Tuesday Treats: Flowers and Fungi of Spring

Posted on March 19, 2024 by crispina kemp

Some of the pretty things seen on our walk to Lound Lakes 27th February 2024. Enjoy…

27th February 2024

Such a delight to see the leaves unfurling…

27th February 2024

27th February 2024

Snowdrops, a few still holding on. And daffodils now making a showing…

27th February 2024

27th February 2024

Red Deadnettle… it’ll grow wherever it gets a hold

27th February 2024

What did the Romans do for us? They gave us Alexanders (can you see the ladybug?)…

27th February 2024

27th February 2024

Everywhere, Blackthorn and other white flowering Prunus species. And holly berries…

27th February 2024

Let’s give a great cheer for the cheerful gorse, for it brightens our winter days..

27th February 2024

And…

27th February 2024

All this rain we’ve had has kept the fungi coming…

27th February 2024

Oh yes, and we saw one, just one, mallard. But at least it was heading towards us…

27th February 2024

That’s all for now folks. More next week. Trees are greening, more flowers are showing, spring has arrived no doubt of that

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Writing Update #2859

Posted on March 18, 2024 by crispina kemp

I’ve been cogitating. This is how it rolls:

  • I’m not over-happy with publishing all my books to KDP/Amazon
  • Yes, it’s nice to see my work in print, yet I’d rather more people saw it
  • And I can’t afford to advertise
  • And it’s not that I want the money. I’m quite happy to make my stories available for free.

What to do?

Well, Watt is the answer. Wattpad.

Decision is made, I’m to give it a try. But impatient as ever, I’ve only got one story in a fit state to publish – and that is a VERY short story (2k words). It’s called The Angel In The Park, and long ago I also posted it here.

However, I got it all kitted out on Sunday and now I’m offering it to you to read. FOR FREE. Here

 

 

Posted in Fantasy Fiction, Mostly Micro, On Writing | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Sunday Picture Post: A Suffolk Walk

Posted on March 17, 2024 by crispina kemp

27th February 2024, after yet more rain, where to walk? Let’s keep away from muddy fields and farm tracks. Good idea. Let’s walk some lanes south of the (county) border. We’re headed to Lound Lakes Nature Reserve. Please join us…

27th February 2024

First there’s the woodland. Later it will be sweet with bluebells but as yet it’s snowdrops, and they’re almost over

27th February 2024

27th February 2024

Out of the woods and along a lane; can’t resist at least one pylon shot…

27th February 2024

27th February 2024

I’d prefer there was sun this day, but at least the clouds hold onto their water!

27th February 2024

Lanes offer dry footing. With the way this winter has been, that’s a blessing. So we’ll accept the lack of sunlight…

27th February 2024

And into the nature reserve where the golden gorse gladdens the soul…

27th February 2024

My most favourite birch tree, and a bridge to take us over the lake…

27th February 2024

The ducks are in hiding, but the daffodils aren’t…

27th February 2024

Nor the snowdrops…

27th February 2024

Back to the lane to catch the bus home

27th February 2024

Hope you enjoyed. For next week’s walk we have bright sun. Oh yay! Join us then…

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 9 Comments

The Mythical Land of Man and His Kind

Posted on March 16, 2024 by crispina kemp

Credit: MysticArtDesign on Pixabay

No one had ever said of Klukelunnen that he was wise. Adventuresome, aye, and brave; some might say to the point of stupidity for he never could turn his back on a challenge. Not ever. Aye, and that was the folly that had brought him to here, to what at first he’d thought was the jawmen’s fabled Land of Giants. But now, in horror, he realised this was the mythical world of Man and his Kind.

76 words written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Adventure

 

Posted in Mythic Fiction | Tagged , | 5 Comments

CCC279: Bequeathed

Posted on March 14, 2024 by crispina kemp

When as a newlywed I first moved to this village my retirement dream was to have a cottage set into the woods. I would have all the latest electronic gadgetry to create spooky effects – gates that creaked open when someone passed by; random gusts of wind that rattled the leaves; a blood-curdling cackle emitted from the chimney. My desire was to give the local kids a scare, a gentle way of saying stay away.

But there is truth in the advice to take care what you wish.

All unexpected, my great-aunt bequeathed me the perfect cottage. But I don’t need electronic gadgetry to make it seem haunted.

For it is.

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Mostly Micro | Tagged , , | 30 Comments

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #279

Posted on March 13, 2024 by crispina kemp

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.

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Tuesday Treats: February Fungi and Flowers #2

Posted on March 12, 2024 by crispina kemp

A few of the delights seen on our walk 23rd February 2024. Enjoy…

23rd February 2024

Violets, primroses and snowdrops, harbingers of spring

23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024

And let’s not forget the charming heliotrope

23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024

Pussy willow…

23rd February 2024

Black Poplar catkins, not quite out yet

23rd February 2024

So many early flowering hedgerow shrubs with white flowers; which one is this? And this?

23rd February 2024

And now for the fungi. A wet winter, an even wetter spring, produces lots of fungi!

23rd February 2024

Turkey tail tremetes; and wood warts [?]

23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024

Love little troopers…too many potentials to identify this species

23rd February 2024

Wood jellies… loads and loads of wood jellies

23rd February 2024

And this one in black…

23rd February 2024

What a veritable fungi feast we’ve had this winter!

But that’s all for now. I wonder what I have for you next week?

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Sunday Picture Post: Despite The Floods

Posted on March 10, 2024 by crispina kemp

What a wet winter we’ve had! The land hasn’t time to soak up one drenching before the next one arrives. But, always resolute adventurers, 23rd February 2024 we hop the bus to Acle and take a chance. We’re walking to Burlingham Woods, mostly on footpaths and farm tracks. Come join us…

23rd February 2024

Is this the worst it’s going to get? No. So is this the worst?

23rd February 2024

That took some skirting around, half way across the farmer’s field to navigate, all the time sinking and squelching in slippery mud

23rd February 2024

But at least the sun is emerging!

23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024

Ah, dryness!

23rd February 2024

Um, where’s the path?

23rd February 2024

So pleased to be back on solid ground!

23rd February 2024

And it truly is a wonderful spring day!

23rd February 2024

Burlingham Woods and snowdrops glisten from the overnight rain

23rd February 2024

And here’s another path we cannot pass! And one that we can…

23rd February 2024

We stop here to eat our lunch, then it’s time to reverse the route. Oh, how I’m looking forward to those floods!

23rd February 2024

And the sun shone brightly all the way home

Hope you enjoyed. Check out the pretty flowers in Tuesday’s post…

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Her Greatest Desire

Posted on March 9, 2024 by crispina kemp

Credit: Art Tower on Pixabay

It was her dream, her ambition, her greatest desire
It’s what had set her body on fire
And how that fire consumed her flesh
Though never from monstrous form, a sylph did wrest
That wasn’t how the Mothers granted her wish
Instead, a conflagration was their answer
Now she never would be a famous dancer
Not in ballet, jazz nor tap
Dead, her lifeforce zapped.

65 words written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Tap

Posted in Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , | 10 Comments

CCC278: Mary At The Garden Gate

Posted on March 7, 2024 by crispina kemp

Mary at the garden gate
Wondering why her love is late
She is dead but he is not
Two bullets bought, one not shot

 

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Mostly Micro, Photos, Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments