Zooming For Our Haiku Workshop

We had a wonderful virtual 2 hour SJF Communications Haiku workshop, ‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ via Zoom on August 29th.

Best part of it…these were my two friends, Ann Stowe and Karen De Arana, that decided to give Haiku a try! Wow, they really delivered!

We began with a review of my professional history and experience with Haiku and poetry as well as a short ice-breaker.

Next, after introductions and a review of my work with poetry, I taught my Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared several (16) of my nature (and other) photography photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. Besides the photo prompts, we had a choice to also write either about our experiences dealing with the isolation and angst of the Covid-19 pandemic or the ‘best’ or ‘worst’ day in our lives.

Everyone practiced writing Haiku and finally we had the opportunity to share our work. It was a delightful time with two fabulous ladies. They wrote some amazing Haiku!

Here’s a glimpse of our enlightened attendees written Haiku along with photo prompts we chose that day!

Joshua Tree Flowers – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Lying in the grass

Wind coaxing flowers to dance

Gazing at the sky!

~ Karen


Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma

Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Roaring waves crashing

Thundering across the cliffs

Loudly pounding shore!

~ Ann


Moon Rise & Yellow Traffic Light

Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

All of a sudden

Moon rose at the yellow light

Serendipity!

~ Susan


Julian Leaves – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Autumn is now here

A kaleidoscope palette

Welcomes the season!

~Ann


Summer stirs the trees

Leaves fall as darkness chills air

Look! Vibrant colors!

~Karen


Waterfall at Tahquitz Canyon Trail

Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Hike in the canyon

Flowers, scents and landscapes too

Look – A waterfall!

~ Susan


Great White Egret at Santee Lakes

Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Waited patiently

Water serene, time just right-

The egret took fight!

~ Susan


Thoughts on Covid-19 & the Coronavirus Pandemic

(Stock Photo)

Consumed with media

Newsflash! People are dying!

Covid sucks big time.

~ Ann


Depression and angst

Weight gain and isolation

When will it all cease?

~ Karen


We celebrated with a high five!

And ended on a happy workshop note!

And when it as nearly over, I read my poems ‘Ann’s Zest Ends’ and my Haiku ‘Crisis & Hope’ aloud. I really miss doing live presentations and readings..

Come on Covid-19. Lets get this pandemic under control so we can truly be social again!

I look forward to teaching many more workshops in the future – virtual or in person!

What a terrific time!

Connecting, creating and sharing!

The next virtual workshop is:

September 5, 2020 via Zoom.

Here is the info and registration link: https://sjfcommunications.com/upcoming-haiku-workshops/

Upcoming Haiku Workshops

To schedule a Haiku Workshop, please contact SJF Communications at:

408-398-5940

sjfcommunications@gmail.com

DONATE TO OUR HAIKU WORKSHOPS!

DONATION INFORMATION:

https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/capturing-your-creativity-with-haiku Donate now at Fractured Atlas!

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We ‘Zoomed’ and Captured our Creativity with Haiku!

By

Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

A recap of our workshop w/connection, creativity and sharing!

Our 4/5/2020 Zoom class:
‘Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku’
Top – Left to Right: Bonnie, Susan, Millie
Bottom – Left to Right: Janice, Mary Jean, Lori

By

Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Five lovely women attended our 2 hour SJF Communications Haiku workshop, ‘Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku’ through San Diego Writer’s, Ink via Zoom on April 5th 2020. Once I figured out the system (video, sound, muting, unmuting, locking, etc.), it was a blast!

It was my first time teaching with Zoom and now I am hooked! In fact, I am planning another virtual Haiku workshop via San Diego Writer’s, Ink tentatively on June 7th from 10-12 noon. Stay tuned for details TBA.

We began with a review of my professional history and experience with Haiku and Poetry. After that, we did an interactive interesting and most of all fun ‘ice-breaker’ – getting to know each other a bit more.

Next, after introductions and a review of my work with poetry, I taught my Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared several (16) of my nature (and other) photography photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. Everyone practiced writing Haiku and finally we had the opportunity to share our work. It was a delightful time with such a lovely group of creative empowered women!

Here’s a glimpse of our enlightened attendees written Haiku along with photo prompts they chose that day!

Anna’s Hummingbird – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

A simple creature

Delving into his sweetness

Bringing joy to all

– Lori

~

Hummingbird hornets

This Spring when hope hides from us

Kids drink from sippies

– Millie

Snowy Egret “Bad Hair Day” – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

A morning outlook

Wind ruffling my feathers

What to do today

-Lori

~

Eager and ready

Able with wings to take flight

Planted feet instead

-Mary Jean

~

White feathers ruffle

Lake reflections wrinkles

The visible wind

-Bonnie

Coachella Valley Preserve – Thousand Palms Oasis McCallum Pond
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

New discovery

A promise of refreshment

Flies! They found this too

-Mary Jean

Waterfall at Tahquitz Canyon Trail – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Water falls steady

From granite to constant lake

Upstaged by frailty

-Mary Jean

Joshua Tree Flowers – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Lupine violet

Rises above dusty green

Poking the still air

-Millie

Coachella Valley Preserve – Thousand Palms Oasis
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Palm trees like bear hugs

Only my hairless arms wrap

Tomorrow your gaze clears

-Millie

Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Whirling eternal surf

Salty water splashes ashore

No virus in sea

-Janice

Moon Rise & Yellow Traffic Light
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Stop full moon overhead

Secrets hide the dusky light

Car horn, now mundane

-Janice

Julian Leaves
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Crunchy leaves crackle

Sun comfort through bare branches

Seasons change, do I?

-Janice

Tahquitz Canyon Overlooking Palm Springs
Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications

Puffy clouds hover

Gentle wind rustles leaves on trees

City sleeps, no danger.

-Janice

Plus, Lori and Mary Jean wrote some additional Haiku without photo prompts! Way to go!

To be deep in love

Pandemic keeps us apart

Makes me love you more

-Lori

~

Peeling the orange

Ripping the layers of flesh

Ahh! A squirt of scent

-Mary Jean

~

What a terrific time!

Connecting, creating and sharing!

Upcoming Haiku Workshops

To schedule a Haiku Workshop, please contact SJF Communications at:

408-398-5940

sjfcommunications@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to subscribe, like, comment & share!

Like this post?

Contact SJF Communications for your PR/Marketing/Writing

Social Media/Photography, or Coaching Needs!

SJF Communications – ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’!

A Hike at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve – Coachella Preserve

We enjoyed an interesting self-guided Spring hike of two oases at the Thousand Palms Oasis – Coachella Preserve (on the San Andreas Fault, no less) in the Southern California Desert (about 10 miles East of Palm Springs).


Here’s a video with photos that captured some of our day hiking at the Thousand Palms Oasis at Coachella Preserve!

A Hike at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve – Coachella Valley

Here are some photos from our hike at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve!

Visitors Center at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley
Photo by SJF Communications
Enormous palm fronds at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley
Photo by SJF Communications
A View of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley
Photo by SJF Communications
McCallum Pond at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Coachella Valley
Photo by SJF Communications

We started our journey by stopping at the Palm House Visitors Center (the original homestead log cabin, complete with really cool artifacts) and hiking over a few boardwalks (and a bit of sand) on the flat McCallum Trail (round trip 2 miles). The amazingly tall fan palms (Washingtonia filifera – some over 50 feet) are a sight to behold!

Side giggle note: The lengthy fronds resemble ‘Cousin Itt’ from the Addams Family!

In the middle of this desert, there were two magnificent oases, as well as beautiful purple, yellow, blue and white wildflowers, and a few birds.

At the end of the trail was McCallum pond (yes indeed, a pond – with water courtesy of the San Andreas Fault) with an added bonus – the endangered Desert Pup Fish!

All in all, a delightful day!

More info at:

http://coachellavalleypreserve.org/

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to subscribe, like, comment & share!

Like this post?

Contact SJF Communications for your PR/Marketing/Writing

Social Media/Photography, or Coaching Needs!

SJF Communications – ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’!