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Grief has an interesting way of sometimes bringing the best out of you. Case in point, Tammy Spears lost her mother in 2007, and to cope, poetry entered her life. In 2017 Tammy decided to compile a book to showcase her poetry to help others overcome their grief. Her book of poetry is called "Flutter of an Eye," and we'll be discussing it on this episode of the "Someone You Should Know Podcast." Click to listen Twitter link Tammy's Instagram link Tammy's LinkedIn link Tammy's Etsy link Tammy's Alignable link Amazon link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Etsy link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Barnes & Nobel link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Walmart link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" IUniverse link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye"

I don't have much to offer I cannot cook a meal I cannot dance flamenco or tell you how it feels to play the castanets to twirl my satin skirt or tap my dancing heels... but I can sing a love song and I can pen a poem I can write a romance and make a house a home ©️ Lorene Rogers 5-11-23

Jane Birkin, the British-French actress, singer, and fashion icon passed away today. She was best known for her collaborations with French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, as well as for her distinctive style and influential role in fashion and pop culture. Here are some key aspects of Jane Birkin's career and contributions: Musical Collaborations: Jane Birkin gained international recognition for her musical collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg, a renowned French musician and composer. Their most famous song together is "Je t'aime... moi non plus" (1969), which sparked controversy for its sensual content. Acting Career: Birkin appeared in numerous films, both in France and internationally. Some of her notable film roles include "Blow-Up" (1966), "Wonderwall" (1968), and "La Piscine" (1969). She worked with acclaimed directors like Michelangelo Antonioni and Agnès Varda. Iconic Style: Jane Birkin's effortless and bohemian style became iconic in the 1960s and 1970s. Her fashion choices, including her signature basket bag, became highly influential and continue to inspire trends today. Humanitarian Work: Birkin was involved in various humanitarian causes throughout her life. She worked with organizations such as Amnesty International and collaborated on projects to raise awareness about issues like HIV/AIDS. Cultural Influence: Jane Birkin's talent, beauty, and unique persona contributed to her becoming a symbol of the Swinging London and French New Wave movements. Her impact on music, fashion, and film has left a lasting legacy. It's worth noting that Jane Birkin's career extends beyond these highlights. She continued to be active in the entertainment industry and cultural scene until a few months ago.

My name is Mirela Mohan and I am a copywriter and editor. I cover lifestyle and real estate content as well as web copy. Some of my work has been picked up by The New York Times, Globe Street, the Commercial Observer and other. While a lot of my writing leans on the technical, I have a penchant for the creative and whimsical. One of my favorite quotes is “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple” by Jack Kerouac. Fitting words for a profession where putting the right words on the page is the ultimate quest. When I’m not writing, I love trying new recipes in the kitchen and drawing.

From shining emerald to Midnight blue beneath A gleaming golden sun, The tireless sea beats, Ceaselessly against sand, Beneath the cries of gulls, Today as it did long ago Timeless in my memory, As in this present moment. - Donovan Baldwin

We tend to think of winter as a time of rest, hibernation, and quiet. But, according to the calendar, the winter months are a time of many holidays around the world. The cold months are clearly a popular time for parties and celebrations. While some are filled with solemn tradition, others focus on fun and frolic. All pose opportunities for interesting and real-life lessons in geography, culture, history, and religion. Let's take a look a some of these. [borrowed/modified for this post] Hanukkah For eight days each November or December, Jews light a special candle holder called a menorah. They do it to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. During Hanukkah, many Jews also eat special potato pancakes called latkes, sing songs, and spin a top called a dreidel to win chocolate coins, nuts, or raisins. Three Kings Day At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a delicious King cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel, or little toy inside. Winter Solstice The Winter Solstice occurs around December 21. It is the shortest day of the year. People all over the world participate in festivals and celebrations. Long ago, people celebrated by lighting bonfires and candles to coax back the sun. St. Lucia Day To honor this third-century saint on December 13, many girls in Sweden dress up as “Lucia brides” in long white gowns with red sashes, and a wreath of burning candles on their heads. They wake up their families by singing songs and bringing them coffee and twisted saffron buns called “Lucia cats.” St. Nicholas Day A popular December holiday in many European countries, St. Nicholas Day, celebrates St. Nicholas of Myra, the man whose life inspired the tradition of Santa Claus and Father Christmas. He gave all of his money to the needy and was known for his compassion for children and all those in need. The holiday honors the man on the anniversary of his death, December 6, 343 A.D. Many celebrate with parades, feasts, gift giving, and festivals. Christmas People celebrate this Christian holiday by going to church, giving gifts, and sharing the day with their families. In some parts of Europe, “star singers” go caroling—singing special Christmas songs—as they walk behind a huge star on a pole. The Christmas festivities in Ireland tend to be more religious in nature rather than being about gifts. Christmas celebrations last from Christmas Eve until January 6 (Epiphany). On December 26, known as St. Stephen’s Day, an Irish tradition that is known as the Wren Boys Procession takes place. Children go from door to door singing, holding a stick that is topped by a holly bush and a wren. They ask for money for the “starving wren,” which goes into their pockets. In ancient times, a real wren was killed and fastened to the stick, but today fake wrens are used. The Christmas Eve festivities in the Ukraine are known as Sviata Vechera, which means “Holy Supper.” The celebration begins when the first evening star is sighted in the night sky. In farming communities, the household head brings in a sheaf of wheat, which symbolizes the wheat crops of Ukraine. It is called “didukh,” which translates to “grandfather spirit.” In homes within the city, a few stalks of wheat may be used to decorate the table. Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, which means “First Fruits,” is based on ancient African harvest festivals and celebrates ideals such as family life and unity. During this spiritual holiday, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, millions of African Americans dress in special clothes, decorate their homes with fruits and vegetables, and light a candle holder called a kinara. New Year In Ecuador, families dress a straw man in old clothes on December 31. The straw man represents the old year. The family members make a will for the straw man that lists all of their faults. At midnight, they burn the straw man, in hopes that their faults will disappear with him. In Japan, Omisoka (or New Year’s Eve) is the second most important holiday of the year, following New Year’s Day, the start of a new beginning. Japanese families gather for a late dinner around 11 PM, and at midnight, many make visits to a shrine or temple. In many homes, there is a cast bell that is struck 108 times, symbolizing desires believed to cause human suffering. Those in Hong Kong pray to the gods and ghosts of their ancestors, asking that they will fulfill wishes for the next year. Priests read aloud the names of every living person at the celebration and attach a list of the names to a paper horse and set it on fire. The smoke carries the names up to the gods and the living will be remembered. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, many children dress in new clothes to celebrate and people carry lanterns and join in a huge parade led by a silk dragon, the Chinese symbol of strength. According to legend, the dragon hibernates most of the year, so people throw firecrackers to keep the dragon awake. Mardi Gras The time of Lent is a solemn one of reflection for Christians, so the Tuesday before Lent begins is a time of merry-making for many people around the world. In New Orleans, people wear costumes and attend huge parades for the festival of Mardi Gras. Brazil’s Carnaval also features parades, costumes, and music. This day is also known as Shrove Tuesday. In England, some towns have pancake contests in which women run a race while flipping a pancake at least three times. Mardi Gras usually occurs in February or March, 47 days prior to Easter. [The holiday write-ups were originally published in November of 2014 and have been revised for this post.]

Sharing this little gem I ran across in the hopes it sparks some discussion - note this was originally published in 2014, so nearly a decade is missing from the charts.

Did you realize ArtsKeeper has a number of videos published for your enjoyment? Yes and we'd be happy to add yours to our growing collection. On June 19th, ArtsKeeper held its first live event and the recorded performances are now available to watch. There is also one called About ArtsKeeper which will tell you more about our movement and how we are working to enable art to flourish. ArtsKeeper also has a mobile app so you can interact with us from anywhere... not only can you read posts, but we want you to add your own, upload photos, look for jobs, and share your work and performances. Scan to open ArtsKeeper on your mobile device or tablet.