Re-PUG-nantly Honest

This week one of my 5 year old students made the funniest observation. 

We were looking at the -ug word family (tug, hug, bug, etc.) when I showed him this picture:

(old school clip art on index cards!)

 

Without a moments hesitation he blurts, "gremlin dog!" 

Because of course a Pug looks like a gremlin to a 5 year old! 

I mean no disrespect to Pugs and their people, but I kind of feel like this description is spot on. 

 

I am a HUGE dog person (Smidgey much?) but when I heard my student say this with such conviction I had to agree.

Take a look...don't you see the resemblance around the eyes...nose...mouth?

 

When they're dry and during the day...

..."Pug-et about it!"

 Anyway, I love the way kids view the world (and dogs!) It makes my heart happy.

pug eyes

devilish grin

gremlin pooch?

5 year old spin?

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

Denise at Dare to Care is hosting the Poetry Friday round up this week.

 Join us?

 

App on the Map

What has a green owl mascot, a passive-aggressive app interface, and a satisfying *ding*?

Oh, and was co-founded by a guy from Canton Zug, Switzerland? (Where I live!)

If you guessed Duolingo, you guessed right!

I've blogged a few times about my experiences using Duolingo to learn German (I had a 700+ day streak until recently*), but when I found out the local link to my daily habit, I knew I had to blog about it yet again. 

Severin Hacker (how great a name is that?) is a 37-year old computer scientist who grew up in Canton Zug. After studying at the local school and attending ETH Zurich, Severin went to America and attended Carnegie Mellon University where he teamed up with his professor Luis von Ahn to develop Duolingo in 2012. Today Hacker is Head of Technology at Duolingo while von Ahn is CEO.

*Apparently jet lag, timezone changes, and general emotional turmoil are not conducive to language learning. Who knew?

In honor of Mr. Hacker, I am sharing a poem I wrote last year about Duolingo. (Because repetition is the hallmark to this app. 😉)

each correct answer

brings me closer

to understan...*ding*

©2020, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

Heidi at my juicy little universe is hosting Poetry Friday today...join us! 

#PoetryPals: What the Smidgey Knows

This month's Poetry Peeps challenge was one that spoke to me. 

Because my dog speaks to me.*

The poetry challenge is to write in the style of Jane Yolen's eight line, rhyming poem, "What the Bear Knows", a poem written to celebrate her 400th book, Bear Outside.

I love me a good challenge.

And nothing is more challenging than our little dog, Smidgey. 

(Just kidding, she's actually a delight.)

Are you talking about me?

What the Smidgey Knows

 

Food in a bowl.

Smushed for old lady teeth.

A nest of hairy blankets.

Oversized pillow underneath.

 

The length of the leash,

so many smells to sniff.

Scrubbed in the tub,

when people catch a whiff.  

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.
 

*did I mention I am a fledgling empty nester? 

Apparently Feedburner is not kaput? 

Some subscribers received their wee words post via Feedburner. 

Others via Mail Chimp.

If you want a consistent and reliable way to receive your poetry post from wee words for wee ones, sign up HERE.

Today Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections is hosting the Poetry Friday party. Join us!

Grond Girl

I'm baaaccckkk.....

I am finally back at my Swiss keyboard after spending the last 7 weeks in the United States.

It was an emotional roller coaster of a trip. (understatement)

The main order of business was repatriating and celebrating our youngest daughter, Maureen's launch into adulthood.

I won't bore you with the *feels* of saying goodbye to my just-turned-18-year-old, but there is no doubt in my mind that she will. be. just. fine. 

In fact, I know she will THRIVE in this new phase of her life.

Another order of business hugging my oldest daughter, Colleen after 18 months - and of course, taking many selfies with her:

Pismo Beach, CA

 

We also visited family. Lots. Of. Family.

 And the final order of business for our trip was getting all the things we can't get here in Switzerland.

4 checked bags worth!

From food:

To home furnishings:

Blackout curtains (installation pending)

To personal care items...

Now, if you are a regular reader here at wee words for wee ones you may have seen some of the throw back pictures I sometimes post. In those pictures you may have noticed that my hair was brunette back in the day.

But premature graying (in my early 20's!) drove me to the bottle...the bottle contained inside a box of American drug store hair color.

Wash away the gray and go grond! (gray+blond=grond)

grond girl!

 My poem today is a rainbow reflection on my trip abroad.

red 

- my eyes from allergies, insomnia, and tears

 orange

- two birthday goldfish, Squeak and Squish, whose bubble surfing intermittently distracts someone from missing her dog

yellow

- my hair because life is short, my gray came early, so I went blond. And with my American supply, I have enough now to dye another day

green

- tiny Matchbox car rolling over carpet, couches, and legs, driven by an almost two-year-old who holds the key to many hearts

blue

- someone's pillow tucked under her arm, spilling into the narrow aisle on the airplane so she can lay her head on something familiar in her new home

violet

- the circles under my eyes matching the sky above the mountains just before the sun appears dawning a new day on this side of the world

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

 

Carol at The Apples in My Orchard is hosting Poetry Friday this week. Join us!

 

Feedburner is gone. 

 

Mail Chimp is here. 

 

Sign up at the link below to receive wee words for wee ones posts in your inbox!

 

http://eepurl.com/hGovAD

 

A Toast to the Loaf of my Life

 Today I am raising a toast to my butter half on the occasion of our 32nd Wedding Anniversary!

He makes my heart turn to jelly.

Joe truly is the best thing since sliced bread - our love never gets stale and as you can see in our wedding picture below, he likes my buns (still). 😘

June 17, 1989

32 years of laughter

a fair bit of sorrow

we've lived in CA, WI, CH

and the land of Saguaro

 

it took a while

for our girls to arrive

parenting partners

together we survive 

your kindness is a plus

your farts are a minus

as a best friend

you are the finest

everyday I recommit

my love for you

32 years later

I'd still say "I do"

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

 

Buffy Silverman is hosting the Poetry Friday fun! Join us!

 

Eat Hole Foods

Happy Doughnut Day! 

I couldn't let this HOLE-Y Day of Obligation go by without sprinkling a bit of fun ala my a-dough-rable hubby and daughter.

I donut know what I'd do without them. 

Wait, yes I do. I'd be able to see my abs.

Here's the method to my dynamic dough-o's madness:

🍩 Activated the yeast:

🍩 Mixed the ingredients:

🍩 Let it rise:

🍩 Formed the doughnuts and air fried them:

🍩 Got a little glazy:

I love Joe a hole lot for being my weird dough!

If you don't have a resident baker, donut worry! To find your center make your way to:

🍩 Dunkin' Donuts where they are giving away a FREE classic doughnut of your choice with any beverage purchase!

🍩 Krispy Kreme is giving away a FREE doughnut as well. If you show proof of vaccination, you can score TWO!

Both offers are good today, 4 June 2021 in the US. (Sadly there are no Krispy Kreme stores in Switzerland and only 1 Dunkin' store that I know of - in the Zurich train station. Not convenient.)

Today's poem touches on what motivated me to go to mass when I was a child.

I sit on the rigid

high-gloss polished pew.

Incense perfumes

my flowered taffeta dress.

Head bowed I ponder

my Heavenly Reward

for sitting so still.

My meditative state

has nothing to do

with the Kingdom of God

the priest is extolling

from the pulpit.

His words ricochet

off the pale swirled granite floors

and rainbow stained glass windows

but never penetrate

my focused concentration

on the compensation

for this hour of surrender –

a chocolate doughnut –

MY Heavenly Reward.

 

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved. 

 

 Donut stop here, go to Margaret's blog: Reflections on the Teche 

to see all the sweet stuff Poetry Friday peeps have to offer!

 

 

Mary Lee is So Marvelous It's Not Even Punny!

Today on Poetry Friday we are celebrating Mary Lee Hahn - educator, poet, human extraordinaire! 

I can not think of a better way to show my admiration for Mary Lee than to share a cheesy poem that I hope will crack-er up!

                 this May

              come Across

                   as Really

              cheesY, but

 

here in switzerLand

    i think you'rE grate -

        i'm fonduE of you!

©2021, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

 

Join the #MarvelousMaryLee celebration at 

Christie Wyman's blog: Wondering and Wandering. 

Wish her a happy birthday while you're there, too!