CELEBRATE

Time to celebrate the small things. This is a bloghop.
     So today I want to celebrate my cats, who took me in as their own, overlooking my human frailties, and look out for me. And I want to celebrate the rain, that nourishes the earth and makes things grow. I want to celebrate plants that

propagate easily by cuttings. And I want to celebrate "downtime", that we all need sometimes, and which has taken me over today. It must be the rain, but I feel more like I am melting into a puddle of goo. Just when I feel I am so tired I can't go on, one of my cats comes to give me purrs and lovies. And the rain continues to fall...
     A passive celebration. An acceptance. What have you accepted lately?

WRITE A STORY WITH ME

       So my installment of Write a story with me has just posted on Jennifermeaton.com, celebrating her first anniversary of her blog. Please visit her blog if you are interested in writing installments. To visit my installment go here.

52     SHAYLA KWIATKOWSKI

Natalia raised her eyes.
“I know quite well what is and what shall be… When I found my family gone, I despaired and threw myself off the Southern Ridge. As I fell, a cellular memory opened the Portal, and I know full well who I am.  The Prophecy of the Seer Desdinova is fulfilled: We will share the child, and he will know the stations of his birth. Blood of Mother and Child must be spilled on the roots of the Sacred Gleaming Tree so it will bloom in multicolor and heal the Necrotic Zone. The Palace of Fae will rise again in the world of Man, and both races will be reunited as they once were.”
Queen Morath embraced her longlost kinswoman, Natalia.
“It is done, child. I have buried the afterbirth amongst the roots. Let there be Peace.”
Yoran struggled uselessly against his bonds.
“I throw myself upon your mercy! I did not know! Natalia, you are my only Guiding Star! I choose my family!”
Sian looked at Yoran in disbelief.
“Father!” she cried.
“Oh Sian, my beloved,” he sobbed. “Please forgive me, I didn’t know!”
Queen Morath smiled.
“All is as it should be. Release them and we will make merry until Evensong.”
Their bonds dissolved and the family reunited. All of a sudden, Yoran shouted.
“Wait! I must confess the real reason the Establishment wants the Fae eradicated!”
All eyes turned toward him expectantly.
Ashamed, he hung his head.
“It is simply a matter of real estate.”

CELEBRATE

Time to celebrate the small things. This is a bloghop.
     Well the mountains called me home this week... It was like someone slapped me on the hiney and told me to RUN!! The mountains are beautiful as ever, I even remembered their outlines in my heart.. Wonderful visit with my brother and we are now texting regular and realigning our memories.. One good thing about having an unusual upbringing, is that it is highly entertaining in our old age...
     I have been MIA for everything as I recover from this road trip. Getting too old to play road warrior, but it won't stop me. I am supposed to be doing Camp NaNoWriMo with my friend and cabinmate Jai-- sorry about that Jaileen!
     So I want to celebrate family, the mountains that patiently await the return of its sons & daughters, and my silly brother who hasn't changed a bit! I also want to celebrate patient friends (ahem: Jai!!!)
     Also I want to celebrate Jennifer Eaton's Write a Story with me, which just celebrated its first anniversary with my installment #52, which I will post tomorrow.
     Happy celebrations all around... 

CELEBRATE

Time to celebrate the small things. This is a bloghop.

Well, hello there. This week, I am still celebrating Nature in all its grace and glory. I am still working on getting this property to match my vision, and have been feeling pretty whipped by it. It is so much work. I want to celebrate all the little plants I put out this week, and all the cuttings a friend gave me- if they root, then half my work will be done. I am still crossing my fingers over them. When I am feeling low over it, I just go out and walk around -- and see that it is good. I AM getting somewhere, and it is along my line of vision. Slowly but surely, Mother Nature is making room for me.

But, boy is it hot out. We had a lot of rain recently, which is a blessing. But a few trees are already changing their colors to their fall wardrobe. I am so ready for fall, though I have a lot to do before then. But cooler weather would be welcomed. I am not ready for winter, the woodpile is not replenished. I hate the cold! Though I know the flower bulbs needs it to bloom.

And as always, I celebrate my best little kitty friends, Greta, Hezekiah & Tallulah.

Any Celebrations out there?

CELEBRATE

 celebrate the small things. This is a bloghop.

Hey all. Hope everyone had a good 4th of July. It rained & stormed all day here, which was pretty cool. My mom & I pulled out some Green Acres DVDs and watched them since the TV blitzed out & we were feeling lazy coz of rain. I want to celebrate creativity, and the blogging community, and the ease of internet. It sure has made a big difference in our lives. I can remember living without internet & computers, but I can't help but think about future generations that were raised with it. How ancient & arcane they must think us. I guess it is like our generation couldn't understand how our grandparents lived without TV. Think of all the changes that have been made in our lifetimes even. Amazing, isn't it? So I guess I also want to celebrate progress.

A DROP TOO LATE

A Drop Too Late

by Shayla Kwiatkowski

     I know we live in Africa, but I don't know where it is on a map. I know my name is Anna, but I can't spell it. I know where the school is, but I am not a student. I pass by it on the way to fill our pails with water. Mama is sick, so I go the extra mile to the clinic to get better water that has been blessed by the magic of medicine. The small amount of water in our village is dirty. Mama says the water is sick, and she should know.
     The pails are so heavy, I feel like my skinny arms are going to fall off. My face still burns in shame from my visit to the clinic. They are all so clean, and there I was, a dirty little shoeless girl from the village with a herd of flies around her. I've never even had any shoes.
     I pass my time wondering how my life will end. Future is a bright and shiny word for bright and shiny people. I could die of AIDS, like my father did 6 months ago. Or I could fall ill from sick water like my Mama.
     If I could be anything, what would I be? A teacher? No, I want to be a hero. I'd want to be a doctor, who can use her magic to make everyone better. Mama would be so proud of me then.
     The water splashes out of the pails as I hurry home. I've been gone too long, and I have a bad feeling inside me. Wearily, I drag myself into the small hut we call home, but it is too late. All my fancy dreams vanish as quickly as the precious water sinking into the ground from the spilt buckets. I am too tired to cry. In the end, I become just another orphan.
     A drop too late.

     ---Well I wrote this for a "Cause", but didn't read the fine print that they want NON-fiction. So I get to keep it, and here it is.
                                        THE "CAUSE"

 

IWSG

 

 

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
check them out here.

     Well, I am still editing. Also I have been digging thru writing files and pulling out all my WIPs so I can just finish them. I want to get them written, and then start on YA, which is what I always wanted to do-- but these stories must be told! I am thinking of adapting one for YA.. July Camp Nano has started, & I am working on a YA book for that. I have pretty much written on it. I am getting more organized here & settling back in. What is YOUR WIP??

CAMP NANO!!

Hey all! Well, today starts Camp NanoWriMo. My friend Jaileen is in a cabin with me, so it will be fun!
     I have to do gardening in the morning before it gets too hot here. I have so much to do. I am taking out a lot of trees along the woods-line, that won't have enough room to grow there. I plan to put rhododendrons there. It gets real hot here, so I have been only working short bits here and there.
     I also am still getting more roadside flowers, today it was Queen Anne's Lace. Tomorrow I need to find Black-eyed Susans and more of the orange roadside lilies.. I found a rural spot where they really need thinning out, so that makes me feel better!
     I have gotten 2 new Cinnamon Basil plants- I really love them, and we use it all the time in cooking & salads. It is my favorite basil. I got a new lush catnip plants for the kitties-- repotted all 3 this morning. I still have to put a Mint & Lantana in the ground..
     Oh, here is an interesting little fact.. In Florida, I was used to Lantana living forever, and growing all wild and pretty. Well, I found out that here in north Georgia, it is considered an annual & dies every year! Darn, I really love Lantana.. So I rescued a clearance one yesterday (after waiting all summer for the 2 I planted last year to come back), and at least I will have one.
     I hope everyone's lives are full of flowers and joy.
     HAPPY WRITING to all you fellow campers out there!