Pic of the Day

Moment of Zen: Cooks in the Kitchen

Pic of the Day

Week’s End

It’s a WFH Friday, and boy do I need an easy day. I only had a few things on my work calendar this week, but it turned that I was scrambling to get everything done. I did my best to get as much done as possible so I could take it relatively easy today. I have a few things to follow up on today, but unless something unexpected comes up, which seems to have happened every day this week, I can wrap things up quickly and mostly just monitor emails today. We’ll see how well those plans pan out.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I have no plans, though maybe I’ll go for a walk/hike and get some nice pictures of the fall foliage.

Pic of the Day

Thursday

I woke up a little later than usual this morning, and I don’t have much of ann idea for a blog post today. However, I will say that my dental appointment for my crown went pretty well, but two hours in a dental chair is a long time. The temporary crown has been put in place, at least that part is over. The next step will come in about a month when the permanent crown will be ready. That’s usually a quick process. The temporary crown is taken off and the new permanent crown will be put in place. The last time I had this done, it took at the most ten minutes.

Have a great day! Here’s your Isabella pic of me week:

Pic of the Day

Long Day

It’s going to be a long day, and this is going to be a short post. I don’t have to work tonight like I normally do when I say I have a long day ahead. In fact, I’ll be leaving work early today. No, it will be a long day because it starts out with teaching a new class. I’ve taught classes similar to this one, but this has some clear differences. I have my fingers crossed that it goes smoothly. There isn’t as much to do during the middle of the day, but I have to leave work early because I have a dentist appointment. It’s time to get the crown on the tooth I recently had a root canal done. It’s going to be a long day of dreading that appointment.

Pic of the Day

October

October

By Evalyn Callahan Shaw

 

October is the month that seems

All woven with midsummer dreams;

She brings for us the golden days

That fill the air with smoky haze,

She brings for us the lisping breeze

And wakes the gossips in the trees,

Who whisper near the vacant nest

Forsaken by its feathered guest.

Now half the birds forget to sing,

And half of them have taken wing,

Before their pathway shall be lost

Beneath the gossamer of frost.

Zigzag across the yellow sky,

They rustle here and flutter there,

Until the boughs hang chill and bare,

What joy for us—what happiness

Shall cheer the day the night shall bless?

’Tis hallowe’en, the very last

Shall keep for us remembrance fast,

When every child shall duck the head

To find the precious pippin red.

 

 

About this Poem

 

“October” by Evalyn Callahan Shaw is a poem that reflects on the beauty and transience of life, as symbolized by the month of October. October is often seen as a time of transition, where nature shifts from the vibrancy of summer to the decay and dormancy of winter. In literature and poetry, this month often represents both endings and the subtle beauty of change.

 

Shaw’s poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitable passage of time. The vivid imagery typically associated with October — falling leaves, crisp air, shorter days — evokes both a sense of nostalgia and acceptance. The poem may emphasize how, just like the changing seasons, life moves through cycles, with each phase having its own unique beauty, even as it leads to eventual decline.

 

Though not as widely known as some classic poems, "October" likely touches on themes of impermanence, reflection, and the bittersweet beauty found in the natural world during autumn.

 

 

About the Poet

 

Evalyn Callahan Shaw was a poet born around 1861 in Wagoner, Indian Territory, a part of the Creek Nation. She is often associated with various names, including Eva, Evelyn, or Jane Evylin. Shaw’s work reflects her background as the daughter of Samuel Benton Callahan, a prominent figure within the Creek Nation.