Friday's Snippet #21

moar funny pictures

First, some news. I am officially a writer. Why, you ask? Because today, I received my very first official rejection letter. Yay! This is great! Why, you ask? One word... Deductions! Yup, I'm all about the tax deductions (since it won't get published this year, I figure why not). So anyway, back to the snippet. This one comes right after last weeks snippet with Adhara and Selene. This one though involves Cassie and Cintha (one of Adhara's girls). Hope you like it.

Cassie finished the last of her chores and ran out of the barn, carrying a large canvas haversack and wheeling a large barrow inside of which was an equally large woven basket. Zinnia had promised to stay late so that Cassie could work in the orchard without having to worry about watching the boys. The apples needed to be picked quickly, so of course, Umar expected Cassie to do it all by herself in addition to her other chores and watching the boys after school.

Walking back towards Adhara and Selene’s farm, Cassie turned off the path just before reaching the creek and its fallen log bridge and walked up into the forest a ways. There, nestled in a fold in the land and sheltered from the winds by the surrounding forest, grew the farm’s apple orchard. Not a very large orchard, Cassie had been coming every afternoon for a fortnight to pick those apples that were ready, taking the opportunity to inspect each tree for signs of its health.

Climbing swiftly into the first tree, Cassie picked quickly, able to tell by feel which fruits were ripe. When the haversack was full, Cassie tied a rope to the bag’s shoulder strap and lowered the bag to the ground. Once Cassie herself was on the ground, she would empty the bag into the woven basket before moving on to the next tree. Whistling a cheerful tune, Cassie called out a happy greeting to the songbirds eating the grass seed, as well as to the barn cat who had come out to the orchard looking for Cassie, before settling down for a nap in the sun.

Cassie was almost finished picking apples for the day when a loud noise caught her attention. It sounded like someone was in trouble, possibly someone was being chased. Unfortunately, if someone was being chased, Cassie knew without a doubt who was doing the chasing. Emptying the haversack one last time, Cassie left the orchard and slipped silently into the deep shadows of the surrounding forest. Following the sounds, Cassie worked her way ahead of the noise and climbed the nearest tree that offered some protection from being seen.

Cassie’s heart sank when she saw that her guess had been right: Sabik, one of her step-brothers, had caught a girl and had her pinned against the trunk of a tree. Cassie couldn’t see who it was around Sabik’s larger body, but Cassie was close enough to hear the sounds of ripping fabric. Taking one of the stones from her pocket, kept there to keep the squirrels and birds out of the basket of apples, Cassie took careful aim and threw, hitting Sabik squarely in the seat of the pants.

Cassie swore softly to herself, remembering at the last minute to duck so he wouldn’t see her. The terrified girl huddling at Sabik’s feet was Adhara’s Cintha. Cassie had to do something to get her away from him, but what. A scrap of a plan was all Cassie had time to come up with, and desperation leant her strength as she climbed up higher into the tree and at last reached a branch that was broad enough to reach the tree beside it. Climbing out onto the limb was the most terrifying thing she’d ever done, reaching out and grabbing onto the branch of the neighboring tree and climbing into that tree. After several such moves, Cassie found herself in the tree that Cintha was pinned against.

Cassie still hadn’t figured out how to distract Sabik when she heard the sound of approaching voices. Momentarily hopeful, Cassie fought down the panic she felt when she realized it was Nunki, calling for Sabik and probably wanting to join in on any trouble he was up to. Wishing with all her heart that she had a way to set Sabik’s pants of fire, Cassie was amazed when she saw smoke wafting out of his back pocket. Maybe he had stored his firestone there; he was the only person she knew who always carried his firestone with him: Sabik was known to set fire to the barn cat’s tail.

Sabik’s laughs changed to howls of pain and fright as he felt the heat of the cloth against his skin. Letting Cintha go, Sabik started to roll on the ground trying to put out the fire smoldering in his pants, the fire that would not be put out but never grew bigger.

Reaching down just as Cintha was prepared to jump up and run away, Cassie caught her attention and then caught the wrist she held up, quietly pulling her into the branches of the tree.

“We can’t stay here,” Cassie whispered, “I heard Nunki looking for Sabik, he’ll think to look in the trees even if Sabik doesn’t. Follow me,” and Cassie lead Cintha higher into that tree and through the branches of several neighboring trees, until at last they were resting in a truly giant tree beside the creek just before the waters split to pass around the island that lay in its path. Halfway up the main trunk of the tree, there was a large crotch where three branches split away from the main trunk, easily large enough to comfortably fit two young girls.

“Are you alright?” Cassie asked, pulling Cintha down into their hiding place and wrapping her arms around the shivering girl, her shirt had been ripped open and then torn further in the struggle with Sabik. Cassie pulled the scraps of fabric off the shivering girl, explaining as she did so, “You’re shivering, let me get you warmed up. You didn’t get scrapped or scratched in the trees, did you?” And taking off her sweater, Cassie quickly undid the frogs on her under tunic, telling Cintha, “the sweater might be scratchy if you got scraped up climbing, and the tunic will warm you up quicker,” and pulling the tunic over her head, helped the shivering girl put it on, redoing the frogs and rolling the sleeves up so they didn’t hang down beyond her fingertips. Once she’d put the tunic on Cintha, Cassie put her sweater back on and once again pulled the shivering girl into her arms, holding her close to let her feel safe.

Thirteen Books I'm Waiting For I haven't done one of these lists in a while, and to be honest hadn't paid much attention to what was coming out when, so I decided to make a list and post it here. If you look at the dates, you'll understand my dilemma. 1)Midnight Awakening- Lara Adrian- 11/07 2)Touchstone- Laurie R. King- 12/26/07 3)Kitty and the Silver Bullet- Carrie Vaughn 1/1/08 4)Evermore- Lynn Viehl- 1/2/08 5)Night Season- Eileen Wilks- 1/2/08 6) Iron Kissed- Patricia Briggs- 1/2/08 7) The Purrfect Murder- Rita Mae Brown- 1/29/08 8)Satisfaction Guaranteed- Charlene Teglia- 2/19/08 9)Strangers in Death- J.D. Robb- 2/19/08 10) An Incomplete Revenge- Jacqueline Winspear- 2/19/08 11) Unleashing the Storm- Sydney Croft- 2/26/08 12) Outlaw Demon Wails- Kim Harrison- 2/26/08 13) Buckingham Palace Gardens- Anne Perry (Pitt)- 3/25/08

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

Tuesday Recipe Swap- A Day Late

I know, I can't seen to get things posted on the actual day, sorry. Anyway, this week's recipe is Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Brownies, a very easy recipe, and quite yummy.

Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 F

Cream together:

2 1/4 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup oil

3 eggs (one at a time)

Sift together:

2 3/4 cup flour (all purpose works fine)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup chocolate chips (or more) :)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Add the sifted ingredients to the wet ingredients, add the chocolate chips and the vanilla. Pour batter into a greased 8 x 13" baking pan, bake for 25 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted in brownies (you can also use a toothpick, but I never have those so I end up using a knife).

There it is, if there are any questions about the recipe feel free to let me know (I've misplaced my copy so many times that by now all I have is the list of ingredients and the baking time). Enjoy!

Monday's Poetry Train-Post Turkey Day Edition

moar funny pictures

I worked the weekend, and despite it being an easy couple of days, I am bushed. The weather has been changing every couple of days, from warm to cold and back and forth, and frankly Scarlet, I am tired of being a human barometer. Wah! okay the whine is over, but the end result is I've got nothing, no poem to share, and my WIP is taking over, so it might be a while before I do have one to share. so in the meantime, one of my favorite poems by William Butler Yeats (and not indicative of my mood- I just couldn't think of anything else to post).

No Second Troy

Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great.
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

Hope everyone has a great week!

Tuesday's Recipe Swap (or whatever Y names it)

Okay, sorr it's a bit late, but here it is. Chocolate Kahlua Fudge: (based somewhat on the recipe on the marshmallow creme jar.

3 cups sugar
3/4 cups (1 1/2 stick) butter or margarine (I use butter)
1 small can (5 oz.) evaporated milk (about 2/3 cup)
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow Creme
1/3-1/2 cup Kahlua
1 12 oz bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 of a 12 oz bag of milk chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla


They say to line a 9 inch square pan with foil, but I've discovered you can skip the pan and just make a foil tray (folding up the sides and corners). put it on a cookie tray for support and put aside.
mix the sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and the marshmallow creme in a good sized sauce pan (3 quart would be ideal, I use a 2 quart cause that's all I've got). bring to a boil and let boil for 5 minutes (stirring constantly and making sure it doesn't boil over). Remove from heat
Add both of the chocolate chips and the vanilla and stir until the chocolate is melted. Pour into the foil tray so that the top is flat and smooth. Let cool completely and cut into pieces. Makes a lot of fudge (I've never measured how much).

Oh, and of course this can be made without the Kahlua, but the alcohol does cook out so it just gives it a lovely coffee flavor. Yumm.

I hope this is not too confusing, at one point I actually did have a recipe for this but that was 15 years ago and I've never seen it since. Let me know if something isn't clear.

Monday Poetry Train- Blogoversary Edition

No, not mine Rhian @ Creative Goddess is celebrating her very first blogoversary (mine blew past without me even noticing-oops). Anyway, in honor of her totally wonderful blog, and the all sorts of merriment currently ensuing, I present my blogoversary poem. Enjoy!

Reading your blog is a daily treat
Hopping your links, I hope to meet
Interesting people, writers all
Across the globe, they write when you call
Not just their poems, their comments and notes,
/
Carefully crafted-their Thursday Thirteens
Revealing their interests
One list at a time
Writing their poems
With or without rhyme
Over at Rhians, the party begins
Madly posting comments, seeing who wins
All this week, celebrating Rhian's year
No one can beat her blog, we all cheer.

Okay, Shakespeare it isn't, but still. Happy Blogoversary Rhian. Love your blog, reading it is a blast. And I love reading your comments (especially when you and Lisa get going). So have a great week, and an even better year. Ann

Friday Snippet #20

This picture is Mel Allen's Ullswater, and can be purchased at Art.com. And I know it doesn't really fit the scene, but it does fit my mood tonight. Besides, it's one of the few places that I can look at pictures and say, I've been there. :)

Yes, I know, I'm late. Again. But at least this time it's still Friday. This snippet comes after last weeks, but not directly. Cassie has walked Adhara and her family home and left them to go do her chores. Adhara is her teacher and Selene is Adhara's partner. Enjoy.

* * *

Adhara, for her part, stood and watched her go. “Well, that was an experience.” Turning to her partner, who had walked up quietly behind her, Adhara handed her the flowers with a kiss and explained, “I’d say she has her mother’s temper, which she manages to keep tightly reined in. I’m not sure how, given the teasing the other kids put her through. I don’t think Cassie has let anybody see much of it, but I have a feeling it will be truly impressive when she finally lets it out.”

“Any sign of her Talents?” Selene asked, running a hand absent-mindedly through her hair, long loose hair that reminded Adhara of the golden color of ripe wheat sheaves.

Adhara shook her head, “I don’t know if Cassie inherited any of Lyra’s Talents yet, but I think we’ll find out soon. The oddest thing though, for a minute when we were walking to school and then later in class, Cassie looked as if she didn’t know about the magic.”

“Not know?” Selene asked, stunned, “How could she not know, with a mother as Talented as Lyra?”

“I don’t know,” Adhara admitted, bringing a hand to her forehead in the same absent-minded gesture only to be thwarted by her long braid, now nowhere near as neat as it had been that morning, “But it seemed as if most of the girls in her class didn’t know about magic either.”

“Was Lyra right?” Selene asked, changing the subject, “That poor child, Lyra was worried enough about her before she died, but for Cassie to lose her mother like that. I only hope there is something we can do to help her.”

“Oh, shaya,” Adhara draped her arm over her partner’s shoulder, watching as Cassie walked into the woods, obviously lost in thought. As both women headed towards their house, Adhara continued, “I’d say it’s worse than Lyra even guessed. I’d wager that Cassie’s been getting it from both fronts for a long time. I don’t think she ever told Lyra how much the other children pick on her; and from what I saw today I gather the other teachers don’t do anything to stop it either.”

“Does she have any friends in her class?” Selene asked.

“I know of at least one, possibly two. I’ve met Nita, the girl that Lyra wrote about. I think that somehow Lyra might have been misled about Nita. I can’t imagine her getting Cassie in trouble or Cassie getting Nita in trouble either. Maybe it was just that Nita rarely ever met Cassie at their farm, and neither of them would tell Lyra why. As for the rest, well, I haven’t had much of a chance to watch them all interact, but at least there are some who disagree with those who tease and torment her. In front of a teacher no less.” Adhara shook her head in frustration, “It doesn’t help that she is the youngest in her class and rather small for her age. Somehow I doubt Cassie has let anyone see just how unhappy she’s been.”

“And Adharshala’s dreams?” Selene continued, not comforted by her words.

“I just don’t know. She’s got a lot on her plate, but I’m not sensing the kind of despair that would make her want to end it all. What little I have been seeing looks more like a profound unhappiness and a deep sense of guilt, but guilt about what?” Adhara looked into her partner’s worried gray-green eyes, seeking reassurance as well as understanding.

“And the danger? Adharshala’s descriptions of those nightmares were almost enough to give me bad dreams.” Selene gave her the understanding, needing some herself. They both felt adrift in too many impressions and too few facts, and not enough direct knowledge of Cassie to feel able to judge. And now would not be a good time to guess, when too many things could go so very wrong.

“I don’t know, Selene. If it’s there, I can’t see it.”

“Well, she’s safe for now, shaya. Let’s not borrow trouble.” And taking Adhara’s arm, she led her back to their farmhouse. Selene thought for a moment and then turned again towards her partner, “Did she remember you?” she asked with a grin, shaking her head, “That looked like a serious crush in the making when she saw you this morning, you beautiful woman you.”

“I don’t think so,” Adhara replied, blushing fiercely, “I think if she remembers anyone it’ll be Corvus.”

“Corvus, who couldn’t sit down for a second without a swarm of children in his lap, especially that sweet child,” Selene laughed shaking her head, “I swear, sometimes it was a toss-up to see which of you was more jealous: you or Campion.”

“I miss him, Selene,” Adhara looked sadly over at her partner. That evening’s plans included a farewell dinner for their helpers, and both Adhara and Selene were sorry to see them go. “I miss them both. This all just feels too big for just us two.”

“I know; I miss them too.” Selene sighed, “All we can do is prepare for the worst and pray to Maré that when the time comes, we have the strength to do what’s right.”

“I just hope we have time to prepare,” Adhara held the door open. “I keep looking for clouds on the horizon. Everything I’ve seen here feels like the calm before the storm. And I’m not just talking about winter coming.”
Adhara and Selene entered the kitchen to continue the never-ending work involved with living on a farm and raising that many children, but both women found themselves sneaking glances out the windows and up at the cloudless sky, waiting for the storm. As the door closed, Adhara turned to Selene in amazement and exclaimed, “Would you believe these children had never even heard of Maré?”

Thursday Thirteen- 11-15-07

Thirteen Pictures in my camera This past weekend I went to a local writer's conference and had a great time. I met the members of the local writer's group, got to meet the guest speakers, and even got to meet and pitch to Angela James of Samhain Press. So I got my pictures developed, and these are some of the pictures I'd taken since I bought this camera (to tell you how long it takes me to fill a throwaway camera- Larissa's signing was the day before Labor Day- it's now 3 days after Veteran's Day). 1) Larisaa at her first signing 2) Larissa and Michelle at their signing 3) Another shot of Larissa and Michelle (cause you Know if I'd only taken one- it wouldn't have come out). 4) You can't go to a book signing at a book store and not go browse the bookshelves. And we looked for and of course found her book on the shelves. 5)Cavalry reenactors- yes they were reenacting That War (I'd rather not name it-I don't want to be the victim of random google searches *g*). The things I do for my dayjob *g*. 6) My psychokitty- 7)This is my tribe's books bookshelf- and a prime example of why I need a digital camera-it's hard to tell, using a throwaway, that it's going to be out of focus (doh!) 8)I saw the pictures of Jennifer Crusie's office on her blog during the 12 days she took to organize it, and thought I'd post before and after pictures- this is the before (I never actually got around to taking the after pictures-sigh). 9)Another picture of psychokitty (aka Savannah Jane)- this time perched on the dining table, which is next to my computer desk. 10) the neighbors- always curious about what is going on. 11) More of the neighbors. 12)Another picture of the pond near my apartment. 13)Another reason I need a digital camera (and proof that I met Angie). I took this picture but the flash didn't go off, so I took another picture that was in focus, the flash went off, and the bloody camera took a picture of half of her (and ran out of film). Oy. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

I've been LOL'd

Click here if you want to see what a lolcat version of my blog would look like.Here's the url if the livelink doesn't work.
http://lolinator.com/lol/fractured-fiction.blogspot.com/

Poetry Monday- the Veteran's Day Edition

Today is Veteran's Day, for a few more hours at least, and tomorrow a state holiday. But somehow, when I think of this day, even in a time of war, I think of it's origins instead (my grandfather was a soldier during this war, but served in NY-I always think of him on this day). World War I, though long past, is still casting its shadow on the world. So I post today a poem by Rupert Brooke, The Soldier:

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

One of my favorite mystery writers is Jacqueline Winspear, and her books about Maisie Dobbs are set around the time of WWI, on her website she wrote an essay about her trip to France to tour the battlefields of The Somme and Ypres. In the course of reading about the war, I discovered that both J.R.R. Tolkein and Adolf Hitler were at the battle, I'm speechless.

Friday's Snippet- Saturday Edition (Gloating included)

Okay, so it's almost Sunday, the past couple of days have been busy for me, and I haven't had the time or the energy to post until now (when I can't fall asleep, but that's a different matter). Friday night I went out to dinner with the local Romance Writer's Chapter, and the guests, including Angela James (of Nice Mommy/Evil Editor fame), and had a great time. I got to introduce myself to Angie, told her that I'd tried to convince Larissa to come down, but she couldn't make it, and gave her a present (a copy of PBW's 3rd Stardoc book). The next morning I went to the conference, where I met more of the local writers, and where I pitched to Angela. So now I'm working on something to submit to her.

So anyway, here is my snippet for this week. It is actually the second part of the snippet last week, so the characters are the same. This one is quite short. :)

“Miss Adhara?” Daisy asked rather tentatively. Daisy looked thoroughly confused, and a little dubious.

“Yes, Daisy?” Adhara thought this was probably a story they’d all grown up with and couldn’t imagine what they wouldn’t understand.

“Who’s Maré?” Daisy looked mystified, and Adhara saw that the whole class looked at her equally curious.

Adhara looked at the girls sitting before her, stunned. Not know who Maré is? The idea had never entered her wildest suppositions; it would be like someone in a science class convinced that the world was flat.

“They’ve only ever been told about Nami, they probably don’t even know there’s a day named for her.” Cassie took pity on Adhara’s obvious confusion and consternation. “Mum told me all about Maré. She said most of the tribes for some reason only worship one or the other. That there are only a few who know about both, mostly Free Traders and a few of the more obscure religious orders.”

Cassie watched Adhara closely as she said this last, seeking to confirm a growing suspicion of hers; only someone looking for it would have seen Adhara look at Cassie and nod ever so slightly. So she was a Free Trader, Cassie thought to herself, very interesting. Somehow despite what Umar said about the Free Traders, and the gossip spreading around town, which Cassie was positive that Umar had started, about them all being loose women and lovers of men, Cassie just knew there was more to those wandering traders than met the eye.

“So who is she?” Lily asked, a tall thin girl with dark brown hair and warm chocolate brown eyes.

“Cassie?” Adhara asked, wanting to hear what Cassie knew, and how she would tell the tale, as well as to see how the girls would react to her story.

“Maré and Nami created men and women. Do you want the long story or the short version?” Cassie looked at Adhara, who indicated the short form, “Short form. Okay. Nami started it all. One day he was playing in the mud, molding plants and animals and everything, and he made a figure out of the mud that looked exactly like himself. This made him happy, so he made more. He even made some who looked like Maré, ‘cause she’s beautiful and he’s totally in love with her; which is where women came into the story. When he was done, he did something to them. Gave them breath somehow; kissed them, breathed into them, I don’t know, but whatever it was they came alive. Maré saw what Nami was doing, and felt a great pain; an emptiness. She was alone, and lonely.”

“That night she dreamt of a child, one who would look exactly like her, and to whom she could pass on some of her knowledge. Now time passes differently for Gods and Goddesses than it does for the rest of us. When she woke, she was great with child, and before long she gave birth to the first baby. A beautiful child with red hair the color of autumn leaves and green eyes the color of springtime.” Cassie said this last rather wistfully, and Adhara saw with amazement that it never even crossed Cassie’s mind that she could have been describing herself.

“Once again a very well told tale. That first baby is also how magic entered the world. The Free Traders and those who traveled with them helped spread the magic to the twelve tribes. There’s even a myth passed down among the Free Traders that that first baby’s daughters are still walking among us, the stories talk about them and call them Maré’s Lambs.” Adhara paused for a moment and then added, “Someday I’d like to hear the long version.” Cassie had looked confused when she first looked up, but quickly promised she would with a smile.

“Magic?” Orla asked sarcastically, “Surely you don’t expect us to believe in magic?”

“Why don’t we leave that for another day?” Adhara smiled a warm open grin that said that she had a secret that they would all just love to know.

“And there are other islands out there with other groups of people on them? Are they far away?” Lily asked, interested in spite of herself.

“There are over a thousand islands just in this area that we know. Some are further than others; the nearest can take many days of sailing to reach, and that’s only in good weather. You wouldn’t believe how long it can take in bad weather. And then there are even more islands further out that are still uncharted.”

“But this place, it’s huge.” Radiating skepticism, Orla flipped her hair over her shoulder, in a way that Adhara just knew was well rehearsed. “I mean it takes days and days just to get to Mizar, let alone to the mouth of the harbor.”

“That’s because of the shape of the island. We are actually quite near the sea. In fact, we are closer to the sea than we are to the Capital. If it weren’t for the mountains, you’d be able to see and smell the sea; and feel the breeze coming off the water. I have maps of the whole island; I’ll bring them in next time and show you. But that’s the bell, so have a good afternoon.”

Thursday Thirteen 11/8/07

Thirteen Beautiful Pictures to Look At While I'm Panicking...er, Preparing for a Conference So the conference is Saturday, and they're having a dinner for the guests tomorrow, and I'm trying to decide if I should pitch, and to get my pitch ready in case I don't chicken out Saturday, and things have been weird at work, and I worked out on the elliptical machine for the first time Tuesday and my leg muscles have yet to forgive me, and I'm working on my WIP and trying to keep up with my daily writing goal, so I decided to treat you all to a visual feast. Enjoy, and keep your fingers crossed for me Saturday. All of these may be purchased at Overstock.com 1) Richard Cummins- Sky Reflected on Water at Cashel, Ireland (okay- this one came from art.com). 2)william Neill- Dawn Lake 3)Orah Moore- Peace 4) David Loren Winston- Solitude 5) Ansel Adams- Oak Tree Sunrise 6) Michelangelo- Creation of Adam 7) Dennis Sheehan- Summer Moonrise 8)Leighton- Flaming June 9) Cecile Broz- Sunflower Vista 10) Monet- Floodwater 11) Chabas- September Morn 12) Van Gogh- Iris Garden 13) Artist Unkown- Window Links to other Thursday Thirteens! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Monday's Poetry Train 11/4/07

For those who don't know, my great aunt passed away this past week. She'd been sick for quite a while, and had a stroke the week before, but even so. I want to write a poem about what she meant to me, but not yet, so for now I'll post a poem by one of my favorite Irish poets.

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE- William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.



Prints can be bought at art.com

Friday's Snippet

This is the next scene after last week's post. The only two characters who aren't new would be Cassie the main character, and Adhara who now lives in the farmhouse next to Cassie's (next to being relative- the farms border each other, but far enough that it is a five or ten minute walk from one farmhouse to the other). Hope you like it, let me know if the cast gets confusing and I'll post a list.


By now the cheerful group had walked through the forest and come out at the brick bridge that arched its way across the Tahala River. From there they took the footpath that led up the hill to the brick and timber schoolhouse. Adhara was relieved to find, as they reached the schoolhouse’s yard and saw the children talking in groups, that they had made it with time to spare.

Cassie led Adhara and her girls up to the front of the schoolhouse, a one story building with a long central hall off of which opened the classrooms and storerooms, and which ended in a large open room used for indoor activities, council meetings, and all of the town’s communal rites: weddings, funerals, and other religious services.

Walking up to the front steps, Cassie saw that Adhara was right, for waiting on the bottom step sat a very satisfied looking Mara, who stood to let them pass before following inside. Walking into the building, the younger children were divided into two different groups and led off to their classes, while Cassie led Adhara to her classroom.

"The other teachers tell me the older boys won’t be joining us until the rest of the harvest is brought in. Does the harvest often cut into the school year?”

“Not usually, we’ve just had an early spring and a long summer. The farmers put in two plantings this year and they want to get everything in before the autumnal storms and the frosts come. They decided to have half days until the harvest was over, that way the girls can help out at home with the canning and preserving.”

“That’s a wise decision; I’ve heard people say it looks like this winter is
going to hit early and hard, people will need all the food they can put up.” While they were talking, the other girls had walked in, singly and in small groups, the last group came in followed shortly by the ringing school bell.

“Hello girls. My name is Miss Adhara, and I’ll be your teacher this year for literature and social sciences,” she began before taking the role and beginning the process of putting names to faces. “I think we’ll have a good year, learn a lot and have some fun too. We’ll be on a modified schedule for the next few weeks: because of the half days, we’ll only have class together twice a week, today and at the end of the week. Now since the boys won’t be joining us for a while, why don’t we talk amongst ourselves, and you can tell me what you learned last year.”

“Do we have to?” The girls whined, clearly not expecting to have to work until the boys joined them.

“Come on, it’ll be easy. I promise,” She laughed, “Who can tell me the four elements….Daisy?”

“That’s easy.” Daisy answered easily. She was a slight, sweet faced girl of sixteen, with bright red hair and coal gray eyes. “They are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.”

“And what seasons are associated with each, Aralia?”

“Earth is associated with spring because that’s when everything wakes up after winter’s dormancy.” Aralia was a tall thin girl with dark brown hair, pale eyes the color of violets and a soft musical voice. “Summer is Water’s time because the summer showers let the crops grow, and the Northern seas are open, which is why the Free Traders sail during that time. Autumn is Air, that’s when the birds all fly south to their nesting grounds, and also when the air currents start to shift towards winter’s chill. And winter is Fire, the fire on the hearth that keeps the house safe, the fire in the heart that keeps the soul safe, and the fire at the center of the world that keeps us all safe.”

“Exactly, but like the fire on the hearth and the fire in our hearts, even the fire at the center of the world is dangerous if it bursts free,” Adhara cautioned them. “A fire out of control is as dangerous as a person out of control. Now, who can tell me the story of the islands? Anyone? Anyone?” No one moved, no hands went up, everyone sat still; everyone but Cassie who was pointedly not looking at Adhara. “You do know that we live on an island, don’t you?”

“Yeah, so?” Orla replied haughtily. The tall blond fifteen year old lived in town and lorded it over those who lived on the farms and had responsibilities. Orla possessed a cool beauty that boys loved to look at and other girls tried to copy. Unlike most of the other students, Orla’s clothes were highly decorated with elaborate frogging and embroidery that Adhara just knew had not been done by her. Adhara was also amused to notice a few brave souls didn’t seem affected by Orla’s influence, including Cassie.

“So…. What if I told you that this wasn’t always an island?” Adhara looked carefully, trying to discover the source of her unease. She wasn’t sure she was reading the girls right, but something about this group was not right, something to do with Cassie. Adhara was almost reminded of the time she’d watched a school of sharks circling a dying whale, waiting before swimming in for the kill.

“I’d say you were trying to milk a cow with horns.” Daisy answered, while the rest of the class laughed. Adhara had to pause as she pulled herself out of her own thoughts and pictured the image that came to mind, then joined in the laughter.

“Cassie,” Adhara continued when the laughter died down, “why don’t you tell us the story of how these islands were formed?”

“Yeah, Cassie, tell us a story. Did you learn this from your invisible friend?” Facing Daisy as she was, Adhara couldn’t see which of the girls behind her were taunting Cassie, or whose voices had joined in the laughter. Daisy shook her head at Adhara sadly.

The laughter, which had been friendly earlier, had taken on a decidedly snide tone as the girls started taunting Cassie, “Yeah, Sailor Girl, did the nice lady who lives in the woods tell you?” Very carefully, none of the girls did it in front of Adhara, so she couldn’t tell exactly who had said what.

“That’s more than enough.” Adhara whirled around and interrupted them sternly, more sternly than many of these girls had ever seen an adult act before, at least to them.

“Why,” Orla replied snidely, “She’s so dumb; she actually tried to get handfasted to her own brother at the Harvest Faire.” Several people snickered at that, but Adhara was relieved to see that not everyone laughed. Nita was sitting next to Cassie and had put a comforting hand on her arm.

“I want you to apologize to her this instance….I don’t care.” She went on over their vehement protests, “That was rude and inconsiderate.” Many of the apologies were mumbled, but after a minute every girl had muttered some sort of apology. “Thank you. Now, Cassie, would you please tell your classmates the story your mother taught you?” Adhara thought it best that she leave finding out the truth behind their taunts for another time, when the other girls were not around to torment Cassie any further.

“Uh, okay.” Cassie shrugged, not looking up and not even wondering how she knew what stories her mother had taught her. “According to my mum, when Maré and Nami created men and women, we all lived together. But after a while the people broke up into tribes and clans and started fighting between each other. The fighting got so bad that Maré decided that the tribes needed to be separated, she also asked Nami to cool their tempers, so they wouldn’t fight so much. Nami, which means wind in the old language, took a deep breath and, standing on the northern most point of the world, He blew and blew and blew. And this cold wind from the north started freezing everything. Huge rivers of ice formed, and as they started moving they gouged out huge channels and chasms in the earth. Some weren’t that wide; others were so wide you couldn’t cross them in a week.”

“Once the ice started to form, Maré led the groups to high ground. And there weren’t that many people at that time, that’s where the twelve tribes came from; so there were lots of those places where no one lived. Then Nami took another deep breath, this time standing in the south, and once more He blew and blew and blew. Now mum says that for Maré and Nami, this took hardly any time at all, but for the people it took generations and that living was hard when the ice came, and lots of people died. So many people died that we’re still recovering. But Nami blew warm air over the ice and the surrounding land, and things slowly warmed up, which my mum says was the safest way to do it. The ice started melting, and retreating, and then one day. BAM!!!!” They were all so engrossed in her story that everyone jumped when she slammed her hand down on the table, even Adhara.

At first Cassie’s voice had been low and hesitant, but as she told her story her confidence had increased and the rhythm of the story had taken over as she continued, “The ice dam broke and the sea came in. But Maré, which means sea in the old tongue, kept the waves from drowning everyone. The water ran into the gouges and chasms carved out by the ice, and stayed. Evidently people thought the water would drain away, but it didn’t. What it did was separate each group from all of the others. She also said that there are prophecies which talk about the return of the ice. But that’s another story.”

“Well, that was a very good story and very well told;” Cassie was surprised to hear the respect in Adhara’s tone, as if somehow Cassie had surprised her, “I’ve heard Master Bards that couldn’t tell it as well. And very accurate I might add. Other parts of the world were affected differently by the coming of the ice, but that too is another story.”

Thursday Thirteen- Oops

No Thursday Thirteen this week, I totally spaced. Couldn't think of a single thing to write, and then got attacked by a nap and got completely discombobulated about what time it was (my travel alarm clock somehow got reset so it was telling me the time...in Colorado (Ack!). Anyway, after going for a walk and taking a friend out to dinner, it was time to post my Friday Snippet, but then I spen an hour talking to my mom on the phone so it's even later. Oh well.
On the family side, my great aunt passed away recently, she was a great lady and we will all miss her terribly. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her.