e-Quips

Powerless to Change 

Lying there in most fitful sleep,
old dark thoughts began to creep,
some mixed in with mumbo jumbo,
rare truths hidden in deep shadow.
Each tortured truth dragged slowly forth
between deep breaths, for all they’re worth.
List’ners struggle to understand
rare last words of a failing man.
Pondering deeply, like keen sleuths,
each hoping for some grain of truth,
to bring peace and even closure,
longing for an outcome rosier.
But, last faint hope's now out of range
this fate, they’re powerless to change.




Allan is a blogging buddy and a very witty guy.  I invited him to share a poem, any format, any type. Here is what he came up with.  Hope you enjoy it.

Step outside on Wednesday, April 1, to witness April’s Full Pink Moon; we promise, this is no April Fools’ joke! This Paschal Moon marks the first Full Moon of spring and is used to determine the date of Easter.  Discover the story behind the “Pink Moon” and what makes this lunar event unique.

When to See the Full Moon in April 2026

Full Moon (Pink Moon): Occurs on April 1, 2026, at 10:12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). ​This is also one of the most fun holidays, April Fool’s Day!

Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the “Paschal Full Moon.” In simple terms, this is the first Full Moon immediately following the vernal (spring) equinox. However, that’s not the full story because Easter isn’t based on the actual Moon or equinox date! We’ll explain the curious connection between the Moon and Easter.

How Does Easter Relate to the Full Moon?

Easter is what’s known as a “movable feast”—in other words, a religious holiday that may fall on a different calendar date from year to year.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac draws its Full Moon names from various sources, including Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions. Traditionally, these names refer not just to the Full Moon but to the entire lunar month in which it occurs.

While the name “Pink Moon” might suggest a rosy-colored Moon, the reality is a bit less magical. The name comes from the early spring bloom of a wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower, often called “moss pink,” was in full bloom around April’s Full Moon.

Other Moon Names:

• Breaking Ice Moon – (Algonquin)
• Moon when the Streams are Navigable Again – (Dakota)
• Budding Moon of Plants and Shurbs – (Tinglit)
• Moon of the Red Grass Appearing – (Ogala)
• Moon when the Ducks Come Back – (Lakato)
• Moon when the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakato)
• Frog Moon – (Cree)
• Sucker Moon – (Anishisabee, to harvest sucker fish)

Was it the phlox
or just the pink moon
Or was it a joke
that got told too soon

The fact of the date
is just like a joke
But the bright April moon
Wasn't given a vote

Regrets
 

One a.m.
The northbound freight,
two miles away and rolling slowly up river,
rumbles among the hum of bullfrogs
and the murmurings of night birds.

A companionless coyote declares himself
among the bluffs.
The cat snores and twitches a tufted ear,
alone in her own imagined midnight hunt. 

Words spoken in the harshness of daylight,
suspended in the night air.
Darkness, a balm
to soften the memory of untouched realities.

 Yesterday was.
Tomorrow will be.
Tonight is might have been.
 
The cat stirs,
strolls slowly to wonder
at the moon.

Rolig was one of the first people I met in Second Life and she is as real now as she was when I met her. How do you get to know somebody? I know she is patient with the many people she helps through her mentorships, including my own battles with how to keep my membership in my name (despite someone who thought otherwise). If that is not helping someone, I don’t know what is.

Two  Companion Pieces

Lowland are ablaze
with pollinators on all sides
But further up the slopes
Winter hold sway.
Elevations rules!

On week later

Mist comes over the mountain top
Claiming the high ground
where the first green leaves
are starting to meet
A week ago, no green leaves
where evident anywhere.

Spring climbing the mountain side

The gray skies
and chill air
cannot disguise 
the warmth and light 
of either our hostess 
or the specialness
of this sacred space
filled with 
beauty, awe
and wonder 
Where the only sounds 
Are rockers on floor boards
Hidden cattle lowing 
at each other across
the valley

It the third Saturday in March.

NATIONAL QUILTING DAY

Snuggle up every National Quilting Day on the third Saturday in March. Around the country, special quilting shows, classes, open museums and much more celebrate the day. It also appreciates and recognizes quilt makers, along with all of their long labor, love, and skill that goes into the making of each quilt.

#NationalQuiltingDay

A quilt is a layer of batting or stuffing between two layers of pieced-together fabric. Early American quilts were the result of patched together pieces of worn-out blankets and clothing. Since they had to weave their own fabrics, there was little time for creative piecing together colorful, artful patterns. These items were purely functional.

Many quilts are part of a culture and can include historical references, such as Hawaiian quilts, Baltimore Ladies Quilts, and family quilts that shoes a path on the Underground Railroad.

By the mid 18th century Americans were making elaborate quilts designed to be handed down from mother to daughter, often pieced together from salvaged pieces of clothing and other bedding.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL QUILTING DAY

• Celebrate the warmth and the stories behind the quilts you collect. Whether you make them or they’ve been given to you, mark the day.
• Attend a quilt fair. You might learn techniques or discover new quilting styles. 
• Take a quilting class. The next family heirloom might be in the making!
• Share the story of a family quilt. Don’t let it become lost to the ages. Take a picture of it and the person who made it. 
• Discover the significance of7 Historical Quilt Patterns.

7 HISTORICAL QUILT PATTERNS

7 Historical Quilt Patterns – When most people think of a quilt, they conjure up images of a large hand-made blanket with decorative square patterns called “blocks”. For years, quilters have made these blankets, not only to provide warmth and comfort but to preserve memories. To make their quilts, women use a variety of colors and patterns. They have also had to use whatever scraps of material they could find. During the Great Depression, women used flour sacks to make quilts. What some may not know is that throughout the years, some quilt patterns had special meanings.

1. Nine Patch

Throughout the 19th century, women who quilted probably learned the skill as a young girl. These young quilters most likely started out using a quilt pattern called Nine Patch. This pattern consisted of 9 equal squares. Nine Patch quilts usually had four squares in each corner and a smaller square in the middle. All of these squares had the same pattern. Another version of the nine-patch quilt contained a large square in the middle and four smaller squares in each corner.

2. Eight Pointed Star

Experienced quilters sometimes made their quilts using an eight-pointed
star pattern. To them, a star was a religious symbol that represented
their faith in God. They sometimes called this star pattern the “Star of
Bethlehem”. This is the star in the Bible that led the shepherds to
baby Jesus. Many homesteaders made the journey West with the guidance of
stars. In the mid to late 1800s, Native American tribes also used the
eight-pointed star pattern for their quilts. They referred to it as the
“Morning Star.”

3. Log Cabin

The Log Cabin quilt pattern goes back to the 1860s during the Civil War. The Log Cabin is one of the most widely recognized quilt patterns. Some believe the pattern has a connection to Abraham Lincoln. The center of this pattern is red, which depicts the hearth. Narrow strips of fabric were then sewed around the center square. Log Cabin patterns also utilized light and dark colors to represent the movement of the sun in the sky from east to west.

4. Bear Paw

The Bear Paw quilt pattern is exactly what it sounds like. It looks like a giant bear paw. Using this pattern, four bear paws pointed in a different direction. Some quilt enthusiasts believe this pattern was used to help slaves find food and water during their escape in the mid-1800s. The Bear Paw pattern may have helped slaves know they were on the right track.

5. Flying Geese

This is another quilt pattern that may have helped slaves in the mid-1800s escape to safety. This pattern was part of the Underground Railroad Quilt Code, which was a secret communication system. The Flying Geese pattern helped slaves know which direction to follow. When looking at a quilt with this pattern, it’s easy to see how the flying geese look like arrows pointing in a certain direction.

6. Cathedral Windows

This quilt pattern became was inspired by the cathedral stain glass windows that popped up in North America around the 1930s. The pattern is used on each quilt block and uses a folded patchwork technique. The result is a beautiful quilt that contains three-dimensional window designs.

7. Snowball

Created by Amish quilters, the snowball pattern creates an optical illusion of circles from a distance. The pattern actually consists of octagons. Beginner quilters often use this pattern to create fun, colorful quilts no matter what the season.

Dancing to “Danger Zone”.

Go Irish Fighter Pilots!