Pictures to words #13-Creative Writing

photo credit to Sarah

"Well, who does she think she is anyway? I mean, really. She always acts so prim and proper, as if she believes she is perfection personified." complained Norma. Norma continues,"Look at her, she thinks she is too good to even talk to us." Steve, Norma's cohort and ardent supporter, is no better. It seems these two make a living of tearing others down, that they may appear a little larger than life. This larger than life persona tends to make them more than a little intimidating at times.

Kenny doesn't quite know how to respond to this beautiful, yet awful creature in her ranting. These two, Norma and Steve, for all their polish and style, have razor tongues and really are quite unpleasant. No wonder Molly chooses not to engage with them. In fact, now that he thinks about it, Steve wonders why he does. Is he expecting some of their glam and perceived power to rub off on him, thus making him cool by association?

The sudden realization that "prim and proper little Molly" is much stronger than he, more beautiful than they, makes him angry for some reason. Thus the mammoth struggle begins for Steve; how to be more "Molly" and less "Norma".

This week is Creative Writing.... which means pretty much anything goes. A dialgoue, narrative, a poem or something longer is you wish..even just a caption will do!

Each week a different picture is used as a prompt to encourage original creative writing. Anyone can join in. Post your work on your site and then go and leave a link at pictures to words so we can find you.

*You have all week to post*

March 31, 2009

Yesterday was a sewing day. Ron is trying on his new robe, I just have a few finishing touches to do today. I made it in what the kids call his favorite color. . .plaid.

Adam spent the entire day mucking out his room and will finish that up today. I made new curtains for him. The camel, navy and hunter stripes are a bit more masculine than the pale lilac and pink florals he had before.

Kaili started a sewing project yesterday, while Dax and Elizabeth continued their struggles to focus on accomplishing their schoolwork.

It will be another sewing, house tidy-up day today, as it is grey outside again.

Piture perfect- What am I?

The theme of the week will be posted on FRIDAY. Cutoff for posting the link to your entry is midnight on SUNDAY.

Picture Perfect is about encouraging us to take our cameras out and about with us and have
f u n !

Please remember to post a link to your blog entry in your comments and don't forget to make the entry for public viewing. If it is not public, mention it in your comments, so that those not on your friends list are forewarned.
This page is open to everyone!

http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/203/Picture_Perfect_What_am_I

March 28, 2008

Today was the Young Women's Broadcast from SLC. Adam worked, Elizabeth and Dax watched a movie with Dad and Kaili & I went to Vernon and learned to play spoons. She says she can't wait to play it with her California friends this summer.

I have two more sewing projects almost cut out, now I just need to finish sewing them and the quilt I have going. I still have quite a bit more sewing to do for the kid's trek adventure this summer also.

It was cool and grey again today, hopefully it will be nice again soon. Though the cool grey days DO help me to stay inside and work on my sewing projects. . .

March 27, 2009

This is the results of last night's class. The rolled fondant was a little too soft and distorted when I placed the ribbons (I am still lamenting the disappearance of my marshmallows!)

The weather has turned grey and icky, so today will probably be a "sewing" day for me until Ron gets home from work early this afternoon. Then we need to replenish the food stores, as the rat problem (mentioned in yesterday's blog) is generally out-of-control. It is difficult to stay ahead of them at times!

March 26, 2009

I have spent the last two mornings messing around in the front yard. I got the Christmas lights down (finally!!), the two fruit trees pruned (sort-of), cleaned up the dead foliage (some of it!), and trimmed my herb garden back. The pond needed an overhaul, so I tore it apart and mucked it out, then Ron helped me get it back together yesterday. The stream is now running again, though there was ice on the pond this morning.

Our driveway has a miry version of the Mariana trench running down the center of it because of the frost heaves. We are hoping to come up with the cash to redo the entire drive, including the road bed soon. Our next-door neighbor talked to us about the possibility of doing the two of them together. . .that means we can also dispose of most of the useless hedge that is planted down the middle. I would like to see a few blueberry bushes replace the last 10 feet of it (or so).

This morning, I baked an orange cake to take to class tonight. When I attempted to make the marshmallow fondant to cover it, I had discovered the RATS had gotten to my bag of marshmallows. These rats are of the two legged variety, and they are acting just a little sheepish right now, even though they are not contrite enough for me at the moment!!!! We had this same situation last year when it was time to make smores on a camping trip; two or three kids each sneak a marshmallow here and there, a couple of times a day and it doesn't take too long before the bag is empty. I am probably going to have to re-institute locking the pantry with my cake supplies in it if I want to guarantee having what I expect when I begin a project. Oh well!!! I guess the cake will get "Crisco" butter-cream icing instead of MMF. . . Ron will probably like that better anyway.

I have managed to lose just over 10 lbs in the last few months. I noticed my sweet tooth isn't as strong as it was and I have more energy to put into my Wii workouts. My hair is growing like crazy too, I am having to trim my bangs about every two weeks. I think the daily dose of Mona Vie is helping.

OK, Is that enough rambling to appease the Southern whiners for today?!?!? (You know who you are!!)

Oh yeah, you haven't heard from Linda because she has been sick with that stuff we had.

March 22, 2009 addendum. . .

This is one of the gum paste flowers Kaili made yesterday. Of course, the photo doesn't really do it justice. She did an extraordinary job on it and it is really quite beautiful.

Pictures to words #12-Haiku

Liquid, cold raindrops

Solid, warm, loving embrace

Dancing in the rain

Pictures To Words

a fun site where we play with words

Each week a different picture is used as a prompt to encourage original creative writing. Anyone can join in. Post your work on your site and then leave a link here

http://picturestowords.multiply.com/journal/item/106/Pictures_to_Words_12_Haiku

*You have all week to post*

oOo

Haiku

is a poetic form of poetry originating from the Japanese culture. Themes include nature, emotions or experiences.

Haiku is compact, lyrical and punchy,

the first line contains 5 syllables,

the second line 7,

and the third line 5.

They contain simple words and grammar and yet they paint a vivid picture in the readers mind.

March 22, 2009

Last night we had company over for lasagna. The wife is Colombian and as a recent immigrant, doesn't really speak English yet. We had a great time and played a game of "Rummy-O" after dinner. It was challenging, but fun to practice our Spanish. I understood about 1/2 of what she said (when she spoke slowly enough for me.) We are planning to get together again soon.

I learned to make gum paste carnations and daisies Thursday night. I am still having fits finding/making a decent gum paste recipe. I am bound and determined to find a way to make it not only edible, but palatable too.

Kaili has really pushed herself with her schoolwork, and will likely be finished this year's curriculum by mid-April, thus ensuring her summer vacation. She helped me make gum paste flowers and dinner yesterday. SHe made quite a beautiful chrysanthemum. I will get a picture of it and post it later.

Time for church now. . .

Pictures to words #11-dialogue

"Is she lookin'?"

"Yep, she's a-loolkin'"

"Ya think she's noticed these mules ain't hosses yet?"

"Naw, she's jess got eyes for you, besides, ever'one knows mules is better 'n hosses anyways."

Pictures To Words

a fun site where we play with words

Each week a different picture is used as a prompt to encourage original creative writing. Anyone can join in.

http://picturestowords.multiply.com/journal/item/105

*You have all week to post*

oOo

Dialogue

Saint Patrick's Day 2009

Today I visited with one of the residents at "The Hamlets". She is 94 and her husband is 92. . .I gave her a bad time about cradle-robbing.

The kids have been bugging me to do a "topsy-turvy" cake, so I made a somewhat feeble attempt today. They are normally quite large, but I managed to modify this to only one cake mix. They are single layers and the bottom layer is only 8", the middle is 6 and the top is essentially a large muffin.

I procrastinated on buying our traditional corned beef brisket this year, and we had two visit two stores before we could find one today. We bought the last two they had (and they were VERY small ones). I cut them into small pieces before throwing them into the pot with the potatoes and carrots this time. Our home teachers are coming by this evening, and we will feed them corned beef and cabbage.

The weather was fairly warm although it was gray and we had a very a brief snow/sleet flurry. The snow is rapidly melting again and we have big frost heaves in the yard. The birds are becoming more vocal too.

March 14, 2009

Well, I think I managed to pull it off!!!

I had planned/prepared dinner for 90 people. There were an estimated 100, I stayed under budget and we had some food left over for folks to take home. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the food. The menu included: green salad with roasted almonds, craisins, blood oranges, with rice vinegar/orange marmalade dressing; Pork loins roasted with molasses, apple juice, apple slices, cinnamon and cloves; Savory-sweet yams (I'll post the recipe); dinner rolls and butter; Mom's barley-corn salad (recipe posted on her site); and dessert consisting of frozen berries (for diabetics/allergies) and a cake. The 12" layer was applesauce-spice cake covered with chocolate butter-cream and chocolate marshmallow fondant, the 10" layer was lemon cake with lemon custard filling and lemon butter-cream, and the top oval layer was devil's food with chocolate butter-cream. I made the topper with royal icing and it is a replica of the Relief Society seal.

As you can see, I have been a bit busy this week. . .I think I will be back here a bit more now for the next little while. I have missed everyone!

March 11, 2009

Monday night the 2 new missionaries came over for dinner. I asked if they wanted Mexican or Italian and one of them said "I'm from California, so my favorite food is Mexican and I am Italian, so either is fine." I found out he is from Pismo Beach!!!

Yesterday afternoon we took the kids to a climbing gym (a school sponsored activity). The boys mainly handled the ropes on belay for the younger ones. They had a lot of fun.

Ron and I went to Kelowna for a business meeting and didn't get back until midnight last night.

This morning I tried a new recipe for a savory type of sweet potatoes and it was a big hit with the family, so it will go on the menu for Saturday's big "do". I will be doing the shopping for it this afternoon/evening, but right now I need to get a cake baked, a batch of fondant made, and get a batch of gum tex going for my class tomorrow night.

It has been quite chilly again -- right around -10/15. BR-RR!!!!

March 7, 2009

I am getting back into the swing of things. . .FINALLY!!!

Thursday night I attended the first of four gum paste/fondant classes I will be taking this month. I am really excited about the potential for making really cool flowers and figures for cakes. Gum paste flowers can be paper thin and look like the real thing (if done well). I have almost all the gadgets, now I just need the imagination and skill.

Friday morning I volunteered with Saint John Ambulance at the AA Provincial Basketball tournament. Fortunately, it was uneventful in the injury department. I got to know a bit more about a few of the other brigade members during my 4 hour shift.

Last night we attended a tasting party at a friends place. Things are still moving slowly forward with the business We are very close to the "break-even" point now. . .

Today I will be making some royal icing flowers to replenish my depleted supply. I may use some of them on a cake for next Saturday. I have been asked to coordinate/plan/prepare the Relief Society's Anniversary dinner (for about 80 people). I will have lots of help, but I have also planned a fairly simple menu.

The weather has gone from beautiful and mild to grey and chilly again. . .welcome to early spring! I am looking forward to playing in the dirt again.

March 3, 2009

It is still pretty slow going around here. I went to a training meeting last night and am headed to another this evening. The kids are back at schoolwork and Ron is still dragging between shifts.

It is really warming up and the snow is quickly turning to MUD!!! I am looking forward to getting the yard into shape before we head South this summer. I got a couple of nusery catalogues today and I drooled all over them.

I still haven't gotten around to reading many blogs or working on my sewing projects, but hopefully I will get back in to the swing soon.

On the mend????

It has been over a week since I came down with this "wonderful" bug that Ron brought home to us. The older kids, Ron and I have begun slowly working our way back up to more activity. Elizabeth looked as pale as a sheet today and has been throwing-up (the rest of us only had mild nausea with fever, cough and body aches), I guess it is her turn now.

I missed my first responder course, so I will have to take it in the fall when it is offered again.

It has been snowing, then melting over the last few days, we are supposed to be headed into a big warm-up this week.