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. And huge thanks to those of you who come back, sometimes time after time to cheer other contributors on.
Huge thanks to David M. Gascoigne for providing the prompts last month. The
prompts will be here again this month and are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher .
This
week's prompts are:
- Lurk
- Amber
- Birch
- Drainpipe
- Spelling
And/or
- Flour
- Buttercups
- Light
- Train
- Mullion
Have fun.
The next door girl, nicknamed BUTTERCUPS for her LIGHT yellow hair color, fancied the little AMBER heart on my neck. It was bought several years ago at the market near the main TRAIN station, in Moscow.
ReplyDeleteShe was rather shy to fancy it openly, so she LURKED around, played with the decorative MULLION of the window, and watched the DRAINPIPE which was transferring water from a side room.
I asked the girl to bring me a cup of FLOUR from her Mum, while I'll be outside under the SIGN GREEN BIRCH tree.
When she returned , I gave her a piece of paper telling her that if she could show me her SPELLING of the word amber, or draw the little heart - the piece of jewelery is hers forever. She succeeded in doing both.
DUTA: This is lovely - and very generous.
DeleteI agree with Sue. Generous! Very nicely written too.
DeleteHi Duta - yes delightful ... an interesting tale from Moscow ... and I wonder what more ... well done - cheers Hilary
DeleteA lovely piece from Moscow. Well done!
DeleteXO
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Beautiful story Duta!
DeleteYou used words creatively!
Was the girl next door happy now that she won the necklace?
Beautiful story Duta!
DeleteYou used words creatively!
Was the girl next door happy now that she won the necklace?
What a kind thing to do for her. It's so easy sometimes to make a child happy.
DeleteNice and kind story, I wish there were more of your sort around.
DeleteGreat job, Duta, and what a fun story.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Hilary’s words this week triggered memories for me, so this is factual. And led me down a drainpipe (not a rabbit hole) of internet research. Information is sparse and patchy.
ReplyDeleteMullion Creek is a quiet town with a school, hall and church in New South Wales. A quiet town in a pretty area whose colours range from signal green in spring to glowing gold in high summer. Any buttercups will have been introduced. A quiet town with no creek though Mulyan Creek (no idea why the spelling changes) is not far away. Its population was under 600 in 2020, but I suspect during the gold rush days it was much bigger.
The train stops there but is probably rarely used. I suspect that many of its residents commute to the nearby and much bigger town of Orange (which is noted for its apples) to earn their daily bread and to buy necessities like flour. Many years ago I worked in Orange but cannot remember visiting Mullion Creek.
I don’t know when it was established but its school has been there since 1881. Without doubt the birch was used (I hope lightly) on early students.
Rumour had it that large orange cats (not amber but close enough) were sighted lurking about the town. Many people believed them to be cougars and responsible for killing animals on nearby properties. Given that the area is noted for sheep and beef production I doubt that. Next time we are in the area we may have to stop in and see what we missed all those years ago.
I always enjoy your creative use of the prompts! And I usually get a chuckle out of small-town names: Orange (which is noted for its apples). :-)
DeleteIsn't it interesting that both our countries had a gold rush?
DeleteOrange cats, giant orange cats? Sounds like tigers. Do you have anything like that there? They say on the Internet that the Tasmanian Tiger is not really extinct. How close is that to you? They really do say that, whoever "they" are!
Sandi: The Tasmanian Tiger is indeed extinct - and many, many miles and an ocean away. I suspect that if the culprits were not people (which is my first guess) they would have been wild dogs.
DeleteHi EC - my Sister-in-law comes from Mullion in Cornwall (yes we are near enough truly Cornish) ... orange cats - it could be the soil ... is the earth red in your land of Orange villages known for their apples - funny how our history crosses lines at times. I wondered if the orange-amber cats lingered down drainpipe holes ... rather than rabbit holes. It'd be interesting to return at some stage ... lovely back story - cheers Hilary
DeleteI had to put Mullion on Google maps and many spots in UK as well. I visited your spot online, caught a link to Orange Botanical Garden and that took me in. Always wanted to just travel to one garden after another. Thanks for sharing all your story. Fun prompts that really pushed me back in time. !
DeleteI wonder do you have lynxes in Oz. I had one on my last property and what a gift that was. Bigger than a cat. Orangey Amber, shorter back legs. A great gift. Love your personal take on this!
DeleteXO
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Wisewebwoman: No lynxes here. A dingo is perhaps our only native predator - and I have never, ever heard of them being seen in that area.
DeleteI did love the use of the prompts and love that I learned a little bit about the area at the same time. And I join the others liking a town named orange famous for its apples.
DeleteA city whose name is orange but is famous for its apples?
DeleteVery creative use of words!
Nice story!
It can be interesting learning about the small towns and villages that made up the heart of the land back in the day.
DeleteI hope that you do visit Mullion Creek and post about it on your blog. Something to look forward to!
DeleteInteresting places, if you ever go there, I hope you get to write about it.
DeleteFascinating, EC. A wonderful short story.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
So interesting, Sue! Thanks!
DeleteHi EC - more of my words I see ... here's the 2nd set:
ReplyDeleteOnce they'd repaired the mullions at the train station, they'd paint the woodwork buttercup yellow – then the kids could settle in to the waiting room to make their flour paste paintings … and they'd see the Level Crossing light change to Signal Green.
It was a community place now that the station had been decommissioned.
1st set: Amber lurked in the shadows of the birch woods around the house. She wanted to scale the drainpipe to gain access to the examiner's room to check out the spelling bee questions … Amber was a cheat if she could find a way round things – she'd do it.
What she didn't know was – that there was a spy hiding in the woods … and they had a telescopic camera ready to record as soon as Amber moved towards the house – then the LED light would go from Signal Green to Ruby Red showing recording was in progress. Who knows her fate …
Cheers - I'll be around ... 'busyish' tomorrow but freer Thursday ... Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I love both your takes on the prompts. Hopefully Amber's cheating is discouraged - and what a wonderful way to use a decommissioned station.
DeleteSo creative. Really enjoyed!
DeleteReally sideways take on this Hilary. I enjoyed Amber!
DeleteXO
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I guess you have to watch out for the Ambers of this world!
DeleteI love abandoned stations so much!
DeleteThe spelling exercises must have given Amber a lot to think about!
Nice use of words in the stories anyway!
The station would be a wonderful place for all kinds of events for the town.
DeleteAs for Amber, she needs to learn sooner rather than later that she's not going to always get away with such things.
Both delightful and both vintage Hilary!
DeleteClever way to catch a cheat!
DeleteWoot. Woot. Enjoyed the story immensely.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Nicely done!
DeleteI'll hop to it.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I am looking forward to seeing where the prompts take you this week.
DeleteMy story will be over here,>/a> but I will have to come back tomorrow to comment on other stories.
Deletemessymimi: I really enjoyed your story.
DeleteLurking in the amber drainpipe below the birch tree, spelling out trouble...
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: Oooh. More please. Pretty please.
DeleteOh give tell?!
DeleteHi Alex - clever start to a tale ... as EC and Cj hope ... what does come next?! Cheers Hilary
DeleteNow I need to hear the rest of the story.
DeleteWell spun!
DeleteVery smart start!!
DeleteWhat did?
DeleteYou're a tease, Alex!
DeleteOh fun, going to put in my 2nd attempt! Got an idea!
ReplyDeleteCj: I am looking forward to seeing what you make of them. And glad you have an idea.
Deletegreat stories here, I've never heard of the town Mullion, though I have read of mullioned windows.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Mullion Creek is a very small town in country NSW. I doubt I would have heard of it except that we lived relatively nearby.
DeleteEnjoyed reading all the tales or stories.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed them.
DeleteLet me try to get to this later, Sue. My schedule is crazy right now. Three ladies are waiting for me to take them birding, and we will even be having lunch together. I swoon at the thought! But I will be gone for most of the day.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Whenever you are ready. Have a great day.
DeleteGreat prompts, Hilary. All words and colour used.
ReplyDelete---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The traffic light signaled green as she pulled into the station, the old sports car, his car, buttercup yellow, would stand out starkly against the grey and black of the surrounding sedans. She got out, smiling at the old fashioned amber mullion windows of the ancient train station, the rusty old drainpipe at the corner, the wonky spelling on the old sign, Castel Knock. How many comings and going had it seen over the years, how many rolled eyes at the misspelling of Castle?
She spotted old Harry the station master, in his booth, bent over now as if permanently lurking, his old birch cane leaning outside it. She went over to him and dropped the brown paper bag behind the glass, smiling.
“Your lunch, Granddad, baked this morning from the flour you gave me out of your rations. Is the train on time? You know, my fellah might be on it? Finally coming back from the war. What a party it will be tonight!” her words ran out as she heard the whistle and saw the smoke curling from around the bend and she ran, breathlessly, to the platform. She didn’t notice the tears in Harry’s eyes.
Poor lass, poor lass. Not believing that awful telegram.
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Wisewebwoman: Oh how desperately sad - and no doubt true for far too many. Beautifully, heartrendingly told.
DeleteOh, what a beautifully told sad story.
DeleteStunningly told. Poignant and beautiful.
DeleteAgreeing with above comments. Cursed wars!
DeleteVery good use of words in such a touching story!!
DeleteI liked it very much!!
Oh, what a sad, sad story.
DeleteHit's you in the gut! Nicely done!
DeleteHi WWW - how very appropriate at this time of year ... I know my mother experienced the telegram for her first husband: desperate. Brilliant telling and yes I can see it all as you told it ... thank you - reminding us poignantly of life for many. With thoughts to one and all ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteThis kind of writing (based on use of prompts) helps with improving cognitive ability, and so it's worth the effort. Yes, it is an effort, especially in my case where english is not native language, and sometimes I have to struggle with the word.
ReplyDeleteHowever, making it short, clear, and simple - achieves the goal.
I'll recommend that to anyone , let's say , over 60.
In my opinion, It's much more effective and pleasant than solving puzzles and crosswords.
DUTA: There are a few of you using these prompts in a language which is not your first - and my head is bowed to all of you. Well done.
DeleteEchoing Elephant's Child here! Hats off to all of you who can do this and do it so well!
DeleteYes! I speak what I call "tourist Spanish," but could never begin to attempt to write stories in the language.
DeleteWell done Duta, I now have trouble (from disuse) of composing anything in my native language so hats off to you for accomplishing this feat!
DeleteXO
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I totally agree with you Duta! Sometimes it is so difficult but at the same time so creative, especially for us who are not our first language English!
DeleteHi Duta - I admire you utilising the words in you 2nd (and perhaps even 3rd) language ... they're difficult enough in my own language - but I agree re powers of learning ... so much more fun than solving puzzles - but again each to their own. Cheers Hilary
DeleteWe learn a lot of new words though this and keep the story going and the brain alert - many good things stem from participating in Words for Wednesday not in our native language :)
DeleteAfter helping her mother in the kitchen, Amber left flour coated fingerprints on the mahogany mullions in the living room bay window.
ReplyDeleteIt was her favorite place to lurk while waiting for her sister to get off the school bus. Their house on the hill provided the perfect spot for her reconnaissance.
Though her mother tried to train her to be kind and mannerly, Amber has a mischievous streak that would not be tamed.
Once she saw the signal green school bus turn into the neighborhood , it was time to make her move.
She snuck out the front door, and grabbed a bunch of evening primroses that grew near the drainpipe by the street. She called them buttercups, and from her hiding place away from the daylight in the shadows behind the birch tree, she planned to smash them onto Violet's nose leaving her face covered in pollen "butter".
Doing this would be spelling punishment for her, but in her 4 year old brain, it would be so worth it.
Anne in the kitchen: Amber, liked one of my brothers, learned to weigh up risk and rewards quickly. Love this story.
DeleteIt's so hard to train a child who thinks the punishment is worth it. Nicely told tale!
DeleteA really sweet tale of the little rivalries of childhoods and the envy of the life of an older know it all sibling.
DeleteWell done!
XO
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Cleverly told and just what a 4 year old would do ... thanks for a fun take - cheers Hilary
DeleteHehe, yes exactly what a 4 yar old would do - and often did.
DeleteSo fun! Siblings are such pain sometimes!
DeleteCould the passage be the beginning of a novel,
ReplyDeletewe have a description of an interesting and funny little hero,
a place, a time, a suspense about the outcome of the story...
Katerinas Blog: Many of the short takes published for words for Wednesday could indeed be the start of something bigger. Charlotte (MotherOwl) for example continues her story week after week and River has several continuing stories running.
DeleteGracias por la invitación a participar, pero discúlpame el que no lo haga, ya que llevo varios meses con problemas graves de un familiar cercano, y mi mente no está lo lúcida que debiera.
ReplyDeleteUn cordial saludo, amiga Sue.
Manuel: I am sorry sorry to hear about your problems and hope that all will be well. Hugs.
DeleteSad to hear of your troubles, and praying they'll be better soon. Problems for your dear ones sure can cloud your mind.
DeleteIt was a beautiful day in June and I was admiring the BUTTERCUPS blooming all over my garden, even poking out from behind the DRAINPIPE. The white bark of the BIRCH formed a lovely contrast and I was quite taken with the AMBER dappling of the sun. The LIGHT in fact was perfect. I am quite sure that my neighbour did not enjoy the exuberant wildness of my yard as much as I did; she valued uniformity and grass shorn to within a centimetre of the soil. Even as I revelled in nature’s wild and unpredictable extravagance, she LURKED in the background, visible through the slats in the fence. She tried to appear casual, but the FLOUR up to her elbows betrayed her inquisitiveness. That might be SPELLING it mildly; outright hostility might be a more accurate description. But nothing could restrain my euphoria. I TRAINED my eyes on butterflies on the milkweed, a broken stem resembling a MULLION, and was excited by the sweat bees on the wild geraniums. This is what a garden should look like! And that’s the way it’s going to stay!
ReplyDelete"Unpredictable extravagance" a perfect summary of the garden where all creatures are welcome. And safe.
DeleteWell done indeed David.
XO
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I really did enjoy this. We had a neighbor who liked to sneak more than a glance though our fence.
DeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: That is exactly what a garden should look like - and I try and ensure ours is. Hooray for extravagence in the garden. And the critters we share it with (barring the flour covered variety).
DeleteWhat a pleasure for my eyes. How do you know my and our neighbour's garden, David. ;-)
DeleteYes, that's how a garden should look - mine deos too!
DeleteYou're amazing, David! Well done!
DeleteHi David - excellent take on the words ... love the natural glow of your story-take with the words. Next door neighbours can be so frustrating ... this one obviously is - she should focus on her baking or whatever ... by the understanding of it - no-one would want her overcooked cake or biscuits, so she's wasting her time too ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLate once again, but I used the first six words for yet another chapter in the continuing story over at MotherOwl's Musings.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): I have read and enjoyed your story.
DeleteCj has quietly joined us again and you will find her story at the link of her blogname.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sue! I had a few minutes, so I read everyone's pieces. What a great job they all did. I hope that you are enjoying your weekend! Hugs to you!
ReplyDelete