The weather is gorgeous:72 degrees (F) with a slight breeze from the east.  I was birdwatching in the yard...

  female cardinal, male house finch, bluejay

Then, I looked up...

bald eagle

It doesn't get much better than that!

Thank You, Veterans!

Above the Rest

Like Barnum's array--

          bluebird, warbler, dove,

            flicker, finch, and jay--
         
          northern lights that

sway and dance from three-ring heights--

                        clowns in full display.

Hummers battle like bi-planes--                       

small shooting-stars

 above my head.

From the center ring, a familiar call bids my eye to follow,

seek out cardinal red,

fall where one perfect pair rests,

awaits their turn at bath and seed--

no fuss or flair.

Above the rest, you loved these redbirds bold,

a common breed, it's true,

but they hold a special place for me--

because of you.

 11/7/2010 Cheri Neuman Herald

I have been a member of the Florida State Poets Association (FSPA) since 1989. I have enjoyed the conventions, workshops, contests, and most of all--the fellowship of other poets. Now it's time for me to give back.  At the State Convention in Daytona Beach, I was elected their President. I look forward to serving those whose company I have so enjoyed over these 20 plus years.

I've been driving out to the beach on Sunday mornings to watch the sun rise.  I decided it would be a great place to write some poetry, so I brought along a pencil and paper.  Great idea, except that it is dark until after the sun is up...by then, I was out of the mood. Oh well, at least I got photos.

Me (at left) about 11

   
Me at 56

Richard, my husband of almost 14 years, peacefully passed into Heaven this morning.  He was here at home, with one of his daughters and me at his side. 

The time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:6-7)

 As soon as school was out, we headed to the mountains of North Carolina to pick up my mother from my cousin's house in Waynesville.  She had fallen and broken her arm.  We took her back to her house (east coast of Florida) to get clothes she can wear while recuperating and brought her back here where she will stay for at least a month. We were able to linger for a few days and got to see some elk at Catalooche.

They have reintroduced a herd that has increased to over one hundred elk. The collar identifies the individual animal.

While up there, I got a call from the principal at the school where I applied after being laid off (my old school.) I got the job. What a relief!  So, we didn't have to poach any elk--or koi from my cousin's pond.  Now, I'm going through more mountains-- of mail, laundry, and the contents of my classroom.

In memory of all our servicemen and women who gave their lives for us and our country.  Thank you to all who have served, or are currently serving; you have made all the difference.

In my Site Feedback for today, I have a new "comment" on an 8 year old post (3/15/02); actually, it is an advertisement.  In my post, I had mentioned floor tile.  The ad is for a tile company. The entrant's name in Site Feedback appears as  non-Xanga, while the comment at my blog is prefaced as floor tile.  If advertisers begin this, our blogs will be littered with junk in no time.

The comment:

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Clicking on the name, non-Xanga in my New Comments, results in this:

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage I find this to be very disturbing and invasive. Has anyone else experienced this yet? I'm betting you will.