Author Archives: Joanne Toft

About Joanne Toft

I am a retired Minneapolis Public School teacher. I walk, garden, help in schools and write. Life is good!

It’s Monday! What are you reading? a new author

Posted on May 29, 2017

It may just be that I am an Iowa girl who is living in Minnesota. Maybe it has to do with the love a fields of flowers and long forgotten gardens and homes. Or it is just the idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Beginners Mind

Posted on May 23, 2017

The phrase Beginners Mind for me comes out of the Buddhist teaching. It is that place where you allow yourself to be open to being a learner. It is the time when you ask questions and allow for the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior change, gardens, Reflection | Tagged | 6 Comments

It’s Monday! What are you reading? a mystery and Shakespeare

Posted on May 22, 2017

A few weekends ago I was chatting with my niece who is homeschooling her two kids. The older one is an avid reader of  non fiction and at times you feel you are talking to a small adult. These two … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | Tagged | Leave a comment

What season is it? oh yeah spring in Minnesota

Posted on May 16, 2017

My laundry basket is full to over flowing and I seem to be doing laundry every other day. What does that have to do with the seasons? Well in Minnesota we don’t just spring into Spring we flip back and … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, Reflection | Tagged | 3 Comments

Slice of Life – Meditation

Posted on May 9, 2017

On a regular work day my mind is often spinning. There are so many thoughts running around in circles. There are the thoughts about work – are the computers working, what kid has not complete the test, how are they … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Slice of Life – Getting muddy

Posted on May 3, 2017

Waking early and staring out the bedroom window as the sun rises gives me a garden with shades of green and rich black soil moist from the spring rain. The weeds and plants appear different only due to color tones of … Continue reading →

Posted in gardens, nature, Reflection | Leave a comment

It’s Monday! What are you reading? middle grade fiction

Posted on May 1, 2017

Two girls, a little dog and ashes – all traveling in the middle of the night create a story that is hard to let go of. Sarah Dooley’s new book Ashes to Asheville pulled me in to the lives of … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review | 2 Comments