December 5, 2015: The Fall Semester Is Nearly Over

Have You Had Your  Free-Range Egg Today?

Photo:P.Tonery                                  

An eyeblink. Setember to December. The silence on this blog.
Too long.  Time to dust it off and put on some writing music.  Fill you in on what has been happening.
We've had an exceptional growing year. My root cellar is full of jars of tomato sauce, jams (strawberry, blueberry, apricot, peach, raspberry),
verde sauce, sweet pepper sauce,
pickles, applesauce and so on. Freezers full of fresh veggies.
Exceptional year for tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, garlic, peppers sweet to hot-- all kinds, tomatillos, eggplant, cabbage (purple and green),  butternut squash, acorn, green beans, dry beans (which I still have to shuck!) pumpkin, zucchini, yellow squash; not so good for cauliflower or broccoli, onions (fair).  We're in good shape, though.
Our Thanksgiving meal was  all farm produced, with exception of wine and beer.  It was quite a moment for all of us gathered round, realizing that we did it.  We had a big gang of family here.  Such fun.

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On November 14, 2015, I received a Big Pencil Award from Writers & Books, for Lifetime Achievement.  My family and friends were at the award's ceremony. It was a wonderful evening.  My sister Karen made me a pencil tiara, which is so fantastic!  It sparkles in my silver hair!

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On November 21, 2015 at Writers and Book, we celebrated the life and writing of friend and mentor Jusith Kitchen, and the new CNF anthology Close Encounters edited by Judith Kitchen and Dinah Lenney.  It was an evening of beautiful readings by Sonja Livingston, Bill Capossere, Alicia Hoffman, Carol McMahon, Jenny Lloyd, Monica Gilligan, Bruce Bennett and  me. I am grateful to all of these fine writers for saying "yes" to participating in this event and making it happen seamlessly.  To Joe Flaherty and Al Abonado  for giving us the space to celebrate and ordering the anthology. To everyone who came to be there and listen and remember Judith.  It's so hard to believe that a year has passed since she left us physically, but her spirit and energy is everywhere.  I share her words daily with my students.  She is in my thoughts, always.


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This semester may be busiest yet.  I have a 147 students, all doing a significant amount of writing.  I have been keeping up with my usual 7-10 day turnaround on  papers (critical and creative). It's been challenging to say the least.  I have a World Lit class with 43 students, who love to read! Somehow, this class has been mostly discussion based. They have been such a gift, in so many ways, and a majority are freshmen, so they will only get better and better and better. I hope I'll get a chance to work with all of them again.

Actually, all of my classes have been a joy.  I raise my cup of coffee to them all!

Two Week Round-Up! Now It's December!

 

Christmas Clwydian Style, photo by Suzanne Iuppa 

Here are Suzanne's mountains in Wales. I guess it's rare to see these mountains covered in snow. I like this vista, only wish that some day I will see it first hand.  My blogging time has been usurped by grading. Stacks and stacks of papers.  This weekend will see me finish the last batch of work.  This upcoming week is the last week of classes.  Yesterday (12/1), my colleagues Elizabeth King Durand, Heather Erwin, Nancy Greco and I hung the end of the semester art show in Lavery Library.  It took just close to three hours to get it just right.
We work steady, one-two, one-two.  I'm so grateful to these fabulous, talented women, who "make it happen." This exhibit is  one of our best showcases.

After hanging the show, I went to School 46 to help work the Project U.N.I.Q.U.E  (arts education) booth at the annual craft fair.We did very well selling our crafts and promoting ROC the day, which is coming up in approximately 2 weeks.  Hopefully, people will donate to our arts organization  to help further our arts programming in the schools this upcoming year.

Then, I finished the day at Writers & Books Big Pencil Award ceremonies.  Congratulations to Local Honorees: Leah Ruekberg, a teacher of adults who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature;Grant Holcomb,an individual who has made lifelong contributions to Rochester’s literary community;David Cay Johnston, a writer who has had an impact on Rochester readers.
Henry Padron, a teacher of young people who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature; Brad VanAuken, an individual who has made significant contributions to Writers & Books; and John Roche on behalf of Just Poets, an organization that has made significant contributions to the Rochester literary community. See W&B web site for honorees interviews:http://www.wab.org/events/bigpencil12.shtm

It was a wonderful evening.

Looking back over the week:

Attended Bill Heyen's reading on Wednesday evening at SUNY Brockport's Writers Forum.
Such a fine reading, which was retrospective, introspective and current.  Bill is just amazing.  He has three new books out this year and the year isn't over. I enjoyed every minute.  So glad I had the energy to keep on truckin'.

Looking back over Thanksgiving Break:

Brigid and I shucked three huge mesh bags full of dried beans.  Black, white, red and pinto.  One bag remains to be done.  We were diligent shuckers.  The beans are gorgeous.  Now stored in glass jars.

We took Brigid and Jack to see The Christmas Carol at GeVa. We enjoyed the show, but it's actually scary and there were some 4 year olds in the audience who were whimpering in their mothers' armpits. . . . Sets, singing, acting all well done.

Thanksgiving was a much needed respite. Also saw the movie Argo, which was terrific.  You must see it.  Ben Affleck did a great job directing and starring in this film.


I want to see Lincoln.

Upcoming: Eastman School of Music Concert at St. John Fisher College.  Students from Elinor Freer's Chamber Music class will be performing selections from Brahms.

Thursday, December 6th at 6: 30 p.m. in Cleary Family Auditorium. Free and open to public.


Now it's time to get busy.  I have a lot planned for today. . . .