Dec 2019 – willowdot21

The end of a year the beginning of a new Decade

Well my previous post was a tad sombre wasn’t it. I feel I should spread some warmth and light? What do you think?

This year, that is on its way out started off quietly enough. In February came the snow.

Ruby loved the snow , then it was gone.

April we saw our beautiful grand Grandchildren they are always a joy. We have seen them more this year and it’s been fun .

Also in April I was off to The Silent Eye, Gilgamesh weekend in Derbyshire where I met old friends and new. I also learned a lot about Gilgamesh and myself.

Here is one of my posts from that weekend.

May was a glorious month, mother in law was 99yrs old, hubby had a birthday the day after her but he is not as ancient! We had a trip to the Gower Peninsula and took Ruby with us. We have not been to Wales for years but instantly fell in love with the beauty, history and feel of the place💜

June arrived and I was so excited because The Blogger’s Bash arrived. I travelled up to London by train and this year there were no hitches and I met up with four fellow bloggers as arranged and we all sauntered along to the venue. A great day was had by all.

Here is my post of the day.

June was very busy because a few days after the Bash we had friends join us from Canada. We had a fun but extremely busy week.💜

July was not a good month I got sepsis from a tiny scratch and ended up in hospital and nearly loosing my finger. You can read about it here and here.

See how small the scratch is , it was yellow by then
© willowdot21 2019

August was more fun as I got better we met friends for lunch and went out with our youngest son and our eldest grandchild to see a Dinosaur show in London. A great day out.

September we had friends from Colorado and Portsmouth visit us and stay that was great fun too.

Then finally it was time for our Canadian adventure, we toured from Calgary to Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer experience and via Helicopter rides and fabulous scenic attractions, then we had three days in Vancouver, after which we hired a car and drove to Whistler for three days. Then back to Vancouver and home. It was a holiday of a lifetime. I met dragons

Then Autumn arrived and I love Autumn time for Halloween and golden and red countryside. More visits from the grandchildren.

Then I won a competition run by Suzi Tench. Read here

Then it was the run up to Christmas, pressies, food and decorations.

And now it New Years Eve, the Eve of a new decade. I did all this and more and I tried to blog daily, sometimes I failed some times I won.

I wish you all and all your loved ones a very Happy and Healthy New Year and a brilliant decade.

I look forward to seeing you all in 2020. Thank you so much for all your support 💜💜💜

Thursday photo prompt: Fume #writephoto

This week’s prompt ~ Fume

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a line of leaf-bare trees outlined against a pall of white smoke, brightly lit from within. The shape made by the smoke looks rather like the head of a mythical beast…

Fume

The noise grew closer at first a rumble

Rising to a cresendo grumble

Making all onlookers tumble

Wildly panicking bumbling

It was coming closer, rumbling

Yellow phosphorus scaring humbling

All of them their braveness stumbling.

Was it a lion or a bear crumbling

No, no, it was a dragon tumberling

Racing into hell all of the world is crumbling!

This is part of Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Challenge.

New Decade, Acrostic Poem.

Now we stand on the abyss
Everyone of us accountable
Why have we closed our eyes.
Drowning and burning we fly
Earth we spoil deaf to her cry
“Careful you are killing me
Are you are all too blind to see”
Dare we ignore the warning
Earth is screaming.

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #286 Ashes&Cocoon

Vine or hop induced

Blind and deaf in your cocoon

Life’s ashes and wine

This us part of Ronovanwrite’s Weekly Haiku Challenge.

Song Lyric Sunday. Crazy.

Today December 29, 2019, Our host on Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has given us the prompt – Crazy.

I have chosen the song Crazy” written by English singer, Seal, and British songwriter, Guy Sigsworth. The song was produced by Trevor Horn for Seal’s debut album Seal (1991). Released as his official debut single, “Crazy” became one of Seal’s biggest hits. It reached the top five in the United Kingdom, while becoming his first top ten single in the United States. It has since been covered by several artists, including Alanis Morissette, whose version was released as a single from her album The Collection (2005). More info here.

I have included the Seal version with the lyrics .

I love the Seal version very much but by far my favourite version of this song is by Alanis Morissette.

A little snippet of information Guy Sigsworth and my favourite singer songwriter composer worked together in a group called Frou, Frou.

I can’t do a post about Crazy without including I’m going slightly mad . By Queen . From the same year 1991 from the Queen Inuendo Album. Such a sad song about Freddie’s mental decline as his struggle with aids progressed.

And below the lyrics

Thursday photo prompt: Offering #writephoto

For visually challenged writers, the image below shows a female figure, translucent and rainbow coloured, emerging from mist in which many shapes move. She is holding a bowl. Before her are strange blue pinnacles… which could be close or distant, spires, ice or… something else

The Offering: painting and photo © Sue Vincent at scvincent.com

The candle burned low as I sat alone contemplating my life. I was alone, cold and to be honest I was afraid. A draft caught the candle and I was in the dark. The blackness was plapable and I was enclosed in it. I could not see a hand in front of me.

It was so quiet I could hear my heart beating, it was a comforting sound, slow and rhythmic. I was totally alone, my life has always been so busy. Family, husband, children, grandchildren, friends. Where were they now. I was in need,but I was alone.

Eventually my eyes grow accustomed to the dark there is still smoke escaping from the candle, as I watch it seems to ignite with soft yellow light, a figure of a woman with glorious long red hair is gliding up in front of her are blue pinacles of light. In her hand she is carrying a bowl, it looks like precious cargo to me.

My sharp intake of breath makes her turn and face me. She smiles at me, I have a great urge to follow her as she is radiating warmth and peace. As I stand to follow her she raises her hand to still me. “No” she whispers “This is not your time” I stand and watch here as she floats off toward the blue lights. Here soft voice floats back to me. “Life is the gift I bestow on you tonight use it well.” Then she is gone.

The candle burst back into life as there is a knock at the door. I turn on the tree lights as I hear voices. It’s the grandchildren. Thank you, I think, I am glad, so glad I staid.

This is part of Sue Vincent’s #writephoto. This image this week is one of the very talented Sue’s paintings.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 28/19

It’s the last Saturday of 2019 and so it’s the last SoCs of the year.

LindaGHill said, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “year.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy! #SoCs

Year Ending was a strange place nothing much ever happened there. The streets were always shrouded in half light, that late afternoon light just before it gets dark. There was always rain or snow, even both on occasion. The houses were always dressed for Christmas but the decorations inevitable looked old, tired!

There was always something in the air, a coming to an end of things past that cannot be undone and a conflicting expectancy of an unknown start a comming. Nothing ever got started or ended it was as if everyone and everything there was caught in a void.

Just up the road in the next town everything was bright and new everything was hustle and bustle. The streets were lined with houses that looked brand new. People were busy full of good intentions and resolutions! Yes everything was always bright and new.

Two towns only a minute apart, yes indeed Year Ending and New Year.

Mary and Jo Part 28

This is part twenty eight of my reworking of the Nativity. From an idea I first wrote in December 2011.

And what of our three wise men who follow the star, to find the babe of Bethlehem. They checked and double checked the charts they knew the 5th was the date imprinted on their hearts

They had stayed up discussing Herod and the proposition he had made for information about the whereabouts of the babe. The stranger Gabriel made a lot sense when he told them of Herod’s plan to find and destroy the babe if he can.

They decided that they would give him the swerve they had not liked his manner he had had them all un-nerved. They decided they would give the parents the tip to leave Egypt asap and give the man the slip.

So not long now till they set off into the night to pay homage to the holy mite . He is the new, the the shining light. With their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh gifts which will in the future share.

Mares and Jo take their rest, something is telling them to stay, Gabe mentioned three wise men from far away. He also told Jo to be clear, after their visit they could not stay here. They must immediately up and leave Egypt without delay.

Sleep sweet couple while you can there will be grief when your boy becomes a man.

He has come to save us all, it is true but to reach that goal,Mary and Jo there is much grief for you.

Mary and Jo. Part27.

This is part twenty seven of my reworking of the Nativity. From an idea I first wrote in December 2011.

Where are those three wise men, I hear you say where are magi.com are they not coming to pray? They have been busy checking their star charts to see what they say.

They must arrive in January, on the fifth day. Now as it happens that is a good thing you see, for they have hiding from Herod. They need to keep their movements hidden from him, to save the baby.

Now don’t you forget them because you will see they will arrive safe on the day pre decreed! They will bring their presents fit for a new king. The the new order of life can begin.