Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 40

Treasuring Poetry 2023 – Meet poet and author Andrew McDowell and a review #poetry #bookreview #Treasuring Poetry

Welcome to my first Treasuring Poetry post of 2023. Today, I am featuring poet and author, Andrew McDowell. I have also reviewed his excellent fantasy novel, Mystical Greenwood, and a most intriguing collection of poetry called As the World Burns: Writers and Artists Reflect on a World Gone Mad, to which Andrew is a contributor. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

Which famous poet has influenced your poetry the most?

When I was young, I admired William Shakespeare. I was impressed with how he used words to convey emotions and ideas, and I wanted to follow his example. In my junior year of high school, I participated in a Poetry Out Loud contest where we had to recite a poem. I chose Sonnet XVIII (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”) and won third place. The Shakespearean sonnet was the first poetic form I tried to consistently write in beyond regular rhyming lines. It would not be until college that I began branching out to other forms and eventually free verse.

Which poem that you’ve read has impacted the way you see things in life?

This was a tough one, but one poem that has impacted me is Robert Frost’s famous “The Road Not Taken.”

Two roads diverged in a…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Poetry book review: Finding a Balance by Lauren Scott

What Amazon says

Finding a Balance is Laurens second book of poetry, following New Day, New Dreams published in 2013. This compilation speaks often of her emotions and spirit after finding out about a life threatening disease two years ago in one of her family members. There is no devastating ending in the near future but many unanswered questions that will plague her family indefinitely.

In contrast to this sadness, Lauren has always possessed a romantic soul and is blessed to have celebrated twenty six happy years of marriage to her husband and best friend. So from darkness to finding the light again through faith and adding a touch of romance, she finds strength to move forward. This book takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of different emotions evoked from life and love but regardless of what is thrown in her path, hope will always prevail.

My review

Finding a Balance is a collection of beautiful poems that speak to the daily emotions of life and, in particular, the pain and sadness of her journey along the path of a life threatening illness in a family member. Both my sons have suffered, and continue to suffer, chronic illnesses so this is something that is close to my own heart and to which I intimately related.

The poet’s shock at the news is clearly described in her poem The Cards We’re Dealt, a saying I use myself in relation to my own family’s illnesses. This is a quote from the opening stanza:
“We sail through life smoothly
until a wave knocks us down
with no means for escaping
no turning around or backing away”

Seeing our loved ones in pain and ill and not being able to do anything about it is one of the heaviest burdens a mother can bear. These words say it all:
“Shaking my head,
I lie in beads of sweat’
gripping the edge,
waiting to fall
into the depths …”
From Reality’s Edge

Not all the poems are about chronic illness. Many are about the poet’s love for her family and her husband of 26 years. There are some delightful romantic poems in this collection. The one I enjoyed the most is called The Box:
“You placed it in my hands, adorned with a red bow
only a short clip of time had passed by our window
After pulling out tissue paper of white
I was entranced by the amazing sight
For inside was a lifetime together
and a house to be filled by the love we would gather
The walls stood bare waiting for memories to dress
showing reasons for us feeling truly blessed
The best gift of all, thought, I am thrilled to say
was your heart at the bottom, committed to stay”

I have read another book by this poet and find her writing and poetry to be simple and genuine, filled with realistic emotions and thoughts and not couched in complex wording that is difficult to decipher and understand. There is poetic strength in simplicity.

Purchase Finding a Balance by Lauren Scott

Amazon US

Lauren Scott Amazon Author Page

Growing Bookworms – Teaching children about nature and conservation

My first Growing Bookworms post of 2023 discusses teaching children about nature and conservation. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

Teaching our children about the natural environment and conservation is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. There are a few good ways of making sharing about nature and conservation with children, as follows:

Reading books about nature with your child;

Exploring nature with your child;

Art and play; and

Watching documentaries

Reading

There are a number of wonderful children’s books that subtly teach children about the wonders of nature. One is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett when Dicken shows Mary how to care for the locked garden and plant new flowers. Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson is another. Set along the Amazon River in Brazil, this book has a strong theme about the importance of nature to the human spirit. A few other wonderful children’s books about animals are White Fang by Jack London, The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford, Charlotte’s Webb…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – chicken and vegetable stew with white wine

Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who voted for my gingerbread for the 2022 Holiday Gingerbread Smackdown Challenge. I did not win, but I enjoyed making the train and there were some amazing entries especially the Museum of Gingerbread.

My husband was taken critically ill last week Wednesday. He had fast and effective medical treatment and is doing much better now. He had a small procedure in theatre on Friday evening to relocate a dislocated shoulder which happened during the whole incident on Wednesday. He really was so much better today and I am feeling very grateful for that and the fortunate events that saved his life that day. Thank you for all your kind and supportive comments.

My boys still have to eat so I made this Robbie Surprise chicken and vegetable stew this afternoon. It came out very well and I used up the left over vegetables I had in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

2 medium onions, peeled and diced

250 grams sliced button mushrooms

9 chicken thighs and 9 chicken drumsticks with skin on

salt and pepper to taste

700 grams peas, sliced green beans, carrots, and baby marrows, and broccoli florets

1/2 cup white wine

60 grams tomato paste

15ml garlic flakes

15 ml thyme

20 ml Worcestershire sauce

3 bay leaves

4 large potatoes, peeled and diced

8 cups chicken stock

60ml plain flour dissolved in 1/2 cup cold water

Olive oil

Method

Heat olive oil in a large pot. Salt and pepper to taste and then brown the chicken pieces (in batches if necessary) and set aside. Add more oil if required and fry the onions for 5 minutes. Add the mushroom and cook for a further 5 minutes and then add the vegetable mix. Cook for a further 5 minutes and add the white wine allow to simmer until the liquid reduces by 1/3 (about 10 minutes). Add the garlic, thyme, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Add half the chicken stock and then the potatoes and chicken pieces. Add the rest of the chicken stock. Mix the flour in the water until all the lumps have dissolved and stir into the stew. Bring to the boil. Reduce the temperature and simmer for 50 minutes.

A Haiku

Happy New Year to everyone.

This is a haiku that I wrote for a haiku challenge with the prompt blue. I never submitted it so I thought I would share it hear.

Beneath chalky white

skin, transparent with illness

blue veins pulse weakly

By Robbie Cheadle

My husband has been taken ill unexpectedly and is in hospital. I will respond to comments as and when I can.

This picture is unrelated, but I though it was such a nice shot.

Robbie’s Inspiration: 2022 Holiday Gingerbread-Smackdown challenge

Hi everyone

I hope you have all had a terrific Christmas and are looking forward to a new year filled with opportunities.

The voting for the 2022 Holiday Gingerbread-Smackdown challenge is open and I would love it if you would pop over and vote for your favourite entries in each category (my Santa Express is in three of the categories). I must warn you that there are a lot of fabulous entries this year so you need a bit of time to go through them all and do your voting in all the categories. There are some amazing entries!

https://www.gingerbreadbydesign.com/gingerbread-smackdown

This is my entry:

Santa ExpressChristmas Tree ManSanta and Mrs. Claus

A Visit to New Classic Recipe – ROBBIE AND MICHAEL’S CHRISTMAS TRADITION

This is Michael and my last post for this year on Robbie’s Inspiration. We are visiting Bernadette at her lovely baking and cooking blog, New Classic Recipe with two shortbread recipes, on for orange and chocolate shortbread and one for lemon shortbread, and also showing off our three chocolate house creations for 2022.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

Hi there,

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Robbie Cheadle, https://writingtoberead.com, is a South African children’s author and poet with eleven children’s books and two poetry books.

The eight Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and her son, Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions that children can make under adult supervision.

In addition to being a fabulous writer, Robbie is an amazing cook. She has always generously donated recipes for my collaborations. You may remember this spectacular Hummingbird Cake recipe: https://newclassicrecipe.com/2022/05/10/hummingbird-cake-a-very-special-birthday-cake-for-a-very-special-mother/. What follows is Robbie’s recipe for two shortbreads.

A little bit of Christmas shortbread

My mother is a big fan of shortbread and always asks me to make it for Christmas. I use my basis shortbread recipe and add different additional ingredients to create different taste experiences while keeping the basis shortbread texture. Shortbreads last for longer than most other biscuits, which makes it a great treat for mom who likes to eke out her biscuits for a few weeks of teatime treats.

This year, I decided to make shortbread as my Christmas treat for my work colleagues. I made two different batches: orange and chocolate shortbread and lemon shortbread. Both variants were delicious and were received with great enthusiasm.

Carry on reading here: https://newclassicrecipe.com/2022/12/15/robbie-and-michaels-christmas-tradition/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Staci Troilo’s Second Annual Virtual Cookie Exchange – Coffee Chocolate butter biscuits

This year, Michael and I decided to try a coffee chocolate mix for our Christmas cookies. We used a traditional butter cookie base and they came out very well. This recipe made about 30 cookies.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups (625 ml) self raising flour

2 Tablespoons (30 ml) cocoa powder

1 Tablespoon (15 ml) instant coffee (I used medium roast)

125 ml boiling water

180 grams softened butter

1 cup demerara sugar

1 egg

For the outside of the cookies

1 egg, beaten, with 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) milk

80 ml demerara sugar

80 ml cocoa powder

Method

In a large bowl, sift the self raising flour and the cocoa powder. In a cup, mix together the coffee and the boiling water and allow to cool. Cream the butter and sugar and then add the egg. Mix until completely incorporated and then add the coffee mixture. Finally, add the flour and cocoa, mixing until a smooth dough has formed. Roll the dough into two logs of approximately 7,5 cm thick. Place the logs in the refrigerator for 45 minutes to harden.

When the dough is ready, heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Mix the cocoa and demerara sugar and sprinkle on a piece of wax paper. Cover the first roll with the egg wash using a pastry brush. Roll the log in the cocoa and sugar mixture until it is completely coated. Repeat with the second log. Using a sharp knife, cut the logs into round of approximately 1/2 centimeter thick.

Lay the rounds on a prepared baking tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not place the cookies to close together as they rise and spread during baking.

This recipe is for Staci Troilo’s Second Annual Virtual Cooking Exchange which you can join in here: https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/second-cookie-exchange/

Copywrite: Robbie Cheadle

You can find more fun Christmas activities and recipes to enjoy with children over the holiday period in Michael and my latest book, Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp available on Kindle Unlimited here: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Missing-Christmas-holidays-books-ebook/dp/B0BNHX8XGC

You can watch the book trailer here:

Treasuring Poetry – A tribute to poet and author, Sue Vincent, plus some reviews #SueVincent #Poetrycommunity

My Treasuring Poetry post this month is a tribute to the late, Sue Vincent, an incredibly talented poet, writer and blogger. Thank you for hosting Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

I am using this last Treasuring Poetry post for 2022 to celebrate the writing talent of Sue Vincent who passed in March 2021. Sue was an incredible blogger who did a huge amount to support her fellow bloggers, authors, and poets. Her poetry, books, and blog are still close to many of our hearts which is an incredible tribute to her talent and personal charisma.

I am sharing Sue’s responses to a Poetry Readathon I ran on Robbie’s Inspiration in December 2018, two years after I first met Sue.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a Yorkshire lass with two grown sons and two granddaughters. I live with the notorious Small Dog, in a village in rural Buckinghamshire, England. I write daily for my own blog, theDaily Echo, which is an eclectic mix of personal reflections, poetry, history and folklore. I help run the Silent Eye…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Book blog tour: Fairies, Myths & Magic II by Colleen M. Chesebro and a review #poetry #shortstories #readingcommunity

Today, I am delighted to feature a guest post by poet and author, Colleen Chesebro. Colleen is an amazing poet and has devoted extensive time and energy to teaching her fellow bloggers and poets all about syllabic poetry.

Guest post by Colleen M. Chesebro

Thank you, Robbie for the opportunity to share the news of my new book, just in time for the winter solstice and Yule.

In Fairies, Myths, & Magic II I share poetry, short stories, myths, and legends about Yule and the winter solstice. One of my favorite discussions was about the mythology of the seven sacred plants connected to the winter solstice.

(Image created with Canva.com)

They are evergreens, holly, ivy, mistletoe, birch, oak, and yew. The greenery symbolized life, rebirth, and renewal. Ancient peoples believed evergreens held power over death itself because the green color never faded.

Holly is connected to the myths of the Druids, Celtics, Pagans, and Christians. The holly trees or bushes with their red berries and glossy green leaves were sacred to the Druids, who are said to have thought holly protected them against evil spirits. The berries also represented the menstrual blood of their goddess, and the boughs were cut and brought into the home since the leaves were viewed as a magical source which would restore spring.

The Druids were a ruling class of the ancient Celts. Druid means “oak-knower.” Most of what we know about the Druids comes from the Romans and is a mixture of mythology and propaganda. The Druids did not leave any written records.

There is a long tradition of decorating with holly at this time of year. The Romans gave holly branches during Saturnalia to bring good fortune to friends and family.

As you can see, I decorate with holly in my home. This photo shows my reclining Buddha on the mantle surrounded with a holly vine and twinkle lights. I also display the four elements of water, earth, air, and fire.

(Colleen’s Mantle decorated with holly branches & twinkle lights around reclining Buddha)

Here’s a closeup of the photo:

About the book

In this second book in the Fairies, Myths, & Magic series, step into a world where dark fairies, and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by winter and the celebration of the winter solstice.

From Autumn’s scary fairies to the forgotten female characters of Yule, prepare to embrace the magical winter solstice myths from around the world. Meet Frau Holle in the Wild Hunt, Befana—the Christmas Witch of Italy, and the Japanese goddess Ameratasu who controls the springtime. Prepare to embrace the Scottish trows, The Irish Goddess of Winter—the Cailleach Béara, and Snegurochka—the Snow Girl.

Learn how to make Yuletide rituals part of your celebration by embracing the symbols of Yule by decorating with evergreens and crystals.

Fairies, Myths, & Magic II Links:

Colleen’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-M-Chesebro/e/B01N9MV2RX

Amazon Universal Link: https://mybook.to/FairiesMythsMagicII

My review

This beautifully written book comprises of short stories, flash fiction, and poetry, all linked by the common thread of Winter & Yule fairies and magical creatures. Winter is a time of darkness, cold, and hibernation and this is reflected in the magical creatures who reign supreme at this time of year.

The stories and poems detail myths and legends from all over the Northern Hemisphere including house elves from Sweden, a faery queen and an old hag from Ireland, trows from Shetland Island, a snow maiden from Russia, and many more. It was enchanting to read these fascinating fairy tales, a few of which, like Gryla and the thirteen Yule Lads were known to me, and many that were entirely new.

Many of the stories are sad and tug at your heart strings but others will make you smile. My two favourite stories were The Long Walk, which although short was reminiscent for me of The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Tomte, the House Elf, which reminded me of Dobby from the Harry Potter series.

All of the poems are vividly description and I liked that two were dedicated to special people in the poet’s life.

A short quote from a favourite poem, Winter, is as follows:
“silver hair …
winter’s first frost
touches her eyes”

This book is a must for readers who enjoy fairytales, mythology and legends, and beautiful poetry.

About Colleen M. Chesebro

An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction.

In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on Word Craft Poetry.com by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.

Chesebro isan assistant editor of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology & Gitty Up Press, a micro-press founded by Charli Mills and Carrot Ranch.

In January 2022, Colleen founded Unicorn Cats Publishing Services to assist poets and authors in creating eBooks and print books for publication. In addition, she creates affordable book covers for Kindle and print books.

Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.

Find Colleen M. Chesebro

Word Craft Poetry: https://wordcraftpoetry.com

Colleen M. Chesebro, Author, Poet & Unicorn Cats Publishing Services: https://colleenmchesebro.com

Facebook Page: Colleen M. Chesebro, Poet & Author: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085941528913 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/colleen-m-chesebro-6b856b237