Wednesday's Words on a Friday


The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the words are supplied by Elephant's Child and can be found here.

This week's words are:

1. opera
2. recommend
3. champagne
4. excitement
5. sunshine
6. jam

and/or:

1. dimension
2. raid
3. weed
4. admiration
5. corner
6. employ

here is my story:


They stood on the back porch staring at the sagging pergola that framed the backyard view

“What’s your great idea Dad?” asked Harry.

“I recommend you employ a gardener to mount a full scale raid on that rampant weed in the corner, trim back the overgrown fruit trees, perhaps espalier that one nearest the fence, then lay those stacked pavers on all the areas where the lawn doesn’t grow. Keep that centre patch and get it weed free as quickly as you can,” said Laurence. “You can always lift a few pavers later if you want to plant something.”

“What do you suggest for that corner once the weed is gone?” asked Harry.

“That open-sided gazebo that sits in the corner of my yard,” said Laurence. “You know mum and I are downsizing next year, the mini-villas in the new retirement village will be ready by Easter and we plan to move in as soon as we are allowed. Mum wants the garden stuff to go to you and Eleanor, and that corner of yours is the perfect size. The gazebo will add a whole new dimension to this yard.”

“It will for sure,” said Harry. “It will be a champagne garden done on a beer budget. We can afford the gardener for a weekend, maybe two, but everything else will have to be done on the cheap. Shoestring budget.”

They went inside to discuss the plan with Eleanor who expressed her admiration with a squeal of excitement as she finished laying out the afternoon tea. “Let’s contact the gardening company right away,” she said. “Then hope for a few weekends of sunshine so it all comes together. We can focus on the inside when it’s too cold or wet to be outside.”

“Strawberry jam for your scones Dad?” said Harry. 

“Thank you son,” said Laurence. “Set an extra cup out would you please Eleanor? Maxine should be about finished at the hairdresser now and she said she’s coming straight here to measure your windows. If our drapes will fit, that will save you a few extra dollars, until you decide exactly what it is you want your rooms to look like.”

Eleanor set out the extra teacup and a plate for scones, then asked “Which opera are you and Maxine going to see tonight?”

Comments

  1. I really like the way you used these very disparate prompts.
    Sadly some days it feels like our garden is a beer garden - on a champagne budget.

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    Replies
    1. Elephant's Child; thank you. It did come together nicely and while I was washing dishes today I had a great idea how I could possibly tie this in with "Lost and Found".

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  2. Definitely Middle class types trying hard to get it done on the cheap, hardly a suggestion that they were going to supply the energy to get things done, great use of words

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  3. Great use of words indeed. Minde:

    Ellie sighed, regretting her soap opera like life. "Oh. If only I had listened to Mom when she recommended becoming a nurse." If only, if only. Men promised excitement and champagne. One man promised to live in sunshine, with strawberry jam every day on toast. Romance perfected never became such.

    Then, one day a man walked into the hardware store and ordered paint. "I'm painting Mrs. Barton's house. Poor woman. She can't afford it, and I'm really cheap."

    "I'd love to see it," Elliesaid with a smile. "Maybe soap operas can become real life love."

    (cut back on my dark side)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan Kane; perhaps Ellie's life is about to turn around :) Nicely done.

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    2. Hope blooms eternal. Maybe this time will be... "different" for Ellie. (Hey! If you can "lighten up," anything can happen! HA) Nice job.

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  4. I feel like I want to join them! Nice story, River. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lee; for the afternoon tea or to work in the garden? Thank you :)

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    2. The afternoon tea, of course...it's to dammn hot to be outside doing any gardening! :)

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  5. That's a happy story, they will end with a lovely place.

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    Replies
    1. messymimi; I certainly hope so, but let's not be jumping the gun...
      Thank you.

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  6. Really a nice story.
    Be good to have some scones.

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    Replies
    1. Margaret-whiteangel; I don't much like scones, I never seem to be able to make nice ones. I'll have my jam on a fresh croissant.

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  7. Your stories always allow me to see the people and surroundings in my head. Well done!

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    Replies
    1. Val; I'm so glad to hear this! That's my intention, to have people "see" the story and characters.

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  8. Thanks for another good story!!

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  9. I just can't do these any more as my poor old brain has too many other things in there to keep it busy. It happens when you become 'elderly'; so much to think about.

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    Replies
    1. Mimsie; I find I think less and less these days as I'm buried in books or television. I don't have a house or garden that requires a lot of attention and I've given up watching and worrying about the news.

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  10. Way to go! You have a knack for creating realistic vignettes. (It sure would be nice to hire a gardener, wouldn't it? I'd LOVE to have a gorgeous yard, but I don't have to stamina or desire to do it myself any more.)

    Have a super weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Susan; I'm glad to hear this is realistic, that's my aim. If I win millions of $$$ I'd have a garden and a gardener, but for now I'll stick with my little self-sufficient patch which only needs watering once a week in heatwaves.

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  11. Enjoyed the visit with that family and well done with the words. What a great way to downsize and help your kids at the same time.

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    Replies
    1. Arkansas Patti; thank you. I helped out my kids too, when I downsized. Couches and bookshelves went to two homes and dishes and cutlery to another.

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