Bluebirds and Birch trees

 Dear Chapter 1,  Why must you be so difficult? Forgive me if that seems forward. But I really think we have a problem. Your incessant inability to say what you mean, or what would be right to say. Tendencies to dawdle and delay, no knowing what to say. Why, just right now I do believe you enjoy not having any words on your page.  Oh how you infuriate me Chapter 1! You really do. Rewrite and delete, the circle is always the same. Oh when oh WHEN will you let me say what it is that I want to say!  Chapter 1, I know you have a load of possibilities, all wrapped up into one and simple phrase. That first sentence, that first solitary strand of words that so often change the tide. Must you be so picky, with both your words and understanding.  I do have to say, that this is quite possibly the most hardest thing I've ever had to say.  Chapter 1. You are the hardest.  No offers of what should be said or how I should proceed. You have no guidance a...

 It's not every day you meet a pirate captain. It's certainly not every day that you're asked to go on an adventure with that said pirate captain, either.  But unfortunately for Bartholomew the First, that's just what happened. (Though, asking is an extremely loose term for what happens.) The strange girl only known to him as Captain Bracken, had suddenly landed in his shop one day; quite literally.  Bartholomew Beadsted had just been putting the finishing touches on a particularly picky customer's top hat. It had taken him a full three hours to convince his patron that there was no way he could in fact make the hat fly, without it leaving the mans head. "Then attach a strap you silly buffoon!" The man had cried, waving his arms in the air like a propeller. "What do you take me for? An idiot?"  Bartholomew thought it best to remain silent on the subject. But, as it was, the man had not been satisfied with the strap either. So it was reall...

This short story was prompted by three things, but not all taken exactly.  What is the opposite of a kiss?   Breakfast dates.  Start with a word randomly selected from the dictionary.  -Waffle House- "I know!" He yelled. "If you'd known you wouldn't have gone in there, you idiot!" She yelled back. "Oi, guys, can you two bring it down a notch. My parents are still upstairs." Miles pleaded. Stephan, Avery and Miles along with two dogs and a cat were hanging out in the basement of Miles's parents house. Aside from it being 2 am. and the fact that they were all hyped up on soda's and pizza it had been a relatively smooth night so far. Now all Miles could think about was how the next time they all got together he was making sure he brought caffeine free drinks.  Stephan and Avery were hashing each other out in loud whispers while Miles was nodding off on the couch surrounded by his three pets.  He decided to leave them to it, they...

 Why hello there readers! Have you come to join me today? For on this, the February the seventh, is my two year Blogiversary! To be honest, I don't know what all to include on such a thing as a Blogiversary. But, I've got to start somewhere!  How this all came around on this little blog of mine, was short list, and a rather simple goal. Summer 2015 - A Brief List 1. Learn as much as I can. 2. Be the best I can be. 3. Connect stronger with God. 4. Do the things that have been set in my heart to do! And the goal, of writing one short story for every day of the year. Because, as I said then– "It's impossible to write 365 bad short stories if you write one a day!" (I'm quite certain I'm quoting someone here.) So how did that all go so far? Well, let's see. Learn as much as I can... well, that's quite a lofty goal. But I'll say that I've managed to learn what it is that I've needed to learn when I n...

"All textbooks should be burned." -my Mom, Jan. 30, 2017.

Grab the keys, and get in the car. We're going drivin' don't you worry, it's not far. We're gonna sing till the sun comes up, hit the green light, fill 'er on up. Get the gas and turn the key 'cause my friend, we're gonna get Slushies. Mango, pineapple, and strawberry too. I'll order Fanta, and grab a Malt too. We're gettin' slushies, and just before ten. So don't you worry my friend, we'll be back home 'fore then. I got mine, and you got yours. Drive on safe now and watch the road, our Slushies in hand and we're headin' on home. But don't you worry my friend, 'cause we'll be back before ten. An Ode to 10 o'clock Slushies©Mae Fort

Dapper and sonder, Whither and wander, Here or there, and still further ne'er. Words that please the mind, and sounds that roll from tongue. Sound so beautiful and blissful, I cannot fathom mine. Tell me your favorite word, and I shall tell you mine, so long as I am not left breathless, in the wake, of your mind. Word of the Day: A Poem©Mae Fort

 I looked outside, and I could see the neighbors television.    I looked outside,       and I could see the lights     and I could see the cars.  I looked outside and I could see the streetlights reaching out so far, I could also see the houses all shut up, and dark,  I looked outside and all I could see...                                                           ..... was that I could not see the stars. ©Mae Fort, A City so Dark.

Well. They're at least the answer in the Redwall audio book I've had playing in the background. Any of you reader's ever read Doomwyte?  While I'm going along my merry way of having changed my goal on what I'm writing for November once again, this is a goal I know I can make. One that I will do all in my power to complete as well.  I'm not prepared to write the novel I've been attempting to write for the past 15-16 days. Now, I'm writing a collection of short stories and hopefully fabulous tales to reach the 50 thousand word goal.  If anything else, I am going to teach myself commitment. Commitment is not a light word, neither in speaking terms or in meaning.  But more on that later.  I have already written one short story that is just under 5k words. And in my search for learning the basics of editing a piece of writing, I came across a website I had read before. And my personal opinion, it is a very handy piece of advice!   https://warriorwrit...

 I think I like living like this; with my knitting and my books, and a good cup of tea.  None to complicated, as it's just me.  I like living like this; with my blankets all around me.  Snuggled up and warm, as it should be.  I like it like this, all fuzzy and calm.  I like like this, in the blistery morning  Mae Fort©

 Not being able to find a satisfactory breakfast is starting to become a bit of a habitual thing. As I am endeavoring to not eat gluten for every meal, it brings breakfast options down to one thing: eggs.  But, as I am not inclined to cook for myself every morning, I am resorting to the large cache of leftover halloween candy. This morning's choice; a package of M & M's that held 18 pieces.  Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend candy to start off the day, but chocolate does go so well with coffee.  Today marks one week for NaNoWriMo. I myself have already written plenty of words, and I do hope at least some of them are good. Because, as with all first drafts, you have to have some room to maneuver.  I've been thinking again about the Book Room Challenge. I find it very interesting at the different styles at which different writers approach the challenge. Some focus on the mood or tone of the room, describing the music you'd hear, or the types of lighting, thi...

 Rain, rain, why do they always tell you, Go away?  Rain, rain, come back another day, Don't you know I want to play?  Rain, rain, your touch like laughter. Rain, rain, run helter skelter.  Don't you see me running now, Wishing you would come back down.  Rain, rain, you sooth my fears. Rain, rain, like I have no fears.  Rain, rain, I wish you well, Rain, rain, you lift my spell.  Rain, rain, like sweetened honey, Rain, rain, you are so funny!  Rain, rain, you move like the ocean, Never stopping, never ceasing.  Rain, rain, with you, I feel like I am breathing. Rain©Mae Fort

 Today was full of more fun than I would have given it credit for this morning. Considering I was more than just a bit peeved when I realized I wasn't told about meeting up with friends to watch my towns parade, not to mention I didn't know the parade was today. However, once we got there things improved greatly! While this was the second year I've gone to go see the parade, and only a little under a year of knowing a whole lot of my friends here, today was still full of firsts. 1) I took pictures of the parade with my film camera. 1b) Someone moved right in front of my camera right as I took a picture of a team of horses that I wanted to get a picture of. 1c) My friend and I made a lot of sarcastic comments about some of the people in the parade, mainly the ones that were on their smart phones.. seriously! You're riding horses in a parade and you're on your phone!? Who does that? 1d) Very few people wave in our parade... and I don't know why. 2) I bought...

 So much happened today, so I'll try to to this in some semblance of an order.  First off, today's excursion was a bit overshadowed by a doctor's appointment in the early afternoon, but the things leading up to it made it a little bit better by each little event, and a few others made the waiting for results far more bearable.  Things started off by going to a grocery store that my family loves, at which about five minutes into shopping, two little girls started saying. "She has a Elsa braid!" I had to look for a couple seconds before I saw them, and their mother was smiling at me and asked if I had seen the movie (Which I had). And the two girls continued to say I looked like Elsa, and every time we went past them in the store, one or both of the girls would stare at me until we were out of sight. So today, I was mistaken for a Disney Princess, and that made me feel wonderful!  Then, at the checkout of the same store, I got some free advice relating to coll...

My friend's Sarah and Katie have nominated me for a blogging award! Thank you two so much! Here's their blog for you all to check out - Sister Projects   Here are the award rules , copied from her blog 1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog. 2. Answer the questions that the blogger who nominated you has provided. 3. Nominate four other bloggers. 4. Create ten questions for your nominees and notify them of their nomination. (I'm breaking this rule a bit - I 'll ask just three questions rather than ten.) And if I n ominate you, you do not need to participate, but I do think you r blog is amazing! Sarah and Katie 's questions for me : 1. Who inspires you? You can name anyone - someone you know personally, a historical or literary figure, a world leader, a celebrity... absolutely anyone that pops into your head.  Answer - I would have to say Audrey Hepburn, she has always been an inspiration to me in so many ways. Whether ...

 Mrs. Hemmingsworth of Valadin lane had only one thing mind, and one thing only. To find someone who could and would make her, the most perfect cup of tea.  Some would make it too strong, while others too weak.      Some would add too much milk, or not enough cream. And heaven forbid those who dared approach her about adding in green.  Mrs. Hemmingsworth of Valadin Lane had tried and tried again in vain, to find the one person who could and would make her, the perfect cup of tea.  The only one that had come close, was a student from France on a business trip, but despite all things, they had forgotten to add in the cream.  So they were out, and like a shot. Till good old Mrs. Hemmingsworth had gotten her leave.  So about one morning at half past ten, she came across one girl with a doll and a pen.  "You're looking for someone to make you tea?" She asked. Mrs. Hemmingsworth agreed, for it was no secret that it was she, the o...

 The rhythmic sound. A slight crunch with just enough sweetness. The warmth from the open window. And light from beyond the curtains. His apron full of apple peel rings, and scattered 'cross the floor. And all on the table, so many many more. His brown boots surrounded by gold and red alike, and pieces of other things mingled in the light. The buzz from humming a slightly off key tune, matching up with the swishing broom  Getting up from his seat, and the peels falling to the floor. He carried a large wooden bowl, out the door. Walking round the white farm house, sitting down out back. He picked up from the garden, herbs and bric-a-brac. Seasoning his dish of apple rings, he headed back inside to finish up things.  The crust was ready, the oven was bright. And there was to be sure, to be pie tonight.  So to be sure that this is the story of an apple that made it to pie. The tale of a man, who had but one skill.  To make the one and only very best, apple pie...

  Although a time of silence and slight chilliness in the church, a little grey frocked girls' mind wasn't on the songs that were being played through the crackling speakers. No. She was as far from that building as she could have been. She stood still with the others in the pew, and sat with them as well when they were seated. But she couldn't understand all the words being spoken, not when there was so much crying around her.  She didn't even know why there was a box, she didn't even know at the time that her great-grandfather was inside. Her little hand was gripped in the firm grasp of her older sister, and she didn't even know why so many people where crying. Then, she watched as people went up one by one and talked, but even seated next to her sister in silence, she didn't understand. When people began walking by the box, she followed her family as they passed the coffin. But all she knew, was that she didn't want everybody to be crying. Then, when ...

 So, I've been told that the music you listen to as you write has an effect on how you write, or how the story tends to play out. So I'm going to try it. So today, it's easy going electronic.   Walking along the pier, feeling the salt spray wash up, she shivered as chills ran up her arms. The pier. Always silent at this time of day, despite the wonderful weather they always seemed to have this time of year. Holding her hand above her eyes as she walked along, wishing she had brought a hat for the glaring sun. It seemed that no matter how brightly is shone, the sea always managed to catch the warmth with it's frigid sprays along the waterfront. But she didn't mind.  Buttoning up her cardigan as the wind became harsher she reached the end of the dock, watching out over the water, her skirt flowing about her, she shivered again as another spray flew up from in front of her, this time nearly wetting her shoes entirely.   She lowered her hand slowly, squinting out ov...