Text from my daughter: “Family picnic at Myrtle on Oct. 3rd. Can you go?” “Yes! I’m in.” The family picnic coincided with the Scholastic Book Fair. I’m usually on the other side of the book fair. Now I never did have to run it. Hats off to the school librarian. And I did not volunteer. […]| Reflections on the Teche
Today is the first Friday of a new month, October, and time for an Inklings challenge. I asked my writing group friends to exchange photos for an image poem. I invite you to participate in image poetry every Wednesday right here with This Photo Wants to be a Poem. My exchange partner was Heidi. She […]| Reflections on the Teche
It’s a God thing. I started this day not knowing what I wanted to write about. Kim asked us to write about compassion. I waited for inspiration. Nothing. So I went for a walk. There was a soft rain shower, but I went anyway. And then God did God’s thing: a double rainbow! When I […]| Reflections on the Teche
Last week this lily appeared at my back door. I vaguely remember a neighbor giving me some bulbs, but I planted them ages ago. When I placed my Google lens on this flower, surprise lily came up as one of many names. It’s also known as spider lily and naked lady. Today in my poem […]| Reflections on the Teche
In my retirement, I want to be a better gardener. I envy people who seem to be natural gardeners. Rather than pine over other people’s gardens, I decided I needed to be proactive, so I attended a Acadiana Native Plant Project event last week at the Louisiana Wetlands Center. As we toured the grounds, the […]| Reflections on the Teche
I wrote the book of tanka and haibun poems to capture the miracle that my husband and I have witnessed each year by watching a Ring camera in our wood duck house. Irene Latham wrote: “Readers of all ages will JUMP at the chance to celebrate the life of wood ducks in this inviting volume. […]| Reflections on the Teche
Today, I’m in love with a purple wild petuniapopping like a party balloonpresent and speakingpeace.Margaret Simon, draft Please join me in writing about what you love today. Leave a small poem in the comments and encourage other writers.| Reflections on the Teche
Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share. The TECHE Project with a grant managed by the Center for Louisiana Stu…| Reflections on the Teche
7 posts published by margaretsmn during September 2025| Reflections on the Teche
I have been comforted by all of the sympathy notes and messages from this Poetry Friday community over the death of my mother this summer. I appreciate more than ever how this community supports and cares for each other. In the summer poem swap, organized by Tabatha Yeatts, Denise Krebs sent me two poems, a … … Continue reading →| Reflections on the Teche
I’m still dreaming of Scotland. This photo was taken from the bus window, so it’s not super clear, but I like how the sun beams down on the modern bridge. Imagine up ahead is the old town of Edinburgh. Scotland was a study in the modern and the ancient alongside each other. On our return … … Continue reading →| Reflections on the Teche
I retired at the end of the 2025 school year. I’m still finding my way. Check off travel: We spent a week in Scotland over the Labor Day weekend. (It seems like a dream now.) Daily walks with my dog, Albert: We did this earlier on school days. Now I get to stop and chat … … Continue reading →| Reflections on the Teche
Today’s Poetry Friday is being gathered by Rose Cappelli at Imagine the Possibilities. A new release from Laura Purdue Salas, Flurry, Float, and Fly! On this hot, humid southern day when the temper…| Reflections on the Teche
On our second day in Glasgow, Scotland, we walked to St. Mungo’s Cathedral. The cathedral is the oldest building in Glasgow, its foundations dating back to 1100s. This photo was taken of the doorway into the cathedral. I was intrigued by the layers of marble and mortar work. Like these columns, our lives, our ancestry, […]| Reflections on the Teche
A week ago, I was on a tour of Edinburgh Castle, the heart of the UNESCO preserved area of Edinburgh, Scotland. During the reign of Robert the Bruce, the whole castle was destroyed except St. Margaret’s Chapel. I was drawn in to the history of Margaret, Queen of Scots, and want to claim her for […]| Reflections on the Teche
I have the Poetry Friday Roundup Today! Today is the first Poetry Friday of September and time for an Inklings challenge from Molly Hogan: Write a love note to something or someone or some place. G…| Reflections on the Teche
My butterfly garden is a wild world of sunflowers and passion vine intertwining with mandevilla and a bottle tree. I would be inclined to trim it all, but it’s interminably hot in August and the butterflies and hummingbirds love it. I am hopeful I’ll see Gulf fritillary caterpillars climbing around soon. Today, I am offering […]| Reflections on the Teche
Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share. One of our family’s spirit animals is the turtle. As my daughters were…| Reflections on the Teche
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Carol at Beyond Literacy Link. Are you enjoying retirement?Isn’t retirement fun? Questions I’ve heard nearly every day since retiring, but I haven’t settled into it…| Reflections on the Teche
Water Strider by Molly Hogan Summer is winding down. Although, the temperatures remain high. Once again, I turned to teacher-writer-photographer Molly Hogan for a photo prompt. Molly captured this …| Reflections on the Teche
7 posts published by margaretsmn during August 2025| Reflections on the Teche
Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share. The altar flowers were purple and gold, a nod to LSU where my parents …| Reflections on the Teche
Reflections and poems about life on the bayou| Reflections on the Teche
10 posts published by margaretsmn during April 2024| Reflections on the Teche
The Poetry Friday Roundup is with Ruth at There is no such thing as a Godforsaken town. Rainbow photo by Molly Hogan This week is state testing week, so I did not pull my gifted students out from t…| Reflections on the Teche