lifestyle

Someone mentioned this week about my blog being a "lifestyle" blog. Five years ago this month, I started blogging fast and furiously.  I blogged about books, food, movies, and just about anything that popped into my little head. I never missed a day.

Then something happened. I started writing poetry. Gradually, the time I spent writing blog posts, shifted to time spent writing poetry. Then something else happened.  Facebook.  I took to Facebook like a duck to water, or shall I say, swan to water.  It's quick and easy to post a random thought, or current Willow Manor event, like the discovery of a dead moth, or spot of the floor that looks amazingly like Boris Pasternak. A conversation thread can be started at the drop of a hat, or feather, twenty-four-seven. Squawk! Do swans squawk? I think so, yes. 

To make a long story short, my way of life has become one of poetry. So, I still consider Life at Willow Manor a lifestyle blog. Even though I rarely visit blogs these days, except for Magpie Tales, I want to thank my faithful readers. Those of you not on Facebook, I promise to make an effort to post occasional recipes, movie reviews, and so on, so stay tuned. You are the best, dear peeps. You really, really are. 

photo: me a la Anne Boleyn, recluse at Willow Manor

observed celestial recurrences

What's up with Willow these days?  Have you noticed?  She posts a measly poem once a week. That's it. Could it be, after four years of furious daily postings, she ran out of steam?  Well, yes, sort of ... she just ran out of blog steam.  I hear she's been hanging around Facebook a lot, and is busy putting together her second poetry chapbook manuscript. She tells me the time off has been therapeutic, and that she has finally coaxed her bloggy muse off the sofa.  So, stay tuned gentle readers; fresh new posts are on their way.

The daffodils have pushed through the winter soil at Willow Manor early this year, but I hear the manor Christmas tree is still up, gathering dust, while she's heavily into Philip Larkin, among others. She says she will take down the tree for Lent. 

And the empty pages?

Should they ever be filled

Let it be with observed

Celestial recurrences,

The day the flowers come,

And when the birds go.

Philip Larkin, from "Forget What Did"

click to embiggen

I also heard it from the grapevine that Willow is working on updating her image with a new pair of retro Michael Caine glasses. Now all she needs to be way cool, is lose the silly grin, and dangle a cigarette.

A Special Day

I started my blog exactly one year ago today. I never in a million
years would have imagined what a wonderful and inspiring impact
the blogging community has had on my life, on so many levels.

So, in celebration of this happy event, I would like to announce my
first annual Willow Manor Blogoversary Give Away. Just

leave a little comment any time today and I will put your name in

the drawing. The prize will be a well loved book or two from my

personal library. Let me surprise you.

Thank you so very much, my dear, dear bloggy friends for enriching
my life over the past year with your insight, inspirations, friendship
and love.

Willow x x

artwork by my dear friend Mary Sheetz, 1979