Travelin’ on, flowing forward, no matter what.
This is the first time I’ve taken part in this challenge, but I do love flowers, so I’m tossing my hat into the ring this week.
Visit the host page and see what’s behind the challenge:
http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/
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Nine degrees below freezing, with wind chills of 20° below. Thirty below, with wind chills of 55° below. And that’s in the ‘lower 48.’ Forecasts sound like a broken record: “Ice and snow today, with snow tomorrow, and more ice the following day. Look for more of the same next week and the next.” Snow in Florida; Atlanta snowed under; San Diego Airport shut down – due to snow.
What on earth is going on? I don’t remember a winter when such extreme, bizarre weather swept the ENTIRE nation – and just kept on coming. I’m tired of it, certainly, but I got to thinking today that the real problem for a lot of people just might not be here on earth after all.
The real problem could be for all those people who have been decreeing, nonchalantly but repeatedly, that there are certain things they’re so against doing that they would do them only when Hell froze over. And I’ve just been pondering that situation. Do you suppose that this year just might possibly be the year that Hell really does freeze over?
Anybody out there getting nervous???
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Friday Fictioneers is always such fun, and I’m so glad when I can manage to take part. This week’s prompt is a photo by Claire Fuller. You’ll find it below, followed by my 100-word story. (Actually my story is definitely over the limit on words, but it relates an example of true events that are taking place on a regular basis with prisoners from a maximum security prison close to my hometown. I learned about these projects a few years ago and the difference they are making in the rehabilitation of prisoners — as well as in the lives of the people served by the end results. This week’s photo brought the projects to mind, and it’s worth sharing the concept even though it takes a few more words than is technically “legal.”)
A MAN OF VALUE
Eddie couldn’t hold back the tears as he stood at the building site, his hand gripped by Tony, an ox of a guy with tears in his own eyes as he thanked Ed for his part in the project. Tony and his family had lost everything and had no place to live. But today they’d received the key to a brand new home.
Eddie, serving the 7th of his 25-year sentence, had worked in the carpentry rehabilitation unit for three years now, making prefab elements for these low-income housing projects. Getting permission to be present at the site for the presentation was a dream come true.
He’d considered himself scum for most of his life, but today – wiping tears away with his shirt sleeve – he began to see himself as a valuable human being with something worth giving to life. Dang, if he wasn’t actually looking forward to the next 18 years of helping create a better life for a lot of people.
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Visit our hostess, Rochelle, and get the scoop on how to participate:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/31-january-2014/
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It’s nice to be able to participate again this week in Julia’s 100-word story challenge. It’s been a while since I got a chance to take part, so I’ve enjoyed this time around, and I hope the rest of you are enjoying coming up with your own stories as well. Here’s my offering:
CARRIED ON A SONG
I heard the song today. As I walked through Hilliard’s department store, a customer opened a jewelry box, and the melody tinkled across the room. My breath caught in my chest. Tears sprang to my eyes. But my heart smiled. Whenever I hear it, I think of you.
Roger loves me, and our boys are treasures I’d never part with, but my heart still aches for you. Fate may have decreed us bitter enemies in this horrible war between our nations, but as long as I live, my love will seek and find you in the strains of that song.
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To get the scoop on how to participate, visit Julia here:
http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week119/#comment-18155
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The month of love is almost upon us, and Valentine’s Day is rushing toward us at full speed. The store shelves are heavily laden with enormous boxes of fine chocolates and all manner of stuffed animals holding out decorated hearts. Florists are gearing up for orders of more roses than they get the whole rest of the year. Jewelers’ cases display sparkling hearts in all shapes and sizes, and as for the greeting card business – yep, it’s booming. I enjoy Valentine’s Day well enough, but I’m just not in the mood for all the ooooey-goooey cards and messages yet. So I decided that I’m going to do a series of ‘Irreverent Valentine Sentiments’ this week. It’s my attempt to lead into the holiday with a lighter touch. Here’s # 1.
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HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!
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Six-word Saturday hostess:
http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS
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I must apologize for an error on this post. I got my original connection to this challenge through another blogger, and even though I did go to Sonel’s site, I evidently misunderstood the full requirement of the challenge. All of the photos in this challenge are SUPPOSED to have been edited and shown with the original and the edited versions together. I somehow got the idea that the editing was optional, and none of these have been edited except the last one. I won’t change all of them now, but at least if anyone else is considering getting involved, you know that you should pay better attention to the details of the challenge than I did.
Visit Sonel’s site to learn about the challenge:
http://sonelscornerphotochallenge.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/photo-editing-challenge-unusual-angles/
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One of my favorite painters of all time – Mr. Bob Ross – once said, “There’s nothing worse than a stiff cloud.”
So … my advice today: Don’t let your clouds get stiff !
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http://bobross.com/
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I’ve just recently discovered Ray Ferrer and his work here on WordPress. He does unique work, and this dancer painting is my favorite — so far. I wanted to reblog this post so that all of my other readers will learn about Ray’s art as well.
Ray Ferrer - Emotion on Canvas
“Dancer”
Original / Signed ONE OF A KIND By Me – Ray Ferrer
Spray paint on aged printed sheet music by me. Framed
Frame Measures 13″h x 10″w
Art Measures 11″h x 8.5″
Frame Color: Black
**SOLD** See what I have here—> Ray’s Shop