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Weekend Writing Prompt #310 – Treetop

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A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend.  How you use the prompt is up to you.  Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like.  Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise.  If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments on Sammi’s blog.

I haven’t played in a while so, why not, I say… Why not! (Wishing I was there, rather than here, watching the snow fall. Again.

wk 301 treetop

 

Now this was real ziplining!  None of that sissy, man-made tiny park, barely higher than twenty feet stuff.

THIS.  Costa Rica was where it was at!

We were in Guanacaste and ready to see the treetops by zipping from tree to tree with our toes tickling the canopy.

It amazed me that the further we went, the higher up it became.

Unforgettable fun.

Pat, smiling though convinced he will die
Hugh, loving every minute
Mick, coming in fast

New Year – First Dinner

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I was going to entitle this “Breaking in the New Kitchen” but that would be technically wrong as I did host the Christmas breakfast with my family… My sister might disagree with who should have been first for last night’s feast but hey, things don’t always they way we plan, yanno?

Anyhoo, this evening was planned after we learned of our friend’s death on December 18th (post still not finished but will follow shortly). We suddenly felt the need to see each other; the funeral home not counting.

I swear I am the queen of start and not finish. 🙄 So, before I lose the feeling of last night, here I go. I started on Friday. Lucky for me, I was “liberated” from a job I loathe on Thursday, giving me all day Friday to cook (if that was how I chose to use my time).

I started things off by making the parsley-celery oil for the soup as well as the parsnip chips, inspired by my chef friend Janet, of The Simmering Chef’s recipe. Click here to get it. I was determined to use chicken thighs (skin on, bone in) that I had in my freezer so The Google was brought into service. I found Ina Garten’s Chicken Marbella. I got all the ingredients together and placed them in a bag to marinate all afternoon and overnight. If I hadn’t had my date night that included watching the oh-so-horrible-please-don’t-waste-your-time movie “The Poison Rose” (surprising cast: John Travolta, Morgan Freeman, Famke Janssen, Brendan Fraser), I might have actually made my soup AND my cake but no…

No matter! I was up and at ’em really early so, first things first, I baked the cake. I am so mad at myself as I had been making Soeur Angèle’s version of the Sachertore for eons (though it had been ages since I last made it) and could not find my copy of the recipe. I was positive I had kept that page, but no. Sigh. So onto The Google (again) I went. No luck. Her recipe is not to be found. So I keep my search up until I found one that sorta-kinda resembled what I remember of it by Lidia Bastianich, but made a few modifications.

As the cake baked, it was onto the Parsnip soup.

The “Mise”

As the soup simmered, I went out to shovel the walkway – not that there was much, but still, I took my time. Time to purée the soup and set it aside for warming up later.

I then went on to make my cheese bowls (Raclette and Grana Padano) that would hold my mesclun salad with Raspberry-Honey Vinaigrette. Every time I make these, I am amazed at the quantity of fat I need to wipe out of the frying pan!

Frying the cheese
Formed over square bowls

Cake cooled and iced it was time to do a quick sweep and mop of the floors and take my shower.

Good grief! Who was this broad who was so organized that her hair would not still be dripping wet when her guests arrived? I didn’t recognize her! She even set the table and shucked the oysters and made mignonette!

Just before Giselle and Dany, then Julie and Michael arrived, I put the chicken into the oven. An hour to cook, fifteen minutes to rest and Bob’s your uncle. The tour of the remodel was given and, as we are wont to do, stood around the island. We noshed on oysters and drank bubbles while catching up. (And, just so you know, it’s not because I still have not received my sofa that we had to. Plus, I did bring up the stools that will be getting their own makeover soon!)

There is nothing I love more than cooking for people I love. We ate, we laughed, we sang an early happy birthday for Dany (two weeks early) and then, because I had changed the Spotify from 70’s acoustic to French crooners, we ended up doing a sort of karaoke with one of Aznavour’s songs – which, as I wrote about when he passed away, is completely IMPOSSIBLE to sing along to (hell, you can’t even read the lyrics fast enough!)

The meal:

Cream of parsnip with Parsley-celery oil and parsnip crisps
Chicken Marbella with egg noodles that I brilliantly added butter and the oil from the soup
Raclette & Grana Padano bowls with mesclun salad
Sachertorte

Fun times. I’ve never had all the lights on in the house at once. Bloody hell it was bright. (Note to self… use the damn dimmers!)

A crazy bunch
Blow Dany
Birthday Boy

P.S. I started this post, officially yesterday morning (as it’s close to 1 am now) whilst enjoying my raisin bread toast (courtesy of Giselle) followed by one of her delicious almond cookies (and she claims she’s not a baker!) I pressed publish before I realised I forgot to add these!

Raisin bread toasts needs cinnamon sugar!
Cookies made with love

Weekend Writing Prompt #289 – Engrave

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A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend.  How you use the prompt is up to you.  Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like.  Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise.  If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments.

This was supposed to go out yesterday but one thing lead to another and before I knew it, it was bedtime!  It seems that this time of year, a certain someone takes over my muse.  Yesterday was the eight-year anniversary of Mick’s heart attack and well, hell if this prompt didn’t apply.  So, thank you, Sammi, for once again, bringing forth a word that I can use…

 

wk 289 engrave

 

There’s nothing quite like

that person

who’s joie de vivre

is so infectious

They remain engraved

in your memories

long after they’re gone

 

Proof of how much Mick left his mark on any and everyone who met him, his (our) friend Leonard Yelle wrote this on his FB page yesterday:

“About 7-8 years ago I was misbehaving at my company’s Christmas party telling the band that it was a coworkers birthday. . As the band in the restaurant played happy birthday to my confused colleague my phone rang. It was my buddies wife Dale informing me that her husband had suffered a terrible heart attack. I left the party trying to understand it all. I went to see him the next day but he never came out of the coma.

I had met Mick about 10 years earlier on a fishing trip. We had loads in common and became great friends. He’d drop into the shop and as the press ran I’d hear the familiar cheerful sound of Mick’s voice shouting “Buddy” over the running machine , I’d turn and there would be standing Mick with his shit eating grin and mischief dancing in his eyes greeting me. He’d always try to include me into his adventures. Concerts, football tailgating , carting… whatever the outing might be laughter flowed like a tsunami,. His annual Christmas outings with the boys where he’d manage to siphon some money from the company he worked for and pay a few rounds of drinks instead of spending it on his clients and suppliers were an annual highlight. He was a force of nature and a gem of a man, son, father, husband and great friend. I got a chance to speak at his funeral and all I remember was starting off in a room of mostly strangers saying… Hello my name is Leonard and I’m a Mickaholic.
I loved him the minute I met him and I’ll love my dear friend to the day I die. His energy and outlook was infectious.
I hope you’re behaving with my brother buddy and I’ll be see you on the other side down the road.”

Every year, at this time, Leonard changes his profile pic or cover image to the following:

 

It’s Terrasse Time! – Friday Fictioneers

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Good Wednesday, my peeps!  It’s Friday Fictioneers Day and I could not resist this photo.  It kinda called me to do a certain sequel to my story from a couple weeks ago.  As always, a thank you to Rochelle, our fearless leader, who, while still frolicking in the ocean, still manages to host our weekly shindig.  Should you want to join in and write a story inspired by Roger Bultot’s photo, then click on the frogs below to add your link!

frog, chair, cozy, for two, drink, wine, soaked, cute, sweet, funny, relaxation | Pikist

Click to play

 

Since you didn’t like my choice last time we got together, you pick.

It was disgusting.  And great, it’s terrasse weather.  I know just the place.

Terrace weather, you mean.

Terrasse, terrace. The important thing is we sit outside.

In the shade?

Yes, in the shade.

Okay.  Meet you there?

7:00 pm.

***

This is your choice?

Yes, this is my choice.

You thought my tables looked like toilets, what the hell is this?

Art.

Art? It’s graffiti!

Stop. The food and drinks are worth it.

They better be.

At least we won’t feel crowded.

Why does that bring me no comfort?

 

It’s Gonna Be a Bumpy Ride – Friday Fictioneers

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Hello my peeps.  Lovely to see you on this first hump day in August.  How it is already August when July was barely a day long is beyond me, but I digress.  Rochelle may be off cavorting in the ocean on vacay but she still manages to host this weekly shindig.  She is a rockstar, eh?  When I saw this photo by the super-talented Sandra Crook, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.  Then I remembered (vaguely) that I was pretty sure I had written about this experience before. Dang it!  A search revealed that I did.  Back in June, 2017.  Wait… back in 2017… who the hell is gonna remember it anyhow, right?  Right.  And, hey, it happens that others repost old stuff.  This is more of a rearranging.  Apologies to those who do remember it.  I was surprised to see the number of Fictioneers from then who are still around today.  Hope the newbies enjoy… If you’ve got an idea for a 100-word original story, then by all means, do click on the frog below and add your link.  G’head. It’s fun 🙂

Frog Driving Car Stock Illustrations – 99 Frog Driving Car Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart - Dreamstime

Click me to play!

 

“Total gridlock, Mon, in Sint Maarten! We’re gonna miss the boat!”

The walkie-talkie crackled with Sébastien’s voice.  “If I make a move, you guys gonna follow?”

“Hah!  Go?  There’s nowhere to go!”  Mick grumbled.

Karl’s voice came on, “We’re in!”

Suddenly Sébastien’s jeep, followed closely by Karl’s, passed us on the left.  On the sidewalk.  People scurried out of the way.

“Are they stupid?”

“You best be stupid, too, if you don’t wanna miss the boat!”  I yelled.  The song “Bumpy Ride” came on the radio. Serendipity? A sign?

“Put the music up louder!”

“Whoo hoo!  Go, Daddy, Go!”

 

 

 

For Our Lovely Sorceress, Resa

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Little birdies know this that month is the one when our Sensational Sorceress of Silk, our Goddess of the Graffiti, our friend and fellow blogger was brought into the world.  The exact date remains unknown so our little group made up of Gigi, from Rethinking Life, Beth from I didn’t have my glasses on…, Holly, from House of Heart and me decided that we would celebrate our friend today. Mid-month should keep us safe, right?

Resa brings nothing but joy to us all through her blogs Graffiti, Lux Art and More, as well as her impossibly beautiful gowns at Art Gowns.  She has made us all gorgeous as her AGM models and created wondrous stories to go with her wonderful drawings.

She adds sparkle to the world and I could not think of any better image to represent her than fireworks!

My dear Sorceress, from me all of us, we wish you a most wonderful and happy birthday! (Not your AGMs, but hey, this is my bouquet to you!)

Lotsa love,

Thunder

xoxoxo💞💞💞💞💞xoxoxo

Soul Swell, Frolicking Fée, Marvellous Moon

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I have so many plans.  Too bad I’m a lazy bum!  Was gonna write my WWP Saturday, then yesterday… but then the whole Blood Flower Moon Eclipse thing…  But first, let’s go back…

Thursday evening was girls’ night. A way long overdue girls’ night.  Okay, even if we had had one a couple months ago, I’d still feel it was overdue!  Our usual trio of Julie, Giselle and me was upped by one with Linda.  A very happy case of perfect timing.  As the weather was particularly clement (a good 27℃ (81℉)) at suppertime, we sat outside of La Louisiane, a Montreal Cajun-Creole eatery that we have frequented a number of times and which I suggested for our evening.  Ah man.  It wouldn’t matter where we eat because it’s all about the company but good food just adds to it, right?  Plus, Linda had never been so we got to introduce her to the joint.  Linda and I arrived first and ordered drinks while we waited for the other two… which didn’t take long.

While we decided what to eat, we decided on a few appetizers:  hushpuppies, sweet potato fries and grilled corn bread.  Yeah.. um… Good stuff to absorb alcohol, right?

We then went for another round, this time with Cajun chicken wings, Gumbo – so more cornbread, beet and arugula salad, coconut beer battered shrimp.   Delicious. All of it.

Giselle was ready for sweets so she indulged in a chocolate pecan torte (which we all took a bit of).  However, we (Linda) felt we were still not done with the savoury and we ended up ordering some fried clams and crab cakes.

Lots of love, laughter and feel-good vibes were felt and must be repeated soon… Right, ladies?

First to arrive
Cornbread, hushpuppies, sweet potato fries
The Girls
Coconut beer shrimp, gumbo, arugula beet salad
Fried clams, Crab cakes
Chocolate pecan torte
Check this out!

Saturday morning I was supposed to run but the pool was in the shade and I thought that would be the best time to vacuum all the crap without me being cooked in the sun in the process.  And, after I had done half, my sister Tracy called saying she was going to the barn for just an hour or so to see Fée (pronounced Fay) and would I like to join.  She couldn’t ride her as she’d (Fée) had her vaccine so that’s why the visit would be shorter than usual.  Um. Yeah!  Plus, I promised Gigi from Rethinking Life that I would finally show her pictures of Fée.

Lemme tell you, I was rather glad it was to be a short visit.  It was hotter than Hades out there – 32℃ (90℉) to be standing around in the blazing sun.

Tracy went to get Fée to bring her into the little ring.  “She’s going to roll around in it.”  “Really?”  “Yep.”  And she did.  She ran around, going back and forth and then lay down and rolled.  Up again and then rolled again.  It was quite the sight to see!

Woo hoo!
Is this a good spot?
Oh yeah…
And then some
Wait. Where’s Mom?
I’m so excited!

As mentioned in the intro, this post was late because I was going to attempt to capture the Full Blood Flower Moon and Eclipse.  And failed miserably.  I even went up onto my roof but my tripod is tired and my butt got wet and then the clouds came just when I capture a sliver of it… and not all that well, either.

I did have fun with my phone before, begging the clouds to please be nice and disperse, which they did, before completely taking over.

And the best of the worst with my camera.

Oh well, maybe next time!  If you really want to see some beautiful shots, check out Tim’s blog at Off Center & Not Even.  Outstanding, I say!

 

 

 

Was, But No Longer; Stuck With Me & Unanswerable

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A couple days ago, I read one of Bill’s poems.  He’s over there doing NaPoWriMo and this particular challenge asked him to answer the following:

  1. someone I was close to, but I am no longer,
  2. a job I no longer do, and
  3. art that I saw once and that stuck with me.
  4. I was to close the poem with an unanswerable question.

I told him that sounded like something I would like to try as a few things came to mind.  He challenged me to do it.  As I am sitting in Miami Airport waiting for my beau’s plane to land – three hour wait, thank you very much, what better time than now?  Hope my charge lasts as I cannot find a place to plug in!

Before and After

Pots and pots of tea; game after game of Rummy 500; smoking Belvedere Extra Light
We took over the dance floor, breaking only to sip our one Zombie that lasted all night
Love was found and a wedding ensued (I was your maid of honor), to boot
You had two kids and the marriage did crumble but we were there for each other, without a grumble
And then one day, I know now why, we drifted apart and before resolution, you went and died

Summer is the time, and drive-ins are a thing
Filling the popcorn, and cash register pings
How many times can you see the same scene?
E.T. hides in the closet and then Gertie screams
A lifetime ago, I do not regret
Go back there one’s more? I’d have to say no.

Pictures can’t do him justice; they could never come close
To see him in person; c’est pas la même chose
How can a slab of marble be so beautifully sculpted?
Michelangelo’s David is a marvel undoubted
As I stood in awe, marvelling at this work of art
I couldn’t help feeling an ache in my heart

All these things we experience make up who we are.
How would I have been any different if any of these
never came to be or happened at another phase of my life?
Would I appreciate my life any less?

 

September 16, 1984
David

WWP #247 – Flummox… with a little extra

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A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend.  How you use the prompt is up to you.  Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like.  Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise.  If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments.  Thank you, Sammi, for hosting this weekly challenge.  I am cheating somewhat.  The poem is the requisite 42 words.  However, below said poem and photos, I share more of my day spent with my friend, Cathy.  Those who chose to read only the prompt, that’s totally cool. Anyone who wants to go beyond, well, you are more than welcome to do so!

 

wk 247 flummox

 

Walking through the Imagine Monet Immersive Experience

completely pulled into the beautiful paintings

projected against the walls, screens, floors

Beautiful images created by simple and random brushstrokes

completely flummox me

How?  How are a blob, a dot, a flourish

now a flower?

 

Cathy and I had gone to see the Van Gogh Immersive experience in December 2019.  When she suggested we go see the Monet one, I was in.  We were originally supposed to go in January but felt it would be best to put it off for a bit. So Saturday was the day.  A beautiful blue-skied chilly day.  I picked her up around 9:30 and we made our way over to the venue.  Lucky for us, we found parking on a side street, as the cost for parking on site was $15 and, to be honest, A little steep for an hour or so.

We were early so it was far from crowded (though I suspect, with the situation, they had vastly reduced the quantity of people allowed inside at the same time.  It was so beautiful.  We stayed long enough to see the rotation twice.  I am frankly in awe of these painters.

It was wonderful to see young children being exposed to the arts this way. It’s a perfect introduction.  Dragging a kid into a museum and hoping they don’t get bored within 15 minutes is wishful thinking. With these big images, they remained in awe for longer and were free to run around without disturbing.

You can’t plan this…
Requisite masked selfie

It was past 11:30 so we decided to walk towards the Burgundy Lion for a nice lunch and pint.  Of course, the last time, I had turned in the wrong direction so this time I asked Cathy if she remembered which way to go, left or right?  She said right.  Her last name might be Wright but she was not!  It gave us an occasion to get a few more steps in by turning around.  The air was crisp and we were glad to be well dressed for it.

After our walk, we were very glad to get to the Burgundy Lion.  We each ordered a pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout and were advised that even though it was noon we could only order from the brunch menu.  Frankly, the options were wonderful.  I decided to have the Main and Hash (poached egg, smoked meat, potato mish mash and Hollandaise) and Cathy, the Arnold’s Scottish Benedict (eggs Benedict on Smoked Salmon with potatoes).  Seems weird to have a beer with breakfast, doesn’t it?

Delicious stout
2nd, But not bitter about it
Main & Hash
Arnold’s Scottish Benedict

It was so nice to get out and enjoy an activity with someone and to have a meal in a restaurant.  It’s been so long!  As if this wasn’t enough, Cathy gave me a lovely notebook. (Thank you again!)  She was hoping to find a Monet one but had to settle for Van Gogh (which all works out since we actually had seen that one too!)

 

No Books Allowed (This Time) – dVerse Prosery

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Monday was Prosery Monday for dVerse hosted by Ingrid.  Prosery is a 144-word challenge – max – in which we must use chosen lines from a bit of poetry. But get this… we must not write a poem!  This week, Ingrid chose from Wordsworth’s ‘Lines Written at a small distance from my House…‘ The lines we must use are as follows:

And bring no book, for this one day
We’ll give to idleness.

We must use the words in the exact order and cannot insert any others. We can, however change up the punctuation.  How can I resist? It seems this week’s challenges both (that I participated in) involve books in some way.  Or not.

The plan for today is simple: walk and lunch and just hang out, catching up as it’s been forever and a day since our last get-together.  I notice a suspicious object in Kathy’s bag when I pick her up.  Oh no, not this time! She will not disappear to some secluded spot with her romance novel.

“Kathy, I believe I said to bring yourself and bring no book!  For this one day, we’ll give to idleness!

She sheepishly removed the books from her bag.  “A girl can try. Reading is a form of idleness, no?”

“I think not.  Are we so dull, you need to escape us?”

“Of course not!  I always bring a book, just in case–”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. No reason for it today for today, we pfaff.”

“Sounds wickedly sinful.”

“‘Tis.  Shall we join the others?”

“Lead the way!”