Words for Wednesday :: Only the Words

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise, River has taken the mantle of coordinator upon her shoulders.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are supplied by Lissa and are to be found on her blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:
Heartbreak
Cheeseburger
Postcard
Aterlife
Beachcomb

And I'm sorry, life happened, and even if these words speak to me, no writing happened today.

Poetry Monday :: Carousel

Poetry Monday - what's that? It is a blogging game, that Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.  We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

Today's prompt is: Carousel

Whenever I hear "carousel"
I get me s small dizzy spell.
Was he French, or Italian,
and who is the man
who called it a MERRY-go-round?

It stems from the jousting with lances
and spears, and horses that prances.
Then came the mechanic
that causes me panic.
I just want to stay on firm ground!


And one more thing. I vividly remember a song from my childhood/youth about a carousel. But finding anything concerning Danish music from the 1970es and 1980es is neigh on impossible. There's a big, black wall of nothing on the 'net. only sometimes I see other people asking or searching for the same songs.

🎠

Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt! - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer nu  fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: En karrusel

Når jeg hører om en karrusel
tænker jeg altid: Nej vel
vil jeg ej. Jeg kan ikke lide
alt det der med drej.
Jeg løber min vej.

Men hvem har mon opfundet sådan en ting
der drejer og larmer og hvirvler omkring
Et underligt ord
er der også. Hvem ved
og kan gi' mig besked?

Karruseller stammer faktisk fra de gamle ridderturneringer, der også kaldtes Carousel.

Og en helt anden ting. En Karrusel ... får mig til at tænke på en gammel dansktopschlager der vist nok hed sådan. Men det er næsten totalt umuligt at finde den slags på nettet. En streng copyright-lovgivning vedrørende noder og musik gør sit til at jeg ofte løber panden mod en mur og kun finder spredte citater fra andre, der søger den samme tekst. Denne gang er der ikke engang det.

Her er de stumper, jeg husker i tilfældig orden:


Man må holde fast, ellers går det galt;
Du bli'r snydt for turen som du har betalt,
rejs dig op og stil dig hen
på den sidste plads i køen igen:

En karrusel, hvad er dit liv?
Er det andet end et stort tivoli?
skæggede damer og dværgen og klovnen
en udråbers råben og publikums måben

Fru Fortuna er dog ofte lunefuld,
og den dag hun skifter sind,
får du mindre end du satte ind

En karrusel, du hænger på
tag en ekstra tur før alt går i stå

Han holder om dig, og han holder af dig,
og hjulene drejer - en karrusel

🎠

... og så fandt jeg sangen. Jeg må sige, at jeg faktisk er imponeret over min hukommelse. Den var på Dansktoppen EN uge i september 1972, og alligevel har jeg husket næsten hele teksten ordret. Rækkefølgen var ikke helt i top. Rettelser og tilføjelser er fremhævet med fedt:

Prøve lykkens hjul, vinde gods og guld,
Fru Fortuna er dog ofte lunefuld,
og den dag hun skifter sind,
får du mindre end du satte ind

    En karrusel, hvad er dit liv?
    Er det andet end et stort tivoli?
    skæggede damer og dværgen og klovnen
    en udråbers råben og publikums måben

    En karrusel, du hænger på
     tag en ekstra tur før alt går i stå
    Han holder om dig, og han holder af dig,
    og hjulene drejer - en karrusel

Du må holde fast, ellers går det galt;
Du bli'r snydt for turen som du har betalt,
rejs dig op og stil dig hen
på den sidste plads i køen igen.

    En karrusel, hvad er dit liv ...


Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with Berries
Feb 23 Doughnut
Mar 2 Breakfast in Bed
Mar 9 Meeting a Friend
Mar 16 Obsidian
Mar 23 Croissant
Mar 30 The Moon Tonight

Nåledag ~ Harikuyo ~ Feast of broken Needles

I dag er det harikuyo - nålefest. Det er på denne dag, man lægger årets knækkede og bukkede nåle til hvile med tak for deres tjeneste og under bønner om at blive en bedre syerske i det kommende år.
Jeg tager ikke til det nærmeste tempel, jeg ved ikke engang hvor jeg skulle tage hen - og præsten ville nok glo temmelig meget, hvis jeg mødte op til messen bevæbnet med knækkede og bukkede nåle og en kage.
Men jeg kan godt lige ideen med at sige pænt tak for tjenesten til de udtjente ting. Og en bøn om at forbedre sine evner i det kommende år? Kan vi ikke alle have behov for det.

Today is harikuyo, feast of the broken needles. Today seamstresses and people sewing bring the needles, pins and so on broken or otherwise rendered useless since this date last year to a temple. There they lay them to rest in soft tofu or cake, meanwhile thanking them for their services and praying to become better in the coming year.
I'm not going to the nearest temple - I would not even know where to go - and the priest would surely eye me suspiciously if I brought my needles and pins along to mass, to bury them there.
That being said, I like the idea of saying a proper goodbye and thanks to broken needles and pins, and prayers for improving, I think we all could need that.

Sunday Selection :: Colour of the MonthSøndagsbilleder :: Månedens farve

The colour of the mont is Electric Rose - a hard to find colour for me. But recenthy I found that I was missing two skeins of yarn to finish a project - maths! 'nuff said. This yarn could only be had in a town half an hour by bus, so off I went. Only to find that the shop was closed on Wednesdays.

A bit mote thinking and looking at the hope page of the shop made me realize that handling and shipping would cost me 44 kr, whereas the  bus trip would cost me 36 kr. one way! I ordered the yarn.

Månedens farve er Electric rose. Det er en svær farve at finde, for der er ikke meget pink i haven eller i mit liv i det hele taget. Men for nogle dage siden fandt jeg ud af at jeg manglede to nøgler garn. De kunne kun fås i en butik i en anden by, så der otg jeg hen .. og s var butikken lukket den dag!
    Så overvejede jeg, hvad jeg så skulle gøre. Så morsom er en times bustur altså heller ikke. Ved at rode lidt rundt på butikkens hjemmeside fandt jeg ud af at det ville koste 44 kroner at få garnet sendt til postbutikken i nærheden. En busbillet ville koster 36 kr. hver vej. Så jeg endte med at få det sendt.

  -- ⌁ 🌹 ⌁ 🌹 ⌁  -- 

When the yarn arrived, it was in an envelope, but inside it was wrapped in tissue paper. Just look at it!

  -- ⌁ 🌹 ⌁  --

Da garnet ankom, var det naturligvis i en kuvert. men indeni var det pakket ind i silkepapir. Og se nu den farve!

Yesterday we had snow, quite a bit of snow, and then for a short while the temperture went up, just enought to give us freezing rain instead. All the snow is now coverd by a thin crust, letting birds and small animals run on top of the snow. This looks fun. Our bathroom window was glazed in the process.

  --  🌨  -- 
  ❆  ❅  ❄

I går sneeede det pænt meget, og så steg temperaturen og sneen skiftede til isslag, bare ganske kort. Så nu er sneen overtrukket med en sprød skorpe og fugle og smådyr kan gå rundt oven på sneen. Det ser morsomt ud, og vores badeværelsesvindue, der stod på klem, fik pludselig matteret glas.

En imponerende gæst i havenAn Impressive Guest in our Garden

Jeg sad fredelig og skrev, da der landede en fugl i mit æbletræ. Min første impuls var at springe op og skræmme duen væk. Så kiggede jeg igen, og sad i stedet musestille og trak kameraet.

I sat quetly typing as a bird landed in the appletree just outside my window. My knee jerk impulse was to jump up and scare away the pesky dove. I looked again, and sat totally still, carefully getting the camera.

Det var nemlig ikke en due, men denne her. Og så drejede den hovedet og kiggede lige på mig.

I was so not a dove, And then it turned its head and looked straight at me.

Fru spurvehøg i egen majestæt   ~   Her majesty, Queen Sparrowhawk.

Ja, jeg fodrer småfuglene i haven. Og ind i mellem ender en af dem altså som fuglefoder for hende her.

Yes, I feed the small birds in my garden. Now and then one of these ends up as feed for her.
https://www.naturbasen.dk/forum-arkiv/traad?id=1769213

Words for Wednesday February 4 & IWSG

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise, River has taken the mantle of coordinator upon her shoulders.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are supplied by Lissa and are to be found on her blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:
Black eye
Car wash
Mud bath
Jelly bean
Duct tape

In the early summer just before the end of the first year on Unicorn Farm, Jelly beans were not yet a thing in Denmark, so I did not use that word.

After Susan's brush with a viper she had a black eye, not a big and swollen one, only black, so that everybody stared at her, and then looked away. Susan felt inordinately discomforted by this, she did not like being the centre of any form of attention. Tuesday in the evening, dad asked if she needed her bike for the trip to the beach the next day.
Susan replied in the negative. "It's too cold for the beach anyway, and I do not like the way everybody looks at me with this black eye."
"It sure looks impressing," Dad said. "If you feel like it, come down to my work after school, then we can get your bike, and I can run the car through the car wash. I can do without the van tomorrow. The car looks like it took a mud bath recently." Dad smiled. The car had been quite dirty for some time, and mum had been after him to wash it.
"Oh, can I come too," Linda said. "Then Susan and I can stay in the car while it's being washed. You promised that we could some day."
"That could be fun," Susan said, silently hoping that Linda would not spoil the fun by chickening out or teasing her.
"We could do that," Dad said, "but then you'll have to bike home, Susan, there's not room for both of you and the bike in the car."
"Can do," Susan answered. "It's not that far, and I'd like to see if it's fine, and me too after that stunt. If I'm not you'll have to write me a note excusing me from Thursday's tennis lessons."
"Deal!" Dad said.

Next day after school Susan found Linda waiting for her at the school gate. Together they walked through town, down to dad's shop. As they reached the candy store they were tempted to go inside. "Do you have any money?" Linda asked.
"Not much," Susan replied. "And you?"
"Nope, not a coin left," Linda said. "I was so hungry yesterday at school, and Karin and me went to the baker's just across the road."
Susan knew Karin from earlier, she as almost as hungry as Lucy-from-the-mision as daddy always called her. Linda was generous and had probably paid for her own and Karin's baked goods.
"Oh, look," Linda said, "they have gotten new stock of the strong  and sour drops."
They had been sold out for over a week, and Susan especially loved the sour ones. The candy had strange names like Rat poison and Suicide. Nuts and spikes were more logical, being shaped like this.
Susan ended up spending the rest of her pocket money on candy.

Dad came out of the shop the moment they arrived, and gave the girls a big hug. The seat next to the driver's seat was taken up by a big crate of tools, cables and wires, explaining whey there was not room for both girls and a bike.

They jumped into the car, Susan behind the crate, and Linda behind dad. At the car wash dad got out and told the girls to stay put. Then he spoke at length to the owner, and returned, pulled a roll of duct tape from the crate and put some over one of tha lamps.
"The glass broke,"  he explained, "and water and electricity are not good friends."
Then he drove the car into the car wash and made sure all windows were closed tightly. "Now you stay here. and see what happens. I'll run the shortest cycle. It will be loud, but you won't get wet. In case of panic, honk the horn ... but please try to don't. I had to persuade the owner!"
The washing procedure began, water splashed against the car, big yellow and black striped brushes ran over it making scouring sounds. It was not as fun as they had imagined. It was very loud, and the gushes of water and the brushes pushing made the car wobble and shake. They ate all the candy, and then the gusts of warm air drying the car off blew over them like a desert storm and dad returned.
"We survived," Linda said.
"It was not very fun, actually," Susan said. "But at least we have tried it."
"I think you learned a lesson today," Dad said. He drove the now sparkling car to the bike repair shop.
"Come with me, Susan," he said. Then we can get your bike.
It was fast, Susan got her bike back while Dad paid, and then she pedalled home, first carefully, then faster and faster. Both she and the bike were good as new.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

February 4 question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

My answer - Searching through an old binder recently, I actually found one of the first things I ever wrote: "A Tale of Kittens". I think I was 5 or 6 years old when I wrote it, laboriously typing away on an old typewriter.

I was surprised. It was long, 5 pages in uneven typing, and actually good! Lots of echoes from books the then me had read, but put together in creative ways and with nice passages to make it all come together as a working story - and a happy ending.

If only I could go back in time, give that small, lonely girl a hug and tell her to keep it up ...

Poetry Monday :: Bamboo

Well it was to easy a solution, just repeating an old poem. I had to write about bamboo. Not much, not very intelligent, but here it is.

And while I was at it I wrote about our unusual weather. We're treated to a spell of cold, clear days very windy, but very beautiful. It snowed some days ago, it's almost gone now, but the prognosis for more snow is good. I hold my thumbs!


Bamboo
For sure bamboo is not for me,
I am no panda as you see
I am an owl, so feed me mice,
but made of sugar - that's my vice.


Winter cold
All the snowing that snows
and the cold winds that blows
make us shiver and freeze,
make us huddle and sneeze.

But it's bright and it's gay,
sunlight just like in May.

We go sliding along
- it is fun, can't be wrong -
frozen laundry we fly
stiff against pale blue sky.

Yes its bright and it's fun
snow reflecting the sun.

I hope winter will bring
even more snowy thing,
cause the snow doesn't grow
when the coldest winds blow.

When it's cold I have heard
sublimate is the word.

So I look at the skies
brigth and clear to my eyes
and enjoy what I see,
even more snow for me.

Cause it's bright an it's fun
when we have snow AND sun.

 - - - - - - - - - -

*) Sublimate means to go from solid state to gas without passing through the liquid phase.

Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with Berries
Feb 23 Doughnut
Mar 2 Breakfast in Bed
Mar 9 Meeting a Friend
Mar 16 Obsidian
Mar 23 Croissant
Mar 30 The Moon Tonight

Poetry Monday :: Bamboo - More Light & CandlemassDigt, men ikke om bambus, mere lys og Kyndelmisse

Today is Candlemass. I know today's theme is Bamboo, but back in December 2024, I translated this poem by Frank Jæger, and stated that I might reuse this poem at a later date.
Today is this later date. It's crisp, clear and bitterly cold. The temperature is -4 C according to the thermometre, but the wind chill factor makes it more like -15.
And as to Frank Jæger ... yes you've heard of him before on this blog, he was MotherOwl's favourite poet as a young inhabitant of Elsinore, where he lived as well.

He wrote this poem about enduring winter - it is meant for and written about February, where all the accumulated summer-energy (the fires of our heart) is spent, but there's still a long time yet until sunshine and warmer days in April. February 2nd, Candlemass, is known as Midwinter-day in Denmark. Today, according to old farmers' wisdom we're halfway through winter; not that winter will continue for that long, but half of the feed for the livestock should still be in stock today. That's how long still left until the cows and horses can be sent grazing  on the new grass.

Today we have 1¾ hours more of sunligth. Just wonderful. I can feel my energy levels rising, but the cold winds keep us mostly inside. Being outside makes you cold, clumsy and stupid.

Let's have that poem!

 -- 🌬 ❅ ❄  --

I dag er det Kyndelmisse. Jeg ved, at dagens tema er bambus, men tilbage i december 2024 oversatte jeg et digt af Frank Jæger og sagde, at jeg måske ville genbruge det på et senere tidspunkt.
    I dag er det et senere tidspunkt. Det er klart, koldt og bidende koldt. Termometeret siger  -4 °C, men blæsten gør, at det føles mere som -15 °C.
    Og Frank Jæger ... jo, jeg har talt om ham før, han var Uglemors yndlingsdigter, da hun var ung og boede i Helsingør, hvor han også boede.

Han skrev dette digt om at udholde vinteren – det er skrevet til og om februar, hvor al den akkumulerede sommerenergi (vores hjertebål) er brugt op, men der stadig er lang tid til solskin og varmere dage i april.
    Den 2. februar, Kyndelmisse, er kendt som midvinterdag i Danmark. I dag er vi ifølge gammel bondevisdom halvvejs gennem vinteren; ikke at vinteren vil vare så længe, men man skal have halvdelen af vinterfoderet til husdyrene tilbage i dag. Så længe varer det nemlig endnu, før køer og heste kan komme på græs igen.

I dag har vi 1¾ time mere sollys. Det er bare skønt. Jeg kan mærke, at min energi vender tilbage, men den kolde vind holder os mest indenfor. At være udenfor gør én kold, klodset og dum.

Lad os så få det digt!

Liden sol i disse uger. Februar har gjort os mindre. Sne som tynger. Is som knuger. Vi kan ingenting forhindre.	Smallish sun in weeks of winter. February made us lessen. Sleet is weighing. Darkness brooding. Nothing we can do about it
Vi kan heller ikke bede om at måtte blive større. Stær og mus og vinterhvede må på vore vegne spørge.	And we cannot ask for mercy, ask for growth in time of winter. Bird and mouse and seed in hiding have to ask this favour for us.
Men måske april vil hente vore hjertebål tilbage. Sammen vil vi tålsomt vente, liden sol i disse dage.	In April maybe the fires of our hearts will be returning. Patiently we wait together. Smallish sun in days of winter
Frank Jæger, 1953	MotherOwl, December 2024

- - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with Berries
Feb 23 Doughnut
Mar 2 Breakfast in Bed
Mar 9 Meeting a Friend
Mar 16 Obsidian
Mar 23 Croissant
Mar 30 The Moon Tonight

Sunday Selection : Hunting for the Colour of the MonthSøndagsbilleder : På jagt efter månedens farve

Månedens farve er virkelig en udfordring for mig. Jeg har kigget alle de billeder igennem, jeg har taget i hele januar, og jeg fandt TO hvor man med lidt god vilje kan finde en smule Electric Rose

Pinkish colours and I are not the best of friends. I searched through all of my photos for February, and I found TWO that just somewhat fits the bill.

This one from the mass last Sunday, where the headgear of Bishops Fredrik of Oslo (sitting left) and Czeslaw of Copenhagen (standing right) do have almost this shade of reddish pink.

Det her fra messen sidste søndag, hvor kalotterne på biskop Fredrik af Oslo (siddende til venstre) og biskop Czeslaw af København (stående til højre) næsten rammer den rigtige rødligt pinke farve.

Det andet har vi set før - de her frøposer. Blomsterne i biblandingen her har den rette farve - i hvert fald nogen af dem.

The second is a photo I showed you before. The flowers in this beefriendly mix have the right colour - at least some of them.

-- 💗 --

Som en kompensation for kedelighed, dette absolut heldige skud af en sjagger set bagfra.

As a small compensation for boring tries, this absolutely lucky shot of a fieldfare seen from behind.

Colour of the Month ~ February ~ Månedens farve

The colour of the Month for February is   ~   Månedens farve for februar er

Words for Wednesday :: January 28

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise it is still to be discerned who will take over this role, River is doing it for the rest of 2025, but maybe Lissa will eventually be our new coordinator.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are again supplied byWiseWebWoman and can be found at River's blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:
Long
Monk
Novice
Spiritual
Time
    and/or:
Ants
Boy
Compassion
Stream
Trapped

I use the first set of words for more explanation of this Sunday's mass which left me temporally confounded. For once a real-life story.

It was a solemn mass, with the  the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as the prime celebrant, to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of Saint Ansgar being sent to Denmark in 826 along with the newly baptised Danish king, Harald Klak. Saint Ansgar went along to keep the king to his new, Christian faith, to possibly build a church, and start converting what was then the wild, heathenish and violent Vikings of the north.
Ansgar was the only one brave enough to step forth, and exchanging the life in an Frankish monastery for the uncertain life of a missionary. He only partially succeeded, he was beaten, robbed, forced to retreat to the south, returning and actually build a church where Christians continued to be present throughout the times. He had a bit better luck in Sweden, but nothing big. 

Sunday morning I took the train to Copenhagen. It's a long journey, longer on Sundays because of fewer trains and buses. Once an hour for me here in the countryside. First I went to a crafting fair, I bought some lovely many coloured pieces of wood, I saw many great ideas, and learned new things. One by one I was joined by three of my sons - craft here includes woodworking, carving knives, and strangely tasting really hot sauces, 3D printing, and other things interesting for young men as well.

Then we took the metro to our cathedral, and waited. We arrived early, and what a luck, for the church was full and overfull before long. It was a great mass. Cardinal Piero Parolin had come all the way from Rome to celebrate with us, more of the Nordic bishops were present. Among those the Bishop of Reykjavik - looking for all the world like a comic strip Franciscan monk - and young Bishop Fredrik of Norway of whom I had written in a periodical, and forgot to bring some for him. Sigh!

The choir sang beautifully, no novices those, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin held a nice, spiritual sermon.

After the mass we all walked to a nearby hotel, where we spent a joyous and cheerful time, listening to speeches, eating tidbits, meeting old friends, talking, and admiring the Bishops' gifts and the anthology written in celebration of Saint Ansgar's life and woks in Denmark.

Here's my less than stellar shot of Cardinal Pietro Parolin preaching:

You can see the official pictures from the mass and the celebration afterwards here.

Poetry Monday Tuesday :: That one Time ...

Monday, err, that was yesterday, but I was of the misconception that yesterday was Sunday, and today, of course, I'm convinced that it's Monday. This happens sometimes, when changes to routine brings my thinking out of kilter. This time it was a mass late Sunday afternoon. Normally when we go to mass in the afternoon, it's Saturday afternoon, so of course the day after a vigil mass equals Sunday 🙂
And yesterday, Monday - which I thought was Sunday, we were busy catching up after one very busy week. So, no poeming happened. I'd better get my mojo on and write about "This one time ... "

This one time ... is a quest
In the game I find best.
We drink and we fight,
we have a good night
When the Dark Iron dwarves
have used up their reserves
They leave us alone
... for a time.

But they left behind,
a cogwheel, and we find
if to give this to Boxey
- be he ever so foxy -
He'll redeem it with gold
so come, drink and be bold
pelt the Irons with mugs
 ... you'll be fine.

This poem might need an explanation 🍺😉  ... hic!
In World of Warcraft - which is indeed my favourite game - once a year we celebrate Brewfest. It is a spin off of the Oktoberfest in Germany. Dwarves in lederhosen serve mugs of beer, eat pretzels, and ride rams. You can participate, ride, and eventually win a ram by doing strange Quests related to Brewfest. Barking for the two competing breweries, riding and subduing rams, catching wolpertingers, and defending the beer kegs from the Black Iron dwarves. You do this by drinking the contents of beer mugs standing ready and pelting the Iron dwarves with the empty mugs. For this reason the whole name of the Quest is: "This one time, when I was drunk."

Here you see old-time me in 2007 testing the Brewfest samplers in preparation for a Dark Iron Attack.
You can see dwarven guy in lederhosen, the big kegs we defend, the sellers of pretzels and other brewfest-themed foodstuff in the high tents, and in the squat tent just over my head, Becan Barleybrew, of the Barleybrew Distilleries, one of the competing breweries here.

- - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Feb 2 Bamboo
Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with Berries
Feb 23 Doughnut
Mar 2 Breakfast in Bed
Mar 9 Meeting a Friend
Mar 16 Obsidian
Mar 23 Croissant
Mar 30 The Moon Tonight

Otte timer ~ Eight Hours :: Sunday Selections

I dag er dagen helt præcis ottee timer lang her hos mig. Jeg har fået en time og ni minutter ekstra sollys.
21 minutter er om morgenen og hele 49 minutter om aftenen. Og ja, det giver en time og ti minutter, men der er noget med de der sekunder, der runder ned og op. Det passer aldrig helt.
    Der er noget med det mere solskin der gør mig optimistisk. I går købte jeg frøposer i byen.

_ _     --    🌄    ¯ ¯    🌅  --    _ _ 

Today in my place the day is exactly eight hours long. I have gained an extra hour and nine minutes of sunlight.

Twenty-one minutes in the morning and all of 49 minutes in the evening. And yes, that adds up to 1:10 hours, but there is something about those seconds getting rounded down and up. It never quite adds up.

This always makes me optimistic, and yesterday I bought some seeds in town.

Mon ikke der kommer afgrøder i månedens farve?

I wonder if not some of the harvest will have the colour of the month?

Words for Wednesday ~ January 21

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise it is still to be discerned who will take over this role, River is doing it for the rest of 2025, but maybe Lissa will eventually be our new coordinator.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are again supplied byWiseWebWoman and can be found at River's blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:
Absolution
Auschwitz
Love
Resistance
Without
     and/or:
Dancing
Dreams
Ears
Eyes
Talking

Still too grown-uppish for Unicorn Farm, but some of them might do for the mystery of the Lorenzoes? This took me a while to write, it's a bit incoherent, but it is what it is, and not much of the Lorenzoes in it either, sorry.

Next morning Susan awoke early. She tiptoed to the bathroom and looked at her backpack. It was a total loss, green in blobs and patches, grimy and the fabric had cracked and curled here and there. But the items inside mostly had survived. Only the edges of her diary and sketchbook had a greenish tinge to the edges, but it was OK, a memory of the crazy day at the library.
After having a quick wash and braiding her hair, Susan sat down at the window sill trying to draw the view and describe the day yesterday. All those Lorenzos. and all those mad people.

Some time later Knud also stirred, he waddled to the bathroom, patting Susan's head in passing, which she loved, and returned shortly afterwards, fit for a new day.

"You do need a new backpack, don't you?" he asked warmly.
"I sure do," Susan agreed, "that one os not good for anything any more. I think I'll just put my stuff in that tote bag from the hotel and ..."
"And then we'll have to find you a new backpack." Knud interrupted. "Florence is famous for its leaterworking, we should be able to find a new one for you!"
"Oh fabulous, I imagind having to carry this tote bag all through Europe."
"Won't do," Knud said, Let's get going."
They walked along. When they reached the church of Santa Croce a big poster caught their attention.
"Get your absolution here!" it said, then in smaller letters: "On August 2nd we celebrate the Porziuncula indulgence. Be prepared!"
"I like that!" Knud said.
"So do I," Susan said. "But I forgot that Santa Croce is a Franciscan church. It's so very overwhelming, not like the other Franciscan churches, we've seen."
"Too right," Knd agreed, "but it still is a Franciscan church. And I think we should grasp the opportunity, August 2nd is in three days."
"I'd love to," Susan said, and it seems that resistance is futile," she said looking at the next banner featuring - of course - Lorenzo dei Medici summoning them to the occasion as well. "What's his connection here?" Susan asked in a surprised tone, I thought all them Medicis were buried in San Lorenzo."
"They are," Knud replied. "As to why Lorenzo is portrayed, not a clue. His grandfather, Cosimo did commission lots of work on this church. I do not remember if Lorenzo did anything, but he might have been chosen for the looks."
"He might at that," Susan admitted, "But oh, look: 'Scuola di Cuoio', they must do leatherworking."
They sure did, but the prices were enough to let Susan and Knud leave the shop without doing more than looking and touching. Even the sight of some items with the Medici arms did not tempt them.
"So much money for a backpack!" Susan said in a shocked voice when they were far enough away from the establishment, "and you even had to order one for delivery within four months. Let's find somewhere a bit more humble. They were also not that great. I'd like something a bit more more practical, spacious and homely," she added.

They had a cappuccino in a street not far away, but down some streets, and obviously in a place not frequented by tourists. Dust motes danced in the sunbeams, and the paint flaked in the corners, but the coffee was excellent. They walked onwards, always choosing the humbler looking of the streets, away from the tourist traps. In the end they found a street of leather shops, not fancy ones, with handwritten signs only in Italian, and with prices more within their range.
"Now, this is where ordinary people buy their stuff, I dare bet," Knud said. Susan just nodded, she had seen something.
"That bag," Susan said with her nose very close to a shop window, "it looks maybe a bit old and faded from the sunlight, but I think it might be the backpack of my dreams. Roomy, lots of pockets, nothing fancy-pants about it, but good workmanship, as far as I can see at least."
Knud looked at it, and the owner of the shop arrived. After some back and forth, where both of them had to prick up their ears to follow the Florentine shop owner, Susan asked if she could touch the bag. "Go on," the man said, "try it on even. It is good quality," the man said, having understood that they were foreigners, he now spoke in short sentences. Susan smiled and examined the backpack with eyes and fingers, she like everything. Many small rooms and pockets, not taking away from the inner bag, but attached to it on the outside, sturdy broad straps, a broad lid, closing securely and looking like it could keep out the rain. And to finish it all off a fleur de lys imprinted, to remind her of its origin. She tried it on, and it fit her long body as if it was made for her.
"Aï," the shop owner said, "you're a tall one. None of the locals could use it. Special price for you," he continued with a smile changing from sly to friendly, and mentioned a fair price for both parts. "I'll use it here and now, please" Susan answered, when asked if she wanted it wrapped. He gave Susan a small tin of something: "Leather treatment," he said. "It needs some after its long stay in my window."
Susan thanked him, and added. "Will use, this evening" She proceeded to transfer her stuff into it, while Knud paid and added an extra banknote, saying: "This is for talking to us as if we were human beings, and not idiotic tourists." The shop owner gave him a huge smile and hugged and kissed them both for good measure, and then they walked away smiling.

Poetry Monday :: Piece of Clothing

Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt! - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer nu  fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Et stykke tøj

På engelsk har jeg skrevet en hyldest til det ældste stykke tøj jeg ejer. Jeg fik det forærende en kold og blæsende efterårsdag i 1979 - ja det er gammelt! - det virker endnu, slidt, bevares, og nogle af sømmene er blevet syet igen, men stoffet var helt indtil et ondt stykke ståltråd lavede en lille rift på en cm. sidste sommer. Jeg bruger det stadig i haven, og jeg tror nok det holder nok min tid ud.
     Deter ikke blevet til noget på dansk, beklager, men måske senere ...

- -  A  - -  B  - -  C  - -

Poetry Monday - what's that? It is a blogging game, that Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.  We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

Today's prompt is: Piece of Clothing

I was inspired to write an ode to my oldest clothing item. It was given to me a cold and windy autumnal day in 1979 -- really, yes. It's that old -- and I've used it ever since. Some of the sewings have been redone, the fabric's worn, but no holes until a piece of wire caught it this last summer causing a small tear, approximately one cm. I still use it, mostly in the garden, but I suspect it'll outlast me given half a chance.

You are so old, but still you're fine
For many years you have been mine
you fit me still, though I have grown
you are the oldest piece I own

If you could talk, what could you say?
I'd listen to you all the day
You'd been with me to many lands
Seen mountains tall and shining sands.

Been splashed upon in waters cold
and sneaked through customs - you were bold.
You've helped me out, you've worn my load
and more than once you housed a toad.

You've hidden babies, held us warm
kept rain away, seen many storm.
Now you are worn more blue than black
My good old faithful anorak


- - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Jan 26 That one time
Feb 2 Bamboo
Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with berriesb

Sunday Selection :: A year agoSøndagsbilleder :: for et år siden

A year ago I was in Copenhagen, and went shopping. I was surprised over how good a supermared could be, still, and even within the limits of the discount-chain

For et år siden var jeg til møde i København og gik på indkøb derefter. Og jeg blev positivt overrasket over hvor god en Coop butik kunne være.

Inside, some of the shelves -- Indenfor, nogle af hylderne

The entrance - Indgangen

Diinner next day - Aftensmad næste dag.

And in all these photos we find   ~   Og i alle biullederne er der

the colour of January   ~    januars farve

Words for Wednesday :: Birch Manor - In Italy again

🪄
Wednesday we were given these Words, supplied byWiseWebWoman and to be found at River's blog:
Garrote
Kisses
Neck
Philanthropist
Pragmatism
     and/or:
Balconies
Decadence
Entertainment
Genius
Public

     I said that I found them too grown-uppish for Unicorn Farm, and they are, but I still have dangling story lines from later on.
   What about a return to Italy and the mystery of the Lorenzoes?

The rather incoherent Chapters can be found on this blog:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Or in their entirety - and a bit corrected - on my dedicated Unicorn Farm/Birch Manor -blog

This piece is supposed to go between chapters 2 and 3.

On their way out from the library, Susan stopped in the front hall at the guest book. It too was old, and chained to the table in a mock up or the old books inside the library proper. Susan flipped through the pages, back to the very beginning of the book. It was old, maybe chained for a reason after all, of course it did not go all the way back to 1571, but the first posts in the book were over two centuries old.
One of the entries were strange, the names entwined and surrounded by a garrote. Susan could read only Medici, and called Knud over to aid her. He did no better, and a young assistant came running up to them. "This is a strange tale," he told them. "It's called the story of the stolen kisses, and in that tale one man loses his neck, and another his true love. It's a tale of true love, a disillusioned philanthropist and pragmatism leading to the ruin of them all."
In his fervour to speak to them and tell his tale, he toppled the inkwell and green ink cascaded down over Susan's backpack and the floor, luckily missing the old book totally.
He pulled out a handkerchief, and excusing profusely, and tried in vain to mop up the ink, only spreading it even more, and rubbing it into Susan's backpack. Knud curtly told him off and he and Susan hurried towards their lodgings in an old, decrepit palazzo nearby.
They hurried, taking a shortcut where the low hanging balconies were a danger for  the tall Knud, and where the traces of decadence from past centuries normally were of great entertainment for them. Not so tonight.
"Genius," Susan spat out, "telling stories that sounds like something from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's pen and ruining my bag. Are they really mad all of the people at that library?"
"It's strange," Knud agreed, "it's public knowledge that the Medicis were a wicked bunch back in the days, so why all this cloak and dagger mysteries?"

Dragedag :: Appreciate a Dragon-day

I dag er det dragedag      ~    Today is Apprciate a Dragon day.
Vis en drage frem? Ja tak!  ~  Would I ever miss the opportunity to show a dragon?

Den her drage er en måned for tidligt på den ~   This here dragon is a month early
det er først kinesisk nyår om en måned.   ~  Chinese new Year is in a month.

Words for Wednesday ~ Only the Words Onsdagsord ~ Kun ordene!

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise it is still to be discerned who will take over this role, River is doing it for the rest of 2025, but maybe Lissa will eventually be our new coordinator.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are again supplied byWiseWebWoman and can be found at River's blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:
Garrote
Kisses
Neck
Philanthropist
Pragmatism
    and/or:
Balconies
Decadence
Entertainment
Genius
Public

I repeat what I said last Wednesday; I think I won't use any of them today because they seem far too "adult" for Unicorn Farm writing, and that's what I'm in the mood for. Writing stuff might happen - and get posted - later.

- -  A  - -  B  - -  C  - -

     Bloglegen Words for Wednesday blev startet af Delores og udviklede sig til  en flytbar fest med mange deltagere, der leverede ordene. Da Delores lukkede sin blog for altid på grund af diverse problemer, overtog Elephant's Child (Sue) rollen som koordinator.
    Nu, efter Sues bortgang, er det stadig uklart, hvem der vil overtage denne rolle. River gør det i resten af 2025, men måske bliver Lissa vores nye koordinator.
     Uanset hvad, hvordan, hvor eller hvem, er målet med ordene at opmuntre os til at skrive. En historie, et digt, hvad end der kommer os i tankerne.

Denne måneds ord bliver leveret af  Sean Jeating og kan findes på Rivers blog.

Hvis du poster et indlæg på din egen blog, så skriv en kommentar på Rivers blog, så vi kan komme forbi og læse det og tilføje et par opmuntrende ord.
      Det er også en udfordring, hvor det gamle ordsprog "Jo flere, jo bedre" holder stik.

Så husk at følge linkene, gå tilbage og læse andres historier. Og skriv gerne en kommentar, når du har læst dem. Udfordringer som denne trives med interaktion, feedback og opmuntring. Og vi har ALLE brug for opmuntring.

Vi fik disse ord:
Garrote - Garrote (et mordredskab)
Kisses - Kys
Neck - Nakke (eller kæle)
Philanthropist - Filantrop
Pragmatism - Pragmatisme
    and/or:
Balconies - Balkoner
Decadence - Dekadent adfærd / udsvævende livsførelse / moralsk forfald
Entertainment - Underholdning (gerne letbenet)
Genius - Geni
Public - Offentlig

Og de ord er alt for voksne, moderne, et eller andet til at jeg rigtig kan stille noget op med dem ... jeg ved ikke hvordan, jeg skulle bruge dem til mine historier om Enhjørningegården.

Poetry Monday :: Glacier & Half an hour more!Mandagsdigt og en halv time længere

Poetry Monday - what's that? It is a blogging game, that Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.  We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

Today's prompt is: Glacier

A glacier is a big, cold thing,
I feel like living inside one,
But longer days new seasons bring
Enjoy the snow, soon it is gone.


This past night we had minus 11 degrees, very cold!
Tonight we'll have snow, then rain as the temperature rises to above zero once again.

Today the day is already half an hour longer.
The process is speeding up too, yesterday was 2 minutes shorter, tomorrow will be 3 minutes longer, but probably feel shorter because of return to normal January weather, rain low clouds, murky. I'm not a fan. I loved my glacier days.

- -  A  - -  B  - -  C  - -

Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt! - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer nu  fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Gletsjer

En gletsjer den er stor og kold
Jeg tror der står en lige her,
for huset er i kuldens vold
Men det er smukt, og se, det sner!

I morgen vender vejret, se
og regnen er tilbage
Men i mit hjerte glitrer sne
til trøst på triste dage.

Natten til i dag frøs det 11 grader, det var koldt, men klart og flot!
I nat bliver det først sne, så regn, og temperaturen stiger op over frysepunktet,

Dagen i dag er en hel, halv time længere, og nu går det hurtigt, den er to minutter længere end i går, og i morgen vil være tre minutter længere. I morgen vil nok ikke føles længere, fordi den normale januar-tristesse med vådt, klamt og lave skyer vender tilbage.

Old, worn and cobwebby, but it still works. When it's cold, it inside temperature affects it, making it show two degrees over the actual one. It always did.
If we subtract, minus eleven is what we get.

-- 🌡 --

Gammelt, slidt og fuld af spindelvæv, men det virker.
Når det er koldt, påvirker indendørstemperaturen det, så det viser to grader varmere, end den reelle temperatur. Det har det altid gjort, så vi trækker lige fra. Så viser det minus elleve grader.





- - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Jan 19 Piece of clothing
Jan 26 That one time
Feb 2 Bamboo
Feb 9 Carousel
Feb 16 Plants with berries

Sunday Selection :: 7. januar :: Søndagsbilleder

How I spent part of Wednesday :: Hvad jeg brugte noget af min onsdag på

 

Sneglæde ~ Snow Happiness

Today, the day is 21 minutes longer than at the winter solstice. And it is totally unevenly distributed. Most of the 21 minutes – almost all of them, in fact – are in the evening...  It seems that even though the days are getting longer from the winter solstice, the mornings will be later for a while longer...

No matter what. We have more light, and we have SNOW!
Just look at this weather forecast:

❄ ❅ ❆  ⛄  ❆ ❅ ❄

I dag er dagen 21 minutter længere end ved vintersolhverv. Og det er totalt ulige fordelt. De fleste af de 21 minutter - næsten alt sammen faktisk - er om aftenen ...  der er vist noget med at selvom dagene bliver længere fra vintersolhverv, så bliver morgenerne senere et stykke tid mere ...

Ligemeget. Det er lysere, og det er  SNEVEJR!
Se lige den vejrmelding:

Frost så langt den rækker. Så skønt. Hvad man ikke lige kan se, er at der faktisk er sne i progneoserne for i dag. Det kan man se her:

❄ ❅ ❆  ⛄  ❆ ❅ ❄

Frost as far as the eye can see. How lovely. What you can't see is that there is actually snow in the forecast for today. You can see it here:

Det drømmende monsters to lukkede øjne er mulighed for sne. Jeg håber ...

❄ ❅ ❆  ⛄  ❆ ❅ ❄

The two closed eyes of the dreaming monster are a possibility of snow. I dare hope ...

Alle vejrgrafer/All forecasts: YR.NO

Words for Wednesday :: New Header & IWSG

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over as a moveable feast with many participants supplying the Words.
    When Delores closed her blog forever due to other problems, Elephant's Child (Sue) took over the role of coordinator.
    Now, after Sue's demise it is still to be discerned who will take over this role, River is doing it for the rest of 2025, but maybe Lissa will eventually be our new coordinator.

No matter what, how, where or who the aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to our mind.

This month the words are again supplied byWiseWebWoman and can be found at River's blog.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please leave a comment on River's blog, then we can come along and read it and add a few encouraging words.

 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.

We were given these words:

become
emigrate 
every
reliable
soonish
    and/or:
disunited
joining
million
referendum 
vote

I think I won't use any of them today for two reasons.

One: They seem far too "adult" for Unicorn Farm writing, and that's what I'm in the mood for today. Writing stuff might happen - and get posted - later.

Two: Lissa asked me if the elements in the new header meant something special. The answer is Yes - Explanation forthcoming, warning: might be boring, may contain poetry, old bits and pieces, and hints of things to come.

The Owl is obvious, It sits on a twig of some greenery, herbs I suppose, reminding me to pick and dry herbs and flowers for my different projects.

2026 in the Colour of the Month to remind me of said challenge and Sunday Selections.

The big, green I is an Inchworm. It reminds me in a very roundabout way of writing Unicorn Farm tales:
Inchworm, inchworm,
Measuring our magic wands
Come and tell me
Just how big they are.

From the A-Z Challenge, letter I 2022.

Sunflower seed oil, it's a soaping ingredient, saying simply: Soap more.

A frog, remember to do something for the wild life in the garden - right now: Feed the birds.

Sushi is a hint with more meanings: Study Japanese, make strange food items, sew something: The chopsticks reminding me of Hashi-bukurou - homemade chopstick bags. The puzzle piece below telling me to solve Rubik's cube, play with pentominoes, try my hand at Lingule, Wørdle or some such challenge.
Tuesday's Lingule was very easy for me:
Lingule #1360
"oświetlać": 1/6
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🏆

A mushroom, is also a multi-purpose hint. Take a walk in the woods, draw something, create something.

Most of these links take us far back in time, to a time when I created more, played more, and was a happier person. I'd like to revive my creativity and happiness from back then, and that is maybe the not so hidden meaning behind the header: Make more of what makes me happy!

- - A - - B - - C - - 

January 7 question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

My answer - This is a very good question, but I can't answer it. I do not plan my writing. It just happens. I hope to write more in 2026 than I did in 2025, but I have no plans.

Poetry Monday :: Favourite Animal

Poetry Monday - what's that? It is a blogging game, that Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.  We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

Today's prompt is Favourite Animal.

My favourite animal is no secret. Owls of course. Here's a ramling poem on owls.

I am fond of owls,
An angry owl that scowls
And  gentle owls in cowls,
A crabby owl that howls
A sneaky owl that prowls
I'm fond of every owl,
as long as they're not foul.

- -  A  - -  B  - -  C  - -

Hvad er Mandagsdigtet? Det er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt! - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer nu  fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Yndlingsdyr.

Det kommer næppe son en overraskelse for nogen, at mit yndlingsdyr er ugler.
Her er et ikke spor fantastisk vrøvledigt i dagens anledning med yndlingsdyr og sne.

Ugler der skuler
til ugler i huler,
er ikke spor rart.
Men se,
vi har sne.
Så sker det snart,
at uglerne smiler
til månen og iler
ud for at se
og lege med sne.

- - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

taken from the 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group.

Jan 12 Glacier
Jan 19 Piece of clothing
Jan 26 That one time
Feb 2 Bamboo
Feb 9 Carousel