‘
~~~
Silent Sunday 5/28/17
‘
~~~
Uncategorized
HAPPY SUNDAY!
`
`
♥♥♥
Daily Post Prompt: Reprieve
`
Yesterday I got to thinking
What a mistake I’d be making
To proceed with plans of taking
Vows of marriage to that man.
So I pondered how to fix it —
How I could politely nix it —
It befuddled me, I’ll admit.
Could not come up with a plan.
But an e-mail came today,
And now everything’s okay.
For reprieve he’s made the way:
He eloped with his friend Stan.
Whew!
~~~
The Greater Fear
—————–My friend, fellow poet Dennis O’Brien, from Australia, has spoken truth in this article — in both poetry and prose. Good job, Dennis.
A Judgement on Paris
Beirut – once Paris of the East,
Until Mohammed’s flock increased.
Soon Paris, as the fiends infest,
Will be the Beirut of the West.
It seems that when it comes to human nature, the greater fear will always win out. One would think that the recent bombing in Manchester, added to the long list of Islamic terrorist atrocities over the past decades, would be enough to make people in the West afraid of the rise of radical Islam in their countries, and vocal about it, but the majority it seems still have that much greater fear – the fear of not being thought of as good and virtuous or even worse. (but then, is there anything worse than that these days?) And of course this is a well-founded fear: If you wish to keep your job, particularly if you work in the public service or for…
View original post 315 more words
Coffee Thursday 5/25/17
I’m getting a late start on this week’s “Coffee Thursday” post, and I actually missed last week altogether. Life is just too, too busy right now. In light of that fact, I think I’d better make this week the last “Coffee Thursday” for a while. Maybe when things slow down a little, I’ll bring you some more posts on the “elixir of life.”
In the meantime, here’s a happy “coffee thought” for you.
“Oh Taste and See That the Lord Is Good” (Psalm 34: 8)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
His blessings, they are rich and warm.
His presence gives forth an aroma so fresh;
A weary soul He can transform.
He’s just like a good cup of coffee — it’s true;
Quite stimulating and upbeat.
Robust and bold, yet quiet and smooth,
Like coffee, He’s the perfect treat.
Yes, I know I took a little liberty with this scripture, but I happen to know God has a sense of humor too.
~~~~
Daily Post Prompt: Impression
My impression of her was that she was a snob of the first order, sold on herself, and way too aware of how much money she had to throw away on her frivolous lifestyle. Everywhere she went, she wore only designer clothes and shoes, carried $200.00 designer handbags, and reeked with the scent of the world’s most exclusive colognes. I had read about her in the newspapers and tabloids for years, and I knew she was prone to taking all she could get and treating people who worked for her like indentured servants.
So when I arrived at her office for the interview that my editor had set up, I was surprised to see her sitting on the floor playing jacks with a six-year-old girl. When I introduced myself, she rose from the floor, offered me a seat on her office sofa and a cup of tea. Then she lifted the little girl to her feet, kissed her cheek, and told her to run to her mama and come back at noon when they would go out for corn dogs.
I sat there on the sofa with my mouth open until she sat in a chair beside and smiled broadly. “Well, now,” she said, “You’re Catherine Field, from Women On The Move magazine. I read that periodical every month without fail, and I’ve enjoyed your articles immensely. You have a real talent.”
I was stunned — couldn’t seem to find my tongue. Finally I stuttered out the words that I was thinking — about being surprised to find her playing jacks with the little girl she’d called Deborah.
“Oh, that,” she said — and gave a little chuckle. “You see, when I was a child — well, actually, until I was about sixteen — I lived in abject poverty. I barely had clothes enough to wear to school — when I went to school — and I never had dolls or tea sets or anything like that.” She paused and became lost in her own thoughts for a moment, then continued.
“But, you know, as odd it it sounds, it wasn’t the baby dolls or the tea sets that I missed the most. I remember seeing some other kids at school playing jacks at recess, and they always had so much fun. I wanted to play too, but they wouldn’t have anything to do with me — because I wore shabby clothes and hadn’t always had a recent bath. None of them would teach me to play, and I just watched them day after day, wishing that I could have a turn.”
“So when I grew up and managed to work hard enough to make all the money I needed, I bought scores of sets of jacks — all colors. And I play all the time. Deborah is one of my favorite partners. Her mother works for me, and I let her bring Deborah to work with her on Fridays because her baby sitter can’t come on that day.”
I swallowed my shame the best I could. It stuck in my throat and almost choked me, but I managed to get through the interview. The woman I got to know during that hour was so different from the impression I’d amassed in my own head that I felt as if I were interviewing someone else entirely.
All the media reports had focused on the surface elements of this woman — as I had — and strategically formulated a persona that fit what they wanted the public to read and believe. I fell for it completely — even though, as a journalist, I should have considered the possibility of such a hoax.
I can’t make up for all the horrible things I’ve thought and felt — and said — about her in the past. But I can do my best, through the article I write relating this interview, to make sure the rest of the world gets the correct impression of her from this point on.
~~~
Hi There! – Daily Post Prompt
Look Out for the Arrows!
`
YAY!!!!! Finally!
A QUIVER FULL OF ARROWS is finally available in paperback at Amazon.
An author is by her books the way a mother is by her children: she never really has favorites. However, if I were forced to choose only one of my 12 novels as a favorite, I think it would have to be A QUIVER FULL OF ARROWS. It isn’t the most important novel I’ve written, and it hasn’t sold as well as the “Smoky Mountain Series” books, but it has a charm that no other book has.
Even though I wrote the story — and have read it multiple times to edit, correct, and tweak it — I can honestly say I still enjoy it immensely every time I read it. I laugh; I cry; I feel happy; I feel poignant. And I always come to the words “The End” with a huge grin on my face. I hope all my readers do as well.
You can have that experience too. Check out the synopsis and purchase your copy of A QUIVER FULL OF ARROWS for $7.99 at Amazon now.
~~~
Wanted Poster
Love Qualms? – Daily Post Prompt
Got any qualms about falling in love?
Well, take it from me – an old lady.
There’s just nothing like it when it’s the real thing.
It’s super, and I don’t mean maybe.
If you and your mate share a genuine love —
The kind that puts each other first —
It makes all the difference in living this life,
When things are at best or at worst.
There’s comfort and coziness, smooches and hugs
And help with decisions galore.
And though aggravations creep in now and then,
It’s still good to share all the chores.
So if you’ve been given a chance to share love,
Don’t wonder and waver and wait.
Cast off your qualms and lift up your head;
With courage embrace your soul’s mate.
To participate in today’s prompt visit Daily Post.
~~~
Reflections in Cinquain – Daily Post Prompt
`
Moon glow
Comes from sun glow:
Burning orb of daylight
Shines covertly on reflector
At night.
Moonbeams
Come from sunbeams
Stretching, reaching to touch
Reflecting face of ev’ning moon:
Night light.
***
Think Pink! – Daily Post Prompt
`
A bit of Pink Cinquain to brighten your day:
Think pink
When skies are gray,
When troubles weigh you down;
Make a decision to rejoice:
Think pink!
Visit Daily Post to submit your “pink” post.
~~~
Coffee Thursday 5/11/17 – Coffee You Eat
`
No, you didn’t misread the title. There really is coffee that you eat. It’s the brainstorm of the U.S. chocolate and coffee product manufacturer, Tierra Nueva — based in Miami, Florida. I came across the product as it is being sold through Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in my area of the country.
Tierra Nueva has three different versions of the coffee thins — Latte, Espresso, and House Blend. Krispy Kreme’s versions offer three flavors: Original Glazed Doughnut, Cappuccino, and Caramel Machiato.
Called “Coffee Thins,” each of the individually wrapped thin squares — a little less than 2 inches in size — is composed of a blend of 100% of the coffee bean — plus some chocolate, some flavoring, and a few other ingredients to help give it texture and hold it together. And because it is made primarily of coffee, the producers say that it has the same effect in the body as coffee we drink from a cup.
However, just how many squares make up a cup of coffee — and how big a cup — is a little confusing. The packages show a picture that clearly indicates that one square is equal to one cup of coffee. (Now whether that’s a real 8 ounce cup or the common 6 ounce cup that most traditional coffee makers measure is not clear.) And the explanation is further muddied by the online advertisements — one of which says that each square is equal to 1/4 cup of coffee, while the other one says 3 squares equal one whole cup of coffee. (Still no indication of what size cup). So, my fellow coffee drinkers/eaters, I guess you’ll just have to try them out for yourself and decide what they offer in comparison to the liquid.
How do they taste? Well, now there I can help you more. I discovered the Krispy Kreme brand at my local Kroger store, and the first thing I did — after taking the pictures — was talk with one of the employees, Mr. Brian Dilday. He said he had tried the Glazed Doughut flavor and he really liked it. So, since he seemed to think it was a worthwhile investment, I decided I’d try one, but I went for the Cappuccino. It is very smooth and has great flavor. It definitely tastes like coffee — and chocolate — and cappuccino.
More recently, I discovered that Dunkin’ Donuts has produced their own version of coffee thins as well, but I haven’t sampled any of those.
I guess the big question is will I buy more coffee thins and eat them regularly? No, I don’t think so. I really enjoy drinking my coffee. Furthermore, a good deal of my enjoyment of coffee is the rich, comforting aroma while it’s brewing, and as it steams up from my cup. You can’t get that from a little square piece of chocolate. Added to that drawback, is the fact that I often like to enjoy eating something sweet along with my coffee, and if I ate the “Coffee Thins” while I drank the coffee, I’d end up with a definite caffeine buzz. Normally, I can’t tell any effect of the caffeine in the coffee I drink. And often I even drink the half caffeine/half de-caff kind, and I can’t tell any difference between them. But if I made a habit of drinking and eating coffee at the same time, I think it would be a severe lack of moderation on my part. And why bother???? I enjoy a cup of coffee rather than a bar of coffee. Plus — in the long run, brewed coffee is still cheaper per cup than the ‘candy bar coffee.’
I couldn’t help but wonder if this phenomena migh turn out to be a little like the digital book readers. They give you the printed words of a book on a lighted screen, and, yes, it’s true you can get the sense of the story just as well as when you’re turning the pages of an actual book. But there’s just so much extra satisfaction in holding that book, smelling the paper and ink, and turning each page individually that cannot be replaced by a hard, flat digital reader. Similarly, I’ll not be replacing my warm, fragrant, fortifying cup of good hot coffee with a little bar any time soon.
If you’d like to know more about “Coffee Thins,” and locations for purchase, you can simply go online and type in the general term “coffee thins.” That will get you a big selection of websites that tell you more about the product and give you lists of stores in your area and online.
Until next week, enjoy your coffee, my friends — however you ingest it.
~~~
Wordless Wednesday 5/10/17
^^^
It’s So Great to Be in Love?
Oh, I wish I were in love.
How I love to be in love!
It’s so great to be in love —
Until you’re dumped.
Oh, but love is so exciting,
With emotions all igniting,
In the favored one delighting —
‘Til you’re dumped.
I believed in sweet romance,
Loving arms in which to dance,
Titillated by a glance —
Then I got dumped.
Now, I’m not so sure of love,
It’s so hard real love to prove,
And if I don’t fall in love —
I can’t get dumped!
Perhaps I should let my faithful readers know that this poem is not based on a true story. Actually it grew out of a brief experience I had today when I turned on the car radio and heard a song from my high school days. It took me instantly back to a restaurant where I was enjoying some time with a guy I “thought” I was semi-in-love with. He never did allow the relationship to develop into anything serious, and for a short time, I was unhappy. However, by 5 years later, I was thanking God that I never got into anything more serious with him than a mere friendship. I do pity his wife a good deal. But as I thought about that experience, I just sat down to write a poem about how we tend to fall in love with love sometimes, and — well — this is what I ended up with.
~~~
