tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37233278408693343952024-03-18T23:51:21.020-06:00On the Alberta/Montana BorderStories from the Stringam family ranches of Southern Alberta
in the 1950's and 1960'sDiane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.comBlogger3412125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-80967134285957496372024-02-16T03:00:00.011-07:002024-02-16T03:00:00.130-07:00A Sprat Chat<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qlzg6DH9EKZP4K-2iptpj5eXlQ1C2_KNWelZlA7ZmYYkVWS9hYtbffkmgfRdpzhNeczjAaEReRqRees1Ev2ylYdjPw0aoDUr6aC36V3C5fKENQJCY1CQUy1qgx_ArNVo4OLi6_qhLxX1V9jdCc3qZzNcIvip8gh1DDwgZNlwnNKZzfa_bPfZp9Ss_kRR/s474/Jcak.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="474" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qlzg6DH9EKZP4K-2iptpj5eXlQ1C2_KNWelZlA7ZmYYkVWS9hYtbffkmgfRdpzhNeczjAaEReRqRees1Ev2ylYdjPw0aoDUr6aC36V3C5fKENQJCY1CQUy1qgx_ArNVo4OLi6_qhLxX1V9jdCc3qZzNcIvip8gh1DDwgZNlwnNKZzfa_bPfZp9Ss_kRR/w200-h155/Jcak.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I admit it. I’m
on a bit of a ‘Jack’ kick right now… </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Jack Spratt
could eat no fat,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>His wife
could eat no lean.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>And so
Betwixt the two of them,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>They licked
the platter clean.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Isn’t that a
great story? These two have been served a meal and each likes a different part
and they are so much in agreement that they can divide things up and each be
totally satisfied.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This, of
course, is a nursery rhyme, quite likely without much basis in reality.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And right off,
suggests several things to me…</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Jack and his wife get along well. I mean, how
agreeable is your spouse to sharing your meal?</div><div style="text-align: left;">No “Wait! You
got all of the peas! Why do you get more peas than me?” or “What? You know I
love mashed potatoes and I’m quite sure that wasn’t half!” or the ultimate “Hey!
I was saving that as my last perfect bite and you took it!”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not that that
has ever happened to us…</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ahem…</div><div style="text-align: left;">They are also pretty
well-matched. How many couples do you know who could divide an entrée completely
into two and everyone is happy with what they get?</div><div style="text-align: left;">And, I just
want to put this out there, but if someone is sharing a steak with me, no way
is he going to get all the meat and leave me all the trimmings.</div><div style="text-align: left;">For one thing,
ick.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And for
another…no… 'ick’ pretty much is what I am staying with.</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, as a lesson
in spousal confluence, this is a great example.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As a lesson in
nutrition, not so much.</div><div style="text-align: left;">One final
thought. If they have a dog, that poor guy is pretty much stuck with what comes
out of the Alpo bag.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Because
leftovers are going to be non-existent.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Just saying…</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">This post is part of the monthly Fly-on-the-Wall challenge. </div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Our noble leader, Karen of Baking in a Tornado, challenges each of us participants to offer a glimpse into our private lives.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">With mixed results this month.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">I mean, everyone else has been doing things.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">I've been lying on a beach in Hawaii, moving only enough so people don't poke me to see if I'm alive.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">But I did want to write and share something.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">I came up with...good ol' Jack.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">I'm loving this!</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Go now and read what the other participants have contributed. </div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">You'll be glad you did!</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/">Baking In A Tornado</a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother</a></span></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-51003178713196328752024-01-30T12:06:00.000-07:002024-01-30T12:06:07.770-07:00Jumping Jack<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Disclaimer: Okay, right off, I want to say that I do not
condone the actions of said ‘Jack’ in what follows. In point of fact, I think…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, maybe I should start at the beginning…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnHUw60_P7vQTI1LPQbSkQHL7ncNu_Uzy6BHQtKhZBk5laU3U9ltFtmGXeQqsMu5UyB-frTO79c7tgGOf4WXSRhJ5Zo0WnvUjzqkkgB7FLuv8dYZdqv58xTPob8YGdFS1eqf63V8Qqcy5oAHfxLP7TzeuHBIm7pp_1XCS20VGXPZjtRLmAu3kk9Aan6pU/s600/Jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnHUw60_P7vQTI1LPQbSkQHL7ncNu_Uzy6BHQtKhZBk5laU3U9ltFtmGXeQqsMu5UyB-frTO79c7tgGOf4WXSRhJ5Zo0WnvUjzqkkgB7FLuv8dYZdqv58xTPob8YGdFS1eqf63V8Qqcy5oAHfxLP7TzeuHBIm7pp_1XCS20VGXPZjtRLmAu3kk9Aan6pU/w200-h194/Jack.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack be nimble,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack be quick,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack jump over the
candlestick</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’ve heard it before, I’m quite sure. This little ditty
about a mysterious someone named ‘Jack’ who spends his time airborne over candlesticks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now I don’t know about you, but for me, a candlestick is
generally used as a source of light. And less commonly, heat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But never as some sort of athletic measuring stick.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That just makes me uncomfortable.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I mean, what happens if Jack is feeling a little less ‘nimble’
on a given day and thus ‘slower’ in his reaction times?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Would it then follow that we might see:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack not nimble</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack not quick</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jack scooting over
yonder hill in a frantic search for a water source.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You’re right. It doesn’t rhyme.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now just where and/or when did this really strange activity
begin?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are we to believe that one day, out of the blue, some kid
named Jack just decided to leap over some random candlestick?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Okay, yes, I know that a group of kids hanging out together
are often the architects of ‘mischief’. And maybe someone suggested the art of
flame leap-age as a possible reprieve from boredom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maybe they even suggested that everyone give it a try, and he who neither lights his britches nor snuffs the candle wins good luck and a
long life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s face it, if one does light one’s britches on fire,
long life isn’t going to be a problem.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ahem…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kids be nimble</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kids be quick</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kids better find something
constructive to do or Mama going to warm kids’ britches--without a candlestick.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hmmmm. I’m having trouble with this.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Actually, I’ve heard of bridegrooms attempting similar
feats—the leaping, not the lighting—in an effort to ensure a long and happy
marriage.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But you know me. I prefer things like: affection,
conversation and good humour to blah…blah…blah…marriage.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But that’s just me…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So…back to Jack. And his candlestick.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I think the whole exercise is just silly, silly, silly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Waste of time, energy and resources.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I think it would be better said like this:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jack be nimble</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jack be quick</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jack leave the candlestick on the table and get Jack’s
chores done.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">P.S. Now I’ve heard of hiding your light under a bushel,
but never under a derriere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I just wanted to put that out there.</span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-3035235654453875302024-01-01T05:00:00.012-07:002024-01-01T05:00:00.136-07:00The Future<div style="text-align: left;">For fourteen years, I’ve had such fun,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Telling tales of life: homespun,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’d talk of growing up and stuff,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of doings planned, or ‘off the cuff’,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of mischief made and laughter wrought,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Some lessons learned, successes sought,</div><div style="text-align: left;">A little fact with fiction mixed,</div><div style="text-align: left;">With lots to entertain betwixt,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love to write, you know I do,</div><div style="text-align: left;">But now’s the time to say, “Adieu.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">New challenges for me to face,</div><div style="text-align: left;">(I pray I’ll do all this with grace!)</div><div style="text-align: left;">What I’ll miss most is all of you,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Will I be back? I’ve not a clue…</div><div style="text-align: left;">But know as I walk these new trails,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And try to keep on telling tales,</div><div style="text-align: left;">That in my thoughts, you all will be,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’ll hold your mem’ry close to me…</div><div style="text-align: left;">The future beckons. It’s so bright,</div><div style="text-align: left;">(Soon everything will be just right,)</div><div style="text-align: left;">So know as now my blog I close,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’ll still be writing poems and prose.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I dedicate it all to you,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And leave my love and prayers, too!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>My good friends, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/">Charlotte</a> and
<a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Mimi</a>,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Will ‘Poem’ on, but without me,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Cause that’s what Monday is about,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I can’t conceive a week without!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This post today will be my last,</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Future surely got here fast!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">But two of us will carry on</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I pass, to them, the 'poem' baton!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining up for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a> and <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a> would </i><i style="font-size: 12pt;">love to welcome you!</i></div></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Future (January 1. My last Poetry Monday) Today!</span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-62074054652806714242023-12-29T07:30:00.001-07:002023-12-29T07:30:00.244-07:00Super<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Superpowers?
Let’s make a list,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cause all of
them, I think I missed,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Like super
strength, for that I’d opt,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When I think
of the stack of plates I dropped!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And other
things, like super speed?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To do my
chores, for that, I’d plead,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And super
sight? With super eyes</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’d wear my
specs just for disguise!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hmmm…super
smell? That may be mine,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cause stinky
stuff I smell just fine.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But what would
give life seasoning?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Why, super
thought and reasoning!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Command of
elements, that’d be neat,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And flying
would be oh, so sweet!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And swimming
without needing breath,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yep. Nothing
that would cause my death!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If I could
live a long, long time,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">With super
life, that would be fine,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just think of
all that I could do,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The learning
and the skills accrue...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But wait. If I
am still around</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When all I
love are ‘in the ground’,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now how exciting
would that be</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If I lost
friends and family?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You know, I’ll
stick with what I’ve got,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My aching
joints and tangled thoughts,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My power fits me
like a glove,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My super power,
friends, is LOVE! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;"><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioQX9DKTryQ_4JdbkcnLEEI3snU6_q_dTP8ApZT-0pe9p1xD45ZM-mtFwugiHyTcZZAK4Ym5HO8MNkLUMQf6nwxMYigGTk-FacMNfKuFuaYRCT4S5ww0x3SOXmjtWD3cWOjmhVBmutt2-uQWnCIBfsz01I6spVyfn9xwEVIldOt2W31iZFFl8TGKYSuVI/s500/Monthly%20Poetry%20Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioQX9DKTryQ_4JdbkcnLEEI3snU6_q_dTP8ApZT-0pe9p1xD45ZM-mtFwugiHyTcZZAK4Ym5HO8MNkLUMQf6nwxMYigGTk-FacMNfKuFuaYRCT4S5ww0x3SOXmjtWD3cWOjmhVBmutt2-uQWnCIBfsz01I6spVyfn9xwEVIldOt2W31iZFFl8TGKYSuVI/w200-h200/Monthly%20Poetry%20Challenge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Karen asks, "Write for me, please?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We write because we like to please!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">And we love her, you know that’s true,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">So this is what we writers do . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We craft a poem based on a theme,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">With pencils, sharp, and eyes agleam,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">Each month we write and have such fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We can't wait for another one,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">With '<b>Super Power!'</b> how did I do?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07;">Now, go and see the others, too:</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700;"><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="line-height: 106%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Baking In A Tornado:</span><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/12/finale.html"> Finale </a> <span style="line-height: 106%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Messymimi’s </a></span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Meanderings </a> </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 15.1512px; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: collapse;">
</p></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-80479432897043796512023-12-25T05:00:00.026-07:002023-12-25T05:00:00.143-07:00Believe<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvmUGm0huwBMdUoiyfOmWbrjCZCInzkGWkVHv_7Yg3cSUXOQNRBd1RjhIsXe8Sm-6scPWOyTBEJW4NbC_HE4EY1owN96jSepeLsW4y1CCp0xyoEgfk3EpTPBgkPkYfjQDZOmuXuvvLqFBldnvE1YqdjKScWHAxEghAj3hz42wwdiVgUlAgsYncI5o7cQ=s1122" style="background-color: white; color: #57180f; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1122" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvmUGm0huwBMdUoiyfOmWbrjCZCInzkGWkVHv_7Yg3cSUXOQNRBd1RjhIsXe8Sm-6scPWOyTBEJW4NbC_HE4EY1owN96jSepeLsW4y1CCp0xyoEgfk3EpTPBgkPkYfjQDZOmuXuvvLqFBldnvE1YqdjKScWHAxEghAj3hz42wwdiVgUlAgsYncI5o7cQ=s320" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="320" /></a></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3101515244589192945" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">A tiny town, the angel sings,</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3101515244589192945" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">Is chosen for the King of Kings.<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">It sleepy lies and quiet waits,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">While all salvation, God creates.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">And in a manger, not a bed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Our Savior lays his newborn head,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Soft grasses frame his tiny form,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">And keep his swaddled body warm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">A hush falls o’er the stable scene,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">The babe has come, all is serene,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">He will bring peace from world’s alarms,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">But for now, a babe, in His mother’s arms.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> For just a moment, all is still,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">As Son fulfills his Father’s will,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Though tiny now, one day He’ll be,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Saviour of both bond and free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">The choir gathers, awesome sight,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Their presence shines upon the night,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Above the clouds, their voices swell,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">As they shout forth their first ‘Noel’.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">As bells ring out the joyous news,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">In golden tones, in ones and twos,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">We recall another place on earth,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">When a prophet spoke of the coming birth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Far to the East, men weep, because<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">A star shines bright. They point, and pause,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">There in that sphere, each of them sees,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The prophecy that’s come to be.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">And all the Faithful, now, are called,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">From pastures—free, to cities—walled,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">To see the babe who soon will reign,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">When He brings peace and conquers pain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">God makes so much from something small,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This babe? Salvation for us all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">How are we freed from pathways grim?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Why...just believe. And follow Him.<o:p style="font-size: 14pt;"></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Next week, will be my very last,</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Future surely got here fast!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">But two of us will carry on</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I pass, to them, the 'poem' baton!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining up for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/">Charlotte</a> and <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Mimi</a> would </i><i style="font-size: 12pt;">love to welcome you!</i></div></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div></span></div></div></div><div style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christmas</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25) Today!</span></span></div><div style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The Future (January 1. My last Poetry Monday)</span></span></div></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-7202405527733643682023-12-19T07:30:00.001-07:002023-12-19T07:30:00.135-07:00Sneaky Shoemaking<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Papa Dan was the finest shoemaker in the whole town of
Bliss, Anywhere.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Seriously.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, yes, in point of fact, he was the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">only</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> shoemaker, but why quibble over
details?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He was also very sweet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He was so sweet and kind he couldn’t bear to charge people
for his fine shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Especially when they came to him with a tale of woe.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He was a sucker for those.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thus the people of Bliss were very well shod indeed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Papa Dan semi-cheerfully ‘footed’ the bill. (*snort*)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A friend, he was.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A businessman, not so much.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And that’s where our story starts…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Papa Dan was busily cutting the leather for a fine, new
pair of shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">His last.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Let’s face it, he was broke.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Subsidizing the entire town’s footwear needs had him in the
poorhouse.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But though he was financially the poorest person in the
town, he still shared what he had.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Even leaving part of his meager food supply on the porch
each evening for whoever needed it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The elves who inhabited the darker corners of the little
community were very grateful for his offerings. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Afraid to mix with the ‘big’
people, they were the only group poorer than Papa Dan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But they watched him and noted his kind, generous ways. And
dwindling resources.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">After he had finished preparing the leather, tidying up…and
dozing off…they quietly crept in.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And sewed his shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, yes, that’s not something one sees every day (or
night)—someone sneaking in to do </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">good</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
deeds under cover of darkness.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">That’s like someone creeping into someone’s house to clean.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And…hmmm…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">(Erm…if anyone’s willing to sneak into my house and clean, I’mhappy to leave the back door open.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And do my best to sleep through the whole operation.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Just putting that out there…)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Back to my story…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So the elves sewed while the shoemaker slept.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And the next morning he found—not the leather he had left—but
instead two very fine shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Beautifully, perfectly stitched.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Just then, the Queen of Anywhere stopped by.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, I know that doesn’t happen often in really real life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In point of fact, never.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hey! If I wanted reality, I’d watch the news.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Ahemahemahem!” she said in her ‘queenly’ way. “What
beautiful shoes! I would like to buy them!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The shoemaker stared at her.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Number 1—queen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Number 2—willing to pay real money.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Erm…” he said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">You can probably understand his confusion.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I mean, how often did either of those things happen? (see
above)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Uh…okay.” He was definitely on a roll now.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Coins changed hands.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Ta!” said the queen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Wow!” he said. “Now I have enough money to buy leather for
two pairs of shoes!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Which he did.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Carefully, he cut out two pairs of shoes, then left them
for the morrow.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Again, he headed to bed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Again the elves visited.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Again they sewed the shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Again they disappeared, giggling happily.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, wait. I forgot to add the ‘giggling happily’ to their earlier
visit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Oops.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Now picture an almost carbon copy of yesterday—except the
shoes are doubled.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Queen, entering the shop, “I just love those shoes I bought
here yesterday and I want pairs for my friends!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“I just have these two pairs today,” the shoemaker said,
holding them up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“That’s okay. I only have two friends,” the queen said, blithely,
handing over a small sack of coins. “Ta! Ta!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Now I know what you’re thinking. No one is trying these
shoes on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Normally people do that.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What can I say…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">If you want reality, there’s a 24-hour news channel on the
telly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ahem…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The shoemaker was overjoyed. “Now,” he said, “I can buy
leather for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">four</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> pairs of shoes!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Repeat X 4 shopping.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Repeat cutting.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Repeat elf sewing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Four pairs of shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Queen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Coins.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Joy!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The shoemaker waved the large bag of coins. “Wow! Now I can
buy leather for eight pairs of shoes! Or seven pairs and some lunch. Because I
haven’t eaten since this story started…”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">One trip to the local tanners followed by a quick
drive-thru at the A&W and he was back and cutting once more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">All day he cut.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I mean—seven pairs!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then, exhausted, slept.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Now you’re probably wondering if </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">he</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> was wondering just who had sewed these shoes that were
responsible for his recent turn of amazingly good fortune.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Short answer? Yes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Kindness wants to recognize kindness.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Holding the seven beautifully finished pairs of shoes the
next morning, he knew he had to find out who the clever person or persons were
who spent their nights sewing for unsuspecting people.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So he started to plan…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Because of the queen’s generous patronage, his little shop
was now thronged with people clamouring for those seven pairs of shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Before breakfast, he was again sold out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And that’s when his plan came into being.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He would buy leather for shoes and cut it out as per usual.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then he would pretend to sleep, but in reality, spy on the
perpetrators.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">H</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">mmm…are they still considered ‘perpetrators’ if they sneak
in to do good things?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Asking for a friend…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyways, spy he did.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And what did he see? A group of little, ragged, underfed
elves.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Busily and happily sewing his shoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">After they left, he sat there and thought.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And thought.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And thought some more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Suddenly he knew what he needed to do.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then he got to work.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The next night, the elves found, not the leather for shoes
they expected, but a suit of clothes and shoes for each of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">That shoemaker, when he gets going, gets things done!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">As they stood there in wonder, he leaped out of hiding with
a happy laugh and all were able—at long last—to get acquainted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Needless to say, they were soon fast friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But the story doesn’t end there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The queen, totally enamored with her new shoes, made Papa Dan
(and the elves) the kingdom’s official shoemakers.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I think their shoemaking factory still stands today!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And that’s the sole story.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/s500/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="489" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/w196-h200/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="196" /></a></div>Today’s post is a word challenge! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Each month Karen, Mimi or I choose a number between 12 and 50 and we three craft a post using that number of words one or multiple times.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">This month’s number is: 33</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">It was chosen by <a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com">Karen of Baking in a Tornado</a>!</div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Now go and see what my friends have created!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/12/inconvenient-convenience.html?fbclid=IwAR0yu2k6oHEY7JT8QTKAlcK69CsYUQCXqfgqfYo6npWtHg0D7WXxNKuStbM" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Baking In ATornado</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Messymimi’sMeanderings</a></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-7489886049082965242023-12-18T13:31:00.005-07:002023-12-18T15:07:15.560-07:00Cookied<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLc-aY83iKq7A6B7LOd4Jyznzf78Cv7po3YPP4GYum2ENCfGPQ6AU3L05HnN3Ll0S3EMZatwwzZGpTIJlhrWFrAXaQsooxa6nuOkIwOmgVWdT8Z2dURjg2H0Mj-d56yMzEFaMowLaRKXxWdHjr3fXzSjoDIuhlaRWVr7kebFRQQmuo51xbss_emp0wHgs/s4358/Scott%20Molnar%20Photography1%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4358" data-original-width="3564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLc-aY83iKq7A6B7LOd4Jyznzf78Cv7po3YPP4GYum2ENCfGPQ6AU3L05HnN3Ll0S3EMZatwwzZGpTIJlhrWFrAXaQsooxa6nuOkIwOmgVWdT8Z2dURjg2H0Mj-d56yMzEFaMowLaRKXxWdHjr3fXzSjoDIuhlaRWVr7kebFRQQmuo51xbss_emp0wHgs/s320/Scott%20Molnar%20Photography1%20(2).jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: Scott Molnar Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ol’ Santa, he of twinkly glee,</div><div style="text-align: left;">A question he hears frequently</div><div style="text-align: left;">From all those precious little tykes:</div><div style="text-align: left;">“What kind of cookie do you like?”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He’s given it some thought, and so</div><div style="text-align: left;">For all of you who'd love to know,</div><div style="text-align: left;">He has compiled a list that tells,</div><div style="text-align: left;">To help you when you hear those bells!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There’s chocolate chip I’ll mention first,</div><div style="text-align: left;"> They make his taste buds want to
burst!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> With oatmeal and with coconut,</div><div style="text-align: left;">They help give Santa Claus his ‘gut’.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then lemon, soft, or oatmeal, plain, </div><div style="text-align: left;">His interest, he won’t have to feign,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And ginger, soft or with a snap,</div><div style="text-align: left;">They make this man a happy chap!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And snickerdoodles, I must say,</div><div style="text-align: left;">He’ll eat them day by day by day,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And oatmeal raisin, ‘s long as they</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have raisins plump for this gourmet!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Peanut Butter, Whoopie Pies,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And Sugar Cookies, no surprise,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Molasses, YUM! Biscotti, yes!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or Spritz or Snowball, they’re the best!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Thumbprints, Wafers, Macaroons,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or even those with dates or prunes!</div><div style="text-align: left;">And men of ginger…faces…feet,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or macarons that taste so sweet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(In fact, most any cookie will,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Give our Santa Claus a thrill…)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But which would he choose overall,</div><div style="text-align: left;">When to your house he comes to call?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Which does he give his accolade?</div><div style="text-align: left;">The best of all: Ho, ho, Homemade!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "crimson text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week, Christmas will be here,<br /></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">What I anticipate all year!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cookies (December 18) Today!</b></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></span></div></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-88502270598587912922023-12-15T07:30:00.012-07:002023-12-15T07:30:00.137-07:00Electrif(r)ied<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sally and Mort are moving.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">No. Seriously. They bought that ranch they were looking at
and are planning a move just after Christmas.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Part of me tingles with anticipation at the thought.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Imagine. A life without the constant worry at the back of
your brain about what mischief Sally is getting into somewhere under the roof
you share.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, you’re right. Of course, I will still worry. It will
just be from a longer distance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And maybe one step removed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I have to admit I love the ranch. Space features large in
describing it: Large house. Large barns. Large pastures.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Large trees surrounding the house and barns and pastures.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I haven’t been there a lot. Peter and I have been planning
our wedding so Sally and Mort have been traveling back and forth on their own—or
with Dad—supervising the ongoing renovations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Because of course, one must renovate to make a house one’s
own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Right?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Or maybe they’re just redoing everything in cast iron or
plastic.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sally will be living there after all.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyways, between their excitement, and Peter’s and mine, and
Mom and Dad’s over their anticipated next baby, there hasn’t been even a
remotely </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">unhappy</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> face in our house for weeks!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In fact, it’s hard to </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">recall</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
the last moment we may have felt the least bit negative.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Until today…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">You have to know that, when Sally celebrates, she c e l e b
r a t e s. The whole enchilada. Nothing stinted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And she is </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">really</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
anticipating moving into her ranch.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So I know there will be celebratory…erm…stuff.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A brass band. Maybe a parade.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Fireworks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, I’m exaggerating about the brass band and the parade.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But the fireworks? Real.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ahem…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sally had a big box of them sitting between the beautiful
little storage shed near the house and the fence that ran along the closest
pasture.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A fence none of us realized was electrified.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Something like this could only happen in movies.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Or in Sally’s life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sigh.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Of course, this was the day that Peter and I decided to
visit and ooh and aah over the progress being made.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dad and Mort were over by that box of fireworks. Dad was
investigating them—seeing what they needed to be safely set off.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He’s like that.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Mort was playing with his new lighter.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Because of course he would be playing with a lighter in the one spot in all of creation where it really wasn't the smart thing to do.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Here is where I admit I have no idea why Mort has a new
lighter. He doesn’t smoke. And neither does anyone in our family. I’m thinking
it has something to do with being on a ranch now and needing to be able to ‘live
off the land’ at a moment’s notice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyways, he and Dad were talking while Dad investigated and
Mort…flipped.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Dad went to stand up. And reached out, naturally, for
the top strand of that fence.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">That none of us realized was electrified.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Till then.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dad is made of tough stuff—former marine and all that—but he
wasn’t ready for the charge that shot through him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I swear his hair stood on end. He jumped and shook and beat
a rapid </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">tattoo</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> on the ground with his heels.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And that’s when things really fell apart.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Trying to get his balance, he reached out rather blindly
for something to hold onto and again grabbed the wire.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">This time, his arms shot out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The one hit Mort right in the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">glasses</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then knocked the lighter from his hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Said lighter then arched—with uncanny accuracy—straight into
the box of fireworks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The resultant fireworks show could be seen clear back in
the city.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Or so I’m told.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dad and Mort barely escaped with their hides intact.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The side of the shed is toast.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Sally is quite disappointed that she missed the whole
thing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Not one to leave things </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">undone</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">,
I understand that she’s on her way into the city to procure more fireworks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I probably should warn you that, if our family can
accomplish that kind of damage without Sally, just imagine what will happen
with her present.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">May heaven smile on us all.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/s500/UYW.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/w199-h200/UYW.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="199" /></a></div><div>Use Your Words is a writing challenge!</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;">Each month, I exchange words with my <span style="background-color: transparent;">friend and intrepid leader, Karen of</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/09/call-me-victor.html" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Baking in a Tornado</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;">Neither of us knows what the other will do with her words.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;">This month, Karen gave me: </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">undone ~ recall ~ unhappy ~ glasses ~ tattoo</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;">Thank you, my friend!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;">Now go see what Karen did with my words!</div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com">BakingIn ATornado</a></span></div><div style="color: red;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;" /></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-31833325245379522612023-12-11T05:00:00.003-07:002023-12-11T07:29:08.810-07:00Snow Boots<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">He went out as the morning sun,</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8724952297957318722" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "crimson text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8149329169491666257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -36pt;">Made new snow glisten bright.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The world was still, the air was cold<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The storm passed with the night.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He carefully prepared his mount<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">With blankets and with tack,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The snow had stopped, the wind had died<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">He had cattle now to check.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The two of them moved carefully<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Into the world of white.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Their breath streamed out behind them<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Making clouds in morning light.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But it wasn’t long before he stopped<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And looked about him there.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then pulled his ‘cell phone from his coat<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And dialed his wife with care.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Hi, Hon!” he said with chatt’ring teeth,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Just thought I’d give a call,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">To let you know I’m heading back,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Things don’t look good at all.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“The snow out here’s too deep,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">“It’s cold and wet, I’ve found.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s reached the tops of both my boots<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s hard to get around.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">His puzzled wife said to her man.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Your boot tops aren’t tall.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">“I don’t see how a drift that deep<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Could hamper you at all.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her husband frowned, “They don’t,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">“Well, they don’t bother <i>me</i>.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">But this poor horse I’m sitting on.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">He simply cannot see.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzC9MVRrP_JzlaVsAAKQo18vz2Wfu708SlQhLk8O2lw0kvZcNXxjOPB3Tq66n0oXuHW1SEU4YO4Kro6NLU7ccz5V6VLdRAvbHWlJAUsVKrZKjzIyT0YwPmP9l1MZAbRXYXR5U1N2DermI/s1600/2238.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzC9MVRrP_JzlaVsAAKQo18vz2Wfu708SlQhLk8O2lw0kvZcNXxjOPB3Tq66n0oXuHW1SEU4YO4Kro6NLU7ccz5V6VLdRAvbHWlJAUsVKrZKjzIyT0YwPmP9l1MZAbRXYXR5U1N2DermI/s1600/2238.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Daddy in winter . . .</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week, my favourite thing of all...</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">It's COOKIES. Join us, have a ball!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Winter (December 11) Today!</b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-55466870574360329902023-12-04T05:00:00.002-07:002023-12-05T23:35:35.883-07:00EsSHOEing Delivery<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>Years ago, shoemakers (at least the one in Milk River) were notorious for their "They'll be ready Monday" response whenever one went to the shop to ask about their shoes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>I thought this was cute. And very, very true...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">At the grand old age of
ninety, Richard’s Gramps had passed away,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And it was left to Rick to sell
his home there by the bay,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And as he sorted, boxed and
bagged the curious things he saw,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">So many he had never seen. He
looked at them with awe,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And in the pocket of a big coat in a closet. Right in back,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">He found an ancient receipt. Wrinkled,
stained with old boot black,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Apparently, t’was for some
shoes his Gramps left for repair,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Back in 1955, the man had left
them there!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Curious, Rick looked it up and
found it listed still,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then, clutching the receipt,
he found the shop up on a hill.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The bell rang merrily as Richard
pushed the door askew,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then walked up to the owner,
wond’ring what the man would do,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The owner was a grandson. Yes,
the old man was his kin,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">He looked down at the paper,
turned and gave our Rick a grin,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">“I do believe we have your shoes,
just hang on there a sec.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then disappeared into the back
to go and have a check,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">A moment later, he appeared,
said, “They are on the rack…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And they’ll be ready Monday.” Then
he gave the paper back.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><div style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next week, we will (Because it's close...)</span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Talk of WINTER. Its beauty and woes. <br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Shoes (December 4) Today!</b></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Winter (December 11)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-8399061883022469542023-11-27T05:00:00.002-07:002023-11-27T05:00:00.132-07:00A Nice Trip<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">The sign there
in the country store gave Paul, the shopper, pause,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">BEWARE OF DOG! In
bright red ink, then pointed to the cause…</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">A sleepy hound
there on the floor, who didn’t look a threat,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">In fact, he
looked as comfortable as a sleepy dog could get.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">So Paul, he
looked down at the dog, then back up to the sign,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“This cannot be
the dog!” he said. “Cause he looks so…benign!”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“Oh, that is
him,” the storekeep said. “Don’t let yourself be fooled,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“You drop your
guard with this one and you bet you will be schooled!"</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“Before I hung
the sign,” he said, “There was a lot of hurt.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“And so I
thought to warn you folks and all your pain avert!”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">Then Paul, he
watched that hounddog for a moment, maybe two,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">Then shook his
head again and said, “What damage could he do?”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“Waaal, I’ll
tell you,” said the man. “I know he don’t have much for zip…</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;">“But before I
put that sign up, almost everybody tripped!” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: Merriweather;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next week in all their styles and hues,</span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We all will be discussing SHOES!!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Shoes (December 4)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Winter (December 11)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-47524119685826505292023-11-24T07:30:00.005-07:002023-11-24T07:30:00.149-07:00Shout Hurray!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> happy and you know it,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US">Shout hurray! (Hurray!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">happy and you know it,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Shout </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">hurray! (Hurray!)</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">happy </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> you know it, then </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">your</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> face will surely show it,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> happy and you know it,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US">Shout hurray! (Hurray!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Think</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> things that really </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;">brighten up</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Your day! (Your day!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: arial;">Like your family. And friends along </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Your way! (Your way!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Cause </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">they bring you special moments</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> so you </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">have</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ‘alone’ it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Yes, they really help you brighten up </span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Your day! (Hooray!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now the things that really make </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Feel okay! (Okay!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Like </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">good food</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and music</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">skillful</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Displayed! (Displayed!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Caus</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e they make your tummy happy, and your toes </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">alive and ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tappy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Oh, the things that really make you </span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Feel okay! (Hooray!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now, lastly, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">there’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a rule we</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Should </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">obey! (Obey!)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Makes </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">everybo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dy happy come</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">What may! (What may!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Here's</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that rule (</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> put our mind to): </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Everyone I Will Be Kind To</span><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">,</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> all be </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">happy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> know it,</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-CA">Shout hurray! (Hurray!)</span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wGJryQvg940zE1VFPaldy6TpHXbveRN41E9JIxzxUEOsH2m13NsAP07MusVvSPpoUdSbZbROFayg8Ub2GEo5MKIw1OkdTSYqjLOXAGzZfahK1ptB3m_5SE-GkVU1VFTIedMW9YFqqNgZhCk5bWYyWf02DNdEGjI1ykuvWjDDYlbFJh6HmRNw_Amla2Af/s500/98%20-%20If%20You're%20Happy%20and%20You%20Know%20It%20-%20November%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wGJryQvg940zE1VFPaldy6TpHXbveRN41E9JIxzxUEOsH2m13NsAP07MusVvSPpoUdSbZbROFayg8Ub2GEo5MKIw1OkdTSYqjLOXAGzZfahK1ptB3m_5SE-GkVU1VFTIedMW9YFqqNgZhCk5bWYyWf02DNdEGjI1ykuvWjDDYlbFJh6HmRNw_Amla2Af/w200-h200/98%20-%20If%20You're%20Happy%20and%20You%20Know%20It%20-%20November%202023.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Karen asks, "Write for me, please?"</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We write because we like to please!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">And we love her, you know that’s true,</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">So this is what we writers do . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We craft a poem based on a theme,</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">With pencils, sharp, and eyes agleam,</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">Each month we write and have such fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">We can't wait for another one,</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);">With '<b>Shout Hurray!'</b> how did I do?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07;">Now, go and see the others, too:</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; line-height: 15.1512px; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 19.26px;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/11/hurrah.html">Baking In A Tornado</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 19.26px;"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Messymimi’s Meanderings</a></span></p></span></span></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW156837557 BCX8" paraeid="{fcbbeae2-8bba-4b63-a200-2b3dc0c4eab4}{96}" paraid="808849379" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="TextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-CA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-CA"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW156837557 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW156837557 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-233437426577343752023-11-20T05:00:00.003-07:002023-11-20T05:00:00.141-07:00Bus(t)ing Home<div style="text-align: left;"> Because we lived a long, long way
from town,</div><div style="text-align: left;">We had to ride the bus, us bunch of
clowns,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And ‘early’ doesn’t quite describe
our start…</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cause sunrise (with our ride), was oft’
a part.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had adventures there, yes, that
is true,</div><div style="text-align: left;">My friends and I, we laughed and
read and drew,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The hour went by and turned to day
from night…</div><div style="text-align: left;">And suddenly, the school’d come into
sight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At times, when it was raining cats
and dogs,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The roads would turn from sandy soil
to bog,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The vacuum windshield wipers, both
would slow…</div><div style="text-align: left;">Whenever the bus driver tried to go.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One day the bus was having chills
and pains,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Complaining as we drove across the
plains,</div><div style="text-align: left;">At Angyal’s Hill, our driver told
us, “Shush!”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then made us all get out and start
to push!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now often, I hear folks talk ‘bout
their past,</div><div style="text-align: left;">How ‘uphill both ways’ can’t be
called a ‘blast’,</div><div style="text-align: left;">But they just simply can’t compete
with us…</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cause we walked uphill AND we pushed
the bus!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We win!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">No politics next week, no strife,</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">We'll be discussing A Pet's Life!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Shoes (December 4)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Winter (December 11)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-21376777206328078062023-11-15T05:00:00.019-07:002023-11-15T05:00:00.141-07:00Trouble Indicated<div style="text-align: left;"> Firstly, because some people asked, Peter’s and my wedding
plans are progressing, but that is a story for another day.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today it’s all about Ivy Jean.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Who is walking.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now in a normal household, this is cause for rejoicing.</div><div style="text-align: left;">In ours…</div><div style="text-align: left;">You have to remember that she is the exact double of Sally.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Exact. Double.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Right up to the mischief part.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ivy Jean started crawling at about six months and
immediately began getting into stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then she went almost immediately from crawling to toddling
around, holding onto furniture.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course this meant putting everything higher and higher to
get it out of the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Do you know the definition of a toddler? Someone two feet tall
with an arm reach of eight feet?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yeah. That was coined for Sally.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And lives on in Ivy Jean.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the whole ‘putting things up’? It’s something we haven’t
mastered yet.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And therein hangs a tale.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As the saying goes.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back to Ivy Jean...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday, my baby sister came out of the bathroom, waving
something clutched tightly in her chubby little hand.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I ran to her because 1. Peter-and-I-were-babysitting-due-to-Mom-and-Dad-having-to-go-out.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And 2. Ivy-Jean-wasn’t-supposed-to-be-in-the-bathroom-and-who-left-the-door-open?!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, technically, Sally and Mort were also babysitting, but
they had had something ‘important and <span style="color: red;">secret</span> to
discuss’ (Sally’s words) and had left to go for a walk and hadn’t <span style="color: red;">return</span>ed, so Peter and I were ‘it’.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I grabbed the ‘something’ out of Ivy Jean’s hand and stared
at it. It was a home pregnancy indicator.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I turned it over.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Positive.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I looked at Peter and my face must have been a picture
because he slowly set his <span style="color: red;">coffee</span> cup on the
table and stood up. “Gwen, what is it?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“Didn’t Sally just finish making an appointment with the <span style="color: red;">doctor</span>?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">He frowned. “You mean just before she and Mort left?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“Ummm…yeah.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">He shrugged. “I guess so. What’s up.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">I held out the indicator.</div><div style="text-align: left;">His eyes went wide. He looked at me. “Sally?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“It must be.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">He sat down again. “Oh.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“My thoughts exactly.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“But she…” He didn’t finish that thought. “Could she…” He
didn’t finish that one, either.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I rubbed my forehead. “Remember when she decided that
<a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2018/07/cat-astrophe.html">getting a cat was a good idea</a>?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“And when she <a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2020/01/noisedive.html">jumped out of that helicopter</a>?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“Or went after that <a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2019/09/putting-buff-in-buffet.html">would-be thief</a>?” I looked down at the
indicator. It hadn’t changed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">“And got caught <a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2019/02/hanging-out-in-hawaii.html">hanging off a mountain in Hawaii</a>?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, I had to tell him about some of these. He was the one fortunate person who missed most of them…</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Or when <a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2019/11/normal.html">she got her start in movies</a>?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">“Or <a href="https://dlt-lifeontheranch.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-ransom-of-sally.html">when she got kidnapped</a>?!” we said together.</div><div style="text-align: left;">“Sally, a mother,” I tapped my forehead. “I just can’t quite
get my brain around it.”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Peter shook his head.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I got up to stir the <span style="color: red;">squash</span>
soup bubbling on the stove.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And rescue Ivy Jean, who had given up trying to grab the
indicator out of my hand and was now pushing a chair over to the kitchen
counter.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Just then, the front door burst open and Sally and Mort
burst in. “We have news!” Sally crowed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I moved closer to Peter and he clasped my hand. I’m not
sure, but I think each of us took a quick, sustaining breath and held it.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sally opened her mouth, but Mort forestalled her. “We’re finally
going to buy that ranch we’ve been looking at!” he shouted.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I blinked and Peter and I exhaled together. “Erm…what?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">“That ranch!” Sally said. “You know. That one we—”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mom and Dad stepped into the room behind them, big grins on
their faces. “We have news!” Mom crowed.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dad walked over and scooped up Ivy Jean. “You’re going to be
a big sister, Jean-Bean!” he announced excitedly.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Peter and I looked at each other.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/s500/UYW.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/w199-h200/UYW.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="199" /></a></div><div>Use Your Words is a writing challenge!</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Each month, I exchange words with my <span style="background-color: transparent;">friend and intrepid leader, Karen of</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/09/call-me-victor.html" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Baking in a Tornado</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Neither of us knows what the other will do with her words.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">This month, Karen gave me: </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">squash</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> ~ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">coffee</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> ~ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">return</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> ~ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">doctor</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> ~ </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">secret</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Thank you, my friend!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Now go see what Karen did with my words!</div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/11/eclipsed.html">BakingIn ATornado</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-35699415109767010072023-11-14T07:30:00.018-07:002023-11-14T07:30:00.144-07:00An Ant Problem<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Just as long as they keep on marching... somewhere I'm not...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching one by one,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching one by one,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching one by one,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(The
little one stops to suck his thumb)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And
they all go</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marching
down…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To
the earth…to get out…of the rain…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Poor Richard", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching two by two,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching two by two,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching two by two,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">(The
little one stops to tie his shoe)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And
they all go</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Marching
down...to the earth…to get out…of the rain…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching three by three,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Good
grief! They’re marching three by three,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching three by three,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">(The
old one (me) stops to rest his knees)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And
they all go</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marching
down...to the earth…to get out…of the rain…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ugh.
Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Boom. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">The ants
go marching four by four,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah.
Hurrah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">The ants
go marching four by four,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah-ing
some more</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 6pt;">…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">They’re
still marching</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">Still in
fours.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">Till the
little one stops to shut the door…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 12pt;">They don’t
stop and…boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">The
ants go marching five by five…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">Hurrah!
And various…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">I
think there’s more ants…five by five,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">Yadda,
etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">See
them marching five by five,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">Little
one checks. Is he still alive?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;">Lots
more yaddas…out of the rain. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The ants go marching…I think we’re up to six
now…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Humm-de-humm-hummm</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Little one stops to pick up sticks,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And…rain!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Okay, fine. I'll get back to the proper rhythm...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">Those
wretched ants in groups of seven!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">Rah.
Hoorah.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">Seeing a
problem? Groups of seven!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">Seriously…
Hoorah!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">I
promise sincerely, groups of seven,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">I’ll
mourn you forever</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">If you
go to Heaven?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">Please
start marching down…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 12pt;">I mean
up…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">Ugh.
They’re now marching eight by eight</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">They
have…</span><a href="https://www.rhymezone.com/r/d=chutzpah" style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration-line: none;">chutzpah</span></a><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">But
they’re still marching. Still in eights,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s
quit! I’m raw!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">Look
at them marching in ranks of eight,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">You
know, this song I’m starting to hate,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">I’ll
go marching down…to the earth…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">To get
away from the pain…erm rain.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom-ity. Boom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12pt;">Boom.
Boom. Peaceful. BOOM.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those ants go marching nine by nine,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please give me strength,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are marching nine by nine,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those rows! Such length!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">In even formations of nine by nine,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oops. Someone fell and broke his spine,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">But still marched down…</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;">To the…boom.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">The ants go marching ten by ten,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">What a sight. I’m in awe.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">The ants go marching ten by ten</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">I need…a chainsaw…</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">The ants go marching ten by ten,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve got the RAID, let’s say, “Amen!”</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">And they all will stay there</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Down…in the earth…</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Forever out of the rain,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Boom, boom, boom</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">BOOM!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/s500/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="489" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/w196-h200/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="196" /></a></div>Today’s post is a word challenge! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Each month Karen, Mimi or I choose a number between 12 and 50 and we three craft a post using that number of words one or multiple times.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">This month’s number is: 19</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">It was chosen by Mimi of <a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">MessyMimi'sMeanderings</a>!</div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Now go and see what my friends have created!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><a href=" LINK: https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/11/nineteen-little-monkeys.html" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Baking In ATornado</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Messymimi’sMeanderings</a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-74171626251169496502023-11-13T05:00:00.002-07:002023-11-13T05:00:00.155-07:00The Taste of Love<div style="text-align: left;">When I was
young, with Mom I’d go,</div><div style="text-align: left;">To Gramma’s
house. In sun or snow,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And there, in
Gramma’s kitchen, find,</div><div style="text-align: left;">A treasure ‘f I
was so inclined</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of wondrous
foods. Such tasty fare,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’d spend most
waking minutes there,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And bask in
what I understood</div><div style="text-align: left;">Was Gramma’s
love. T’was sweet and good!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then as the
years went rolling past,</div><div style="text-align: left;">My own kids did
appear at last,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And oft’ I took
then with me when,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I went to <i>my
</i>mom’s house. Therein</div><div style="text-align: left;">We’d find all
sorts of yummy stuff,</div><div style="text-align: left;">In Gramma’s
kitchen. N’er enough</div><div style="text-align: left;">To ever have
them say, “We’re done!</div><div style="text-align: left;">I’m sure ‘elsewhere’
will be more fun!”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cause just like
me, they understood</div><div style="text-align: left;">That Gramma’s
love bore tasty food.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, a
gramma I’ve become,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I, cookies bake,
or cakes of crumb,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or breads or
soups of boundless mien,</div><div style="text-align: left;">To feed the
hordes when we convene,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And how I love
to see the grins,</div><div style="text-align: left;">As they all eat,
cause Gramma wins,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why, just today
my Twizzle said,</div><div style="text-align: left;">“I just love
eating Gramma’s bread!”</div><div style="text-align: left;">And Emma-Gem of
stature, small,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Said, “Gramma’s
kitchen’s best of all!”</div><div style="text-align: left;">What have I
learned from the above?</div><div style="text-align: left;">That Gramma’s
kitchen just means ‘LOVE’</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week please come join with us,</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">As we all talk about The Bus!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Shoes (December 4)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Winter (December 11)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-68135214997598765412023-11-06T05:00:00.006-07:002023-11-11T15:36:16.689-07:00Melon Head<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Barry is my special friend, we
talk most every day,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">He’s wise and fun (a perfect
combination, by the way).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">But once, there was a time when it
was my turn to annoy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">So stick around a sec, ‘cause it’s
a tale you will enjoy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Now, Barry likes his food, you
just might call him, well, a snob,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">He so enjoys a well-cooked meal,
from pasta to kebabs.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">But one day, he confided, ‘Only
onions make me cry,’</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">And so I thought I’d try it out,
and learn the truth, thereby.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">My wife and I had planned a
summer picnic with our friends,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">(You know these are the best of
times. You hope they never end.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Our watermelon patch had borne a
very yummy yield,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">So, for dessert, we grabbed some
big ones from out in the field.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Then…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">To test his ‘only onions make
him cry’, s‘indeed the case…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">I took a watermelon and hit
Barry in the face!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week will see us all just itchin'</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">To talk a bit 'bout Gramma's Kitchen!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Shoes (December 4)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Winter (December 11)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Cookies (December 18)</b></span></span></div><div style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Christmas</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>/Hanukkah/Holidays (Dec. 25)</b></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>The Future (January 1 My last Poetry Monday)</b></span></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-11807801547146996652023-10-30T05:00:00.008-06:002023-10-30T05:00:00.179-06:00Mixing Mayhem with Amen<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Two brothers, ages six and eight
were quite the mischief-makers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">If hi-jinks happened, they two
were the movers and the shakers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Exasperated totally, their poor
and harried Mama,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Went to see their minister. Converse
about her trauma,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">He’d had some luck with other
boys all bent on causing trouble,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">She wanted help with her two ‘fore
their town'd reduced to rubble,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The man agreed and said he’d
like to see them one by one,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The younger first, that morning,
with the elder later on...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The preacher took the
six-year-old and sat him on a chair,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then stood before the boy and
fixed him with a sober stare,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Said to the lad, “Now tell me, son, do you know just where God is?”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The little boy just stared (mouth
gaped, right to his epiglottis),</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Again the preacher went on to repeat
his simple question,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Again the boy just stared at him
with fear in his expression,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">A third time (louder now), the
preacher thundered, “Where is God?”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The small boy screamed and ran
as though pursued by demon squads,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Some time hence, his older brother
found him in the cupboard,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pale and shaking like a leaf,
his legs both weak and ‘rubbered’,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The eight-year-old just looked
at him and slowly shook his head,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Said, “What on earth is eating
you? You look like you’re ‘most dead!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The younger boy gave him a look of
terror and of shame,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">“God has disappeared, Bro! And
they think that we’re to blame!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">That WATERMELON is a hit...</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Let's reminisce a little bit!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Mischief (October 30) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-35699216255255268212023-10-27T07:30:00.028-06:002023-10-27T07:30:00.139-06:00Getting Through<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">For four of her five years, she and
her Mom,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Had happ’ly lived with us—a time of
calm,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">And every day her mom, with hug and
kiss,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Would go to work and leave her
little Miss.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">So Tinesy Girl and me, we were a team,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">To have her here with me was such a
dream,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">And, daily, we would eat and read
and play,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Too soon her mom came home from her
work day.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Now Tinesy Girl’s most favourite toy
of all,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Was not a Pretty Pony or a doll,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Instead a little music box that sang,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">With a little, purple phone (to
speak or clang).</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">The phone, some days before, had
disappeared,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Both Tinesy Girl and me, we'd searched and
peered,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Unable to find out just where it
went,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Decided it would show—we'd not lament!</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Now, Mama was a theatre carpenter</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Each day she took her to-ol box with
her,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">But on this day, she got a big
surprise,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Among her big old tools, a phone—pint-sized.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">She thought it had been wrongly so
dispatched,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">And brought it home, where it was quickly
snatched,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Then gladly TG played with it till bed,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">And when she went to sleep, t’was by
her head!</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Next day, when daughter got to work,
she groaned,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">Again, amongst her tools, was TG’s
phone,</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">She smiled—got the message finally…</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">TG was telling Mom, "Please message
me!"</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_8M1EWpOHOQkDmnCgShq2hQ2sZUKlxsh1rhj4KE6VUY3mkvcBLRsX_hPG9uH9ZS2dHE0zGj8IHvd-gO4-dKJM25nW6Z23_nfp_hnURoOBkn-fwdQPH7N5G5VaCI_iBET_Uod3OCU6XuJHJNytoCEQkEu2uPzfMlSm5OCytyEebByMRgxFsaqytNRt9wM/s500/Message%20Me%20-%20October%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_8M1EWpOHOQkDmnCgShq2hQ2sZUKlxsh1rhj4KE6VUY3mkvcBLRsX_hPG9uH9ZS2dHE0zGj8IHvd-gO4-dKJM25nW6Z23_nfp_hnURoOBkn-fwdQPH7N5G5VaCI_iBET_Uod3OCU6XuJHJNytoCEQkEu2uPzfMlSm5OCytyEebByMRgxFsaqytNRt9wM/w200-h200/Message%20Me%20-%20October%202023.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Karen asks, "Write for me, please?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">We write because we like to please!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">And we love her, you know that’s true,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">So this is what we writers do . . .</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">We craft a poem based on a theme,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">With pencils, sharp, and eyes agleam,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">Each month we write and have such fun</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">We can't wait for another one,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7);"><span style="font-family: times;">With '<b>MESSAGE ME!'</b> how did I do?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: times; font-weight: 700;">Please go and see the others, too:</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Baking In A Tornado: <a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/10/midnight-message.html">Midnight Message</a></span><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/10/midnight-message.html"> </a> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in;"><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/">Messymimi’s Meanderings</a> </span><span face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT56_com_zimbra_url" role="link" style="color: #336699; cursor: pointer;"></span></span></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-73846513447750598522023-10-23T05:00:00.016-06:002023-10-23T05:00:00.147-06:00Talk<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Of Talk Show hosts, there are a few,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Some long past and some quite new,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But if you had to pick just one…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell me which was smart. And fun?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Allen, yes, he was the first,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gave us all our ‘Talk Show’ thirst!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Carson. Many call him king,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, the laughter he could bring!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Letterman, that name I know,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sardonic. Witty on his show.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Stewart, oh, that man is good,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And often tells it like he should.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Skits for which O’Brien’s known,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Made everybody laugh. Or groan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Colbert. That man is smarter, still,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">He’s known for insights ‘Up the Hill’.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Oprah, her I loved a lot,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Her opinions, many sought!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">With giveaways and games and such,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">DeGeneres, she did so much.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Kimmel, what about this guy?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I love the twinkle in his eye.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Rivers, clever, clever girl,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">She gave the Talk Show world a whirl!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Miller earned his place, I’ll grant</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">With his jokes, more jokes and rants.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Excitement, positivity,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Marked O’Donnel’s show…agree?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Oliver, oh, that clever lad,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">That man knows pol’tics, good and bad.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then Myers, him I watch a lot,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A Closer Look’s</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> his famous spot.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hall, his show had class and slink,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Cancelled much too soon, I think.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Galifianakis, Parr,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">These are the names that did go far,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">And Ferguson and Cavett, too,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, Fallon, Shandling, I’ll add you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">All these and many more, I think</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gave us fun or made us blink,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Love ‘em. Hate ‘em. Each held sway</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In their unique and chosen way!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Where would we be throughout the years,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Without our Talk Show hosts and peers,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">With thoughts to ponder, memes to quote…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m not done yet—where’s that remote?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week be sure to be right here.</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Cause MISCHIEF is our theme. Oh, dear...</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Talk Shows (October 23) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Mischief (October 30)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div></span></div></span></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-69436939831509389432023-10-20T07:30:00.002-06:002023-10-20T07:30:00.154-06:00A Little Jack Snack<div style="text-align: left;">Okay, first off, the story of Little Jack Horner intrigues me.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Is it satirical? Or merely the story of a greedy little boy sitting in
a corner, keeping all the pie to himself.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I think this needs to be explored. Right?</div><div style="text-align: left;">So here we go…</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We’ll begin with the actual poem, as I learned it in the great So Long
Ago:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Little Jack Horner</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sat in a corner,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Eating his Christmas pie.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He stuck in his thumb</div><div style="text-align: left;">And pulled out a plum,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And said, “What a good boy am I!”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Right away, this begs the question, Why is Jackie sitting in a corner
all by himself?</div><div style="text-align: left;">With a pie.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Had he been bad and sent to said corner?</div><div style="text-align: left;">I want to mention, here, that when MY parents gave me a time out, pie
wasn’t included.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Had he been sent there to eat by himself because <i>someone</i> forgot to bathe that day? Seriously, it could happen. I
know there have been occasions when I’ve sat beside someone who…never mind.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Suffice it to say odours other than entrees/desserts were di<b><i>stinc</i></b>tly
indicated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or did Jackie Boy simply want to sit there quietly by himself? Perhaps
my loquacious Aunt Agnes was in the crowd and talk about yesterday’s sermon and
tomorrow’s choir rehearsal just interfered with some serious ‘pie-eating’
concentration. The old ‘shut up and let me shovel’!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that brings us to the next talking point. I’m assuming everyone at
the party was gifted with a large pie of their own and that our boy hadn’t
pinched what would amount to the entire company’s<i> </i>dessert. Please tell me it isn’t so, Jackie!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that his being holed up in that corner had nothing to do with
selfishness.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or theft.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, dear.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Could it be the corner was shady and hidden and that our boy was there,
not by design, but by necessity? To stay out of sight?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This brings up a whole new discussion.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Is this a story about the nefarious Mr. Jack Horner of the Hole-in-the-Wall
Horners?</div><div style="text-align: left;">The not-so-famous outlaws. (Okay, yes, I made them up…)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Was the Jack in our story just a common thief?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is also the theory that ‘Jack’ was a well-known public figure,
but one with his own interests at heart. That the ‘pie’ he had purloined was,
in fact, loaded with—not the fruit one would expect—but instead, a deed to a valuable
property.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That the ‘sticking in of the thumb’ included fingers. And the pulling
forth of the juicy (?) bit of parchment entitled the bearer to sole possession of…something
valuable enough it warranted sneakiness and hiding in shadowy corners.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the not sharing of the something valuable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Truthfully, I prefer the idea that Little Jack Horner was simply at a
Christmas party. Everyone had been given their own pie. And he chose to eat his
in the corner where grooming was unimportant. Along with acceptable gustatory mannerisms
vis-à-vis pie-eating.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thus, the thumb being poked into the pie and withdrawn captured by a
plum would simply be that. A small boy, rather greedy and impatient—hence the using
of the fingers— who is proud of his whole ‘poking fingers into pies’ abilities.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We need a re-write…</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Young Jack Horner’s manners</div><div style="text-align: left;">In his family of Tanners,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Was not something of which they were proud.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And thus, they would press him,</div><div style="text-align: left;">That, though they would dress him</div><div style="text-align: left;">He shouldn’t be part of the crowd.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So there in the corner,</div><div style="text-align: left;">(cheered by his suborners!)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not bound by a cord and not strappled…</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He stuck in his thumb</div><div style="text-align: left;">And pulled out a plum,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then shouted out, “I ordered apple!”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/s500/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="489" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVOPyZ1rFRVA3htjNlliLdiuK0hm9dZavmmH-apfIv5oa7saC8eIMAODS5R_lOlp34DLmNJrLhkuwI3VjzyKSjSJKWA8cIPh6DWDhU4iIlRU9bR3w8YTnZsLR8CeFR2oLIinXx5EhsjRcEVX66lVgJR62jWWVB3X_6ahG-oH6z8l_HzWBOW1U8AWNkw/w196-h200/Word%20Counters.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="196" /></a></div>Today’s post is a word challenge! </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Each month Karen, Mimi or I choose a number between 12 and 50 and the others craft a post using that number of words one or multiple times.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">This month’s number is: 45</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18.4px;">It was chosen by ME!</div><div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); font-family: times;">Now go and see what my friends have created!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/10/the-apple-bites-back.html" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Baking In ATornado</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Messymimi’sMeanderings</a></span></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-87025810315778730802023-10-16T05:00:00.002-06:002023-10-16T05:00:00.144-06:00A Word...<div style="text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Noah Webster was man most known for brains, not
brawn,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And as a lexicographer, he absolutely shone!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">For he loved words and used them well, for work and
then for play,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Why, he gave us the dictionary that we have today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">But when he died, his Miriam, she wanted to take
charge</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">When funeral plans were in the works—decided to
go large,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Many people came. The service wasn’t sad or bleak,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And, at the end, she asked if anyone would like
to speak.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">A man came up, “I’</span><span class="read-more-text" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">d
like to say a word if that’s okay.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The widow smiled and then stood
back to let him have his say,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The man leaned o’er the stand, and said “Plethora” clear
and low,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">She smiled and said, “That means </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">a lot</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">! Your warmth and fondness shows!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Another man came up to her, “I,
too would like a word!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Again she smiled and then stepped
back—again a voice was heard,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Infinity” was what he said.
And Miriam almost glowed,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Said, “You are very kind, sir!
That means </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">more than you can know</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then last, a woman joined her there, said, “I
have aught to say.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Again, the widow stepped aside and let her have
her day,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The woman moved up to the stand,
“Aorta” was her word,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="read-more-text"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And Miri said, </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">“<span class="read-more-text">That warms my heart. I’m awful glad I heard!”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And many more came to the front to say a word or
two,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And Miriam loved everyone and smiled when each
was through,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And finally thanked them for their words, “My
heart is very cheered!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">I’m happy my sesquipedalian you all revered!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">So when you’re looking something up in Webster’s
greatest feat,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">Remember just who organized the words, both Sour
and Sweet!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And if you’re bored, just read it like a book. Be
wild and daring,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">And if you don’t enjoy, don’t fret, 'cause soon
you’ll be past Caring.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next week, we'll reach the highs and lows</span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discussing wise or fun talk shows!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Dictionary (October 16) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Talk Shows (October 23)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Mischief (October 30)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-3855656320333083552023-10-13T07:54:00.006-06:002023-10-14T15:54:47.814-06:00Almost True<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">...that one time when Sally <i>didn't</i> </span>make things worse...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Look! ‘The Paragon
Paranormal Society has thoroughly investigated this site and guarantees its
authenticity’!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Huh. Who are
they when they’re at home?” I muttered under my breath.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Peter and Dad
laughed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Mort was now
hopping from foot to foot, obviously excited.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Or he had to go
to the bathroom.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I gazed up at
the creepy-looking three-storey house and shivered. If they </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">had</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> a bathroom…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The five of us
started up the great front stairs to the doorway.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">They creaked
‘authentically’.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">So far so good.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Oh, look at
that! A </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;">spider</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">! Whoda thought?” Sally poked at a
large, furry </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;">brown</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> member of the species in its
rather spectacular web.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It curled its
legs up, then scurried away from her.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Oh. It’s real.
My bad.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Just then, a
gust of wind blew over the porch, tossing Sally’s and my hair and almost
claiming Dad’s ball cap.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">He opened the
door—another realistic creak—and we went inside.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Welcome!” A
solemn voice called out. “Please join the group. We’ll be getting started
soon!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The five of us
hovered near the door, allowing our eyes to adjust to the gloom. Finally, I was
able to make out a large, square room, with a stairway directly in front of me,
great shelves filled with…gee-gaws…on all the walls, and a rather
mundane-looking reception counter to the right. The voice seemed to have come
from there.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A group of 8 or
10 people were gathered/huddled beside the stairway. Some of them were, like
Mort, excited.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The rest seemed
more like me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We gathered
with them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A moment or two
later, a tall figure emerged from behind the counter and approached us—finally
coalescing into a young man.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Wearing a heavy
cowl.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Okay. Creepy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Welcome to
Dell House,” the young man said. “I’m Night and I’ll be your guide this
afternoon.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">His voice was
deep and sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I shivered. Of
course his name was ‘Night’.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“First, a
warning. Dell House spirits are capricious and unpredictable. They can appear
at any time and have been known to ‘attack’ in numerous ways. Blasts of wind.
Falling items and pictures. So please be alert. Best to stay away from walls at
all times. And hang onto each other.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A timid hand slowly
rose on the far side of the group. “Ex-cuse me?” a faint voice said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night turned
toward them. “Yes?”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Is it quite
safe?”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Well…no one
has died here. Well…apart from the spirits.” Night’s laugh was, like him,
weird. “Stay together and let’s go.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Do you have a
history of this place?” Dad asked, falling into step beside our guide.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A long-fingered
hand dipped into some hidden pocket in Night’s robes and emerged with a handful
of pamphlets. “Our history is written here.” He handed one to Dad.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Thanks.” Dad
fell back with the rest of us, squinting as he tried to read in the rather
inadequate light.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Suddenly, a
blast of wind, similar to the one we had felt outside, tore the paper from his
hands.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Hey!” Dad made
a spectacular, but futile effort to catch it. Then he glared as the paper rose
nearly to the ceiling two floors above us.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night silently
handed Dad a second pamphlet. “That happens a lot,” the young man said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Dad looked at
me. “I’m beginning to believe the reports,” he whispered.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I giggled
nervously.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night took us
up the main staircase.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">By this point,
everyone in the group was clinging desperately to someone else.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">My bunch wasn’t
any different. I had linked arms with both Dad and Peter and I saw Mort grab
Sally’s hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">One man ahead
of me was gripping the heavily-carved bannister. Suddenly, he jerked his hand
away. “It’s hot!” he said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Oh, yeah.
That’ll happen, too,” Night said. “Careful.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We had just
reached the top of the stairs when a stream of water came out of nowhere and
struck Mort in the chest.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Hey!” he
shouted, ducking to one side and brushing hastily at his shirt, now dripping
wet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night paused
and looked at him. “Capricious and unpredictable.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Maybe you
should give us an idea of what more we can expect,” Dad said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What can I say.
He’s an ex-marine, but the urge to plan and execute remains strong.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night looked at
him and shrugged. “We don’t know, sir. It’s never the same twice.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Dad looked at
me and Peter. I tightened my hold on both of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We were guided
along a wide hallway, hung with a dozen or more massive portraits.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“The family
through the generations,” Night said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Man, this guy
wasn’t about to waste breath explaining anything!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As we were
passing one picture of a young girl and her beribboned pet goat, the picture
suddenly just…dropped, hitting the floor with a heavy thud.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Someone
shrieked and everyone huddled closer together in the center of the hallway.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Okay, I knew
why Night had advised us to stay away from the walls.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We continued
down the hall.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Doors slammed
open, then shut.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Light fixtures swayed
alarmingly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;">Soft</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">, strange music played. It would <span style="color: red;">grow</span> for a moment, then die.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And I’m pretty
sure I saw a translucent figure sail across the hall and into the wall just
ahead of us.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Did you see
that?” I managed to gasp.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Dad and Peter’s
eyes were on the same spot.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“I did,” they
said together. They looked at each other.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Keep up,” Night
said.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We hurried to
catch the others.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Throughout all
this, Mort and Sally were uncharacteristically silent. I kept glancing back to
make sure they were still with us.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Sally seemed
calm, but Mort’s eyes were bigger than dinner plates as he swiveled to watch
everything.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night led us
into bedrooms, where rugs rolled themselves up and dresser drawers made a
staccato sound as they moved in and out. Blinds snapped up and curtains slid
back and forth across the rods.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Bedclothes were
tossed about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">A pillow sailed
past. Dad ducked, but I wasn’t as fortunate.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The resulting
cloud of dust made me sneeze repeatedly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It was hard to
know how to react or where to look first.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As we made our
way back into the hallway from one of the bedrooms, Peter leaned close and
whispered in my ear, “Even if this is all fake, it’s pretty spectacular!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Just as the
words left his lips, another wind blast tore through—this time seeming to
target him. It nearly pulled him free from my grip.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Our hold
tightened.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The tour
continued...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We couldn’t
have been in that house for more than half an hour, but it seemed days. Every
floor and room sported some new and startling event.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">My fingers were
just beginning to grow slightly numb from Peter and Dad’s crushing grip when Night
finally steered us back to the main staircase.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We descended
it, relief writ large on every face in the group as we spied our escape.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Night stopped
at the bottom of the stairs, halting the group. Then he looked up at us. “We,
the spirits of Dell House hope you enjoyed your visit. Do tell your friends and
neighbours. And come back yourselves. If you dare.”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">With those
words, he suddenly…disappeared.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I am not making
this up. He disappeared. His cloak was suddenly—empty. It dropped to the floor
in a heap of cloth.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We stared,
aghast.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">One woman
fainted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But Sally is
made of sterner stuff.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Cool!” she
said. She cracked her knuckles and grinned at the rest of us. “Let’s go again!”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/s500/UYW.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #57180f; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcBm82ptSuaaaFTnmoSK_GsMiUtRU6V4bFYaAEMwMYXGi3Hx3vmnBG9ok0vY6WanKOA-99nPW3bTeL2kk0VwicWe3_EEV14gxghU4mUCPs2CIiAFwJFChAkgcQjFn7n26796vywC9Z0FZ-cBHqltsLwT0TWEtP_bSKrj2uoPqOsEUa6KzYica2senOw/w199-h200/UYW.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="199" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Use Your Words is a writing challenge!</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Each month, I exchange words with my <span style="background-color: transparent;">friend and intrepid leader, Karen of</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/09/call-me-victor.html" style="color: #57180f;">Baking in a Tornado</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Neither of us knows what the other will do with her words.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">This month, Karen gave me: </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: red;">ghost</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;"> ~ <span style="color: red;">grow</span> ~ <span style="color: red;">brown</span> ~ <span style="color: red;">spider</span> ~ <span style="color: red;">soft </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Thank you, my friend!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Now go see what Karen did with my words!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2023/10/orange-is-the-new-eight.html">BakingIn ATornado</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-8218747681247119752023-10-09T05:00:00.011-06:002023-10-09T05:00:00.137-06:00Where Laughter Comes From...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B8dV5i1RvQN0Gs5_WHkQY1hQG96bxgmApq7B-a_LC4QVflKPWMgUJ0HPKyVT_R0KWRl0Oc9s4G2ZIHIz0ydnkg62aY0UVFMdG3ebBBE6iNQbC-p3eFjLFQ7e3ec0RV5QNY5NgIoxfvTT/s1600/laughing.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #57180f; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="810" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B8dV5i1RvQN0Gs5_WHkQY1hQG96bxgmApq7B-a_LC4QVflKPWMgUJ0HPKyVT_R0KWRl0Oc9s4G2ZIHIz0ydnkg62aY0UVFMdG3ebBBE6iNQbC-p3eFjLFQ7e3ec0RV5QNY5NgIoxfvTT/s320/laughing.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="320" /></a></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6547694940420092845" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal">I must admit, I started small,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">When mama chased me down the hall,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And made me giggle wildly,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">With threats of tickles as I’d flee.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">From there, I moved to Daddy’s jokes,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">When entertaining mealtime folks,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Or when, the wide prairies, we rode,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And he was in his joking mode.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And then my siblings took it on,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">To laughter, all we six were drawn,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And we’d quote ‘Mad’ and ‘Cowpokes’ jests,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And try to outdo all the rest.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And when I married, Husby Dear,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Worked hard to fill my days with cheer,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And he did well, my better half,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">His goal was always “Make her laugh”.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then our kids, too, got in the game,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">That ‘laughter’ goal remained the same,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And they’d tell tales, quote movies, songs,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">To keep the merriment going strong.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My grandkids now are starting out,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I guess there couldn’t be much doubt,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">That they’d pick up the ‘laughter’ gene,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">And see which one would reign supreme.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now I have given lots of thought<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">To what is funny. What is not,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don't need to plot with charts and graphs . . .<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">'Cause it's my FAMILY makes me laugh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Next week might be more complex...</div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">Cause DICTIONARY's in the text!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Family (October 9) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Dictionary (October 16)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Talk Shows (October 23)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Mischief (October 30)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div></span></div></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723327840869334395.post-12782559677341905992023-10-02T05:00:00.001-06:002023-10-02T05:00:00.144-06:00A Birthday Suit<div style="text-align: left;">This was Daddy's favourite story.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And because it's MY birthday...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8651034413282993182" style="background-color: white; color: #2b0c07; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal">For years, she worked untiringly<br /><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">In times of calm, or urgency,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">In office work, traditional,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her business place so integral.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her husband was so proud of her,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">His sweet, but strong entrepreneur,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, for her birthday, he’d reward<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The lovely woman he adored.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And straightway took her to the store<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">To blow all he did budget for,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">For something pretty she could wear,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unmatched by all who might compare.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And so received from her dear spouse<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">A lovely suit, with silky blouse.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">A gorgeous jacket: shade of blue,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">A pleated skirt of matching hue.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then marched herself to work that day,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Receiving greetings on the way,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Confident in how she looked,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">As pretty as a picture . . . book.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her boss was in when she got there,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">She checked her image with due care,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then to his office, she did trot,<o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">To show the suit her husband bought.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But just as she had stepped inside,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">A customer with needs, applied<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">For entrance to their workplace there,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The boss sprang up from his wing chair.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">“So sorry that I made you wait,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(Today my girl’s a fashion plate),<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">But she was looking oh-so-cute,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">When showing me her birthday suit!” </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "crimson text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTiWcYHiV4sHHcqY3mmzJv_fBPW0Q5KD082Fm9LS71lYS3SvGIX2QyLDtzcihL3o50yPV2nvq9L5Qb6kLPwOEUCf5yaZlxx3NfmEO00D1bXjLpts_a5xuaxp1pm8Vq_UMgQJgbQlq4PvK/s1600/Suit.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #57180f; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTiWcYHiV4sHHcqY3mmzJv_fBPW0Q5KD082Fm9LS71lYS3SvGIX2QyLDtzcihL3o50yPV2nvq9L5Qb6kLPwOEUCf5yaZlxx3NfmEO00D1bXjLpts_a5xuaxp1pm8Vq_UMgQJgbQlq4PvK/s200/Suit.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span class="irc_ho" face="arial, sans-serif" style="cursor: pointer; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; padding-right: 2px;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><a class="irc_hol irc_itl" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=AGZL5Fz7ZyNxWM&tbnid=qDgAUuJrhrLNsM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fallfinds.org%2Fbusiness-casual-for-women%2Fbill-burns-womens-business-suits.html&ei=JNlSUoz2HKeOiAKJ3YCQBg&bvm=bv.53537100,d.cGE&psig=AFQjCNHJ1lzNj2GpLl2NTl8vFuSqcOIbEQ&ust=1381247020244880" style="color: #57180f; cursor: pointer; line-height: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">allfinds.org</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7703390251055032691" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5097830900587321788" style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #2b0c07; float: left; font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/s500/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="color: #57180f; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="499" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKueWDywlouC9bJxVLx3Buz3ze2wxIeukf_9Ssya0RYnCxIMMIkjQYx8LanTuyZ4JJji3_UgBlxLg_aipEzA4uPGWj2DhBabRSchoBfEREsO3AE3l8071QxquOvw4GQNTmv-6Pu5cRea/w199-h200/Poetry+Monday+2021.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 0px;" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Karen of bakinginatornado.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><i>Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,<br /></i><i>With poetry, we all besought<br /></i><i>To try to make the week begin<br /></i><i>With gentle thoughts,<br /></i><i>Perhaps a grin?<br /></i><i>So </i><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Karen</a></span></i><i>, <a href="http://www.krydderuglen.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Charlotte</a>, <a href="http://www.messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #57180f; text-decoration-line: none;">Mimi</a>, me<br />Have crafted poems for you to see.<br />And now you’ve read what we have wrought…<br />Did we help?<br />Or did we not?</i><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/s929/1+Poetry.jpg" style="color: #57180f; font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="929" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOdUnn-nNYR9nSNkqShaUikNA2fjR_L6sDOOM4ohgNpN7mnKrsyAthDxLeGcIjBn7UmQBIOX1LRYoFrbdCebdQ3y3_BuGUWWhuod5nxMgccT1su6ThcsI_ZpNDvuOt9XRBPGe99u7mOP-/w200-h113/1+Poetry.jpg" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); padding: 4px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next week, Family's the theme,</span></div><div style="color: #2b0c07; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Come join us, we'll be a team!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?</i></div><div style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>We'd love to welcome you!<br /></i><i>Topics for the next few weeks (with a huge thank-you to Mimi, who comes up with so many of them!)</i></div></span></div></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Birthdays (October 2) Today!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Family (October 9)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Dictionary (October 16)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Talk Shows (October 23)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Mischief (October 30)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Watermelon (November 6)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">Grandma's Kitchen (November 13)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">The Bus (November 20)</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(43, 12, 7); text-size-adjust: auto;">A Pet's Life (November 27)</div></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6741112231052414756" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /></div></div>Diane Stringam Tolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629946536985545457noreply@blogger.com3