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. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.
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 to read it and add a few encouraging words.
This month the words/prompts are supplied by Hilary Melton-Butcher and can be found here
This week's words/prompts are:
1.almanac 2.vegetables 3.smoke 4.rocky 5.pursuit
and/or:
1.tides 2.data 3.pearly 4.block 5.hedge
Here is my story:
Two years ago, the
advertisement in the window of the realtor’s office had read “Rocky Farm: as-is,
everything included” so I had walked inside and asked about it. What exactly
was meant by as-is, everything included? I hadn’t planned on buying a home in
this area, I was merely enjoying a quiet holiday, but I eventually left the
realtor’s office with a fistful of documents and a big old-fashioned iron key.
Rocky Farm was mine.
I stood now with my
back against the windbreak hedge and surveyed my domain. The block was
beginning to show its true potential and I was thankful I had taken the time to
read the old almanac I’d found on the solid oak bookshelf beside the kitchen.
The detailed data
within its pages had been supplemented by hand written notes, even telling
which tides had brought to shore the pearly shells which the owner’s wife had
cleaned and threaded into the numerous windchimes strung in rows across what
had clearly been a big patch of vegetables. And soon would be again.
I hadn’t realized at
first the place was even close to the ocean, but a slow walk of the perimeters,
as laid out by the realtor, brought me to the far side of the hedge and I
clearly heard the waves down below. I’d yet to find a way down to the beach,
that pursuit would have to wait.
My second winter here
was on its way, as were hordes of visitors, mostly family, and I needed to haul
in more logs from the ramshackle shed to keep the fire going. The smoke from
the chimney swirled in a sudden gust of wind and I pulled up my collar and
loaded the wheelbarrow.
That's a property that is going to require a lot of hard work, but will be so lovely when done.
ReplyDeletejabblog; thank you. It will be hard work, but he is young and has the time.
DeleteMy new almanac was delivered with the vegetables. On page 23, I read about smoke signals and how on rocky ridges, aboriginal groups would gather information to guide almost every hunting pursuit. In those days, down at the beach, tides revealed precious data about the hidden contents of pearly oyster shells. I absorbed this fascinating information in a toilet block built behind the hedge at Modbury Bowling Club.
ReplyDeleteAwesome.
DeleteIt sounds like the almanac served you well.
DeleteYorkshire Pudding; great story, It's probably true regarding the smoke signals.
DeleteThat sounds lovely. Hard work, but soooo rewarding.
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child; very rewarding, thank you.
DeleteIn pursuit of a new hobby, I decide to whittle vegetables into everyday items. A carrot flute, a corn cob pipe, an apple watch? I light the pipe and pearly whisps of smoke fill the air and drift over the hedge into the road beyond. Consulting my apple watch, I notice the thyme…. Mt neighbour, Rocky, appears, with his dog in hot pursuit. Rocky is clutching an almanac and breathlessly tries to show me the data suggesting we should fill the sandbags as neep tides look set to flood, and we need to block their ingress.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your puns and your use of the prompts.
DeleteArctic Fox; excellent use of the words and yes, get those sandbags filled and in place.
DeleteIt sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLinda's Relaxing Lair; it does, doesn't it?
DeleteImpulse buying is not always a bad thing. Rocky farm sounds like a good name for the place.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
lissa; I used to impulse buy little things from thrift stores, but theyweren't always a good idea. This farm is a great idea though.
DeleteIt sounds like an excellent purchase.
ReplyDeletemessymimi; it was for him, Fictional him of course.
DeleteInteresting and hard work with wood.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D; thank you, the wood is necessary for the fire.
DeleteI like this, no matter what adventures, it's always cozy. Buying a property on a whim like this. I hope he'll have a good life there.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte; thank you, I think he will have a great life there.
ReplyDeleteHope he finds a way down to the beach. It's rewarding to see the results of his labor when turning that property into a home, and fun to make plans for projects.
ReplyDeleteVal; he does eventually find his way to the beach, but gets the house and garden up and running first, he plans to sell veg and fruit at the local Farmer's Market.
Delete