What Inspires Me? Little League Diamond on Diamonds
Little League Baseball’s Diamond Jubilee is on!
For 75 years 4–16-year-old Little League players have been suiting up and taking to the field to pitch, catch, throw—Play Baseball!
These past few weeks, 11- & 12-year-old Little League baseball teams have been competing in the regional playoffs. Winner from each division will face off in the 2022 Little League World Series beginning August 17, 2022!
Let me repeat: 11 & 12 year olds, little boys who still have to be home before the street lights and be reminded to brush their teeth—and may not yet have enough equipment to fill out athletic supporters— competing in games as heated, intense, dramatic as an Major League Baseball match up!
Just how good can these Little Leaguers be?
On August 8th, a 12-year-old on the Honolulu Little League, Jaron Lancaster, blasted the ball clear out of the park.
Jaron’s moonshot flew over the outfield fence and almost over the outside fence. Regulation dimensions for little league fields specify that the distance from “the back point of home plate to the outfield fence should be at least 200 feet, but not more than 275 feet” which means Jaron’s moonshot was way more than 200 feet.
Click over to watch Jaron Lancaster’s 2 Run homer!
According to Quora, “The vast majority of hits in baseball are singles, and the average distance that a hit travels is between 100 and 120 feet.” That’s a grown adult twice as big and strong as any of these middle-graders hitting!
11-and 12-year-olds with the physical prowess, commitment, courage to play as good and as hard as they do under such pressure! Now that’s inspiring!
The 2022 Little League World Series will be held in Williamsport, PA—August 17-28th. Honolulu will play Long Island’s own Massapequa Little League. (Yes, I’ll be watching.)
For the first time since 2019, International Teams will be competing and fans will crowd the stands—that’s 10 U.S. teams and 10 from other countries. Watch to see some exciting inspiring play!
Here’s How to watch the 2022 Little League World Series, Schedule & Brackets!
Poetry Challenge#256 S'More Please?
When was the last time you made a s’more? Two points if you used the microwave. Seriously, it’s possible! When was the last time you made a s’more? Two points if you used the microwave. Seriously, it’s possible! Although lacking the depth of flavor of its fire-roasted nee charred campfire cooked flavor of the original graham cracker-marshmallow-chocolate concoction—microwave S’mores are mighty tasty. According to limited resources, the first S’more recipe was published in the 1927 guide, Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts, when you’re finished you might want s’more. Happy S’More Day (Aug 10th)!
Poetry Challenge #256
S’more Please!
The original name for the campfire dessert created by sandwiching hot roasted marshmallow and chocolate between graham cracker squares was “Some More,” probably because that’s what anyone who ever tasted one said.
No telling when and who first slurred “Some Mores” into S’more, the Girl Scouts adopted the contracted name in the ‘70s. So let’s go with it.
Building on the name, S’more, write a poem about something you’ve only done once and would love to do again. And, in honor of the person, possibly talking around a mouthful of marshmallow, who first contracted “Some More” into “S’more,” use as many contractions in your poem as possible.
A contraction is made by replacing a letter or letters in a word with an apostrophe. Usually, a contraction uses the remaining letters of the original words. For inspiration, here’s a list of some uncommon contractions:
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
When you’re finished whip up a batch of ooey-gooey s’mores and reread your poem while savoring s’more s’mores!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
What Inspires Me? Music Memory
Anyone doubting the impact music, dance, art has on our lives take a look.
Marta Cinta Gonzalez a once prima ballerina who’s age is unknown because she intentionally falsified records and when asked declared herself 40, is locked down due to old age and Alzheimer—physically and mentally—but Marta still—always—danced!
BTW: This video was uploaded in October 2018 by by Asociacion Musica para Despertar, a Spanish organization that promotes music therapy. Marta has since died. Click over to read more about Marta’s Swan Lake not Marta’s Swan Song!
Picture Books about Dancing get everyone moving! Here’s a great list!
And for all the rest who scampered to art, music, dance class, like me, clutching a plasticine Barbie Ballet shoe case, with prima ballerina dreams dancing in your head…enjoy!
And thank you Bright Vibes to bring hopeful stories like this.
BTW. This video was uploaded in October 2018 by by Asociacion Musica para Despertar, a Spanish organization that promotes music therapy. Marta has sense died.
Click over to read more about Marta’s Swan Lake not Marta’s Swan Song!
Let her memory inspire us to sing and dance with our children.
Play on! Dance On! Dream On!
What Inspires Me? Little Free Libraries
Take a Book: Share a Book
I was at a Texas Library Association (TLA) meeting once when author Laurie Halse Anderson called us all “Book Sluts.” Silence, gasps, nervous twitters, guffaws followed when she explained. “You all will read anything.” I did say “us.” And what eventually happens we go from Book Sluts to Book Hoarders. I’m guilty too. Every room in my house has at least one bookcase, book basket, book “decorative display” . . . Open a nightstand in a guest room hoping to find a spot to stow your stuff—fat chance! they too are stacked with books.
Dead Tree Turned Little Free Library! Who wouldn’t want to check it out?
Fast forward to 2018 when my family granted my birthday wish by surprising me with a Little Free Library of my very one—custom built with a rooftop garden by son Max.
Honestly, filling it that first time was a Sophie’s Choice. After all, the first part of the Little Free Library motto is “Take a Book.” Which of my zillions of babies could I stock it with knowing I might never get to see them, touch them, read them again?
I managed to curate what I considered a fine blend of books for all ages—especially picture books—classics and new releases, pop and literary (no judging) and some ARCs (the perk of being a TLA/ALA/ILA attendee and occasional reviewer).
My Very Own Little Free Library! Mary Lee Donovan’s A Hundred Thousand Welcomes didn’t last long.
That was in August of 2018. Frankly, although I was especially attentive: watching, weeding, rotating those first six months, I didn’t have many visitors. Doubt crept in: was my Little Free Library a flop? And then came March 2019.
Libraires closed. Stores closed. Work closed. School closed. Winter. Dark. Scary.
Little Free Library at a Gas Station in Ladysmith, VA. Fill your mind while you fill your tank!
My Little Free Library turned out to be a bright spot in our lonely quiet village. Suddenly, my LFL was a hopping spot. My books flew out faster than I could restock. My fear about what I could part with caused me to make some rash decisions—and do some strategic planning. I found myself testing visitor’s literary tastes by stocking one in a series. If it went, I’d put in another by the same author, and so on.
And then, just when restocking was beginning to hurt (some shelves were actually not sagging any longer) the other half of the Little Free Library motto happened: Visitors began sharing books! Lots of books! Sure a few dusty moldy collections, but mostly interesting reads. Some even wrote notes: “Read Me! Choose Me!” “This was my favorite!”
That was CoVid, we were all worried, so I’d rotate books to ensure they had a mandatory 72 hour kill-the-bug period, and I disinfected the heck out of my Little Library.
Microwaves, Fine Cabinets, Old Tin Boxes, Ovens…Libraries!
If anyone happened to visit my LFL I’d hide or drive right by. Not because I was scared to talk to them. But because so often visitors have a guilty look on their faces as they riffle through the books. As though they’re doing something naughty. Finally, one of my deepest darkest wishes had been granted: I had created a “Guilty Pleasure!”
Ohio-Pyle, PA—Where the rivers—bikers, hikers, rafters—readers—converge
Who inspires me: Todd Bol, who is 2009, built a model of a one room schoolhouse, posted it in his front yard and filled it with books. According to the Little Free Library website, “His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away.” Then Rick Brooks heard what Todd was doing and they teamed up to make Little Free Library something more.
In the early days of Little Free Library, Todd Bol said he’d be happy if 2000 books were exchanged. At the time of his death in 2018, the organization he founded with Rick Brooks, celebrated it’s 75,000th Little Free Library. In 2022, there are over 150,000 registered Libraries in more than 115 countries.
Todd Bol and his first Little Free Library
“I really believe in a Little Free Library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place on this planet to live.”
(Before you ask, yes, I did think that a picture book about Todd Bol and Little Free Library was a great idea. Margret Aldrich beat me to it! And so did Miranda Paul with Little Libraries; Big Heroes
Keep your eyes open, Little Free Libraries are everywhere, made from everything: trees, microwaves, filing cabinets and wood.
When you travel, find a LFL nearby—you don’t need a card to check out books! What’s more, you can lighten your baggage as deposits are always welcome.
And, if, like mine, your shelves are bowing—and I know they are you
Book S…Hoarder you! —maybe it’s time for a LFL of your own. Visit LittleFreeLibrary.org for more.
Fin Pal asks Norman "Do You Love to Sing?"
Norman does sing and dance, doesn’t he? Especially when his human does what? Can you guess from the illustration below?
Image from NORMAN ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH illustrated by Noah Z. Jones (Candlewick Press)
You guessed it! Norman always sings and dances when his human plays the tuba. But, does Norman like it? What do you think?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
But first a finny!
Q: What is the difference between a piano and a fish?
Q: What is the difference between a piano and a fish?
A: You can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish.
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish- about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Don’t forget to order your copy of NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and NORMAN: ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH!!
Poetry Challenge #255-Watermelon Daze
It’s Watermelon Season! Watermelon at my local patch is selling for 3 cents a pound. 3 cents—pick your own. How could I resist? My favorite way to serve watermelon is as a salad. Cut the watermelon from the rind, cube it, toss it with fresh mint, lime juice and feta cheese crumbles—cool, crisp, tangy-and just a hint of salt…delish!
Ready for more?
Poetry Challenge #255
Watermelon Daze
One way to come up with an idea for a poem is to start with a noun. Today in honor of National Watermelon Day, August 3rd, let’s use WATERMELON.
Think of ways to describe a watermelon and jot them down—its color, shape, texture, taste, smell, use.
Think of ways to compare it to something else—it looks like…feels like…tastes like…
Think of what watermelon reminds you of—when, where, why, what memories do you have?
Finally, write a poem using the best things you discovered while you were answering the watermelon questions.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Don’t forget to spit out the seeds!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Fin Pal asks Norman "Do You Like Sharks?"
Did you know there are about 500 different kinds of shark around the world? Only about 12 kinds are dangerous to humans, these include the great white shark, bull shark, tiger shark, shortfin mako, and oceanic whitetip shark. But all of them, when hungry could find goldfish a tasty treat—and we’re not talking about goldfish crackers, either! So what do you think Norman will say?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
But first a finny!
Q: Where do fish go to borrow money?
Q: Where do fish go to borrow money?
A: To a Loan-Shark
To learn more about sharks and see pictures click over to “20 Types of Sharks Around the World” on OurEndangeredWorld.com
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish- about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Don’t forget to order your copy of NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and NORMAN: ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH!!
Poetry Challenge #254-Love is Kind
Because, as evidenced by our daily dose of news, kindness must be a learned behavior, July 27th has been designated National Love is Kind Day, a day set aside to “encourages you to become aware of how you are treating people, how people are treating you, and how you can become emboldened, supported, and empowered to lead the joyful and productive life.”
Poetry Challenge #254
Love Is Kind
Write an echo verse with “Love is Kind” as the theme.
An Echo Verse is one in which the last word or syllable in a line is repeated on the next line. In essence, that last word/sound is “echoed underneath to form a rhyming line, normally ending as the last line being the title to the poem.”
Below is an example of an Echo Poem YoungWriters.com.
Read it aloud and listen for the echo:
Set the theme of “Love is Kind” in your mind. Then, when you’re ready to begin:
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
After all, every day—especially on Love is Kind Day—What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love by Burt Bacharach! Hit it Dionne!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .