Thank you! I love this so much on a morning I’m reflecting on the importance of play, wonder, delight, spontaneity to balance out a life that is so heavy and too often intense with grief and with the work I choose to do. I’m so glad you’ve had this lovely time. I too love the Merlin app and the deer! Yesterday I called in the dolphins at sunset, and they came! They always captivate me. Savoring the moments of our last week in our winter getaway.
I’m so glad you got some time away in nature. It always resets me. Thank you for mentioning the craft books by Greywolf press. I’m looking forward to reading them. ❤️
Certainly, for DEER life. Having deer visit is like having spirits sort of waft gently in and out of your day. I have had the experience, and I always felt a little special, or perhaps chosen by something in that moment. I live in the PNW and spring creeps in so slowly I feel like I might go mad before the sun warms the soil. So what I am particularly looking forward to is True Spring (yes, caps) and my blooming garden. Long days are on that list too. And all the birds that trapeze through my yard and fill the air with song. This too means I am alive and living. I am looking forward to your next pep-talk. The lesson plan is the best! - April
Thank you, April. Spirits wafting in--that it! Winter here in the Midwest lasts until about May, so I'd call this 75 degree day "false spring." It'll probably snow again, so I'm not putting my patio umbrellas out just yet, but I'm absolutely giddy about it today. x
Maggie, There's so much delight in this piece. Thank you for bringing a smile on a Monday morning. I'm new to writing poetry and hadn't discovered the Graywolf craft series—I'm already excited to dig in. And I've now downloaded the Merlin app! This weekend, the forest was full of birdsong. After a long, gray winter, I felt such joy and hope just listening to their song. I'm presently reading Make Peace with Your Mind by Mark Coleman. Though I have good awareness around my inner critic, this book is teaching me how to bring kindness into the mix. Hope the magic continues to find you this week!
The Merlin App is SUCH a game changer! I've learned so much from it. For example, 8 times out of 10 the mystery bird I'm hearing is a cardinal, lol. But it's truly so so great.
Ha! I love that. Ohio's state bird. It's amazing to me that you can just start receding ignore your phone, and then look down a couple of minutes later to see a list of all of the birds it's picked up. I grew up thinking we might jetpacks in the future, but this is cooler than that Jetson's stuff.
I just finished Kelly Link's new novel The Book of Love over the weekend, and it's delicious. A coming of age novel in some ways, and definitely a fantasy novel, but very much written for adults.
I should eschew all television because it's a time suck that doesn't provide much in the way of benefit, though maybe escape is a reasonable need to seek fulfillment for, ultimately. I've dropped all my other escapist habits over the years, so tv is what's left. In any case, my tv escapes of late have been Madam Secretary (Yes, I saw the Good Bones ep. So good!), The Magicians, the newest live-action Avatar on Netflix, and (weirdly) Maine Cabin Masters. I just like imagining that someday I'll have a low-tech camp to escape to regularly. That seems a healthy escapism.
Maine Cabin Masters is on Hulu. There are SIX SEASONS of this random bunch of Mainers who rehab and restore old, broken down camps all over that gorgeous state. It is so many of my favorite things.
I celebrated my first creative writing publication by going to the city, enjoying the view and the sunset from the edge of Lake Michigan, eating at a vegan restaurant with a friend, and seeing Aimee Mann in a small theater where every seat is a good one. I'll be riding those waves into this week! Like others, I'm happy to know about the Greywolf press series--I've already got two on order. I'm currently reading Lyz Lenz's new book--such a great blend of memoir + sociology.
Big congrats, Monica! That sounds like my ideal night out, honestly, as a vegetarian who loves Aimee Mann. The last time I saw her live was pre-pandemic with Ted Leo, and it was a phenomenal show. Hope you keep riding those waves!
I just finished ‘Postcards’, Annie Proulx’s first novel, and damn…so much to say, and I won’t try here. I’ll say: she can write a freaking sentence! The story itself is masterfully crafted and interwoven, but the moments of poetry are what made me sit up and gesture like I was in a Baptist church service. This, and the sense of familial disintegration in mid-late 20th century America in the face of industrialization/corporate consolidation. It brought to mind Maile Meloy’s ‘Liars and Saints’ which I read a couple months ago, similarly tracking the tragedies of a family as the 20th century progressed. I’m going full lit crit over here, don’t mind me…
I’m visiting a dear friend in Southern California right now, so in addition to Annie Proulx I’m in love with the flowers growing every-freaking-where. It’ll be a couple months until we get some flowers popping off in Montana so I’m basking. Here and there an Anna’s hummingbird flits by.
Thank you so much for the book recs and the very kind words, Marko. I love Maile Meloy's work, but I'm going to have to go back and read Postcards! Hoping you see lots of hummingbirds...
The Merlin app is the only reason I don't throw my phone into the river. Have you tried Seek by iNaturalist? It's my favorite app for plant recognition!
Ah, wonderful. I adore the Merlin app. And the Carolina wren is one of my favorite little creatures — I was taught that its call is saying, “Teakettle, teakettle, teakettle!”
Thank you! I love this so much on a morning I’m reflecting on the importance of play, wonder, delight, spontaneity to balance out a life that is so heavy and too often intense with grief and with the work I choose to do. I’m so glad you’ve had this lovely time. I too love the Merlin app and the deer! Yesterday I called in the dolphins at sunset, and they came! They always captivate me. Savoring the moments of our last week in our winter getaway.
Calling in the dolphins! What magic. Thanks, Barb.
It was pretty cool! Thank you!
I’m so glad you got some time away in nature. It always resets me. Thank you for mentioning the craft books by Greywolf press. I’m looking forward to reading them. ❤️
They are all so good! The Art of the Poetic Line (Longenbach) and the Art of Recklessness (Young) are two of my favorites.
Thank you!
Certainly, for DEER life. Having deer visit is like having spirits sort of waft gently in and out of your day. I have had the experience, and I always felt a little special, or perhaps chosen by something in that moment. I live in the PNW and spring creeps in so slowly I feel like I might go mad before the sun warms the soil. So what I am particularly looking forward to is True Spring (yes, caps) and my blooming garden. Long days are on that list too. And all the birds that trapeze through my yard and fill the air with song. This too means I am alive and living. I am looking forward to your next pep-talk. The lesson plan is the best! - April
Thank you, April. Spirits wafting in--that it! Winter here in the Midwest lasts until about May, so I'd call this 75 degree day "false spring." It'll probably snow again, so I'm not putting my patio umbrellas out just yet, but I'm absolutely giddy about it today. x
Yes, Maggie. We take what we can get and celebrate! :)
Maggie, There's so much delight in this piece. Thank you for bringing a smile on a Monday morning. I'm new to writing poetry and hadn't discovered the Graywolf craft series—I'm already excited to dig in. And I've now downloaded the Merlin app! This weekend, the forest was full of birdsong. After a long, gray winter, I felt such joy and hope just listening to their song. I'm presently reading Make Peace with Your Mind by Mark Coleman. Though I have good awareness around my inner critic, this book is teaching me how to bring kindness into the mix. Hope the magic continues to find you this week!
Thank you for the book rec, Kristyn! And yes--spring feels so close now. I'm ready.
The Merlin App is SUCH a game changer! I've learned so much from it. For example, 8 times out of 10 the mystery bird I'm hearing is a cardinal, lol. But it's truly so so great.
Ha! I love that. Ohio's state bird. It's amazing to me that you can just start receding ignore your phone, and then look down a couple of minutes later to see a list of all of the birds it's picked up. I grew up thinking we might jetpacks in the future, but this is cooler than that Jetson's stuff.
I just finished Kelly Link's new novel The Book of Love over the weekend, and it's delicious. A coming of age novel in some ways, and definitely a fantasy novel, but very much written for adults.
I should eschew all television because it's a time suck that doesn't provide much in the way of benefit, though maybe escape is a reasonable need to seek fulfillment for, ultimately. I've dropped all my other escapist habits over the years, so tv is what's left. In any case, my tv escapes of late have been Madam Secretary (Yes, I saw the Good Bones ep. So good!), The Magicians, the newest live-action Avatar on Netflix, and (weirdly) Maine Cabin Masters. I just like imagining that someday I'll have a low-tech camp to escape to regularly. That seems a healthy escapism.
Oh you KNOW I'm going to look up Maine Cabin Masters now! And that Kelly Link book is on my list. She's brilliant, always. Thanks, Asha.
Maine Cabin Masters is on Hulu. There are SIX SEASONS of this random bunch of Mainers who rehab and restore old, broken down camps all over that gorgeous state. It is so many of my favorite things.
I celebrated my first creative writing publication by going to the city, enjoying the view and the sunset from the edge of Lake Michigan, eating at a vegan restaurant with a friend, and seeing Aimee Mann in a small theater where every seat is a good one. I'll be riding those waves into this week! Like others, I'm happy to know about the Greywolf press series--I've already got two on order. I'm currently reading Lyz Lenz's new book--such a great blend of memoir + sociology.
Big congrats, Monica! That sounds like my ideal night out, honestly, as a vegetarian who loves Aimee Mann. The last time I saw her live was pre-pandemic with Ted Leo, and it was a phenomenal show. Hope you keep riding those waves!
What a "deer" gem you have landed in my lap right before I was going to do teaching prep. Now I feel inspired!
So glad to hear it, Lizzie.
Thanks for consistently bringing us joys, Maggie.
I just finished ‘Postcards’, Annie Proulx’s first novel, and damn…so much to say, and I won’t try here. I’ll say: she can write a freaking sentence! The story itself is masterfully crafted and interwoven, but the moments of poetry are what made me sit up and gesture like I was in a Baptist church service. This, and the sense of familial disintegration in mid-late 20th century America in the face of industrialization/corporate consolidation. It brought to mind Maile Meloy’s ‘Liars and Saints’ which I read a couple months ago, similarly tracking the tragedies of a family as the 20th century progressed. I’m going full lit crit over here, don’t mind me…
I’m visiting a dear friend in Southern California right now, so in addition to Annie Proulx I’m in love with the flowers growing every-freaking-where. It’ll be a couple months until we get some flowers popping off in Montana so I’m basking. Here and there an Anna’s hummingbird flits by.
Again, thanks for all you do Maggie!
Thank you so much for the book recs and the very kind words, Marko. I love Maile Meloy's work, but I'm going to have to go back and read Postcards! Hoping you see lots of hummingbirds...
The Merlin app is the only reason I don't throw my phone into the river. Have you tried Seek by iNaturalist? It's my favorite app for plant recognition!
Ooh, I'll look it up!
Ah, wonderful. I adore the Merlin app. And the Carolina wren is one of my favorite little creatures — I was taught that its call is saying, “Teakettle, teakettle, teakettle!”
It does have that rhythm! (Like the owl call that sounds like "who cooks for you?")