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 month I am providing the prompts
This week's prompts are:
- camel
- bone
- carving
- application
- river
And/or
- journey
- shock
- family
- crown
- colours
Hi EC - both mine ...
ReplyDelete1st: The little camel bone carving sailed away down the clay brown river … I was anxious as I'd put in my application for a job at the studio. Did I get it – nooooo … I couldn't for love ,or money (even), sculpt anything.
2nd: The family settled down for the journey … but as the members appeared there was a shock … they all had different coloured circus hats … topped by the clown's crown. It made a great photo for the family album: this was when I realised clay brown as a colour didn't fit in.
Cheers - I'll be back anon - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Both of these are fun (and I cannot sculpt either). Perhaps if clowns wore crowns I wouldn't find them so discomforting - but I suspect not. They are so unfunny I cannot enjoy them.
DeleteClassic Hilary - delightful.
DeleteBoth of these made me smile.
DeleteI'm not an artist, either. Fun stories!
DeleteNicely done Hilary, on both the wee stories.
DeleteXO
WWW
Thanks everyone ... cheers Hilary
DeleteNice work, Hilary.
DeleteWhat fun. I especially like the opener: The little camel bone carving sailed away down the clay brown river
DeleteCheers, Sandra
sandracox.blogspot.com
I remember well the JOURNEY to the desert where we were encouraged to get on a CAMEL and have our photo taken. I was afraid to do so. In front of me, A FAMILY (parents and two kids cutely clothed in CLAY BROWN COLOR shorts) - was waiting for their turn. I envied them, and even got in SHOCK by the kids' 'acrobatics' on the animal's back.
ReplyDeleteThe owner disapproved of people throwing food at the camel,
especially bread crumbs and tiny BONES, or laying funny things on its head such as a straw CROWN.
Next, we arrived at a small RIVER, more of a stream actually, but whose water was said to have magic powers. Soon, people were busy with the APPLICATION of its water on their various body parts.
Not far from this stream, we spotted a strange kind of desert tree. Some of us CARVED their name on its trunk to mark our being there.
DUTA: My partner went on a seven day camel trek - which sounded acutely uncomfortable to me. I suspect I would have needed application of a magical lotion to relieve the aches and pains. Another great use of the prompts.
DeleteHi Duta - I thought about the desert ... so love the thought of a camel in it - Australia have them I believe. Of course matching clothes for the whole family ... safari ones. I think you've given us typical tourists ... misbehaving or perhaps I should be polite and say having fun away from home. Well done ... cheers Hilary
DeleteGood story, I don't think I could ever sit on a camel either.
DeleteIt sounds like an exotic adventure, although I'd never want to throw food at an animal if it wasn't mine.
DeleteMy butt hurts thinking of sitting on a camel on a safari but well done on the story.
DeleteXO
WWW
First, catch your camel - it looks so uncomfortable on a camel and I'm sure it causes sea-sickness. Nice take on the prompts.
DeleteWhat a grand adventure. Kudos, DUTA.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Her self-imposed journey through life wasn’t easy, and it didn’t make her happy. None of her friends (those she retained) knew why she continued to seek the holy grail of recognition at the top pinnacle of her chosen career.
ReplyDeleteShe was quick to judge others (including family and friends) but it always came as a huge shock when someone had the temerity to judge her. Like the camel it gave her the humphs.
The application she put into carving out a place for herself was immense. She constantly found rivers of new friends who were going to help her – until they showed their true colours, when their crowns were stripped away, their golden pedestals pared back to clay brown boxes and they were classified as bone idle. Or selfish. Or both.
A sadly prophetic poem she had written as a teenager summed it up.
You make the same mistakes
again and again.
Till you overreach yourself
and are humble. For a while.
Till it starts again.
And again till you die.
You never cease to amaze me, Sue. Your creative talent is boundless.
Delete"...it gave her the humphs". Ha! Great use of the prompts, and thanks for giving me a bonus chuckle. :-)
DeleteSo true, we make the same mistakes over and over until we learn. Great story.
DeleteI don't partake of the Words for Wednesday very often as seem to be worn down by the end of the day. Today, I made an effort.
Hugs, Julia
I echo David. Well done, Sue.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I feel so sad for her, the constant striving and never being happy with what she has. Well done.
DeleteThis is a brilliant observation of some people. None in my immediate circle now, but at one time...
DeleteI was saddened by this story, how often some are disappointed in life and it shows, doesn't it. Never ever achieving whatever goals or expectations they have. Really well done piece, EC!
DeleteThis is great, EC. I like the idea of giving someone the humphs.
DeleteAh, poor soul. She knows her problem but cannot overcome it. Well done - food for thought.
DeleteHi EC - what a parable of life as it should be learnt ... excellent story telling - time to come down a peg or two - clever and so well done - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteBuona serata
ReplyDeleteThe desert was CLAY BROWN, interspersed with many other COLOURS, some metallic and shimmering in the desert heat. I had ridden this infernal CAMEL for far too long and I needed the APPLICATION of gobs of soothing salve to the sore spots that were rapidly expanding down my thighs and to regions unmentionable in polite company. How I had been convinced to make this JOURNEY is beyond my understanding. Every BONE in my body ached, every jarring lurch of the camel was a SHOCK to my system, both corporeal and intellectual. I, the supposed heir to the FAMILY CROWN, reduced to CARVING out a name for myself, creating a legacy in fact, on the back of a !@*&ing camel in a desert where the elements showed no mercy. My RIVER of tears will flow forever to become an ocean of lifelong regret. Some things are just not worth it.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: As always I am smiling broadly. And suspect I would agree though himself thoroughly enjoyed his camel trek - though he had reservations about eating meat that had spent a week in the camel's saddle bags.
DeleteI do hope he has a plentiful supply of the soothing salve and perhaps some padding to put between him and the camel?
DeleteThis is a tale well told. I'm sure he learned his lesson.
DeleteSounds like some padded underwear might have been appreciated. I laughed hard at the story, David!
DeleteXO
WWW
Hi David – reminded me of my descriptive thoughts on the Namibian sands … and yes poor thighs – I feel for him/you. The 'supposed' heir … did he become the king?! Sounds like the ocean of tears answered me …
DeleteLovely tale – cheers Hilary
I felt every lurch and bump and aching bone. Well played, sir.
DeleteI really enjoy yours and everyone else's stories with these few words. This is a very clever and creative meme.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. Delores created a really clever and fun meme didn't she?
DeleteHow many years has it been now since Delores started us on this journey?
DeleteRiver: A LOT of years. I still miss her contributions too.
DeleteGetting to it.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: And I am already looking forward to seeing where they take you.
Deleteme too.
DeleteOkay, it will be over here.
DeleteI would would never have dreamed of finding a real CAMEL BONE CARVING as I stopped for an APPLICATION of suntan lotion while crossing a hot dry RIVER bed on my JOURNEY through the desert. It was so hot and dry that day. I was beginning to feel the temperature SHOCK, thinking of my FAMILY back home and that silly crepe paper CROWN I made with the fake stones of many COLORS and a CLAY BROWN cape when we celebrated my brother's birthday. He was king for that party.
ReplyDeleteJulia
Julia: This is great. Finding the carving would have been a wonderful treat and we should ALL be King (or Queen) for the day on our birthday.
DeleteA trek through a desert would probably shock my system, too. It's amazing what memories of our families will pop up at the oddest times.
DeleteI was tempted to take my story to a desert and I am pleased to read far greater efforts about deserts than I could envision!
DeleteXO
WWW
Julia - what we do for our brother's ... lovely soft story - thanks ... cheers Hilary
DeleteClay Brown put in an application to learn about carving a camel bone down by the river.
ReplyDeleteMike: I wonder what Clay Brown will carve?
DeleteVery clever.
DeleteSuccinct entry - thanks Mike - cheers Hilary
DeleteI'll get my thinking cap dusted off.
ReplyDelete
DeleteRiver: I don't think your thinking cap ever gets dusty.
Here's mine, all words and colour used.
ReplyDelete-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The carving was made of bone and the years had burnished it to a camel colour. A perfect tiny fiddle. She held it gently and paid for it without thought. She knew exactly who she would give it to.
The riverboat journey had brought her to this tiny craft shop on the Mississippi River, stopping at each small village on route to let the tourists off to buy local wares.
She was in a state of shock when her application for fiddler on board this boat was accepted. Here she could play all the old Down South tunes while doing her clog dance, enrapturing the crowds every night.
You’re the crown in the family now, her old granddaddy had said when she announced the news.
He would treasure this tiny violin, after all, he had painstakingly built hers from the clay brown trees around his small holding.
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XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: This is truly beautiful. And isn't it wonderful to find that perfect gift for someone we love.
DeleteHi WWW - lovely story ... soft story about life - thank you - cheers Hilary
DeleteAlmost a moist eyes story. Well done.
DeleteGrand job, WWW. Woot. Woot.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
A dream come true story, excellent.
DeleteSaw the CARVING of a CAMEL on a rock as I walked past the RIVER on the way to hand in my APPLICATION for the job of a BONE cruncher.
ReplyDeleteGood stories..
Hi Margaret - excellent to include the possibility of being a bone cruncher ... cheers Hilary
DeleteMargaret D: Now that is a job I have never considered.... Well done.
DeleteHilary and EC...bone cruncher just flashed in my mind!
DeleteOr maybe an application for a license for your dog, Bone Cruncher.
Delete'Bone cruncher" what a job title. Here we have "chicken catchers", the two could go hand in hand no doubt!
DeleteXO
WWW
Quite succinct and well done!
DeleteAwesome reading everyone's story with the words. I went to Egypt and rode a camel next to the Nile river! I really did in Dec!
ReplyDeleteI posted photos on nastravelworld.blogspot.com
Romance Reader: How amazing. I hope you enjoyed your ride. Himself went on his camel safari in Morocco. The stories are great aren't they?
DeleteI'm seeing a clown with a carved bone coming out of it's head. Clowns always look scary to me. Creepy scary.
ReplyDeleteSandy: And me. They are NOT funny.
DeleteHa habido buenas aportaciones, que he leído con mucha atención.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
VENTANA DE FOTO: Thank you so much for reading - and applauding.
DeleteRecovering from journey shock
ReplyDeleteI returned to my family wearing my new crown of colours!
Cloudia: Your crown suits you well.
DeleteI'm sure you earned the crown.
Delete