as winter retreats slumbering nature awakes purification as I rise with the dawning renewal weaves unknown dreams #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 50, To Cleanse, 02/03/26 Yvette is hosting this week's Tanka Tuesday. For this week, let’s focus on the idea of cleansing. You can choose to go with purification or atonement if you’d like. Find a syllabic poetry form that works for you, and let your inspiration flow. Need help finding a form? Click here. Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

"Everything that's worth having is some trouble." ~ Anne Of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery Wordless Wednesday is a simple blog post featuring a photo that conveys a message that speaks for itself without using words. I, for one, has been known to break the rules. Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for Wordless Wednesday Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

Photo Credit; Steve Busch @ Unsplash both young and old stars dwell in giant pinwheel time bends in vastness What do you see # 326- 2nd February 2026 The photographer described this image as; Triangulum Galaxy. Not your normal-looking galaxy. This galaxy is known as a flocculent spiral galaxy because its arms are made of patchy segments, not long, continuous spirals like you see in most other galaxies.

Spillwords Press Awards 2026 I am delighted to announce I am among those who received Socialite of the Year (Honorary Award) for the Year 2025, by Spillwords Press. Another name I recognize from the honorary group, is fellow blogger, Melissa Lemay from Mom with a Blog. "The Spillwords Press Socialites of the Year 2025, a vibrant group of individuals who truly embody the heart and spirit of our community."

“Kittens are lively as the days of spring. They make everybody happy.”― Bhuwan Thapaliya Linking up with Sandee at Comedy Plus Awww Mondays Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

neath a summer moon nature's gems awash in gold treasures in the dark secrets etched in stone conspire in sheer mockery fool's gold bedazzles SenHai Saturday #37 Adrien Olichon – Unsplash.com As the photographer describes, “This is a photo of texture, stone, natural beauty, and abstract nature.” The scene is of only rocks, in all different shapes, but they almost look as if they are interlocked, fitting together naturally.

“Symbols are powerful because they are the visible signs of invisible realities.” – Saint Augustine seeking of refuge from iconoclasts, destruction looms by impulse-ridden folk perhaps, tangible icons destined to fall, but the spiritual fervor exists eternal throwback - Jan. 21, 22 Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

fleeting old and new souls traced across realms of time memories linger in each step of life's journey wisdom breathes in ancient grace Reena’s Xploration Challenge #415 Chand Baori stepwell Abhaneri, Rajasthan, India Reena says: "The image is this week’s prompt. This structure is called a stepwell. I’ve kept the image settings on Large to show the intricacy. You can compress the size on your blog, if so desired.

Back in the day, during my childhood and into my twenties, my mom would buy me the coolest outfits. I don't remember, but I imagine I was a well-dressed baby. She worked in upscale women's clothing and apparel, and had a keen eye for fashion. Plus, as a store employee, she would get a discount. We had the same taste in upscale attire; I'm not referring to designer clothes, but where quality and comfort meets style.

frosted shimmer wraps marshmallow path in hush twilight dreams retold Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

"The Sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on." ~ The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Wordless Wednesday is a simple blog post featuring a photo that conveys a message that speaks for itself without using words. I, for one, has been known to break the rules. Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for Wordless Wednesday Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

searching for courage let the ungathered gather askew is the world's never ending theatrics fragile is the restless mind mind-body wellness ashen winter musings ebb contests of mankind #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 49, Mental Health, 1/27/26 Yvette is hosting this week's Tanka Tuesday. In doing a bit of research, Yvette found that January is National Mental Wellness Month. National Mental Health Awareness Month is officially in May, but January focuses on proactive self-care, building resilience, and finding emotional balance.

when you reach the zenith your world awakes love finds its rightful place with high hopes for oneness unfolding passion for life itself the courage to stand tall and proud and happiness being true to self perhaps, luck will bring good fortune and found money is yours to keep future moments dwell own your expectations when, where you desire "If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it."

This morning I received the January Newsletter from Spillwords Press, 2025 IN REVIEW. I was delighted to learn their most visited Spotlight on Writers featured Franci Eugenia Hoffman (that's me)! Also, I found it interesting that Halloween was the most read collection, and Seasonal collections; Halloween, Haunted Holidays, and Christmas proved to be the most popular over all. In addition, Spanish was the most accessed foreign language.

“A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.”― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones Linking up with Sandee at Comedy Plus Awww Mondays Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

photo taken 1.25.26 even stillness is frost bit the trees draped in icicle tears while nature shares her icy breath silent yet spoken. transient gems dangle bit-terly cold and fragile shadows in a frozen trance. soon the wonder will come to rest as the sun climbs high in the sky page. We live in a city approximately 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta. I was hoping for a clearer picture, but my phone camera doesn't do the wintry scene justice. featured image - my own

gregarious friend parroting back, whoops best watch what I say summertime blues – sing to me my wise old Grey together we flee SenHai Saturday #36 Eric Stoynov – Unsplash.com Here is this week’s image to get your creative juices flowing! This image is of an African Grey Parrot perched on a branch. Either there are rays of light that slightly distort the image, or he is behind glass, with reflections that seem to surround it. Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

I wake up to a world where everyone sees colors differently. Childhood memories blurred with moments in history are like navigating time warps. I see myself teeming with others who were there; best friends, acquaintances, and even the playground bullies. Though not perfect, times were simpler. Wouldn't it be fulfilling to be a time traveler, and visit moments in history from a cultural background other than your own.

new ideas? forthright intention or uncandid snare a one size fits all or tailored-made new is not always better til proven worthy throwback - Jan 7, 2022 Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

our resident squirrel a scampering blur of fur upstarts and scurries unifies with birds and bees unlike mine his life a race unlike many peeps my skin not a testament unetched I am me This Week’s Writer’s Workshop Prompts – January 20, 2026 Here are this week’s prompts: Write a post inspired by the word resident. Write a post in exactly eleven (11) sentences.

lost in nature's paradise delicate fragments embrace visions of promise conspire where hopes and dreams dwell Dodoitsu A Dodoitsu poem is among the longest Japanese poetry form. Dodoitsu is made up of four lines, with the first three lines consisting of seven syllables. The fourth and final line has five syllables only. The Dodoitsu is a fixed folk song form of Japanese origin and is often about love or humor.

"I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils." ~ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Wordless Wednesday is a simple blog post featuring a photo that conveys a message that speaks for itself without using words.

in the hush of winter shadows twirl choreographed silhouettes collide Dance free! Dance Free! cat-and-mouse games cleverly embraced fleeting in the gloaming's pearlescence Curtain Call! Curtain Call! #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 48, Marianne Moore, 12/30/2025 Melissa from Mom With a Blog, is hosting this week's Tanka Tuesday. Melissa says - For today’s challenge, I’d like to explore Moore’s idea and write poetry in whatever form you choose, so long as it follows a syllabic pattern like the examples furnished.

each footstep awaits past or future direction sinister secrets in sunburnt sands they whisper yesteryear has since vanished What do you see # 324- 19 January, 2026 Image credit; Pedro Kümmel @ Unsplash This image shows desert dunes with footprints left by humans and animals in the sand. The photographer explains; Under the warm sun, the dunes carry gentle scars of passage, lines and footprints that vanish as quietly as they appear! Three Things Challenge #MM309 Your three words today are:SINCESECRETSINISTER Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI

“Over the years I've come to appreciate how animals enter our lives prepared to teach and far from being burdened by an inability to speak they have many different ways to communicate. It is up to us to listen more than hear, to look into more than past.”― Nick Trout Linking up with Sandee at Comedy Plus Awww Mondays Unless stated, all featured images are produced by myself with the assistance of AI