Monday, December 31, 2012

. . .and so a new year begins

     Chalk Outlines is taking a one year hiatus.  I will be starting a new blog project beginning January 1st, 2013, entitled "Haiku 365".  My new blog will feature a haiku poem everyday for the entire year.  Hence the name: Haiku 365!  This could prove to be quite a challenge but I believe I'm up to it.  I plan to release these blog posts in book form in 2014 and I'm hoping to interest a publisher in my project.  I hope to create the necessary following needed to land a book deal and you can help.  How you ask?  Please tell all your friends, read my daily blog posts, sign up to be a follower, sign up for my daily email, and subscribe to my new blog.  I appreciate any and all help that you can provide. 

     So I hope you join me in my new, year long adventure.  Please feel free to comment on my blog posts and email me.  I enjoy the feedback: positive or negative.

     I'll see you tomorrow for the first post.  I can't wait to get started!  Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     GARDENING
hard freeze continues
summer garden comes inside
fragrant greenery

© Lydia Lowe 11/14/2012  

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Eleanor Roosevelt


Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.

Henry Ford

 
Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.

Doris Lessing
 
 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     JET STREAM
warm winter weather
is forecast for afternoon
winds blow from the south

© Lydia Lowe 11/14/2012  

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

I am a part of all that I have met.

Alfred Tennyson

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     BLACKBIRD
crisp, frosty morning
birdsong rings out from the trees
delights my hearing

© Lydia Lowe 11/14/2012  

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.

S.E. Hinton

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     BRANCHES
branches scrape against
the metal eaves of the house
nails on a blackboard

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

If a man has to say trust me, Gogu conveyed, it's a sure sign you cannot. Trust him, that is. Trust is a thing you know without words.

Juliet Marillier

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A KANSAS RENGA



TO THE STARS THROUGH DIFFICULTIES: A KANSAS RENGA IN 150 VOICES

I just received news this morning that the book has been printed and has been released.  If you'd like to order a copy of it, and see my contribution in print-that would be #82, you can purchase your copy at this address: Mammoth Publications.

RENGA: Japanese linked-verse poetry in which two or more poets supply alternating sections of a poem.  (A Renga is a conversation!!!)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     WALNUTS
a squirrel in the park
holds a black walnut in his mouth
as he digs a hole

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

Agatha Christie

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     THANKSGIVING
people gather round
turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie
Thanksgiving day meal

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Don't gobblefunk around with words.

Roald Dahl

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     OCTOBER
scuffling through the leaves
warm, Indian summer days
cold October nights

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

Shel Silverstein

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     AUTUMN
beauty hangs heavy
in the atmosphere of an
overcast blue sky

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


“You can observe a lot by watching.”
-Yogi Berra

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Check It Out!

I've done some updates to the "Links" page.
Check out the new sites for some inspiring ideas.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     HALLOWEEN
pause, wait, hold your breath
chilling screams and dark of night
a Halloween fright

© Lydia Lowe 10/27/2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.

Ray Bradbury

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     JACK-O-LANTERN
big, round, orange fruit
inside full of seeds, strings, goo
a knife carves the face

© Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.

Terry Pratchett

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     BONFIRES
smell it in the air
orange, yellow, red flames burn
wooden logs sizzle

© Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.

- Robert Bloch

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

I fell in love with this design the minute I saw it.  It's a free design on: Aimee Ray's blog

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     HAY-RACK RIDES
trailer holds hay bales
children sit among the straw
tractor pulls the load

© Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


A line is a fuse
that's lit.
The line smolders,
the rhyme explodes –
and by a stanza
a city
is blown to bits.

Vladimir Mayakovsky

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

This is a design from Elefantz blog.  It was originally stitched on  individual mini pillows.  I put it  on the corners of a pre-purchased dinner napkin, and I added the free-form flowers and heart underneath each word.  I'm going to use it as a "doily" under a pretty potted plant.  Check out Jenny of Elefantz blog here: Elefantz




Saturday, October 6, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     PUMPKINS
waxy orange globes
attached to hairy green vines
scattered on the ground

 © Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.

Cormac McCarthy

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     WIND
starts as a rustle
leaves swirl, lift, fall, forming piles
wind is passing by

© Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Jean de La Fontaine

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Sunday's Something New-All 3!

Words to Live By-Side By Side


It all started back in April or May with the "Today . . ." project.  My interest in embroidery and cross stitch was re-kindled.  Coming in 2013, I am having a one woman show of my embroidery at the Salina Public Library.  I'm shooting for the merry month of May.  Watch for further developments, coming soon.


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     LEAVES
brightly colored leaves
drifting, floating to the ground
decorate the grass

© Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


 In order to rise
From its own ashes
A phoenix
First
Must
Burn.

Octavia E. Butler

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     AUTUMN
days growing shorter
trees are turning bright colors
a chill in the air

 © Lydia Lowe 09/11/2012

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


Life, a beauty chased by tragic laughter.

John Masefield

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     WI-FI
sitting in a booth
McDonald's, using wi-fi
no internet at
                    . . .home

© Lydia Lowe 9/2/2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me


Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

I saw this on the internet and had to have to make one for myself.  Unfortunately, I have misplaced where this came from, or I would include a link here.  I think this is a really unique piece.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     WEEDS
we prayed for the rain
an end to the heat and drought
overnight came weeds

© Lydia Lowe 8/27/2012


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Joy is the best makeup.     

-Anne Lamont

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday's Something Special-Part II-Imagine

This is from a Dimensions mini kit design.  I changed the words from 'Thank You' to 'Imagine'.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     HEAT
rising endlessly
from off the concrete pavement
a mirage shimmers

© Lydia Lowe 8/21/2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

Cactus Flower

I haven't had much luck with my garden this year.  It's been so hot---triple digits for most of the summer---anything I plant has to contend with being surrounded by concrete, brick, and river rock plus full sun from dawn until 2:00 p.m.  This year I had a friend give me 4 cactus and I had one of those die!!!  Most everything has died or is hanging on by a wing and a prayer.  Until . . .

One of my cacti put on this rather ugly grey fuzzy thing.  I watched it.  Over time it grew green, then it began to lengthen out and grew thick.  Then this pod appeared on the end, a pretty shimmery green which changed over time to shimmery green and vibrant lavendar.  It became . . .

Check out these photo's . . .

How exciting!  What's the bloom going to look like?

This was Wednesday night.  I thought it would probably bloom by morning.  It's so close here.

This is what greeted me on Thursday morning when I walked out my front door.

A couple of flying insects showed up this morning to investigate.  One got trapped down inside.  The other flew away.


Notice the little star type thing off to the right side. . .that is actually the central stamen.  Notice the little grey fuzzy on the cacti to the right.  It's the start of a new bloom, I think.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

-Leo Tolstoy

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

Too funny . . .
This was inspired by a similar piece that I saw on bookwormbethie

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     SNOWCONE
dash across pavement
racing to the ice cream truck
sticky ice crunchies


© Lydia Lowe 7/23/2012

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society. 


William Makepeace Thackeray

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Sunday's Something Special-Part I-Believe

This is from a Dimensions mini kit design.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     CRUNCHIES
grass, a yellow crisp
walk across it and it breaks
like dry, brittle bones

© Lydia Lowe 7/23/2012

Friday, August 10, 2012

Tri-Rivers Fair 2012

I entered my Poem Quilt from this years Silver Needles Quilt Challenge, entitled: Keep a Green Tree . . .  in the Tri-Rivers Fair and won 2nd Place in the division: Wallhangings - machine pieced/hand quilted.  You can see a photo of the quilt here.  Keep A Green Tree . . .

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Always try to keep a patch of sky above your life. 

Marcel Proust

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

This is from a Dimensions mini kit design.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     SHADE
sunshine and shadow
sun high overhead draws line
deep shade cools the heat
                                         . . . . .of day

© Lydia Lowe 6/25/2012

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Unexpected intrusions of beauty. This is what life is.


Saul Bellow

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     SOUNDS
sound of a mower
sprinklers kick on, wet spray mist
plane flies overhead

© Lydia Lowe 6/25/2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.


Allen Ginsberg

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sunday's Something Special

This was inspired by a similar piece that I saw on Lots of Neat Stuff.  Check out Christy's blog. 

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     FLOWERS
fragrant color blooms
as flowers lift blossoms, leaves
to wilt in hot sun

© Lydia Lowe 6/25/2012

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.


G.K. Chesterton

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Haiku 4 U

     HUMIDITY
wind blows, dilutes heat
pause, humidity rises
how welcome wind gusts

© Lydia Lowe 6/25/2012

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Thursday's Quote Me

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.


Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Word Poem in Thread-Spring

The big reveal.  It's finished and framed!