George Ella Lyons is an Appalachian author and poet with a long list of children’s books to her credit. Her poem, Where I’m From, begins in this way: I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride…

Years ago Fred at Fragments from Floyd set a challenge to adapt the poem to your own history.  Below is my version to share with all of you. 

I am from Silver Creek as it flows past Aunt Deedy’s home, from French toast breakfasts and peacock calls.

I am from the pink stone house surrounded by farm land.

I am from the tobacco flowers blooming in the fields, the honeysuckle so sweet on the vine.

I am from Sunday suppers and gap teeth, from Robert and Linda and my grandparents who loved me so well.

I am from the games of Rook and Scrabble.

From mud puddles and tree forts, where cousins cavorted on those long summer days.

I am from Kirksville Baptist and memories of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Christmas programs that still fill my mind.

I’m from the Kentucky hills, Parkerhouse rolls and pecan pie.

From the smell of Grandmother’s cooking, the sound of Granny’s sewing machine, and the hum of Papaw’s tractor.

I am from dresser drawers full of photographs that capture my ancestors as they were and they are precious to me.

If you make you own version, please be sure to share a link to it in the comments section.  I would love to read about where you are from.

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. Here is a video to released to promote their “Kick the Habit” campaign.

CO2 - See It To Believe It

It got up to 102 degrees here yesterday with continued high temps for the next week.  I thought this would remind me of all the cooler times of year.