Too Old

Posted on August 27, 2019 by crispina kemp

image by StockSnaps on pixabay

My hair grew grey; I dyed it purple.

Yikes, my daughter spluttered, you’re too old for that.

No, I’m not. I’m vintage.

written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt

Posted in Mostly Micro | Tagged , | 72 Comments

What Pegman Saw: High on Her Mid-Summer Feast-Day

Posted on August 26, 2019 by crispina kemp

See the Pole, how it’s rooted in soil… See how it stretches high
See the Wheel rotating upon it… See how it turns the sky
See the Eagle with wings outspread… See the Earth sheltering beneath it
See the Court of divinities… See the star-gods dancing around it
See! Saule… how high she is on her midsummer feast-day.

58 words, written for What Pegman Saw: Riga, Latvia

For Ligo, Saule’s midsummer festival, a bonfire was lit atop a pole, on a hilltop. The pole represents the World Tree, the axis around which the Earth and the Heavens rotate.  Wreaths of flowers decorated the site, the day celebrated with dances, hymns and a meal of cheese and mead. I’d like to think it continues through to this day.

Latvia and Lithuania were the last European countries to relinquish their traditional beliefs and accept Christianity.

Posted in Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments

July and August…

Posted on August 25, 2019 by crispina kemp

31st August 2019

To me, this shot typifies the British countryside in July and August.

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Monstrous Dragons

Posted on August 24, 2019 by crispina kemp

Dragonfly (darter): 19th August 2019

Is it the Common Darter or the Ruddy? I’m not sure which, though with where I found it I favour the latter.

And I’m going for the title Macro on this; this is as close as I can get without special lens.

For details of #2019picoftheweek challenge see MariaAntonia

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

Guardians of the Peace

Posted on August 22, 2019 by crispina kemp

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #41

Two white geese
Two white geese
Hear how they squawk
Hear how they squawk
They launch attacks on the intruding thief
Who scuttles back and rapidly leave
None are better for guarding the peace
Than two white geese

38 words written for Crimson’s Creative Challenge #41

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #41

Posted on August 21, 2019 by crispina kemp

CCC41

Welcome to my weekly challenge—open to all—just for FUN, FUN, FUN

Here’s how it works:

Every Wednesday I post a photo (this week it’s that one above.)
You respond with something CREATIVE

Here are some suggestions:

  • An answering photo
  • A cartoon
  • A joke
  • A caption
  • An anecdote
  • A short story (flash fiction)
  • A poem
  • A newly minted proverb, adage or saying
  • An essay
  • A song—the lyrics or the performance

You have plenty of scope and only two criteria:

  • Your creative offering is indeed yours
  • Your writing is kept to 150 words or less

If you post a link in the comments section of this post I’ll be able to find it
If you include Crimson’s Creative Challenge as a heading, WP Search will find it (theory)
by ‘Searching’ in the WP Reader (fingers crossed)

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN.

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge | Tagged , , | 73 Comments

Grandpa Dobson

Posted on August 20, 2019 by crispina kemp

image by Wendy Corniquet on pixabay

Grandpa Dobson was a tinker
Charged a tuppence to mend a pan
Mended tools, wrought handles new
Sharpened chisels, knives and scissors too

Grandpa Dobson was a tinker
A carpenter as well
Made wheelie-barrows for the men
Made dancing-dolls and clothes pegs too

Grandpa Dobson, he bred horses
Raised them, trained them, sold them
Travelled to the county horse fairs
Travelled with the gypsies too

Grandpa Dobson was the bestest
He told awesome stories too

75 words, written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Tinker

Name changed to the protect the not-so-innocent!

Posted in Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , | 22 Comments

What Pegman Saw: It’s a Wharf, I Tell You

Posted on August 19, 2019 by crispina kemp

Summerland Key (Little Torch Key) Florida, Street View, Google Maps

“Hey! Lassie?” The white-suited punter at the far end of the counter beckoned Becky over.

If he intended to hit on her… But perhaps she maligned him. Looks of his face, he needed advice on after-sun care. She checked that no others were waiting, and headed down to his end of the bar.

“Yes, sir?”

“Sir! I just love you Yanks.”

Becky bit back a retort. Once more…

“What is it with you Yankees that you have to spell everything wrong? Quay. Q. U. A. Y. Not bleeding Key like you use to open a lock.”

That was it. She treated him to a beer shampoo.

106 words, written for What Pegman Saw: Middle Torch Key, Florida

Apparently, the two words are related, being the French and the English words for a sand-bank or island. But the English word has since developed to mean a wharf.

Posted in Mostly Micro | Tagged , | 33 Comments

Sunday Picture Post: Winging It

Posted on August 18, 2019 by crispina kemp

From dragons…

The Common Darter: 12th August 2019

to damsels…

The Common Blue damselfly

to butterflies that strike arrogant poses…

Red Admiral: 12th August 2019

Painted Lady, feeding on knapweed: 12th August 2019

and those that try to hide…

Small Speckled Wood: 12th August 2019

We walked from Oulton Village (north Lowestoft) via Flixton Marshes, Somerleyton, Ashby and Lound to Hopton. So many butterflies, so many great shots, it was a hard decision which ones to use.

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And the Sun Bore Down

Posted on August 17, 2019 by crispina kemp

Gatekeeper butterfly, burdock leaves, common fleabane: 12th August 2010

A walk beside Flixton Marshes in Suffolk, the butterflies danced around us like demented fairies, the flowers unveiled their faces… and the sun bore down on us.

#2019picoftheweek challenge: Sunshine

For details of #2019picoftheweek challenge see MariaAntonia

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments