Tag Archives: gardening

Jeff Flesch 6:00 am on April 3, 2022
Tags: , , CDL, , , debut book, , gardening, , , , , , ,   

The Month in Review, March 2022: At Home & Work, Writing & Blogging, Book Reviews, and A Poem

At Home & Work

Willamette Park Community Garden, Corvallis Oregon
Multidimensional Art

Home

As it is officially Spring in this area of the world, I am preparing to participate in the Community Garden again this year. Last year was my first year with this garden, and I am excited to participate again. As you can see in the picture above, there is a lot of work to do!

This past month, I also completed the purchase of a painting from two of our blogger friends, Giada and Labrum, of Multidimensional Art. The painting was one that Labrum created specifically for me, and I love it. If you’ve not yet checked out Giada and Labrum’s site, I recommend you do. Giada writes wonderful poetry, and Labrum’s paintings are amazing. 

Coast Trip

I also took a trip to the coast in March. I usually go to Yachats, OR, and did so again in March. I grew up at the beach, and so I like to visit the ocean every couple of months. I always have a wonderful time walking along the coast, contemplating life, and just being with myself and nature. It’s glorious.

Work

The department completed the spring schedule this month, and I am excited about some of the new in person classes we have this term. We also launched our CDL (Commercial Drivers License) program this week, and it is going wonderfully. 

Right now, we have more people registered for classes and training since the pandemic started, which means we are serving more people, and are reaching these same community members with access to education they need. A wonderful feeling.

Writing & Blogging

Photo by ractapopulous, Pixabay

Writing

As you know, I was voted Spillwords Press Author of the Month for January and February, which is a huge honor. I would like to thank each of you again for your continued support. You are appreciated immensely, and I am lucky to have each of you in my life. If you missed the Q&A Interview I did with Spillwords, you can find it here.

I am continuing to write for my debut poetry book, and am on a timeline that includes writing for the book through April, editing in May, and sending it to Ingrid Wilson, of Experiments in Fiction in late May, early June. Ingrid and I are currently working on cover design. Exciting! 

Blogging

My blogging schedule has changed again this year, to make space for writing my book, and to write for the publications at MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. I’ve created the goal of posting two to three times a week on my blog, which I am meeting at this time. 

I would like to thank you all again for supporting me by continuing to visit MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA to read my poetry. The response to the poems I have published on these sites has been amazing, and I’m honored each time you visit these sites to read my poetry. Thank you.

Book Reviews

Photo by Ylanite, Pixabay

For the past couple of months, I’ve been reflecting upon how I can give back to our writing community.

Over the past year, I’ve purchased many books that our writing community has produced, and this year, I’ve decided to write reviews of these books. I’m excited about this reading and writing project, and look forward to sharing the reviews with you.

My goal is to write at least one review each month, and thus far I am on par with this goal. Here are my reviews of two amazing books.

As Delicate As Snow, by Shobana Gomes

In the book, As Delicate as Snow, Shobana Gomes weaves a tale of magic, mystery, and suspense. Shobana’s use of snow as an additional character in this love story guides the reader inward, toward an exploration of wondrously delicate and beautiful imagery, and profound feelings, from the angst of meeting a new potential lover, to the love that blossoms in ones heart at the realization of true love. As Delicate As Snow will make you believe in true love again. I highly recommend this beautiful love story, by Shobana Gomes.

Being a Woman Forthcoming, by Michele Lee Sefton

Being a Woman Forthcoming is a collection of poetry and prose that stirs the soul. Michele Lee Sefton takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery, through important social justice issues, such as gender discrimination, and also reminds us to honor our mothers. Being a Woman Forthcoming is a powerful read, full of empowering prose and poetry, inviting the reader to look within and contemplate issues that affect us all, from the personal to the global. I highly recommend Being A Woman Forthcoming, and thank Michele Lee Sefton for gifting us this wonderful work.

These books are wonderful, and I highly recommend them.

I will continue to contemplate how I can give back to our community this year, and will have more ideas and insights about future projects and contributions I can make to do my part to ensure that the vitality and vibrancy of our community continues.

A Poem

@FleschJeff

That’s all for this month. Thank you to each of you again for being such wonderful friends. I am honored to know you, and feel blessed everyday to be a part of this amazing community of talented and gifted human beings.

Sending you all my love for a wonderfully blessed April.

#poetry, #art, #cdl, #coast, #community, #debut-book, #education, #gardening, #interview, #masticadoresindia, #masticadoresusa, #poem, #spillwords-press, #travel, #yachats

Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on September 12, 2021
Tags: , , , , , gardening, , , , , , , ,   

A Blogger’s Diary 9/12/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, The Garden, WordPress, Site Changes, and Gratitude

The Week

It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve posted a diary entry, and in the past four weeks, there have been some developments with the garden and to my site, which I am excited to relate; and, I also have a question for you about WordPress. More on that in a moment.

First, let’s take a look at some writing reflections.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

I’ve published several poems in the past four weeks, many of them taking love as their central theme or concept.

The poem, shaded in love, we agree, was a reflection upon my time living in the desert. I’ve been fortunate to live in several types of geographies, and the desert is among them, and holds a special place in my heart.

Sometimes people conflate the desert with barrenness, and the poem was an ode, if you will, to the splendor of the desert landscape, which I miss. There is something magical about being in the desert, especially at sunrise and sunset. The beauty is magnificent.

The poem, just like a star spangled night, was part of a much larger reflection about living life with an open heart. As I’ve written about in many posts and poems, living life with an open heart today is a blessing, and I am grateful to many people, especially, my life coach and teacher, for showing me a different way to understand the world, and our place in it.

It’s taken a lot of internal work, and, yet, what I understand today, is that all of my life happened just as it was supposed to. Exactly as it was supposed to; and, I am blessed with many different levels of understanding today because of all of the paths I’ve traveled. They were all needed, and are all important.

The Garden

Well, it’s also been a while since I’ve updated you on the garden, which is continuing to produce, and has been so much fun.

Here is a pic of some tomatoes I pulled last week.

Corvallis, Oregon 2021

Coming soon, broccolini, one of my favs!

WordPress

Over the past two months, I’ve had several regular readers send me messages that my posts are not showing up in their WP Reader. I actually emailed WP about this issue, and have yet to hear back.

The only workaround I know for this type of issue, which I’ve used before, is to unfollow the blog, and then refollow, which got me thinking.

Might any of you know of other workarounds to mitigate this issue? If so, I would love to read about them in the comments section, or, if you prefer, you can email me, thank you!

Site Changes

Earlier this year, I created a goal to make some changes to the site; and, I’ve finally made some of those changes.

I wanted to mention the changes here, in the event you notice anything that is not working well, or you have any suggestions, which may improve your experience. If so, please do let me know, thank you.

Gratitude

Photo by Hanny Naibaho on Unsplash

The week-beginning message I scheduled to go out to the team last week, was about gratitude; and the deep gratitude I have for everyone in my life.

My life has been, and is, blessed with connections to amazing people; and, today I am connected to many, many, more amazing people.

I think it is important to pause each day, and reflect upon the impact we make with our lives, and about the connections we have. They are so important.

In fact, I believe that human connection is one of the most important aspects of being alive. Experiencing aliveness is, for me, about being deeply connected to yourself, and then to those that you choose to surround yourself with every day.

Therefore, on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I am feeling deep gratitude for everyone in my life; my family, my friends, the team I work with, the community I live in, and, each and every one of you. Very grateful.

Thank you for being just as you are, and for being there, and supporting my work. It means the world to me.

Have a beautifully blessed week everyone.

#aliveness, #blessed, #blogging, #connection, #diary, #gardening, #gratitude, #heart, #humanity, #life, #love, #reflection, #wordpress, #writing

Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on July 18, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , gardening, japan, london, , UK, update, , website,   

A Blogger’s Diary 7/18/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Veggies and Blueberries, and Updating the Site and Traveling

The Week

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted a diary entry. I am excited about this entry, as I’ve got a couple of veggie pics, a blueberry picking adventure, and some news about traveling. Fun.

Last week, the team and I completed the team building I wrote about in my last diary entry. It went well. The theme of the team building was Back to the Future; yes, termed such after the movie, and the concepts we discussed were connection, continuity, and change.

We discussed these concepts because we know that there will be more change, there always is, every moment something is changing, we are all changing, yet, we also know that within this change, there is also continuity and continued connection. 

An important paradox to understand and be at ease with. 

Writing and Reflecting

The past couple of weeks, I’ve been reflecting a lot upon the internal work I’ve been engaged in these past 4 years, and how this work has shaped the man I am today. Transformational is the concept that comes to mind.

Transformational because when we look at the pain we carry, get in touch with it, work through it, we get back so much more. The only way to let go of something is to actually be in touch with it first, and to then work through it. Then, we can let it go. 

I imagine my poetry will always be shaped by these experiences, because they are not static, they continue today.

Veggies and Blueberries

The garden is healthy and well, and is producing, and will produce even more in the next month. Exciting.

Here are a couple of pics.

Justin and I went to a local blueberry farm last weekend, and picked almost 40 pounds of blueberries, which are one of my favorites. I eat them everyday, and enjoy them most in my evening smoothies. Delicious.

Here are a couple pics of that trip.

Updating the Site and Traveling

Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash

As I wrote about a few months ago, I will make some changes to the site this summer. I’ve already removed the videos page, as it is very outdated, and am creating a couple of new pages, and condensing some of the other pages.

At this time, I am not planning on changing the overall site theme, yet, you never know. As I work through these changes over the next two months, if something occurs differently for you, or becomes difficult for you on the site, I would love it if you would let me know. You can get my email from the contact page. Thank you.

As I’ve written about before, I am excited to travel in the coming years; and, I’m excited to share that I’ve booked my first trip. It will be to London, next May. Since I’ve been at my current job, I’ve not taken off more than a few days here and there, and am excited to be in London for 12 nights. 

That will be the 2022 trip, and in 2023? India; and, then in 2024, Japan. That’s the plan anyway. We all know that plans change, yet, having a plan is important. And, then? Let the change come. It’s all okay.

Alright, that’s all for this week.

Wishing you all a beautiful coming week.

#blog, #blogger, #bloggersdiary, #blogging, #community, #diary, #gardening, #japan, #london, #travel, #uk, #update, #vegetables, #website, #writingandreflecting

Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on June 27, 2021
Tags: , , , , , conenction, , gardening, , , ,   

A Blogger’s Diary 6/28/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, WordPress, Gardening, and Appreciating 950 Followers

The Week

This week I learned that my cousin passed away in a car accident. I was, and am, saddened by the news; and, my heart goes out to all of my family in Los Angeles, and everywhere else that my family is today. Sending love and blessings to all of you.

At work this week, I prepared to take the team through a team building in two weeks, which is about creating next year. I am excited, as the entire team has not gathered in a while. Should be fun.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Art Lasovsky on Unsplash

Writing did occur, as it always does, and was, well, quite prolific this week. Meaning, poems continue to come, and I am deeply grateful for the experience. 

It’s interesting, sometimes there’s nothing there, and at others, it’s like a flood of emotions and writing all at once. Pretty amazing, indeed.

I also submitted four poems recently for publication. Two to MASTICADORESUSA, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton, which were accepted.

I am super excited about these two poems being published, and am grateful to Gabriela and the team at MASTICADORESUSA for accepting these poems.

Thank you.

I also submitted two poems to Spillwords. I’ve not heard anything back from Spillwords yet, and will keep you posted on these two submissions, as well as the two submitted to MASTICADORESUSA. Grateful, grateful.

WordPress

Photo by Fikret tozak on Unsplash

I also found out this week that my WP reader is not linked to all of the sites I’m following, which makes interacting with everyone a little more challenging. Therefore, I am planning to unfollow and refollow a whole bunch of sites in the next two weeks.

I think this will work, as it has in the past. So, if you see me unfollow and then refollow, that’s what’s happening. Thanks for being patient with me!

Gardening

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve created a Community Gardening post, and I chose this week to update all of you via my diary entry, as writing another Community Gardening post eludes me at the moment.

Yes! Everything is growing quite well; and, yep, I’ve got some weeding to do too! 

The peas and broccoli are delicious, and I am really excited about the tomatoes, squash, and, well, everything else that’s planted.

Appreciating 950 Followers

Photo by Kevin Butz on Unsplash

I am ecstatic to share that the site has surpassed 950 followers. My goal at the beginning of the year was to get to 1000 followers by the end of June. Though I’ll fall a little short of that goal, I am overjoyed about, and appreciative of, each of the 950 people that are following this site. That’s you! Thank you!

The past year has been lots of things. Hard, sad, and, it has also been wonderful, and beautiful. And, at this moment? 

I am grateful. 

Grateful to each of you for viewing, liking, commenting, and sharing my posts. Beyond grateful.

I appreciate each of you, and am thankful to have met each and everyone of you. 

You are all inspiring and beautiful.

Sending love and blessings for a splendid week.

Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!

If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.

Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.

If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.

#appreciation, #blog, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #community, #conenction, #friends, #gardening, #life, #love, #reflecting, #writing