Daily photographic musings
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
Life In Photos #10
Motivation You Can See
A Book Review
I am an avid reader of Gail Boenning’s work. I miss her daily missives on Medium (I am no longer active there, and I believe she stopped posting there shortly before I did), but I can keep up with her through her books. And I appreciate this more than I thought I would.
With everything taking place in our world, a bit of light-hearted reading was what I needed.
What Gail has given the reader in Girl & Dog Alone Together is a work of original paintings and motivational tidbits that will settle in your mind gently and peacefully, too.
Here is my review on Amazon and Goodreads:
Bite-sized Motivational Tidbits That Make You Smile
Gail Boenning has a knack for churning out work that encourages various age groups. Girl & Dog Alone Together is another example of her versatility.
I thoroughly enjoyed every motivational tidbit shared between the girl and her dog, and how they seemed to face all odds in adult-like ways.
Girl’s approach to life was to lean on Dog. Dog’s approach to life was to take care of Girl. They make the perfect team.
From playing in the park to taking piano lessons, sinking the perfect basketball shot, and learning in school, the advice given is notably intelligent while being rhythmic as well. These life lessons will be easier to remember and digest for a younger audience.
The paintings bring a full view into play for the reader also. I found myself smiling from ear to ear as I read each page, knowing that much of the advice given, I’ve shared with my siblings, nieces, and nephews, and with myself whenever necessary, too.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted reminder about life’s small obstacles or you need a book that’s age appropriate for a few children in your life, I recommend Girl & Dog Alone Together.
I enjoyed this book a lot more when I read it because I actually needed a pick-me-up, and this was it.
Maybe you’re in search of one, too?
*Previous book reviews for Gail Boenning: Flit Flutter Float, and POISE.
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
Doing Nothing Is Hard Work
A Senryu
long day of nothing
bathing in humidity
waiting for Mommy
We called him Tortoise because he taught us. —Lewis Carroll
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
How Do You Talk To God?
A Book Review
You know the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? So, I’m judging, but positively, though. When We Walk To God: Prayers & Poems for Black Women by Sharifa Stevens is the book I didn’t know I needed. The cover is a perfect gateway to phenomenal content.
This is a necessary book for Women of Color. How we talk to God is, as I’ve witnessed and experienced, extremely different from how other women talk to God. I connected with this book in a way that has brought me unmitigated peace and comfort, and I’m happy to express that.
Here’s the review I shared on Amazon and Goodreads:
Talking To God Is a Form of Art
At least, this is what I gleaned from the prayers, poems, and notes shared by the indomitable Sharifa Stevens.
There are books that sneak in when you weren’t expecting to be fulfilled or touched by spirits and there are books that pull you from dark places and remind you of your worth… “When We Talk To God: Prayers & Poems for Black Women” encompasses both of those descriptions.
There are pieces within this offering that read like sermons. Some feel like testimonies. And others swim across the page, reaching out at just the right moment to grab ahold of the reader and remind them that they are and will forever be God’s child.
I am a sinner, yet I love. I am a sinner, yet I feel. I am a sinner, yet I have solid friendships. I am a sinner… I am a sinner… I am a sinner… Yet, God will never stop loving me.
In the midst of the turmoil and chaos of this wretched world, I cracked open the spine of this gift and found solace.
“When We Talk To God…” offers hope, reflection, strength, encouragement, and the reality that I am not alone on this tedious journey of life, and I am blessed to be able to say that I read it.
And I will, without a doubt, read it again and again, and maybe a few more times for sustainability.
There’s a prayer in this book for you, Black woman. There’s a prayer in this book for you.
When I find a book that makes me feel good about myself and less alone, as well as hone in on biblical scriptures that can motivate, encourage, strengthen, and engage my mind, I am completely satisfied.
And, I am.
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
Gianna, the Winter Storm Who’s Leaving Her Mark
“Oh Lord… Purify me.”
I hadn’t played in the snow in about four or maybe five years. When Jernee was alive, she loved the snow. She would stick her tongue out and call flakes to her mouth. It made her happy to be in it.
Yesterday, I mourned her some more, but it was the cleansing and renewal that I needed.
We ended up getting 11 inches of snow here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with Gianna. Our last snowfall that accumulated over 10 inches was December 09, 2018, Diego. He dumped 14 inches of snow in my area alone.
*All photos were taken by Tremaine L. Loadholt, on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
Mythomania & What Was I Thinking?
Two poems shared via Substack notes
Mythomania
Back when I didn’t
overthink things, I
loved a woman who
lied so much,
mythomania could
have been her
middle name.
We were never going
to make it.
I made up stories
for entertainment;
she made up stories
to cover her ass.
Eventually, one of us
was going to break,
and one of us did.
What Was I Thinking?
I must’ve known the
world would be a
battlefield.
At a few hours old,
I’d already prepared
myself to fight;
hands squared into
position of
protection.
What was I thinking
as I dreamed
alongside a mother
who pushed me into
being?
Could I have been
dreaming of ways to
right wrongs without
a working definition
of them?
Did I know about all
of the nastiness
dripping from the
hearts of men, and
how that coldness
would shift God’s
creations—morph
them into living
devils?
Many ages passed
me by, and now, I
find myself standing
atiptoe, waiting for
change that doesn’t
look like it’s going
to come.
Scattered Words: Poems for Jernee Timid Loadholt is available now! Have you gotten your copy? Hardcover|eBook
A Cornered Gurl 
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