Nadine

Wouldn’t you just love to meet this lady, and aspire to be just like her in the future!

Storyshucker

There was a chilly mist in the March air, but I love my early morning walks and this gray gloom wasn’t going to keep me from today’s. I stopped midway on a bridge over the creek to watch a pair of mallards silently pick and poke along the muddy bank. Nothing could ruin this perfect serenity.

“Hey!” the shrill voice called. “Beautiful, right?” The spry old woman pointed towards the ducks as she marched enthusiastically onto the bridge to stand beside me. She twirled her arms in several rapid circles, stretched her back, then leaned on the railing and began doing standing push-ups. Dressed in sweat pants and jacket, baseball cap and sneakers, she had all the markings of devoted walker.

“Hi.” I said tentatively, unsure of what was happening.

“You’re from the South, aren’t you? Hiiiii. That’s how you said it. Hiiiii.” She spoke with her back to me…

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Pinpricks of light amid the darkness — bluebird of bitterness

Quokkas twice in a day has to be some sort of record.

Apart from that, this is really lovely, and well worth a look at the original too. There are some nice people around, and you don’t have to look far to find them!

 

Recently Sunny Skyz posted a collection of the most wholesome tweets of 2018. I’m recycling a few of my favorites here. See them all here.

via Pinpricks of light amid the darkness — bluebird of bitterness

“50 Mums | 50 Kids | 1 Extra Chromosome” — Walking around America

This is beautiful.

via “50 Mums | 50 Kids | 1 Extra Chromosome” — Walking around America

The Finale! A2Z Challenge–X for Xenophobia

Margo may well be a little late in finishing her A2Z challenge for April. She may have gone a little bit out of sequence, but, my goodness, she certainly saved the best ’til last.
Check out this fabulous commentary on the scourge of modern society. Just how can people be carried along by such hatred, such unfairness, and such sheer malice.
Let’s join Margo’s revolution and refuse to accept even a hint of xenophobia.

that little voice

Finally I have finished the A2Z April Word Challenge that was to end on April 30. A month + past the deadline is not too bad, some would say, and I will agree. You can read what others said about words from the letters of the alphabet at a-to-zchallenge.com.

X for Xenophobia

Admittedly my vocabulary is not classified as abundant, and I don’t race around adding words willy-nilly to my limited supply of verbiage. However, in today’s world, new words seem to find their way to my mouth’s attention more often than just a few years ago.

One of those surprise additions is Xenophobia, meaning chauvinism, racism, nationalism, prejudice, racial intolerance and dislike of foreigners. The word has been around for many moons, but it had not crept into my consciousness until the last Presidential campaign.

Suddenly it became a household word, at least to a segment of my friends. Xenophobia was…

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Alone With My Bike

I’m shamelessly reblogging this because I added a little verse to the comments, and I rather like it. Also, if you haven’t ever read any of Colleen’s posts then you are missing out on some very wise words, some selfless, and often moving, observations, and the chance to get to know more about a lovely lady. I think Colleen should be prescribed to everyone as a pick me up!

The Chatter Blog

I got on my bike.

To be alone or so I wouldn’t be alone.

I’m not sure which.

Along the way I received waves,

Hellos,

Good mornings,

Thumbs up,

and

A few things I couldn’t decipher but they were said with smiles

So I accepted them with delight.

I met Judy who was on a bike for the first time in 15 years.

She was grateful for being on the bike and determined to resume her joy of biking.

I was appreciated her smiling face and her sharing her story with me.

I stopped to watch a muddy river.

It wasn’t so much roaring as it was rumbling,

I enjoyed the sound of it.

On the way back

I saw a damn snake.

And with that adrenaline I nearly flew over the next five miles.

There was no poetry to my day,

But maybe the rhythm of it lent to…

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Special Bonds

Spare a few minutes to view this delightful story posted by Bridget, The happy Quitter. Smiles guaranteed, oohs and aahs are optional!

Countin’ Sheep

Having trouble sleeping?
You could do a lot worse than popping along to Kat Myrman’s place and reading a few of her magnificent tales (and they’re not just lamb’s tails!)

like mercury colliding...

Now I know you like countin’ on the likes of me, but I gotta warn ya’

If I was countin’ on me I would never be able to sleep at night ’cause I’m a follower, I tell ya’; can’t think fer m’self and I’m liable to lead ya’ somewheres ya’ might not want to go…if ya’ foller what I’m sayin’.

But if it’s nightmares yer lookin’ fer, then I’m yer sheep; jus’ don’t say I didn’t warn ya’.

~kat

A Three Line Tale prompted by the photo above by Sam Carter via Unsplash. Thanks Sonya for hosting!

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Life Lessons learned from a 2-year old

An interesting, and informative article from Daniel Rattner, via Bridget, The happy Quitter. If you head back to Daniel’s original post there are some interesting pictures of Ilya.

Dream On, Dream On

John David Ray, who was not born with that name, has a dream, and a great talent.

I would like you to share that because it is very worthwhile.

Do read this, and John’s other posts, I’m sure you will enjoy them.

Twittering Tale #67 – “The Tree” – 16 January 2018

It’s time again for Kat Myrman’s wonderful challenge to tax our creative souls. Just take her photo prompt and write a story, inspired by it, in 280 characters or fewer.

Here is this week’s prompt and my contribution. Check out all the fabulous entries here.

OK you pesky elves, someone is having a laugh.
That middle tree is upside down!
I want you to dig it up and plant it the right way.

We can’t do that mister, it’s getting dark.

Never mind about that, just get it done.

No, we can’t do that! It’s against the new rules for elfin safety!

(279 characters)

It rather spoils the tale but, on checking, I find that what is “Health and Safety” in the UK is “Occupational Safety and Health” in USA, “Workplace Health and Safety” in Australia, and any number of other descriptions in other countries, so my tale falls a bit flat! Put it down to age!!