I invite you to share a cuppa delightful mocha from the Darling Hotel, Elderwood Restaurant in Visalia, CA. Moji approves.
Embracing Earth Day in our Backyard
Visalia is celebrating Earth Day in a neighborhood park less than two miles from us, but not until Friday. Terri posted pictures of amazing parks and rocks she has visited. This week, I’m keeping our ED celebration closer to home, where my heart is building a new nest.
Two weeks ago, I shared what our backyard looked like with only dirt. We worked hard digging holes and planting some larger plants last week. There’s still plenty of earth left to work with.
Willow invites us to write an Acrostic poem. She combined hers with a Nonet, but I chose to write a Tanka.
Vascular Plants' Lifeline
Roots hold the magic
Of life in their small fibers
Organs underground
That anchor, absorb, and store
Survival depends on them
Belated Easter Wishes
We have been visiting various churches in Visalia. On Easter Sunday, we visited a church we attended in Visalia before we moved to Elderwood nearly 25 years ago. We were surprised to see (and still recognize) a couple of people we knew from years ago. Even more surprising is that Vince can hear the pastor.
Our son and his wife visited us for Easter and brought us some beautiful things that grew in the earth.
This picture gave me fits. I decided I didn’t want the large light pillar on the other side of our fence. I tried erasing it in Lightroom. That was a nightmare. I haven’t used the Paaint program, so I tried it. It has an AI feature that filled in the area I erased with a similar background. Then I cropped it and shipped it back to Lightroom to export with my watermark.
They also brought us a beautiful Easter bouquet. I didn’t have a vase, so it went into a plastic glass.
Monday morning, before they left, we joined them for breakfast (picture of the balcony dining room) at their hotel, The Darling in Visalia. After eating way too much, Vince and I walked around downtown looking for some doors for Dan’s Thursday Doors. One of my favorite buildings is the Art Deco Fox Theatre. Isn’t it adorable? I don’t know whether I’d try to tell time by the clocks, though.
We stopped at the Cancer Thrift store and bought a vase and a cute little screen, either for inside or outside.
Then we stopped by to check out pinochle games at the Senior Center. I know, Senior Centers are for old people. However, my younger brother started going to the Senior Center in Portland after his wife died. He’s tried ping pong, tai chi, dance, and stand up comedy lessons. He really enjoys some of them.
The Senior Center in Visalia has activities like chair volleyball, treat bingo, and contract bridge. No thanks. There’s a Wacky Wednesday thing going on every week. April 30 is wacky hair day, so maybe I’ll wear my own hair out for the first time in public. I look a little bit like Kramer on Seinfeld, just not as tall and lanky. LOL We are definitely NOT going to Pajama Day on April 16.
What are you up to this week?
Before I Forget
My new book, Embracing the Power to Live will start pre-sales next week. Five lovely blogging friends, listed below will be hosting Pre-sale launch posts. A huge thanks goes to Colleen Chesebro for formatting and doing final editing, Melissa Lemay for beta reading and deep editing, Robbie Cheadle and willow Willers for beta reading and offering valuable developmental suggestions.
- April 28th – Miriam – Showers of Blessing
- April 30th – Willow – willowdot 21
- May 7th – Sadje – Keep it Alive
- May 9th – Robbie – Robbie’s Inspiration
- May 12 – Cindy – Unique Times with Cindy
- May 8th – Colleen – Tanka Tuesday
Thanks to Challenge Hosts Who Inspire Me Each Week
- Cell Pic Sunday by Photos by Johnbo
- LAPC My Go to Places hosted by John Steiner – Photos by Johnbo
- Sunday Stills Earth Day hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt Second Wind Leisure
- Monday Walks – Still Restless Jo
- Tanka Tuesday hosted willow Willers this week celebrating what’s underground
- Thursday Doors hosted by Dan Antion – No Facilities Blog I’m super late with this link, so I changed and linked to a book tour for Jacqui Murray’s Badland Neanderthal series. You’ll learn what kind of doors Neanderthal’s had.
- Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Natalie the Explorer
Story Chat Digest Accepting Submissions
Hurry! Normally, Poetry Day doesn’t have a topic, but the poems this month are so passionate I made an exception for April. Send your poems for Earth Day for Story Chat Digest Poetry Day #4 by this Saturday, April 26, 2025, to alwayswrite01@gmail.com. Read the submission guidelines in the Poetry Day posts.
Thanks for Visiting and Saying Hi!
- Breezy Books Maddie gives us an insider view on her first date in 37 years. It’s quite a story.
- Carol Cook 2 Carol has some good information for our eating enjoyment. Over a Cuppa is so glad that coffee is good for us again. No Alzheimer’s for me!
- D. G. Kaye Deb’s review leaves me wondering if possible the protagonist is going to try to crash his ex’s wedding. Hmm The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle. It sounds like a fun romance from the male perspective.
- Darlene Foster’s Blog – This adorable post is an excerpt from her mother’s diary at age 14 caring for numerous siblings.
- Ephemeral Encounters Maggie’s poem, “The Forest” was nominated Spillwords Publication of the Month in April.
- Keep It Alive Sadje tries all kinds of poetry forms. This one is called the Waltz Wave, a 19 lined syllabic poem with very few syllables per line.
- Retirementally Challenged Time for Janis’ delicious Limoncello.
- Roberta Writes Her book tour for Small Treasures Book 5 is underway. I’m reading it and loving it. You’ll know many of the poets featured in this book.
- Second Wind Leisure Terri has extended her pastel monthly color challenge as she travels to Arizona for her father’s memorial. Now that I’m not in Arizona, I miss that I will miss her. But you can catch up on your pastels.
- Still Restless Jo – Streets of flower petal art line her walk this week You can’t miss this post!
- The Eternal Traveller Get a snapshot of Santiago, Chile. She said they never felt crowded in the city of six million people. The art is fabulous. Carol could be a tour guide. You’ll love it.
- The Showers of Blessing Miriam wishes us all a Happy Mother’s Day. She included some wonderful quotes.
- Two Trails One Road Nancy shares snipits from her busy week eating elk burgers to lots of celebrating Mother’s Day and remembering her own mother.
- Unique Times with Cindy a lovely Mother’s Day poem A Mother holds the heart of her children in her palm and their angst in the pit of her stomach.“
- Writer Raven Claw a review of her book, Sticks and Stones
Upcoming and Ongoing on Always Write
- Robbie’s Step by Step Process in Creating the Lion Amid Flowers Painting
- Story Chat Digest April Poetry Day
- Celebrating the Start of a New Day Over a Cuppa
- Story Chat Digest: “Going Home”
- Celebrating Moving Day and Hackers on the Loose Over a Cuppa
- Sadje Honored Me with a Pre-Launch Blog Post
Marsha Ingrao Always Write 
84 responses to “Celebrating Earth Day Over a Cuppa”
Your yard is coming along very well. Thanks so much for the shout out! I hope you had a very Happy Mother’s Day!!
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I did, thank you, and today is launch day. I ordered author copies to sell. I’m so excited! 🙂
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You should be excited!! Well done.
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Thank you, my friend. 🙂 xxx
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Your yard is looking beautiful!
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Thank you so much Kymber. There is always a lot to do when you put in a yard, but it’s fun starting with a blank slate. 🙂 xxx
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I found you! Your backyard project is wonderful, I prefer curvy organic shapes when possible. Am jealous that you can have a hummingbird feeder. I’ve tried but the raccoons will steal them and the squirrels will climb on to them to drink all the nectar. 🤷♀️
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Such naughty critters. I’m not surprised at the squirrels, but the raccoons do surprise me a little. Your feeders must be in a tree. We had raccoons when we lived in the country. One of them had my dog in her arms at 3:30 in the morning. When I kicked at her to let the dog go, she bit me. Then we both stood on two legs and hissed at each other for a minute, and she left. I went to the hospital and had rabies shots. It was quite an experience. My love for raccoons dropped from a low 5 to a -1.
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I added your blog tour schedule and the blurb on Amazon to my post.
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Awesome! Thank you!
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Happy Easter to you, Marsha! How wonderful your son and his wife joined you on Easter and grought your gifts. You photo looks great whatever you did with the light pillar on the other side of the fence. I like the landscape of your sunny backyard. We had a slope right upto the patio so I didn’t have any option to do what you did. We turned the slope into terraces. Your post is live. You may invite your readers over by reblogging my post.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2025/04/28/embracing-the-power-to-live-by-marsha-ingrao/
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Thanks so much, Miriam. I have a link on this morning’s post that comes out at 9:00. I will feature you in my post tomorrow and include the entry paragraph. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my biggest stat days.
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Love hearing how you managed that picture. Photoshop does it, but it’s an expensive problem I don’t use much anymore. I did teach that particular skill regularly to my 5th graders back in the day.
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And–thank you thankyou for the shout out of my new book!
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Of course. I look forward to reading the series. 🙂
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That’s quite a skill for them to learn. I taught my kids calligraphy – or rather a parent taught it and we all practiced.
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There’s a way to teach it that isn’t too hard, and they were motivated because they liked creating the surprising pictures.
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Fun. We had a technology teacher once a week for our fourth graders. They learned how to keyboard, but nothing much beyond that.
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[…] Celebrating Earth Day Over a Cuppa […]
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Great photos. I love that old theater. Classic. I was in Visalia some time around 1960 when my maternal grandparents lived there. We’ve been going to our new local senior center for months now, getting good senior exercise and meeting tons of people. We’re in our late 70s, FWIW.
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We are both in our 70s. That comment was said in self-deprecation. It’s hard to believe we are as old as we are!!!
My first husband and I moved here in 1985, so we didn’t miss you by much! We didn’t know anyone at the time.
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Your backyard is taking shape nicely.
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We are super pleased. It still has a long way to go. 🙂 xxx
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Hi Marsha, it’s so exciting about your new book. This is a lovely post. Your garden is really coming along.
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Thanks, Robbie. I will dive into the final proof this afternoon.
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The end is near
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or the beginning, I hope.
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You’re moving fast with your garden already, Marsha. It’s looking awesome and let Vince know that as well. ! I wouldn’t have even noticed the issue with the pole or tried to shift things…. I’m impressed with your capabilities.. How fun to have your son and his wife there for Easter. The flowers were stunning and the trip into town was awesome. The Fox theater was awesome with the clock towers and so great you recognized people at church and hallelujah ‘Even more surprising is that Vince can hear the pastor.” I GET THAT TOO WELL. No chair exercises for you and I love you’ll step out with your own hair. This made me laugh: “I look a little bit like Kramer on Seinfeld, just not as tall and lanky. LOL” 😂
I love your poem and I’m sooooo happy for you about your book. I clicked to buy, maybe that’s on the pre-sale. Can’t wait for your big launch and Congratulations! 🎉🙌🏽💜
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Oh Cindy, you are so kind. I just received my proofs yesterday. It was so exciting. We ran to the door as soon as we heard the package thump against the door.
At first glance, the only thing I don’t like are some of the photos that are too small and don’t have enough contrast in black and white to be meaningful. I’ve been reading more poetry recently as my passion for poetry is deepening. What are some of your favorite books of poetry?
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Your garden is going to be lovely, Marsha. It takes a while for everything to fill in, but gardening is a long term project that can’t be hurried. And it sounds like you’re acclimating to your new community without a problem. In fact, you and Vince sound like you’ve already found a bunch of fun places. Enjoy the adventure.
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Thank you, Diana. 🙂 I’m hoping to come to Portland soon – probably June. I hope I’ll get a chance to catch lunch with you. 🙂
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That would be wonderful!
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I’ll let you know when I get an exact date.
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Awesome. 🙂
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Congrats on the book, Marsha and the garden is looking good 🙂
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Thanks, Sofia. I appreciate you stopping by to comment. 🙂 xxx
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Beautiful garden and congrats on your book! The cover is amazing!
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Thank you sweet friend. My blogging friend, Colleen did it and she’s so talented.
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♥ I can see that she is!
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🙂
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Hi Marsha. I loved your poem and all the good things you’ve been up to. Your backyard is on its way to gorgeous! And congrats on your new book release. I will look forward to buying a copy. Hugs ❤ xx
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Thanks, Deb. Finally, I’m publishing something, YAY I couldn’t have done it without this blogging community! Your books were some of the first books I read! Can you believe how long it’s been coming. I’ve even drug Girls on Fire out of the closet. It’s all because we have this wonderful group of friends!
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Community is amazing! And yay for you. I look forward to getting my copy! Hugs xx
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Yay! 🙂
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Thank you for your delightful post. Congrats on your book—it looks great! 👏
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Thank you so much. Colleen is so talented!
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What a lovely post Marsha.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs.
Best wishes with the book launch.
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Thank you so much, Maggie. Congratulations on being published in Small Treasures. I’m reading that now. Can’t wait to read yours!
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My pleasure Marsha 🤗
Thank you too 💕 I appreciate your support.
It is an honour for me to be in such a lovely anthology 🤗
Have a wonderful day.
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You too. 🙂
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Thanm you 🤗
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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🤗🤗
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The backyard is looking good Marsha. Beautiful pictures my friend.
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Thanks, Sadje!!!
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You’re most welcome 🤗
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It’s a beautiful poem and a lot of beautiful photos. Congratulations on your new book.
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Thank you so much, Thomas!
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Your backyard is coming along nicely. I predict that you will enjoy many, many hours out there. I really like the tree with burgundy foliage. It looks like it will provide much-needed shade when it grows up. We used to have a Discovery Shop cancer charity store near us, and it was fabulous, both to donate to and to find a few gems to take home. Alas, it is no longer there.
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How sad that the store is gone. As I talked to this woman, she shared that her sister’s cancer had returned. It sounded wicked.she had tears in her eyes. I’m sure working there feels cathartic.
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Love tour garden 👍
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Thank you. It’s coming!
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Your garden is looking pretty good, Marsha. I love the decorative foam in your cup and the other photos, Good luck with the book launch, I’ll swing by a couple. I do plan to snag a copy.
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Awesome. I’m going to link to your blog today, so don’t be fooled, it’s my same post.
I hope you enjoy my book. It’s been a life project that finally came together.
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Isn’t it lovely seeing it all come together? It’s a big garden and I’m sure you’ll have hours of pleasure from it. You’re always so full of optimism and interested in everything, Marsha. You are a shining star. Thank you for finding space for me in your world xx
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Awww, you’re a perfect fit in my world. It would be empty without you!
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Thanks, sweetheart xx
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The cover is beautiful!
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Thanks, Colleen did an amazing job!!!’
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What a lovely post! I love your garden too! This is such a great way to let everyone know about your book almost ready for preorder!!! WOO HOO! 🥳💜
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Yay!!! Can’t wait!!! I ordered two proof copies.
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Your garden is beautiful.
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Thanks so much!
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You’re welcome.
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I am excited to get your book, Marsha! I love poetry collections, can’t wait to read it!
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Thanks!!! I’m excited and a little nervous. I’ll be really out there!
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Hi Marsha what a wonderful post so full of so many wonderful photos, ideas and wonderful words .. I love words and I love your roots acrostic poem. 💜💜💜
Also good luck with your beautiful book 🤞🤞🤞
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Wonderful your backyard flowers blooming. I like. Happy Earth day. Beautiful you sharing celebration Earth day. Beautiful photos. Nice cuppa delightful mocha.
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Thanks, Raj. The mocha was so fancy!
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How it Cupp made? Mocha?
You are most welcome 🤗
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With great care and artistic talent and lots of practice, Raj. We didn’t get to watch.
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Thanks, Marsha 😄!
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It looks like your back yard is becoming your own!
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Yes, it helps to have people to help. We could never have gotten this far on our own. The landscaper for the developer has done most of the work for us. He’s amazing.
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