Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Words for Wednesday

The lovely Delores at Under the Porch Light has been running this meme for a considerable period of time, week after week.   Computer issues led her to bow out for a while and I took over.  When Delores' absence looked like being more permanent I begged and cajoled for other volunteers to share providing the prompts, and Words for Wednesday became a moveable feast.


Last month Jacqueline at Randomosity tested our mettle.  This month it is my turn.


Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image.   What we do with those prompts is up to us:  a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore...  We can use some or all of the prompts.


Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog.  I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.

This week I am starting with two images.  Photos from my garden which I tinkered with.



And now some words.


  1. grease
  2. ambivalent 
  3. fiendish  
  4. exquisite  
  5. terrific 
  6. evolution

And another set.

  1. tongue 
  2. adaptive  
  3. angriest  
  4. furry 
  5. bold  
  6. zombie
Have fun.
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83 comments:

  1. Granny Annie10 February 2016 at 06:54

    Those are such tempting words. Both sets. Wish I had time and can't wait to see what others do with their storytelling.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:10

      Grannie Annie: Thank you. Perhaps you will be able to join us next month.

      Delete
  2. The Cranky10 February 2016 at 07:07

    What interesting prompts! Hmmm...

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:11

      The Cranky: Perhaps you can work some of them into your own challenge...

      Delete
    2. The Cranky12 February 2016 at 01:07

      It's possible, or I could do this:

      Normally she was AMBIVALENT about the necessity of revenge, preferring to advocate for recompense, but her feelings underwent a decided EVOLUTION... trending toward the dark side... as the truly horrendous scale of the water crisis in Flint leaked out.
      Having gotten her hands on reports which proved the Governor of Michigan and his cohorts had known Flint's citizens were being poisoned with lead, she decided to GREASE the wheels of justice a bit and share them with reporters.

      So what if she wasn't personally affected? These people deserved both recompense and revenge for the FIENDISH misdeeds which had destroyed their lives and, in some cases, killed their children. She found it an EXQUISITE justice that they would be facing manslaughter charges for the wrong that they had done and absolutely TERRIFIC that she had helped, if only in a small way.

      Delete
    3. Elephant's Child12 February 2016 at 05:42

      The Cranky: How I wish you were writing fiction.

      Delete
    4. The Cranky12 February 2016 at 11:10

      As do I, ElChi, as do I.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous10 February 2016 at 08:10

    Enjoyed this thank you so much

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:11

      Martin Kloess: You know that I want you to join us don't you?

      Delete
  4. Merlesworld10 February 2016 at 08:15

    She was new to this zombie business, not been dead long.
    She didn't like the body much bits often fell off, the tongue mainly looking for it became a everyday activity .
    She was to be bold, adaptive and filled with fury but got angriest when the other zombies told her she wasn't doing right, didn't they realise she wanted to improve their image.
    Merle................

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    1. Lee10 February 2016 at 08:45

      I'm not going out alone tonight...I'm just not going out tonight! :)

      Good job, Merle. :)

      Delete
    2. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:12

      Merlesworld: I love it. Everything always has to have rules. And losing your tongue would be sooooo frustrating.

      Delete
    3. River10 February 2016 at 14:23

      Merle; this is fabulous! I like how you think. Having to find your tongue every day would be annoying.

      Delete
  5. Mason Canyon10 February 2016 at 08:29

    The images are definitely inspiring and the word prompts are interesting.

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  6. Linda Starr10 February 2016 at 08:29

    the first photo is exquisite. oops that's one of the words.

    She knew the squeaky wheel got the grease but she was ambivalent about promoting her art. She worked like a fiendish devil producing an exquisite evolution of work which her friends, patrons, and galleries said was terrific. Yet others, potential patrons, tongue in cheek, said her work was adaptive and the angriest they'd seen. They walked around in a bold stance with furry coats like a zombie to the slaughter of one they little understood or cared to.

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    1. Lee10 February 2016 at 08:44

      You used the words well to paint the picture, Linda. :)

      Delete
    2. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:13

      Linda Starr: Hiss and spit. The potential patrons were destructive. Which is so very wrong.

      Delete
    3. River10 February 2016 at 14:25

      Too many artists are ambivalent or too shy to promote themselves. Good story.

      Delete
  7. Lee10 February 2016 at 08:40

    Okay...here I go....

    "For the past few weeks she’d been getting around like a ZOMBIE, broken with periods of unbearable pain, mingled with uncontrollable frustration.

    Normally, she was clear-thinking and unwavering in her decisions, but for almost two months she’d been feeling AMBIVALENT towards everything; fluctuating from one thought to another; doubtful of her own abilities. A FIENDISH illness, like a gradual EVOLUTION had stealthily overwhelmed both her body and mind.

    Usually her alert, ADAPTIVE mind was malleable to whatever problem was placed before her; her lithe body was supple and pliable enabling her to escape from any unpleasant, threatening predicament. Now she was barely capable of getting out of the way of her own shadow.

    She had always been confident both her intelligence and her flexible body were capable of getting her out of all obstacles and complications they chose to throw at her. However, since she’d been struck down by the mysterious illness doubts had begun to set in. Those doubts grew stronger by the day as she grew weaker.

    Being so incapacitated her normally BOLD self would have felt at its ANGRIEST; but she didn’t have the strength to fight her debilitating fever.

    Never would she have bitten her TONGUE and allowed them to get away with the heinous things they were doing. But her mind was FURRY; her body heavy and sluggish.

    The once EXQUISITE, unconquerable person she’d been;the fearless warrior who never shied away from anyone or anything; the unyielding and unassailable combatant, who like a TERRIFIC thunder storm, moved like GREASE-lightning taking on all in her path had disappeared.

    Would that extraordinary, invincible individual return?

    Her mind sometimes felt like dandelion seeds, easy victims to be blown away at the whim of the slightest breeze. Other times it felt like a colourless kaleidoscope flashing annoying, endless strange black and white flowered images.

    With no one around her she could trust, she didn’t know how long she could continue on this way."



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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:15

      Lee: That is so very sad. And familiar. My mind (and body) are in a similar place at the moment.

      Delete
    2. River10 February 2016 at 14:27

      This is sad, Lee. What has happened? What fiendish illness can take over such a once-strong personality? I hope she recovers and soon.

      Delete
  8. mshatch10 February 2016 at 10:34

    The first photo looks like a kaleidoscope. The second looks like a pencil or charcoal sketch. Nice tinkering :)

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  9. Cloudia10 February 2016 at 10:40

    The word lists amuse me in themselves.

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  10. Ann ODyne10 February 2016 at 11:34

    oh the fun. I could play this if I had a longer attention span than a gnat.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:17

      Ann ODyne: Some of us (me) do quick and dirty and other people put considerable effort and expertise into the challenge. Gnats can play too.

      Delete
    2. River10 February 2016 at 14:29

      Memorise the words then let them fester until they spit out a story. Or even a paragraph.

      Delete
  11. donna baker10 February 2016 at 12:43

    Photos from your garden that you tinkered with? My mouth dropped open. Who are you? Must be someone famous as I can't imagine how you did that.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:18

      donna baker: Not famous at all. Not fifteen seconds of fame never mind fifteen minutes. It was a computer program and a few idle hours of play.

      Delete
  12. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 13:08

    My mind is both a treacherous and a dangerous place. Crowded, but ambivalent (on a rare good day) about the directions it will let me go.
    There is beauty there. Lots of it. Kaleidoscopes of colour and whimsy. If that side was given its head I could live in a terrific, exquisite and exciting world. I could be bold, take chances, and life would be an adventure.
    Then there is the other side. A side which focuses on detail, and denies colour. The zombie side. Meticulous. Boring. Grey. Grim. The nitpicking, pedantic side. The side which smears grease over new ideas, over vibrancy, over anything worth having...
    That side is strong. That side is fiendish and very, very successful. If the lighter side gives tongue to ideas which hint at furry, purry joy, at sunshine, at rainbows or at hope they are immediately stifled. Smothered in routine, in habit and in fear. Suffocated.
    We are told that our minds are adaptive, that they can learn and grow. I wish. I am angriest at the realisation that my mind is stagnant. There will be no evolution. Grey and gloomy triumphs. Again.

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    1. River10 February 2016 at 14:21

      Excellent look into your mind by the use of these words.
      Perhaps if you ate brains on toast (yuk) several times a week, the Zombie within would be sated and let the rainbows run free.

      Delete
    2. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 14:39

      River: Brains? Bleah. I think I need to do some reformatting of my thought processes.

      Delete
    3. Lee10 February 2016 at 14:51

      My mind is in stagnant mould today...it's been on strike for a while! Maybe I should try standing on my head to shake it out of its lethargy!

      Well done, EC. :)

      Delete
    4. River10 February 2016 at 15:27

      EC; delete, delete, delete, reboot!

      Delete
    5. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 16:02

      River: If only it was that simple.

      Delete
  13. River10 February 2016 at 14:31

    The first image, I thought you had photographed someone's eye and photoshopped the iris to look like a kaleidoscope. The second puts me in mind of adult colouring books which hold far too much detail for simple recreation therapy.
    Whose turn is it next month? I've lost track.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 14:39

      River: Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue next month. Published here.

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    2. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 14:41

      PS: The first one is a dandelion and some photographic fiddling...

      Delete
    3. Lee10 February 2016 at 14:52

      What has happened to Randomosity's blog, does anyone know?

      It's disappeared from the Universe....I hope she is okay.

      Delete
    4. River10 February 2016 at 15:26

      She has a new blog, the commenter way above you known as The Cranky is Jacqueline.

      Delete
    5. Lee10 February 2016 at 16:30

      Thank you for that info re Jacqueline, River. I appreciate it.

      Talking about minds...mine really hasn't been stagnant today...but it has been (and still is) busily working on something for a friend of mine...I've been online and on the phone none-stop - running around a bit like a headless chicken! I've been a bit inundated with information I've been seeking and researching for my friend - and for the life of me...and I don't mean to sound rude because that's not at all what I mean...for a moment or three I had a blank spot when it came to Jacqueline's name!!! So I do appreciate you jolting me back to the moment! :)

      Delete
  14. Margaret D10 February 2016 at 16:57

    Your second 'fiddle' is lovely and different.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 17:29

      Margaret-whiteangel: I actually prefer the first fiddle, but I am glad you liked the second. Cape daisies...

      Delete
  15. Chloe10 February 2016 at 19:41

    First image is so hypnotic. It fits a lot to evolution. Combination of colors leads to focus center and keeps attention for a long time.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 20:21

      Chloe: Welcome and thank you. The dandelion formed a mandala didn't it?

      Delete
  16. Bob Bushell10 February 2016 at 20:06

    I love the pictures.

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    1. Elephant's Child10 February 2016 at 20:22

      Bob Bushell: I love yours. Each and ever day. You are a plumage master.

      Delete
    2. Bob Bushell11 February 2016 at 09:09

      Oh................................

      Delete
  17. Hilary Melton-Butcher10 February 2016 at 21:09


    tongue adaptive angriest furry bold zombie

    Darwin's tongue, that early zoologist, was furry from long hours with no refreshment while he studied his worms and wormery; he felt he was adaptive and flexible ... yet society seemed to judge him 'thick' - he was bold with new thoughts ... if only he could see into the future ... he wouldn't have been so angry ... but zombies were all around him ... hiding in his worm-holes ... giving vent to keeping their hiding places secret from other scientists.

    Words for Wednesdays from EC asks of us to remember days gone by with tales of yore ...

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 06:39

      Hilary Melton-Butcher: Love it. And have a memoir written by one of Darwin's granddaughters. I suspect she would love it too.

      Delete
  18. Sonya Ann11 February 2016 at 02:35

    I love the first picture. And please don't post pictures of zombies, I don't do well with scary things. ;p

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    1. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 06:41

      Sonya Ann: There will be no zombie photos. My early morning self has some similarities but I won't capture that (or allow anyone else to).

      Delete
  19. Sandra Cox11 February 2016 at 07:12

    Oh my gosh, you could make a coloring book with pics like the second one.

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    1. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 07:26

      Sandra Cox: Feel free to print and colour. I suspect I would be 'outside the lines' more often than in.

      Delete
  20. Yolanda Renée11 February 2016 at 11:02

    Interesting looking pictures, and I agree with Sandra they would make great pics for the new coloring books. Wish I had time for them. I used to love them!
    I haven't participated in a word challenge in a long time. I'll have to think on these.

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    1. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 14:27

      Yolanda Renee: You are very busy at the moment, and about to get busier. If you do get the chance to play I will be thrilled - but will certainly understand if you can't.

      Delete
  21. A Cuban In London11 February 2016 at 11:05

    Those two images are psychedelia in its purest and most beautiful form. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  22. lotta joy11 February 2016 at 11:35

    I THINK I'M BACK...........

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  23. Lee11 February 2016 at 14:02

    What's going on!!!?? Now I can't get into Delores' site..."Under the Porch Light"! Can anyone enlighten me? Where had Delores disappeared to?

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    1. River11 February 2016 at 14:15

      Just checked and my screen says Not Found, Blog has been removed.
      Perhaps Delores is setting up a new site and hasn't told us yet?
      I hope she is okay.

      Delete
    2. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 14:31

      Lee and River: I will send her an email in a minute. I hope she is ok.

      Delete
    3. Lee11 February 2016 at 16:50

      Thanks EC and River. I hope she's okay, too.

      Delete
    4. Elephant's Child11 February 2016 at 18:03

      Lee: She says she is fine. No comment about the blog, but she says she is fine which is all that matters.

      Delete
    5. Lee11 February 2016 at 20:23

      That is true, River. Thank you. :)

      Delete
  24. River11 February 2016 at 14:09

    My story will appear on my site on Friday Feb 12th.

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  25. Sandra Cox12 February 2016 at 02:43

    She flicked her long pink tongue over her furry body. Adaptive to blending, she slunk behind the yellow-leafed shrubbery and cautiously watched the bold approach of the angriest zombie she’d ever seen.

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    1. Elephant's Child12 February 2016 at 05:43

      Sandra Cox: Love it. I have some images in my head...

      Delete
  26. Annie12 February 2016 at 12:54

    After seeing the amount of congealed grease on the plate the server placed before me, I became ambivalent about the rest of the meal. I felt an almost undeniable urge to excuse myself and run out of the building into the night. But minutes later, I realized the flavors and pairings with the wine were truly exquisite, and my dinner companions were terrific conversationalists. But the evolution of the dinner did not proceed as I expected, because some fiendish person had added a touch of poison to my dinner. I drew my last breath as my lifeless body slithered to the floor. My last thought was one of wonderment. Who had I pissed off?

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    1. Elephant's Child12 February 2016 at 13:41

      Annie: I hope you find out - and haunt them thoroughly. I am confident that you have the skills...

      Delete
  27. Susan Flett Swiderski13 February 2016 at 02:02

    Your photographs are exquisite!

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  28. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com13 February 2016 at 02:56

    Like the angriest of bold zombies, his furry tongue was adaptive enough to swallow crow, as the politician stepped down from the podium.

    Beautiful photo from your garden. I'm wondering what it is.

    Keep a smile, EC.

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    1. Elephant's Child13 February 2016 at 07:15

      Rawknrobyn: How I wish more of our politicians were recognised as zombies...
      The first photo is a dandelion, and the second Cape daisies.

      Delete
  29. Sandra Cox13 February 2016 at 06:19

    Happy Valentines Day, EC. Have a great weekend.

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  30. Jennifer Richardson13 February 2016 at 14:40

    You are so creative!
    I love your dandelion whimsy and the flower festival below:)
    And your list of words. I do love words:)
    Too little headspace to play but I love your process
    and practice. Inspired I am.
    Thank you,
    Jennifer

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    Replies
    1. Elephant's Child13 February 2016 at 17:28

      Jennifer Richardson: I know very few people who can make words dance and sing as you do. Someday I hope you will join us.

      Delete
  31. Susan 3 March 2016 at 06:33

    I have no idea how you "tinkered with" your photos but they are contest worthy. I'm enthralled!

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