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:
- Girth
- Pummelling
- Lizard
- Blooms
- Corridor
And/or
- Pucker
- Beady
- Salubrious
- Cabin
- Barley
Have fun.
It seems I am a child of nature.
ReplyDeleteThe seasons come and go. Despite our calendars there is no date when a season starts. Instead we meander down corridors until suddenly the new season (whatever it is) is definitely here. Vibrant signal green (and a myriad of other shades) interspersed with the fresh colour of rioting blooms sing of spring to me. In summer the barley yellow of the surrounding fields turns to dust too soon. Autumn begins with arboreal fireworks in shades of red and yellow and finishes with the elegance of bare trees filigreed against the sky. Winter is hard edged by sharp white frost, softened by foggy mornings.
The tasks/events/moods are different too. In autumn I delight in the changing colours of the foliage and am usually flat out like a lizard drinking trying to get ahead of weeding and planting in the garden after a summer of neglect. Winter is my play time. Having discovered the joys of freezing bubbles several years ago I look forward to chilly mornings and the prospect of hours of childish fun.
In Spring I revel (hopefully) in seeing the rewards for my autumn slavery, while keeping a beady eye out for weeds to be nipped out before they set seed.
Summer? Not for me. Others find it the most salubrious season, but I spend my nights pummeling the pillows trying (in vain) to find a cool side. I long for crisp clean sheets not the puckers and folds that appear by magic minutes after I get to bed. Every inch of my girth is hot, sweaty and miserable. Essentially I turn into a troll and try and only come out at night. Others may get cabin fever, but not me. I am happy at home, waiting for the torture to end.
What is your favourite season?
This is definitely you. Love it. Spring (daffodils, irises, and day lilies) is my favorite season.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
"salubrious"
DeleteHad to look that up!
My favorite season? Cumin.
Haaaa.. ha. Ha? I don't even like cumin, really.
Oh I like this, I too hate the summer. I love how you progress the story as it's very you!
DeleteXO
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Fine wording, Sue.
DeleteTo answer your question: I could not decide for one, as I do like both spring and autumn very much.
Sandi: I hope you enjoy your coming season - and I do like cumin.
DeleteSean Jeating: It is only summer I don't like.
Nicely put! I like any season that isn't too hot or too cold. That doesn't leave much, really.
DeleteSuch a pleasure to see your mind work! Thank you friend
DeleteCharming.
DeleteHi EC – you've described the seasons perfectly .. I'd mostly soften them for ours – though we get harsh hot ones, and harsh cold ones occasionally – or have over the centuries. I think I prefer Spring – soft colours, with life appearing – then the beautiful summer landscapes we get. My girth occasionally roils around – it needs to do it more comfortably though!
DeleteDelightful take on these my first week's set of words. Thanks and cheers to your frost bubbles … Hilary
Well done, Sue. Like you, I am not a huge fan of summer with its oppressive heat and humidity.
DeleteI don't blame you for pummelling your pillow. I do it all the time, summer or winter. I don't like the heat or the cold but a happy medium.
DeleteI learned a new word today, SALUBRIOUS and had to look it up. Take care of yourself.
Hugs, Julia
Well done with the prompts, as usual! Spring is my favourite season, watching the garden come alive! :-)
DeleteThe other day, I visited my young neighbours' CABIN. It's located in a quite SALUBRIOUS area. Their SIGNAL GREEN car was parked right outside it.
ReplyDeleteThe cabin had a narrow CORRIDOR leading to a tiny garden with some beautiful BLOOMS
On the bed there was a health cushion filled with BARLEY like mine at home. On the wall, I noticed a small, harmless LIZARD.
The young woman, was attracting attention with her BEADY eyes and a PUCKER between her eyebrows. The husband stood out with a large body GIRTH. He was known as someone who likes PUMMELLING with others.
Great use of words, Duta.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
DUTA: You are so good with these prompts. I suspect I would avoid that couple though.
DeleteA cushion filled with barley. Is that a thing people do? Maybe just poetic license for the prompt! 🙂
DeleteI like the barley cushion though wouldn't use it or for that matter befriend that couple! Well done!
DeleteXO
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Very nicely done EC. I'm not a fan of summer either these days and spring with its pollens is torture for me. Winter leaves me cold and too often shivering as I try to not run the heating too early in the day. Autumn is my favourite now.
DeleteSandi - a cushion filled with grains (not feathers) helps with neck/back/shoulder pain.
DeleteI'd like to know what happens next.
DeleteThe cabin sounds wonderful, I might have to be careful of the neighbors.
DeleteHi DUTA - sounds like a challenging marriage ... but thanks for an interesting take on the words. I can imagine a few stories here ... miserable, mean woman with her expanding girth- grubby husband. Thanks - Hilary
DeleteWell I remembered yesterday - had a busy one today, and then after a few unexpected meet ups - on the bus as one does ... life became busier. Also remembered my selections aren't the easiest ... I'll be back tomorrow - once today's fun and games have gone over! Thanks for joining in ... Signal Green - well that's an interesting colour ... cheers to one and all - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: You are right, your selections are not precisely easy. Looking forward to your return.
DeleteSorry about that ... I wondered after I'd sent them to you - but so far this week ... they've been applied with penmanship-gusto - cheers Hilary
DeleteI will apply my gusto later today, Hilary.
DeleteHi everyone - for some reason the lizard sleaze came to mind ... I've used all the words and just remembered the colour.
ReplyDeleteThat man, that lizard sleaze, had me cornered in the corridor … his girth held me down, while he pummelled me – the advert offered me a gentle massage in a peaceful environment – huh?
His pucker lips kept approaching, yet I knew his beady eyes were on me all the time … yugh – the next place – the cabin – wasn't much better than the corridor, and yes sadly more secluded. It also stank of stale beer … barley flavoured.
My strength bloomed … push … he flopped off onto the floor, bliss I can breathe again … longing for the great outdoors – where life can be salubrious once again.
The level crossing lights changed to signal green – life can safely carry on … the sleazebag was on the train.
Now I'll be back to morrow to read everyone's entries ... cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: And you are back already. Eeeeuw. As Sandra said, that was a close call and I hope he only had a one way ticket on that train.
DeleteHe sounds awful and may the train take him far, far away
DeleteXO
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I am so glad you managed to get away! Being pummelled is not a nice feeling at all.
DeletePhew, a narrow escape!
DeleteAn awful experience all the way around.
DeleteFreedom is wonderful.
DeleteThanks - yes the train was off to Timbuktu or similar ...well away from us! Horror thoughts abound ... sleaze-bag he was ... cheers Hilary
DeleteWhew. That was a close one. Well done, Hils.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Thanks Sandra - thankfully the signal colour came to the fore for the story! Cheers Hilary
DeleteI'll be working on it.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: And I am really, really looking forward to seeing where the prompts take you. As I always do.
DeleteMy story will be over here.
DeleteAnd here I thought I'd left the link already. It will be over here.
DeleteWell, good on David!
ReplyDeleteJenn Jilks: I am so very grateful to all the people who provide prompts here, or on their own blogs.
DeleteI honestly didn't know where I was going with this and there you are! All words and colour used. I've known these creepy Gavins in my time.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sally couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Gavin coming down the office corrido. Not again. The problem was he couldn’t resist dressing like a lizard in that signal green costume and growling around the general office thinking he was funny. Those beady eyes peering out from his head. Creepy.
The costume hid his massive girth of course. That was the point.
“Pucker up little girl, pucker up or Draco the Salubrious Lizard will take you off to his cabin in the woods and…..”
“I’ve had enough of you dressing up like this every Friday at lunch hour and harassing all the women!” and she surprised herself by pummeling his slimy green chest.
Gavin took a barley sweet out of his side pocket and dangled it in front of her.
“This sweety blooms for thee and thee alone!” He growled.
“That’s it!” She shouted, “That’s it Gavin, I’m off to HR to file a complaint. This instant!”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I'm off to see all of yours!
XO
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After all, now we know our lizard's name: Gavin.
DeleteThanks a lot, Mary. Have a salubrious pint of barley juice with us? ;-)
wisewebwoman: Eeeuw. Sadly many an office has a Gavin or two. And they are often powerful.
DeleteI just hope HR listens.
DeleteWhat a creep.
DeleteWell done WWW - love the name 'Gavin' for 'my' lizard ... this one, I note, is also a sleaze-bag. Great story - thank you ... Hilary
DeleteI like this WWW, very much. Gavin will get what he deserves from HR.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look up salubrious to get a better feel for the word.
ReplyDeleteIn the interrogation cabin beady-eyed Sergeant Pucker pumped up his chest girth. In the next moment he was pummeling the signal green lizard sitting in front of him with words. Inspector Blooms couldn't help grinning in the corridor. He was about to play the good cop now and then treat himself to a salubrous pint of barley juice with his favourite colleague at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's the missing 'l'. ;-)
DeleteUff, and an 'i'.
DeleteSean Jeating: I wonder whether the roles of good and bad cop come naturally. I suspect they often do, and really enjoyed your offering this week. I suspect 'bad cop' doesn't drink barley juice but a more distilling libation.
DeleteIt's all in a day's work for them, isn't it.
DeleteHi Sean - thank you ... my keyboard misses out my 'T's ... I have to blame the keyboard!
DeleteI wonder what neat barley juice tastes like ... I think I'd prefer a pint of the normal stuff - though it's not my choice of libation. Fun take - thank you ... cheers Hilary
Hmm. I'm thinking about that barley juice.
DeleteMaybe he need the barley juice, we used it when I was a child for upset tummies and he might have been stressed out. Great take, I love bad cops good cops story. Psychological mayhem.
DeleteXO
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Dear all: Sorry for irritating. Barley juice (Gerstensaft) in German stands humourously for Beer. ;-)
DeleteWhich means, dear Sue, that the beer (Gerstensaft/barley juice) for our two cops not unlikely acts as a whiskey chaser.
Sean Jeating: Thank you for clarifying that. I hope they enjoyed it.
DeleteI feel quite smug; I understood you were referring to beer.
DeleteBenvolgut Sean, vols dir que encara funciona lo de polis bons i polis dolents? ;-)
DeleteHa ha, at least it worked for me. By assigning names to both cops, I was able to tick off two prompts ;-)
DeleteDon't you fancy joining in? In Catalan?!
Aferradetes, Paula.
Hopefully no one pummels a lizards!
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: Or they get their just deserts if they do.
DeleteI'm not sure I'd like desserts after a pummelled lizard - lots of sugar required?! Cheers Hilary
DeleteOh, please, no.
DeleteThere was a beady sweat on my forehead as the pucker in my rear got tighter from the barley whiskey I was drinking in the cabin as I celebrated my unsalubriousness.
ReplyDeleteMike: I don't think I could face drinking anything that puckered my rear - no matter how insalubrious I was.
DeleteHi Mike and Sue - especially if I was drinking on my own ... did you mean unsalubriousness or insalubriousness?! I did have to look it up ... I see Sue's used insalubriousness. My knowledge of English is intuitive ... never known why - that's enough of those thoughts - cheers Hilary
DeletePuckers on rears are not a pretty sight.
DeleteXO
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Hilary - I obviously had to look up salubrious and I thought unsalubriousness fit better. But I'm not placing any bets on it.
DeleteIt sounds like you are having quite the time.
DeleteA wrestler of Girth was the
ReplyDeletePummelling Lizard.
Now he is retired and working in this hotel where he replaces the Blooms in the Corridor. And seems very happy doing it! Quite a change of career.
Cloudia: This is delightful - and what a wonderful wrestling name.
DeleteHi Cloudia - I agree ... this is fun - thank you for giving us a laugh with my words - cheers Hilary
DeleteLove the name and the vision, thanks for that!
DeleteXO
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He wrestled until his love of gardening got the better of him, I guess. Nice story!
DeleteAs always, my story is fantasy. Wasn't easy with these words.
ReplyDelete=============
Popal was in a PUCKER. His wounds bled from the the PUMMELING of the darn LIZARD with its BEADY eyes and too many teeth. His collarbone was probably broken - he couldn't use his left arm at all. He limped as fast as he could towards the CABIN he could see on the other side of the BARLEY field. Behind him, the monster roared at his prey escaping. It was so close, Popal could feel its foul breath, but he didn't look back. He would either make it or he would not.
Finally, he reached the little cottage. Tall flowering bushes crowded the door on both side, their BLOOMS as red as his blood. Almost weeping in relief to have gained the SALUBRIOUS refuge, he flung the door open and flinched in horror. The CORRIDOR behind the door was too narrow. He couldn't fit inside. His GIRTH was twice as wide as the passage in front of him. Only the doorway was wide enough to accommodate his big body.
The monster screeched again, this time in triumph and ran towards him. Popal screamed back his defiance, cursed like crazy, and shifted aside. The lizard charged at the open door. Its momentum wouldn't let it swerve off the straight path. It rammed its huge triangular head into the door, and it got stuck inside the narrow hallway. Its back legs thrummed the ground.
Popal stared in stupefaction before shuffling back a little to peek inside the cabin. The corridor was shrinking, squeezing the lizard's head, until it popped like a broken watermelon. A killer cabin. Dizzy and nauseous, Popal staggered away. At least the monster was dead. Its body already stopped twitching. How fortunate that he himself wasn't lean enough to get into that murderous dwelling. He sank to the ground beneath a large oak tree and closed his eyes. He would rest for a while before continuing his journey.
Olga Godim: Popal had a lucky escape. Very lucky - and any difficulty you had with these words didn't show. I hope the rest of his journey is easier but fear it will not be.
DeleteHi Olga - that's a wonderful flash fiction - thank you ...great fun to read ... cleverly thought out - cheers Hilary
DeleteWell done Olga a breathtaking read!
DeleteXO
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What a narrow escape! Well told.
DeleteGood stories, enjoyed them, read whilst I sipped my cuppa.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: I am glad to hear that.
DeleteI love the word, pucker! Great story, Olga.
ReplyDeleteJulie’s feet were really taking a PUMMELING as she doggedly ran through the neighbourhood. The trees looked lovely and she wished she had more time to enjoy them, the leaves a shade of SIGNAL GREEN for the most part. A cute little LIZARD directed its BEADY eyes at her, without malevolence, content to chase insects among the BLOOMS. She turned sharply into a kind of verdant CORRIDOR that led to towards the little house that resembled a CABIN, and she always wished she could summon the nerve to knock on the door and ask about the history of the place. Once she almost did so, but the smell of BARLEY soup was in the air so she thought she might be interrupting dinner and turned around. This battle to reduce her GIRTH was not for the faint of heart, but Julie was determined not to give up. Now on the home stretch she looked forward to returning to Jack, who would PUCKER up with a kiss and congratulate her, even assuming a degree of sincerity that he was looking forward to another SALUBRIOUS salad for dinner. Thank goodness for Jack!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Well done - to you and to Julie (and also to Jack).
DeleteObviously I took my intention for the deed. But now:
DeleteI enjoyed reading this. An endearing little story.
Yes, thank goodness for Jack, and for Julie doing the hard work it takes to reach the goals.
DeleteWhat a wonderful short. Very vivid. I could see it in my mind. Great job, David.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I love this David, taking us along with her and slowly revealing her life and intent and curiosity and commitment.
ReplyDeleteXO
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Hi David ... I think I'd have stopped for supper and perhaps some barley beer to go with the soup, then I'd have another story or two to tell ... not sure Jack with his pucker kiss would entice me to hurry home ... I'd have hoped he'd have sorted his own supper out. However I'm glad Julie was on the healthy march to reducing her girth ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI think he was making a salad for both of them, Hilary.
DeleteFascinating comments/stories. Love your creativity. Oh, it's been raining here for over 2 weeks! I'm in centred BC, Canada.
ReplyDeleteJoylene Nowell Butler: The creativity (and different story lines) delight me each week. Enjoy your rain - given that you can't do anything else. It rained here yesterday and we will get more today. The garden loves it.
DeleteNewly back to blogging and inspired by your prompts. Not sure if I can be included and if I even addressed the challenge correctly? It was fun to put story to them as a new post on my blog. Not sure I understood signal green?" I'll keep digging around for insight ad more fun. And others who may want to follow each other. I'm still growing back into all this.
ReplyDeleteCj: Welcome and thank you for joining us. I really, really liked your contribution which can be found here.
DeleteThxu! It's refreshing to push the envelope, to press myself to see and write, to offer my view.ife not so muldane.
DeleteThxu! It's refreshing to push the envelope, to press myself to see and write, to offer my view. Life not so muldane. I'm the anonymous one! I'll get this eventually!
ReplyDeleteCarley tromped down the corridor and felt like pummeling anything or anybody who might be in her way. Her furrowed brow, and beady eyed stare were enough to keep any sane person form approaching her. The puckered lizard lips, and bright pink blooms of indignation that spread across her cheeks just increased her look of fury..
ReplyDeleteHow dare that skinny salubrious witch on the treadmill next to her stare at her hips like she was visually measuring its girth.
She was tired, no furious, of unspoken judgements from complete strangers and could not get out of the gym quick enough.
Meanwhile, Jenny continued running while staring blankly at the space Carley had just occupied, not even realizing the woman next to her was gone. She was only thinking of her reward for this workout;; going back to her cabin for her usual cold, malt barley beverage.
Anne in the kitchen: Sorry I am so late responding. I was out much of yesterday. Sadly Carley is right. Judgements ARE made in the gym even if Jenny wasn't (on that occasion). Love your take on Hilary's prompts.
DeleteThe last paragraph turns a good story into an even better one. Excellent, Anne!
DeleteHi Anne in the Kitchen - fun take on the words ... as Sean says you've added to the tales we read - cheers Hilary
DeleteI love this story. Because I am all too often in Jenny's shoes.
DeleteWe never know what's in another's mind, do we.
DeleteYour cats are adorable! I've got two, too. Orla and Nemo :)
ReplyDeletePurple Assassin: Welcome and thank you. Sadly both of these cats have crossed the bridge - and you have reminded me I will have to update my blog to reflect the new boys - who are also adorable.
DeleteI'm having fun just reading all these comments. I'm glad I stopped by.
ReplyDeleteLux G.: I am blown away by the talent on display each and every week.
DeleteImpressive, flavorful entries.
ReplyDeleteBe well, friend. Hugs to you.
Rawknrobyn: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteFinally I got to use some of the words - only two. Link: Thora and Gylfi.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry that I did not make it around and comment on all the individual stories this last week. I read them all, and they helped me forget the pains from my teeth (one extracted, one root treatment).
Delete