A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Posts tagged ‘Maine’

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Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author Bette A. Stevens


A few thoughts on writing and a NEW VERY SHORT STORY from me to you! READ IT HERE… ~ Bette A. Stevens

jgrwriter's avatarCultural Cocktails

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(Please join me in welcoming Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author – Bette A. Stevens!)

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As a save-everything-I’ve-ever-written-writer I put together a short story for you. During a brief three year jaunt along my journey as a writer (1995-1997), I kept a special journal to document what we still refer to as our California Vacation. I’m taking a small section from my journal to rewrite for this post. Our 2014 winter in Central Maine has been brutal. We still have over a foot of frozen snow in the back field. It’s been a long and bitter New England winter. A trip back in time to bask in the California sun sounds pretty soothing to this Mainer right now. So here we go.

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Solar Fever…

A short memoir by Bette A. Stevens © 2014

It was hard to believe we were leaving as we headed southwest in our 1988…

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Written

on 04/01/2014

Celebrating Summer’s Cessation with a poem…


I love nature and usually have a little notepad and pencil with my on my nature walks. Nature is inspiring… I was resting and reflecting down by one of my favorite spots, a lovely little brook nearby.  Suddenly a few golden word nuggets grabbed me when I spotted the fall asters dancing in the breeze. ~ Bette A. Stevens

Final Performance SMALL

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The Ice Crystal Robe


~Poem by Bette A. Stevens © January 1, 2013~

Winter 2012_12

I collected word nuggets for The Ice Crystal Robe several years ago. Last week I shot the photograph for this post when one of our lilac trees was shimmering like a gemstone in winter’s early morning sunlight after a storm. ~Bette A. Stevens~

The Ice Crystal Robe

Royal Finery,

glistening diamond ropes

embellish bare arms.

Her ice crystal robe

disappears by mid-morning.

Lilac stands naked.

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Maine Author, Poetry, Writing

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MOUNT BATTIE: Hiking the Tableland Trail


Ageless Amenities

Copyright  -October 2012-  Bette A. Stevens

Sandstone

mudstone

granite

and

basalt.

 

Step

by

step

I

climb

archaic

rock.

 

October mini-vacation plans included a day trip to climb Mount Battie in Camden, Maine. My friend Lea was up from Virginia for our annual get-together. Only five days and the meteorologists were predicting lots of clouds and little sun. The ground was damp and soggy from weeks of rain.

I’ve wanted to climb Mount Battie for several years, but hadn’t made the trek. We woke, dressed, packed for a short hike and headed out for Camden Hills State Park on the only day with a partly sunny forecast. Camden Hills State Park is historically significant because of its connection with Depression-era federal programs and early efforts in the 1930s to develop state park systems throughout the United States. The national park service relied on local talent, such as Hans Heistad, noted landscape architect, in addition to a Civilian Conservation Corps crew based in the area. The park is open from May through October and offers a hiking system with over 30 miles of trails. We were on our way.

Heading for the hills.

Quick stop for a photo op.

The trails start here, to the left we would veer.

The start of the trail, we’re sure to prevail.

Sandstone, mudstone, granite and basalt;
step by very cautious step, we climb archaic rock.

Down the pits and up the mounds, spying woodlands all around.

A mile and a half,
we finally made it through;
A hike that yields the grandest prize —
magnificent the view!

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Written

on 10/27/2012


 

Maine Lobster: Any way you’ll like it!

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October Morning (poem by Bette A. Stevens)


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On nature walks, I often take a small pad and pencil and jot down word picture nuggets for my poems. ~Bette A. Stevens

October Morning

by Bette A. Stevens

North winds whisk the clouds away

Towering  trees in fall array

Purples, golds an firy reds

All throughout Maine’s forests spread

Brook’s a place where minnows play

Dart past leaves that drift and sway

Bluejays chat, expounding tales

Of summer past and coming gales

Starched white towers climb the sky

Reminding all that autumn’s nigh

 

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Written

on 09/22/2012

PLACES I LOVE…


ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: America the Beautiful right here in Maine.

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Stephen King Interview on 60 Minutes Program (1997)


Stephen King Interview on 60 Minutes Program (1997)

via Stephen King Interview on 60 Minutes Program (1997).

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Maine Author

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Maine’s Moosehead Lake HIKING & HAIKU: Here, there and everywhere!


by Bette A. Stevens

As a nature lover, teacher,  reader and  writer I often took my class on nature walks with clipboards, pencils and plenty of paper in hand. A great, creative writing project to do with the grandkids!  Goal: each person finds something interesting and inspiring. It might be a flower, a tree, an insect. Subjects in the great outdoors are unlimited. Take notes, usually a list, word web or other diagram about one or two of the most interesting things you’ve observed. Then, write a poem about what you’ve selected and illustrate your poem. Haiku (three lines: 5-7-5 syllables) is one of my favorites for creating quick word snapshots that kids really enjoy writing. Talk to the kids about similes, metaphors and other figurative language. Have an example on hand to model and share with the kids. With illustrated poems in hand, take another nature walk. Find an outdoor theatre (under the shade of a tree in the backyard or playground ). You might even choose to take a walking field trip to a nearby park. Bring a lunch or snack and enjoy a “Poetry Party,” where everyone gets to perform! All of my life, I’ve been inspired by the beauty and wonder in the world around me. A camping trip with my family to Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine www.mooseheadlake.org/ inspired me to write this word snapshot, and, of course, I had fun illustrating it, too.

This was one of my classroom “shares.”

Writing Haiku or any short form of poetry is a great, creative family or classroom activity that’s fun for everyone! Demonstrate your poems and have your own party. As a bonus, you’ve got personal posters for rooms, bulletin boards or scrapbooks!

What are some of your favorite ideas that are sure to inspire kids to have fun reading and writing?

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