This
meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues and then life issues led her
to bow out. 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. And huge thanks to those of you who come back, sometimes time after time to cheer other contributors on.
The prompts will be here this month, provided by me.
This
week's prompts are:
- Grandmama
- Holiday
- Ruthless
- Gallery
- Purchase
And/or
- Machine
- Stitched
- Motion
- Art
- Brain
Have fun.
Getting to work on these early.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I look forward to seeing where they take you.
DeleteThe name "Grandmama" always puts me in mind of the Addams Family, and a character popped up who thinks the same way.
DeleteMy story will be over here.
Wanted to Purchase: (cheaply if possible since our pocket money is small).
ReplyDeleteGrandmama. Quantity two, to share the load, the love and the fun. Someone who will make her walls a gallery for our art and NOT complain about the mess.
Someone to go on holidays with, who will be ruthless in ignoring our mother’s rules.
Someone who doesn’t act like a machine, and will allow us treats and not talk about eating our greens and thinking of the starving children in Africa.
Someone who has stitched up a Christmas stocking with our names on it, and who is understanding about children’s need for constant motion (unless we are asleep).
Someone with the brain to realise that these days will disappear only too quickly and to enjoy them while they are here.
If only. We wish.
Sounds like every child's wish! Well done with the prompts. :-)
DeleteI was blessed with two of those, although they didn't overdo on the ignoring the rules part.
DeleteNice use of the prompts!
She would indeed be the purrfect Grandmama. Loved it. Warmed my heart.
DeleteLovely! And very fitting. I am living with such a grandmama under the same roof.
DeleteVery nice EC, the kind of Grandmama I hoped I might be, but my grandkids lived too far away and I didn't see them enough. Thankfully there was another Grandmama who did all those things for them and with them.
DeleteDelightful EC - the way we should be at this time of year ... giving and respecting each others. Little kids being themselves ... love it - cheers and wishing you all the very best - Hilary
DeleteWonderful, Sue. I always tried to be a grandpa like that.
DeleteI enjoyed this especially the Christmas stockings stitched with your names. A wonderful story about the gift of love.
DeleteA timely lesson for us all. Thank you.
DeleteYour writing makes a perfect little Christmas story, EC. Everyone should have an indulgent grandmother.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie Junebug: Thank you. I never knew either of my grandmothers - or any relatives other than immediate family.
DeleteI went Ruth's gallery to make a holiday purchase for Grandmama but the gallery was Ruthless since she was off that day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, i needed that smile!
DeleteMike: I am grinning here. Thank you for this gem.
DeleteI hope that didn't stop you from buying a nice present for grandma somewhere else.
DeleteHi Mike - I hadn't read your comment - but I too ended up with a Ruth's gallery - one you wouldn't want to visit! Poor Grandma - no present ... cheers Hilary
DeleteGood job, Mike.
DeleteHeh. Very creative.
DeleteThat was cleverly woven.
DeleteVery neat. That made me smile. (I think I may have said that before to you)
DeletePaso hoy expresamente para desearos a ti junto a tus seres queridos que tengáis una feliz Navidad y un venturoso año nuevo.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos.
Manuel: Thank you so much - and to you and yours.
DeleteHappy Writing, Gang!
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: Thank you. I hope so. I really hope so.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOnce, spending a holiday with her, after visiting a gallery, back home, my grandmama stared motionless at the stitched booklet she had purchased, I asked: "What is art?"
ReplyDelete"In English an abbreviation for assisted reproduction technology, for example, or in German one for Einstein's Allgemeine Relativitätstheorie."
For a few seconds she gloated over my befuddled face, then laughed her hearty laugh:
"Arnold Schönberg once said: If it is art it is not for all and if it is for all it is not art." And ruthlessly she added: "And right he was: His Twelve-tone atonality is for all. ... Would you like to know which is the most wonderful of all works of art?
And when I silently nodded : "Our machine-independent brain."
Smart Grandmama!
DeleteProps for using umlauts in your piece!
DeleteSean Jeating: A grandmama to cherish.
DeleteHi Sean - always testing us ... pushing us to learn ... and a fun read - cheers Hilary
DeleteI am groaning at the mere mention of Schönberg!
DeleteA sharp brain, to be sure.
DeleteYes. The brain is the biggest work of art ... but does this mean it's not for everyone to posses a brain? Or only not to use it to its fullest potential? ... thinking matter.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTruedessa: I am so very sorry that you removed your comment. I loved it, and it made my eyes mist. I do hope you will reconsider.
DeleteMy grandmama had an old singer sewing machine. She would spend many hours stitching clothes for all her grandchildren. One day after school, I announced, I have a part in the school play. She asked, "what part will you play?" I replied, " I will be a hyacinth and I will need a costume, please." She smiled then asked "what color flower are you to be?" I replied "they didn't say". We brain-stormed and decided I would transform into a purple hyacinth, one of her favorite colors. I watched the motion of the needle going up and down as she gently pressed the foot peddle. I was amazed at the finished product. It was a beautiful work of art!
DeleteTo this day, I have a sentimental spot for that flower. In the springtime when it blooms, I inhale the heavenly scent and recall a lovely memory.
A beautiful story! My grandmother sewed me a princess costume for Halloween one year, and i treasured it until it fell apart.
DeleteTruedessa: Thank you for coming back and reposting this totally charming story.
DeleteHi Truedessa - l love hyacinths ... I prefer blue ... but with a grandmama like yours ... I'd be happy with purple! Now I can scent hyacinth ... lovely - thank you - Hilary
DeleteBeautiful, True.
DeleteWhat a lovely story, a memory to be cherished.
DeleteTouches the heart of even an old curmudgeon like me.
DeleteLovely story well written. we could all use a grandmama in our lives - at least now and then.
DeleteI'll let these roam around my mind while I sit (again) in the dentist chair this afternoon. Tomorrow perhaps something will have gelled in between visiting family and elderly neighbours. Friday, I'm expecting visitors here.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I do hope that the dentist's visit goes well. Have fun with both your visits and your visitors.
DeleteSuch a fun exercise. I set about writing a short piece with the second set of prompts, but have yet to use two of the words from the list. I shall put it aside for now. :)
ReplyDeleteBea: I hope you will come back and share your piece - and missing words are NOT a problem.
DeleteHi EC - this is a particularly horrible 'story' - apologies ... I don't feel this way - just a macabre thought process came to the fore with the words! Many thanks to you all - I'll be around ... once again when I've caught my tail. Happy Christmas and New Year ...
ReplyDelete"Mum's Grandma is ruthless, at Christmas the employees have to adhere to her demands … the art gallery must be thoroughly cleaned, there is no time for dallying, or making purchases.
Each year she stitches them up … ensuring zero breaks or enjoyment … the machine watches their every motion … it's all recorded in the room Grandma calls 'the brain' …
The staff know there's no let up …
Annually at Christmas time she lets all her workers go – out into the freezing weather … she doesn't care … another batch of people will be enticed next year to the measly pounds she offers them … frankly the authorities should close her down … but she rules them too …
She might be called Ruth, but she's added the 'Less' to her – now known as Grandma 'Nom de Guerre' … there are no holidays in Ruthless – the town's been named in her likeness.
Grandma has evicted them – her work is done, the gallery is spotless … they are unnecessary to her world – Ruthless Holidays prevail."
Cheers to one and all - and I do mean that ... I'm not ruthless! Happy times - while we at least think of others ... take care - Hilary
My word, Hilary. Imagine what Charles Dickens could have done with this!
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: Ruthless indeed. I hope she is happy - unlike anyone who has to deal with her. Great (and different) use of the prompts.
DeleteI am all with David. Visits from the spirits of Past, Present and Yet to Come would teach her ...
DeleteShe was indeed ruthless...
DeleteSomehow i think people like this are never really, truly happy.
DeleteThanks everyone ... Ruthlesses are still out there ... but am happy the story resonated. Cheers (!) Hilary
DeleteWow! She's a nasty piece of work.
DeleteWow well written. A new Cruella or Scrooge is born!
DeleteGreat blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteRajani Rehana: Thank you.
DeleteGRANDMAMA is indeed a grand mama, especially in her own mind! She has made oozing affection over her grandchildren into a fine ART and much is forgiven when it comes to us, but she can be RUTHLESS if others transgress what she considers to be acceptable behaviour. Her special ire seemed to be reserved for my mother – her daughter. What goes on in Grandmama’s BRAIN is hard to figure, because to everyone else my mom seems to be the very definition of a dutiful and loving daughter. Animosity seems to bubble to the surface very easily during the HOLIDAYS - on Grandmama’s side, but my mother stays calm and does not retaliate. Recently, a new sewing MACHINE emporium opened in town, with the pretentious name of Sewing GALLERY. My mom, an accomplished sewist, PURCHASED a brand new Genome MACHINE that STITCHED every option imaginable with a fluid MOTION like no other machine she had possessed before. Grandmama likes to sew too, but her skill paled against my mother, and when everyone was presented with beautiful handsewn items you could see Grandmama was spitting nails as she surveyed her own store-bought gifts, no doubt lovingly mass produced at a factory in China and guaranteed to last a few days! I noticed mom’s wicked smile – subtle comeuppance is the best of all!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I love this. Sometimes vengeance tastes very, very sweet.
DeleteFine plot. Anyone who sows as diligently as grandma truly deserves to harvest such Chinese preciousnesses.
DeleteSuch a sad relationship between them, although the mother is doing a great job taking the high road.
DeleteHi David - subtle comeuppance is the best of all ... love the story and the comparisons ... clever take on the words - cheers Hilary
DeleteThe meek shall inherit the earth - or at least disturb the environment for others ;-)
DeleteOh, vengeance at last. Well written - and Merry Christmas.
DeleteMade it! A bit more about Susan. Now I'm off to bed. Reading of all your stories will happen tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): I look forward to reading it. As always.
DeleteMy Grandmama was an artist. She did not give gifts machine stitched because she made everything by hand. Her only purchase was for the material. Our family always makes a holiday gallery of all the wonderful things Granny made for us. I loved her tatting the most. She was almost ruthless in her efforts to teach me how to make the creations. She attempted to teach me but my brain could not manage the art. Every Christmas I still pick up the tatting shuttle and attempt to put the effort in motion to no avail.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I love this. I didn't know either of my grandmothers but this could have been written about my mother. It was her bobbin lace that most amazed me.
DeleteSeveral of my ancestors had the knack, but the gene skipped me and landed on my daughters.
DeleteA lovely story!
Well written. I never tried tatting, but it sure produces fabulous results.
DeleteHi Granny Annie - delightful ... I'd have loved to have had a Granny like that! I most definitely am not up to tatting ... but I always admire it ... cheers to you and yours for Christmas - Hilary
ReplyDeleteBuon Natale a te e a tutti coloro che porti nel cuore.
ReplyDeleteGiancarlo: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteWhat a lovely idea to have a holiday gallery - a wonderful way to remember and reminisce.
ReplyDeleteWalking through a gallery is so exciting! How about:
ReplyDeleteThe holidays were ruthless in passage of time. Grandmama gazed at the priceless purchases in her gallery, smiling at their memories. She was a nubile model at that time, when skin was smooth, and smiles were sincere. Now, Grandmama traced her fingers in the air over the colored lines. The art was a flurry of color in motion and her brain felt the lines.
Susan Kane: I love it - and hope that Grandmama cherishes (and shares) those precious memories.
DeleteHi Susan - love it ... excellent ... we were all nubile and smooth at some stage! Cheers - Hilary
DeleteWhat fond memories!
Deletejabblog had joined us again with another stunner.
ReplyDeleteThanks EC - been over to comment ... cheers H
Delete