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.
This week's prompts are:
- Cold
- Rugmaker
- Guiding
- Thursday
- Forever
- Both
And/or
- Farm
- Lights
- Club
- End
- Moth
- Away
Economies based on farm produce, small scale agriculture and handicrafts were transformed and forever changed by the Industrial Revolution. Rachel knew that she owed a lot to those advances but still she saw it as both a boon and a blight.
ReplyDeleteYes, having lights at the flick of a switch was comfortable, and she would be reluctant to go back to depending on candles. She could keep food fresh for longer. However unique carpets and rugs had emerged from the skilled hands of a rugmaker, rather than identical items produced by a soulless machine guided by a cold and impersonal computer program. Thursday had been market day. A time to sell, a time to buy, a time to socialise, rather than a day like any other.
And it was again. She and a club of like minded souls refused to give in. Yes, they would take and appreciate the increased comfort and safety in their day to day lives, but they would also strive to maintain tradition and creativity. Their work was now described as artisan and attracted high prices, which made her smile. At the end of the day she was just doing what her many times great grandmother had done as a matter of course. Some people bought the things that she and her friends made. Some didin’t. She couldn’t grow everything or do everything, but she didn’t need to. Swapping her home baked bread for the repair of her much loved quilt that the moths had got to, was far and away a better choice for her than working in a factory, a store or an office.
Oh EC you've nailed it here ... so true to, I imagine, what life was like ... excellent summary and I so agree re her choices of not working in a factory, a store or an office. Cheers - Hilary
DeleteIf this doesn't make us all yearn for a simpler time I don't know what will. As usual, Sue, you have given us a few minutes of pleasure while we read your piece, and a whole lot to ponder.
DeleteWell done with the words! (And homemade bread is excellent currency.) ;-)
DeleteMy hat is off to all who do this kind of work, keeping the best of the old handicrafts alive.
DeleteEC, I love your story. Rachel is a woman after my own heart...
DeleteI love the idea of a simpler way of life, but not being crafty in any way at all, I had to settle for working in factories to put food on the table. Great story :)
DeleteI always enjoy your writing!!! This one, too. Keep writing, my friend.
DeleteTeresa from T. Powell Coltrin Writes @ https://journalingwoman.blogspot.com
Beautiful take on the words, EC, it took me right in and I so love the idea of bartering home made for home made.
DeleteXO
WWW
Woot. Woot. Well done!
DeleteA fine plea for simple(r) living, Sue.
DeleteHi EC - love these ... here's the 2nd set:
ReplyDeleteThe lights were on in the club house, the moths were fluttering around the lights ... they needed to bring the step ladder out, so their young ecologist could clamber up with her moth trap ... then over time ... the budding entomologist could spend many hours whiling away her time recording all the moths found ...
The farm was a solace for her ... where she could keep her records safe ... for now the farmhouse was her safe haven.
Cheers to all participants - Hilary
It would be lovely to have such a safe haven, and a budding entomologist/ecologist needs such nurture.
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I am cheering for the young ecologist, those who support her, and her creator.
DeleteWell done Hilary and moth collected is extraordinary. Some are incredibly beautiful.
DeleteXO
WWW
Moth traps are certainly more moth-friendly than fly flaps. ;-)
DeleteHi EC - second lot:
ReplyDeleteGosh - it was cold ... but it was Thursday and she needed to get across to the church ... it was where the rugmakers worked - and was here that the weekly lessons happened, and where she hoped to learn the process of rug-making. She'd realised she needed to make a few rugs to warm her family's home, but also to raise some funds ...
Here was her friend, who had promised to guide her to the safest border crossing - so she knew where it was... then at some stage in the future they could both escape overseas with a worthwhile trade from which she could earn a living ... that would last forever.
But now it was cold - and if she ran she'd warm up a little before the teacher arrived ready for the lesson.
Cheers ... fun words - thanks for setting this week's Words up for us - Hilary
A dream of so many, to learn a good trade, make a decent living somewhere safe. How i wish everyone on Earth could do that from where they now live, no more refugees, no more need to flee unsafe conditions. A dream i will continue to dare to dream.
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I love it - and your words reminded me of a book I have recently finished in which a rugmaker DID escape overseas and finally found a safe haven.
DeleteAs a rugmaker, I truly enjoyed your story, but hank God, I don't have to depend on rug making to make a living.
DeleteWe have similar stories Hilary- I do love this idea of making a living from handcrafts. I sold many of mine in my time but never, ever enough to make a living.
DeleteXO
WWW
Good one, Hilary.
DeleteThe last sentence is particulary touching. It tells all about her present life conditions.
And i'm on my way.
ReplyDeleteMy words will be over here.
DeleteMeanwhile, i'll be reading and responding as i can.
messymimi: As always I look forward to seeing where the words take you - and thank you so much for cheering all the other contributors on. We appreciate it. And you.
DeleteAh, Sue, your prompts were GUIDING my thoughts in direction of a tanka:
ReplyDeleteThe end of Thursday
Rugmaker: Away with both!
This was no moth farm.
His fly flap a wielded club
put their lights off. Forever.
Sean Jeating: Colour me awed. I am so very impressed at people who can master poetic forms that daunt me. And tankas are one of those forms.
DeleteSome people have ways with words, and you fit the description...
DeleteExcellent!
DeleteA tanka is a form of poetry? How many forms are there? No wonder Poetry and me do not get along.
DeleteHi Sean - loved your take ... a wielded club ... no wonder the lights crashed out ... brilliant - Hilary
DeleteWell done Sean, you are gifted in (at?) Tanka.
DeleteXO
WWW
I'm in awe of tankas and their creators.This is no exception.Wonderfully done.
DeleteLadies you see me blushing, the more as I do consider myself a joyeous dilettante. I shall take your praise as an incentive, though. Thank you.
DeleteThe moth, drawn to the farm lights from far away, came to an end with one swing of my club.
ReplyDeleteMike: Bad Mike, bad, bad Mike - but Captain Succinct used the words well.
DeleteIt sounds like at least they did not suffer.
DeleteHi Mike - you have a very good aim ... but as EC said - succinct to the last ... cheers Hilary
DeleteI would want to preserve the moth, not smash it to bits.
DeleteXO
WWW
A fly flap would not not do, Mike, eh? ;-)
DeleteOh oh, double negative?! No, no: Herwith I declare one 'not' deleted.
DeleteSean - I don't see no double negative.
DeleteHa ha.
DeleteWhen it gets cold, my craft as a rugmaker comes alive, I shift from gardening and food preserving the garden's bounty to pulling loops on my wool rugs. Forever an earthy person, I love both.
ReplyDeleteLiving on a farm is a far cry from the city lights, I'm not a member of the golf club but in the end, keeping the moths away from my wool is a priority.
Julia
Julia: I love this. You have your priorities right.
DeleteHi Julia - much better to keep the moths away from your wool ... golfing can wait! - cheers Hilary.
DeleteNo worries re the guiding ... the seasons will, as you mention, dictate ...
Excellent take on the words.
DeleteXO
WWW
Thoreau would be delighted to read this.
DeleteI am!
Oops, I need some redemption here... I don't know what happened to " guiding" but I let the seasons be my guiding mentor as to what to do. Julia
ReplyDeleteMike, I'm sure glad I'm not a moth around your farm lights. You have a quick way with words. Short and to the point and you save a lot of ink and paper.
ReplyDeleteJulia, i like your story. Living on a farm, you can let the seasons guide and do what needs doing when it needs doing.
ReplyDeleteI like the words, I'll let them percolate overnight and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I look forward to seeing what you brew with these prompts.
DeleteInteresting reads EC.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Thank you. Spam had claimed you yet again.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt was a cold Thursday that would forever be locked in the mind of the rugmaker as she guided her loom back and forth. Her mother had died and her granddaughter born within hours of each other. The cycle of life, filled with both great joy and great sorrow. She added a black and a pink thread to her pattern in honor of them both.
ReplyDeleteReplyDelete
Oh that's so lovely Sandra, teary. I created such memories for my niece on the afghan I made for her family.
DeleteXO
WWW
Sandra Cox: This is very, very moving and truly lovely.
DeleteA precious little jewel, if I may say so.
DeleteOften that's the way it goes, life is up and down, sometimes all in the same moment.
DeleteLife is sometimes like this, ups and downs even in the same moments.
DeleteLove this! Especially the touch added by the black and pink threads.
DeleteHi Sandra - wonderful ... lovely take on the prompts - cheers Hilary
DeleteHere is mine, all words (and how brilliant were they?) used. And I'll go back to read all of yours.
ReplyDelete-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a cold dawn on Thursday as she headed out to the class. There was no money for bus fare so she walked the two miles to the farm in the frosty air.
In the grey distance, she noticed lights were shining from the barn windows where the old rug maker taught her class.
Her guiding spirit taught far more than learning the craft. Gisele and the class (more like a club now, as they all got to know each other) wanted this incredible semester to last forever. Suddenly, Ruben called to her from away off and waited for her and they both came into the bright airy barn together, catching their breaths at the jewels of rugs hanging from rafters and struts everywhere, listening to the sounds of stools and looms and hooks being sorted by their classmates as Irena, the rugmaker, their brilliant textile artist, welcomed them all and said:
“Now that we are reaching the end of all that I can teach you, I must talk to you about the herbs you will need for preserving your beautiful work. You cannot ever leave it to the moths who would devour it.”
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XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: This is lovely. How I hope that such classes (and teachers) survive and thrive.
DeleteWisewebwoman, I love your story. Yes, I agree, the rug maker must keep the moths away, especially when working with wool. I love using lavender.
DeleteBeautifully woven story, Mary. Thank you.
DeleteA wonderful story, it's a joy to learn from those who love their craft.
DeleteWisewebwoman. The story drew me right in, as if I were there. Well done.
DeleteThis was so well done. Hats off to you for using all the words. It's got me hooked, though. I'd like to know where this story goes.
DeleteHi WWW - this a great credit to craft-makers all ... we most definitely need them. Thank you for reminding us - cheers Hilary
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTruedessa: I hope you will allow me to put this comment back. I saw it in email and loved it.
DeleteThis magic rug could only have been created by a mysterious rugmaker, guiding us to find the right path forever. We both find ourselves radiant with love on this magic rug, flying through the night on an astral journey that doesn't subject us to a cold. That's my reflection this Thursday. XD
ReplyDeleteRaquel: I love this. Thank you for joining us.
DeleteThat would be a joy!
DeleteHaving visited the dark side of the moon and the Andromeda Nebulae on my flying carpet I can understand your delight.
DeleteHi Raquel - wonderful thoughts ... cheers Hilary
DeleteEnjoyable, thank you :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: I am very glad that you enjoyed this post and the creations by the talented commentators.
DeleteI loved reading it so much! Wonderful Post! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteRampdiary | Fineartandyou | Beautyandfashionfreaks
Jyoti: Thank you. For future reference I will delete your comment if it links to your business sites.
DeleteLook at how many people are visiting you! I enjoy this with most of the action inside my head, lol. Good luck everyone!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: I am happy that you enjoy it - and love it when you let the action out of your crowded head.
Delete