Author: Sandra Pavloff Conner

HO! THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


Ho!  The new year is upon me!
Its first poem must be penned.
I have a new beginning,
And I must to it attend.

Oh, I do not take it lightly
That I have another chance
To reach for goals before me,
To learn a brand new dance.

To dream some happy new dreams,
To reach out loving hands
And touch new hearts with my love,
To help my fellow man.

Ho! The new year is upon me!
It’s running swift and free.
So I must ply both heart and soul
To give it all of me.

~~~

I wrote this poem several years ago, on another new year’s day. But as I read over it today, my heart seemed to feel the same things I felt at that time. So I decided to share it with my visitors this year.

I LOVE FALL, Y’ALL!

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I LOVE FALL, Y’ALL

I guess we call it “Fall” because leaves trickle down,
And I suppose that makes a lot of sense.
But, somehow, I think “Autumn” has a better sound — 
More positive — when lovely things commence.

For me, it is the crowning season of the year,
And supersedes even winter holidays.
I get a happy feeling as it’s drawing near,
And yearn for it to make a longer stay.

The brilliant golds and reds and oranges bursting free
Against a sky pellucid, yet true blue.
Carpets made of crunchy leaves beneath the trees:
A happy crunch — but extra work it’s true.

Bonfires’ unique scents that drifts along the air;
Families roasting hot dogs, smashing smores;
Digging out the sweatshirts we can’t wait to wear;
Shopping at the farmer’s market stores.

Squash, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, corn on cob,
Chrysanthemums so big they seem unreal.
The work of harvest overtakes all other jobs,
And nature’s blessing our good effort seals.

I just can’t get enough of that crisp Autumn air,
Or the quiet that seems to rest on everything.
Even Autumn rains fall with quiet care,
And something in my heart can’t help but sing.

If I could have my way, Autumn would rule the year.
I’d keep one month for Winter’s cleansing touch.
I’d give one month to Spring and Summer with good cheer.
But all the rest to the Autumn I love so much!

A BRAND NEW RESOURCE FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

A friend of mine has just published a huge book of quotes, jokes, puns, and interesting facts that will prove a terrific resource for public speakers of all genres. Called simply SPEAKER’S GOLDMINE,  the 436-page book has a lot to offer — so much so, in fact, that rather than trying to type out an ad for it myself, I’m posting the book trailer so you can get a close-up look at what it’s all about. I hope it can serve as a help to some of you podcasters, educators, ministers, and motivational and inspirational speakers.

 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ‘THE END’ ? – VIDEO

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Visit my “Happy Wordcrafter” YouTube channel to view the newest episode in my “Speaking As A Writer” series.

‘COFFEE & TORNADOS’ — NEW ON MY ‘GOD BLESS MY COFFEE’ CHANNEL

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I share more personal stories about drinking coffee, from half a cup, thick with milk and sugar, allowed in childhood, to large cups, hot and black, once old enough to make my own choices. This episode includes the story of my father’s tornado experience and his insistence on building a storm cellar as a result.  And, naturally, after a night in a storm cellar, nothing but coffee can get things back to normal. I round out the episode with one of my coffee poems.

FIRST POEM CELEBRATING NATIONAL POETRY WRITING MONTH, 2025

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

April is National Poetry Writing Month, and although several years I’ve celebrated it by trying to write a poem every day — and almost succeeding some of those years — I knew I couldn’t work at that pace this time around. In fact, I accidentally let April slip in without one rhyme. But today I decided I need to at least make the effort to contribute to the world’s collection of poetry by writing a few new poems during April. So I’m making a start right now.


WHERE IS SPRING?

Spring is trying hard to get a start this year.
March did come in with lion winds on cue.
But other elements just cannot get in gear,
The weather’s gray and cold, and that won’t do.

Daffodils did bloom and lift their yellow heads,
Only to be beaten down by storms and rain.
They lay forlorn and helpless, flat upon their beds,
And now its wet and gray and cold again.

I just don’t know what’s happened to our happy spring.
When scents of flowers and grasses fill the air.
When golden sun and bluest skies cause birds to sing.
And folks can catch ‘spring fever’ everywhere.

Maybe it will change and warm up in no time.
I surely hope that’s true, ’cause here’s the thing:
To end this poem I need to have a word that rhymes,
And I can’t think of anything but Spring!

PAINTING WITH ORANGE AND YELLOW

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Since we’re moving towards summer and its bright warm colors, I felt in the mood to do a post featuring a few of my paintings that use oranges and yellows primarily. Hope you enjoy them.

Shaggy Yellow Blooms
Abstract Orange Trees
Yellow Dove
Orange & Yellow Bouquet
Morning On The Wetlands

POETRY CHALLENGE — ‘IN PERFECT ACCORD’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


I am subscribed to “Keep It Alive,” and Sadje (the owner of that channel) keeps us abreast of a number of writing challenges. I don’t always have time to take part in them, but I manage to do so once in a while. This week, she shared a challenge from “Selma,” who told us how she was prompted to take the last line from the poem of a friend and begin a new poem of her own with that line. She then challenged us to do the same. I have done something similar in the past for another poetry challenge, but it has been many years, so I thought it would be fun.

Selma’s last line was “In perfect accord.” So I set out to write a poem beginning with that line. I did not intend for my last line to repeat the first, but it just worked out that way so perfectly that I couldn’t help myself.

Anyway, I hope you will all hop over to visit Sadje and Selma both and maybe write your own poem beginning with the last line of mine — or theirs.

Here’s my poem:

I REST WITH GOD

In perfect accord with God, I rest;
Forgiven for sin and healed and blessed.
I have no need to struggle or strain,
Or fight for what I want to gain.
He meets my needs on every hand,
And, washed clean by His blood, I stand
Acquitted, accepted, anointed, adored;
I rest with Him, in perfect accord.

THE DELIGHTFUL HISTORY OF MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE — ON MY COFFEE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Come over and join me on  “God Bless My Coffee” channel to hear the delightful history of Maxwell House Coffee.  And to get my unique checklist for finding the “perfect husband.”

MY NEW COFFEE CHANNEL

| Sandra Pavloff Conner
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

I’m excited to announce my new YouTube channel devoted to Coffee. It’s called “God Bless My Coffee,” and I’ll be posting video/podcasts regularly.  A lot of what I’ll be sharing is material I have  shared here in written form, but I thought some of you might enjoy interacting with me on YouTube — especially the other coffee lovers out there.

Anyway, here’s the first episode to give you a feel for what it will be like. If you do visit the channel, please hit that “Like” button for me, and, of course, Subscribe and click the little Bell Symbol so you’ll be informed about future episodes. Thank You. I hope your enjoy it.

THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when we focus on Jesus’ suffering and death for us. But we want to be sure we don’t focus on the suffering and death without including the victory that resulted from it. I wrote this poem this week to celebrate all that Jesus did.

THE PRICE IS PAID; THE VICTORY’S WON

Mankind was bowed beneath the load of sin and shame.
But in the fulness of God’s time, the Savior came.
He walked as man and lived obedient to God’s law.
Then took upon Himself the sin and curse for all.

His sorrow was so deep it turned his sweat to blood.
In agony He prayed alone, misunderstood.
He cried “Dear Abba, can You find another way?”
But when no way was found, He rose up and obeyed.

The scourging ripped His body; thorns punctured His head.
Nailed to the cross, unclothed, He cried aloud and said,
“Father, forgive them; they do not know what they do.
I’ve done Your will, and now my spirit comes to You.”

The arms of death did grip Him tight within their hold.
The devil felt supreme and in his hate grew bold.
But suddenly God’s voice was heard: “The price is paid!”
And all the underworld began to reel and shake.

The Spirit of Life, who had created all that’s seen,
From Heaven came down and filled Christ’s body once again.
He rose to life victorious over sin and curse,
And in that life now reigns over the universe.

SOUL FOOD

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

SOUL FOOD

Beautiful flowers are food for my soul:
Bright colors, soft petals, verdant leaves.
When I feel fragmented, they help make me whole
And saturate me with their peace.

For flowers have a nature of positive vibes,
In the sunshine, the wind, or the rain.
Even when storms thrash them from side to side,
They lift up their heads once again.

When I’m in a funk about life overall,
I stop and I contemplate blooms.
For I know my soul needs to answer their call
To let beauty dissolve away gloom.

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

| Sandra Pavloff Conner


How I long for home at Christmas,
In the seat of warmth and love.
The place where welcome never fades,
Where family is enough.

It’s the fireplace Dad has kindled
And the taste of Mom’s rich fudge;
Where a rest so deep takes hold of me
That I wish to never budge.

Life scatters me other places;
I do work I enjoy;
I have a few friends good and true,
And some who quite annoy.

My life is mostly good and right;
No serious remorse.
And if I had to choose again,
I’d follow the same course.

But every year at Christmas
I find a need so deep
To be at home with family
This holiday to keep.

For even though I’m grown up,
A child lives in my heart
Who needs the comfort and the love
That only Home imparts.