Wow, it's been nearly a year since I wrote that last "pause" post. It's really high time I finish this writing/photo challenge I was doing with my mum last May (yeah, more than a year ago). I said I'd finish it in August or September, once I was done with traveling. Ummm, yeah, that didn't really happen, eh? OK, so now I'm back and ready to write again. Anyhow, without any further ado, back to the still-current writing challenge...
PS - I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with this blog once I'm done with this challenge. It was created for an assignment in my creative writing class my last year at Southern. I've used it off and on again sporadically since spring 2010, but these days I'm finding myself doing most of my writing on my main blog (when I do any at all...). I think it might finally be time to retire this one. Thoughts?
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Pause...
Well, I hit a snag in this May month challenge. My mum got pretty sick for a week in mid-May and didn't take or post her pictures. Then she posted a whole bunch all at once when she got better. And I just didn't get back into finishing up the challenge. So therefore, this challenge is now officially on hold until sometime in August or September. I promise I'll finish it, but you might have to wait a few months to get the finishing touches. Sorry, but that's the best I can promise you right now. Do check back in August or September, though, because I'm planning for the last half of the challenge to be just as fun as the first half was for me. And as always, thanks for checking out this blog every once in awhile and leaving comments. I love all you readers!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Alphabet Day 16 - Letter P
May challenge
Philip stood under the large Canadian flag in his hometown. It was good to be back on home soil again. It was good to be home again finally. He walked around the large park downtown. Smelling the pine trees and willows. Breathing deeply of the fresh lake breeze. Exhaling out the stresses and worries that had built up inside since his last visit. Somehow just being home always made it all melt away, no matter what the reason was for being back. He found a spot in the sand away from most of the park-goers and dug slight hole which he fashioned into a simple seat. Then he sat and watched the people pass by, the kids riding their bikes, the young teens rollerblading, the older teens sauntering along in small groups, the young adults walking hand in hand, the parents pushing baby strollers, the middle aged striding by in pairs of small groups talking while they power-walked, the elderly shuffling along holding each other's arms or using canes or walkers. Suddenly Philip realized the sky had darkened, the wind had died down and the day was ending. He hadn't even gone home yet, but had stopped just over the bridge to enjoy the park. His parents were probably going to worry if he didn't get going soon. For a second he was surprised they hadn't called his cell phone yet, but then realized he'd turned it off at the border. Hopping up, he jogged back to the parking lot, jumped in his little Mazda, pulled it back onto the main road, and headed for home.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Philip stood under the large Canadian flag in his hometown. It was good to be back on home soil again. It was good to be home again finally. He walked around the large park downtown. Smelling the pine trees and willows. Breathing deeply of the fresh lake breeze. Exhaling out the stresses and worries that had built up inside since his last visit. Somehow just being home always made it all melt away, no matter what the reason was for being back. He found a spot in the sand away from most of the park-goers and dug slight hole which he fashioned into a simple seat. Then he sat and watched the people pass by, the kids riding their bikes, the young teens rollerblading, the older teens sauntering along in small groups, the young adults walking hand in hand, the parents pushing baby strollers, the middle aged striding by in pairs of small groups talking while they power-walked, the elderly shuffling along holding each other's arms or using canes or walkers. Suddenly Philip realized the sky had darkened, the wind had died down and the day was ending. He hadn't even gone home yet, but had stopped just over the bridge to enjoy the park. His parents were probably going to worry if he didn't get going soon. For a second he was surprised they hadn't called his cell phone yet, but then realized he'd turned it off at the border. Hopping up, he jogged back to the parking lot, jumped in his little Mazda, pulled it back onto the main road, and headed for home.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Alphabet Day 15 - Letter O
May challenge
Olivia stared at the painting on the wall as she sat in the waiting room. What was it supposed to be? The sky? The ocean? She couldn't decide, so she picked up one of the parenting magazines sitting on the small oak coffee table and leafed through it. But she couldn't concentrate. Why was the person ahead of her taking so long? Finally she was called in. When she left the office a while later she glanced at the picture again. Maybe it was the sky and the ocean. Maybe it was a stormy sky above a wavy ocean. She smiled and patted her stomach tenderly as she rushed out the door to meet her husband for lunch. Storm. Sky. Ocean. Those could all be possible baby names.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Olivia stared at the painting on the wall as she sat in the waiting room. What was it supposed to be? The sky? The ocean? She couldn't decide, so she picked up one of the parenting magazines sitting on the small oak coffee table and leafed through it. But she couldn't concentrate. Why was the person ahead of her taking so long? Finally she was called in. When she left the office a while later she glanced at the picture again. Maybe it was the sky and the ocean. Maybe it was a stormy sky above a wavy ocean. She smiled and patted her stomach tenderly as she rushed out the door to meet her husband for lunch. Storm. Sky. Ocean. Those could all be possible baby names.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Alphabet Day 14 - Letter N
May challenge
Natalie giggled as Jaxon lead her through the forest. The sky was baby blue through the tree branches overhead and Jaxon's hand in hers was warm and confident. He jumped over a large log that had fallen across the nearly invisible trail and with his help she easily hopped over it too. As he started up a steep incline, Natalie pulled back and doubled over to catch her breathe. "Jaxon, can we rest for a minute. I'm about to collapse." He turned back and his excited grin quickened her heart. "Come on, the ridge is just ahead," Jaxon said, wrapping his arms around her to straighten her again. He brushed a quick kiss to her flushed cheek and started bounding up the trail again. She groaned, but only halfheartedly. His energy was just too exuberant not to get caught up in it. She gathered all her strength and followed her boyfriend who was waiting halfway up the hill. When she reached him, he grabbed her hand again and almost dragged up the rest of the way to the top. "Wow," she breathed as they emerged above the trees. The green valley spread out below them, split in two by a thread of blue. She slowly turned to take in the view from all directions. Jaxon tugged an old stump to a flat spot a few feet away and then rummaged around for a second one. They sat side by side watching the sky lighten into lilac and then cherry blossom pink. Just as the as the pink sun peaked over the horizon, Jaxon squirmed off his stump. Before she could ask what he was doing down there in the dirt, he dug a small box from his pocket. Holding it up to her, his eyes the same intensity as the rising sun, he said the words. "Natalie, I love you. Will you marry me?" Shocked, she stared down at the chunk of sandy blond hair falling across his brow. "What? I mean, now? I mean, you planned this all? I thought we were just going to camping for the weekend." He knelt up on both knees and clasped her hands. "Of course now, silly. Don't you remember how we started dating? At sunrise on the last morning of our freshman kayaking trip." She nodded, still staring into his warm brown eyes. "Nat, are you going to answer me?" he asked, shaking her hands with excited impatience. "Will you?" Her face broke into a wide smile. "Of course I will. I've only been waiting for this for like a hundred years." The fiery ball emerged from the mountains to the east, beams stretching out to warm their cheeks just as Jaxon pulled her down into his lap and kissed her. When he let her go, all she could do was lean against his chest, too happy to even speak. When the sun was higher in the sky she suddenly remembered something. "The box, Jax, what's in there? You know I never needed a ring." Jaxon picked it off the ground and brushed the streaks of dust off the polished wood. "Open it," he said, holding it out to her. Natalie flipped open the lid and gasped. A tiny picture of that morning five years ago was mounted on one side of the box. The other side was empty. "That's for a picture of today," Jaxon whispered into her ear. "I know you love documenting your life with pictures. I brought a camera." Jaxon held up the small camera and as she smiled with her face smooshed beside his, her heard soared. If she didn't know before that she was making the right decision, she certainly did now.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Natalie giggled as Jaxon lead her through the forest. The sky was baby blue through the tree branches overhead and Jaxon's hand in hers was warm and confident. He jumped over a large log that had fallen across the nearly invisible trail and with his help she easily hopped over it too. As he started up a steep incline, Natalie pulled back and doubled over to catch her breathe. "Jaxon, can we rest for a minute. I'm about to collapse." He turned back and his excited grin quickened her heart. "Come on, the ridge is just ahead," Jaxon said, wrapping his arms around her to straighten her again. He brushed a quick kiss to her flushed cheek and started bounding up the trail again. She groaned, but only halfheartedly. His energy was just too exuberant not to get caught up in it. She gathered all her strength and followed her boyfriend who was waiting halfway up the hill. When she reached him, he grabbed her hand again and almost dragged up the rest of the way to the top. "Wow," she breathed as they emerged above the trees. The green valley spread out below them, split in two by a thread of blue. She slowly turned to take in the view from all directions. Jaxon tugged an old stump to a flat spot a few feet away and then rummaged around for a second one. They sat side by side watching the sky lighten into lilac and then cherry blossom pink. Just as the as the pink sun peaked over the horizon, Jaxon squirmed off his stump. Before she could ask what he was doing down there in the dirt, he dug a small box from his pocket. Holding it up to her, his eyes the same intensity as the rising sun, he said the words. "Natalie, I love you. Will you marry me?" Shocked, she stared down at the chunk of sandy blond hair falling across his brow. "What? I mean, now? I mean, you planned this all? I thought we were just going to camping for the weekend." He knelt up on both knees and clasped her hands. "Of course now, silly. Don't you remember how we started dating? At sunrise on the last morning of our freshman kayaking trip." She nodded, still staring into his warm brown eyes. "Nat, are you going to answer me?" he asked, shaking her hands with excited impatience. "Will you?" Her face broke into a wide smile. "Of course I will. I've only been waiting for this for like a hundred years." The fiery ball emerged from the mountains to the east, beams stretching out to warm their cheeks just as Jaxon pulled her down into his lap and kissed her. When he let her go, all she could do was lean against his chest, too happy to even speak. When the sun was higher in the sky she suddenly remembered something. "The box, Jax, what's in there? You know I never needed a ring." Jaxon picked it off the ground and brushed the streaks of dust off the polished wood. "Open it," he said, holding it out to her. Natalie flipped open the lid and gasped. A tiny picture of that morning five years ago was mounted on one side of the box. The other side was empty. "That's for a picture of today," Jaxon whispered into her ear. "I know you love documenting your life with pictures. I brought a camera." Jaxon held up the small camera and as she smiled with her face smooshed beside his, her heard soared. If she didn't know before that she was making the right decision, she certainly did now.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Alphabet Day 13 - Letter M
May challenge
Mitch slid his binder out of his bookbag and set it on the stand. He pulled the stand up to the right height and flipped the binder open to "Moon Over the Ruined Castle." He picked up his bow, tightened it, tested it on his strings, readjusted the tightening and set it on the strings again. He breathed out, then slowly pulled the bow across the strings. Shrieks rang out as the bow skittered and bounced along. He regripped the bow, only stopping the shrieks and producing squawks instead. Mitch grimaced and stopped. He held the bow in his left hand, shook out his right, then carefully arranged his right hand over the bow again. The second try was slightly better. Mitch got through the whole piece and started again. His lesson was tomorrow and he wanted to at least sound better than the five year old who had lessons before him. If he was going to impress Val, he had to try harder, do better, sound like something other than a garbage truck braking to a stop. Mitch practiced for another 45 minutes, playing through the piece, stopping to practice difficult sections, practicing fingerings. By 3:30 when his timer buzzed, Mitch's fingers were sore and blistered. He carefully set his cello down, rose and stretched. Then he went into the kitchen, dug through the freezer and backed out with a bag of peas wrapped around his fingers. He'd practice again later, but not he need to collapse onto his waterbed and take a nice long break.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Mitch slid his binder out of his bookbag and set it on the stand. He pulled the stand up to the right height and flipped the binder open to "Moon Over the Ruined Castle." He picked up his bow, tightened it, tested it on his strings, readjusted the tightening and set it on the strings again. He breathed out, then slowly pulled the bow across the strings. Shrieks rang out as the bow skittered and bounced along. He regripped the bow, only stopping the shrieks and producing squawks instead. Mitch grimaced and stopped. He held the bow in his left hand, shook out his right, then carefully arranged his right hand over the bow again. The second try was slightly better. Mitch got through the whole piece and started again. His lesson was tomorrow and he wanted to at least sound better than the five year old who had lessons before him. If he was going to impress Val, he had to try harder, do better, sound like something other than a garbage truck braking to a stop. Mitch practiced for another 45 minutes, playing through the piece, stopping to practice difficult sections, practicing fingerings. By 3:30 when his timer buzzed, Mitch's fingers were sore and blistered. He carefully set his cello down, rose and stretched. Then he went into the kitchen, dug through the freezer and backed out with a bag of peas wrapped around his fingers. He'd practice again later, but not he need to collapse onto his waterbed and take a nice long break.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Alphabet Day 12 - Letter L
May challenge
Lance sighed as he swiped the dust rag around the lamp and photo albums on the end tables in the living. Dusting. His least favourite chore. He would rather do anything else in the house than dusting. He scooted along on his knees to the matching table on the opposite end of the couch. He stabbed his cloth-covered finger at the corners of the picture frames decorating the table. Ester Lily, dressed in a pink tutu, smiled precociously out at him from the nearest frame. Ester Lily and her love of vacuuming. Sometimes it was kind of cute, but today it was nauseating. He wanted to be outside playing baseball with the rest of the boys living on their street. But instead he had to finish up his chores first. From the dining room he heard Ester Lily belting out one of her made-up songs as the vacuum vroomed around the room. Lance made a face at picture-Ester Lily and continued moving around the living room, doing a good enough job the extra dust wouldn't be noticed, but not being as careful as he knew his mother would like. The sunny spring afternoon and the shouts of the other boys already at the field down the street were too tempting to be thorough today.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Lance sighed as he swiped the dust rag around the lamp and photo albums on the end tables in the living. Dusting. His least favourite chore. He would rather do anything else in the house than dusting. He scooted along on his knees to the matching table on the opposite end of the couch. He stabbed his cloth-covered finger at the corners of the picture frames decorating the table. Ester Lily, dressed in a pink tutu, smiled precociously out at him from the nearest frame. Ester Lily and her love of vacuuming. Sometimes it was kind of cute, but today it was nauseating. He wanted to be outside playing baseball with the rest of the boys living on their street. But instead he had to finish up his chores first. From the dining room he heard Ester Lily belting out one of her made-up songs as the vacuum vroomed around the room. Lance made a face at picture-Ester Lily and continued moving around the living room, doing a good enough job the extra dust wouldn't be noticed, but not being as careful as he knew his mother would like. The sunny spring afternoon and the shouts of the other boys already at the field down the street were too tempting to be thorough today.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Alphabet Day 11 - Letter K
May challenge
Kailee stretched as tall as she could. The tips of her fingers brushed the bottom of the door knocker. She stretched again and this time her fingers were able to flip the knocker just enough to bang the door. "I'm coming, just give me a minute," came the sing-song voice inside the house. A slow shuffle approached the door and Francis flung it open. "Well, dear, what a nice surprise! Just come right on in." Francis crooned at the sight of the tiny four-year-old. Kailee smiled up at her. "Mrs. Flannigan, my mummy told me to bring you over this container of cookies. She made a lot today and she doesn't want me eating too many." Francis motioned the girl in as she replied. "Well, isn't that sweet of your mummy! I've been hankering for some of her cookies the past few days. She makes them almost as good as my dear mother used to." Kailee followed Francis into the living room and sat down in the small wooden rocking chair that was always set out just for her. "Mrs. Flannigan, can I watch you sew again? I love your old sewing machine." Francis took the container from the child, tugged on the lid with wrinkled hands, and finally pulled it free. She held out the box to Kailee, who happily took a small cookie and munched on it while waiting for a reply. Francis fished out a gingersnap as well before setting the container on the coffee table. "Well dear, it just so happens that I was just getting ready to do some sewing. A lady from my church is having a baby next month and I want to finish the outfit with time to spare. Why don't we finish our cookies and then I'll do some more work on it." Kailee nodded her head in time with her wild rocking. Soon two heads were bent over the sewing machine, Francis' grey one vigilantly bent over her material and Kailee's small brown one alternating between watching the needle bounce up and down and bent over Otis, the old tom cat snuggled on her lap. Half an hour later, Kailee's mother passed the large bay window on her way to the front door and smiled at the two heads bent away from her. Francis didn't often get to see her own children and grandchildren and Kailee didn't have any grandparents still alive. They were a good pair for each other.
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| From Glenda Quiring's blog |
Kailee stretched as tall as she could. The tips of her fingers brushed the bottom of the door knocker. She stretched again and this time her fingers were able to flip the knocker just enough to bang the door. "I'm coming, just give me a minute," came the sing-song voice inside the house. A slow shuffle approached the door and Francis flung it open. "Well, dear, what a nice surprise! Just come right on in." Francis crooned at the sight of the tiny four-year-old. Kailee smiled up at her. "Mrs. Flannigan, my mummy told me to bring you over this container of cookies. She made a lot today and she doesn't want me eating too many." Francis motioned the girl in as she replied. "Well, isn't that sweet of your mummy! I've been hankering for some of her cookies the past few days. She makes them almost as good as my dear mother used to." Kailee followed Francis into the living room and sat down in the small wooden rocking chair that was always set out just for her. "Mrs. Flannigan, can I watch you sew again? I love your old sewing machine." Francis took the container from the child, tugged on the lid with wrinkled hands, and finally pulled it free. She held out the box to Kailee, who happily took a small cookie and munched on it while waiting for a reply. Francis fished out a gingersnap as well before setting the container on the coffee table. "Well dear, it just so happens that I was just getting ready to do some sewing. A lady from my church is having a baby next month and I want to finish the outfit with time to spare. Why don't we finish our cookies and then I'll do some more work on it." Kailee nodded her head in time with her wild rocking. Soon two heads were bent over the sewing machine, Francis' grey one vigilantly bent over her material and Kailee's small brown one alternating between watching the needle bounce up and down and bent over Otis, the old tom cat snuggled on her lap. Half an hour later, Kailee's mother passed the large bay window on her way to the front door and smiled at the two heads bent away from her. Francis didn't often get to see her own children and grandchildren and Kailee didn't have any grandparents still alive. They were a good pair for each other.
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