Thankful

The door slammed shut in Lola's face. Could she cope with another pubescent teenager?

Memories of past rebellions sent her pulse rate soaring. A simple request to hang out the washing had caused the girl to turn on her. Was obedience too much to expect?

Five kids had already traveled this route, happily causing chaos. Thankfully, each one had survived puberty's rite of passage and eventually grown up.

All too familiar tears stung the back of her eyes and throat, reminding just how tough it could get. She would have to be the strong one, for her daughter and herself.

~

My first 100 word story in a very long time. It feels strange to write something that is not in poetic form, but a change is as good as a holiday, or so it is said.

love,

Haiku Friday

shadow following
moving with body rhythm
faceless pretender


shadow has no thought
silhouette goes everywhere
silent companion


tiny hands do make
shadow puppets on the wall
children full of glee


This is my first contribution
to Haiku Friday.

The subject of Shadows just
came to mind, so I thought I
would follow that stream.



love,

Kids...bless their little hearts

PS. Bunnings is the equivalent to Walmart.

Thursday Thirteen 172nd Edition

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about Eaton


It's very late here in Melbourne, I should be in bed attempting to sleep. But I can't until this TT is finished. I wanted to have it done already, but all sorts of things have jumped the queue. Plus I have no idea what I am going to write. I'm on a wing and a prayer here.

1....To start with, happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging friends. Have a wonderful day!
We don't celebrate this holiday here in Australia, but my heart is with you all.

2....Rain has finally come to Melbourne. Thunder, lightning and hail stones. I listened to the rain twice today. The soft pitta patter of the gentle downfall around lunchtime was
soothing. While the thunder, lightning and hail stones around dinner time were electric. I have missed the rain, just like my land has.

3....Listening to and watching the rain leads my thoughts to windy days and nights. There are emotions I experience when I hear the wind. A soft breeze rustling leaves on a tree is lulling, makes we want to sit outside and day dream. A gusty day irritates me, especially when I want to hang the washing and the clothesline spins around, always just out of reach. Howling winds at night make me want to huddle under my blankets and just listen, knowing I am safe out of the wind.

4....Thinking of the wind leads me to thinking about hot, sultry nights with no wind at all. These nights have a feel all of their own. It's difficult to sleep, I end up tossing, turning and irritable. But I enjoy these nights as well. I like the almost silence of them. I say almost silence, because the night is never silent. There are always little nuances of noise if we listen. Depending on the time of night the noises change too.

5....Crickets, mosquito's, possums in the trees, the neighbor's cat rummaging in our tiny front yard, are just some of the noises on a still summers night. We have a possum, or two, that play on the roof and branches near our bedroom window. I can tell the time by these furry little fellas.
Around 11.00pm is playtime for them.

6....The traffic sounds change by the hour as well, especially noticeable around midnight and later. Cars are fewer on the roads and really the only road traffic I hear are police sirens or an ambulance.

7....The only sounds I can hear right now are the hum of the desk top computer my thirteen year old forgot to turn off. Even my refrigerator is on the off cycle. It really is quiet here tonight.

8....I used to be so afraid of the dark and the wind. I would never go outside on my own.
Somewhere along the way I ditched those fears. I often stand outside in the dark and love it. The solitude is liberating, almost intoxicating. Exotic is a word that comes to mind for the moon, no matter what phase it is in. The stars are captivating and I never cease to be amazed at the beauty of the heavens.

9....Standing in the dark on my own has led me to pray for my family and dearest friends. I think it is very hard not have some communication with God and some spiritual awareness of heaven while staring up at the awesome expanse of the night sky.


10...One night the moon was so amazing that I took my camera out into the middle of the road
and snapped a half dozen shots of it from a few different angles. That was a very spontaneous act on my part. But I got a really good photo out of it, which I used as a prompt for my Haiku titled, Moonlight.





11...I have been known to hang my washing up in the dark, just because I want to be outside. Mind you I'm not so keen on that in the winter, better to be inside all cosy and warm.

12...I work nights, so I get to drive home in the dark. I even enjoy that! Quiet roads, very little traffic, my music up as loud as I want and me all by myself.

13...You might gather that I am a night owl...you're right, I am. Always have been and I can't see me changing. I have also learnt that with a home full of children, the only time to be by myself, really by myself, is when everyone is in bed; asleep. So why would I want to be asleep? No good reason I can think of...well, eventual exhaustion might be one!

Happy TT! :)


You will find lots of Thursday Thirteeners here

Love,

Wordeless Wednesday

?

click on photo for better view...

Thursday Thirteen 171st Edition

Thursday
Thirteen

Thirteen things about Eaton

Thirteen things I saw, did and did not do in Israel...

1...Listened to passionate applause as our plane landed at Ben Gurion airport. Jewish people love coming home and touch down on Israeli soil is plenty of reason for celebration. They actually clap on landing as the plane taxis towards the terminal.

2...Stayed with Israeli friends outside of Tel Aviv. It was rosh hashannah (Jewish New Year) and we were invited to their New Year celebrations and stayed until yom kippur, the Day of Atonement. The most Holy day in the Jewish Year. Traditional foods, and religious celebrations were fascinating and I will always consider it an honor that those people welcomed us into their home. I also got to go to Synagogue with them, men downstairs and women upstairs, no modern thinking or reform there.

3...Traveled all over the upper half of the country, Golan Heights, Druz villages, Gadolt, Banyas and Bethlehem on the internal bus system. That was a treat! I actually got to feel the barrel of an MK16 (big, big, big gun) resting between my shoulder blades while waiting to get off a bus. The Nationals like to get up real close and personal in public places.

4...Swam in the Mediterranean sea, and strolled along the shore of Tel Aviv's beach in the moonlight. The moon was so orange it was almost red.

5...Visited the historical Jaffa Port, (what is not historical in Israel?) in Tel Aviv and watched the waves roll in and out. I felt so connected with the sea, I could have sworn I felt the ebb and flow of the tide moving inside me...darn, I did feel it!!!

6...Traveled to Jerusalem and slept at the Back Packers hostel. No fancy frills there at all, bit like a cell in a Monastery. Really cheap accommodation and wonderful breakfasts.

7...Took a taxi to Calvary/Golgotha! It really looks like a skull, but there is still plenty of conjecture as to whether that is the place of the Crucifixion. But it is an awesome sight, barren, white and chalky to look at. There is a Palestinian bus depot right and the base of it. Very unusual feeling to be right at that spot while standing at a buss depot.

8...The Garden Tomb, where Jesus was considered to be buried, conjecture about that too. A quiet, empty place and I mean empty.

9...The Garden of Gethsemane, where the Bible says Jesus asked God to "take this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but thine be done". The oldest Olive Tree in Israel lives there, the roots have been in the ground 2000 years, give or take a few.

10..The Old City, is like stepping back into Biblical times. This city is around 400 odd years old, it has been destroyed by invading conquerors many times.

11..Walked along the Via Delarosa, the Stations of the Cross. Visited King David's Citadel and shopped in the Arab Quarter for souvenirs. We also walked around the outside of the Old City past Absalom's Tomb, King David's son.

12..Walked on the Temple Mount and that moved me, because folks, it aint over yet. And you can take your own interpretation on that one.

13..But the place that was in my heart to visit for 15 years was The Wall, (ha kotel), the Wailing wall. The first time I saw it (my sweet husband kept it a surprise, he knew where he was going) I thought we were just strolling to another part of the old city. We turned a corner and came up to a waist high wall, as I stepped up to it my breath caught in my throat and my heart almost stopped. I have never been taken by surprise like that ever.

Nothing compares to that, well maybe giving birth, that kinda takes your breath away too!! I wore a head covering to approach the wall, laid my hands on the wall and wrote a prayer in my stilted Hebrew and placed it in a crack in the wall. I won't ever forget, the picture in my mind is as clear today as when I experienced it.

I did not get to visit Masada, En Gedi, Eilat or the Dead Sea and I had really hoped to visit those places, twice I missed out. The last time because I caught some stomach bug and was throwing up in my room in Jerusalem. YUK!

one extra cos I couldn't leave this out...

14...I almost forgot Capernaum on the Sea if Galilee, (yam kinneret). I stepped on a black basalt step that Jesus would have stepped on, to enter a church and a few steps away from there, stood looking down into the remains of the very first Christian church...Peter the Apostle, his mother-in-law's home.

Happy TT! :)

Love,

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


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Memories

Memories fluttering in your mind like butterflies...

soft lips caressing

seducing with sweet whispers

unfair advantage

whispering voices

rustling sheets, perfect movements

life's imperfect dance

restless images

fleeting impressions taunting

kaleidoscope view

random memories

reminiscing past actions

titillating ghosts

Capricious musings

playing mischievously

whimsical notions

Love,

Thursday Thirteen 170th Edition

Thursday Thirteen

The men I work with!

Thirteen things about Eaton

I work in a male dominated Italian restaurant and some of those men I love in a myriad of ways, just because of who they are and how they respond to me as their workmate and friend of four years.

I borrowed the idea from My expressions LIVE! blog, he did a TT last week on what he loves about women. I'm not following his lead exactly because it would get me in trouble, being a married lady and all. So here is my adaptation of his idea and my dedication to the 'loves' of my working life.


1....N, because he forgave me 30 seconds after I told him I had put a big dent in his car with my car.

He makes me laugh when there is absolutely nothing to laugh about.


2....LB, he is a sweetie and always ready to help when things get frantically out of hand, which they often do.


3....AC, treats me like a person, not a mom or grandma, even though the age difference is huge.


4....BB, laughs at my jokes and actually thinks I am funny, I really love this guy.


5....R, crazy non English speaking dishwasher, always has the biggest smiles for me.


6....C and R, kitchen hands that always have time to ask how I am and tell me about their lives and ask about mine.


7....Pizza delivery boys, friendly fun guys and such amazing eye candy.


8....T, my boss and the restaurant owner, the most patient, understanding boss I have ever had!


9....L, the person I take my frustration out on and yell at, if things are not going well.


10..A, my manager and friend who took the risk and employed me anyway. If he was reading this he would know exactly what I mean.


11...RD, the boss's son and the sweetest, most helpful, optimistic young man... really handsome too.


12...Those of you who have come and gone, your friendship is remembered with gratitude.


13...Last, but most certainly not least...S, the most amazing Chef and the craziest perfectionist I know. Also the most exasperating person I have had the pleasure to work with. Your Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality has driven me to the brink of violence, but as my friend you have my heart.


Four years with these men isn't very long in the scheme of things, but in the Hospitality industry in Australia, it is equivalent to a lifetime. And to the man who inspired this TT, your acceptance and friendship means the world to me. Love ya!!

Happy TT! :)

Love,






Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Seven Bookish Things About Me

I've been tagged by Heather and I'm going to come out to play.
Here are seven bookish things about me. :)





1....I have my favorite series by certain authors. Once I get to know the characters and like the writer's style, I want to read until there is nothing left by that author to read. Often I will read the series again, not too often though, because I don't want to tire of the stories. I think I might be a bit like a squirrel, stashing my favorites away for a rainy day just in case I run out of new reading material. (tongue in cheek here)

2....I have read stories where the characters have become like personal friends and it has broken my heart to come to the end of the series. Been so hard to say goodbye to them...these are definitely the books I squirrel away.

3....I store my books in three different places. On my night table, in the TBR pile, bookshelves around the house and in the storage space in our ceiling. The TBR pile speaks for itself. The bookshelves around the house are there because I may not have finished with them yet and the ones in boxes in the ceiling space are my all time favorites; yep, the squirrelled away ones.

4....I do not like to loan books to people, it's hard to keep track of who you loaned what to. I have lost a few books that way. I would rather give them away.

5....I don't like to damage novels, but have no compunction about writing all over a book I am studying on an intellectual level. I like to look back on the notes I made to discover things about myself. Have I changed my thoughts on the scribblings or do I still relate on the same level? Personal notes on books can be very revealing!

6....I don't buy hard covers, the cost is usually prohibitive to me as I still have high school kids in my house and their text books and stationery are exorbitantly priced. Plus I like the supple feel of a paperback, they handle easier. :)

7....Cover art plays a ridiculously important role in my choosing an unread author's book. I am attracted to sensual, rich colors and creative designs. Often covers with classical art works, I find very hard to resist. If a book cover draws me to run my hands over it, I'm already halfway to buying the book. I have been disappointed in the contents of a book that way...but I'm a sucker for a great book cover.

That's all folks...now, who are my random tags?

Mary, Danica, Eden, Karen, Nicholas, Mielikki, Patti, Betty

Thursday Thirteen 169th Edition

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about Eaton


Taking photos around Victoria, the state I live in, has made me conscious of the fact that there are some rather unusual things about Australia that are commonly known overseas. But I wonder if you know these things about Australia.

1....Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Almost three quarters of the land cannot support agriculture in any form.

2....The TT header is a jar of Vegemite, peculiar to Australia and believe me it is peculiar. Looks like solidified sump oil, (stuff that goes in the working parts of cars). It is some
kind of vegetable concoction, very salty and I can only eat it is very small doses. But the name Vegemite is synonymous with growing up in Australia.

3....The most popular spectator sport in this state at least, is Aussie Rules Football and the beer that is historically connected to watching this game is VB, Victoria Bitter. The food that goes with the beer while watching the game is a Four'n Twenty meat pie, with tomato sauce (ketchup to my American friends). Football, VB and meat pies are an institution here.




4....That beer I mentioned above is often bought by the slab. What's a slab you ask? Twenty four cans of VB in a box.

....We have blow flies, they are black and brown with wings and big bulgy eyes. Spring through summer and autumn (fall), they invade the land and one of the most common sights is people outdoors waving their hands around their faces constantly. This happens so often that we have named it, The Aussie salute!


5....Kangaroos, Koalas and Platypus are native to this country and no other. Platypus are very shy and hard to find, I think you could almost say rare. Koalas are lazy, sleep a lot tree dwellers, that are no relation at all to bears. They only eat a certain type of Eucalyptus leaf for its oil. They are smelly and grunt a lot. Kangaroos know world wide fame as one of our most famous animals. The females carry their young, Joeys, in a pouch on the front of their bodies.





We have done strange stuff to our language, here are some examples...

6....She'll be right mate. Everything will be OK.

7....A few sandwiches short of a picnic. Someone who is not too bright.

8....Like a shag on a rock. An unpopular person.

9....and probably the most famous of all, G'day Mate.

10...True blue. Person born on Australian soil, that is Australian through and through.

11...Blue. Anyone with red hair (still don't understand that).

12...We dial 000 for emergency whether it be fire, ambulance or police. That's cool now, but when we had actual dial phones it would take forever, the 0 is the furthest away number to dial.



13...The Ute. The average Aussie blokes idea of THE car, well not every one of course, but darn close.




Happy TT :)

Love

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Two friends, two blogs...

Two friends, two blogs and two very different styles of writing. Let me introduce you to them. I thought of tossing a coin to see who goes first...but of course, ladies always go first.


Mary, at Randomness of Me, started her blog a week ago. She is writing 100 word stories (drabbles), and is exceptionally good at it. Her inspiration for writing is diverse, as are her drabbles. You have to have a read to understand what I'm on about here. The first drabble on her blog is, Endless Love, an interesting take on everlasting love, with an unusual twist. The second, Strange Bedfellows, is not at all what you might think it is about. Mary is adding to her list of stories daily at this point and has done an inaugural Thursday Thirteen meme. At the end of this week her first FanFiction Friday will be posted, I have no idea what her offering will be, but I am eagerly looking forward to it. I recommend taking some time to check out her blog and enjoy her offerings.


My expressions Live, is a fireman and has a natural talent for writing and giving his readers an emotional, feeling packed look into the professional part of his life. His writing ability has filled me with apprehension, shocked me, and caught me up into his experiences. Often leaving me feeling like I have been a part of what he is describing. I am always amazed at the level of danger he has faced and continues to face in his job. He has moved me with the love he bears his wife and family and touched my heart with his streams of consciousness on life. MeL, has a great way with words, conjuring a myriad of emotions and feelings and is clever in his use of detail, painting very vivid mental pictures for his readers. He is also writing a fiction serial about a fireman that is definitely 'Adult Only'. A very interesting collection of writings!

Happy reading. :)

Love,