Eva’s Friends

[Callender Girl]

I just came across this in my morning reading and thought you might appreciate it. Although it's more about reading poetry, I think you can apply some of the tips to writing, too!

A great poem can help you process feelings of sadness, anger, or fear, and it can also bring joy. However, connecting with these emotions may be more challenging if you haven't engaged with poetry in some time. In honor of National Poetry Month, here are some tips shared by poets with Life Kit to help you establish a meaningful connection with this art form.

You shouldn’t approach poetry like it’s school. Remember, there’s no quiz or essay you have to write about it after.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to unlock the meaning behind the poem. Instead, ask yourself how you feel or what your overall impression of the work is.

Poetry is an oral art. Try reading it out loud in different ways, including savoring every word and every syllable.

If the poem doesn’t offer visuals, try visualizing it in your mind. You can also doodle images that stick out in your head while reading.

 

[lightm]

The only downside was the prices.
The prices were the only downside.

I'd say they are both correct as long as you change "prices" to "price" in the first sentence??

This is also time to point out that I am not a native speaker. I did learn a lot about grammar, but I know absolutely nothing about English poetry... so I am never going to comment on your poetry because it is way beyond my capacity

The three chickens you rehomed are pretty. Lucky new owner!

As always, your pictures are amazing.

 

[Evadig]

Happy Easter!

It's been quite busy because of the Triduum and we've had church with a full choir every evening.

Last night we had Easter Vigil and halfway through, a violent unexpected thunderstorm knocked down multiple trees, a row of telephone poles, and several electrical wires. We lost power halfway through Mass and had to finish by candlelight and flashlight. It is a good thing we had a piano, since the organ couldn't be used. Everyone left church carrying their lighted candles (amazingly enough, no one thought to use the flashlight on their phone). It was really nice. I told our choir director we should do that every year (she agrees).

Back at home, the electricity was still out, and didn't come on again until 5:00 am, when all the lights we'd forgotten to turn off turned on again. Nice way to wake up, when you were hoping to get an extra hour of sleep (we didn't get home until midnight)! I had to play for an early Mass this morning as well, so I am somewhat tired.

Nobody in the Muddy Run seems to miss Jen, Viv, and Dolores very much. In fact, the flock seems more peaceful. But in the Yellow Turnip, I noticed that the Virtues are getting bald spots, and Liberty was pulling on Mitzi's beard, so both he and Honor have been placed in separate quarters.

Last night, she said she would drive Moses to his new home on Saturday!

As a bonus, the woman who is taking Moses has also offered to take my Cochin Bantam rooster, Billy.

That's wonderful you were able to find a good home for Moses and Billy! .

My coops are all close to the house and fairly secure. I worry about the safety of my last sheep and two miniature goats; their shelters don't have doors, so they are vulnerable to attacks. A single coyote can be a problem, but a pack is a serious threat -- whether it's coyotes or dogs, the mob mentality is dangerous.

Since the shelters don't have doors, do you worry about the sheep and goats when you are not home? I am always a bit worried that there might be an unseen pack of coyotes in the yard when I let the dogs out at night.

I don't remember seeing photos or hearing about Rusty before. Is he still with you?

I think I posted about him last year, but he is not here anymore. Somehow, one day last fall, he escaped from his pen (he was a wild turtle we rescued off the side of the road and kept over the summer). I actually just saw him in the woods today though!

The advice about poetry that you posted was quite helpful, thank you!

I'd say they are both correct as long as you change "prices" to "price" in the first sentence??

That would make more sense, yes !

This is also time to point out that I am not a native speaker.

I would have never known . What's your native language?

As always, your pictures are amazing.

Thank you!

A robin midflight

Patience

Mitzi

Agnieszka

Mitzi and Agnieszka

Alice

Amelia

Wildflowers

A finch (I think?)

A flower arrangement

 

[Callender Girl]

I had to Google "Triduum," as I was not familiar with the term, which, I believe, is unique to the Catholic church. I am not Catholic, but I am also mourning the loss of Pope Francis. I always admired and respected him as someone who cared about all people, the earth and its creatures. He was a great man whose humility made him even greater, I think.

I read an online tribute to Pope Francis from the Salt Lake City newspaper in which the author wrote: "He was the pastor we wanted, the counselor we desired, the example we needed. I never really met him, but I loved him as a father." Well said, I think.

Your candlelight story reminded me of something from many years ago. I was attending a church service when a violent hailstorm hit. The lights went out, and we could hear huge hailstones pounding the roof as we hoped none of the stained glass windows would shatter. Suddenly, the music director began strumming an acoustic guitar, and everyone felt much better and safer as we sang along with her. Well, we felt better until we went outside and surveyed the damage.

Storms bring out the scaredy cat in me. Hail once caused about $40,000 in damage to my house (hurray for good insurance!), and I've spent way too many dark nights without electricity out here in the middle of nowhere.

It's good that the flock doesn't miss your rehomed birds. The pullets who were raised with Moses sometimes sat beside his pen, but they don't seem to care that he's gone. In fact, his incessant breeding of them was the main reason he needed to go. I had planned to let him live by himself in a good-sized coop and run, but rats (before I got rid of them) ate big holes in the coop walls over the winter. So he was being housed in a too-small enclosure and moved into the garage every night to keep him safe.

Billy's absence may only be felt by Camille. She is alone in her coop since her sister died over the winter, and she often walked over to Billy's run to visit. Camille is a Salmon Faverolles and one of my favorite hens. She's mostly shy around the other hens. But when it's just the two of us, Camille will readily transform into the "French queen," demanding treats and yelling at me until I give in and toss her a grape or two.

Billy was a bad-tempered little jerk who would tip his head and stare at me -- as if he was sizing up exactly how to execute his next attack; he would both flog and bite me. Strangely, I miss seeing his vicious little face. And, I had to video Moses because I knew I would miss his beautiful crowing.

I've been asked how the boys are doing, and I don't know. I want to believe that they are happy in their new surroundings; neither I nor they were happy with them here.

You asked if I worried about coyotes with the sheep and goats, and I do. That's why I spring out of bed every time one of the dogs signals anything might be wrong outside. It's most likely that coyotes will be a problem at night, since they try to stay out of sight during the day.

I'm glad you found the poetry piece helpful, and like you, I would never have guessed that @lightm is not a native speaker of English. I've always wished I knew a second language; one year of high school Spanish was pretty inadequate. English is more than challenging enough; it's borrowed so many words and phrases from other languages! Are you still working on learning another language? Polish, wasn't it?

Your finch photo reminded me that yesterday, my new edition of Stan Tekiela's "Birds of Iowa Field Guide" arrived. My old one, which I really liked because the birds are organized by color, disappeared last fall. Who knows where it went?!? But, the new one is even better. Now, if the males and females of a species are basically different colors (like the rose-breasted grosbeak), they are included in both the black-and-white section (male) and the brown section (female). Before, both genders were only in the section for the male's dominant color.

The wildflower photos are lovely. I spotted the season's first blooming wild violets in my yard yesterday. It's beginning to really feel like spring.

 

[lightm]

Very lovely picture of Mitzi!

amazingly enough, no one thought to use the flashlight on their phone

That is very nice.

What's your native language?

I am Chinese.

 

[Evadig]

I’m sitting in the waiting area of Gate B49 as I write this. You can see our airplane to the left.

I am flying to Rome with a group from my local parish. We are going to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. We were originally going to go to the canonization of Carlos Acutis, but that is canceled since the Pope died.

That’s the rest of the waiting area.

My phone battery needs servicing and I can’t plug it in right now, so I will have to keep this short.

A lady in my group got a wrong order from Five Guys, which she passed on to me. I don’t particularly care for bacon-pickle-tomato hamburgers without cheese, but it’s free, so…

I had to Google "Triduum," as I was not familiar with the term, which, I believe, is unique to the Catholic church.

I am sorry I didn’t explain !

I am not Catholic, but I am also mourning the loss of Pope Francis. I always admired and respected him as someone who cared about all people, the earth and its creatures. He was a great man whose humility made him even greater, I think.

I read an online tribute to Pope Francis from the Salt Lake City newspaper in which the author wrote: "He was the pastor we wanted, the counselor we desired, the example we needed. I never really met him, but I loved him as a father." Well said, I think.

I agree, and that’s what I love about being Catholic - that it’s like a family. And the pope is very much the father, spiritually, of us all (Catholics).

Your candlelight story reminded me of something from many years ago. I was attending a church service when a violent hailstorm hit. The lights went out, and we could hear huge hailstones pounding the roof as we hoped none of the stained glass windows would shatter. Suddenly, the music director began strumming an acoustic guitar, and everyone felt much better and safer as we sang along with her. Well, we felt better until we went outside and surveyed the damage.

That does sound bad! I’m glad the music director had the guitar on hand. Hopefully no one’s cars were damaged by the hail!
Once I was in church when it was struck by lighting, and I’m sure not a few people thought the end of their time had come. There was a tremendous crack and we lost power for a few minutes.

Are you still working on learning another language? Polish, wasn't it?

Yes! It’s not going too well, I don’t devote enough time to it. I really need to be more disciplined.

Hail once caused about $40,000 in damage to my house (hurray for good insurance!), and I've spent way too many dark nights without electricity out here in the middle of nowhere.

I am glad I don’t live in Iowa! Do you have an alternate source of heat?

That bird book sounds interesting. I have a Storey’s Guide, I think.

I don’t think I’ve seen a wild violet. They must be pretty.

I am Chinese.

Oh, wow! How long have you been in America? Do you like it?

Here are a couple more pictures.
We are boarding now.

Oh and Antonia got fixed. He is a boy. His new name is Sam Houston.

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip when you get home. It must have been incredible!

 

[lightm]

Oh, wow! How long have you been in America? Do you like it?

I have been in the US for almost 20 years now, wow, time flies. Yes I like it. China has depressingly becoming more of a digital totalitarian and dystopian country. All I want to say is that Americans should treasure the freedom we have here and fight for it.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip when you get home. It must have been incredible!

Me too.

 

[Evadig]

Ok, real quickly I wanted to update. This is my last night in Rome before heading to another city in Italy.

Rome is not what I expected. St Peter’s is very nice. I love it there, especially in the evening. I stand out in the Square and pray.

I’ll write all about it when I get home !
I have attached a couple pictures :

 

[Evadig]

Well, I am home. There is so much to say I don't know where to begin, and I've told some stories so many times I can't remember what I have or have not said.

Since nothing is going on with the chickens, I guess I will just post a little bit each time, so as not to overwhelm everyone. If it gets boring, just let me know .

So we flew out on Wednesday, April 23, at 9:00 EST on an Airbus operated by Swiss Air. I managed to get a window seat which was nice because even though it was dark, I could lean against the window and manage to get a couple hours of sleep on an eight hour flight. We landed in Zurich, Switzerland, at 10:00 their time.

I haven't flown much, but our pilot, Capt. Peter, was one of the best. He brought that plane down so gently it was as if we hadn't even really landed. There was no slamming of brakes either. I wish I could say the same of the pilot that took us from Switzerland to Rome. The plane bumped and grinded its way onto the runway.

When we landed at the airport outside of Rome, we had to walk for what seemed like miles to the tour bus. I had only brought a carry-on which weighed, I think, around nine pounds? Anyway that thing felt like ninety pounds by the time we reached the bus. It has wheels but I didn't want to pull it behind me because there were so many people, and lots of suitcases got tangled in passing. So I carried it.

The ensuing bus ride was interesting, as I've never ridden in a bus of any kind before. Before we'd arrived I'd come to the conclusion that however much I hate driving in New York, it's far better than in Rome. In Rome you must have your head on a swivel and be constantly alert at all times. If you do not, you will probably be dead earlier than you had hoped.

As we wended our way to the hotel, we stopped at the Church of St Paul of the Three Fountains, which was our first introduction to the Old World architecture and artwork. From there we proceeded to the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. I didn't think that church was quite as spectacular as some of the later ones we visited, but the group was thrilled to see it. I did like the portraits of all the popes which are lining the walls, and we got to meet Cardinal Harvey, who used to run Pope John Paul II's and Pope Benedict XVI's household.

After that the bus took us on a tour of Rome and then we checked into the hotel. It was a nice hotel but hardly any outlets to charge our depleted phone batteries, and the beds were placed next to each other. You couldn't even walk between them. My roommate was very nice though, and we got along splendidly.

That evening we all walked ten minutes down to a restaurant for dinner, which to me was like another world. First we were provided with bread and olive oil; twenty minutes later, multiple servings of pasta; half an hour later, a small salad; finally the main course, and forty minutes after that, dessert. Through it all the group of forty-two people talked so loudly it was impossible to have a normal conversation. Other groups were also in the restaurant and they added to the din. I was very glad when we left...

That night, despite being exhausted, most of us went to St Peter's to bid farewell to Pope Francis, who was lying in state before the high altar. After waiting in a slow-moving sea of people for about three hours, we finally made our way up to his coffin. The guards hardly let us say a prayer...just ushered us past. It is a terrible thing to see your Holy Father lying quiet and ashen gray under the dome of St Peter's.

After praying a bit in one of the side chapels, we returned to the hotel and retired for the night at nearly three am. Thus ended our first day in Italy.

Dinner on the plane (it was pretty good!)

Starry night from the air

Sunrise over the ocean

The outline of England

St Paul of the Three Fountains

St Paul Outside the Walls

Cardinal Harvey

First view of St Peter's by night