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http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS
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Author: Sandra Pavloff Conner
NaPoWriMo – Day 6 – ‘Cutting It Close’
Tongue in cheek, everyone. I know it isn’t quite playing by the rules, but when you’re out of time, you have to ad lib.
CUTTING IT CLOSE
If I don’t write a poem today, ’twill be a pity.
But I’m so tired and worn it’s hard to think.
Perhaps if I just hum awhile, I’ll find a ditty.
I feel as though I am right on the brink.
So tra-lala-lala-lala-lala-lala;
Now, just a few more words I need to rhyme.
Doowah-doowah-doowah-doowah-doowah-doowah.
At last: a poem, just in the nick of time!
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NaPoWriMo: Check it out and join the fun.
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Urrggghhhh!!! I Need a Little Feedback.
Hi, everyone. I’m needing a little feedback concerning the details of the appearance of my posts right now. I need to know two things:
First of all, I’m trying a new background picture, so I need to know if the text is clearly readable over that background, or if I should remove it and opt for something solid again.
Secondly, I seem to have such a terrible, terrible time getting a site that has a good sized, very readable font. I don’t intend to pay out more money for that problem, since I’m spread pretty thin these days as it is. And I have experimented a little with using the different possibilities in my toolbar ( Pre-formatted, headings, etc.) But I can’t find anything that will actually let me type an entire post into the editor and have it all look the same from beginning to end and be easily readable.
For the most part, I have written my articles in a document and then copied and pasted them into the WP editor. That has usually worked, but sometimes it does not. I’ve had a particularly difficult time with this newest theme.
So tell me, on most of my articles (which are copied and pasted – like this one), is the font easily readable, and does it all look the same throughout the article?
Also, tell me if you have discovered any tricks to getting more control of the font — other than using the HTML (I refuse to go there). —- Or have you discovered a free theme that offers a large, very easily read font as a part of its original package? The biggest problem, as far as I’m concerned, is that all of the default fonts are so tiny. You have to enlarge the screen a couple times to make it comfortable to read. I think that’s ridiculous.
I have experimented with doing a couple blogs on Blogspot because on any theme there, the blogger has control of the style of font and the size at all times. However, the community of bloggers over there is not nearly as friendly as my WP family, so I don’t want to have to move. But this font problem is getting REALLY frustrating to me. (I will add, however, that I’m not quite as bad off as the picture would imply. I just liked that picture.)
Thanks a bunch for your help.
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NaPoWriMo – Day 5 — ‘Hideaway’
Well, I missed writing a poem for Day 4 of NaPoWriMo, but I just can’t get everything into the same 24 hours. However, I have one for Day 5. You will find it below the picture.
Give me a private hideaway,
Where quiet is amplified,
No harsh intrusions of busy worlds,
Just nature, satisfied.
Give me a private hideaway,
With warm, sun-dappled light,
Where solitude croons to my soul:
There I’ll find myself aright.
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25-Word Story Challenge: ‘Wedding Plans’
Here’s my story for the 25-word story challenge.
WEDDING PLANS
“Sorry folks,” Carter said. “Seems my bride eloped with someone else.” He laughed. “She took the car I’d arranged for my own last-minute escape.”
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To join in the fun, hop over to the challenge itself and get the details (link above). It’s really easy – well – easy to join – not so easy to write a complete story in 25 words – but, hey, if it were easy, why do it, right?
“`
NaPoWriMo – Day 3 — The Flood
We are now to Day 3 of NaPoWriMo, and since our hostess insists that the prompts on the host site are completely optional — and that we are free to write any poem we choose — I have taken the liberty again today to write a poem that I had in my heart. We have had a whole afternoon and evening of stormy weather and much flash flooding in our area. That situation caused me to feel so much for those who are dealing with fast-rising waters that this poem just rose up in my soul. You will find it just below the picture.
THE FLOOD
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
We must lead all the horses from the barn.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
Find the cow and calf so they don’t come to harm.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
Collect all mother’s quilts and hand crochet.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
We don’t have much time left in which to get away.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
Wrap up the photos and the Bible dear.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
We must not take the time right now to shed our tears.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
This old beloved home may not last long.
Hurry, Tilly, the water’s rising;
But we’ll still have each other safe, and our love’s strong.
~~~
“`
Writing Challenge: The 25-Word Story
Well, my jolly blogging buddies, I have a new wee challenge for you this morning. Most of us have heard the story that at one point in his career, the writing legend Ernest Hemingway accepted a challenge to write an entire story in just six words. I don’t know that anyone knows the exact details of how that challenge came about, but the 6-word story attributed to him is the following:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Now, I’m issuing a challenge that is not quite as onerous as the one he met. And, in fact, it’s the same challenge I gave my college-level creative writing students this week: Write a complete story in only 25 words (or less if you prefer). You may choose the subject matter.
You have one week to accomplish this task. Final post day, April 10 (although I have no objection to your posting a story at any time after that if you feel so inclined). When your story is complete, simply post it on your own blog, then copy and paste a link to it in the “Comments” section of this post. Leave a comment too if you’d like.
Please be sure to include a link to this post on your own site as well, so that your readers can learn about the challenge and take part too. And hop over during the week to check out the links to other writers’ stories.
Also, please remember that this site is open to readers of all ages, so it posts absolutely no “R” or “X” rated material.
If you’re interested in participating but do not have a personal blog, feel free to post your story on your Facebook page or your LinkedIn page. (It’s short enough to go into the update window.) Then copy and paste the link in the “Comments” here.
When I write my own story, I’ll give it a separate post and paste a link here on this page with the rest of yours.
Are you ready? Let’s write!
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NaPoWriMo – Day 2 — The Locket
Day # 2 of NaPoWriMo gave us a prompt that called for a poem based on a myth. But I just couldn’t seem to get my muse in gear for anything mythical, so I hunted up a part of a poem that I started writing almost a year ago. For some reason, I just never could seem to finish it, but I decided that today was going to be the day. I guess my muse was okay with a poem about love, so here it is – just below the picture.
THE LOCKET
I found a locket nestled 'neath a tree.
It sparkled, and it twinkle, and it surely winked at me.
It looked forlorn, forgotten, skimmed with dew,
And I felt an intruder as I wondered what to do.
At last I reached and plucked it from the grass.
The chain was fragile – I could tell – and had a broken clasp.
A lovey heart, engraved on back and front,
Showed me it was a gift of love that someone still would want.
I opened it with tender, loving care,
And found, all safe and snug inside, a single lock of hair.
The curly tress was of the darkest brown,
And I felt so entranced by this small mystery I'd found.
But I was in a quandary what to do:
How to locate the rightful owner I had not a clue.
Then finally I thought, “I'll advertise,
and if the owner sees my ad, there'll be a nice surprise.”
I tucked it in my pocket, nice and warm,
And, eager to relay my news, I headed quickly home.
I couldn't help but sing a little song,
So happy I could have a part in helping love along.
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Velvet Verbosity # 372 – Short Engagement
Velvet Verbosity this week presented us with the word “Smack” as our prompt for a 100-word story. Below the picture is my story. I didn’t have any choice but to write it. The concept SMACKED me in the head and wouldn’t go away.
THE SHORT ENGAGEMENT
“Daphne, for weeks I’ve fought against the whole idea of loving you. I’ve argued all the reasons I should never even consider marrying you. You’re too unsophisticated and uneducated to fit into my social set. And your looks – well – you know what you see in the mirror. I need a beautiful woman beside me – who matches my looks. So you can see how I’ve struggled.
“Yet … I’ve lost the battle, Daphne. I am in love with you and cannot escape it. I’ve decided to marry you and suffer the consequences. Here’s the ring.”
SMACK! The black eye lasted a week.
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(My apologies to Jane Austen for borrowing and abusing her unique “love” scene idea from Pride and Prejudice. I just couldn’t pass up the perfect fit of that concept with this prompt.)
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NaPoWriMo – Day 1 – Contemplations on “The Last Supper”
This piece is part of my involvement with NaPoWriMo. The site suggested a prompt for the very early hours of April 1st, aimed at those poets who live in countries where the day began many hours before it did for the hostess of the site. I liked that prompt, so I decided to use it for my poem even though I live in the midwestern U. S., and April 1st came much later for me than it did for most of the world.
This particular prompt was to write an ekphrastic poem — a piece inspired by or about a work of art. It was a real challenge for me, and I enjoyed every minute of working on it.
You can check out the rules and jump into the fun here: NaPoWriMo (The National Poetry Month challenge to write a poem every day for the 30 days of April).
Contemplations on Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper
Behold the blessed, holy convocation,
Preserved for us to ponder as we gaze.
In transient elements, the artist painted
Eternal substance; impartations that amaze.
We look upon the faces art has captured
As loved disciples try to understand
The Master’s words; He speaks of sacrifices
And of His blood and body freely given for man.
Their eyes – so full of love, yet consternation,
Trying to grasp full meaning of this meal.
All other Passovers remembered history,
But now the sacrifice sits here with them, so real.
In colors both subdued and yet alive,
The artist welcomes me to come join in
Our Lord’s last supper and His revelation:
He’ll now go forth to pay the price for all my sin.
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Oh My Goodness! It’s Almost National Poetry Month!
I cannot believe it. When I think about all the poems I wrote last April for NaPoWriMo, it seems like just last week. How can we be right at the door of the next National Poetry Month already?
Well, one reason it seems so recent, of course, is that I’ve just recently had a book come out that includes quite a few of those poems from last NaPoWriMo, so I’ve been working with them again fairly recently. But today it really hit me that I’m going to have to get my rhythm and rhyme on and get down to business again next week. NEXT WEEK!?!?!? YES!
Last year I was two days behind, so I had to work even harder to catch up, so this year, I’m going to be ready and waiting for April first. And while I’m at it, I’ll just add that I think we should re-christen that day anyway.
From now on we must not refer to April first as “April Fool’s Day.”
As of this post, I hereby christen April first “POET’S DAY.” We have a Mother’s Day, a Father’s Day, a Grandparent’s Day, a Children’s Day, a Veterans’ Day, a Secretary’s Day, etc., etc., etc. So it’s only fair that the world be given a chance to celebrate those rare individuals who lighten the soul, tantalize the senses, plumb the depths of the heart, and carry us away on meter and rhyme and figurative language. LONG LIVE THE POETS!
If you want to be ready for NaPoWriMo 2014, hop over and check out the preparations underway at the home site: http://www.napowrimo.net/
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Velvet Verbosity # 371 — The Call
THE CALL
I’m sitting here, watching water splash from paddle to paddle on the old wheel. Granddad built this mill 100 years ago. With its massive grindstones, he and Gramma ground almost every kind of grain a man could grow.
“Ain’t nothin’ more satisfyin’ than seein’ that grain turn into flour to feed the families in these hills,” Granddad said – almost every day.
When Uncle Henry inherited it, he swore he’d keep it going as long as he lived.
We buried him this afternoon, and the old grindstones came to a halt.
They’ve earned their rest. But their silence beckons me inside ….
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This week’s Velvet Verbosity challenge is to write a 100-word story based on the word “Mill.” Visit the site to meet the creator and host of the challenge and learn the rules.
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Six-Word Saturday
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Visit the creator and hostess of “Six-Word Saturday” here:
http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS%C2%A0
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Bananas About Bananas
I just finished off one of the most delectable bananas I have eaten in ages! The skin was golden yellow, but not too deeply golden. There was still a hint of green on the stem. The meat of the banana was firm and without blemish. And the flavor literally exploded in my mouth. MmmmMmmm!!!
I do love bananas, but I’m also extremely particular about my bananas. I can’t stand them if they are soft enough to feel the least bit mushy, or if they are starting to turn brown. Now, my hubby was just the opposite. He’s with the Lord now, enjoying the fruit of Heaven, which I’m sure is far superior in every way to what we have here, but when he was earthbound, he was also particular about his bananas. He wanted them brown – almost to the point of being disgusting. And if they were almost mush, that was even better. Ewwwww!
I never changed his opinion, but then he never changed mine either – which didn’t cause a problem because when we bought a bunch of bananas, I ate mine during the first few days, and then after they were ready to pitch as far as I was concerned, he dived into his half of the bunch. (Would that all differences in marriages could be so easily resolved, huh?)
Now, I am a great lover of banana bread as well, and I realize that when we make banana bread or muffins, those bananas are supposed to be especially ripe and very soft. That’s supposed to make them at peak flavor. And I don’t mind the thought of them being ripe and mushy once they are hidden in the bread, but I’d rather someone else make the bread so that I don’t have to see them as they go in. Ridiculous, I know, but, hey, we all have to have some kind of little idiosyncrasies, or we wouldn’t be individuals, right?
Another of my favorite treats is banana splits. But, alas, I am also particular about those. I want the old fashioned kind – which can be found almost nowhere these days – with three different flavors of ice cream, covered in three different kinds of topping. I’m sorry, but unless I have vanilla ice cream on one end covered with pineapple topping, strawberry ice cream in the middle covered with strawberry topping, and chocolate ice cream on the other end covered in chocolate syrup — and BOTH halves of a whole banana (not just a smidgeon stuck on each side) I have NOT had a banana split. Needless to say, it’s been a while since I’ve had that satisfaction.
But on to my next favorite: banana pudding. And, of course, I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that I’m also very particular about that as well. I do not want my bananas to turn dark while in the pudding! But that problem is pretty easy to avoid, because when I start eating banana pudding, I usually don’t stop until it’s gone anyway. Or if it’s a very large portion, I might have some left for a second day, and that’s it.
The last item on my banana list that I consider a delicacy is banana ice cream. And I don’t want any of this artificial flavoring stuff. I want real bananas flavoring my ice cream. I can still remember, as an elementary-age child, making trips on hot summer nights to the local ice cream stand in our neighborhood. My family and I looked forward to those trips several times a week during those summer months, and I always ordered the same flavor: you guessed it – banana. Oh, wow – happy memories are made of banana ice cream!
Ooops, I almost forgot one more of my favorite banana recipes: banana and peanut butter sandwiches. And, of course, there are rules. The bananas should be slightly firm and very evenly sliced. The bread is best toasted. I spread a thick, even layer of peanut butter on the toast; then line up those banana slices. Depending on the size of the banana and the bread, I might get three rows of slices, but I can sometimes get 4. That’s good — and healthy — eating.
Now, what about you, readers? I’m looking forward to some feedback on this subject. How do you folks out there like your bananas?
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Photo of ape
http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/primates/ape_banana_branch.png.html
Photo of bananas, by Prashanth
http://www.clker.com/clipart-83002.html
Photo of banana split, by Maliz Ong
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=42616&picture=banana-split
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Another Blogger Joins the Family
Just want to put in a plug for a friend of mine – who is also currently one of my creative writing students. A few months ago, she took up the challenge to stretch her creative muscles and start a blog. So I’m posting the link to it here, in the hope that some of my readers will hop over and visit her, and comment on anything they like. She has a little prose, a little poetry, a little humor, and a lot of pictures.
You’ll find her at Lyra’s Place here on WordPress.
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The Happy Wordcrafter 
