The Acrostic

Spent a couple hours

On a puzzle from The Times,

An activity I almost like

As much as making rhymes.

 

I do the crossword daily,

Since it’s there in each edition

And work on it until my solving’s

Come to its fruition.

 

Yet on Sunday, in the magazine,

Some other puzzles wait,

Where varied types on different weeks,

In print, will alternate.

 

I tackled the acrostic,

Which is challenging and cool.

I usually finish

With a few tries, as a rule.

 

But today I was determined

And kept at it ‘til I finished.

Supposedly, this will not let

My brain cells be diminished.

Curves

An easy type of quilting 

Is to sew two fabric squares 

Which are pinned and lined up neatly;

Nothing else, for ease, compares.

Once you make the shapes more complex,

Like a triangle or curve,

Things might get a little tricky

And you need a bit more nerve.

I’ve been sewing several years now

And still have a way to go,

For when stitching points or circles,

There’s a lot you have to know.

Curves have always proved a challenge

And frustration is no fun.

Every time I had to sew some,

I would backtrack to square one.

But I’ve lately had a breakthrough, 

Which I hope my brain preserves,

For my latest little project

Has a lot of sneaky curves.

Yet I’m tackling them slowly 

And they’re falling into place.

Something clicked - you know that feeling?

And a smile is on my face.

Now my project, when I finish,

Will be far from error-free,

But if you check out my curves, I think

That you’d be proud of me.

Birthday

Texts and phone calls,

Gifts and cards,

All conveying

Best regards.

 

Took my walk and

Zoomed my class –

My quilting project’s

Kickin’ ass.

 

Had a candle

Which I blew.

(Instead of cake –

Tiramisu!)

 

Soon a dinner –

Mussels, fries,

I.P.A. and

Lemon pies.

 

First New Orleans –

Golly gee!

What a birthday,

Just for me!

In the Swamp

In the swamp the raccoons romp

And gators ply the waters.

Wild boars snuff and strut their stuff

And eat their sons and daughters.

 

Take a ride but stay inside

The boat, both feet and fingers

Or else your zeal provides a meal

(And teeth hurt more than stingers!).

 

On the boat, when gators float,

The captain calls them closer

With marshmallows tossed at little cost

Or meat that’s raw (much grosser!).

 

The gators know this little show

Provides a snack quite tasty,

So use their tail to some avail,

Their movements smooth but hasty.

 

The swamp’s a place I’d hate to face

On any daily basis,

Yet to its beasts it’s never ceased

To be a true oasis.

In New Orleans

We try to do some local things

Whenever we’re away,

Although we’re clearly tourists 

On a short and jam-packed stay.

So we signed up for a cooking class

And watched a chef prepare

Gumbo, jambalaya and pralines,

Some Cajun-Creole fare.

It all was most delicious

And Chef Austin was the best.

We left there more than satisfied

And happily impressed.

Not needing any dinner, 

We checked out some local jazz,

Where Tom Hook, a piano player,

Entertained us with pizzazz.

It’s wonderful to have a chance

To try out something new 

As a little break before you’re back

To what you always do.