Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wednesday 30 December 2020

Words For Wednesday: 30/12/2020

 



 



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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

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 and I am providing them.


This week's prompts are a mixture, feel free to use any or all of them:

Firstly Steve suggested that I include the word Diverse next year as a prompt next year.  I said that I was happy to do so, but having realised how long it will be before I provide the prompts again I thought I would include it now.

  1. Diverse
  2. Universe
  3. Reverse
  4. Terse
  5. Nurse
  6. Rehearse 

And/or



Have fun.  Next month Charlotte (MotherOwl) will be providing the prompts.

Happy and healthy New Year to everyone.

Tuesday 29 December 2020

Where are the Words for Wednesday?

 






   
Huge thanks to  all those who listened to my pleas.  The roster for next year is now complete, and looks like this.

January 2021Charlotte (MotherOwl) is providing the prompts on her blog.

February 2021Alex J. Cavanaugh is providing the prompts but they will be here.

March 2021:   Hilary Melton-Butcher is providing the prompts but they will be here again.

April 2021Wisewebwoman will be providing the prompts on her blog.

May 2021Messymimi is providing the prompts on her blog.

June 2021River is providing the prompts on her blog.

July 2021lissa is providing the prompts on her blog.

August 2021David M. Gascoigne will be providing the prompts but they will be here.

September 2021Cindi is providing the prompts.

October 2021:  I am providing the prompts here.

 
November 2021:  Margaret Adamson and her friends will be providing the prompts, but they will appear here.

 
December 2021:  Me again.

I hope this suits all of you.  If it doesn't please send me an email or comment on tomorrow's Words For Wednesday post  (I have turned the comments off for this post).  You will notice that no-one (except me) is providing the prompts for more than one month.  However, if life gets in someone's way and they are unable to provide the prompts I may call on either River or messymimi to step in since they generously offered to provide more than one month's prompts.

This meme definitely falls into the 'more the merrier' category.  I hope that lots of you will visit
whoever is providing the prompts and play - or applaud.  Commenting on other people's creations -whether they post them on the host's blog or their own, is hugely important.  We ALL need encouragement.  So please, take a few extra minutes to comment on the participant's creations.

Sunday 27 December 2020

Sunday Selections #513

 


Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
 
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.  
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 

I usually run with a theme. You might remember about two weeks ago I said there was nothing much blooming in the garden.  I turned around last week and realised how wrong I was.  There are lots and lots of lilies out - and more coming out each day.












 

Those white ones glow in the very early morning light don't they?


 




 

The honesty seed pods are starting to peel away to reveal the 'silver dollar' within.



And some corellas for those of you who don't share my obsession with the garden.


 

And the gentle light of a soft and welcoming dawn.




I hope the holiday season was/is treating you well.  Take care.

Wednesday 23 December 2020

Words For Wednesday - 23/12/2020!


 



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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

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 and I am providing them.

Thank you to everyone who put their hands up to provide the prompts next year.  I am still hunting for volunteers for the second half of next year, and don't like imposing on anyone for multiple months.  Please, pretty please give it some thought.  You will have my eternal thanks with sugar on top.  I will put up the schedule some time next week. 

This week's prompts are:

  1. Celebration,
  2. Birth
  3. Bells
  4. Majesty
  5. Small
  6. Forgotten

 

And/or

 

  1. Bay
  2. Half
  3. Hope
  4. Sister
  5. Book
  6. Hunt 

And an another (as always optional addition).  

In memory of Jo Wake, I would love it if you could include the word dragon in your stories.

Have fun.  And my very best festive wishes to all.

Sunday 20 December 2020

Sunday Selections #512

 



Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
 
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.  
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

I usually run with a theme.  I am still struggling, but there are most definitely some bright lights this week.  Christmas is looming here, and my kangaroo fix this week brought some extra cheer with it.

The suburb in which we visit the roos 'does' Christmas with red bows on their street trees (and occasionally houses).  I think it is a totally charming way to express community spirit.







Our Governor General also lives in this suburb and we were told that he has decorated his front gates with the red bows and some of the trees in his garden.  I am not on his visiting list for some reason so this socially distanced shot of his home and grounds (photographed in Autumn) will have to suffice.
 
 
 
You didn't think you were going to get away with not seeing my roo fix did you?  My fix which was made even better by seeing this crimson rosella happily munching on grass seeds.








Continuing the Christmas theme, for many years now I have made Christmas cakes in various sizes as gifts for family and friends.

I also give them to the paid staff at Lifeline in appreciation of the incredible work (for minimal wages) that they do.  However it has become more complicated in recent years.  Some of the staff receive tiny cakes, some don't like fruitcake or cannot eat it.  They get shortbread instead.  And for the last few years a staff member with significant dietary issues gets gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free brownies.  The other bag is filled with donations to the Early Morning Centre a much needed service supporting those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

I took them in when I did a shift last week.  A shift which forcibly reminded me that Christmas isn't the happiest time of year for far too many people.  I wept with our callers.  I wept for our callers.  And fully expect to do so again this week.



This time of year is packed with celebrations for a number of religions and cultures.  Whatever and however you celebrate (or don't) I hope that you find health and happiness.  And a generous sprinkling of love and laughter.

And a sad postscript.  Jo Wake slipped away from the world on Wednesday of last week.  I am richer for having known her (virtually) and diminished by her death.  Her husband Matt is in care - and my thoughts go out to him, and to everyone who knew her.

Wednesday 16 December 2020

Words for Wednesday 17/12/2020

 



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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

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 and I am providing them.

Thank you to everyone who put their hands up to provide the prompts next year.  I have takers until July and November 2021 has been claimed but the rest of the year is free.  River and Messymimi have said that they will take more than one month but I would really like to hear from more of you.  I can fill next year's schedule with those who have volunteered (and particularly those who have said they will do multiple months but different people provide such different prompts which really test our mettle.   

This week's prompts are a little different.  In an idle moment I realised that a LOT of our common idioms include animals in them.  I am going to list some of the more common (in English at least) phrases and would really like to see what you can do with them - and particularly if you can create a story which involves different common phrases and/or animals.  Feel free to mix and match - or to introduce different phrases of your own:

  • Has the cat got your tongue?
  • Curiosity killed the cat.
  • Let the cat out of the bag.
  • Dog tired.
  • Sick as a dog.
  • Like a dog with two tails.
  • The elephant in the room.
  • A one-trick pony.
  • Open a can of worms.
  • Busy as a bee.
Have fun.

Sunday 13 December 2020

Sunday Selections #511

 

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 

I usually run with a theme.   Last week I said we had been down the lake for a much needed kangaroo fix (and I need another) so that is where I am starting.

 







He is a big and muscle bound boy isn't he?


 

It was a hot day and at first glance there were no roos to be seen.  A second look found them reclining at their ease in the green undergrowth.

 There is not a lot blooming in our garden at the moment - it seems to be in a hiatus between the seasons.  Just the same it is a green and peaceful haven.

 


 
The poppies are nearly done, but I am watching those seed pods and will harvest them when they are ripe.







I am very excited to see tomatoes on several of our tomato plants.  They taste soooo much better than the store bought varieties.

And now to the apologies.  I am tired, overwrought and in pain.  The holiday season is not improving my mood.  If I am less diligent than usual in visiting your blogs or less enthusiastic please accept my apologies.  Totally truthfully - it is not you, but me.

I hope you all find peaceful havens this week.