Simple Pleasures: Haiku From Just The Right Place

On By ResaIn Book Reviews, Sculptures

by: ELIZABETH GAUFFREAU

fading light, moonrise
day and night come together
our past, our future

Welcome to the final stop of the Simple Pleasures blog tour!

Liz –Thank you, Resa, for hosting me for the final day of my blog tour for Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right! 

Resa – My pleasure, Liz!

Florida Vacation

Liz -Today, I’m taking your readers to Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosburg, Vermont. The park features dozens of sculptor David Stromeyer’s large-scale abstract metal sculptures spread over 45 acres of hay field. 

Resa – I am thrilled about getting to feature David Stromeyer’s art, with your book of images with Haiku. I’ve chosen to use all of the options you sent. FYI readers – the names of the sculpture is below its photo.

Ngozi

Cold Hollow Sculpture Park


Liz – I first visited the park site with my dad in the early 1970s, when he was counseling someone who lived in the area. I remember that the sculptor lived on the property in a barn that had seen better days, which I found the epitome of counterculture cool. 

Lost in the Roundabout

At that time, Stromeyer had two, maybe three, sculptures completed and displayed. I vividly remember the one he’d created out of the tank of a smashed milk truck. The sculpture made such an impression on me that twenty years later, I included it in a short story.   

  • Rock-in Sphere
  • Slice Rock
  • Banded Rock
  • Jumoke
  • Primavera
  • Da-jo-jo
  • Ensemble-4+2

Resa – Liz, I thoroughly enjoyed your book, and have selected my 2 fave Haiku for this post.

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg  prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.


She has published a novel, Telling Sonny, and a collection of photopoetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance. She is currently working on a novel, The Weight of Snow and Regret, based on the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968. 

Liz’s professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Visit Liz on her blog!

Book2Read Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SimplePleasures Print & Fixed EPUB for tablets and Kindle Fire 

BookFunnel PDF Purchase Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/gef1ili6qd For any device

What More Can I Say
strong against the wind
rosehip jelly long ago
rugosa grow wild

180 thoughts on “Simple Pleasures: Haiku From Just The Right Place”

  1. I really enjoyed seeing the way to the sculpture garden (love Liz’s laughing and the slide guitar, too) and some of the sculptures. The first haiku is one of my favorites, oo.

    2. Agree! It’s perfect that Liz sent in the sculptures.. well pics of them.

      I read her book. It’s simply lovely. I will be reading it again, although one at a time, like a thought for the day.

  3. Thank you Resa and Liz for this beautiful post. Liz, these sculptures are fascinating, I so love them all. Congratulations on your book of Haiku. I’m love the art of exotic and delicate poetry and your book is so lovely, I’m a collector of Haiku poetry books and look forward to adding yours to my collection. Thank you both for sharing this with us. Your background is so impressive, I’m not at all surprised at your tremendous success( that goes for both of you!).
    xoxoxo

    2. Holly,

      I adore the sculptures….. well pics of them anyway.

      It’s been fun hosting Liz here, on the final stop of the tour.

      I did read the Haiku, but I want to read them again, one a day. They really should be read as a thought for the day. Well, for me anyway.

      I wanted to spend more time here today, but now it’s catch up. We have a plumbing coup over here. There’s a plumber on his way. I’ve been toting buckets of water from the bath to the kitchen for 2 weeks.

      Anyway, all the hardware is purchased, and now the fix. YAY!!!

      Thanks for popping by!

      xoxo🐭🐭xoxo

      1. Oh no, not plumbing issues! Good luck with that.
        Do you remember the Japanese blogger Ashi Akira? I credit him with my love for the haiku poem. I have a collection and plan to add Liz’s book to it.
        I leave a few on my coffee table. I agree, a haiku a day. It takes a special gift to create this minimal poetry and Liz is extremely gifted.
        Thinking of you and your plumbing issues!
        xoxoxo🐭🐭xoxoxo

        1. 10:30-just finished dinner. The plumber is gone.
          The plumbing is fixed!!!
          I don;’t have to carry buckets from the tub to the kitchen anymore.
          Yahoo!
          We are so fortunate to have running water.

          Also, Janis was still set up while he was here during magic hour. I took another 4 dozen shots. The lighting was so good!

          Will get pics to you asap!
          xoxoxo🐭🐭xoxoxo

            1. Finding a plumber was the issue.
              Ours retired, and all his recommendations were retired.
              Oh well, done! And we have a new young guy. Yay!
              Hmm, think I’ll go look at pics!
              xoxoxoxo

    2. Hello Dan,

      Yes, the book is enjoyable. Still, I want to return and read 1 a day, like a thought for the day.

      It’s been fun hosting Liz. I’ve been to many of the tour stops, (not all) and she has made it a very interesting happening.

      Have a great weekend!

    2. You’re right Frank. I’ve only ever been to 1 sculpture park, and that was in Vancouver.

      Of course many parks have A …one… sculpture in them.

      It’s a gas hosting Liz on her book tour.

        1. Wow, thanks for the link, Frank!
          It’s lovely. Do you ever go for walks there?

          I did find 1 small sculpture garden (driving distance) in Toronto, and it is very small. There is another I can walk to, but it only features 1 artist, 1 sculpture at a time.

    2. Hello John!
      Yes, it’s been a most creative tour. I probably missed a few stops, but I made many.
      I’m thrilled to be part of it!
      🗿𝖃

    1. Yes, I adore the cows crossing. They must be Hansel and Gretel cows. They left a trail of …stuff.. to follow back.
      I love it when farm animals are natural, and not caged in factory farms.

      I liked the music, a lot! xx

    1. You are so very welcome, Liz! It’s a pleasure.

      Do come back later! I’m sure there will be more comments and likes.

      Also, thank you for sending me art! It means a lot to me.

      Cheers to you!

  12. I loved this collaborative post and all the images. Thanks to you both for the exploration of some of Stromeyer’s work. How cool that Liz was there when he was starting out. This book was a pure pleasure to read, and I’m happy to add my recommendation. Hugs to you both.

    1. Thank you, Diana!
      Yes, the Haiku are simple pleasures, so the book is aptly named.
      I will be rereading 1 haiku a day, sort of like a thought for the day.
      Love the sculptures. Liz picked the perfect images for an art blog.
      Yahoo!

    1. Thank you, Gi!

      I’m thrilled that Liz sent in the pics of the sculptures.

      They are a perfect compliment to her Haiku, and my blog is very happy.

      xoxoxo (kittens?)

      1. No kittens yet. She’s been hanging out in the yard for a couple days. Eating enough for ten kittens and just laying around. She lays on the grass, then under the picnic table, now she’s leaning against the doors. 🙂

  15. D.L. Finn, Author's avatar D.L. Finn, Author

    Fantastic post! I loved all the art and the video. This is a collection I throughly enjoyed. Thanks for hosting, Resa 🙂

    1. My pleasure to host, Denise!
      Thank you back to you, for hosting too!
      I’m thrilled to see all these sculptures.
      The art is a perfect compliment to Liz’s Haiku.
      ☆✦-∞-♡-∞-✦☆

  16. Hi Resa, thank you for showcasing Liz’ book here. I enjoyed it very much. It is amazing what a big impression an artwork can have on you. When I was three years old, my mother took me to the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria to see the sculptures of the Great Trek leaders and the ox wagon display. Some of the sculptures scared the life out of me and many years later I wrote A Ghost and His Gold.

    2. Robbie!

      I’m way behind here. The good news is the plumber, who has been here most of the day, is almost finished.

      It’s been a water insanity fantasy for days.

      It was my pleasure hosting Liz and her book.

      The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, sculptures and the ox wagon display actually sound scary. I say that because I have read AG&HG. I can see that it stayed with you.

      Art can be powerful, all of the arts. Hugs!

  18. I enjoyed this interview very much, Liz and Resa. David Stromeyer’s large-scale sculptures are impressive. What a treat to walk around the 45 acres of land to admire the sculptures! I’ve seen modern, abstract sculptures displayed here and there, but nothing like this extraordinary display.

    Congratulations again on your new release of Simple Pleasure and your successful blog tour, Liz! Thank you for hosting, Resa.

    2. Hello Miriam,

      The sculptures are fabulous, and I am honoured to share them with Liz’s book.

      I’ve actually never seen something like this 45 acres of art. It’s a beautiful happening.

      Thank you so much for stopping by to share this time, leave a lovely comment and congratulate Liz on her new book!

  19. A wonderful share. Lovely innovative approach to this wonderful book tour a blending of creative voices in sculpture and poetry. Congratulations Liz and thank you Resa for this beautiful presentation.

    I have read Liz’s book, Simple Pleasures and gave it five stars!. It was a delight to read her well presented poems. I highly recommend it.

    2. You are so welcome, Suzette!
      It was my pleasure to host Liz’s book tour.
      It is so cool that she sent me the sculpture pics for the post.
      She knows what an art glutton I am, I thank her!
      Happy to hear that you have read the book, too.
      Nice to meet you!

  20. Lovely pieces of haiku – they do have a symmetry with the sculpture. I love the title of Liz’s book and it’s cover. A feel good; feel good. I will check it out!

  23. An artist who lives in a dilapidated barn is a true artist. Thanks for this very different view of Liz’s “Simple Treasures” that reaches beyond nature with modernistic art and well chosen haiku selections, Resa. 🙂

    1. You are welcome, DT!
      I’m a fan of Liz. I have read several articles she has written and they are all excellent.
      One that remains strong in memory was about morphine addiction at circa 1900. (a bit fuzzy on the date)
      I am honoured to share her work in this post.

  25. What Can I say… Except to repeat the last Sculpture’s word… JOY pure Joy… Lovely share Resa, and thank you Elizabeth for those amazing pictures and little video clip… And yes, everything should stop for milking cows LOL…

    I wish you every success with your book Elizabeth and thank you Resa for sharing those ‘Simple Pleasures’ with all of us..
    Much love to you both and have a wonderful weekend ❤ xx 💖🙏

    1. JOY… that is 100% my fave sculpture of this collection that Liz sent.

      I loved seeing the cows walking in the country. As a vegetarian, it is heartening to know there is still livestock not in factory farm settings.

      Sue, thank you for stopping by, reading and for your lovely comment! ❤ xx 💖🙏

  26. Hello and thanks for a great article and pictures. The sculptures shown reminded me of works by British sculptors Henry Moore and Antony Gormley – and the fact I have been lucky enough to have viewed a few of them in person. Thanks again for sharing these works and good luck with your book.

    1. Thanks Tyeth!
      Doing this post with Liz for her book tour has been a terrific experience.

      Henry Moore’s work is wonderful.
      Our Art Gallery of Ontario has the largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures in the world.
      Now that you’ve reminded me, I shall go there soon. It’s been years.

      1. I saw some of Moore’s works as a kid and it fascinated me. My old childhood home had a fabulously kept garden created by the previous owners and it had some massive boulders in it (one piece was volcanic rock). Anyway these rocks were natural blocks and one day I was on a trip and I saw the Moore sculptures and compared them to the rocks in my garden and was amazed at the sculptures’ forms. I had no clue how he did it.
        I hope you enjoy revisiting his works.

  27. I think “Lost in the Roundabout” is my favorite, both for its title and its spiraling form. I really like outdoor art, and this looks like a wonderful place to visit and contemplate form. Thanks Liz and Resa! (K)

    1. You are welcome, Kerfe!
      I like “Lost in the Roundabout” a lot, for the same reasons.
      The Florida Vacation ‘s colour is appealing.
      In the end, I believe JOY is my fave.

      It was fun doing this post, for Liz’s excellent book.

  29. I love reading Simple Pleasures, Resa. Your post captures that authentic feeling of being in sync with ourselves, which is embedded in Liz’s Simple Pleasures. Sending many hugs!

    1. Hugs back!
      Yes, “Simple Pleasures” is a wonderful book of Haiku. It’s a joy hosting Liz and her book.

      I found another simple pleasure… running water.
      Rebecca, we have been in a plumbing siege in our home for 3 weeks. It wasn’t a flood emergency. It did however require us to shut off certain waters.
      I carried buckets of water for 3 weeks.
      It took extra time, energy and made me realize how much water we use for dishes, food prep, hygiene, etc.
      Mostly, I realized how hard life must be for those who don’t have running water, and have to tote water from an outside source.
      Anyway, fixed now, finally.
      So happy to see you!

      1. Oh my goodness, Resa!!! I can only imagine how difficult it was to tote the water for three whole weeks. Each time I turn on the tap, I am reminded of the progress that has been made over the years. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us. Sending many hugs!

        1. Rebecca, I have never been so grateful for running water. My heart goes out to the people who have to tote water from a water source in a village.

          Hugs!

  30. Your collection of sculptures certainly fits the mood and content of Resa’s blog. Her costumes are jaw-dropping.

    Congratulations to you, Liz, for sustaining interest for more seventeen blog stops, if I counted correctly. 😀

  32. Hello Resa! Happy Saturday, my friend, hope it’s sunny where you are!!

    Ahhh, Haiku + Sculptures, what a fantastic combination! Love Liz’s Haiku and the sculptures! I’ve never been to Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosburg but my in-laws live near Vermont so I’ll be sure to visit next time, cheers!

    1. It’s so cool that you’ll be able to visit Cold Hollow Sculpture Park one day.

      Okay, I watched your short. Please let me know if you change the PW, as I intend to watch it again.
      It’s very good, and I can see it expanded as the core theme of a movie.

      Let me watch it again… maybe twice, and I’ll send you honest thoughts, mostly about wardrobe…Ha!
      Kidding.
      I actually do need to watch it again. There’s more to it than 1 quick watch reveals . For 20 minutes you wove a lot of depth.
      Yahoo!

      1. Awww! I’m so thrilled you’ve seen the short and wants to rewatch it!! No I won’t be changing the PW, ahah… I so look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!

        🤗 🧡😘

    1. Liz did most of the work. Her blog tour was quite entertaining, as she gave each person different images to feature.
      I got the art.
      Yay!!!!
      Hugs! ❦🌹💓xo

Comments are closed.