Alle læsere af min blog, deres venner, familie og bekendte ønskes et rigtigt godt nytår
med solskin, sundhed og sjov!
2024 er dragens år
2024 er dragens år
Disclaimer for the A-Z Challenge. I will visit blogs, but I won't necessarily comment if the contents do not speak to me.
I will mercilessly remove comments only made to generate views like: "Nice blog, please visit mine".
søndag den 31. december 2023
All the Colours of 2023
At first a disclaimer: I'm not going to keep up Colours of the Month in 2024. It did not work out as I thought it would. I would have liked to post at least a photo a month with the months' colour. It did not happen.
But a review of the monthly colours and some photos is still in order.
And after this trip through my year in colour, I am tempted to take up Colour24 anyway. The format would be a bit different in as far as I would only announce the colour on the first (or maybe second) Sunday of every month; together with a Sunday Selections using the colour. What do you say?
But a review of the monthly colours and some photos is still in order.
Månedernes farve ~ ~ Colour of the Months
January - Pine Green - an alternative view of our Christmas tree.
February - Signal White - the colour I did not use for my sweater
March - Salmon Range - dyeing with privet berries and thickseed flowers
April - Reseda Green - celebrating Easter and writing of ancestors
May - May Green - celebrating Common Prayer Day for the last time ever
June - Turquoise blue - sewing a new piano guardian
July - Golden Yellow - visiting the sand sculptures and meeting this golden beauty in the nearby harbour
August - Luminous Red - Seeing monsters in the weather graphs
September - Antique Pink - reminiscing about our stay in Germany
October - Dahlia Yellow - plant dyeing once again
November - Mint Green - complaining about the labelling of pick'n'mix candy
December - Fawn brown - Dead leaves still hanging on the tree at the place where I bought our Christmas tree.
And after this trip through my year in colour, I am tempted to take up Colour24 anyway. The format would be a bit different in as far as I would only announce the colour on the first (or maybe second) Sunday of every month; together with a Sunday Selections using the colour. What do you say?
lørdag den 30. december 2023
Tegnerier igen ~ Drawing Challenge Once Again
Jeg har fundet en ny tegneudfordring:
Tegn din dag
Brug et af disse stikort til at tegne noget fra din dag:
1. Hvor var jeg?
2. Hvad så jeg?
3. Hvad havde jeg på?
4. Hvad spiste eller drak jeg?
5. Hvem mødte jeg?
6. Hvad gjorde jeg?
7. Hvad brugte jeg?
8. Hvad købte jeg?
9. Hvad er nyt?
10. Hvad er gammelt?
11. Hvad kasserede jeg?
12. Hvad er det samme som hver dag?
13. Hvad var forskelligt i dag?
14. Hvad skete der - en tilfældig ting?
15. Hvad skete der - en fjollet ting?
16. Hvad vil jeg huske fra i dag?
Fra Artists Network. Jeg kombinerer det med en RNG for at beslutte, hvad jeg skal tegne i dag.
Tegn din dag
Brug et af disse stikort til at tegne noget fra din dag:
1. Hvor var jeg?
2. Hvad så jeg?
3. Hvad havde jeg på?
4. Hvad spiste eller drak jeg?
5. Hvem mødte jeg?
6. Hvad gjorde jeg?
7. Hvad brugte jeg?
8. Hvad købte jeg?
9. Hvad er nyt?
10. Hvad er gammelt?
11. Hvad kasserede jeg?
12. Hvad er det samme som hver dag?
13. Hvad var forskelligt i dag?
14. Hvad skete der - en tilfældig ting?
15. Hvad skete der - en fjollet ting?
16. Hvad vil jeg huske fra i dag?
Fra Artists Network. Jeg kombinerer det med en RNG for at beslutte, hvad jeg skal tegne i dag.
-- 🎨 --
I found a new drawing challenge:
Sketch Your Day
Use one of these drawing prompts to record something from you day.
1. Where did I go?
2. What did I see?
3. What did I wear?
4. What did I eat/drink?
5. Who did I see?
6. What did I do?
7. What did I use/handle/touch?
8. What did I buy?
9. What’s new?
10. What’s old?
11. What did I throw out?
12. What’s the same as usual (a routine or repetitive event)?
13. What’s different than usual (a unique event)?
14. What’s a random thing that happened?
15. What’s a silly thing that happened?
16. On this day, what will be a memory?
From Artists Network. I combine it with an RNG to decide which prompt to use for today.
-- 🎨 --
Hvis det ikke skulle virke, har jeg også fundet Doodlewash:
---
onsdag den 27. december 2023
Words for Wednesday ~ December 27
This challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
The prompts for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For December 27 - today - we had the following words:
Rusk
Spindrift
Ballistic
Troubadour
Killick
and/or
Mantra
Tuckamore
Whirlpool
Calliope
Catamaran
These words are of a fitting maritime nature. And they set my writing juices boiling. Continuing the story, using all Words in the order they were given, only not Catamaran - this might find its use in the next episode.
Some weeks later they again met at the Unicorn Farm. After Morning gathering they had an unexpected break, and Susan convened the other 9 conspirators in the little room in the attic.
"I found it," she said. "Or least I think I did. My dad loves to go for car rides to little known places in Zealand, and last Wednesday we went to a small coastal town some 20 kilometres from home. We had an ice cream next to a humongous parking lot, quite deserted, as the holidays had not yet begun. We walked the woods and returned to the parking lot. There was a small museum next to the parking lot, and I succeed in getting my family to go there by saying that it was probably boring. This had my sister, begging for us to go there of course ...
"Yes, we know, sibling rivalry," Marit said. " please get to the point"
Inside the museum was models of fisherboats, and the main pieces were old signs, names from ships and that kind of things. One of the plaques came from an inn - featuring a yellow bird that with some good will could pass for a cormorant.
The label told that the sign came from the old inn very close by.
They also exhibited an old rusk - over 100 years old, and paintings of sea disasters and shipwrecks, where you could almost smell the spindrift."
"Susan," Tage said, "your poetic ore is rampant today, If I have to listen to much more of this, I'll go ballistic."
"OK;" Susan said, "then I wont tell anything about the seaside troubadour or all the large and small anchors and killicks in the entrance hall, and come to the point."
"Please do, please do." Tage repeated as if it was some kind of mantra.
"I asked about the signs, and the lady handed me a folder. There I could see that the inn with the yellow bird sign had lain on the edge of the plantation of tucamore trees planted to keep the sand from covering arable lands in the late 1500.
The legend tells of a whirlpool there only opening at certain dates and swallowing ships with men and mice - I think it's only a legend - but one ship - the Calliope - should have survived the trip through the whirlpool and still sail the waters thereabout when the moon is hidden. I think this might be where the treasure is!" Susan ended her tale. "Did anyone else find anything?" Olav asked. "I did not."
The other apprentices also shook their heads, only Fiona and Veronika looked up. Veronika spoke: "One of the very old sailors in our harbour told of an old inn, he remembered, either from his youth, or something he only heard about ... that was not clear. He was very old, hard of hearing, and his thoughts drifted through time and space. It might very well be the same inn, as the distance per boat is not far."
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
-- ☸ --
The prompts for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For December 27 - today - we had the following words:
Rusk
Spindrift
Ballistic
Troubadour
Killick
and/or
Mantra
Tuckamore
Whirlpool
Calliope
Catamaran
These words are of a fitting maritime nature. And they set my writing juices boiling. Continuing the story, using all Words in the order they were given, only not Catamaran - this might find its use in the next episode.
Some weeks later they again met at the Unicorn Farm. After Morning gathering they had an unexpected break, and Susan convened the other 9 conspirators in the little room in the attic.
"I found it," she said. "Or least I think I did. My dad loves to go for car rides to little known places in Zealand, and last Wednesday we went to a small coastal town some 20 kilometres from home. We had an ice cream next to a humongous parking lot, quite deserted, as the holidays had not yet begun. We walked the woods and returned to the parking lot. There was a small museum next to the parking lot, and I succeed in getting my family to go there by saying that it was probably boring. This had my sister, begging for us to go there of course ...
"Yes, we know, sibling rivalry," Marit said. " please get to the point"
Inside the museum was models of fisherboats, and the main pieces were old signs, names from ships and that kind of things. One of the plaques came from an inn - featuring a yellow bird that with some good will could pass for a cormorant.
The label told that the sign came from the old inn very close by.
They also exhibited an old rusk - over 100 years old, and paintings of sea disasters and shipwrecks, where you could almost smell the spindrift."
"Susan," Tage said, "your poetic ore is rampant today, If I have to listen to much more of this, I'll go ballistic."
"OK;" Susan said, "then I wont tell anything about the seaside troubadour or all the large and small anchors and killicks in the entrance hall, and come to the point."
"Please do, please do." Tage repeated as if it was some kind of mantra.
"I asked about the signs, and the lady handed me a folder. There I could see that the inn with the yellow bird sign had lain on the edge of the plantation of tucamore trees planted to keep the sand from covering arable lands in the late 1500.
The legend tells of a whirlpool there only opening at certain dates and swallowing ships with men and mice - I think it's only a legend - but one ship - the Calliope - should have survived the trip through the whirlpool and still sail the waters thereabout when the moon is hidden. I think this might be where the treasure is!" Susan ended her tale. "Did anyone else find anything?" Olav asked. "I did not."
The other apprentices also shook their heads, only Fiona and Veronika looked up. Veronika spoke: "One of the very old sailors in our harbour told of an old inn, he remembered, either from his youth, or something he only heard about ... that was not clear. He was very old, hard of hearing, and his thoughts drifted through time and space. It might very well be the same inn, as the distance per boat is not far."
... to be continued
Words for Wednesday - Catch-up
December 13 & 20 - Third part
Today the last batch of Words for Wednesday goes live over at Elephant's Child's blog.
But I still have Words from last Wednesday, so I'm not going to look there until this is published.
For December 20th we had the following words:
Smithereens
Arch
Magazine
Outcome
Income
And/or
Primrose
Cormorant
Boreen
Lucidity
Antagonism
I did not find a use for Antagonism, and I think I'm going to drop it. Continuing the story of the strange locket. And as usual using the words in the order they were given.
Second part.
First part.
Part zero.
The beginning.
Again at lunch break the 10 apprentices met in the small room in the attic.
Olav tried yet again to pare open the locket with his knife, still with no progress.
"I feel that if I apply more pressure either the locket or my knife is going to burst. And none of them will be any good smashed to smithereens," he concluded.
"As I said," Tage continued, "I have an idea. I think I see letters around the edge, Lis, would you care to give it a try?"
Lis picked up the locket and said. "I see letters too, but I cannot make them into words."
"Let me try," Olav said. "I see the word 'Arch', but after this I see a-a-h-e-e which sure is not a word."
"Your eyes must be better than mine," Lis said. "Tell me all the letters you see."
Olav read aloud, and Lis jotted down the letters in the margins of an old magazine.
Susan opened her bag and pulled out her sketch pads: "Here use this."
The outcome was a long line of letters. Apart from scattered two-letter words it was totally meaningless.
"This must be some kind of code," Lis said "Let's try and crack it."
They sat down alone or in groups, writing letters and combining them. In the end Lis and Susan came up with the same solution.
"Every third letter," Lis said.
"Yes, and the second row has to be read backwards," Susan added.
But what a strange sentence, Lis said:"By the income of the primrose cormorant, I made my living. Walk the green boreen to lucidity!"
"What's a cormorant? Fiona asked.
"Some kind of bird, I think," Olav answered.
"They're black," My added, "not primrose."
"And what's a boreen?" Susan said. "Borean I know, and thought it was a spelling mistake."
"A boreen is an unpaved road, mostly with grass in the middle," Veronika said. "I think it is an Irish word, as I know it from our Irish uncle."
"But still it's very unclear," Olav said. "Where do we start?"
"Finding the primrose cormorant," Tage answered. "It sounds like the name of an inn."
"It sure does, We'll have to ask all the travelling members of our families in the coming weeks," Olav answered.
"Yes," My piped in, "and all the sailors in the harbour too. It could be far away, even in another country."
But I still have Words from last Wednesday, so I'm not going to look there until this is published.
For December 20th we had the following words:
Smithereens
Arch
Magazine
Outcome
Income
And/or
Primrose
Cormorant
Boreen
Lucidity
Antagonism
I did not find a use for Antagonism, and I think I'm going to drop it. Continuing the story of the strange locket. And as usual using the words in the order they were given.
Second part.
First part.
Part zero.
The beginning.
Again at lunch break the 10 apprentices met in the small room in the attic.
Olav tried yet again to pare open the locket with his knife, still with no progress.
"I feel that if I apply more pressure either the locket or my knife is going to burst. And none of them will be any good smashed to smithereens," he concluded.
"As I said," Tage continued, "I have an idea. I think I see letters around the edge, Lis, would you care to give it a try?"
Lis picked up the locket and said. "I see letters too, but I cannot make them into words."
"Let me try," Olav said. "I see the word 'Arch', but after this I see a-a-h-e-e which sure is not a word."
"Your eyes must be better than mine," Lis said. "Tell me all the letters you see."
Olav read aloud, and Lis jotted down the letters in the margins of an old magazine.
Susan opened her bag and pulled out her sketch pads: "Here use this."
The outcome was a long line of letters. Apart from scattered two-letter words it was totally meaningless.
"This must be some kind of code," Lis said "Let's try and crack it."
They sat down alone or in groups, writing letters and combining them. In the end Lis and Susan came up with the same solution.
"Every third letter," Lis said.
"Yes, and the second row has to be read backwards," Susan added.
But what a strange sentence, Lis said:"By the income of the primrose cormorant, I made my living. Walk the green boreen to lucidity!"
"What's a cormorant? Fiona asked.
"Some kind of bird, I think," Olav answered.
"They're black," My added, "not primrose."
"And what's a boreen?" Susan said. "Borean I know, and thought it was a spelling mistake."
"A boreen is an unpaved road, mostly with grass in the middle," Veronika said. "I think it is an Irish word, as I know it from our Irish uncle."
"But still it's very unclear," Olav said. "Where do we start?"
"Finding the primrose cormorant," Tage answered. "It sounds like the name of an inn."
"It sure does, We'll have to ask all the travelling members of our families in the coming weeks," Olav answered.
"Yes," My piped in, "and all the sailors in the harbour too. It could be far away, even in another country."
... to be continued
mandag den 25. december 2023
Poetry Monday :: Christmas
Long ago we spent a year in Salzgitter, Germany. There it was a tradition that the priest and some of the children from the parish came dressed as the three wise men and sung carols in the Christmas week. Sternsinger they're called in German - Star singers. The house is blessed, and the singers are given cookies, candy and tea or soft drinks, and the priest get some money for the needy (or I guess hand out something if you're the needy one).
I think this is a good tradition, and would very much like to transplant it to Denmark.
We also had a visit, and they sung a song that stayed with me, and that I have tried to translate into Danish. Today I tried my hand at an English translation, please be not too harsh on my humble try.
I think this is a good tradition, and would very much like to transplant it to Denmark.
We also had a visit, and they sung a song that stayed with me, and that I have tried to translate into Danish. Today I tried my hand at an English translation, please be not too harsh on my humble try.
-- 🌟 --
The song is called
Stern über Betlehem
Stern über Betlehem, zeig uns den Weg
führ uns zur Krippe hin, zeig wo sie steht,
leuchte du uns voran, bis wir dort sind,
Stern über Betlehem, führ uns zum Kind.
Stern über Betlehem, nun bleibst du stehn
und läßt uns alle das Wunder hier sehen,
das da geschehen, was niemand gedacht,
Stern über Betlehem, in dieser Nacht.
Stern über Betlehem, wir sind am Ziel,
denn dieser arme Stall birgt doch so viel!
Du hast uns hergeführt, wir danken dir,
Stern über Betlehem, wir bleiben hier.
Stern über Betlehem, kehren wir zurück,
scheint noch dein helles Licht in unserm Blick,
und was uns froh gemacht, teilen wir aus,
Stern über Betlehem, schein auch zu Haus.
-- 🌟 --
And in Danish
Stjerne fra Betlehem
Stjerne fra Betlehem, vis os nu vej
før os til kongen nu, vi følger dig
lys på vor mørke vej til vi når frem
Stjerne fra Betlehem, før os til Ham.
Stjerne fra Betlehem, standser du her?
Barnet i krybben ser vi i dit skær
Her er et under sket, vi fandt en skat.
Stjerne fra Betlehem, i denne nat.
Stjerne fra Betlehem, vi nåede frem.
Røgelse, guld og sølv bragte vi Ham.
Du ledte os herhen, vi takker dig,
Stjerne fra Betlehem, for lys på vej.
Stjerne fra Betlehem, når vi ta'r væk,
skinner dit stærke lys i vores blik,
og vi fortæller om barnet, vi fandt.
Stjerne fra Betlehem, tag med os hjem!
-- 🌟 --
English translation
Star above Betlehem
Star above Betlehem show us the way
lead us to Betlehem, and not astray.
Shine with your gentle light in our night
Star above Betlehem show us the child.
Star above Betlehem, now here you stay,
And let us all see the child in the hay.
What happen'd in this place? We saw a spark,
Star above Betlehem, deep in the dark.
Star above Betlehem this is our goal
For in this humble place Him we behold
You led us to this place, we thank you star
Star above Betlehem, you led us far.
Star above Betlehem when we go home
still shines your gentle light in our gloom.
What we saw in this place, we have to share
Star above Betlehem stay with us there.
-- 🌟 --
You can listen here in German:
- - - - -
Next Monday: The Future (Diane's last Poetry Monday - for now, we hope!)
lørdag den 23. december 2023
Words for Wednesday - Catch-up
December 13 & 20 - Second part.
For December 13th we had the following words:
Dynamite
Chariot
Bucket
Periwinkle
And/or
Blunt
Fifty
Shortbread
For December 20th we had the following words:
Smithereens
Arch
Magazine
Outcome
Income
And/or
Primrose
Cormorant
Boreen
Lucidity
Antagonism
I made it a bit further using up all the words from December 13. Still I'm not totally certain what, if anything is in the locket, and what will happen. This is quite a good chapter for filling in on Unicorn Farm, the language spell, (Mál sameinast), and the apprentices. The locket and this whole story ... not so much. It is up for a total re-write before making it into my book.
The after dinner lessons were short but intense. The friends quickly agreed to wait with solving the puzzle of the locket until next morning and hurried to the Barn, where Gilvi was just about to end the day. As usual he told of the plans for tomorrow's lessons, and ended by cancelling the Mál Sameinast.
Next morning bright and early saw the ten apprentices meet in the old chambermaids' room under the roof, Our friends had only little trouble understanding one another, as Swedish, Norwegian and Danish are very close to one another. Only My's very Northern Norwegian made Heidi a bit insecure, but Olav and his cousins translated her dialectal words into Bokmål for the Danes. Before they sat down, Lis removed the bockety chair from the table, telling the others of this strange word for worn and unsteady.
Then they got to work on the locket. First Olav cleaned off the barnacles with his pocket knife; He had one of those red ones with many different instruments in it. "My granddad has one with over fifty functions. I'll get a larger one when I turn 15."
"But that one is great," Susan exclaimed. "I always wanted a pocket knife, but my parents did not think it wise. Then I became a girl scout and had a big knife instead."
The others laughed. "Good one, Susan," Olav said, "A knife is an indispensable tool."
"Now I've removed the barnacles, Now what?" Olav asked.
"Try opening the locket," Lis suggested, "don't you think your smallest blade is slim enough to squeeze in there," she said, pointing to a small crack in the seam between the two halves.
All Olav's prying and trying was to no avail. the locket did not give. Then Tage discovered the spidery script along the rim of the locket.
Then the bell in the Belfry struck one time. In a quarter of an hour everyone would gather in the Barn, Gilvi would announce any news, and most important, cast the Mál sameinast, the language spell allowing all professors and apprentices to understand what everybody else said and be understood by everyone. Woe to the latecomers, trying to fumble through Taavi and Tähti's Finnish or Jon's very rural Norwegian, or the two Faroese newcomers strange syllables.
"We have to go down and get dressed," Heidi said.
"Let's meet again in the lunch break," Tage said, "I have an idea."
In the Barn, baskets of cookies, shortbread and small buns stood on the table together with teapots, milk and sugar.
Gilvi spoke: "Today is a feast day. Today, a year ago, we had the first meeting in what was to become the professor's group at the Unicorn Farm. Today a year ago Unicorn Farm had its name. Today is the birthday of The Unicorn Farm! Let's make some happy noises."
Everybody obeyed, and Hoorays, Yahoos and similar sound filled the air, accompanied by clapping of hands and stomping of feet.
... to be continued
fredag den 22. december 2023
Solhverv ~ Solstice
Det er sket. Mens vi lå og sov, helt præcist klokken 4.27 i morges, vendte solen og fra nu af bliver dagene længere.
Jeg glæder mig, og det kan ikke gå for hurtigt med lysere, længere dage!
Jeg glæder mig, og det kan ikke gå for hurtigt med lysere, længere dage!
-- 🌞 --
It has happened! While I was sleeping - to be exact at 4.47 am - the Sun reversed, and the days are now getting longer.
Yes I know that on the Southern hemisphere they're getting shorter from now. I know, but I can't really feel it in my longing for longer, brighter days.
torsdag den 21. december 2023
Words for Wednesday - Catch-up
December 13 & 20 - First part.
This challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
The prompts for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For December 13th we had the following words:
Gnocchi
Dynamite
Chariot
Bucket
Periwinkle
And/or
Noticeboard
Blunt
Bockety
Fifty
Shortbread
For December 20th we had the following words:
Smithereens
Arch
Magazine
Outcome
Income
And/or
Primrose
Cormorant
Boreen
Lucidity
Antagonism
I have a lot of catching up to do. Hopefully the next couple of days will see this story evolve.
We're back in the first year at the Unicorn Farm and continuing the story of the Sea Monster and the Locket from August and from December 6th.
As always I used the Words in the order they were given. I used only the crossed out words so far.
They made it home to The Farm before dinner. Today the Nisser served stew and gnocchi, a strange combination, but very tasty.
After dinner they met in the old chambermaids' room under the roof. It had over the months become the problem pit for Susan and her friends in times of need. Olav, Susan, Heidi, Tage and Lis met with My, Marit, Astrid and the two hippie sisters Fiona and Veronika. Those two had only recently joined the close knit group, but after an accident, involving Tage, a stick of dynamite and some unmade homework, they also were an accepted part of the team.
Heidi pulled the locket from her pocket and Lis and Tage told the story of the strange poem in Olav's book, the sea monster and the locket.
"We only miss him riding to Heaven in a fiery chariot," Astrid said, a teasing smile forming on her face. "I wonder if ..."
Tage interrupted. "Nope, no chariots here, only an old bucket with a periwinkle plastic handle.
They all broke out in laughter at this remark and when they got their breath back, Astrid said: "Yah, I admit, I had a hard time believing you, but where else could you have gotten such a locket; I mean look at it, it's overgrown with barnacles and stuff. It must have been at the bottom of the sea for years ans years."
"Let's open it," Heidi said.
"Wait," Veronika said. "Didn't you read the noteboard this morning? Lessons will start again in a fem minutes."
"To be blunt, no I did not," Tage said, and the rest of the apprentices either nodded or came with agreeing sounds
"What a luck we have mother Veronika to look after us wayward children," Olav said, which made Veronika gently elbow him and the rest begin laughing again.
Heidi put the locket back in her pocket, and Susan suggested that they met again after lessons.
"We sure will," Fiona said, speaking for them all, while she, Astrid, and Marit ran for the door. They had to be in the meadow for flying lessons.
The rest of the group left in a more orderly fashion, Tage extinguished the lights and closed the door before he ran down the stairs and reached the purple door across the corridor just a bit after Heidi, Lis and Olav.
My slipped inside the blue door just seconds before Tähti arrived; and Susan, and Veronika reached the green dor at the end of the corridor at the same time as did Thora.
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
-- 🐳 --
The prompts for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For December 13th we had the following words:
Dynamite
Chariot
Bucket
Periwinkle
And/or
Blunt
Bockety
Fifty
Shortbread
For December 20th we had the following words:
Smithereens
Arch
Magazine
Outcome
Income
And/or
Primrose
Cormorant
Boreen
Lucidity
Antagonism
I have a lot of catching up to do. Hopefully the next couple of days will see this story evolve.
We're back in the first year at the Unicorn Farm and continuing the story of the Sea Monster and the Locket from August and from December 6th.
As always I used the Words in the order they were given. I used only the crossed out words so far.
They made it home to The Farm before dinner. Today the Nisser served stew and gnocchi, a strange combination, but very tasty.
After dinner they met in the old chambermaids' room under the roof. It had over the months become the problem pit for Susan and her friends in times of need. Olav, Susan, Heidi, Tage and Lis met with My, Marit, Astrid and the two hippie sisters Fiona and Veronika. Those two had only recently joined the close knit group, but after an accident, involving Tage, a stick of dynamite and some unmade homework, they also were an accepted part of the team.
Heidi pulled the locket from her pocket and Lis and Tage told the story of the strange poem in Olav's book, the sea monster and the locket.
"We only miss him riding to Heaven in a fiery chariot," Astrid said, a teasing smile forming on her face. "I wonder if ..."
Tage interrupted. "Nope, no chariots here, only an old bucket with a periwinkle plastic handle.
They all broke out in laughter at this remark and when they got their breath back, Astrid said: "Yah, I admit, I had a hard time believing you, but where else could you have gotten such a locket; I mean look at it, it's overgrown with barnacles and stuff. It must have been at the bottom of the sea for years ans years."
"Let's open it," Heidi said.
"Wait," Veronika said. "Didn't you read the noteboard this morning? Lessons will start again in a fem minutes."
"To be blunt, no I did not," Tage said, and the rest of the apprentices either nodded or came with agreeing sounds
"What a luck we have mother Veronika to look after us wayward children," Olav said, which made Veronika gently elbow him and the rest begin laughing again.
Heidi put the locket back in her pocket, and Susan suggested that they met again after lessons.
"We sure will," Fiona said, speaking for them all, while she, Astrid, and Marit ran for the door. They had to be in the meadow for flying lessons.
The rest of the group left in a more orderly fashion, Tage extinguished the lights and closed the door before he ran down the stairs and reached the purple door across the corridor just a bit after Heidi, Lis and Olav.
My slipped inside the blue door just seconds before Tähti arrived; and Susan, and Veronika reached the green dor at the end of the corridor at the same time as did Thora.
tirsdag den 19. december 2023
Cancelled
After a wait at the hospital, I was called in by a nice doctor and told that my surgery was postponed due to more tests needed.
I'm not totally unhappy with this. Surgery less than a week before Christmas ... let's just say that the timing could be better.
Blogging will soon resume 💖
I'm not totally unhappy with this. Surgery less than a week before Christmas ... let's just say that the timing could be better.
Blogging will soon resume 💖
mandag den 18. december 2023
Poetry Monday :: Cookies
I feel like chasing my own tail. On my to-do list I only just made it to Poetry Monday. Tomorrow I'm going to have my gall bladder removed, so I need your prayers, good wishes or whatever positive you want to send my way, please.
The subject is Cookies. We had this very same subject back in March. I just repeat, as there's too much I have to ...
Cookies made me of course think of the edible ones - as we eat heaps of them just now. The home made ones are the best - but also of the computer ones. Then my thoughts wandered to bread and games being replaced by cookies and reality shows. I only made a half-baked poem. But now ... well now you'll just have to read it - or not if so you choose.
Cookies we have online
Cookies in a store
Cookies are delicious,
Dare we ask for more?
Panem et circenses *)
In the Rome of yore.
Dulling now our senses
with X Factor's score.
*) "Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metonymic phrase referring to superficial appeasement. It is attributed to Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century BC, and is used commonly in cultural and political, contexts.
In a political context, the phrase means to generate public approval, not by excellence in public service or public policy, but by diversion, distraction, or by satisfying the most immediate or base requirements of a populace, by offering a palliative: for example food (bread) or entertainment (circuses). (Wikipedia - Edited)
Now we're eating and accepting cookies while watching reality-shows. As another old wise and bitter man said: "Nothing new under the sun".
- - - - -
Next Monday: Christmas/Hannukah/Holidays.
The subject is Cookies. We had this very same subject back in March. I just repeat, as there's too much I have to ...
Cookies made me of course think of the edible ones - as we eat heaps of them just now. The home made ones are the best - but also of the computer ones. Then my thoughts wandered to bread and games being replaced by cookies and reality shows. I only made a half-baked poem. But now ... well now you'll just have to read it - or not if so you choose.
-- 🦉 --
Cookies we have online
Cookies in a store
Cookies are delicious,
Dare we ask for more?
Panem et circenses *)
In the Rome of yore.
Dulling now our senses
with X Factor's score.
*) "Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metonymic phrase referring to superficial appeasement. It is attributed to Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century BC, and is used commonly in cultural and political, contexts.
In a political context, the phrase means to generate public approval, not by excellence in public service or public policy, but by diversion, distraction, or by satisfying the most immediate or base requirements of a populace, by offering a palliative: for example food (bread) or entertainment (circuses). (Wikipedia - Edited)
Now we're eating and accepting cookies while watching reality-shows. As another old wise and bitter man said: "Nothing new under the sun".
-- 🦉 --
- - - - -
Next Monday: Christmas/Hannukah/Holidays.
mandag den 11. december 2023
Poetry Monday :: Winter
Today's theme for Poetry Monday is Winter. Poetry Monday is a challenge, hosted by Diane at On the Border.
But now only for three more Mondays. Monday, January 1, 2024 is
Diane's last time hosting Poetry Monday, as she's taking a break due to
health issues. Messymimi and I have a loose plan of keeping the chair
warm for her - let's see what happens.
Digtet her er en reprise. Jeg bragte det første gang den 18. januar 2021, og anden gang, hvor jeg sammenlignede med en tidligere dansk oversættelse til vintersolhverv sidste år, men jeg synes nu bedst om min egen oversættelse, så det er hvad jeg bringer i dag. Jeg har lige forbedret et par af linkerne - i det mindste synes jeg, at det er en forbedring.
Vi har desværre ikke mere sne, der får træer, huse, hegn og mur til at se ud som kager med glasur. Jeg håber, det snart kommer igen, for det er meget bedre for humøret med sne til at lyse op i vintermulmet.
This poem has been published once before January, 18, 2021, and again at Winter solstice last year. This time with an elder, Danish translation. I am brash enough to say that I like mine the best, so that's what you'll get today - I improved two of the lines, at least I found it to be an improvement.
Unfortunately we have no more snow to make tree and house, and hill and lake, look frosted like a wedding-cake. But I hope for the snow to return, as snow to light up our murky days are way better for the soul than rain and low clouds like today.
- - - - - -
Upcoming topics:
Cookies (December 18)
Christmas/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)
The Future (January 1 Diane's last Poetry Monday)
~ ~ ~ ~
Digtet her er en reprise. Jeg bragte det første gang den 18. januar 2021, og anden gang, hvor jeg sammenlignede med en tidligere dansk oversættelse til vintersolhverv sidste år, men jeg synes nu bedst om min egen oversættelse, så det er hvad jeg bringer i dag. Jeg har lige forbedret et par af linkerne - i det mindste synes jeg, at det er en forbedring.
Vi har desværre ikke mere sne, der får træer, huse, hegn og mur til at se ud som kager med glasur. Jeg håber, det snart kommer igen, for det er meget bedre for humøret med sne til at lyse op i vintermulmet.
~ ~ ~ ~
This poem has been published once before January, 18, 2021, and again at Winter solstice last year. This time with an elder, Danish translation. I am brash enough to say that I like mine the best, so that's what you'll get today - I improved two of the lines, at least I found it to be an improvement.
Unfortunately we have no more snow to make tree and house, and hill and lake, look frosted like a wedding-cake. But I hope for the snow to return, as snow to light up our murky days are way better for the soul than rain and low clouds like today.
|
Winter-Time Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again. Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the dark I rise; And shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress. Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door. When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face, and blows Its frosty pepper up my nose. Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake. by Robert Louis Stevenson 1913 |
Vinterdag Først sent står vintersolen op, en gyldenhåret dovenkrop, der skinner et par timer kun for at forsætte så sit blund Og førend stjernen går sin vej, før morgengryet, vågner jeg Og frysende, på bare tæer klæder jeg mig på ved lampeskær Jeg varmer mine fingre lidt ved ilden her, som varmer hedt. Så i en rensdyrslæde går det rundt i verden udenfor. Før jeg går ud, bli'r jeg klædt på får vanter, jakke, hue på. Og vinden svider snart min kind snor sig som rim i næsen ind Mod sneen hvid står sorte skridt min ånde blæses hid og did. Og træer, huse, hegn og mur ser ud som kager med glasur. Charlotte Olden-Jørgensen, 2021 |
- - - - - -
Upcoming topics:
Cookies (December 18)
Christmas/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)
The Future (January 1 Diane's last Poetry Monday)
onsdag den 6. december 2023
Words for Wednesday & IWSG December 6
This challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
The prompts for today as for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For today we had:
Oysters
Herringbone
Puffin
Needle
Broom
and/or
Hummus
Crochet
Locket
Sprocket
Market
Back in August I had the half-baked idea that one of the poems in Olav's fake magic potion book actually did work.
We left Olav, Susan, Heidi age and Lis sitting at the beach waiting for the full moon to rise early and them to test the verse.
Let's see what happens.
The beach was strewn with shells and other remains from big and small sea creatures. And when they dug a hole to bury the remains of their egg rolls Olav was sure, he had found an oyster shell, but Susan had to tell him that oysters did not live in the waters around Unicorn Farm, and that it was probably just a very old black clam.
They also found a couple of herringbones and the deteriorating beak of a puffin, Olav knew what it was, the others suspected it to be a discarded toy made from plastic.
Then the moon rose, and as soon as it had cleared the horizon Tage intoned the verse from Olav's book:
Monster, monster from the sea
come to shore and speak to me.
Full moon waning in the gloom,
Hero rising for his doom
Suppress partner, pressure go!
Trash can ballet, warrant too.
Straight as a needle the water jets rose from the water, Susan made a start, as if to run for her broom, but Heidi caught her hand, and they remained standing on the sand, watching.
The monster surfaced. It was long and sleek, reeking of overripe hummus, its scaled flanks towered over the children, when it neared, but its voice was surprisingly gentle.
"What do you want from me, human child?"
"I would like to know the meaning and purpose of that verse," Tage said.
"The meaning is obscure, lost to the mists of time, unravelled like an old crochet blanket." The monster spoke slowly, ponderously. "The purpose of it is to summon me, but only once a century do I heed the call. Tonight was the night."
The children looked at one another and back at the monster.
The monster spoke again. "Since you all seem guileless, not intent on abusing me or your powers ..." it looked at each of them in turn, its phosphorescent eyes boring into theirs. They met its scrutinizing gaze, afraid and curious at the same time "Since it is so," the monster continued, "I'll give you this locket. It belonged to a seafarer, long lost at sea. Maybe it'll lead you to treasures and riches. Maybe it'll only tell you where he bought his sprocket at the market before he set out on his last journey. Farewell young ones."
- - - - - -
Today is also the first Wednesday of the month. Time for the monthly Question from the Insecure Writers' Support Group
December 6 question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book reviews do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?
My answer: This is the hardest question yet! I hardly ever read a book review, and the few I have written for my blog were all written as part of some challenge and read just like some, I could have written for a school assignment long ago.
Really reviews are not my thing. I like to read the book and like it or not, independent from what others might think. Also for this reason I do not read the prologues, forewords, preambles or what ever they're called until I have read the book.
The answer is: I tell about what I liked or not about the book. If the book is filled with typos, spelling errors or inconsistencies, I tell about this too, as I think it is of importance for my reading experience.
If I ever get to publish a book, I am not going to read the reviews of it. But I like to be corrected, and have learned to say 'thank you' to anybody pointing out my mistakes.
The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.
It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.
So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.
-- 🧛 --
The prompts for today as for every Wednesday in December are provided by WiseWebWoman, and made public at EC's blog.
For today we had:
Oysters
Herringbone
Puffin
Needle
Broom
and/or
Hummus
Crochet
Locket
Sprocket
Market
Back in August I had the half-baked idea that one of the poems in Olav's fake magic potion book actually did work.
We left Olav, Susan, Heidi age and Lis sitting at the beach waiting for the full moon to rise early and them to test the verse.
Let's see what happens.
The beach was strewn with shells and other remains from big and small sea creatures. And when they dug a hole to bury the remains of their egg rolls Olav was sure, he had found an oyster shell, but Susan had to tell him that oysters did not live in the waters around Unicorn Farm, and that it was probably just a very old black clam.
They also found a couple of herringbones and the deteriorating beak of a puffin, Olav knew what it was, the others suspected it to be a discarded toy made from plastic.
Then the moon rose, and as soon as it had cleared the horizon Tage intoned the verse from Olav's book:
Monster, monster from the sea
come to shore and speak to me.
Full moon waning in the gloom,
Hero rising for his doom
Suppress partner, pressure go!
Trash can ballet, warrant too.
Straight as a needle the water jets rose from the water, Susan made a start, as if to run for her broom, but Heidi caught her hand, and they remained standing on the sand, watching.
The monster surfaced. It was long and sleek, reeking of overripe hummus, its scaled flanks towered over the children, when it neared, but its voice was surprisingly gentle.
"What do you want from me, human child?"
"I would like to know the meaning and purpose of that verse," Tage said.
"The meaning is obscure, lost to the mists of time, unravelled like an old crochet blanket." The monster spoke slowly, ponderously. "The purpose of it is to summon me, but only once a century do I heed the call. Tonight was the night."
The children looked at one another and back at the monster.
The monster spoke again. "Since you all seem guileless, not intent on abusing me or your powers ..." it looked at each of them in turn, its phosphorescent eyes boring into theirs. They met its scrutinizing gaze, afraid and curious at the same time "Since it is so," the monster continued, "I'll give you this locket. It belonged to a seafarer, long lost at sea. Maybe it'll lead you to treasures and riches. Maybe it'll only tell you where he bought his sprocket at the market before he set out on his last journey. Farewell young ones."
- - - - - -
Today is also the first Wednesday of the month. Time for the monthly Question from the Insecure Writers' Support Group
My answer: This is the hardest question yet! I hardly ever read a book review, and the few I have written for my blog were all written as part of some challenge and read just like some, I could have written for a school assignment long ago.
Really reviews are not my thing. I like to read the book and like it or not, independent from what others might think. Also for this reason I do not read the prologues, forewords, preambles or what ever they're called until I have read the book.
The answer is: I tell about what I liked or not about the book. If the book is filled with typos, spelling errors or inconsistencies, I tell about this too, as I think it is of importance for my reading experience.
If I ever get to publish a book, I am not going to read the reviews of it. But I like to be corrected, and have learned to say 'thank you' to anybody pointing out my mistakes.
mandag den 4. december 2023
Poetry Monday :: Shoes
Today's theme for Poetry Monday is Shoes. Poetry Monday is a challenge, hosted by Diane at On the Border.
But now only four times more. Monday, January 1, 2024 is Diane's last time hosting Poetry Monday, as she's taking a break due to health issues. Messymimi and I have a loose plan of keeping the chair warm for her - let's see what happens.
Again I tried to find a Danish song. Like my hoarse dragon, it was a song from a play or a musical. I remember a choir of small wood goblins, wood witches or cosy goblin singing a song called, Oh, my Shoes are Filled with Holes.
This time around it was all gone. What strange thing.Then I just had to improvise and this nonsense happened.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
While I'm hunting with the trolls.
And I'm happy that it is not gnolls.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
But I'm running with the foals -
And I'm happy that it is not moles.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
But I'm skipping all the poles.
And I'm filling ice in all the bowls.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
While I'm singing of the voles.
And I'm sure of reaching all my goals.
- - - - - -
Upcoming topics:
Winter (December 11)
Cookies (December 18)
Christmas/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)
The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)
Again I tried to find a Danish song. Like my hoarse dragon, it was a song from a play or a musical. I remember a choir of small wood goblins, wood witches or cosy goblin singing a song called, Oh, my Shoes are Filled with Holes.
This time around it was all gone. What strange thing.Then I just had to improvise and this nonsense happened.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
While I'm hunting with the trolls.
And I'm happy that it is not gnolls.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
But I'm running with the foals -
And I'm happy that it is not moles.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
But I'm skipping all the poles.
And I'm filling ice in all the bowls.
Oh, my shoes are filled with holes,
While I'm singing of the voles.
And I'm sure of reaching all my goals.
- - - - - -
Upcoming topics:
Winter (December 11)
Cookies (December 18)
Christmas/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)
The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)
Jessetræet
Som hvert år i adventstiden - der altså startede i går og ender juleaften - vil der på min blog Jessetræet hver dag blive udgivet en kommenteret bibellæsning og nogle ideer til aktiviteter.
Ideen med Jessetræet er at bringe forberedelsen og besindelsen tilbage til adventstiden, som er ved at drukne i jul og nisser og slik, så der næsten ikke er noget forventning tilbage til selve juleaften.
Det kan være, Uglemor her kæmper med vindmøller, men vi fejrer og fester så meget i hele december, at når det endelig er blevet jul, har vi så travlt med at få pakket jul, juletræer og det hele ned, at der stort set ikke er en grannål tilbage, når man vover sig i byen 2. juledag.
Vores eget adventsvindue viser for en gangs skyld en herligt hvidklædt verden udenfor.
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