ARCTIC FREEZE - POEM

ARCTIC FREEZE

© by Mary Nida Smith

It is the first I am told
in many, many years
the earliest force of nature
adds insult to animals
and the human race.
Late fall night peaceful sleep.
Early morning sunrise
shattered ice beads
against the window panes.
Throughout days ahead
high wind chases rain
out for ice to form,
snow quickly moves in
covering the danger below.
Home bound, bone chilling
in a winter that turned
Southern states upside down.

Edit, Proofread, Layout & Design your next book.

Alathea Daniels, who created the booklet insert for the Free Verse Poetry Group's new CD, "Driftwood," offers her work-for-hire. Information stated on her business card below.

I can help you with your next book!
Proofread, Edit, Layout & Design
       ALATHEA DANIELS
          (870) 656-9082
windsong@mtnhome.com
P.O. Box 1494, Mountain Home, AR 72654

PAT DURMON POET SPEAKING JANUARY 24TH

Pat Durmon will give a Poetry Reading at Good Samaritan’s Assisted Living this Friday, Jan 24 at 10:30. (200 Good Samaritan Drive---then, the first driveway on the right up the hill. ) The Adult Children/Families of Residents of Good Samaritan’s and community are invited.  Poetry Readings will come from Lights and Shadows in a Nursing Home, Pat’s latest book.  The Reading will last about 20 minutes;  a book signing will follow.  (Books sell for $15.)  Good Samaritans and Pat welcome you. 

Women in Nature

Let's get a "kickstart"!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/948518643/win-women-in-nature

 

 

 

 

 

Published Credits  December 2013

 

Poem: Journal Observation

Interview of Mary Nida Smith about

how she set out to save the Redhead

Woodpecker and the tree that has its

insects to survive. By Helen Maxwell.

ILLUSTRATONS

                                 I hope to do some painting this year. This is from our Monday
                      night drawing classes a few years ago. Last year was my first time in a
                      long time I have entered a painting and photographs in an exhibit and art
                      show. I am doing some illustrations with photos and watercolors for a
                      couple of picture books I have written.

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL

Home - 2014 Children's Literature Festival, March 16-18, 2014 - UCM CampusGuides at James C. Kirkpatrick Library

Women in Nature: An Anthology

Coming in 2014!  

A story of mine will be published in this publication.

Women in Nature: An Anthology

How do women connect with
nature?  And how do they live their lives inspired and sustained by all life on this earth.

Women in Nature is an anthology of amazing true stories by women from all the varied places on this earth, including 5 featured noteworthy authors, who live their passion!


PUBLICATION SCHEDULED FOR APR 2014

Rich Davis, Illustrator

Pick and Draw Game awarded by richdavis1

Pick and Draw Game was awarded  by The National Parenting Center with the high honor of their "Seal of Approval".  This is highly sought after by those who make games of all kinds and it came after 8 weeks of rigorous testing criteria and different testing groups.  I give thanks to the Lord for this and wish you would pass the word onto others so that they can purchase and use the game with their children...whether parents or educators or occupational therapists or homeschoolers or mission workers.  If you click the Pick and Draw game icon above (right), you can easily purchase a game at our online store and your kids will be drawing some great cartoons in no time!

 

AUTHORS EVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

Rescheduled local authors book signing and sale Sunday, December 22, from 1-4. Please support your local creative people and purchase their books, fiction, non-fiction, photographs, greeting cards, cookbooks, illustrations and more. Come on in say "Hi" and ask question - learn from them.

 

Creative Writers & Illustrators

Free Verse Poetry Group 

Twin Lakes Writers

Bull Shoals Writers

Ozark Regional Arts Council

Nida Crafts and Recycling: Preview "Handcrafted Chrismas Tree Decorations"

Nida Crafts and Recycling: Preview "Handcrafted Chrismas Tree Decorations"

SUNDAY UPDATE - LOCAL AUTHORS BOOK SIGNING AND SALE

Thank you for registering to be a featured author at the Holiday Book Sale and Signing event at the Library this Sunday, December 8, 1:00pm – 4:00pm.  We are looking forward to it!

 

Many of you have inquired about what will happen in the event of bad weather.  The event will go on as scheduled unless the Library is closed due to serious weather conditions, in which case, the event will be cancelled.  Most likely, we will not know until Sunday morning whether or not we will be closed.  Please check KTLO radio or the Library’s website at www.baxlib.org Sunday morning for closing information.  If the event is canceled, it will not be rescheduled.

 

Of course, we are keeping our fingers crossed that the bad weather will avoid us so……… I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.  Table space will be set up for you in the Knox Community Meeting Room and you can set up beginning at 12:15pm.  Look for the place card with your name on it to find you spot.  In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact me.

 

Thanks!

 

Kim

 

Kim Crow Sheaner

Program Director and Community Outreach Coordinator

Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County

300 Library Hill

Mountain Home, AR  72653

870-580-0979

OZARKS WRITERS LEAGUE WITH MISSY ANN

Ozarks Writers League 30^th Anniversary with Missy Ann

    Thursday, November 14, 2013, it was dark when my granddaughter Missy arrived from Naperville, Illinois around 7:30 p.m. Said our hellos and headed out to the Village Wheel in Bull Shoals for dinner. This was the start of our yearly special week-end together (Ladies only).

      Friday morning November 15^th, we were up and ready to head to the Blackbird Café at the Donald W. Reynolds Library for breakfast muffins, drink and chit-chat. It was so warm and cozy we lingered enjoying the moment before we headed to Ozarks Writers League OWL) 30^th anniversary celebration week-end.

     We stopped in Yellville at the Palette Art League to see their 1^st Annual Quilt and Artisan Bazaar featuring handcrafted items created by 230 Ozark Artisans - Amazing items.

     As we arrived in Harrison, we debated how far it was to Eureka Springs and did we have time to go. We decide sure – why not.  We visited a couple of our favorite shops: Wilson and Wilson Folk Art (Family of artist) and the darling shop Enjoy Something Simple; they are such friendly people. Before traveling on North 23, we had a bite to eat at a Subway.

      Gosh, I didn’t know it was somewhat of a long route to return back to Highway 65 N. But, it was enjoyable visiting and singing over and over to Missy’s new cd filled with special hymns she picked up on the way down at Cracker Barrel.

      We arrived at Historical Downtown Hollister about 4:30 p.m. at the beautiful Ye Olde English Inn, own and recently renovated by novelist Janet Dailey.  I signed us in and we visited with OWL members filling the lounge.  It was fun seeing so many I hadn’t for about a year. Missy, carried our things up to our suite – (The Winslow) and a little later we sat in the hallway lounge where we had coffee and coco. I met author K.D. McCrite. Later, said hi to Chuck Butkus (President Twin Lakes Writers) and his wife, plus Jory and Charlotte Sherman.  

      We went downstairs to the main lounge after changing for the banquet: more visiting, photo taking while we listen to the talent Possum Holler Fiddlers. The dinner and contest awards started a 6:30. (Twin lakes Writers won some awards) We had a great time and I picked up a free poetry book, “French Quarter at Eight” by John W. Crawford.  

      Saturday morning we were up early to eat breakfast at the Inn, packed the car to head out to the Collage of the Ozarks to sign-in by 9:00 to listen to speakers and elect officers. We ate lunch at The Keefer Center and return for more OWL programs. Missy won the door prize – a journal and the OWL’s CD of the slide show of Ozark Writers League 30^th Anniversary (She was so kind to allow me to have it).  For a short time I promoted Pat Durman’s  (Free Verse Poetry Group) new book “Lights and Shadows in a Nursing Home” found on http://www.createspace.com/4509795 .

      We left a little early to drive around Branson, didn’t linger long lots of traffic.

      When we got close to home we stopped near Cotter at a shop we enjoy and home to go to Gaston’s Resort on the White River for our last dinner together. Enjoyed the food and the view as a large full Harvest Moon centered in the sky above the White River as it ran a bead of light down the river – it was beautiful!

       Missy left for home the next morning in the wake of high wind and tornados. She passed near the town of Washington after the damage was done. She said it looked like a war zone. With the phone close by and the weather station on, I stay glued until she called as she neared home. I am so thankful to God for her safe trip.

        We made wonderful memories and looking forward to her trip next year. Each year I would like to have each grandkid make the trip so I could make sweet memories with each one.

 

     

     

 

      

Local Author Book Sale & Signing Event

You are invited to be a featured author at the upcoming Local Author Book Sale & Signing Event at the Donald W. Reynolds Library serving Baxter County.
This event showcases our local writing talent and gives people the opportunity to shop locally for books as gifts for the holidays and to have their purchases autographed by you!

The event is Sunday, December 8, 2013
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the Library

If you would like to be a part of this year’s event, please register for a booth space by going to the following link.
There is no charge to participate, but booth space is limited and will be available on a 1st come 1st served basis.

http://baxlib.evanced.info/eventsignup.asp?ID=801&rts=&disptype=&ret=eventcalendar.asp&pointer=&returnToSearch=&num=0&ad=&dt=mo&mo=12/1/2013&df=calendar&EventType=ALL&Lib=&AgeGroup=ALL&LangType=0&WindowMode=&noheader=&lad=&pub=1&nopub=&page=&pgdisp

 

 

Kim Crow Sheaner

Program Director and Community Outreach Coordinator

Donald W. Reynolds Library Serving Baxter County

300 Library Hill

Mountain Home, AR  72653

870-580-0979

 

 

PICTURE BOOK MONTH

http://picturebookmonth.com
Enjoy  the best books -children books and read what writers & illustrators are sharing.

Who purchased my 6x6 painting?

What a wonderful surprise note I received from  President Stephen Johnson, Free Verse Poetry Group yesterday. He forwarded a note from The Talk of the Town (KTLO) host Debby Stanuch stating she had purchased four 6x6 paintings at the ORAC 6x6 Auction, one was mine. Since I was unable to attend I wondered who purchased mine. It was a joy to know and I am grateful she supported ORAC.

Went I agreed to enter, I hadn't painted in 15 years since I moved from Siloam Springs where I was the Siloam Springs Artist Guild president. I wanted to return to painting - one of my many creative loves. But, I felt like a fish out of water. I panicked and ran scared as I searched through my old acrylic tubes where several had to be thrown away. I didn't want to buy new until I knew I could draw and paint as I use to. So, I used what I had. I do have watercolor paints for this is what I love to use and colored pencils, but they couldn't be used, it had to be acrylic.

Between being a member of the Ozarks Regional Arts Council, Area Art Club, Bull Shoals Art Club, Donald W. Reynolds Library and Creative Writers & Illustrators I hope to continue with their support in the creative world.



,

PICTURE BOOK MONTH

Blog Name: Picture Book Month
Blog URL: http://picturebookmonth.com

Busy Days and Busy Days Ahead

Just a little of what I have been up to that I never got around to placing on Facebook.

     When the weather report was announced that the temperature was dropping to freezing I gathered up my potted plants where I place them in the enclosed summer porch where they will stay all winter. I proceeded to bring in to the garage my large fern by removing it from the larger decorative empty pot to trim it back when I discover Sassafras inside the empty container. Sassafras is a little Gray Tree Frog that was my friend last summer.   Sass was a baby when I discovered him and photographed him all summer in different places and poses. The cutting was discontinued and the fern carefully placed back in the large container as Sass moved up the wall out of harm’s way. I will miss him this winter and his family that greeted me with a song in the mornings as I walked to the paper box.

      Friday morning I stopped at the Midway Fire Department garage sale where I purchased a small table and four chairs. Now, I need to donate my large dining table and six chairs. We continued out to the place where ORAC was holding the 6x6 art action Saturday evening. I was unable to attend Saturday night so I placed several bids for the ones I wanted and on my own. Then, I stayed while Eileen Preston picked up donated flowers from several florist and helped Debby Lively ORAC president until 4 p.m. when Eileen returned with beautiful fall flowers.

     Saturday morning I volunteered at the Baxter County Library for a couple of hours during kids mousetrap car races. I had an enjoyable time.

     After two weeks without seeing Prissy, she came one morning to enjoy a little corn with one mother, a yearling and two fawn friends acting like colts on a spring morning. The young ones were playing as if they felt safe and free from there hold-up spot down below the forest covered hills hiding from the bow hunters.

    Sunday morning we went to church and I had a restful afternoon.

    Monday, two members of Creative Writers & Illustrators came to the studio to work on a pre-teen novel and other things. We accomplished critiquing three chapters. Several were left for me to read from both writers. They realize I am very busy so they were kind enough not to put any pressures on me to finish. I will be my best.

    Today, Tuesday October 29, I and Stephen Johnson, president of the Free Verse Poetry Group met at KTLO radio station where we promoted our group’s latest poetry CD “Driftwood” on the program TALK OF THE TOWN. Stephen did great and I hope I was okay. It was fun.

     Soon as I post this on my one blog I’ll be onto the next step in my minutes I have left in this day. Remember, Saturday, November 2, Creative Writers and Illustrators meet at 1 p.m. at the Baxter County Library

Ozarks Writers League

Shutting down for the night, so I can get some work done away from the studio. At 2 p.m. I was heading to the art room - I never got there. Gathered up the garbage, watered and fed my plants, did some work in the kitchen and laundry room, made reservations for next month to attend the Ozarks Writers  League (only two rooms left and I had to reserve a suite). Banquet one night to celebrate  their anniversary. I joined I believe in 1993 - only group around at that time.  It has been a great help to me.

Editing my short story and hopefully work in my art room tonight.
I had a great day, hope you did too.