Month: April 2021

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Challenge 2021 Week #18

Published on by Russell Smith5 Comments

These interesting benches can be found at my local library which was rebuilt just in time for the pandemic. Only recently has the library opened. Masks are required!

Pull up a Seat

These interesting seats can be found at the location of the temporary home for my library while the new one was under construction.

First Butterfly of the Season!

Published on by Russell Smith7 Comments

I shot these just a few minutes ago in my own back yard, using my lowly iPhone 11.

Often called a cabbage butterfly, I believe this is a male Pieries rapae.
It was accidentally introduced to Quebec, Canada, around 1860 and spread rapidly throughout North America. –Wikipedia, Howe, William H. (1975). The Butterflies of North America. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-04926-9.

Becky’s Bright Squares of April: Final Day

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For this, the last day of the April Bright Squares Challenge, I’m submitting a bit of the sublime and bit of the silly.

First the sublime…

Lily of the Valley

And then the silly…

Easter Bunny

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Gobsmacked

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The ceremony was conducted in the great cathedral. Outside hordes of people chanted, “GarGar! Pirouette! GarGar! Pirouette!” Inside the old King and his ministers watched from the gallery above. The betrothal of Princess Pirouette to le comte des Deux Chats had been rehearsed and re-rehearsed days in advance, leaving no room for error. The Princess, the unwilling participant, looked pale and positively gobsmacked, while GarGar looked relaxed, even a bit elated.

Dan’s Thursday Doors: April 29, 2021

Published on by Russell Smith6 Comments

Princess Pirouette took one last look at the home where she was raised and said a silent goodbye. The old groundskeeper gave one of the horses a slap and yelled, “Hyah!” and off the carriage tore down the dry and dusty country road. She was on her way to the capital, to a new life and though she knew she should be thrilled, all she could feel was dread. The stories she had heard of the old King were less than encouraging. There was the rival to his mistress’ hand who was now rotting away in a dungeon somewhere. There was the neglected wife who was rotting away in a castle somewhere. The occasional stories of his little kindnesses were vastly outnumbered by the many stories of his petty cruelties.

Even for the most fortunate, life at court was tenuous at best. The slightest infraction of the many rules both silent and spoken could result in disaster, ruination, lifetime banishment or worse. Although her childhood had been less than idyllic, Princess Pirouette had grown up at least with a sense of stability. Now that both of her parents were dead, the future looked grim. At twelve years of age, when most girls were trading harmless secrets, tinseled with giggles, she was now keeping all of her secrets to herself. Already she could feel the strain of life’s responsibilities tugging at the corners of her mind, weighing her down and draining her dreams of all color.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep but the road was bumpy and she felt herself tossed about like the baggage strapped on the back of the carriage. There was no welcoming lap for her to rest her trouble brow- only a few flat pillows to make do. Cold comfort indeed…

THIS IS MY SUBMISSION TO DAN’S THURSDAY DOORS CHALLENGE WHICH HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE FICTION. CHEERS!

Becky’s Bright Squares, April 29, 2021

Published on by Russell Smith1 Comment

I’m afraid that my moon shots pale in comparison to Becky’s which are worthy of NASA, but I want to keep to the theme. Here are my humble submissions to Becky of Winchester’s April Bright Squares Challenge.

Saint Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in the moonlight.
Full moon from last July.
A closer look at the July moon.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Curious

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“Curiosity killed that cat!” Shrieked Tata Sous-sus, brandishing a wooden spoon as she chased little Princess Pirouette from the family library. The memory from so many years ago still burned in the now older woman’s heart. Despite the distance of time, the pain wrought by such treatment was raw, fresh and unsettling. I’ll never forgive her, thought Pirouette. Never!

Tata’s hand shook as she poured the Princess’ tea. After her less than successful interview with the prime minister, Tata felt her position as chief lady-in-waiting was tenuous at best. “Doesn’t Her Highness find it curious that, even though she’s an adult, she’s not allowed to make decisions about the management of Her personal staff?” Tata was never one to mince her words. Princess Pirouette was taken aback at Tata’s effrontery.

“Mind your own business, old woman,” was all Pirouette could think to say. “Just pour the tea.”