little longer. If we could just have this fresh start in the middle of summer, I would be happy to participate. Getting up early to work out when the sun is already up would be lovely. Eating more fruits and vegetables when everything is growing would be so much easier. I am content to live happily in my winter layers sipping my warm tea and finishing off the leftover holiday treats. Think we could get a petition going to change the start of the year to July 1st? Everyone is tired after the holidays and would like to have January as a recovery month. It’s asking a bit much to think we are all ready to just jump into a new year. I guess I can move to the southern hemisphere for a warm start to the new year, but I would have to give up any hope of a white Christmas. Since I don’t think all my friends and family will move with me, that won’t work. I guess I’ll just have to keep finding ways to enjoy these winter New Years. Maybe I’ll just celebrate the half-year mark, like children who celebrate their half-birthdays.
12/31

be brave as you go
through the pass to the new year
it’s waiting for you
1/1

some daily habits
worth keeping year after year
walks with my buddy
1/2

cheeks and nose are cold
warm breath turns to foggy guide
but view warms my soul
1/4

hard to head outside
a month of cold, grey mornings
just thirty-one days
1/5

forgotten treasure
who will come searching for it
frozen on the rail
1/6

bright sun awakens
generous with light today
withholds warmth for now
January 6, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, resolutions, scbwi, Walks with Zephyr, winter