New Kingdoms

I am starting over in almost every way.
new adventures and ideas and strategies
swirling around me.

confusing, overwhelming
and yes exciting.

Time to declare dominion.

Pausing

Dreamy end of summer skies
thoughts turning to what comes next
mad rushing to the end of another year
last quarter excitement and trepidation
but for now- a quiet pause

in my dreams

my dream land
looks and sounds and feels like this.
bamboo chimes, waves and dappled sunlight
beads of water dripping down a cool beverage
with bare feet and a full heart.

The Big Show

Sometimes you just look up
and there it is!
the big show going on around us
everyday beauty that can just
knock your socks off.

The Fantastic Four

It's all about family.
Makes all the difference
in happy and sad times
I wish I could have
been there this weekend
to say goodbye and
to just love them all in person.

I am so grateful
so many were there
to make it easier.

BFF

he truly is my BFF
and loves me just the way I am
though of course
more treats would be appreciated

savoring summer

It's busy, and yes, I have a new restaurant.
But I will take a few moments each day
to savor the sweet, sour, special joyful moments of summer.
Sugar, bright and yellow, with a touch of something more

And So It Begins

Big, fun, exciting, new, huge, scary, amazing
project is GO!
Hanging on for the ride.
Keep you hands arms and legs
inside the vehicle at all times.

End of a Perfect Yesterday

 Oh such words were written,
laughs laughed, discussions discussed.
And after a warm watery relaxing ending
I rode home in a satisfied sunset.

Memories are Tricksy

Somethings that I SHOULD forget I can't
Somethings that I Should not forget I do.
Somthings that I want to forget resurface.
And sometimes I remember everything.

Fun Times!

There is really almost nothing as exciting
as a brand new toy.
Especially one you found for yourself.
Or found with friends.

Sunny Disposition

Things are hopeful and cheery
And I am just basking in a renewed
Sunny Disposition.

Sanity Screen

Sometimes when there is nothing you can do
to solve a current dilema - you just need to hide it behind
a lovely Sanity Screen from a friend.
When in doubt, Choose Beauty!
Ahhhh - that's better.

Balancing act

I am working pretty hard to find a balance
between old and new, busy and still,
fun and effective, fast and slow,
excited and scared, energized and a bit weary.
But slowly things are becoming a bit more balanced. (a bit)

Stretching It Out

Sometimes what it takes is a big stretch
muscles that you haven't used in a while
take some priming

plus.

it feels good.

Crazy times

Each day moves forward and backward
It's no wonder I have no idea where I am going...

How I roll

That’s How I Roll (from my PAD challenge 2014 on writers' digest.)

I am not fashionable in sweats
but addicted to project runway
couture in my t-shirt on the catwalk

I want to travel light with
everything in heavy suitcases
leaving it all behind and taking it with me

Food is my life but cooking is not
though I dream of conquering
a culinary academy in my white chef’s jacket

If I could wish on a silver star, world peace
would be number one on my list
(or close to the top anyway) behind world domination

Christmas is definitely the best time of year
unless I see cherry blossoms, grape popsicles
or orange woolen autumn sweaters.

I am direct and straight-forward
you get what you see except when you don’t.

Don’t tell me I am contrary I am just me,
just myself And that is just how I roll.

Sketchy Breakthroughs

I don't have to organize something to enjoy it.
I don't have to be the one that people expect to get what I need.
Sometimes it is just ok to show up and draw.
It was hard- but I stepped down and that feels a lot like stepping up!

Tangled Dreams

4.6 Poem-a-Day challenge- prompt write a night poem

Cool cotton sheets
Quilted dreams
Stitched together
Past adventures
Current stresses
Future possibilities

Patterns made
And unmade

Vivid chaotic
Tangled comfort
Unsettled
Unresolved
History artistry
Woven nightly

Lunar lexicon of
Mysteries hidden
And revealed

Peace and stillness

They come in many forms.
Peace and stillness
steamy water
and the laughter of a friend.
It was a good weekend.

Coffee Shops and Bridges

(poem a day challenge April 2014- prompt on 4/3 a message)

Rebuilding bridges
takes bricks, and time
and one message asking for
one latte and bringing along
many apologies.
Lined up to order
waiting for rich roast
and words.

I want to rush in to you and
throw myself at the feet of
friends feeling left out, hurt or
taken advantage.

Instead we polite awkward ones
sit and sip and I
try to explain what went wrong.
How I lost myself in the confusion of
trying too hard
and risking too much
over steamed milk and
soft words.

Hoping to cover the expanse
of distance and misunderstanding
with repairs and new chances
suspended wires and trestles
made of coffee grounds
and bricks of brown sugar.

-lshannon

Caravan Dreams

(Writer's Digest 2014 Poem a Day challenge from 4/2 a voyage/journey Poem)

A trip not yet taken
vast stretches of empty route ways
cut off and preserved.

Alone-time with her
dust and faded neon
roadside attractions
distract and humor
and still amaze

Time honored meals and
diner destinations
retro in the preserved present
the curled edges of postcards
patches and souvenir spoons
dust settled and resettled

A caravan of
comfortable convenience
with nothing but time
and the next stop
to bring us together
catching up on years apart
singing forgotten songs
on a real radio
tuner dials and static
and sorting through snapshots
her past is my past

Her laughter and
tear filled eyes
childlike delight and
fussy discoveries

What can and cannot be consumed
a part of each meal plan

Wisdom and warmth
constant in my life of inconsistencies
this precious time
as yet unclaimed
a possible regret

To claim this path
thoughts beyond self
and schedules
trading hours of
precious priorities
open the door and go

Settle behind the wheel
of expanding roads
let the journey take us.
before both the path
and the companion
become memory

-lshannon

a serious case of spring fever

Spring
is utterly and completely
contagious.
in almost every way.

Bloomin' everywhere

Blooms are everywhere
inside and out-
if you only take time to
look up down and all around
there is chance
and connection
and opportunity
and new growth
and oh so much beauty.

Trying to get it over with

I am a rip the Band-Aid off kind of girl.

Get it over with already...

So, the slow goodbyes are really hard for me.

It seems to me, that incremental pain

Hurts exponentially.

There are life lessons here I am sure. 

Underneath the feelings of disappointment 

and failure. 

and recovery. 

 

the thought that counts

Sometimes it's the thought that counts
silly as it can be
the meaning gets across
brightly days indeed.

Having a sad

Pictures like this 

Remind me both what was created

And what was lost. 

It is a struggle 

To see what comes next. 

Bad juju

 

There is pretty much

nothing enjoyable 

about any part of this. 

 

Colorful life

 

This Colorful life 

makes living an

adventure. 

New people, new challenges

new adventures

Finding a new path

thinking new thoughts. 

Designing something 

that I can love.  

Seasons Turning Again

The winter has slipped away.
I will try to make it a beautiful memory
and turn my sites on
Spring
and all that is new.

Tease

Oh new life,

You are teasing me with

So many possibilities 

Now is the time to think 

Carefully and not rush ahead

In a coffee induced haze 

Hard to keep my focus. 

Possibilities

At this time

Everything seems 

Possible and 

Impossible 

Simultaneously 

Make me want to nap! 

Winter Bonding

It was a precious gift spending so much time

Together time, down time, stress time, happy time. 

And it was a good start to what I intend to create

in the new "happiness year" 

thank you, Mom. 

Seasonal Prescription

It is so important to stop and breathe.
The winter slows us down for a reason
remember it.
inside myself, in long nights
and dark mornings
and at first light
I have time to plan (and sometimes panic) 
for the spring.