Where Is Miss Rumphius?

You've probably noticed the lack of posts in the last 8 weeks. Summer school and life have been kicking my butt. However, with a little bit of R&R scheduled, a TBR pile that's huge, and big plans for some new lists and features, I hope to be back in fighting form in no time.

I'm not lying when I say I've missed you. I'm not just talking about posting here, I'm talking about reading you. I haven't visited my favorite blogs in ages. I missed all the reports about ALA (Yes, I was there!), Brush Up Your Shakespeare month, a slew of Poetry Fridays and Nonfiction Mondays, and so much more.

I leave today for a much needed vacation and will be back on August 2nd. I hope you'll join me here when I return.

Tuesday Poetry Stretch - A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Yup, I'm late. Chalk it up to the last week of 8 weeks of madness and a heavy teaching schedule. I'm going home to visit my mom soon and started thinking about all the sayings she tosses around, hence the title of this post. I thought it might be fun to write around a saying or two. Some of my mom's gems include:

• "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride. If horse turds were biscuits you'd eat til you died."
• "Why don't you freeze your teeth and give your tongue a sleigh ride?"

I'm thinking about raining cats and dogs at the moment. They might make a great poem. How about you? What will you write about? Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.

Monday Poetry Stretch - The Sky's the Limit

While waiting for the fireworks to begin last night I was doing a bit of stargazing, or not, given how cloudy it was. Even on clear nights in the summer I find myself missing Orion. His reappearance is just another of the many things I love about fall. Yes, I know it's summer, but it's hot and my least favorite time of year, so I'm trying to think cool thoughts.

Are you a stargazer or skywatcher? What is your favorite thing in the sky? I'll have to admit I'm most fond of birds in flight, the harvest moon, and winter stars. Let's write about the sky this week and the things you find most appealing in it. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.