August 8, 2022 by D. Wallace Peach

Canadian Rockies Haiku

I’m back after two weeks of exploring the Canadian Rockie Mountains. I hiked just shy of 55 miles (88 km) and climbed almost 15,000 feet (4572 m) in elevation. It was glorious.

The internet was horrible, and I dropped and smashed my laptop while searching for a place to get online. Oh well, more time to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness. While I get back into the swing of things (on my new laptop), I’m delighted to share some photos and mountain-inspired haiku.

The view from my room – Moraine Lake – unedited photo. The water is really that color.

glacial ice trickles

into roaring white cascades

pristine topaz lakes

fragrance of balsam

northern woodlands soothe the soul

deeply shaded green

Lake Louise sunrise, another unedited shot

at the water’s edge

sunrise creeps down the glaciers

reflections of gold

On the way to the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house.

tea house in the clouds

blueberry juniper tea

on top of the world

Indian paintbrush

yellow columbine abound

Alpine meadows bloom

One of many waterfalls – Athabasca falls and canyon

waterfalls cascade

thunder through narrow canyons

carving ancient rock

No bears were harmed in the making of this photo

far and wide we searched

for brown, black, and grizzly bears

not disappointed

And a few other photos from the trail:

Thanks for coming along for a look!

May 8, 2022 by D. Wallace Peach

Off to Explore some Canyons

I’m vanishing from the blog for a few weeks to explore some canyons, starting with the one above.

One of the benefits of retirement is an opportunity to catch up on all those things I wanted to do earlier in my life, but never had the opportunity. While I’m not quite the daredevil I was as a younger person, the desire to explore is still as strong as ever.

I want to see curving waves of rock. Perhaps this one:

I hope to explore a slot canyon. Maybe this one:

I won’t need to rely on pixabay photos to see this. I’m going to walk through it:

I will be offline for most of my break, but loaded with books, and back with much to share.

May you find an adventure to enjoy while I’m gone.

***

And a Happy Mother’s Day to the women all around the world who are tirelessly “mothering” others, even if you don’t have children. You’re amazing.

October 10, 2021 by D. Wallace Peach

The Benefits of a Blogging Break

Kaau Crater, Hike, Hiking, Landscape, Hawaii, Clouds

I’m heading out to explore some volcanos.

Life’s been pretty hectic these past few months as my parents’ health continues to decline and obligations pile up. I’m good at not sweating the small stuff, but not everything can be ignored forever.

Blogging Breaks seem to work miracles for me in avoiding burnout and reinvigorating my enthusiasm for this time-consuming endeavor. Seeking balance has been an ongoing challenge as my blog grows and worldwide friendships form with people I care about. It doesn’t help that there’s wonderful content all over blogland. It’s hard to look away.

Several years ago, I tried taking weekends off from the blog, and it didn’t work. Notifications amassed, and I spent my Mondays staring at the laptop until my eyeballs shriveled. Days off due to other commitments brought similar results – a constant stream of busy-ness of one type or another and days of playing catch-up. My writing time suffered, and my husband started looking like a sad puppy.

Adorable, Animal, Beautiful, Bored, Breed, Brown

The question that frequently rambled through my head was, “How does anyone keep this up and not burn out?”

The answer to blog management, for me anyway, seems to be in taking longer breaks than a day or two. Dollie Freeman wrote a short article on the benefits of blogging breaks that rang true for me, and though the post isn’t available anymore, I kept her tips:

Don’t work for your blog – let your blog work for you.
Don’t sacrifice your home life, health, and relationships for the next post, the next series, the next promotion, the next…
Schedule one week per quarter where you will try not to blog – don’t post, don’t visit. Do something else that you enjoy – guilt free!
In addition to one week per quarter, Freeman suggested 4 additional weeks of unplanned ‘floating’ time to catch up, get ahead, work on a new product or just soak in the things that make your life meaningful.
Stay grounded and humble. Although your readers are interested in your blog, they aren’t hanging on to your every word. They’ll survive without you.
Life is too short to live it in front of a screen.

Woman, Jump, Backpack, Jumping, Leap, Adventure — All images – Pixabay

See you in a couple of weeks!

May 31, 2019 by D. Wallace Peach

A Blogging Hiatus

Right about now, I should be gearing up to post June’s speculative fiction prompt. I had a challenging image ready to go and couldn’t wait for the barrage of wonderful stories and poems.

But once again, my parents’ health challenges are requiring my undivided time. Recent complications have meant I’m providing almost 24/7 care. I’m just plain tuckered out, and though prompts and blogging are a major source of fun in my day, I need to step back until things stabilize.

I have a few book reviews to share, and I will visit when I can, but I already know I’ll be scarce, at least for June.

On a lighter note, have a happy, peaceful, creative, and healthy month ahead! ❤

This pixabay image cracked me up. I couldn’t resist.

March 23, 2019 by D. Wallace Peach

On the Road – A spec-fiction-prompt break.

Some of you might remember my hectic October when my brother and I were responding to our parents’ emergency health challenges. Since then, we’ve been trying to find senior housing near us and a spot finally opened up. Months of waiting flipped overnight into a flurry of urgent activity.

Not a happy cat!

I’ll be flying to Colorado tomorrow to pack their house, make trips to the dump, talk to a realtor, arrange for a UHaul, move my parents (and their cats!), and get them settled into their new apartment a thousand miles from the place they call home. The to-do dragon is a mile long and will surely grow horns and a tail.

Needless to say, this is going to take a few weeks. I’m practicing serenity as well as making time to accomplish my tasks with patience, care, and kindness.

I have posts prescheduled in order to finish sharing March’s Speculative Fiction stories and poems. I’m going to close comments, so please click through to the writers’ sites to comment on the stories.

We’ll wrap up the Ninny Rhino challenge with a blog party (you’re all invited), and I’ve got some lovely blog shares planned as well as a couple reposts. You won’t even notice that I’m gone. Lol.

With all this going on, I’ve decided not to post a prompt for April (sigh). I just wouldn’t be able to give it the proper attention it requires.

But, we’ll resume in May – so get your steampunk hats on!

I’ll be visiting and checking in as I’m able. Happy Writing and have a few wonderful weeks of spring (or autumn). Peace ❤

December 16, 2018 by D. Wallace Peach

Happy Holidays

I wish all my blogging friends, old and new, far and wide,

a warm, healthy, and peaceful holiday season

filled with gratitude and joy.

See you in the new year.

Yuletide lights twinkle
As we gather ‘round the tree
Wrapped in love’s ribbons
Remembering with fondness
Weaving next year’s memories

August 5, 2018 by D. Wallace Peach

Hunting Waterfalls, and other stuff

It’s August and the summer is flying by!
My backyard is beckoning.

It’s time for a technology break
as my hubby and I hunt Oregon waterfalls.

We need to get some yard work done too,
and honestly, these guys aren’t much help.

Time to join neighbors for the picnics and festivals
that we cram into our itty-bitty summer.

Wishing you many lovely days ahead.
I’ll “read” you in two weeks!

May 31, 2018 by D. Wallace Peach

The best-laid plans of mice and men…

Tornado Boy and Big Foot

…often go awry.

Well, I’m back to blogging after 19 days away, and a little Steinbeck seemed appropriate.

My best-laid plans for a memory-making family reunion fell apart as my parents canceled at the last minute due to health concerns. That kicked off a bit of rushing around and a series of phone calls, new arrangements, and a beach rental we couldn’t back out of. Revised travel plans followed and, in August we’ll all head to my parents’ hometown in Colorado for another attempt. Airfare, hotels, rental cars, and long drives will end in a whirlwind visit since many of us used our vacation time for the reunion that didn’t happen.

But all was not lost…

When best-laid plans invariably
go awry
we cancel what we can
and with nothing pressing to do

we pack up and drive west
anyway
where too late to cancel
the beach house beckons

across the dunes of marram grass and wild roses
warm sand sifts like finely ground pepper
and the waves curl in hungry white ringlets
chase and soak us in our rush to shore
springtide cold despite the sun and kite-flying winds

we build drip castles with moats and bridges
a path for goblin scooters and pit for trapping zombies
guarded by trolls magicked into stone sentries
we collect crab claws and broken shells,
brittle sand dollars and mysterious arm bones

we build a Zen garden with scavenged rocks
balanced in crooked towers on striated sand
and the wind carves gullies while overnight strangers
add to our stones and our garden grows

tea with cranberry honey and birthday cake ice cream
carousels, waffle cones, and oysters on the boardwalk
bonfires, chocolate and marshmallow s’mores
board games and card games, stories
where mermaids sing of magic potions and wings
before the tide fills our holes
sand on the floor, in our beds, between our toes

and nothing pressing to do but
eat well, laugh well, and sleep well
all because
of best-laid plans
gone awry

August 14, 2015 by D. Wallace Peach

Choosing a Break

This Adventure in Blogging requires time. A year ago, I remember thinking a once-per-month post was daunting…now I spend at least 4 hours a day blogging – reading and commenting, writing posts and replying to comments. It’s carved out of my writing time, so my books are traveling by horse and buggy versus high-speed rail.

But it’s my choice.

I’m grateful to have choices, to recognize that there are few things in my middle-aged years I MUST do. Long ago, when my life was harder, when my options seemed fewer, I still had them. Maybe working grueling hours while single parenting didn’t feel like a choice. Yet, even then, my attitude was within my control.

Life fluxes. Kids grow up and move out, and sometimes move back in. Grandchildren appear and suddenly I’m the lifesaver for stressed out new parents. The Overlord is two years old and Grammy is a hot commodity. Now my parents are reaching their mid-eighties and my time is stretching in another direction. Time passes and new choices roll out as they always do.

My parents are arriving in Oregon today and staying for a week to look at senior housing. I’ve done the legwork and pulled together appointments. The Overlord and his parents will be tenting in the front yard with the coyotes and my brother is flying in from the Alaska to “camp” in my writing room.

My mom is blind and loves to talk. My dad is losing his hearing (and too young for hearing aids) so we all talk VERY LOUD. I’m a terrible cook, which means meals are more like science experiments. We’ll all go for walks, drive to our little town for lunch, show my folks the area, and stay up late with the TV blaring.

I’m making the choice to breathe deeply, to relax, to laugh, to dedicate my energy to a gathering of loved ones that may not come again.

Needless to say, I’m making a choice not to stress about blogging for a week. I’ll miss you all. I’ll miss some great posts, lots of laughs, poignant stories, magical poems, stunning photography, and heartfelt connections. I will, of course, be back.

Have a great week. Wish me luck!