A Weekend of Poetry + Hamburgers

Brad came for the weekend and shared his new career skills with us--amazing sirloin burgers, Oh my!Here are the half pounders he made, stuffed with onions, mushroom, Au jus and a kick of red pepper! We didn't/couldn't eat all of these, so the rest are in the freezer for a rainy day, or a day I just won't feel like cooking--probably tomorrow!

Do you think maybe he should be a hamburger model, too? Such a handsome and talented guy! :)

I found a yeast bun recipe I'm totally in love with so after Tom and Brad grilled these beauties, we lovingly folded amazing homemade buns around them. Yes, everyone say "Aaaahhh!"

We could barely push ourselves away from the table, but Tom had a car race to watch, Brad wanted to visit Aaron at his workplace, and I had a poetry reading to go to, so we managed.

(Did she just say "Poetry Reading?")

Yep. Me, a poetry reader and writer!

It was really kind of fun. A fine art gallery in the area has been hosting this once a month for Jan., Feb., and March--it's a great way to pass the winter! The poets visit the gallery ahead of time and select a painting or sculpture to write a poem about. Then six or seven people read their poems one at a time on the night of the event. So a poem is read, then the crowd is allowed to mill throughout the gallery, viewing the paintings and trying to guess which piece the poem is about. After a few minutes, they're called back, the guessing game ensues, and then once the painting is guessed the artist comes up and tells a bit about their inspiration for the painting and the poet does likewise. Of course there are nice little appetizers to nibble on, and you get this convergence of two types of art.   

Here's the poem I wrote, plus here's a link to the painting. Hope you enjoy them both!

MIRROR

(by Ferree Hardy) 

Mother, daughter

Knee to knee

As shimmer of amethyst

Sunset surrounds

And sweeps through the moments

Of dreams and joy

Where golden wine

Casts locks of brown

Each life is a shadow

Of joy and of laughter

Hearts swell and break

Forever after

But mothers, daughters

reflect life’s chapters

when dusk descends

love never ends.

WRITING UPDATE: A couple days ago I sent off a query letter about the book. Now I wait for 4-6 weeks to hear back from them. Waiting doesn't mean do nothing, though. It's kind of like being pregnant!

Thanks for checking in on me. (No, I'm not pregnant!)