You CAN Write Poetry

If I can write poetry, then you can too! You don't have to be a profound, prize-winning poet to write a poem. Just let your creative juices flow and have fun!

I enjoy writing silly little rhyming poems from time to time and it doesn't bother me one bit that they are not good enough to publish in a book of poems. The point is that I had fun doing it! Your poems don't even have to rhyme, you know - could it get any easier?! :) But I am partial to rhyming poems...

If you haven't tried writing poetry or it's been a while, start out small with a few Haikus. They're Japanese 3-line poems with a set number of syllables in each line {5,7,5}. Here are a couple of my blogging haikus:

Blogging is your work,
Working at your writing craft,
Crafting words of joy.

Turning images
Swirling all around my brain
Into word paintings.

If you want to try some rhyming poetry, just pick a topic and start to work out some phrases. I never know how long a poem will be when I start it. You can click here to check out my silly rhyming tea poems if you need inspiration. Or look at this poem I wrote about soup {see - you can write about ANYthing!}...

Simmering Soup

by Lisa W.

The soup is on and simmering away,
  Drawing us in from our weary way,
  Filling our bowls,
  Soothing our souls,
  Warming our toes,
  Healing our woes,
  Bringing us together at the end of the day.

If you think you'd like to go ahead and try, click here for an article with more info on how to write a poem. And it's a good idea to read poems to help give you ideas.

You CAN write poetry!

Think of a topic right now and write just 2 lines about it. Now keep reworking those 2 lines until you have the start of a poem - whether it rhymes or not. You'll get a feel for it once you try it and you just might find yourself addicted to it! It doesn't have to be great; just enjoy the process! It's a wonderful way to bring a little bright spot into your day.

Have you written poetry? What kind of poems do you prefer? What's stopping you from giving it a try right now? Share in the comments!

Day 17 of #31Days. Find all the posts in this series by clicking the pic...

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Have a blessed day friends!

Here a Pumpkin, There a Pumpkin

It's Fall! Well, sort of. We don't have Fall weather here, but it is mid-September. It is officially Fall in a week. And it is the start of Fall Nesting over at The Inspired Room today!

That means it's time to get out the pumpkins. Just a couple of decorative pumpkins. Like 30. Is that...a lot enough??

Um, yeah. Somebody around here has developed a slight obsession with all things pumpkin. :) And I blame it on blogging!! I didn't own any of these before I started blogging! And actually, it just might be Melissa's fault {The Inspired Room} as she inspired me a few years back to start decorating for the Fall season - though I started reluctantly.

This little family of pumpkins will soon be split up to decorate several spots around the house. I don't always do the same thing, but this is one spot a few years ago...

And then there are pumpkin recipes, like Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread, No-Bake Pumpkin Pie, Quick Pumpkin Pudding, Pumpkin Dessert, Pumpkin Dip, Pumpkin Truffles and more {find them all in my Recipe Index}. While we're on that subject - where are the cans of pumpkin?? I've been having a hard time getting them and the ones I have purchased have been very expensive!

Don't forget about real pumpkin, of course! I like to decorate with a few real pumpkins around the house in addition to the decorative ones. Once in a while I manage to actually roast a pumpkin to use in recipes. And we do try to get to a pumpkin patch if possible. Here's a pic of my son at a pumpkin patch when he was 5...sigh...oh the cuteness!

And then there's the time I wrote a poem about pumpkins. {Told ya about the slight obsession, remember?} It's not a very good poem, but it does make me laugh. Here ya go...

Awwww...poor little pumpkin - LOL. :)

Are you ready for Fall? Do you love pumpkins like I do?

Don't forget to stop by The Inspired Room to enjoy her Falling For Fall series - starting today and running for 31 days!

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Have a blessed day friends! And please be nice to those pumpkins! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you have a blessed Lord's Day and lovely Mother's Day!

And if this is a difficult day for you, then extra virtual hugs are comin' your way. {My own mother passed away almost 12 years ago and my stepmother passed away almost 5 years ago. And though we've been blessed with a fabulous son, I have experienced multiple miscarriages since. But I am greatly blessed and content and pray that you find that peace today.}

I had to repost the poem that my son wrote for me in school a few years ago for Mother's Day - I still love it! :)

Mother's Day Poem
by B.

She's mostly at home
She is very nice
She's also a blonde
And she doesn't like mice

She is kind of fun
She is also kind
She also likes Buster
And she also is not blind

She's sometimes in the kitchen
She really likes coffee
She's also real friendly
She also likes toffee

She washes my clothes
She makes me my lunch
She puts me to bed
I love her a bunch

Gotta love that! :) Are you doing anything special today?

Have a lovely and blessed day friends!

If You Have Nothing To Say, Stop And Write A...Haiku?

With my blogging challenge this month, I warned you that not every post would contain brilliance. :) But forcing myself to come up with a post feels like a good thing and makes my brain work a little better - I think!

So, I didn't have much of anything to say and decided to write a couple haikus about blogging! And you know what? It was kind of fun and got the creative juices flowing! I recommend it! If you don't want to do any haikus in a post, try leaving one in the comments. I won't judge your haikus if you don't judge mine - LOL!

Blogging Haikus:

Blogging is your work,
Working at your writing craft,
Crafting words of joy.

Turning images
Swirling all around my brain
Into word paintings.

Your turn! Got a haiku or poem to share? Try writing one and get some new brain "muscles" working! :)

Post #11 of my 22-post blogging challenge {check out the recap here}.

Have a blessed day friends!

Tea For Two-sday ~ Tea Party Favors

Happy Tea For Two-sday! Glad you could join me! Pick out a pretty teacup, fill it up, and have a seat - I think you deserve a little break! :)

For our recent ladies' tea party, I had to come up with the favors. I wanted something a little different. Once I had my idea, I headed to Michael's for some supplies. But when I got there, I saw these adorable recipe boxes for $1 each and just HAD to make them the favors for the ladies!

Inside of each one, I included a "Recipe for Friendship" (search the web for that - you'll find all sorts of variations), some blank recipe cards, a little poem I wrote, a bag of chocolate tea, and a Ghiradelli chocolate. The ladies seemed to like them. If you've been here a while, you know I like to write silly little tea poems! Here's the one I wrote this time:

Recipe For Relaxation

A nibble of chocolate
And a sip of tea
Transport the lady
To a daydream sea
With tea-colored sands
Under chocolate trees,
Like a mini vacation
That puts the soul at ease.

by Lisa W.

I did different favors for the little girls and I did not remember to take pictures of them! I got mini tote bags in pink and green and used white glitter glue to write each girl's name on a bag. Inside I put pastel plaid pencils, mini notebooks, a bag of vanilla tea, and a fun-size candy bar. Simple, but cute!

I hope that gives you some more ideas for party favors! Have a lovely tea-lightful day my friends!

I'm linking this up to Do It Yourself Day (DIY Day) at A Soft Place To Land! You can find all sorts of great projects, crafts, recipes, etc. linked up!

A Gift A Mother Loves

Today I just had to join up with Mama Braggin' Monday at Way More Homemade! I HAD to share what my son did for me for Mother's Day!

Hugs and kisses would top the list of gifts that a mother loves, but now I have another gift to add. My son's class worked on special Mother's Day cards, which include poems written by the children. So cute!! Even though the poem my son wrote neglected to mention chocolate or blogging (but maybe that's good), I just love it! My son officially gave me his permission to publish the poem here for you to read.

Mother's Day Poem
by my son B

She's mostly at home
She is very nice
She's also a blonde
And she doesn't like mice

She is kind of fun
She is also kind
She also likes Buster
And she also is not blind

She's sometimes in the kitchen
She really likes coffee
She's also real friendly
She also likes toffee

She washes my clothes
She makes me my lunch
She puts me to bed
I love her a bunch

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's so cute and funny and all true - LOL! I hope you had a blessed Mother's Day! If you feel that you need to share something special your kids did, "brag" about them and link up at Mama Braggin' Monday hosted by Way More Homemade.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Tea For Two-sday ~ Poems

Welcome to Tea for Two-sday! You know (or maybe you haven't had the pleasure yet - LOL) how I like to write silly little poems. I seem to like to write them about tea mostly. I thought it might be nice to put them all in one place for your, er, enjoyment (?)!

Cupcakes and Tea

Cupcakes and tea,
Some for you and me
To celebrate the little one's arrival, you see.

Cupcakes and tea
And a new baby
Fill our afternoon with fellowship and glee.

For cupcakes and tea,
We give thanks to Thee.
So many beautiful blessings have we.

- by Lisa W. (I wrote it for a cupcake-themed baby shower tea)

Tea and Friendship

Tea and friendship, friendship and tea.
A cup for you and a cup for me.

Let's share a scone, a story and a smile,
Even if it's only for just a little while.

At the end of our time the tea may be low,
But the time we spent will make our friendship grow.

by Lisa W.

Mug or Cup?

Tea in a mug, or tea in a cup?
Does it really matter which
When the brewing time is up?

Both can be pretty and both can be plain.
Once the tea is in there,
You'll find they're much the same.

by Lisa W.

Time for Tea
by Lisa W.

Crisp orange leaves come floating down
And clouds are covering the sky.

I'd like to sip from a toasty cup
While picking apples for pie.
Time for Tea.

Barren trees stand old and blackened
Against the cold gray sky.

I'd like to sip from a steamy mug
While shoveling snow so high.
Time for Tea.

New green leaves pop out of branches
And birds fly through the sky.

I'd like to sip from a dainty cup
While following a butterfly.
Time for Tea.

Heat waves rise up and barely shimmer
In the pale blue cloudless sky.

I'd like to sip from an icy glass
While fanning myself dry.
Time for Tea.


Do you ever write poems? Have you ever written any about tea?

Have a lovely day my friends!

Simmering Soup-Last Day: Chocolate Soup!

Since this is a nice rich chocolatey recipe, I'm linking it up for the flavor-of-the-month (which happens to be chocolate!) at bake at 350!  I had a hard time choosing what to link up since I feature chocolate here every Friday, but I think this one is special.

Simmering Soup Week is coming to and end - it went fast! I hope you have had fun and are simmering a new soup recipe right now!  Don't miss out on the recipes!

Day 1 - Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Day 2 - Strawberry Soup, Link to Creamy Potato and Garlic Soup

Day 3 - 2 Chilis, Link up your favorite soups

Day 4 - Tortellini Soup

Some of you know that I like to write silly poems. I realized that I didn't have one yet for soup - shocking! So I wrote a little something (you new people should know that my poems are for silliness only, don't expect poetry contest material - LOL!).

Simmering Soup

by Lisa W.

The soup is on and simmering away,
Drawing us in from our weary way,
Filling our bowls,
Soothing our souls,
Warming our toes,
Healing our woes,
Bringing us together at the end of the day.

Now, usually I have chocolate here on Fridays - but it's Simmering Soup Week - but I love chocolate on Friday. So I have combined the two! What? Oh yes I DID!

Can you believe that this recipe was sitting around for a couple of years, and I had these mini liqueurs in my cupboard (either one could be used in the recipe) because I liked the bottles? All just waiting for Simmering Soup Week and I never knew it!

My friends, I give you:

Chocolate Soup

Chocolate Soup

3 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
5 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 oz. baking chocolate, finely chopped
3 tablespoons Frangelico or Godiva chocolate liqueur

Garnish:
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts or almonds
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together cream, sugar, and vanilla. Simmer, stirring several times, until reduced by a third, about 40 minutes.

2. Stir in chopped chocolates until well-blended.

3. Remove from heat and whisk in liqueur. Can be refrigerated up to 2 days ahead (gently reheat to serve).

To Serve:
Whip the cream until frothy. Then add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Continue to whip until the cream holds soft peaks. Fold in chopped nuts and chocolate bits. Place a large scoop of the whipped cream in the center of each serving bowl and pour the warm chocolate soup around the whipped cream.

Makes 4-6 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

And with that fabulous soup, the week winds down.  I really hope that you have enjoyed Simmering Soup Week! I'm glad that so many people came by and joined in the fun! Thank you for your comments, your recipes, and for promoting my Soup Week - I do appreciate it.

Now go make some soup!!

Motivate Me Monday

A week ago, I joined up with Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee to be a part of the 5 AM Gals. The point is to get up early in the morning to have time to spend quietly with the Lord and start the day off right before our families are up and about.

Anybody who knows me well (including my hubby) thinks that sounds like an insane thing for me to do since I am really a night person and can barely drag myself out of bed in time to help get my son ready for school. Many a time I have tried to start getting up "early" - trying to rise between 6 and 6:30 AM and have never been successful. I thought that I needed to get to bed early in order to be successful and have never been able to do that either. So why would I make a commitment to getting up at 5 AM?

I did it because I need to spend more time with the Lord and first thing in the morning is the best time and starts the day off right. I knew that on my own, this would be an impossible task for me, an extreme night owl. But I also knew that I was doing it for the Lord and that He can do more than we ask or imagine. I prayed and gave it a try.

I started last Monday and got up by 5:15 AM, Tuesday by 5:15 AM, and Wednesday thru Friday by 5 AM! Amazing! Praise the Lord for helping me and blessing me with that time in the morning! I admit that I slept in on Saturday and had trouble getting up early on Sunday, but this morning I got up at 5:20 AM(a little late - woke up at 5, but eyelids wouldn't stay open!).

A silly poem even popped into my head one of those mornings:

5AM is a darkly hour;
My body says, "It's night."
But rise I shall,
'Cause I'm a 5AM Gal
And the Lord gives me the might.

I felt comforted each morning knowing that other women were praying for me and also getting up to spend time with the Lord. I know that it has been a blessing for me and look forward to continuing it. Have you tried it? You don't have to be a 5 AM Gal, you know. If you have trouble getting up , try getting up just 30 minutes earlier and using that time to read your Bible and pray. Pray and ask the Lord for help - it can't be done on your own - I should know!

And now Sarah Mae has started Motivate Me Mondays so we can encourage and inspire each other by sharing what we've learned. Stop by there and check out more motivating posts. I am happy to be a part of it! Thanks Sarah Mae!

Have a blessed week and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am thankful for so many things, but I am especially thankful this week for the Lord helping me to rise so early in the morning.

Tea for Two-sday ~ Another Tea Poem

I do like to attempt to write silly little poems and have come up with a few about tea, as you may have noticed.

Here is another attempt:

Time for Tea
by Lisa W.

Crisp orange leaves come floating down
And clouds are covering the sky.

I'd like to sip from a toasty cup
While picking apples for pie.
Time for Tea.

Barren trees stand old and blackened
Against the cold gray sky.

I'd like to sip from a steamy mug
While shoveling snow so high.
Time for Tea.

New green leaves pop out of branches
And birds fly through the sky.

I'd like to sip from a dainty cup
While following a butterfly.
Time for Tea.

Heat waves rise up and barely shimmer
In the pale blue cloudless sky.

I'd like to sip from an icy glass
While fanning myself dry.
Time for Tea.

I am not a good poet and I know it! This is not the best and not perfect, but I find it amusing to try. And I know that you tolerate my silliness! :)

Is it time for tea for you?

Pumpkin Potpourri Week ~ Day 4 ~ Pumpkin Dessert

Welcome to Day 4 of Pumpkin Potpourri Week! I'm glad you're back. Are you having fun? Thanks for encouraging people to come by - the more the merrier!

Make sure you are caught up by clicking on these links:
Day 1: Giveaways, Pumpkin Blueberry Muffin Recipe
Day 2: Pumpkin tea, Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Day 3: Pumpkin craft ideas, Pumpkin Pudding Recipe, Links of other pumpkin posts

If you've been on my blog for a while, you will see that I like to write silly little rhyming poems, like here and here. In honor of Pumpkin Potpourri Week, I wrote another one. Warning - not very good quality, just silly!

The pumpkin sat near the welcome mat,
And greeted folks that said hi.He would peek in the door across the floor,
And let out a little sigh.For he longed to be on display, you see, Where it was warm and dry.
One day he was lifted and to the kitchen shifted,
Though he did not know why.
It seemed a win to be taken in
After all that time had passed by
But that very same day, to his dismay,
He became a pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Fact of the Day
*** Native American Indians introduced pumpkin to the Pilgrims. ***

So pumpkin has been at Thanksgiving from the beginning!

Today's recipe is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes. I got it from a friend years ago. The pictures don't do it justice - it is buttery delicious!!

Pumpkin Dessert
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (12-1/2 oz) can pumpkin
1-1/2 cups evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 box yellow cake mix
1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine
1 cup nuts, chopped (I use walnuts)

Combine eggs, pumpkin, milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla; mix and pour in 9x13 in. glass Pyrex dish. Combine yellow cake mix and butter; mix until it resembles meal, and sprinkle over pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle nuts. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

Can't wait to hear if any of you have had this before or what your thoughts are if you make it!


You can find more delicious pumpkin recipes in my Recipe Index!

If you enjoyed stopping and smelling the chocolates with me, I'd love it if you click the following words to Subscribe to Stop and Smell the Chocolates by Email or RSS!

See you tomorrow!

A Bloggy Poem

I've been blogging for a month now - wow - I actually stuck with something - ha,ha! I am really enjoying it and feel like I have learned a lot already. There are many more things for me to figure out though.

I hope you have enjoyed stopping and smelling the chocolates with me! :)

I even wrote a little bloggy poem for the occasion!

A BLOGGY POEM
by Lisa

Oh, what can I say
About blogging today?

~A form of sharing
without delay

~Touching base with friends
just to say, "Hey!"

~Finding wisdom and prayers
to get through the day

~A moment to stop and smell
chocolates along the way

I am enjoying blogging,
So I'm here to stay!

Are there any suggestions, changes, comments that you have for my blog? Please leave a comment and let me know...

Have a blessed day!

Lisa :)

Mmmmmm...Chocolate

I love chocolate, yes I do; I love chocolate, how 'bout you?

Now you respond with the same...

What? Not in the mood for a cheer? Then you must not have had any chocolate yet, or not enough chocolate...yet.

Sorry - my brain is focused on chocolate. I just ate the last of some creamy birthday chocolate from a friend and I have double chocolate walnut biscotti baking in the oven, so it even smells like chocolate here!

I am so happy to know that dark chocolate has some health benefits. Apparently the milk chocolate and white chocolate do not have those benefits. Bummer. But what if you eat the chocolate in a dark room? Hmmm...

Well, anyway - here's my little shout-out to chocolate:

Craving satisfier
Healthy if dark
Oh so yummy
Comes in many forms
One bar is enough...maybe?
Lowers blood pressure
Anti-depressant
Tastes delicious
Extra is for sharing

Don't worry - chocolate is not my idol! I know that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above, and I thank the Lord for a little blessing like chocolate.

Have you had a smile and some chocolate today?

Tea for Tuesday ~ Tea Poems

I have lots of little tea ideas I would like to share and would love ideas from you. Though I will talk about tea party favor ideas another day, there is something that I now like to include with the favors - or with a tea gift for a friend. I really like to include a little tea poem. You can find them on the internet or in books or make one up. Write or print it on a little card, tag, or bookmark and include it - you can even include the date of the party.

Here are 3 poems you can use:

A little cup of friendship
With a bag of tea
When you drink this
Think of love from me.
- Source unknown, found in many sites on the web

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small -
Three guests in all -
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.
- Have seen it listed as Author Unknown and as Jessica Nelson North

Cupcakes and Tea

Cupcakes and tea,
Some for you and me
To celebrate the little one's arrival, you see.

Cupcakes and tea
And a new baby
Fill our afternoon with fellowship and glee.

For cupcakes and tea,
We give thanks to Thee.
So many beautiful blessings have we.
- by Lisa Watson (I wrote it for a cupcake-themed baby shower tea)


Do you have a favorite tea poem?