Stories, poetry, and watercolor paintings by Jourdan Zephyr, a small reprieve from the draining hustle of the world.https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/rainbow-colored-memories/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/rainbow-colored-memories/A series of List Poems Orange A Halloween pumpkin. Clouds at sunset. A glass of carrot juice. Falling autumn leaves. A dry harvest field. Construction…Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/magic-and-moons-and-halloween-frights/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/magic-and-moons-and-halloween-frights/Halloween, a moment to be someone else A revelrous night of indulgence And laughter Of sticky fingers, silly faces, Fantastical frights. Like everything else we…Fri, 29 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/midnight-drive-watercolor/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/midnight-drive-watercolor/It’s been a while since I shared a watercolor painting so I thought I would share three! This first one is a painting I did…Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/city-in-winter/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/city-in-winter/City in winter Snow like a powdery coat Cloaking everything Metallic green-blue, Wing beats faster than heartbeats, Dances with flowers. Bright orange fur glints Against…Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/jellyfish/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/jellyfish/These two pieces of writing were an experiment to push myself to write about the same subject in two different styles. I put them in…Thu, 23 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-key-to-memories/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-key-to-memories/I hold inside my palm an old bronze key Covered in dust. I am sitting inside my grandmother’s house The week after she died. I am missing her. I do not know what this key opens, I have never seen it before….Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/the-end-of-summer/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/the-end-of-summer/I have been inspired for a while to mix my watercolor paintings with my writing. So I gave it a try! I’m someone who looks…Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/picture-frame-rhyming-poems/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/picture-frame-rhyming-poems/This week I worked with students on rhyming poems. Inspired by Shel Silverstein these silly poems should hopefully bring a little smile to your face!Fri, 27 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/whippoorwill-station/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/whippoorwill-station/Today I had something extra fun to share. I am writing a story with another one of my students. We both started with the same…Tue, 17 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/blueridge-mountains-watercolor-wednesday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/blueridge-mountains-watercolor-wednesday/I know, it’s not Wednesday. I’m a little late in posting these even though I finished them on Tuesday night. Yesterday was a bit of…Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/borrowed-time-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/borrowed-time-microfiction-monday/May I have a glass to drink? I wait patiently with my warm cookie Licking chocolate off my fingertips Knowing nothing’s better with a cookie…Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/assorted-acrostic-poems-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/assorted-acrostic-poems-microfiction-monday/Happy August everyone! Today was my first day with a wonderful group of students that I get to teach creative writing for the month of…Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/homemade-postcards/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/homemade-postcards/I miss the days in school when you got to do art projects with glue and glitter and scissors and popsicles sticks and little macaroni…Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/fog-and-fairytales-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/fog-and-fairytales-microfiction-monday/Today I have two pieces of writing that I’m very excited to share for Microfiction Monday. The first is a Concrete or Shape Poem that…Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/oranges-and-smoke-full-story-friday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/oranges-and-smoke-full-story-friday/Every morning I check my navy blue sneakers for scorpions. I am afraid of being stung. When we got to camp on our first day,…Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-camp-microfiction/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-camp-microfiction/These small poems were written during the creative writing camp that I taught last week. The Haiku and the first acrostic poem were written collaboratively…Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/campfire-muffins-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/campfire-muffins-microfiction-monday/Every morning in the cabin, I check my shoes for scorpions because I am afraid of being stung. I don’t know it, but the little…Mon, 12 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/patreon-bookmarks-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/patreon-bookmarks-microfiction-monday/This Micro-fiction Monday we get to celebrate with a treasure trove of mixed media. I missed last Wednesday’s watercolor post because the project was a…Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/hidden-gems-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/hidden-gems-microfiction-monday/Today I thought I would share some long lost pieces of writing that I haven’t shared before. I spent a lot of today working on…Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/fresh-baked-watercolor-wednesday-on-a-thursday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/fresh-baked-watercolor-wednesday-on-a-thursday/This painting took a little longer than I originally planned so you’re getting this post a day late but it’s worth it I swear! See…Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/avian-poetry-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/avian-poetry-microfiction-monday/The bird themed poems this week were inspired by last Wednesday’s watercolor painting of feathers. The first is a Golden Shovel poem using lyrics from…Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/feathers-watercolor-wednesday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/feathers-watercolor-wednesday/This week’s watercolor was a fun exploration of watercolor blending with feathers. This is the first time I drew an outline with pencil before I…Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/mountains-and-fields-watercolor-wednesday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/watercolor/mountains-and-fields-watercolor-wednesday/Welcome to my first Watercolor Wednesday post! This is the second watercolor painting I have ever painted. I really enjoyed this three panel process. The…Wed, 26 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/mixed-poetry-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/mixed-poetry-microfiction-monday/Acrostic Poem An acrostic poem is where you use the first letter of every line to spell a word or phrase. In this example the…Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/name-poems-microfiction-monday/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/name-poems-microfiction-monday/Another Name for Love Jam fresh pressed from warm red raspberries Only just picked this morning Under the radiant August sunlight the  Rays warming your…Mon, 17 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/sentence-stretches/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/sentence-stretches/Sentence Stretches are an activity that I have been completing with students as a way to teach them how to write more descriptive sentences. When…Wed, 12 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/student-haiku-poems/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/student-haiku-poems/Haiku poems are one of my favorite ways to introduce students to poetry. They have a simple easy to understand pattern that kids seem to…Wed, 12 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-dabbling-in-poetry/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-dabbling-in-poetry/This Writing Lesson was originally exclusive to Patreon Supporters and was part of month theme: Unexpected Inspiration. This was the Week One Lesson. I’m going…Sat, 23 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-worksheet-the-senses/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-worksheet-the-senses/Writing Samples Ocean Vuong On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (Pages 79 – 81) Because I am your son, what I know of work I know…Sat, 23 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/all-the-kings-horses/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/all-the-kings-horses/Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together…Fri, 13 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-galaxy-kids/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-galaxy-kids/Chapter One – Amy I am bored. My mom says I can’t leave my room because I didn’t turn in my assignment on the…Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-worksheet-rhythm-and-pacing/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/writing-lesson-worksheet-rhythm-and-pacing/Writing Sample The Old Typewriter in the Basement by Brian Doyle (From One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder) Once again a student asks me how…Fri, 25 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/a-writing-announcement/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/a-writing-announcement/Hello Everyone, A few new things! First, I updated my website! It’s got a new URL, a fresh new coating of paint, and some updated…Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-galaxy-kids-chapters-1-2/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-galaxy-kids-chapters-1-2/Chapter One – Amy I am bored. My mom says I can’t leave my room because I didn’t turn in my assignment on the…Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/no-sailboat-no-problem/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/no-sailboat-no-problem/*Originally published in the September 2014 Freshwater News* It couldn’t have been a more perfect day on the Columbia River. The sun was shining and theWed, 25 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-plover-book-review/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-plover-book-review/5/5 Stars The Plover by Brian Doyle is a unique kind of book. If you liked Mink River, this book is even better. ReadingMon, 21 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/sunrise-phoenix/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/sunrise-phoenix/They say that phoenixes are born from the ashes of their own death. That they start anew from the remains of what once was, areFri, 10 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-last-goodbye/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/the-last-goodbye/Emily sat on the edge of the chair, picking at the frayed seams in the leather.  She was thinking about the lake house, with itsTue, 14 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/our-hearts-beat-like-thunder/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/our-hearts-beat-like-thunder/No one is here but me and the summer thunderstorm raging outside my bedroom window. I touch the silver cross resting against my chest. WhenFri, 18 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/jockeys/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/jockeys/Today is race day. The air is tense. You warm up your steed under the summer sun. Crisp, tight, controlled circles around the practice track.…Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/a-sailor-went-to-sea/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/a-sailor-went-to-sea/I’m sitting in a bar filled with an assortment of misfits. I am alone. I’m here because I have nowhere else to be. By thatThu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/acrylic-sunset-2/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/acrylic-sunset-2/During summer my favorite time of the day is when the sun is just slipping below the horizon and the sky is a deep royal…Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/bellybutton-lint/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/bellybutton-lint/I never before realized what a sad thing a bellybutton could be. What I mean by that is it is the one thing on the…Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/if-you-have-to-ask-youll-never-know/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/if-you-have-to-ask-youll-never-know/Lost was something she felt all the time. How do you know what that one choice was that snowballed you into this inevitable reality? ThisWed, 29 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/riding-into-the-rising-moon/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/riding-into-the-rising-moon/Thomas pushed aside the midnight blue curtains. He liked the curtains because he could  imagine he held a liquid sky between his fingers, rippling andWed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/theres-always-a-calm-before-a-storm/https://www.freshlybottledstories.com/writings/theres-always-a-calm-before-a-storm/The whorls in the wood of the dock felt good underneath Alexa’s tracing fingers. The warmth from the sun soaked planks was soothing against herSun, 05 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT