#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

The gorgeous walking trail, a rail trail, couldn’t be closer. I discover it after rising at 6 a.m., revising my poem adequately, and heading out into summer beautiful summer. This part of the trail runs along Esopus Creek into banks of thick wildflowers in bloom. i walked five miles surrounded by natural beauty and pollinators and quiet and sun. So very pleasant and cheerful. Colorful and vibrant. And I found the most amazing wild rosemary grows everywhere along the trail. I picked a fresh green stalk and brought it back to my room and put it in water. Then, off to workshop which went well for my poem. Lunch with my friend Laura in town. We drove around getting to know Kingston a bit and found a lovely lunch place and got a parking ticket. Worth it. Then back to work in the afternoon but I so wanted to be on a lawn chair outdoors in the sun. And a necessary nap. This retreat is quite smaller and different than our annual conference, but it’s going to be so special. Already is. Lots of writers arrived this afternoon and we had a meet and greet and then out to dinner with dear friends, Lynne and Myra and Maureen and Laura and Catherina. We even had a round table for intimacy. A lovelly night. I teach in the afternoon tomorrow after poetry workshop. So great to be here with IWWG. The retreat has begun.