Cats love watching the world anytime...
especially on rainy days like today
when birds burst out in song
between storms.We loved the celebration of April~
birthdays, spring and Easter.
I hope, for you too,

 it was a good month of way good days!
{photo one by flickr Gattou/Lucie; photo two by flickr campbellrawpress}

National Poetry Month

was inaugurated (I love that word, inaugurated)
in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets
and is now celebrated in the month of
April.

With that, I shall share one of my most favored questions, posed by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, at age 39, to her then secret love, younger by six years, poet Robert Browning, before she ran away from home to marry him.
Asks Elizabeth in Sonnet No. 43, "How do I love thee?"
Then answers, "Let me count the ways."

Let us also remember Emily Dickinson's poem

"Not in Vain"
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

I implore us to pen our beloveds and express our love and gratitude.
May we be aware and kind to humans as well as feathered friends.
And may we read, create, contemplate and celebrate poetry in our lives and world for a way good day!

{photo one by flickr omoo; photo two from wilipedia.org}

Rain is forecast for today and the next few days.
I love the rain.
Enjoy for a way good day!
{photo by flickr alterednate}

How I love spring time!
{if you know me I embrace whichever season we are in;
but I do really, really like spring.}I appreciate the new beginnings of life after winter.
The trees that survive the harshness of winter
somehow, amazingly, sprout tender buds.
I am always in awe.

Such resiliency!

The warm (hot) temps we have had the last three days
encouraged the buds on the lilac trees to burst
open and share their beauty and fragrance.
Thriving.
I hope we may all do the same in our lives
for a way good day!
{photo one by flickr magnummavis/starting again/lost;
photo two ny flickr beautifulcatya}

Our weekend weather is forecast to be warm and windy.
As it is National Kite Month

I hope you can be as successful as this kite flier in
getting up 70 kites on a single line.
Enjoy a way good weekend!
{flickr photo by ronnie44052}

I am a doily fanatic.

Love them and have a collection of them.

Take a peek what is inside the front cover of this

darling journal set listed in Kelly's etsy shop!

Here is the cute, cute, gingham journal,
tied with baker's twine.

What is tucked in the kraft box, you inquire?

Seventy five writing prompts!

Also included is decorative tape to keep

your prompt attached to your journal entry page.

May we write the thoughts of our hearts

for better understanding of ourselves for 

 a way good day!

What a fantastic logo celebrating
"Earth Day"
I could, of course, do more, much more;
I am trying to become more aware of
how to create a "sustainable lifestyle"
and what that even means and entails.
I definitely support summer's
most environment friendly footwear...

barefeet!

Happy Earth Day!
Make it a way good day!

Rain, rain, rain.

I actually quite like the rain.

It helps create a green and lush world--I really like that!
As we only have six (6!) weeks of school remaining
in this academic year,
the rain also seems to help keep students minds focused on school
rather than the pool.
That is a good thing.
If you have peeked into the future...
our forecast is calling for a gorgeous weekend
with the mercury climbing into the eighties.
Whoo hoo!
Followed by rain forecast for the beginning of next school week.
Perfect, Mother Nature, perfect.
Enjoy a way good day!
{photo one by flickr Rui Palha; photo two by flickr Valentins k;
photo three by flickr ECU Digital Collections;
and, photo four by flickr PRIME IMAGERY}

Can words describe the fragrance
of the very breath of spring?
--Neltje Blanchan
Enjoy a way good weekend!
{photo one by flickr CATeyes}

Oh what fun it is opening gifts!
The time, thought and energy
by each person is what swells my heart;

those gifts are really the present.
But what are the contents inside

the beautifully shipped gifts, you ask?

From my girlies,
a decorating kit from Williams & Sonoma

{a twin to their new set they think is the best.}
for embellishments to cakes, sugar cookies and cupcakes.
Fun!

From my sistah I received a book on CD'S

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"

which she vows I will treasure as dear as Jane Austin~
I am definitely looking forward to being read to!

She also went somewhere {perhaps her library}
to have access to all the characters
and then typed this placard
so I will be able to keep track of who's who.
Lovely.

And from Mr R,
inside this card,
after an amazing dinner of Indian food,

was the gift of a weekend retreat for fly fishing lessons!
{Actually there were three choices...
I choose option three.}

I futilely searched for photos of females fly fishing
until I came across this photo of Princess Diana.
Thrilled I was, as I simply adored her.
So, real women DO fly fish.
Exciting!

This morning,
I erupted in giggles as I spotted this message
a student had written after I had posted today's date
on the chalk board;
he must think I party hardy--not!
Enjoy a wide variety of gifts for
the spice of life
for way good days!

Today is my birthday!
I love celebrating birthdays.
I am so grateful to my parents for having me--
they simply are the best!
Love to my Mr R whom had these beauties delivered
to school for not only me but all to enjoy.I am thrilled to be a mother and delight in the
birthday "huzzah's" and very kind poem from our daughters,
E and J.
It was a fun day at school as students
left messages and drawings on the board and desk.
It was also fun to be the recipient of
phone calls, texts, and surprises
from so many family and friends--
I am so grateful for the w-i-d-e circle
of love and friendship I embrace and learn from~
thank you.

As I blow out the candles
this evening on my birthday cake
I not only want my dreams to come true but everyone else's
so nothing could make me happier than sharing this video of
Susan Boyle, who fulfilled her wish to sing before a large audience.
Did she ever...and received a standing ovation after wowing the
audience as well as the judges (even Simon!) after singing
"I Dream a Dream" from Les Miserables on the show
Britian's Got Talent.
I cried for joy in her behalf.
Thrilling!
She believed in herself.
Even when others were cynical,
as was so honestly stated by the female judge,
Ms. Susan Boyle believed in herself.
So on this, my birthday, my wish for everyone,
everywhere,
is to follow our dreams and
fulfill the measure of our creation for a way good life!
{photo one by TianaMia}

I have always loved the shapes and swirls of

ampersands.

I also adore collecting "things."

It matters not one whit what "it" is...
{that is a mouthful! try three times, aloud}

soaps, spices, seashells and postcards from around the world,

pens, markers, notecards, fabrics, rickrack...

whatever.

I do believe if I am going to collect the above

mentioned scribal symbol for "and"

I shall need a carrying case~

& we all know deluxe is always best!

If you would like to borrow it, please let me know.

I do want everyone to share in its pizaaz--

I love it!

Enjoy all things you adore for a

way good day!

{and remember to always share...it makes life more fun!}

{ampersand from rustique furniture in the UK; drawing by marc johns}

Your rainbow is slightly shaded green.

What is says about you: You are an intelligent person. You feel strong ties to nature and your mood changes with its cycles. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

On a rainy, Monday, spring day, here's a fun color "quiz" to participate in by choosing various colors to answer the questions and then reading the results that supposedly tell you about yourself.
I wonder if the results will widely differ if I take it tomorrow.
(It could spit out...You are a numskull and boring...blah.)
I'll stick with today's results, thank you very much.
{The truth probably lies somewhere between the two.}
Enjoy the colors of your world for a way good day!

Handsome Mr R at the doors of
Saint Joseph Cathedral
on Good Friday.

It was a reverent time to contemplate the

stories told in the stained glass windows.

{We were an hour and a half early.}

The candles were lit before the service began.

Each candle was gradually extinguished throughout the
"Tenebrae" as the choir sang, all in Latin,
of Jesus' impending death by Crucifixion,
until the cathedral was cast into total darkness
as the one remaining candle was removed.
We, the congregation, then provided the strepitus,
by loudly making a sustained noise by
pounding on the pews with our hands or books
until the last candle was returned.

The return of the single light symbolizes
His Triumph and Resurrection.
Happy Easter!
{photo five by flickr Irayholly}

Mr R and I will be attending a Good Friday church service and choral event with the theme concerning the triumph of light, Tenebrae (Latin for darkness) this evening downtown at St. Joseph's Cathedral.
Candles are extinguished during the 80-minute service as the choir sings and chants Renaissance-period works. Toward the end, the last candle will be removed and the congregation asked to provide the strepitus (a loud noise, imitating the earthquake mentioned in the Bible after the Crucifixion) until the light is returned.
The single candle symbolizes the Resurrection and constant presence of Christ.
Tenebrae is a tradition that dates from the fifth century!
If you are interested, it begins at 8 pm with a $10 suggested donation. (212 E Broad St).
The article clearly states the church service and choral event is for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
I thoroughly enjoy learning of others and their beliefs; I believe it shrinks the world and increases our humanity.
All information from The Columbus Dispatch, Thursday, April 9, 2009 article by Gary Budzak.
Enjoy a way good day!
{flickr photo by Matt Cline}

The Columbus Blue Jackets are
in the NHL playoffs!
[Tis the first time since the
teams inception eight years ago.]

Captain Rick Nash shall lead his team to the
Stanley Cup playoffs!
May it be a long journey.
It is a way good day!

{photo one by flickr beantownkid10}

My sistah sent this to me a few weeks ago.
I think it is incredibly lovely.
Enjoy this fawn, kitty cat and bunny...
along with Louis Armstrong.
The TLC is truly uplifting.
"It is a Wonderful World"
and a way good spring day!
{Your children will watch it a zillion times.}

Still in the hunt for a great Easter basket?
I heart this "intricately hand-woven, 

New England style egg basket
that provides a nest for a milk chocolate hen and
her clutch of Italian gianduja filled eggs 

with pastel candy shells," from Dean and Deluca.
Cute, cute, cute!
Send to someone or enjoy with your own family 

for a way good day!

As it is spring I am trying to widen my horizons,
open my blinders a little wider.
One specific area is food.
On Saturday I blurted, "Let's try salmon."
Mr R looked at me through blinking eyes
as if he was seeing a mirage.
Seafood is not of my taste bud liking.

He went to the fish counter and requested their freshest salmon.
I like to envision it was caught in the best of circumstances
by a handsome fellow such as this chap.
It was certainly purchased and
delivered home in its paper wrapper
by such a gentleman!

I was a little squirmy as I prepared it for baking.

Then I declared it was really not much different
than wrapping all the pink gifts I wrap.
Mr R was roaring with laughter and declared,
"This is worth the price of admission."

Ours looked quite like the plate pictured.
Thank goodness for the fresh vegetables and
delish mashed potatoes Mr R prepared.
It actually was pretty good!
We may prepare this a variety of ways for
way good summer eating days!
Perhaps wider perspectives are on the horizon.
{photo three by flickr cathy.bluteau; photo four by flickr nettsu}

What a wonderful time we had when my mother came to visit!

She knew there was a job jar awaiting.
Nothing with just her name on it...I would never do that to her.
Besides, I never let her out of my sight!
I had cleaned and scrubbed before her arrival,
as we all do when our mamas come for a visit,

but I needed her special touch
on a few things..

to achieve that "H" sparkle!

One of the days we counted plates and forks and glasses,

then went to the movie in the evening
where I promptly fell asleep.

I learned that my mom runs circles around me!
Her stamina is astounding.

After the movie (and a nice nap), we went to

Johnny Rockets for malts and milkshakes.

So fun to put nickels in the juke box and

hear my mom reminiscence

about doing the same activity as a teenager!

On her departure eve, we went to the Blue Jackets game.

Did we ever have fun!

There were fights galore,
too many for my liking and I relish ice hockey fighting.

A Blue Jacket player accused of abusing an official

received a three game suspension.
Notice the gloves, sticks and helmets on the ice.

Victory!
The Blue Jackets were more than up to the task
of overwhelming the Calgary Flames as they
won 5 - 0.
[Free Wendy's chili!]

I drove my mother to the airport in the fog
and was in a bit of one myself for a few days after her departure.
How I love and appreciate her.
We had a way good day each day she was here!
Thank you for coming to visit us, Mom!