Promptly I Write

If I Could

2013-09-17T21:18:00.001-05:00

This week's one word prompt:

: an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist

a : a multicolored array

b : a wide assortment or range <a rainbow of flavors>

[from the impossibility of reaching the rainbow, at whose foot a pot of gold is said to be buried] : an illusory goal or hope

If I Could

I’d have gathered all the colors and

Painted you a rainbow if I could.

I’d have plumped up my piggy bank

And saved for your future livelihood.

I’d have unchained you of your obligations

And those thoughts that “you should.”

I’d have righted you from wrong,

So you’d never have been misunderstood.

I’d have swept away your troubles

And buried them for good.

I’d have handed you the key to success

Or increased its likelihood.

I’d have readily done all these things,

But from afar reluctantly I stood,

And watched you gather your own colors--

From a perspective called Parenthood.

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To read more responses to this prompt or to link up your own, please click here.

Remember:

Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.
You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.
The word itself needs to be included in your response.
You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.
Only one entry per writer.
If your post doesn't meet our requirements, please leave your link in the comments section, not in the linkz.
Trifecta is open to everyone. Please join us.

Rise

2013-09-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

www.trifectawritingchallenge.com

This weekend we're asking for 30 of your own words plus the three following words for a total of 33 words: Tether Loft Crown

Rise

the loft
of the duvet

eases the sliding

across

from warm
to cool sheet

reaching

for the crown
of my adoration

and unmistakable
tether to Life

waking

touching

embracing

you

on Sunday morning

-----
To read other 33-word pieces to this prompt, or to link up your own entry, click here. This week's challenge is community judged.

For the 14 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.
In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link. To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
Voting is open to everyone.
You have 14 hours to vote. It's not much time, so be diligent! We'll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.
The winners will be announced in the comments of Friday's post and will be posted in our typical fashion in the post on the following Monday.

Pinch

2013-09-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

www.trifectawritingchallenge.com

This week's one-word prompt is:

GRACE (noun)

a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctificationb : a virtue coming from Godc : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

a : approval, favor <stayed in his good graces>b archaic : mercy, pardonc : a special favor : privilege <each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kipling>d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemencye : a temporary exemption : reprieve

a : a charming or attractive trait or characteristicb : a pleasing appearance or effect : charm <all the grace of youth — John Buchan>c : ease and suppleness of movement or bearing

Pinch

Little girl

Spots a white butterfly

First fluttering, then stopping

On a nearby flower

Resting, two wings closed as one.

Little girl

Quietly and quickly

Pinches its wings

And picks up the butterfly

As she has done many times before.

Little girl

Watches the butterfly’s legs

Dance wildly about.

“Look, Grammy! Another butterfly!

Today I'm gonna take her home!”

Little girl

Walks on the abandoned railroad track

Stepping, hopping, on wooden boards.

Arms out and flapping, she

Balances and teeters on one rail.

Little girl

Peeks at her friend--

Every now and then--

Between her forefinger and thumb.

She likes the look of her adorned fingertips.

Little girl

Approaches her home, stops and

Examines her companion to see that

Its legs are no longer frantic, but

Still, wings partly blemished and wrinkled.

Little girl

Suddenly fearful

That she has hurt the butterfly,

Releases her pinch.

It shakes and spirals to the ground.

Little girl

Inhales the tightness in her chest

And fists her cold, clammy hands.

Still struggling, the butterfly

Flits about like an aired fish.

Little girl

Tugged by her hand to go home--

The same hand that stripped

The butterfly’s grace of flight--notices

The pulsing numbness growing in her two fingertips.

-----

Please consider joining us and link up your writing! Also, visit Trifecta to read the other entries here. This week's challenge is community judged.

For the 14 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.
In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link. To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
Voting is open to everyone.
You have 14 hours to vote. It's not much time, so be diligent! We'll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.
The winners will be announced in the comments of Friday's post and will be posted in our typical fashion in the post on the following Monday.

Return

2013-08-30T11:20:00.001-05:00

www.trifectawritingchallenge.com

This weekend we're asking you to harken back to your grade school days and write a haiku. No word restrictions, just stick to the structure as defined below.

HAIKU (noun) : an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively

Return

Summer vacation

Hacked this blog. Kids now in school,

Trifecta again!

-----

I was going to write a haiku and then explain why I hadn't been around since, what, May? Then I thought I'd just do it with my response. I missed my Trifectan friends! I hope to be back more regularly now that I don't have to hear maa-maaahhhhh ALL MY DAYS OF SUMMER.

For those of you in the States, have a safe and fun long weekend!

Fluff

2013-05-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Beneficial weed

Going to seed.

Set to parachute away,

To many's dismay.

Round puffs of fluff--

Swaying with mischief.

I found my inner child--
Blew a breath, and smiled.

-----
I was having a hard time captioning the last photo, so I asked my daughter what the dandelion made her think of. "Fluff" was her answer. That is so something she would say. Although I didn't use her word in the caption, I'm dedicating the title of this post to my girl.

Crazy for Tulips

2013-05-21T11:12:00.000-05:00

Tulips, three lips, four lips, five,

Under the sun you happily thrive.

When it's cold or rainy out,

You close your lips for a nice hideout.

How logical and reasonable for this act,

But til I grew my own tulips, I knew not of this fact.

-----

I'm a little late posting this, as my tulips are on the decline. Some flowers have fallen, and I'm sure many more will follow after the rainstorm. I am placing popsicle sticks to mark their spots as they wilt, as I plan to plant more bulbs this fall. Apparently tulips are not the best perennials, as many of mine grew leaves but no stems this second spring of flowering. How do your tulips fare year after year?

[Extra]ordinary

2013-05-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

chic

among the

bleak is to add

a cherry on top

the ordinary

-----

This lone, lonely, lonesome dandelion caught my eye and my camera, unlike the field of them in the abandoned, grassy lot just down the road. I guess it says something about standing out from the crowd to make the ordinary extraordinary.

Blooming

2013-05-08T14:14:00.000-05:00

swaying,

bending,

waiting.

musing,

enticing,

blushing.

culling,

staging,

engaging.

unfurling,

stretching,

blooming.

spreading,

yawning,

exhaling.

-----
My tulips are blooming! It's amazing how the sight of them makes me feel so happy. Getting down and nestling myself into the ground to snap pictures of them is one of my simple pleasures in springtime. Rest assured, there will be more photos to come. The world is waking up from slumber, as am I!

Spring is Here!

2013-05-01T09:37:00.001-05:00

It's May 1st, and Spring has finally arrived. So much so that it's actually hot today. But the temperature goes back down to the 50s tomorrow. That's Spring for ya in my neck of the woods. This song by Little Bill (Nick Jr.'s cartoon character) has been running through my head each time I see more colors in the great outdoors.

This picture shows the flowers on a tree in my yard. I take pics of the tree throughout the year and love all its magnificent changes. Now I just need to figure out what kind of tree it is... I'm also having a little fun with playing around with photos with phone apps. They'll be featured here under the tag, MuseViews.

I wish I could find a video of Little Bill's song, but here is a link to Meet the Characters on Little Bill. This cartoon will always remain special to me because my son loved watching it when he was little. He would lean against the coffee table and bop up and down to the beat of the introductory music when he could barely stand! We don't watch it anymore, but this song will always be in my heart, especially when it's Spring!

Have a beautiful Spring day! Thank you for stopping by to take a look!

Upside Down

2013-04-18T15:06:00.000-05:00

(Please click on photo for larger image)

"Am I right side up or upside down, is this real, or am I dreaming?"

This is a cyclamen flower photographed from beneath, side, above, and as a part of a whole plant. Cyclamens are common indoor and outdoor plants, but special to me since their flowers are upside down! Each flower is on a stem bent at the tip where the nose of the flower faces downwards. Flowers have 5 petals, bent outwards or up, and connected at the base to form into a cup with five sepals inside the cup.

Of course, this song was going through my head as I put together this collage:

Click here to see the embedded video, Crush, by Dave Matthews Band (as it does not show up on your email feed).

Have a great day!

Shifted

2013-04-12T10:51:00.001-05:00

This weekend we're asking for exactly 33 of your own words inspired by the following quote from the book you could win in the WBN giveaway. Good luck!

“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” ― Paulo Coelho, Alchemist

Shifted

Star gazing,

penny tossing,

candle blowing,

eyes squeezing:

Dreams

of wants

and needs for me--

Suddenly abandoned

and turned

into wishes--

against all

odds,

likelihood,

chances,

maybes--

Of Hope:

solely for my

Mini-Mes.

-----

Hello, Trifectans! It's been a while... I'm so glad to be back! Thanks for stopping by, old friends and new. Happy weekend to you all.

(Click on over to www.trifectawritingchallenge.com to read more entries or join us!)

Textures

2013-04-04T15:35:00.000-05:00

Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Textures

(Please click on photo to see larger image.)

"The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall.
You say it best, when you say nothing at all."

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I'm joining Cee's Fun Foto Challenge! Come along for the fun!

Epic Fail!

2013-04-03T11:23:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up with Michele (@Old Dog New Tits) and Mel (@According to Mags), hosts of #KetchupWithUs for this week's prompt:

In 57 words or less, tell us about the best prank you ever played, saw executed, or were the butt of yourself.

As the kiddos went off to school on Monday (April Fool's Day), I began to prepare for retaliation thinking they would come home with their shenanigans. Surprisingly, they came home with nothing, but I still carried on with my plans. However, as you can see, I may have been the butt of my own pranks, as they were both Epic Fails!

Epic Fails

Eight-legged creature

Hiding to scare her

Inside her popcorn bowl.

No screams of shock or vile,

Instead she breaks into a smile.

Mama thinks she’s quite remarkable.

Same spider, same usage,

Taped under his fruit snack package.

But Mama’s intent didn't prevail:

The plastic detached,

As the bag was snatched.

You got it—Epic April Fool’s Fail!

*****

Won't you have a go, too? Please visit Michele or Mel to link up!

#fmsphotoaday0313-5

2013-04-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

Here is the last week (Week 5) of #fmsphotoaday March 2013:

25. In my drawer: baggies, gloves, and mitts.

26. Something I did: baked banana muffins and devoured my first

one. #Mmmmmmmm

27: A pair: of kids' chopsticks complete with finger placement

rings and a colorful character. #pororo

28: In the mirror: "Don't just stand there, just get to it;

strike a pose, there's nothing to it."

29: Goodnight: his bedtime story book.

30. Relax: a couple of peeps kicking it back during a very

first game of bocce.

31. Stuff: from their [treasure] egg hunt

(clues + treats inside eggs that lead to a final prize)

And there you have it. I'm glad to have participated in #fmsphotoaday for March.

Here are all the weeks of #fmsphotoaday0313 in reverse order.

Thank you for following and taking a look at my prompt photos!

I'm linking up with Bocafrau's PicWrap #12:

Lines

2013-03-26T08:59:00.000-05:00

Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Lines

(Please click on photo to see larger image.)

"I crossed all the lines and broke all the rules,
But baby I broke them all for you."

The entire time I was shooting these pictures and making this collage, I had one song running through my head, and it's one of my faves (see video below):

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I'm joining Cee's Fun Foto Challenge! Come along for the fun!

#fmsphotoaday0313-4

2013-03-25T11:26:00.000-05:00

Here is Week 4 of #fmsphotoaday March 2013:

18. Shoes: cannot *wait* to ditch these; is it spring yet?

19. A sign: that Spring wants to arrive but Winter
does not want to leave (yes, those are emerging
tulips *and* snow in the background).

20: Clean: the only time I lift weights is when I remove
these purdy little dumbbells to clean the dust from
underneath them.

21. Working: on drawing the Pigeon. #mowillems

22. About me: literally, *and* my new favorite show,
catching up from season one.

23. What I do for fun: movie on big screen, popcorn,
candy, and oh, a pair of 3D glasses. #thecroods

24. Up: guess where we went today?
#germfest #handsanitizeme #chuckecheese

Here are the pictures for Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3.
To see how to play #fmsphotoaday, click here.

I'll be back next Monday for the last week of #fmsphotoaday March 2013.

I'm linking up with Bocafrau's Pic Wrap #11:

#fmsphotoaday0313-3

2013-03-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

Here is Week 3 of #fmsphotoaday March 2013:

11. Important: move to win.

12. In the distance: Stars and Stripes dancing in the wind.

13. Sound: this beauty produces ones I absolutely adore.

14. Tasty: his birthday cupcakes for school friends.

15. Explore: she's seeking different ingredients to coat rice balls--

my little chef-in-the-making. (These are pork sung and

seaweed/sesame seeds flakes.)

16. 9 o'clock: late night cupcakin', and it's beginning to feel

a lot like a birthday party!

17. Green: heart-shaped cyclamen leaves.

In case you missed it, here are the pictures for Week 1 and Week 2.
To see how to play #fmsphotoaday, click here.

I'll be back next Monday for Week 4!

I'm linking up with Bocafrau's Picture Perfect Weekly #11:

#fmsphotoaday0313-2

2013-03-11T08:59:00.002-05:00

Here is week 2 of #fmsphotoaday March 2013:

4. Lucky: free child labor. 'Nuf said.

5. Under: new orchid buds hiding beneath extravagant,

shielding flowers.

6. Chair: swingin' my blues away!

7. Fear: has taught me to never get burned again by

scalding hot coffee.

8. Favorite: his favorite snack and pre-consumption

compulsion only a mama finds endearing.

9. Faceless self-portrait. (I just found out that the phone's

volume buttons snap pics. Where've I been?)

10. I want...: I don't get the addiction to claw machines, but

she succeeds on her first try after numerous attempts by Daddy.

Of course he claims to have "loosened" the pile for her.

In case you missed it, here are pics for Week 1. I'll be back next Monday for Week 3 pics!

I'm linking up with Bocafrau's Picture Perfect Weekly #10:

Yellow

2013-03-06T10:15:00.001-06:00

Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Pick One Color

(Please click on photo to see larger image.)

"I came along, I wrote a song for you..."

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I'm joining Cee's Fun Foto Challenge! Come along for the fun!

Shoes and Feet

2013-03-05T19:59:00.000-06:00

The lovely duo, Michele (@Old Dog New Tits) and Mel (@According to Mags), hosts of #KetchupWithUs, reached out to me to link up this week. Honored and flattered, I hereby present my response to Prompt #13:

In 57 words or less, whose shoes would you like to walk in for a day?

Shoes and Feet

As a wee kiddie,

A grown-up I longed to be.

They had money in the bank,

And gasoline in the tank.

They got to make the rules

While we had to go to schools.

But, alas, Life is a Mystery,

That happens in a scurry.

As for my current input?

The shoe is on the other foot!

*****

Won't you have a go, too? Please visit Michele and Mel to link up!

#fmsphotoaday0313-1

2013-03-04T13:30:00.001-06:00

Back on the #fmsphotoaday Train. I'm suffering from winter woes and really need a Creativity Pick-Me-Up. It has been astonishing how few pictures I have taken lately, which also feeds into the what-am-I-going-to-write-about conundrum because I have no photo illustration to go along with it. Sometimes Inspiration finds you unexpectedly, but I am actively going on an Inspiration Hunt.

And I'm gonna catch a big one.

Here is Fatmumslim's March #fmsphotoaday challenge. I participate on Instagram, post some to Facebook, and will now also repost the pics here, weekly.

The first three pics to begin the challenge are here:

1. L is for... Do you see it? I had good little helpers for this one!

2. I made this: family members bingo boards for preschoolers

in my Chinese class.

3. Key: I locked their little mouths and threw away the key,

aka "wishful thinking."

I'll be back next Monday with a week's worth of new pics! I hope you have a great week!

I'm linking up with Bocafrau's Picture Perfect Weekly.

Winter Wonderland

2013-02-19T14:59:00.003-06:00

Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Black and White or Sepia Tones

We didn't get our first significant amount of snow until February this year, which is quite unusual for us. I remember the Blizzard of 2011 had our backyard grill entirely covered.

This particular snowfall was gorgeous. It was soppy, wet, and just glorious. I couldn't help but stop to snap a few pictures while driving through my neighborhood to capture the winter wonderland feel.

This is a black and white version of the original, which was tinted blue from my car window. The BW gives it a crisper look and better feel to the icy coldness.

This is a monochrome photo all on its own. I really wanted to savor the views of snow on each and every branch of these trees. The two stone benches with unadulterated snow atop them shout the frigidity and stillness of winter and all its beauty.

*****

This is my first time linking up with Cee's Fun Foto Challenge. I have been enjoying my friend Imelda's beautiful pictures on her blog, My Wall, as she participates with Cee's challenges (check out her Black and White post). I had these pictures from a few weeks ago, and thought I'd give them a go! This is late a bit late as the new challenge is already out (every Tuesday), but I'll post anyway. I'm a newbie at this! (Click here for Cee's original Black and White challenge post.)

This Day

2013-02-14T14:24:00.000-06:00

Love:

Because this is the first time she ~~begged~~ asked

To make non-store-bought Valentines,

We made 42 of these not-so-original ones last minute,

While I produced neither complaints nor whines.

Love:

The work to bring ONE heart-shaped cookie

To the class party for his peanut allergy's sake--

(Surely I deserve to eat the rest for that?)--

Is well worth the trouble, make no mistake!

Love:

Trying my darnedest to write a Letters post

To my better half on This Day.

But my deadline is hastened by his plan

To dine us all out at a romantic family soiree!

*****
Happy Valentine's Day!

Sixty

2013-02-01T19:28:00.000-06:00

This weekend's Trifextra challenge is asking for exactly 33 words of dialogue.

Sixty

"When will I be sixty?"

"Huh?"

"Will I know when I turn sixty?"

"Um, yeah, I guess. What is this about?"

"It’s about that song."

"What song?"

"'I’m Sixty and I Know It.'"

-----

Out of the mouth of a preschooler. Should I not be surprised that this is coming home from school nowadays? Being that I'm usually behind on current pop culture, I heard this "particular song" for the first time--coincidentally--immediately after this conversation on the car radio. *Head palm*.

Click on over to www.trifectawritingchallenge.com to join us, won't ya?

Idle

2013-01-14T22:35:00.000-06:00

www.trifectawriting.com

This week, Trifecta's word is:

IDLE
1: lacking worth or basis : vain <idle chatter> <idle pleasure>
2: not occupied or employed: as
a : having no employment : inactive <idle workers>
b : not turned to normal or appropriate use <idle farmland>
c : not scheduled to compete <the team will be idle tomorrow>
3: a : shiftless, lazy
b : having no evident lawful means of support

This week's challenge is community-judged.

Idle

White breaths puff before their faces while they shape snow like wet sand on the beach.

On my side of the glass, steam subsides over their mugs on this idle afternoon.

"Hot cocoa!"

-----
January is the coldest month of the year here. I'm having some serious warm weather withdrawal. But the kiddos? Give them a bucket and some shovels, and they're good with bathing suits and sand or winter gear and snow. I'm just glad they're old enough to go out there in the cold by themselves so I can stay inside and watch my breath fog up the glass as I watch theirs effervesce exhales of joy in play.