On Daddy's Knees

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#43

May 2012

As usual you have 100 words to add to these to create a piece of writing. You can use any genre. Please make sure it is suitable for a PG certificate.

….The flame flickered before….

ON DADDY’S KNEE

He is perched safe and secure on his daddy’s knees

As the flame flickered before his baby blue eyes

The glowing effect mesmerising his young mind

Colours wavering, patterns dancing, shapes undefined

Tongues of flames the same colour as his red hair

With its copper tints, shining golden hues and sunshine flair

The crackles and pops and hisses as the heat ignites

Nuggets of coals, the smell of the firewood, sparkling firelight

Father and son’s love sealed at this moment in time

Generation to generation in times to come

A treasured relic of their shared history

A homespun fire to make the loveliest memory.

On Daddy's Knees

RFW Challenge No 39 Appreciating the Zealotry

REPOST FROM A to Z

Well it's time for APPRECIATING THE ZEALOTRY. The purpose of this challenge is to re-post a favourite post you wrote in April that perhaps many people did not get to read due to the craziness of the month. It doesn't have to necessarily be a romantic post - just go with your favourite, whatever that was - a story, a post about writing, a guest post

This is my personal favourite

KATHRYN

Daddy’s girl is in pain

Wishing for his love in vain

She is so disappointed

At always being bated

Reviled and hated

For being related

Her love has been blighted

Thrown away and discarded

His fickle emotions flaunted

Fleeting and unspoken

Blood is not thicker than water

You won't fight for your daughter

They’ve fought this battle and won

Will you fight to keep your son?

The thought of not being wanted

Turned against, words slanted

Try as she might

She has no more fight

She gave and gave and gave

Until there is no give left anymore

She’d take him back with open arms

But he won't give up the other’s false charms

There is only so much pain to endure

They are all so cocksure

But in the end she has no allure

Compared to those who are more immature

To lose her father isn’t her fault

But she is battered from the assault

Hoping against hope he will realise his mistake

And reach out to mend her heartache.

K is for Kathryn

Apple of Her Eye

Apple of Her Eye

Another Challenge to hone my writing skills

Week #42

  You are to write a piece with these words in it:

LIBERTY    EMPIRE    APPLE    YELLOW    ENORMOUS

APPLE OF HER EYE

She looked out of her kitchen window at her cottage garden

Tied round her waist was her favourite yellow apron

She fumbled with thick fingers to untie the bows

Her knuckles enormous now and forever aching.

Just because he’d been to the Empire State building

How could her grandson, the apple of her eye

Christen his first born child, a daughter, Liberty

She hoped this adorable child of her child

Would have the freedom her name implied

To do what she wanted with her life

She opened the door to call them inside

Come and sit down by the fireside.

RED LIPSTICK

Unfortunately I missed the deadline (due to work commitments) for this challenge from Romantic Friday Writers but I'll post it here anyway.
Here is the challenge:

·         You must respond to the stimulus in some way.

·         From the image, choose who will be your viewpoint character.

·         Place your character/s in one of the following settings:

* a nightclub

* last day of high school/college

* at a carnival/festival

* a private party

* an exotic island

* audition for a part in the latest Romeo + Juliet production

* a combination of two or more of the above settings...

Word limit is up to 600

Entries are to contain some element of romance (it doesn't have to be HUGE).  Please, no outright erotica, gratuitous sex, gay romance is permitted if tastefully drawn.  Paranormal if fine if there is romance involved.

My viewpoint character is the girl with her back to us.

RED LIPSTICK

She painted the smile on her face with bright red lipstick

Concealed the shadows under her eyes thinly, not thick

A dusting of blended eye shadow to widen her eyes

To give an air of being knowledgeable and worldly wise

Lush, long, lascivious lashes enhanced with black eyeliner

Gave an exotic look, lengthened and edged with tints of copper.

As she sprayed her perfume, intoxicating and heady

A provocative, powerful aroma worth every penny

She sighed deeply, recalled the conversation to invite her

As her unadorned fingers rummaged in the box among her jewellery.

No excuses her best friend Melanie had insisted over coffee

The limousine is booked, just nod your head and agree

She wrote it on the calendar with two weeks to prepare herself mentally

To draw a line, close the chapter, finish the book finally.

Now the time had come, she’d make the best of it as always

She knows all about the brave face, best foot forward clichés

Melanie placed a fortifying glass of red wine by her elbow

Just right to steady her nerves and make her feel mellow.

She reached out to the stand, touched the wig lightly with her finger

Nail varnish, applied earlier, caught the light sparkling like a chandelier

She was used to the weight on her head but this one felt so much lighter

The curls were so tight, somehow the artificial glow made it brighter.

They looked at each other and took a deep breath, nodded and advanced

To the waiting chauffeur who doffed his cap, opened the door and glanced

At their long legs as they slid elegantly into the plush leather seats

Then the nervous giggles started as the music thumped out its beats.

The room was humming with conversation, subtle notes could be heard

Nobody stopped, nobody turned as the girls entered and surveyed

The couples together, singles pretending, wall flowers and groups of socialites

All positioned strategically, they stopped taking in the highlights.

A charity event, a private party, invitation only so no-one was supposed to be lonely

They all knew, they all had felt, they all knew someone on this journey

So the last person she expected to see stood by the bay window framed by the light

The shock was so great she nearly turned and took flight, why tonight of all nights?

He looked so handsome, so suave and sophisticated, diplomatic and brave

Her heart skipped several beats; her tummy somersaulted as she smelt his aftershave

He espied her, smiled, stepped forward, catching her eye, she was frozen, a statue

The strength of emotions assailed her, forgotten feelings as she looked at Andrew.

He took her hand, pulled her into his body, cheek against cheek

She remembered, she felt, she forgave, she felt free, she felt so weak

There was nothing she could do as she returned his tight embrace

She whispered to him, her voice filled with love, lightness and grace.

Melanie looked on as Ruby melted in to his strong arms, she uttered

Silent prayers of thanks to those responsible in the universe for what occurred

She smiled knowingly as she saw the pair move together, fluid in their movement

United as they should be and would be forever more in this time now present.

Midnight rang out, the dancing ceased; people bowed their heads for a minute

Sometimes the fates were just a lottery, so maybe unfortunate

They remembered those who had lost their fight, those who continued to do battle

Railing against the illness but always ready with hope to be saved by angels.

WORD COUNT:  597

REFLECTIONS ON A - Z CHALLENGE APRIL 2012

REFLECTIONS ON A – Z CHALLENGE APRIL 2012

It’s done and dusted, packed away safely

Words were written freely and bravely

Saved in files, in drawers and on hard discs

Remember to enter them on to memory sticks

Allowed to be seen by many worldwide

Eagerly looking to see who replied

Grateful for every comment submitted

Busy people were so committed

Technophobia overcome by necessity

That verification thing much too wordy

Turn it off please, please, please

We want to read your blog with ease.

I was a first timer, a novice,

A learner, feeling cautious

No need to worry or fret

My words had found their outlet

Gratitude and thanks don't seem to be enough

For the work and effort in a job so tough

The challenge ran smoothly and seamless

Due to dedicated, diligent hosts and hostesses.

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

A Month of Meditation

For the month of May I have accepted the challenge of meditating every day (for as little or as long as I can).

Tuesday 1st May:
This is what happened:

I've only ever meditated in a group setting before with someone 'talking' me through the journey and then 'bringing' me back.  So I decided I would try for five minutes and see how it went.  I grounded myself in my office chair, feet firmly planted, slowed my breathing, tried to cut out the extraneous noises from inside and outside the house and tried to clear the clutter from my mind.   I was aware of the hum of the computer and used it as a focus against all the other noises. 

When I came out of the meditation and looked at the clock the total time was eight minutes.  So I think I succeeded!  I did feel more refreshed for the rest of the day so I will attempt it again today.