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.
The prompts will be here this month.
This week's prompts are:
- opera
- recommend
- champagne
- excitement
- sunshine
- jam
And/or
- dimension
- raid
- weed
- admiration
- corner
- employ
Next month River will be hosting Words for Wednesday. I hope that you will drop in and see how she challenges us.
We have family arriving from overseas this afternoon. My attendance in the blogosphere is likely to be a bit hit and miss until after the weekend. I will read and revel in your work, but it may not be as prompt as I would like.
Have fun with your family.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: Thank you. Some of them I have never met in the flesh...
DeleteWow, I hope you had a great time with them.
DeleteEnjoy your time with the fam.
ReplyDeleteWe'll leave the light on for you.
Sandra Cox: Thank you. I might need that light to find my way home.
DeleteHi EC - the first lot ... but more importantly enjoy having your visitors - it'll be fun ... lots to catch up on ...
ReplyDeleteThe opera house gleamed in the sunlight … the yellow stone was warm … her excitement grew ... the afternoon awaited her – beautiful soaring arias … with a surprise to follow.
Her sister had recommended a champagne tea, with scones and jam on the lawns of the historic home. Summer was here for a while … it would be a wonderful present, which they’d all enjoy.
Cheers Hilary
That was lovely!
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I love this. I can just picture the scene.
DeleteSuch happy events!
DeleteWell done! Hey Opera!!!
DeleteXO
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So different here in NSW OZ On the central coast where we have had thunder storms for the past 36 hours and it is still pouring. The temp is down to 15 c and summer arrives in two days, I love sunshine.and Englishy ? lawn parties. With nice Ladies of course.
DeleteIt sounds so lovely. Makes me want to do the same thing and also yearn for summer.
DeleteScones with fruit I been thinking about resently.
DeleteCoffee is on
Well done!
DeleteHer daughter was singing in the opera and she couldn't contain her excitement. Of course she had been the one to recommend her daughter to sing, knowing very well her daughter's voice was like a breath of fresh air with sunshine thrown in. The opera was a welcome change from her daughter's usual jam sessions with rock bands. After the opera she planned on serving champagne to celebrate her daughter's new career. After all she might as well keep her encouragement up so she could enjoy the fruits of classics hopefully for years to come.
ReplyDeleteThe words put to a lovely use...melodic and enjoyable. :)
DeleteI like it.
DeleteLinda Starr: I hope there is still room for jam sessions with her friends - but love your use of the prompts.
DeleteShe will be making music, one way or another, for years to come. If it's in there, it has to come out.
DeleteWell done!
DeleteXO
WWW
I do not mind what language an opera is sung in so long that it is a language I don't understand.Today generally what is not worth being said is sung.
DeleteA sweet young daughter of a doting mother how lovely. ' Charming story.
Some of best rocker have touch or knowledge of opera.
DeleteCoffee is on
Hopefully I will join in next week. Right now I am trying to catch up on a lot of comments you all sent me while I was away from my computer. Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week :)
ReplyDeleteDenise inVA: I hope you can.
DeleteThe words this week Are OPERA. RECOMMEND. CHAMPAGNE. EXCITEMENT. SUNSHINE and JAM.
ReplyDeleteAn evening at the Opera.
It was during the eighties when my wife Rosemary and I Attended our first Opera- a Gilbert and Sullivan "The Mikado". The tickets had been provided free gratis by a well-heeled business associate; However, The hire of the pretentious costumes was a wallet killer.
Rosemary my dear lady wife could hardly contain her excitement. Still, in her forties, she loved to flirt a little and loved to be told she was pretty as she really was without a doubt despite mothering five sons
We had previously attended a champagne party in air-conditioned comfort but travelling along George Street in busy Sydney on a hot day in a traffic jam was something I would not recommend especially in a Taxi with faulty airconditioning
However it was mainly a great day, and to see my Rosemary so happy, made my day.
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Women are the decorative sex, whatever they have to say, they say it charmingly.
Vest Daily Gaggle.
And your description spreads sunshine...loving, happy memories shared...and generously share with us. :)
DeleteVery nice! Like a glimpse back in time.
DeleteVest: Yet another very precious memory. Your memory bank is full to the rafters...
DeleteAwww! That was lovely of you to take her, i can imagine it was a day of days.
DeleteWhat a lovely tale of a partner pleased and pleasant outing.
DeleteI like!
DeleteTwo seemingly unrelated lists. I wonder what I'll come up with?
ReplyDeleteOverseas visitors? What fun, (unless they stay too long...)
River: It is going to be a bit of a juggling trick. Four visitors and several sections of the family vying for pole position.
DeleteAnd here is my true tale for this week....
ReplyDelete"The DIMENSION of my love for music is broad. It is wide and varied, covering all genres, from OPERA through to spontaneous JAM sessions and free-wheeling buskers.
Many, many years ago, late one night, my first husband and I were enjoying a quiet drink while sitting at a CORNER table of a small, but crowded, popular Brisbane nightclub.
Two fellows, around our ages, who we did not know asked, politely, if they could share our table. We were happy to oblige. A friendly, general conversation ensured. No names were exchanged - something which didn’t seem necessary. I guess we just gave it no thought.
After 25 minutes or so, the two men excused themselves from the table and our company.
Suddenly, in the dim light of the club, my EXCITEMENT level rose when the two men who had been sharing our table appeared on the small raised stage at the far wall of the room, and began singing.
To our surprise and delight, my husband and I realised the strangers we’d been talking and drinking with were none other than Lee Conway and Doug Ashdown, who, at the time, were two well-known Aussie singers.
Lee’s distinctive singing voice was not dissimilar to that of Johnny Cash. Jerry Lee Lewis regarded Lee as his own personal discovery, and recorded him. Singer-songwriter Lee Conway performed, and headlined the “International Festival of Country Music” at Wembley alongside the likes of Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lyn, Bobby Bare and Ricky Nelson. Conway received an award at the London Palladium.
His singing partner on stage the night to which I refer, Doug Ashdown, recorded the wonderful song, “Winter in America”...a song that stirs my heart to this day. The song’s lyrics maybe sad...and “Winter in America is cold...” - but it still spreads SUNSHINE on my soul.
Ashdown, an Australian folk, country singer-songwriter was born in Adelaide. He also spent time in England and in the US, in Nashville honing his craft before returning to his home country.
I am of the belief, these days, the 76 year old is living back in Adelaide...and still performing periodically.
If you have not heard of, or can’t place Doug Ashdown’s “Winter in America”, I RECOMMEND you go in search for it. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
During the late night hours of a Tuesday evening in 1967, overcome by ADMIRATION, in awe, I sat silently watching and listening to Lee Conway and Doug Ashdown perform as a duo, completely “off the cuff”. I felt a little stunned, also, because they had shared our table, giving not a clue to who they really were.
I made up my mind there and then while listing to them harmonise so beautifully my intention for the next day was to RAID the nearest record store to WEED out some of their records! As it turned out, I didn’t need to EMPLOY my best Sherlock Holmes moves. Their music was readily available.
As I’ve said here, and many times previously, I love music. Music has played (no apology for the pun) a huge role in my life from when I was a small child. I have what is called a “catholic taste” in music.
In the early Seventies I was fortunate to be in the audience a live performance of “Fiddler on the Roof”. The now late, brilliant Hayes Gordon played “Tevye” the lead role; the role made famous on stage and screen by Chaim Topol, who is mononymously known as “Topol”.
A CHAMPAGNE party followed the stage performance of “Fiddler in the Roof” at Brisbane’s Her Majesty’s Theatre that memorable, special evening in 1971."
What a cool story! How did you not recognize them?
DeleteI'm curious....what is "Catholic taste in music"?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Sandie...a "catholic taste" in music means a "universal", "inclusive" taste in music.
DeleteSitting in a very dimly-lit crowded,little club late at night after being elsewhere earlier in the night...dining etc., recognising them up, close and personal in the flesh was not an easy thing to do.
In those days, back in the Sixties...long before all the exposure people have these days through all forms of technology etc....faces were not really as familiar as they are these days.
Thanks, Sandi. :)
Lee: Like Vest, your memory gives us some gems. Thank you.
DeleteWhat a neat story!
DeleteA great story!
DeleteXO
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Question answered . UNIVERSAL. Great Memories lee.
DeleteWow, what a story and I'm happy you said at the start it is true. You had a great experience. I'm going to look up that song.
DeleteGreat story and I'm happy that it's a true story.
DeleteListening to Laura's tales, David found it hard to weed out fact from fiction. 'Sometimes I think you live in another dimension, sunshine' he told her. 'I am in your corner, but...'
ReplyDeleteHer endless quest for admiration led her to employ some less than stellar tactics. She saw nothing wrong with a raid on other people's reality to add excitement to her own, and was more than happy to bask in their sunshine.
Listening to her talk about a night at the opera and recommend French champagne no-one could believe that her income was decidedly bread and butter (with an occasional scrape of jam). ' It is all research 'she explained to David. ' When I write my best-selling novel I will need to show how the other half lives.'
'Perhaps, but please, please remember in which half you (and the people who love you) live... '
Some people weave stories so often they come to believe it themselves. Good story.
Delete"scrape of jam" love that!
DeleteAnd I hope your family times goes well it sounds a wee bit fraught from what you write.
XO
WWW
I think I know people like this.
DeleteThis is good EC!
DeleteHope you and your family are having a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteMy story is in the usual place at the usual time.
messymimi: I am constantly amazed that no matter what the prompts are, you put a positive spin on it. A really lovely trait.
DeleteHave a wonderful time with the family! I am not in a creative mood right now, but perhaps it will hit me before too much time passes.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: Thank you. Busy, busy, busy which I know you understand. I am really looking forward to you joining us.
DeleteEnjoy your guests.
ReplyDeleteMargaret-whiteangel: Thank you.
DeleteMy story is residing in my blog. It was a fun one to write.
ReplyDeleteXO
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Wisewebwoman: It was fun to read too.
DeleteI have always found it hard to promote myself let alone be pretentious and copy the lifestyles of others.
ReplyDeleteVest: Snap.
DeleteLots of fun and lots of creative energy here.
ReplyDeleteBill: There is. I hope you will join us again soon.
DeleteMy words this week are also on my blog . Ten seconds distant!.
ReplyDeleteVest: I do love your truthful take on the prompts.
DeleteYou couldn't find his place if you wanted to. Google maps doesn't recognize the address. I been there before so I could find him and I needed to today. That last corner, remember, well that ancient oak taken over in ivy, you gotta remember that particular tree. Then count to five and pull over under the four plum trees. Yes, we're off the road enough but nobody comes up here. The old camry does a slip slide on the mass off dropped rotted fruit. "I bet the coons are fat as an operatic 'round here," he says. I chortle. "Yeah and the deer drunk as skunks," I add on. See the fruit ferments after while.
ReplyDeleteI push through waist high grass, and turn down a trail you can only feel. It winds along the side of a meadow into the plush silence of an old forest. I can hear a creek in the distance. Then, see down there, there's the trailer.
He's out front, like usual if its not raining, in his molded lawn chair, feet up on an upside down bucket, grinning. As usual. No more raids. This is Oregon. He's legal now. And he's happy as a razor clam when clamming's closed.
I say "Hey yah Ben". He sort of nods, still grinning, off in some other dimension, a good one I"d guess. "Come on," I say, "he won't mind." We slip around the corner of his fifth wheeler, propped up on blocks, to his grow. It's a sloppy mess out back, junked box springs growing blackberries, cats slithering out from under partially brush and rust consumed camper shells. Old tires. Broken tables. What have you.
The guard dog in his employ, Old Jasper, is laid out on bare warm dirt, sound asleep. He opens one eye partially as we step over him. In the green house are some baggies ready for us. We slap down some dollars, he pulls out some papers and we roll up a couple. "Grab those chairs over there" I say. We go back around front, with the lawn chairs, set em up after swiping off some of the cobwebs, kick back and light up next to him. He turns and grins again. We're grinning now too, in admiration of his agricultural skills. We got all the rest of the day.
He is living the life now. Very good use of the prompts, you paint a vivid picture.
DeleteStrayer: messymimi is right. I could see (and smell) this. He seems to be very happy.
DeleteAhhh...gone the bad old days of growing a "cover crop" and running a trip wire along the fence!
DeleteNicely presented, Strayer.
Ha dinahmow, sounds like you know the story!
DeleteI once again played...I'm leaving a link to my story...http://peppylady.blogspot.com/2018/11/wednesday-meme-number-twenty-one.html
ReplyDeletepeppylady (Dora): You story had way too much truth in it for my comfort. Well done.
DeleteEnjoy time with your family …
ReplyDeleteI will pop back to read everyone's take on the words.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member: Thank you - and thank you for always cheering the players on.
DeleteBless you.
DeleteI always enjoy reading … I really should try and take part!
All the best Jan
Dear EC. Enjoy family time. Family visits are such fun and so exhausting.
ReplyDeleteThe words this time did not inspire me, maybe because I have been writing too many words for my other continuing story (fan-stories about World of Warcraft). But I have read all the writings found here and in other places. How clever you all are, I've had a nice time (and scary, and laid-back) reading them all.
Uglemor: Thank you so much. You are right about the exhausting too. I hope that next months prompts stir your creativity again.
DeleteOne of these days I plan to try this, but I never remember it seems at the right time. An interest group of words to choose from.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I hope you can. And anytime you join us is the right time.
DeleteOh I do hope you enjoy time with your family. It can sometimes be exhausting though, I know!
ReplyDeleteI've been at the hospital two days in a row, so am a bit short on creative inspiration at the moment!😉
However, will pop back tomorrow maybe and give it a try...
Hugs xxx
Ygraine: Your health comes first. And second and third. You will be more than welcome if you can pop back but look after yourself. Please.
DeleteEC, I know I said I hoped to have this for you the other day. It's been one of those weeks...
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd find time to write more, but instead, I'm offering a snatch from the cluttered attic i call memory.
Racing the clock back when I worked two jobs (I seem to do a lot of that!) and feeling in need of a break, I turned the key in my mail box...Oh! The excitement! Tickets (2) for an open-air performance of Verdi's opera "Rigoletto." Champagne cocktails on arrival, with light refreshments and a chance to meet the cast after curtain.
Brilliant sunshine topped off a wonderful afternoon.
I'm not sure I'd recommend jam tarts with champers though!
If I can squeeze some time I'll try to get around everyone else.Might not happen, but I see some interesting tales here. Thanks, all.
Sounds likes a great day!
DeleteFun use of the words! :)
DeleteEC- I hope you have a lot of fun with your family. Enjoy your time! :)
~Jess
dinahmow: Jam tarts and champagne? Perhaps not. But many years ago I was surprised at how well fairy bread and bubbles sat together. So much so that the bringer of fairy bread was sent home to make more.
DeletePromptness is overrated. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteBlue
Blue Grumpster: I was brought up to be prompt and feel like a failure when I am not.
DeleteFinally mine: the opera
ReplyDeleteCindi Summerlin: I have been and applauded.
DeleteExcellent reads everyone! EC, I hope you had fun with your family, especially when you have not met some of them! Never worry about being prompt in blog land! LOL! EC, may I ask, why do you call yourself Elephant's Child? If it's private, you don't have to answer that! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: Thank you. I had only met one of the four visitors, and it was lovely to meet the others. I am Elephant's Child because like Rudyard Kipling's Elephant's Child (from the Just So Stories) I have insatiable curiosity. I grew up with those tales, and can still recite lots of them.
DeleteSo happy everything went well!
DeleteThat is really interesting! Thanks so much for telling me about your name! I love that! Big Hugs!