Video – Colleen Keller Breuning

Chickadee

Chickadee

The sun rises with crimson and gold flair
with scent of lilacs on the morning breeze.
Sweet chickadee sings and darts through the air,
landing with grace in weeping willow tree.

She is the sunshine that lights up my life,
my reason for being, my heart’s delight.
Sweet chickadee eases my pain and strife,
her radiant smile, a beautiful sight.

As the sun fades to indigo twilight,
mystical clouds move on horizon far.
Sweet chickadee drifts into velvet night
amidst a sky full of moonlight and stars.

All through the seasons of blooms, sun and snow
Her heart stays with me, wherever she goes.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
May 18, 2024

Hello from Florida! 🙂 Dan and I are down here babysitting the grandkids while Katie and Brenton are on a trip to Europe for a destination wedding. We are having so much fun with them, but boy is it exhausting, haha! (At least when you’re in your 60’s, it is…) They are non-stop fun, energy and relentless negotiators!! We have been playing, swimming, lunch at Chick-Fil-A, a trip to Publix, made spaghetti dinner, played indoor camping, and are about to make some Rice Krispie treats once Posie wakes up from an unplanned nap.

This sonnet just sort of morphed from a nature poem into a love poem. It’s a bit of a tribute to three radiant, beautiful women closest to me in life – my mother Gloria, my daughter Katie and of course, my granddaughter Posie. They are all my reasons for my being, in different ways! So I guess you could call this is a Mother’s Day poem. The chickadee is one of the sweetest birds in the garden that just seems to radiate love. My Mom, Katie and Posie all remind me of their kind spirit. They are beacons of light in my life. Each one of them touches my heart and lifts me up in their own special way. I’ve never referred to any of them as a chickadee, but maybe I’ll start calling Posie my little chickadee — I think she’d love that.

As for memories of my mother, there are far too many wonderful ones to mention. She has always been my rock, my confidante, my prayer warrior, and my friend throughout my entire life. Mom, I can never thank you enough for the support and love you’ve shown me over the years. I would never be the woman I am today with you, and just so you know — I am becoming more like you every day, haha! I LOVE YOU, My Old Chickadee!! (I say that with so much love, as I am now also an old chickadee myself LOL!) Hope you all had a Happy Mother’s Day filled with family and love!

Xoxo, Colleen

Mood: Happy
Inspiration: “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 46.15 – Wherever She Goes
Hard Bonus: Include a song title that mentions something celestial (“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay)
Easy Bonus: Incorporate a memory of your mother

Shades of Blue and Black

Shades of Blue and Black

Twilight descends in moonlit skies,
red sun fading before my eyes.
Sad memories come flooding back
in mottled shades of blue and black.

Hurtful words dredging up my fears
I bury the pain, hide the tears.
Bruised and broken, panic attack
with mottled shades of blue and black.

But time is a balm, healing starts
in vernal wellsprings of my heart.
Deep wounds are healing, turning back
to mottled shades of blue and black.

Twilight descends in starlit skies
of mottled shades of blue and black.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
May 11, 2024

Happy Early Mother’s Day! I hope each of you gets a chance to celebrate your Mom, I am very blessed to have my Mom still with us. We didn’t make any formal plans for a Mother’s Day celebration, but my sister and I decided last minute to coordinate times of our visit to her house tomorrow. We will bring salad, cupcakes and order pizza for linner (late lunch/early dinner).

Since it was Writer’s Choice Week, I just did this off the top of my head this morning. The phrase “vernal wellsprings of my heart” just popped into my head a few weeks ago and fortunately, I actually wrote it down. (Need to do that more often, but often get distracted and forget!) I stumbled on the line this morning and decided to build a Kyrielle Sonnet around that (with a slight tweak to the beginning word of the refraining line, haha!). This sonnet just sort of reflects the rainy and dreary weather of late, and also speaks to the effect PTSD that can happen in life. I think many of us have endured some type of trauma(s) at some point in our lives. Those who know me well, know I’ve been through some traumas in my life that I thought I’d never overcome, but struggled through. Even though one survives it, sometimes certain memories are randomly triggered. It creeps back in and can haunt you. Add that on top of anxiety, and voila! You have a recipe for panic attacks. Writing, music and family/friends’ support has been a godsend in helping me heal and thrive. So if you are part of my inner circle who knows what I’m talking about … know that I am blessed, forever grateful you’re in my life, and that I love you so much!

Have a great weekend, and Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Anxious
Inspiration: “Sotto Falso Nome” by Ludovico Einaudi

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 45.15 – WRITER’S CHOICE – Shades of Blue and Black
Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Incorporate moonlit skies
Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Use the word “vernal”

Comforts of Home

Comforts of Home

thick
brain smog
slowly creeps
nudging my dreams
into consciousness
I sip my cold coffee
stuck in rush hour gridlock
it’s still two hours until dawn
as I ponder the workday ahead
full of deadlines, meetings and client calls
tired but grateful for our blessings in life
looking forward to comforts of home
a kiss to take my breath away
cats curled up on windowsill
sipping wine together
watching spring sunset
melting into
warm comfort
of your
arms

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
May 4, 2024

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. This week I wrote a double etheree because it seemed to be my best option for this week’s writing challenge. I really loved the Cleopatra move line “a kiss to take my breath away,” but was having a hard time combining it with the other prompts. This is a reminder to myself that although the daily grind of work life can seem overwhelming, the many blessings make it worthwhile. That’s not to say this old chick has as much spring in her step, I am not quite the Energizer bunny I used to be. After fifty years in the working world, it’s no wonder!

It’s been a good week of work catch up and getting things done around the house. I ran 6 miles last night, cooked turkey tacos, going out to dinner tonight with hubby, and tomorrow we’re hoping for nice weather to go on another bike ride. We went for our first ride last Sunday, and our quads were screaming going up the steep hill on our road. Biking definitely utilizes different muscles than my daily mix-up of workouts! It was so nice and relaxing, riding through the neighborhoods and seeing all the lovely trees in bloom. (Lots of pollen out there, though!)

Feeling positive despite today’s persistent rain and wishing you all a wonderful weekend and week ahead!!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Grateful
Inspiration: “Everloving” by Moby

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 44.15 – Rush Hour
Hard Bonus: Include a line from the movie “Cleopatra” (“a kiss to take my breath away”
Easy Bonus: Reference smog or pollution

Chase Away the Blues

Chase Away the Blues

Cold morning, sun is breaking
I’m tired, my knees are aching
big stretch, I drag out of bed
clearing cobwebs from my head.

Feel like fifty shades of black
trying to get my mojo back
chock full of mixed emotions
putting the wheels in motion.

Time to chase away the blues
lacing up my running shoes
time to chase away the blues.

Slow pace, body awakens
soon all my doubts are shaken
lungs fill and burn with crisp air
run beneath the sun’s warm glare.

Freed from anxiety’s chains
new blood pulses through my veins
deep within peace and calm spread
set to face the day ahead.

Time to chase away the blues
lacing up my running shoes
time to chase away the blues.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
April 27, 2024

Good Saturday morning, everyone! This song was inspired by the rhythm and stanza structure of Radiohead’s song “Let Down.” It reflects my mood of the week, feeling a bit down, tired and blue after the grandkids left on Monday. I was determined to get back into my exercise routine, and I managed to log a 6 mile run twice this week. I prefer late afternoon or evening running to morning running. (If you know me, it is because I am not a morning person LOL!) Plus with my work schedule, morning workouts are impossible. No matter how I feel when I start a run, I always end up feeling fantastic afterwards. I prefer to run alone, as it is my escape time, my “ME” time. I listen to my running playlist, get lost in the beauty of our nature trail around the lake, and release all my stress and anxiety. It is magical.

We had a whirlwind visit from the nuggets this past week, but it was so much fun. I am admittedly exhausted, as they are nonstop fun and energy! We visited a few wineries with Katie and Brenton last Thursday, the kids enjoyed running free and feeding the ducks at Doukenie Winery. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. We took them to dinner at the Country Club and sat outside, right beside an open grass area where they ran and played with some other children. Then we had them solo for the weekend when Katie and Brenton went to a wedding in Richmond. Some of the highlights included playing in the basement with Katie’s old toys, Chik-Fil-A, my niece’s 18^th birthday party, a visit with Nanny Keller, a trip to City Park (my favorite childhood park), swinging and sliding boards, Snow Cones, a crazy ride home full of giggles and Pringles, visiting the cats at Otium, ice cream at Gruto’s, and playing in the pink snow (fallen cherry blossoms). I cherish this time with them, it was so memorable!

I was so busy, focused on being in the moment and enjoying them, that I never even posted one picture of their visit until this morning. I’ve got some catching up to do. They left on Monday morning, and I was back to work an hour later, with a hectic pace continuing the rest of the week. This Nanny Bee is feeling tired, but very blessed and grateful. Life is wonderful! Enjoy your weekend!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Re-energized
Inspiration: “Let Down” by Radiohead

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 42.15 – Putting the Wheels in Motion
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a movie in which one of the Wayans Brothers appeared (“Fifty Shades of Black”; “New Blood”)
Easy Bonus: Include running shoes

The Awakening

The Awakening

Clouds fill the periwinkle skies
with power, corruption and lies.
A darkness overtakes the sun…
the awakening has begun.

Time to stop this insanity
of war, hate and hostility.
Agenda with a loaded gun…
the awakening has begun.

We can start all over again,
mend broken wings and ease the pain.
Let’s heal the damage that was done…
the awakening has begun.

Clouds fill the periwinkle skies…
the awakening has begun.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
April 19, 2024

Greetings everyone! I’m dropping this poem on a Friday, as it has been a busy week and the weekend will be even busier. This is just a quick sonnet inspired by the power, corruption and lies prompt, as all three have run rampant. It feels as if we are teetering precariously on the edge of a cliff. We desperately need a positive change of direction for our country, which has become weakened and destroyed by what is going on of late. I’m pretty sad to see this happen in my lifetime, and it is scary for the future of our kids and grandkids. *sigh*

We are enjoying our time with the nuggets here in Virginia! Katie, Brenton, Posie and Hatcher arrived Wednesday. Yesterday was a beautiful day, we enjoyed sitting in the sun at the wineries, taking in the mountain views and feeding the ducks. We are keeping the kids for the weekend while Katie and Brenton drive to Richmond for a wedding. I Today is rainy, so we stayed local and took the kids to Chik-Fil-A for chicken nuggets and playtime. Later it will be pizza making and a Friday night dance party in the music room. It’s been so wonderful to see them play with Katie’s old toys in the basement, and so much fun doing activities with them. Love it!

All my life I have felt like a jack of trades and master of none, is that a good or bad thing? I have learned to do so many different things: dabbling in poetry, writing, photography, music, website design, coding, accounting, HR, etc. I am content that I have learned much over the years, yet I don’t really consider myself a master of anything. On second thought, maybe that is an advantage. I don’t know, but it is who I am and I have no regrets!

And now my Nanny Bee duties call… I’m off to give the nuggets a bath in the big master tub! Have a great weekend, all!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Awake
Inspiration: “Mediate” by INXS

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 42.15 – Jack of All Trades
Hard Bonus: Incorporate power, corruption and lies in your blog
Easy Bonus: Include a lyric or song title by Gloria Gaynor (“Broken Wings” & “We Can Start All Over Again”)

Sonnet for the Coffee Lovers

Sonnet for the Coffee Lovers

Ah, behold that first morning cup
Hot java with cream, drink it up
Wizard potion to start the day…
Chase those blues and doldrums away.

Caffeine bolts and jolts through my veins
Soaring high, dancing in the rain
I’m aiming straight for clouds of gray…
Chase those blues and doldrums away.

With one more sip, you’ll be smiling
Mind atwitter, eyes beguiling
Set to tackle what comes my way…
Chase those blues and doldrums away.

Ah, behold that first morning cup…
Chase those blues and doldrums away.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
April 13, 2024

Happy Late Saturday afternoon! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend. It is beautiful, but we have been experiencing VERY high winds here in Northern VA the past two days.

This week I was the ultimate procrastinator when it came to writing, but I have good reasons. It’s the final days of tax season, I’m working full-time, and stress is the name of the game this time of year. I’ve also been trying to get the house ready and pantry stocked for my little nuggets when they arrive this Wednesday. Oh man, I can hardly wait to see Posie and Hatcher! I’ve stocked up on hula hoops, frisbees, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, koosh balls, kickballs, magna tiles, Hot Wheels, and of course, all their favorite snacks! As Katie said, they are going to have so much fun at Nanny Bee camp! We plan to take them to parks, to visit family in Maryland, go to Great Country Farms, have a backyard firepit with S’mores, visit the Otium winery cats… and just hang out in the backyard with them.

This was a fun, whimsical Kyrielle sonnet to write, and I really loved the topic this week. Anyone who knows me really well, knows that I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON! I do not like getting up at the crack of dawn for work, as I am more of a night owl. I don’t even hit my stride until about 2 pm each day. I can work until 10 at night, no problem. Unfortunately, I have to work a 9-5, but I am quite fortunate that my job allows me the flexibility to start a little later, I just make up for it by staying at the office later than everyone else (which I don’t mind, it’s kind of how I roll). This has been a true godsend for this night owl, lol!

Here is a little advice: don’t even bother trying to start a conversation with me in the morning unless I have had at LEAST my first morning cup. I am just plain slow in the morning. I won’t snap at you, but I am not quite as chipper when I first roll out of bed. In fact, I probably won’t hear, remember or respond much to what you are yapping about. Just ask Dan LOL. Intense, deep morning conversations tend to give me anxiety. Add that on top of the fact that I’m not a big breakfast person – I don’t do breakfast meetings, and I don’t even really like eating breakfast out while on vacation. Why, you ask? Because that means I have to hurry up and get ready bla bla bla to go to a morning event I do not even like, thereby increasing my anxiety exponentially. All I need is my faithful friend – a robust, strongly brewed BIG cup of coffee, or two or three – and a slice of toast to ease me gently into every single morning at home, alone. And yep, I like a lot of creamer and a little sweetener with my coffee. Not to worry, by late morning your girl is ramped up and ready to go!

So that is what this little ditty is about, the NEED for a delicious cup of coffee and my own personal ritual at my own pace to start the day. The best part of waking up is coffee in MY cup! What about you, do you need that first morning cup to even think about adulting each day? Haha, I’d love to hear! Have a great weekend filled with coffee and fun!

Xoxo, Colleen

Mood: Mellow
Inspiration: “Cafe 1930” by Astor Piazolla

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 41.15 – The First Morning Cup
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric by Van Morrison (“dancing in the rain,”
“you’ll be smiling” & “eyes beguiling”)
Easy Bonus: Mention wizard potions

Looking For My Rainbow

Looking for My Rainbow

Through dark clouds of uncertainty
Searching for peace and harmony
Beyond the wisps of fleeting snow…
I am looking for my rainbow.

On bended knees I bow and pray
Kind angels showing me the way
To a place where compassion flows…
I am looking for my rainbow.

In this world full of pain and strife
I rise and resurrect my life
Emboldened by the sun’s gold glow…
I am looking for my rainbow.

Through dark clouds of uncertainty…
I am looking for my rainbow.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
April 6, 2024

Good Saturday Morning! The Canned Heat song titles led me in this direction this morning, which ended up being a wonderful thing. They inspired this Kyrielle Sonnet which just flowed out of my head. I definitely like when that happens!

Do you believe in angels and in the power of prayer? I sure do! I have my own personal guardian angels that have helped me through countless difficult times in life. Just when I I thought I did not have the strength to continue, something (or someone) gently nudged me forward. I am eternally grateful for those beautiful angels in my life, and strangely, even for the bends and twists my path has taken. It has not been easy at times, but it has made me stronger. Going through those trials and tribulations truly shaped who I am today.

Last week, we had a nice little Easter dinner at our home, hosting Mom, Sarah and her family. It is always so wonderful getting together with family, though I miss our kids and grandkids tremendously. However, in just eleven days, Katie’s crew will be coming up for a visit! She and Brenton are going to a friend’s wedding in Richmond, so we get to have the nuggets all to ourselves for the entire weekend. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate so we can drive to see family in Maryland, take them to some playgrounds or just have fun in our backyard. I can’t wait!

The takeaway this week is to keep looking for your rainbow, even in the darkest days. Just ask your guardian angel for help, she/he will happily help you get there! Have a great weekend, everyone! ❤

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Hopeful
Inspiration: “Push the Sky Away” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 40.15 – Resurrection
Hard Bonus: Include a song title by Canned Heat (Dark Clouds; Looking for My Rainbow)
Easy Bonus: Incorporate an angel

Begin Again

Begin Again

clouds begin to break
in a torrent of cold rain
and searing heartache

tears render me blind
memories whirling, twirling
spinning in my mind

shadows from the past
words of you went through my chest
resolve fading fast

decisions confound
bumfuzzled, dazed and confused
search for solid ground

just where do I go
to heal this piercing sorrow
and when will I know

reaching past the pain
swallowing this bitter pill
to begin again

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
March 30, 2024

Happy Saturday, friends and family! This is a little dark haiku series inspired by some pieces of sad news I got this week. Don’t worry – I’m am doing fine.

First, I found out that a coworker lost her husband suddenly last weekend. We don’t know the details, but he was apparently not sick and just passed quickly. My heart aches for her in this loss – there are no words. The other day I emailed a client that I do quarterly work for. She and her husband had owned a long-time family store in West Virginia, and they recently closed to finally enjoy their retirement. She told me she had bad news, her husband died two weeks ago while attending their last work convention. When I relayed this information to the partner, he called me and told me that there had been some sort of altercation while at the convention. Apparently another man pushed him to the ground, he hit his head and died! This completely struck me to the core and actually made me cry. I’ve never met the clients face to face, but hearing of his tragic death just hit me hard. To think you work so hard all your life, and then your life is cut short just two months into your retirement!

These things were on my mind, as I have tried to imagine how one carries on after losing a husband or partner. How do you find the strength to begin again? It is such a devastating loss, and it’s really been hitting close to home lately. As you get older, it seems there is more death around you. It’s surreal and frightening at times, but I try to break out of those negative, morbid thoughts. Writing is one of my tools to release the overwhelming thoughts and anxieties in life.

Life is so fleeting and precious. I am so grateful for the wonderful husband and family that I have. My plan is to find joy in the small daily things and enjoy every single moment I have with them. Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: Reflective
Inspiration: “Leaving Paris” by Craig Armstrong

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 39.15 – Decisions, Decisions!
Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Newfound Glory (“Shadow”; “words of you went through my chest”; “solid ground”)
Easy Bonus: Use the word “bumfuzzle”

A Wish for April

A Wish for April

When twilight comes knocking on winter’s door;
The dusk beckons with its deep purple skies.
Distant stars burgeon with flaming ardour,
The woods come to life in glow of moonrise.

Faeries dance underneath the pale moon’s light;
Gold and peach, a daffodil pas de deux.
Sweet melody of flutes colors the night,
In soft tapestry of jewel tones and hues.

My heart is weary as the night grows long,
So I close my tired eyes and kneel in prayer.
I take comfort in the nightingale’s song,
A sense of hope fills the early spring air.

Awakened from my dreams, I count to ten,
And I am wishing for April again.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
March 23, 2024

It’s Saturday again, and I’m not sure exactly where this sonnet came from. Let’s just call it sheer luck, haha! I have been piecing together lines for the last few days, and the poem turned out much differently than how it started. Sometimes phrases just pop into my head, and I have to jot them down quickly, lest I forget. Some lines come to me, but don’t fit into the current poem. They get tossed into my random line pages for using another time. This is just a little whimsical ditty about dreaming of the magic of spring, and the dancing of the flowers (faeries) under the moon.

Yes, spring officially came this week, but it doesn’t seem like it. Today was a dreary, rainy, cold and extremely windy day. We get a wicked west wind that rushes down the street and hits the front of our house dead on. This afternoon when I stepped out in the yard, it felt like hurricane force winds! My poor daffodils and jonquils were bending and brushing the ground – fortunately, they are quite resilient! I guess I’m just wishing for April to get here, as March has never been my favorite month. It’s a most impatient month, even worse than January when you are sort of resigned to it being winter. Right now it is too cold to wear sandals, and even I (who rarely complains about cold weather) am ready to pack away my cable knit sweaters until fall! Only 9 more days….

Until then, I wish you warmth, peace and love!

Xoxo,

Colleen

Mood: Whimsy
Inspiration: “The Four Seasons – Spring” by Vivaldi

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 38.15 – Sheer Luck
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title by Dean Martin (“Deep Purple,” “Dream” & “April Again”)
Easy Bonus: Reference faeries

Scorpion Sting

Scorpion Sting

in land of the free
society lied to me
faded history

hate and evil maims
warfare, drama and head games
mankind is to blame

sheer despair takes wing
sharp like the scorpion sting
truth is everything

the lines have been drawn
finding strength to carry on
hope rising with dawn

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2024
March 16, 2024

Happy Saturday! This week I wrote a quick off-the-cuff haiku series. The prompt combination in the weekly challenge was admittedly tough. This poem is about searching for truth and finding strength to carry on during times of chaos. Some days, you can let your troubles roll off your shoulders, other days it’s as sharp as the scorpion sting. You just have to rise up each day and find strength to get through life.

The word “scorpion” is always a trigger for me! Nearly 40 years ago, I had a close encounter with a scorpion when I lived in Oklahoma. I had seen them outside the house and always steered clear. This happened when I was very pregnant with Vince, with (of course) nobody else in the house. I woke up for work, washed my face at the bathroom sink and noticed something light brown near the sink faucet. Blind as a bat, I put my glasses on and my blood ran cold. It was a scorpion, tail raised with its stinger ready to attack! My face had been about an inch away from that thing! I screamed, but there was nobody to help. How in the hell do you get rid of a scorpion, or should I say, how do you kill those damn things?

In sheer panic, I reached underneath the sink and grabbed the first thing my hand found – a bottle of Tilex. I quickly took aim and doused it. The scorpion lunged toward me, and I jumped, screaming like a little girl. It skittered through the bedroom, as I chased it. Finally, it ran into the nursery, where I corned it and obliterated it with the entire bottle of Tilex. I made sure it was dead, then covered it with a towel for the husband to dispose of later.

Of course, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time about using Tilex as a weapon of mass destruction. This close encounter left a huge bleach spot in the carpet of the nursery, which reminded me of scorpions each day until I finally left Oklahoma. I will say that Tilex is quite effective as a bug killer, as I continued to use it to eradicate humongous roaches and palmetto bugs when I lived in Florida. Let’s just say I was a lot more careful to only use it on the tile floors.

So that’s my fun memory of the week. I have never seen a scorpion in the wild (or in my house) since 1985, and I hope to never see one up close like that ever again. Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Mood: doubtful
Inspiration: “Losing My Religion” by REM

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 38.15 – Head Games
Hard Bonus: Quote Tupac Shakur (“society lied to me”)
Easy Bonus: Include a scorpion