Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Words for Wednesday

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Computer issues led her to bow out for a while.  The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. 

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, which includes cheering on the other participants.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
 
This month the prompts will be posted here but provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton.  The prompts will include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Bill. .

This week's prompts are:


  1. Giraffe
  2. Puddle
  3. Thorny
  4. Evergreen
  5. Distant
  6. Tubular

And/or


  1. Torrent
  2. Cab
  3. Aspidistra
  4. Faucet
  5. Teddies
  6. Carbuncle
Have fun.
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80 comments:

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh6 December 2017 at 05:45

    The giraffe munched on the thorny evergreen tree and was startled by the distant sound of tubular bells. So startled, he left a puddle.
    Not my best, but hey!

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  2. Barbara6 December 2017 at 06:30

    The previous comment made me smile!

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  3. 21 Wits6 December 2017 at 07:00

    Here's my offering.
    Nobody warned me about uninvited carbuncles attacking or life's many puddles in my distant future. Ironically, this wasn't the morning to be caught in ones teddies still toting my aspidistra underarm after landing splat against a thorny evergreen (if only I had the neck of a giraffe or at least it were more tubular) I'd see more during life's most torrent situations like this constant running faucet of woes, day after day. Quick, somebody call me a cab! I used all 12 words! Thanks for such a delightful list.

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  4. Hilary Melton-Butcher6 December 2017 at 07:19

    The gangly giraffe ... slowly and successfully lowered its upper body and tongue down towards the puddle - spreading its legs to get lower ... to have that much needed drink.

    I watched from my distant vantage point hidden by the thorny bush ... evergreen now from the recent rains.

    But - a big but - that tubular satellite pole looks completely out of place in the African veld ... that giraffe however blends right in ...
    ***
    You have two already great use of the given words - cheers to you EC - Hilary

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 08:23

      Hilary Melton-Butcher: Love it. And can just see the giraffe lowering itself to reach the puddle. And mourn the invasion of satellite poles everywhere.

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    2. Susan Flett Swiderski7 December 2017 at 06:36

      Way to go, Hilary! Nice writing.

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    3. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:02

      wonderfully done!

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    4. Sandra Cox8 December 2017 at 05:46

      As always, nice word usage, Hilary:)

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  5. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 08:20

    Their feud started decades ago, back in the distant past. It was such a little thing. Jean had taken a cab into town to pick up the aspidistra for her mother's birthday, leaving the boys at home alone. David and Simon were told to share the pie. David cut the pie, and took his piece.
    And then the torrent of abuse started.
    ' You are a giraffe. A long legged, ugly giraffe who lives on thorny evergreen plants and has no friends. Not even your teddies like you.'

    'A giraffe is prettier than you. Much prettier. You are nothing more than a pus-filled carbuncle.' And with that, Simon marched into David's bedroom, picked up his treasured Tubular Bells album and smashed it. ' Turn the faucet on now and cry a puddle. Go on, I dare you'

    (If only they had followed the rule. One cuts, the other chooses...)

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    1. Susan Flett Swiderski7 December 2017 at 06:37

      HA! Sounds like the kind of shenanigans brothers can get into. The should have followed the rule!

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    2. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:03

      oh! wait until mother gets home!

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    3. Sandra Cox8 December 2017 at 05:52

      Wow, those little boys got down to it.
      As always, wondrous wordsmithing, EC.

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    4. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 08:12

      Oh dear leaving boys at home alone can always spell trouble

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    5. Magic Love Crow8 December 2017 at 11:41

      Great read! Very descriptive! Loved it! I love giraffes! LOL!

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  6. River6 December 2017 at 08:49

    All of these have put a smile on my face. I'll come up with something by Friday I'm sure. Right now, I'm off to dead-head a zillion roses and sweep up leaves and a carpet of oleander flowers. It's green waste bin week, and these are all things that Pat used to do.

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 09:57

      River: Don't do too much. I am, as always, looking forward to your creation.

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  7. Linda Starr6 December 2017 at 08:59

    The giraffe was thankful he'd left the hungry lions in the distance. He was headed to his favorite food source. He stepped over a puddle of mud to reach the savory evergreen leaves and sweet tubular flowers among the thorny stems.

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 09:57

      Linda Starr: I am also thankful that the giraffe escaped the lions. Nice one.

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    2. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:04

      a happy giraffe is the best!

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 08:11

      yes it was good that the Giraffes only preditories were in the distance and not near them.

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  8. Susan Kane6 December 2017 at 10:26

    After spending a week in her uncle's cab, Abigal ran through a full faucet-like torrent into her aunt's house. She crawled beneath a withered apidistera to examine the carbuncles covering her body. Her new teddies would not leave the drawer this Christmas.

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 11:28

      Susan Kane: Welcome back to Words for Wednesday. Love your use of Margaret et al's prompts. Can I tempt you into providing the prompts for April of next year?

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    2. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:05

      I'm in pain just thinking of her agony!

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 08:08

      I see she has more than 1 CARBUNCLE. How terrible

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  9. Margaret D6 December 2017 at 12:29

    Interesting stories :) everyone does do a wonderful job with words.

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 14:13

      Margaret-whiteangel: As you did, when you joined us last week.

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  10. RO6 December 2017 at 12:34

    It's always so impressive to see the stories that people can create with these words every week. Hugs...RO

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    1. Elephant's Child6 December 2017 at 14:14

      RO: I am always blown away by the different directions the same prompts take us.

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  11. Natalie Aguirre6 December 2017 at 22:44

    Like Hilary's and Alex's attempts at using these words. Sorry, but I don't do well with prompts like that unless I think about it for awhile.

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    1. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 06:25

      Natalie Aguirre: Not a problem. And I liked Hilary's and Alex's use of the prompts too. A lot.

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    2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 08:04

      We do not mind if u take time to think about the prompts as you might come up with a brillaint story then

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  12. Lee6 December 2017 at 23:37

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Lee6 December 2017 at 23:40

      I've only just found the words! It's been a busy day.

      "Feeling not unlike a GIRAFFE, and probably looking as awkward, she stretched her neck over the THORNY EVERGREEN hedge. All she could see was the CAB of the truck across in the DISTANT field.

      As she’d raced across the wide verandah she’d knocked over the potted ASPIDISTRA, accidentally trampling on its TUBULAR flowers. She'd let out a TORRENT of unladylike words, but there was no time to be bothered about the fallen plantet. She'd take care of it later.

      The sun, like a giant red CARBUNCLE bore into her back as she sped across the yard, narrowly missing the muddy PUDDLE, a reminder of the late morning storm.

      Time was of the essence. She had to reach the dam and turn on the FAUCET before TEDDIE'S truck caught fire.

      She prayed he’d managed to drag himself away from the crashed vehicle."

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    2. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 06:26

      Lee: I hope Teddie is safe too. An excellent and very different take on the prompt.

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    3. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:07

      very suspenseful!

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    4. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 08:00

      Quite an exciting story

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    5. Sandra Cox10 December 2017 at 02:30

      Excellent, Lee. Wonderful word usage.

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  13. only slightly confused7 December 2017 at 01:16

    Wow...talk about finishing off the week with a bang. That is some collection of words. You have out done yourself.

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    1. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 06:26

      only slightly confused: Not me, but Margaret and her friends.

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    2. only slightly confused7 December 2017 at 07:39

      So many great takes on rhe words this week....mine is finally up.

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  14. Sandra Cox7 December 2017 at 02:36



    The GIRAFFE raised his head to look at the DISTANT EVERGREEN. In the process, his wide hoof plopped dead center in the muddy PUDDLE. He gave it an absent shake, his mind on the TUBULAR, THORNY treat.

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    1. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 06:27

      Sandra Cox: Love it. And I am often absent minded too.

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    2. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:15

      I love to splash in mud puddles. Perhaps it was a deliberate plop?

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 07:59

      Short but sweet

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  15. Anonymous7 December 2017 at 09:07

    The Giraffe stepped in the puddle and was so surprised by the cold water he backed himself into a thorny bush. After bounding out into the meadow he discovered an evergreen just waiting to snacked upon. As he delighted on the treat he thought of home, so distant...and no longer lush with greenery. He hoped his friends had found the tubular roots and vegetables he and his mamma had found when his daddy led them away from their home so long ago.


    Elsie

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    1. Cindi7 December 2017 at 13:17

      at least he has found joy in his new home with lots of greens to eat!

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    2. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 14:49

      Elsie Amata: This is simultaneously sad and lovely. I hope his friends are safe, but love he has found joy. And hope the green returns to his faraway home.

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 07:58

      Although sadness n this story also joy

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  16. Cindi7 December 2017 at 11:27

    here is mine: When Tears Fall Like Rain

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    1. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 14:55

      Cindi Summerlin: I have been, I have applauded.

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  17. klahanie7 December 2017 at 12:13

    Hi Sue,

    Superb responses to the Wednesday words. I wish I had the energy to formulate something. I can barely rope, sorry, string a sentence together.

    All the best to you and to all.

    Gary

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    1. Elephant's Child7 December 2017 at 14:56

      klahanie: Dear Gary it is lovely to see you. I hope that life is finally treating you a little more kindly. Indeed I hope life is treating you a LOT more kindly.

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    2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 07:56

      Sorry you are not up topar at present however I hope you will soon be able to join in the fun and in the meantimme enjoy the stories that others have written

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  18. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 06:38

    This is my first story with the first words and hopefully I will get time to make a another with the second lot of words.

    These days Gertrude and I stay close by one another as we are now getting on in years. We have now been together for 18 years and we have had 7 baby Giraffes in al those years. Recently we had a THORNY problem to come to terms with and that was that Gertrude thought her Giraffe bearing years were over. In the end, I have to acknowledge that is the DISTANT past we were a lot younger and could cope better than now we are in old age and I agreed with her.

    However, when I look at Gertude, I still see the lovey young GIRAFFE I fell in love with and often when we come across a large PUDDLE after the rains have been we just stand and star into it still gazing at each other. I have been very fortunate to have found such a wonderful Giraffe to stpend my life with. Gertrude just loves the rather small TUBULAR yellow flowers that are borne on simple or branched leafless stems, and when they appear, I love to be able to find these for her. Normally we are contented with the spiked Acacia trees although my favouries food are found at the top of EVERGREEN plants.

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    1. Elephant's Child8 December 2017 at 08:24

      Margaret Adamson: This is lovely. A love story with giraffes.

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  19. Dee8 December 2017 at 06:46

    Dear EC, today and this week is for me--as it must be for most of those of us getting ready for the holidays--a busy time and so I'm not going to write about one of my most favorite animals--giraffes. Now will I write about the puddles of water left by the recent rain or the thorny bushes that right now a young man is blowing leaves from as he gets my yard ready for the winter snows. My yard has shrubs, not evergreen trees. In far distant Minnesota, where I lived for 38 years, I saw them laden with snow in my neighbor's yard.

    The thing is that time, which seems tubular to me today--that is I'm walking through it like a tunnel and seeing one thing after another that needs to be done--well, that tubular time calls me to wrap gifts and bake biscotti and write a Christmas letter and put up a tree and so, you see, I just have no time to use those six words in a story! Ha! Peace.

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    1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 07:55

      Wel you could have fooled me and I love the use of the words in this story about telling us you were not going to use the words. Tbis sounds very Irish but then I am Irish so I suppose that is OK!

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    2. Elephant's Child8 December 2017 at 08:25

      Dee: Are you Irish or normal? Love your 'non' use of the words.

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    3. Sandra Cox10 December 2017 at 02:28

      This was so much fun, Dee.
      Great job!

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    4. Dee12 December 2017 at 05:00

      Dear Margaret and ED, according to Ancestry. com's spit test!!! I am 67% Irish! I got the blarney from both sides of the family. Peace.

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  20. Margaret Birding For Pleasure8 December 2017 at 07:45

    OK I did get round to writing my second story using the 2nd words and here it is.

    Two TEDDIES, Henry and Henrietta who were already celebrities in their own right as they had featured in several block busting films to date but they had always wanted to visit the magical castle in Vienna. So when they heard of a competition with the prize of spending a weekend at this castle, they jumped at the chance. Well, luck was on their side as they won the competition however on their way up to collect their prize Henry fell over an ASPIDISTRA plant , the result leaving his face embarrassingly covered in soil but one of the organisers quickly can to his rescue and turned on a FAUCET with a TORRENT of warm water so he could get cleaned up before excepting their prize.

    They were to be taken in a CAB in the weeks time, all the arrangement were in place and they were so excited at the prospect of finally having their dream come true.

    The appointed day arrived and suddenly when they saw this gorgeous castle of massive gold turrets of diamond and gates of jacinth, in short so marvellous is its structure that the materials of which it was built with was nothing less incredible. The use of diamond, CARBUNCLE, ruby, pearl, gold and emerald stones in massive numbers and the workmanship was amazing and they were totally overwhelmed.

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    1. Elephant's Child8 December 2017 at 08:26

      Margaret Adamson: Love it. And did wonder whether anyone would use the biblical carbuncle. Much nicer than the one most of us are more familiar with.

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    2. Sandra Cox10 December 2017 at 02:27

      I'd love to see that castle.

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  21. Magic Love Crow8 December 2017 at 11:41

    Excellent as always! Loved reading everyone's comments!!

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    1. Elephant's Child8 December 2017 at 13:25

      Magic Love Crow: There are some really talented people about aren't there?

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  22. Barbara9 December 2017 at 05:48

    Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my advent posts, I really appreciate it.

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