So, I’m still new to the whole blog and contest thing, but I’m willing to give it a whirl.  I really think that I’m in this as a way to “force” myself to do the writing that I want to be doing in the first place.  I’ll admit that those crafty folks whose blogs I read have me motivated to try new things and take on more hobbies than those I conjure for myself. 

In any case, there’s a pretty sweet give away taking place at Five Minutes for Mom, so swing by and check it out.  The pink number is decked out with a “ribbon-clad lanyard” and carrying case in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Draft 1

This is our way,
A precise script of action,
Orderly and accurate,
On step after another.

It’s all unspoken
The tango we dance
Around the fire.
Dad, barefoot,
Takes the greater risk.
His uniform is variations on the same theme:
Paint tattered shirt (or shirtless)
Chewed cigar
The Paella hat.
Vino (in bottle or glass)
All necessary for this perfect dance.

We both play our parts,
Our practice evident
Yet the pace harried.
In and out the ingredients fly,
changing by the recipe-
mountain or port paella.
Calamari- in and out
Shrimp- in and out
Chicken or pork flash the pan.
Rosemary scents the flames,
Garlic coats the oil and onions.

We move as necessary
Adjusting the fire, the pit, the pan.
Each ingredient layers flavors
with the others.

Paella, however became the answer.
Realization hit me one day,
Between the olive oil and saffron.
This is our way

Oh, we’ve had our flubs-
A sandy paella or two
But we’ve learned-
Jim and his Rita.

Draft 2

On making paella

There’s an unspoken rhythm
to the tango we dance around the fire.
He leads, I follow-
Our practice evident ,
the tempo rapid.
Dad, barefoot,
takes the greater risk.
His tattered shirt (optional)
flutters in the fire’s waves of heat.
In and out the ingredients fly,
changing by the recipe-
mountain or port paella.
His frayed paella hat
shades his eyes from the setting sun.
The calamari enters and exits.
A splash of wine hits the throat
Shrimp- in and out
A cigar slowly burns from the edge of the tray
Chicken and pork flash the pan.
Another swig of wine
as rosemary scents the flames
and garlic coats the oil and onions.

We move as necessary
Adjusting the fire, the pit, the pan.
Each ingredient waltzes
among the others.
Our dance continues
between the olive oil and saffron.

Oh, we’ve had our flubs-
A sandy paella or two
But we’ve learned-
Jim and his Rita

I love this idea (and would totally love one of these adorable prizes as well!).  Swing on over to Crunchy Domestic Goddess for a peek at some amazingly cute Halloween outfits for those little ones you love so much.  And if you’re still hungry for more, stop by Cute as a Bug to feast your eyes on more of her creations, you can even snag a shirt for yourself too!

I personally love the Peek-a-boo onesie!

Happy Contesting!

About 9 years ago, I found this cool beauty treatment in NY called threading. Having tried waxing my eyebrows only once (and hating it) I much preferred this method to hair removal as it was cheaper, less painful and more effective than tweezing.

So imagine my surprise and delight when I found a small pagoda touting this technique at our local mall! I stopped then and there and groomed my ungainly brows! I’d been purposely avoiding the tweeze in hopes to get threaded during my upcoming trip to NYC!!

I know it’s a pretty horrible self-portrait, but I thought it was worth showing…if only I had a close up of the before!