#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the iced coffee my sister makes in the afternoons which rivals any coffee bar & is enjoyed outside on her lanai with the wind chimes & birds in the background. Her home is such a respite for me.

Iced coffee, made by
My sister, savored outside
As birds sing nearby

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by listening to the wind chimes in my sister‘s backyard this morning. So relaxing.

Wind chimes softly sing
In the summer morning breeze
Peaceful melody

I‘m late to the #5JoysFriday party once again. It‘s Saturday night in Oregon & family time won out, so here goes:

1. I had a 4 hour lay over in PDX on the way to Boise & I treated myself to a joyful breakfast (Quiche Lorraine & a mimosa) before getting Stumptown coffee & relaxing in the Alaska lounge & ⬇️

2. This joyful view of Mount Hood flying into PDX yesterday—I wrote a haiku about it today(next post down).

3. On the flight from Boise ⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by this breathtaking view on my flight from Boise to Portland. It‘s a view that gives me a feeling of home even after 24 years in Hawaii. Lucky to be spending the weekend at my sister‘s hanging out with family.

Mountain of legend
Snow-spotted peaks rise above
Lush verdant valleys

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by a rooftop bar at sunset in Boise where I ended up with some new colleagues/friends from across the U.S. after our dinner. No one in the group was from the Pacific NW so we were all struck by how late it stays light (this was taken about 9:35 pm). I even forget having grown up in Oregon. In Hawaii it starts getting dark about 7:30ish

Boise June sunset,
Rooftop bar at 9:30
Daylight clings to sky

Almost forgot it‘s #5JoysFriday -I crashed last night before I posted. I‘m in a time zone 4 hours ahead as I finish up my roundtable in Boise & head to Portland this afternoon to spend a long weekend with family.💛

If you want to share the 5 things big or small that brought you some joy this week, make your post & tag it with #5JoysFriday then tag me & anyone you want to share joy with.

EVERYONE is welcome so I‘m not going to tag anyone! 🤗

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the brilliant blue sky at sunrise flying into Portland yesterday. So beautiful! 💙

Bluest of blue sky
Entering Oregon sunrise
Awe activated

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by my favorite plane comfort movie, which despite how many times I‘ve seen it, I will always watch it when it‘s available on a plane. Watched it over dinner last night & then tried semi-successfully to sleep. This is me this morning. 🥱😴😵‍💫

Crazy Rich Asians
Seen it a million times, but
Must watch when I fly

#DailyHaiku #HaikuHive

Not going to lie, I got to the airport early because I got upgraded to First Class & that gives me access to the “fancy” lounge with hot food & a sunset view. Flying overnight isn‘t the worst thing when you can do it comfortably. Boise & Portland here I come!

Sunset lounge party
Benevolent upgrade gods
Grant pre-flight grazing

#Read2025

I‘m so behind on my reviews—I finished this a couple of weeks ago for #AuthorAMonth June & I really enjoyed it. The pace, the humor, the cats & really the whole fantastical & fun story. This is my first John Scalzi & I would definitely read more. I‘d love another one set in this world that continues on with some of the secondary characters.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku…better late than never. It was indeed a Monday. This one is inspired by @dabbe telling me not to forget to breathe out on yesterday‘s haiku.

A deep exhale out
Week begins, what lies ahead?
Guarded hope flickers.

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

I realized I didn‘t finish this one a couple of weeks ago 🤷🏻‍♀️ so once again I am spending my #HyggeHour with Trixie for #BobWhiteBuddies along with some chocolate & iced tea because it‘s humid tonight.

Mood is sad & tired & not ready for Monday but I leave Tuesday evening for a work trip to Boise for a conference & a stopover on Oregon for the weekend to see my family, so at least the week will go quickly.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today is a hard one. I don‘t have a lot of words for what is going on in the world right now. I wrote this one early this morning when I woke up in a panic. I was going to try for something peppier but this is how I feel.🥺

I don‘t have the words
Only worry, and silence
And a deep inhale…

I‘m really late to my own #5JoysFriday this week & a lot of life stuff. I‘m gearing up to travel to Boise for an industry roundtable & stopping in Oregon to visit family for a couple of days after. Still there were joys…

1. It‘s been a while since I had the joy of a new pickle flavor thing but these Doritos are the right amount of tangy.🤤

2. Joy of a haircut & highlights last week & a dinner reading at Barnes & Noble with quiche & ice tea.✂️
⬇️

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by my breakfast this morning at an Oahu classic, Liliha Bakery. Before your meal they give you a fried hot butter roll with unnaturally pink jelly & it just tastes amazing (even as you stare dubiously at the jelly).😉

Hot, fried butter roll,
Neon jelly oozes bright
Shouldn‘t be this good

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Yesterday‘s haiku I didn‘t get a chance to post. I‘m more than ready for the weekend.

Week‘s end hushes work,
Turn off the noise, breathe deeply,
Reboot. Recover.

Yep, Friday snuck up on me again.🫣 Time to make your #5JoysFriday posts whenever it‘s Friday in your neck of the woods or whenever the spirit moves you. 💛💛💛

Post the 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week. Tag your post with #5JoysFriday & tag me & anyone else you‘d like to share the joy with! 🤗 Use the graphic if & how you like.

All are welcome to join in so I won‘t tag anyone! 💛

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku (I‘m caught up now) takes inspiration from the deep respect I have for my fellow “hivers” who dare to go to some deep dark places with their poems. I‘m a little afraid of getting stuck in the dark places, so I feel the need to keep mine pretty light. Also, the pit of despair is a wee bit dramatic, but I love me some Princess Bride!😉

Go deeper I think,
But if I dig down that far,
Can I climb back out?

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Still a day behind in my daily haikus, this should be yesterday‘s. My inspiration: a coworker sweetly brought me a cake pop to our meeting. I have decided after much (ok, maybe just some…) tasting & deliberation, I just don‘t like them. It‘s a texture thing—I‘m not a fan of cookie dough! 🤷🏻‍♀️

A single bite speaks;
Not cake, not quite cookie dough
Just wrong in my mouth!

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Still a day behind in my haikus but here is yesterday‘s inspired by the Okinawan Sweet Potatoes I was eating in my car. I‘m not a big sweet potato fan in general, but these purple beauties I love.

A slice in my hand
Creamy, perfectly purple
Quiet comfort food

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Let‘s not even discuss yesterday. 🫣🤕😵‍💫🤤😵🙄😳😱 I didn‘t get a chance to post my haiku inspired by it, so here goes:

“What fresh hell awaits?”
As I open my laptop
Monday in HR

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Reading Encyclopedia Brown for #HappyHour tonight. My library didn‘t have Book 5 but the library bookstore had a copy for 50 cents, so I grabbed it. Since it won‘t take the whole hour, I‘ll finish up with The House on Mango Street.

Beverage is ice water (hydrating) & snack are these gummy candies. Mood is tired & sad it‘s Monday. Breathing better tonight but not looking forward to a long day of work tomorrow.

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

A little under-the-weather this weekend with an allergy/asthma flare-up, I‘ve spent most of the day sleeping. Childhood Saturdays with my dad were my inspiration for today‘s haiku. He helped make me a reader & movie buff, even if I don‘t love westerns the way he did. Miss him, always. Happy Father‘s Day💚

Pipe smoke, faded books,
cowboys ride through black and white,
Dad beside me still

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last weekend for #NancyDrewBR I can only restate that I really need to review these right after I‘ve finished them as it all kind of blends together after a crazy workweek.🤷🏻‍♀️What I do remember for sure is *small spoiler alert* there were no knockouts for Nancy‘s noggin so the #NNK remains at 9/20.🤕This is good for Nanner‘s poor head since she was knocked out twice in the last book & her noggin needed ⬇️

A day late to #5JoysFriday but here‘s my post:

1. Upgrade back from Hilo because of the extra room, drink & gorgeous blue skies I got to see out my window. I wrote a #HaikuADay about it.???

2. 3 Desserts that gave me joy: Banana Olive Oil Cake w vanilla bean ice cream, Coconut Cake, Raspberry Almond Tart All joyfully good!??

3. 2 joyful lunches: Japanese bento? for with tempura, poke & fried tofu & THE BEST Bánh mì (also a haiku)??

⬇️

#HaikuHive #HaikuADay

Today‘s haiku is inspired by the coconut cold foam my local coffee shop has as a summer special. A bit of tropical perfection on top of a cup of iced cold brew…

Coconut cold foam
A cloud atop iced coffee
Sips of island life

#HaikuHive #HaikuADay

Today‘s haiku was inspired by the view from my window seat on the way home from Hilo & all the blues in the sky.
???

What if "got the blues"
Meant gazing peacefully at
A sky brushed with them?

How is it Friday already?! I woke back up to post this for #5JoysFriday so it‘s time to think of those 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week. 💛💛💛

Tag your post with #5JoysFriday & tag me in it along with anyone else you want to invite to our joy party! Use the background graphic if or how you like.

All are welcome to join in! I‘m not going to tag anyone because I‘m about to fall asleep again. 😵‍💫😵🥱😴

#HaikuHive

Now I‘m caught up with #HaikuADay ! Today‘s is inspired by the Lemongrass Chicken Bánh Mi sandwich I ate for lunch yesterday after a training. We totally stunk up the conference room but it was so worth it—I‘m still thinking about its perfection!

Best bites tend to be
Messy, smelly, glorious,
Bánh mì haunts my dreams

#HaikuHive

Wednesday‘s #HaikuADay was inspired by the beautiful full Strawberry Moon I saw on my way to the airport that morning. (I was on the freeway so the photo is not mine).

Strawberry Moon 2025

Strawberry Moon glows,
Named for harvest, not for hue,
Still ripe with magic

#HaikuHive

Catching up on my #HaikuADay Tuesday‘s was inspired by me having to fly to Hilo with work colleagues-different needs, airport timing & wanting to talk about work. My introvert soul likes to be left alone. Will they ever guess that? Probably not…I play extrovert pretty well. 😉

Airport introvert,
Don't sit by me, I‘m reading.
See you at the gate.

#HaikuHive

Alas, due to work & adulting, I have fallen behind on life, Litsy & my postings on a #HaikuADay since Sunday, so expect some catch up.

Monday‘s haiku was inspired by seeing some heliconias in the morning last week & thinking about how I love the bright colors.

Tropical brushstrokes,
Heliconia flares bright,
painting morning‘s glow

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour with Nanners & her posse for Book #20 of #NancyDrewBR Here‘s hoping her noggin remains unknocked because we added 2 to the #NNK counter in May. 🤕

Chocolate for a snack & just water to drink because I had a lot of different beverages today & don‘t really feel like tea. Mood is tired—it was a good weekend, but busy & I‘m mentally not ready for Monday & next week. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

A late post for my June #Roll100 picks. I haven‘t started any of these but I‘m looking forward to them.

#81 Any BOTM: Wild Dark Shore—also for #CampLitsy
#98 Any Series Book: The Shadow Cabinet #SeriesLove2025
#42 Any mystery: Laying Down the Latte—also for #FictionalTraveler

My pick for #FictionalTraveler June: #PlaceYoudLikeToVisit This (21st!) book in the Bakeshop Mystery series is set in Costa Rica, a place I‘ve always wanted to visit. 🇨🇷 I was supposed to go there once with Starbucks International but hand to cancel for a family emergency.

This book is also one of my June #Roll100 picks: #42 Any Mystery & is an ARC I just received, so I‘m excited to start it!
#SeriesLove2025

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I‘ve done more peopling than my introvert norm prefers this week/weekend but today‘s Sunday brunch with 2 old friends was worth it. Filipino-inspired prix fixe menu with proceeds donated to a local school at a downtown restaurant was ono. 😋Even better than the food was the catching up & laughter.💛

Sunday brunch with friends,
food and laughter intertwine
Filled belly and soul

(Pictured is our amuse-bouche course)

I‘m a little late getting my pick up for #ThematicCozies June: #Celebration as I‘m already well into this audiobook which is set at Sophie‘s (the MC) sister‘s wedding. Murder is afoot at the celebration in this second Domestic Diva mystery. 🎊 🍾🥂💍

#SeriesLove2025

I can‘t believe it‘s June 7th & I haven‘t posted my May recap or June TBR yet! While I didn‘t get to everything I wanted to read in a very busy month, I managed to read 16 books & took part in: #SundayBuddyRead #SheSaid #NancyDrewBR #BobWhiteBuddies #EBBR
#AuthorAMonth #ChildrensClassicRead2025 #Roll100 (All 6 books!) #FictionalTraveler #ThematicCozies #MonthlyNonFiction2025 & several books for #SeriesLove2025

Read 12 fiction, 4 NF, 2 Audiobooks

I‘m late to the #5JoysFriday party again. It‘s been another crazy work week but I‘m optimistic next will be a bit less insane. Anyway, here goes:

1. Beautiful sunset views of Mauna Kea out my plane window that I wrote a haiku about & getting upgraded both ways on the flight.??

2. Creme brûlée, dessert for Conscious Leadership class was ono ? & joyful.?

3. Yesterday‘s Zippy‘s chili (wrote a haiku about it too) ?also ono ?& joyful.?

⬇️

#DailyHaiku #HaikuHive

Not much posting lately! Yesterday was another really long workday into work-night & today I met up with former coworkers & went to the maker‘s market & then to get dim sum which inspired today‘s haiku. Yep another food one! 😋😉 Special shout out to my favorite turnip cakes!

Saturday Vibe:

Turnip cakes, dumplings,
Dim sum—to touch the heart's joy
In small, steamy bites

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

A busy Friday & I was craving chili for a late lunch. Thanks to delivery I got Zippy‘s (a Hawaii classic) for a not-so-sad desk lunch & today‘s haiku inspiration.

Friday Style

Cheddar lava clings,
beans burst soft in cardboard walls,
Zippy‘s chili hug

Hi Friends! You all didn‘t seem to need a prompt last week but I thought I‘d put one in before I crash out after a very looong day!

It‘s already time again to post those 5 things big or small, that brought you joy this week! Tag your post with #5JoysFriday & tag me in your post. Also, if you want to tag some friends, that would be great because I can‘t stay up another minute to tag some of our regulars.😵
ALL are welcome to join in! 💛🤗💛

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Late to today‘s haiku party. It‘s 9 PM & I‘m still working. 😵‍💫 Today‘s haiku was inspired by the quarterly Conscious Leadership session taught by our CEO (& my boss). TBH, I‘m not the best at meditating but I try…😉🤪

I sit in stillness
Chaotic thoughts start to quiet
Then my nose itches

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

Today‘s haiku is inspired by my window seat view on my plane ride home from Hilo, just before sunset.

Note: Kupuna means elder in Hawaiian, to honor the mountain‘s revered status. It‘s the highest peak in Hawaii & when measured base to peak (including the underwater base) it‘s technically the tallest mountain in the world.

Window Seat at Sunset

Mauna Kea sleeps
kupuna crowned in soft light—
my heart, full of awe

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

In Hilo today for 3 focus groups so today‘s haiku was inspired by my morning & flight home book choice which is this one (pictured) that I‘m reading for the #AuthorAMonth & thinking about what makes a perfect airplane book for me.

What kind of books do you like to read while flying?

The perfect plane book
Action or laughs, something light
Best travel buddy

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I wrote this haiku last night as I was humming along to this song on my sappy song playlist & picked up a prescription. I got home last night & crashed before I posted it, because… Mondays… 😵🥱😴

Rainy Days & Mondays

Mondays get me down,
Always—but not rainy days,
They‘re good for reading

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Spending my #HyggeHour with Trixie & the gang for #BobWhiteBuddies along with tea & my favorite dried cinnamon Fuji apple slices.

My mood is sad that the weekend was so short & that it will be another crazy workweek—although hopefully not as bad as the last two weeks.

#Read2925

I think this is my final review of May, completed last week for #FictionalTraveler #SpanishSpeaking & the 6th of my #Roll100 picks for May (#4: Any BOTM). I‘ve put off reviewing it because I‘m still not sure how I feel about it. It‘s a quiet book about grief, depression & finding your life. Ruth leaves her job in NYC for a lake town in Guatemala, a place she felt most real in when she was there years before. It sort of meanders, ⬇️

#Read2025 #MonthlyNonFiction2025 #RealHistory

Finished last week for #SheSaid Elizabeth Packard was an amazing woman who I knew very little about until this book. She did so much to fight for her own rights but even more to fight for the rights of the voiceless—women & those with mental health issues, or really rather, those who were judged to be insane but were not & typically forced into asylums by husbands or male family members to silence ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished last week for #Roll100 (#40: Any ARC) & the second in the Miss Prentice's Protégées series, this one features Lottie who keeps losing governess jobs with her unladylike behavior as she borrows horses from her employers & fights advances from her latest employer‘s son. Miss Prentice thinks she‘d be better suited as a ladies companion & sets her up with a challenging dowager who can‘t/won‘t keep a companion. ⬇️