VJ’s Weekly Challenge #115: Pathetic fallacy

October 5, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

Ribbons of colourline the landscaperaucous revelry Autumn clouds gathertheir brooding silencethreatening celebration Overnight the wind rosecarried with it the tearsof our imposed isolation. (Pathetic fallacy is a literary device used to convey emotions/mood through reference to the weather. The poem is my attempt. A better example is the novel, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë, where […]

Shelly’s Invisible Treasure Box

October 4, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Known in class as the Quiet One, Shelly is given to wandering away from her desk for no reason. Mostly, she is good natured and easy to get along with, and as her teacher, I can tell you she is quite bright. What most don’t know is that she is a collector, somewhat reminiscent of […]

Farewell September

October 1, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Last photos of Sept 30th (camera and iPhone) for Bushboy’s photo challenge.

VJ’s Weekly Challenge #114: What’s in the Box?

September 28, 2020.Reading time 1 minute.

“What’s in this box?” “Good question. To be honest every time I look at the contents, I just…” “… glaze over?” “Exactly.” Turns out there were pens and lightbulbs and notepads, and something Ric’s been looking for. Likely the contents of a junk drawer – you know, the stuff you put out of sight because […]

When the Unravelling Started

September 27, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

It was a neighbour girl that started it. We played together one day – a rare occurrence, as she seldom came outside. “How do you know you’re not adopted?” she hissed at me, as if to say: You don’t know everything. I started to answer, but then, the words got stuck. How did I know? […]

Pick-me-ups!

September 25, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Freshly picked wishesa bundle of encouragement –immunity boost! (For Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.)

Settling In

September 23, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Slowly finding my footing again after what feels like a lost week. Our house has been buzzing with well wishers and workmen. New counters are in, as well as new light fixtures. Pictures are hung. Furniture arrives in trickles – a side effect of COVID. I am grateful for all of it.

VJ’s Weekly Challenge #113: How It All Started

September 21, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

The meeting was both exciting and a letdown. Exciting because it was my first attempt at a social event in over three years, having been bed bound all that time. A letdown as soon as the participants talked about early morning walks as the best way to spot birds. Mornings were still tough for me, […]

It’s Not Easy Being Green…

September 20, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

…especially when you dwell in Northern climes. Now, down south, green is all the rage: (A male mallard in a local ditch, and green jays taken along the Rio Valley in Texas. For Bird Weekly challenge.)

In the Aftermath

September 18, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

All the fading bitsdetract – I am still alivepassion asserting. (A quick check in. I am recovering well; still needing lots of rest. Thanks for all the good wishes. Image from my collection.)

Dear Child

I know a little girl,whose hair in ringletsfalls, unkempt from lackof brushing; who standswhen she should be sitting;who laughs with defiance whenchallenged, her dark eyes gleamingwith mischief; who holds her chin uphigh and stamps her feet, arms foldedin protest when she does not get her way. I see that little girl,have watched her play,with a […]

Re-de-fine-d

Ask me how I’m doingand I’ll say “fine”, notbecause I’m actually fine,but because “fine” is the onlysocially acceptable response. If I said that I have been lyinghere, for three hours now,willing my body to move,that would elicit unsolicitedadvice and tarnish my “fine”. I’d berate myself for breakingmy promise not to moan,knowing that complainingprovokes a compulsive […]