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.
Charlotte (MotherOwl) has selected New Start Yellow as the colour of the month.
This week's prompts are:
- Beginning
- Masquerade
- Towel
- Shadow
- Life
and/or
- Ending
- Spring
- Journey
- Forager
- High
As always, have fun.
Who ever heard of a colour called NEW START YELLOW? How do people come up with these names? Is New Start Yellow MASQUERADING as last year’s Mustard Bloom or Amarillo Queen? I think there is a job for name FORAGERS. Weirdness is essential. SPRING into the bizarre, embark on a JOURNEY of self-delusion and doublespeak, gobbledygook and marketing spuriousness, which has no BEGINNING and no ENDING. The nouveaux riches are HIGH on their own interpretation of success and self-conferred importance. They are fertile ground for the name foragers. Don’t they know that the LIFE of the nouveaux riches never involved good taste. They always merge into irrelevance in the SHADOWS of the true aristocracy, born to the finer things in life, appreciative, discerning, elegant and modest, refined and armed with actual knowledge. You’ll never hear old money rhapsodizing about their darling New Start Yellow Kitchen. Better throw in the TOWEL now Elon Musk.
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Another quirky and excellent use of the prompts. I am not sure I agree with you about the taste and discernment of old money though. And couldn't cope with a New Start Yellow kitchen. I do like yellow (including bright yellow) but as an accent not a feature. Perhaps not coming from money (old or new) would explain that.
DeleteHi David – Amarillo Queen … too horrible think about … and as you say New Start Yellow – well it'd be great if we could see some yellow. You're right about the idea of doublespeak and gobbledygook – 2025 is going to be full of it. Also those who think of themselves as high and mighty … how many does it take for a fall to happen – two perhaps. What better New Year could we have than that Musk fellow falling off his horse, or being trumped.
DeleteGreat take on the words – cheers David – Happy New Year to you and yours … Hilary
This is excellent and funny.
DeleteWell done David, always a good take on the words. Yes, The Musky One is a real concern though the new word is Mump and variations on that are a hoot:Mumpify, etc.
DeleteXO
WWW
I really enjoyed your text David,
Deletea different perspective on words!!
a very excellent use of the prompts, and relevance to the current US situation. perhaps new start yellow is the color of cowardice on the faces and spines of those who hide behind bullies?
DeleteNicely done, sir!
DeleteVery clever!
DeleteNew start yellow?? Never heard of that one! I'm going to use these prompts to get my 11 year old to practice his creative writing!
ReplyDeleteAsh @ Essentially Ash
Want to follow me on Bookstagram, booktok, add my snapchat or check out my photography?
Ash: I hope that your 11 year old has as much fun as the considerably older people who play here.
DeleteMe too, nothing wrong with having more writers in the world, just creates more for me to read.
Delete2024 has been a difficult year in my life, in the lives of many that I care about and for the world. Peace, happiness, health? Sadly they have been nothing but a masquerade. I am so very glad that 2024 is in its shadow stage and close to throwing in the towel. Each ending is also a beginning and I am guarded but still hopeful for 2025.
ReplyDeleteThe old year will go out with a bang (several bangs) as new start yellow, red, silver and gold fireworks ignite high in the skies around the world. I will probably hear them but will make no effort to usher the new year in.
Nor will I spring up later in the morning with a list of resolutions in mind. My journey is to continue being a forager for kindness, beauty, whimsy, love and laughter. I hope to spread those good things too. All are much more valuable in my eyes than wealth or social attainment.
I wish us all a gentle and beautiful year to come.
Hi EC – love the idea of being a forager for kindness, beauty, whimsy, love and laughter … an excellent thought as we move into 2025.
DeleteThanks for your thoughts and kindness during 2024 – I'd love 2025 to be more caring for many …
That forager idea is brilliant … cheers and Happy New Year to you and yours … Hilary
If only the world could have more Sues, many of our problems would go away, or wouldn’t have been issues in the first place. Happy 2025 with peace, joy and good health. David
DeleteYour writing is lovely, EC. It's 2025 where you are! Hard to believe we can be on the same planet and be in different years. I hope 2025 treats you well.
DeleteLove,
Janie
Happy start to 2025!!
DeleteWith an excellent text!
I really like it E.C.
Very much love your words, Sue. Fortunately, we had rain last night that canceled anyone's plans for fireworks, but I'm sure they will be used in the coming weeks. My only resolution is actually just a tradition I started several years ago of showering at midnight to "wash" away the old year/me and the step into the new year with a "clean slate" and "fresh perspective." This year was also to wash away the stink of the political negativity.
DeleteI pray 2025 is a blessed and beautiful year for you and yours.
DeleteElephant's Child: I like "My journey is to continue being a forager for kindness, beauty, whimsy, love and laughter." - such a good resolution of sorts. I hope you have a lovely new year.
DeleteI wish us all a gentle and beautiful year to come.
DeleteI'll second that! 🍷
Subscric totes i cadascuna de les teves paraules.
DeleteUn text que surt des de ben endins. Gràcies!
Espero que sigui dolç i bonic per a tothom.
Aferradetes, Sue.
sa lluna: I am hanging on - and thank you.
DeleteBuon Anno da Olgica.
ReplyDeleteolgica: Thank you - and to you and yours.
DeleteHi EC - Happy New Year to you and yours ...
ReplyDeleteThe end is the beginning is it not, and so almost certainly 2024's ending is where life starts a new journey towards Spring.
Forager – put that yellow towel down and stop trying to masquerade as a daffodil … life is too short for silly games. Look your shadow is appearing – that yellow globe has at last appeared, this fog has been oppressive.
Let us leap high into 2025 … welcome Words for Wednesday members … all the best to one and all as we ease into the New Year … take care!!
Thanks EC once again for starting us off into another year of WfW, which we all enjoy and relish the challenge of creating a tale, as well as enjoying our friends' entries … cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Masquerading as a daffodil strikes me as a fun thing to do - particularly on a grey day.
DeleteHere's to a bright and beautiful year - for us all.
Masquerading as a daffodil is sometimes the only thing to do when the grey of fog takes over.
DeleteWe should all masquerade as daffodils Hilary especially on the down days.
DeleteXO
WWW
Animal nutritionist in Narkysos.
DeleteI can't imagine it. Very good text!!
Happy New Year Hilary! I love the happy daffodils that appear in the spring with bright smiles. I hope to find them surprising me this year.
DeleteMay we all have a blessed and beautiful year!
DeleteI'll never look at a daffodil quite the same way again.
DeleteYes, let’s leap high into 2025, Hilary. With you as our companion even Cloud Nine is not too high.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine. Story is true about my last rescue you kept running away. All words and colour used.
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was something about Spring that put new life into her bones. Fresh beginnings, fresh explorations. The shadows of the trees weren’t as long on the grass, the sun encouraging the fresh startling burst of hello in the daffodils.
She could hardly conain her excitement as she leaped high out the open door.
This was the life! She thought, this journey is going to be full of excitement, foraging whenever she wanted, diving into rivers, rolling in the mud, no ending in sight for this life of freedom.
Oh, who was she fooling? Night had come down quickly. And where on earth was she? This road was unfamiliar, she had gone too far and she was starved and exhausted. She lay on the sidewalk behind a tree.
This masquerade of bravery was now over.
Hark, there was a car! Her person’s car! It came screeching to a halt. And She emerged holding a towel, covering her in it, saying soothing words about safety and happiness at finding her and even crying a little, drying her off, putting her into the car.
And the last words she heard before falling asleep in exhaustion were: “You’ll be the death of me Ansa, you need to stop this running away business, you’ll always be safe with me. You’ll never ever be with those terrible people ever again!”
_____________________________________________________
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: This is lovely - and I suspect it would be a close run thing whether you gave Ansa more, or she you.
DeleteThis is lovely, I could imagine the happy freedom in the beginning and then the cold and loneliness right before the rescue and safety by "her" person.
DeleteHi WiseWebWoman - well done ... so pleased to see it is Ansa ... they usually get home: thankfully. Lovely story - cheers Hilary
DeleteA touching story with a happy ending. Well done.
DeleteI adore this, and your efforts!
DeleteThey always start out thinking it will be a grand adventure, then reality sinks in. Pets need their people, even when they don't understand it. Lovely story.
DeleteA warm and touching story. Glad it ended well.
DeleteYes, a gentle new year, please. The thought alone provides soul nurturance.
ReplyDeleteLove, peace, and gentleness to you in 2025, EC.
Rawknrobyn: Thank you - we all need your all encompassing wishes.
DeleteSpend the day babysitting, but finally got to it. My story will be over here.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I am looking forward to it.
DeleteI loved your story!
DeleteUn moment molt divertit, després de tot, ja els hi tocava.
DeleteBona història, messymimi!
Aferradetes!
We get out the crying towel as we masquerade happiness in the shadow of winter waiting for the beginning of spring and new life.
ReplyDeleteMike: And over here I can't wait for autumn and winter.
DeleteVery nice use of the words, Mike! Spring with the unexpected flowers awakening from the winter ground is always my favorite time of year!
DeleteWe're cold here, too, but I will not complain, it's better than sweltering in summer.
DeleteVery economical use of the words!
DeleteCom sempre, curt i ben dit.😉
DeleteInteresting mix of words, nothing is coming to me just yet, but I'll have a story on my blog on Friday.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I am sure you will - and that it will be excellent.
DeleteI was beginning to think my life was all downhill from now on. I thought it might be time to throw in the towel, but now the ending doesn’t seem so near. Spring will come and the shadow of the past will fade away. This masquerade journey where I am a forager of negative has changed. Now I am high on living again
ReplyDeleteGlenda Council Beall: Thank you so much for joining us this week. I do hope that this is truth.
DeleteHi Glenda - that's a fun take on the words ... and where we all need to be ... let 2025 be good for us all - cheers Hilary
DeleteA positive message for 2025 Glenda, well done!
DeleteXO
WWW
Wonderful thoughts, and a positive take on facing life head on!
DeleteI do hope the negative goes and the positive comes this year.
DeleteHope the high lasts!
DeleteDon't let those good feelings fade!
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeletee: And to you and Mercy.
DeleteHappy new year everyone!
ReplyDeleteBe well and have fun!
May it be a year with more creativity, mindfulness, writing and reading.
A year of Health, Peace, Love and Joy!
Be well everyone and keep writing,
writing is almost therapy!!
Katerinas Blog: Thank you - and Happy New Year to you and yours. Writing often IS therapy isn't it?
DeleteStretching my creativity this afternoon with the start of a new story that I hope to continue throughout the year, wherever the words and colors take me.
ReplyDeleteCindi: Welcome back. I enjoyed your story and look forward to reading more.
DeleteUsing all the prompts though I use higher instead of high:
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of a new year is always promising and slightly daunting. Let's keep up the masquerade of being calm when bad things happen. Throw in the towel if you want to because after each day, you get to start all over again. The shadows of mandatory tasks ahead might cloud your day but don't worry. Life is a long journey and you are all foragers. You will seek, you will try, you will succeed, you will fail but let's hope for happy endings. Good things will spring upon you and surprise you. For now, there is no higher calling than to get yourself something delicious with a cup of your favorite drink. And while you're at it, wear something yellow to brighten your day.
~ Happy new year! ~
lissa: Wise word to live by - and some cheery yellow doesn't go astray either.
DeleteNicely done.
DeleteHi Lissa - great take on the words ... well done - no worries re higher - cheers Hilary
DeleteGreat job, Lissa. I have a yellow tee shirt I haven't worn in ages. Maybe this is the year to flaunt it again!
DeleteHappy New Year Wishes.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteHappy New Year.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: Thank you - and to you and yours. Rescued from spam again.
DeleteBeginning the 2025
ReplyDeleteMasquerade, bring a
Towel. Could get messy.
But don't like challenges cast a Shadow on your
Life, Dear!
Don't let challenges
DeleteHope it is a good mess! Should I bring soap too?
DeleteCloudia: Messes can be fun. You have me intrigued.
DeleteHi Cloudia - definitely don't let challenges cast shadows - they're learning experiences ... cheers Hilary
DeleteAs you ramble on through life, brother,
ReplyDeleteThrough the good times and the foul,
Heed the words of Douglas Adams
And always take a towel.
◊
In the beginning there was light;
So I’m told told; before my time, to be truly fair.
But you can’t have light without creating dark.
And in the shadows…well, demons lurk in there.
◊
We are all imposters in life’s silly masquarade
So, if some wretch decides to call your bluff—
Hold your ground, hold his eye, and shout:
Yellow card, umpire! Send the bastard off!
◊
There is an illustrated version here
J Cosmo Newbery: Grinning - and off to see the illustrated version.
DeleteWell done J Cosmo ... intriguing - yet life is a masquerade isn't it ... cheers Hilary
DeleteI wish you a happy new year and send you many greetings. Viola
ReplyDeleteViola: Thank you - and to you and your family.
DeleteThoroughly enjoyed, thank you! Happy New Year to you and yours :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. I do hope that someday you will be tempted to join us as well as cheering us on.
DeleteGreat job. I like the illustrated version too.
ReplyDeleteAunque un pelín tarde, paso a desearte, amiga Sue, que tengas un feliz y venturoso 2025.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.