Tiffany Painter

Searching for Joy
It has been a tough week keeping up with the news. In a world full of hate, I appreciate finding joy when I am out for my morning walks. The nice thing is joy doesn’t need to be big and over the top. Little things can help reset my mood and remind me there are still some good things to look forward to each day. The crisp morning air and fall colored trees are a good place to begin searching for joy. It’s even better when you have a canine friend to join you. I found joy celebrating four years with my buddy this past week.
10/15

imagination
to see the wise owl watching
hidden in the bark
10/16

threw a tennis ball
he brought back something bigger
feeling proud of find
10/17

who knew my soulmate
would be a furry red dog
don’t tell my husband
10/19

thinning some on top
time to decide if better
to shave it all off
10/19

Easter egg hiding
left over from earlier
or waiting for spring
10/20

walk interrupted
noisy crunch beneath my feet
pavement instrument
10/21

autumnal highlights
great coloring from salon
golden hues enhance
October 20, 2023

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, wondering

Notice What is Right There

It is so easy to go about the day on autopilot and not notice the little things all around. So much of our lives are spent juggling many things and racing from one task to the next. To start the day, I try to leave all of that behind and notice the world as it awakens. As we leave summer behind and prepare for the cold months ahead, its a perfect time to stop and notice.

10/8

otter out of place
river creature in a park
location all wrong

10/9

waiting for wishes
take flight with one rush of air
who will take a chance

10/10

green yielding to red
despite the transformation
hanging on for now

10/11

amber leaves bookend
end of season foliage
leaves pressed between pages

10/12

last one standing wins
making a claim for this stump
ere whirling away

10/13

tell Chicken Little
part of the sky has fallen
cloud litters my walk

10/14

a look to the right
first snow frosting on the peak
hiding in the clouds

October 13, 2023

fall, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, wondering

Accepting Change
I think everyone can agree there is a change in the air, especially on those morning walks. Being able to enjoy the fall weather is new for me. I was a teacher for many years and only recently left the classroom. Fall was a busy time of year. I had not planned on leaving a profession I had loved with my whole heart, but a lot of things had changed. The profession itself had become more negative and I was spending a lot of time not actually teaching my students. My family had changed as well with aging parents, a husband who needed to go back to the office, kids who needed help now and again navigating their transition into adulthood, and a dog who needed a lot of attention. Accepting all of these changes was hard and took a lot of soul searching. Most days I am happy with my choice to leave teaching so I can be available for my family, but I won’t lie, when I hear of an opening at a school, I still consider it. But one look at my beloved dog, and I know I am where I am supposed to be. I have been given this gift of time. Time to be there for others, time to experience peace, and time to appreciate the world around me. It is with that mindset I am learning to accept this change.
10/1

through the field goal posts
full moon scores early today
fall signs all around
10/2

new colors emerge
fall leaves playing peek-a-boo
welcoming the change
10/3

gift from above caught
perfectly fallen feather
cradled on the branch
10/4

fallen leaves blowing
tumbling across the sidewalk
running after me
10/5

cover blown away
green leaves for hiding absent
height all that remains
10/6

life and art collide
mountains jumping off canvas
vision to behold
10/7

lookup from walking
take a moment to breath in
nature’s offering
October 7, 2023

change, fall, haiga, haiku, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Garden Bliss
I spent last Sunday at the Denver Botanical Garden with a friend. It was the second time I visited and a vastly different experience. My first time at the garden was around 2005. It was a cold, rainy day, and I was chaperoning a group of second grade boys for a field trip. Nothing about that day was relaxing. My friend enjoys it so much that she got a membership and invited me to join her. I went, but almost begrudgingly. I kept thinking about herding a group of boys around mud and puddles all those years before. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise. Walking amongst flowers on a sunny fall morning with a friend is probably as close as one can get to actually walking in Heaven. All the nervousness I was feeling about going back evaporated before we even got through the first section. We even have our next visit on the calendar. What a great reminder to allow myself to be open to new experiences at old places. That, and some places do not make great field trips for second graders.
9/24

behind the dark clouds
glorious light secluded
waiting to dazzle
9/25

flower holding on
warm day invites butterfly
soon to flitter off
9/26

flamingos lined up
never dull at the garden
hanging lobster claw
9/27

splashes of water
the morning dew refreshes
summer’s final bloom
9/28

beaks open for food
blue ginger flower waiting
hatchling on the vine
9/29

supply store for dreams
lumber for building new home
tiny house awaits
9/30

sapphire bookends
serenity in between
peaceful oasis
September 30, 2023

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Bird Camping
During this last week of summer, I noticed all the different bird houses/feeders in my neighborhood. Some were unique and others were more on the ordinary side. The one thing they all had in common was they were empty of birds. I never saw a bird visiting one of these lovely places designed just for them. I saw and heard birds everywhere on my morning walks, but never in the man-made structures. They preferred the trees. This made me think of a meme I recently saw about camping. It asked what was the one thing you always take when you go camping. The answer was a hotel. These birds feel differently as they seem to prefer roughing it and avoid all the hotels. After some thought I had to admit I am not like the birds. I enjoy being outdoors and exploring nature, but I’ll take that hotel at the end of the day.
9/17

ice crystal layer
night time visit from Jack Frost
sun beams rush to warm
9/19

another work day
just hanging with the birds
view from loft office
9/20

little cottage house
home for Tinker Bell and friends
or neighborhood birds
9/21

favorite color
the blue of an autumn day
behind tall green trees
9/22

cool mountain river
brings solace as summer ends
soaking it all up
9/23

lonely little house
nobody comes to visit
no amenities
September 23, 2023

birds, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, scbwi, Walks with Zephyr, Winter Park, wondering
Blue Sky and Fluffy Clouds
Fall started pushing its way in this week. The mornings were cooler and the afternoon heat didn’t last as long. There were also more clouds overhead. The thing with clouds though, is breadth versus depth. I prefer deep clouds that rise high in the blue sky. They tend to be fluffy and might even have a picture in them. The best part is you can still see the blue sky peeking through. The clouds that have breadth are not as nice. These clouds spread out and cover up the blue sky. The don’t tend to offer any pictures. These are grey, gloomy days. I am definitely a blue sky and fluffy clouds person. Everyone waiting for their pumpkin spice lattes can have the grey days.
9/10

early morning walks
watching the world wake up
with the rising sun
9/12

behind the grey clouds
blue sky waiting to shine through
eagerly prepared
9/13

company today
face in the sky watching
friend in high places
9/14

a fork in the road
morning sun guiding my way
happy to follow
9/15

summer sky no more
cloudy days of fall arrive
just for a visit
9/16

ever wonder where
plane soaring through the blue sky
to unknown places
September 16, 2023

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Need for Rest
I didn’t start the week thinking about rest, but then I found it all around me. Labor Day is the signal that summer has ended along with the relaxing pace we all enjoyed for a few months. Fall has always been a busy time with busy schedules and new routines. As we settle into these new routines, it’s important to make sure time is scheduled for rest, a time to “relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor.” My pets have been providing great role models for this much needed rest.
9/3 a place to wonder many thoughts to reflect on under the surface
9/4 rain to cool the day work break for the tired sun holiday for all
9/5 resting before lunch waiting to find some takeout too lazy to move
9/6 another work day motivation isn't there need a cozy nap
9/7 panda on the loose dug all the way from China resting from the trip
9/8 proud rototiller sitting on a pedestal tired of yard work
9/9 catching and fetching hard work when done correctly much needed rest break
September 9, 2023

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, scbwi, wondering
Mother Nature Therapy
I was fortunate enough to get to spend a few days in the mountains as August wrapped up summer. I find being in nature recharges me. My husband refers to it as Mother Nature therapy. Some people like retail therapy, but I don’t really like shopping. It could be all the people out there. Sometimes I might indulge in food therapy, especially dessert. I know several people who benefit from actual therapy, and that works for them. For me though, Mother Nature therapy is just what the doctor ordered.
8/27 racing the storm clouds weekend hiking in the trees earning a couch nap
8/28 one more thing to do light up moon for the night shift changing of the guard
8/29 burdens too heavy Mother Nature therapy quiet summer hikes
8/30 some days are worth it another day to enjoy skip reading the news
8/31 dogs, sun, and dirt trails few of my favorite things guiding my journey
9/1 Wonderland mushrooms brighten hike through the forest looking for Alice
9/2 rings on a tree show passing of time takes a toll years change a person
September 2, 2023

Granby Countuy, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, scbwi, Walks with Zephyr, Winter Park, wondering
Looking Up
I spent a lot of time looking up this week, emotionally and physically. I used to dread the end of summer. In my mind summer ended and winter started with nothing in between. Last year was the first time in a long time I was able to enjoy fall since I wasn’t heading back to the classroom. Fall welcomed me with open arms after leaving teaching. I hope I get the same greeting again this year. Fortunately there are still a few weeks of summer left to revel in.
8/20 light trying to shine menacing clouds pushing in curtain coming down.
8/21 scorching August day wringing out last of summer sunflowers hiding
8/22 energy from sun foliage ready to absorb eating out today
8/23 faithful friend watching telling me much with one look while waiting on hold
8/25

rainy night
clouds linger
sun pushes through
8/26

across grassy field
mountains hiding in the sky
simple landscape art
August 25, 2023

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, scbwi, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Change
It was a week full of change. The weather couldn’t seem to decide between summer and fall. Students headed back to school for another school year. Trees gave way to the consequences of birds. And clouds were constantly changing in the sky. The one thing that brought back memories from the past was my cat resting on my daughter’s bed waiting for a story. But even that was a sign of change as it is no longer her bed except for when she visits. Change is inevitable, make sure you take the time to notice.
8/13 many years ago adopted this regal boy glad he lets me serve
8/14 heading back to school grey clouds hover overhead weighs down the backpack
8/15 land developers take over a neighborhood Woodpeckers at work
8/16 soft caterpillar strolling across the sidewalk still fallen eyelash
8/17 crows watch from above wait for the dog to trot by security guards
8/18 clouds strewn all over spilled milk flows across the sky wipe away the tears
8/19 clouds after the rain before the sun sets today drama playing out
August 19, 2023

haiga, haiku, poetry, scbwi, Walks with Zephyr, wondering