Saturday Centus A picture is worth

SATURDAY CENTUS


Jenny from "Off on my tangent" blog has stepped up our game with




....hmm has Jenny been sipping too much wine while watching the movie "Sideways?"

this intriguing pair of legs and rocking shoes and love that tipsy-sided walk, don't you?  Sure, it's just blogger being well, blogger.  But everything happens for a reason.....so sideways she shall be.  Rules, any style writing, 100 words, more photos allowed!

Night-Walking or Sleep-walking - You decide.

These shoes were made for

slipping outside her door.

Was inexplicable sadness

or unexplainable confidence

working her lofty dream space?

It happened before.

At sixteen,

Shaken to the center of her being

both quiet and miserable in her slumber

she'd dress for these midnight journeys

unbeknownst to her, at sixteen.

She'd walk right through her kitchen

into a much larger frying pan
into the street

and thankfully, never broke a window.

even to free a gnome.

We've called all the dogs

to lookout

as she walks the streets
in ineffable quality, and deadliness
a real threat 
 to herself
I'm begging call if you see her!

If you're dreaming about spreading your own flash fiction or
I don't know true life story with this picture prompt
how come you haven't gone here yet then?

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/05/saturday-centus-picture-is-worth.html

Six Word Saturday 26 May 2012

SIX WORD SATURDAY

IF YOU HAD

ONE DO OVER

What would it be?

Do you want to join along with your own six words?

Join Cate's Six Word Saturday at her

Show My Face blog go here

http://www.showmyface.com/2012/05/six-word-saturday_26.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showmyface+%28Show+My+Face%29

Sepia Saturday 127 : 26 May 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY






BEWARE


OF WHICH AROMA WAKES YOU UP TODAY

Shall it be a fresh cup of coffee, or the scent of your friendly neighborhood cow?

Coffee Pot Restaurant in Pennville, Indiana.

Hopefully, if you're like me, you'll select freshly brewed coffee over cows.

Although, this Coffee Pot Restaurant

doesn't appear to be open yet.

Alan, from Sepia Saturday has served up the lovely town of Waterford and/or coffee, tea or COWS!   Imagine that! 

But, if I may moo along with this cow theme for just a moment

I want to share a cow-house which stands like an oasis in the desert.  Sorry no cows are present in such glamorous surroundings, but another kind of distinct aroma lingers, and fortunately it's not my turn to clean the stalls.

This view of a Cow House looking northwest along the rear courtyard wall is at the Robinson-Aiken House at 48 Elizabeth Street, Charleston, South Carolina.

Okay enough cow talk, lets drink up instead.

Shall we find a waiter and order a fresh cup of coffee?

Meet Linus Noel offering beignets and Chicory coffee

at Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans, Louisiana.

"I serve only serious coffee."

"No coffee can be good in the mouth that doesn't first send a sweet offering of odor to the nostrils."

Henry Ward Beecher

Nothing says, delicious, and oh so good, then great gossip over coffee!

It appears the lady facing us is having something a bit stronger!

Coffees on - dew drop in, okay?

 

"Sometimes, it seems I've measured out my life in coffee spoons."
Sure I know what you're thinking.  These are mostly cowboys, (without their cows) in cafe located in Junction, Texas.

.....and then,
It seems women tend to share coffee more often as couples or smaller groups -

Like these two women at a cafe in Benton Harbor, Michigan. On a hot July day in 1940.

"Is our waitress ever going to bring our coffee? There's nobody else in this cafe.  What is she doing?"

Aren't those cars in the reflection especially nice?


"A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent."

We've got sunshine, good food, great company and fresh coffee. What more do you need?

It seems the language of coffee is shared all across the world.  Here we're looking at an outside Moorish cafe, Tunis, Tunisia about 1899.  It doesn't seem that much eating or drinking is going on.  The art of conversation is more relevant here.

Mostar, Cafe Luft, Herzegowina, Austria-Hungary

between ca. 1890 and 1900 ca.

Dining with Paprika chicken with dumplings, cucumber salad, Strudel and coffee, completes a tasty meal.

Man buying coffee and items from a snack vendor in shop along a street in Gangtok, Sikkim.




It seems that in America there are a string of odd but creatively descriptive cafes and coffee houses in various areas.

Looking at the S Bridge Cafe Advertisement Sculpture (world's best cup of coffee!) Little Wheeling Creek, Elm Grove, Ohio County, West Virginia.


"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."

"A day of Sepia Saturday without coffee is like sleep."


Photos by Library of Congress, Prints and Photos Department, Washington D.C.


If you want to follow more Sepia Saturday posts please
go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2012/05/sepia-saturday-127-26-may-2012.html

Thematic Photographic 197 Far From Home

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC


FAR FROM HOME


For this round at TP Carmi says, our theme is Far from home,"If you took it while you were away, it's fair game." 

Portobello Road

Market

London

People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home. 

Dagobert D. Runes 

Parade Gardens in Bath, England

Situated in the city by the River Avon - overlooking Pulteney Bridge and the weir.

A traveler without observation is a bird without wings. - Moslih Eddin Saadi

The Pulteney Bridge - Bath, England

The White Cliffs of Dover

Dover, England

Stonehenge, located in the English county of Wiltshire.  It's composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks.

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.  Martin Buber

All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it. - Samuel Johnson.

When we arrived at the Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, England the sky painted our day like a sky blue petunia.

Looking over the Folkestone Harbour boats were hanging about the harbour and sea gulls wheeled overhead, screaming cheerfully all the way.

It was a very inviting harbour until

evening begin to settle in.....

we left the hotel after dinner for a stroll around Folkestone and visit a nearby pub......this is what greeted us!

The sky turned grey and the harbour was left a murky sand.....

Tide and time wait for no man......

Have you been far from home and care to share your time away
then please do

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/05/thematic-photographic-197-far-from-home.html

Mag 118

THE MAG  

MAG 118

The Circus With the Yellow Clown - 1967  Marc Chagall

PAST THE VERGE

Rue du Fangas

Is where She remains

from atop a tower tall

and window dark

sold her elephants

and quit the circus.

His first act of tears

spilled over lips

sliding down a white, grief-stricken

sad open face

that stared into the crowd.

Behind him, the three-ring circus

rang on, looking through

trapeze artists in cosmic gowns

and how absurd a chicken at the circus

cackling into the crowd.

Hope smashed beyond repair

would his painted smile

fool this crowd?

A fixed crushing loneliness

of tight-rope, anguish

as she, wild with fury

while he a hazy blur of despair

 closed the circus.

Link to Magpie Tales

picture prompt

blog by Tess Kincaid

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2012/05/mag-118.html

Saturday Centus The Language of Fire

SATURDAY CENTUS

Crown King, Arizona. The Gladiator Fire, in the Prescott National Forest. Photo by Jenny M.

THE LANGUAGE OF FIRE

A white centered-yellow circle hovers

over mountain tops

while smoke clouds tow their shadows

over me.

All the crowns or kings

of the world

can't help us now.

As this raging wildfire

threads its brutal way

through eyes

of destruction.

A certain immense quiet

of my empty thoughts

upon our jointed, waking burdens

of tremendous loss.

Black thickened smoke clouds

penetrate the scent of disbelief

through smokey air.

Listening for a higher voice

as tumbleweeds

scurry for survival

and dance no more.

Once again

another senseless fire
wiping up this spilled
abundance
called home.

This has been my offering for Jenny's Saturday Centus.


I'm asking is there a universal exchange between wildfires? What is the significance of this roaring fire from Crown King, Arizona (sure I know it's the dry-spring season) and is it reaching out in hopes of catching up to the blazing wildfire here in Ely, Minnesota?  I surely hope not.  Our hearts and prayers reach out to all the fire crews that continue to work through the weekend in efforts to suppress these fires.  Godspeed.


Want to join in or view other Saturday Centus Posts?
Go here
http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/05/saturday-centus-picture-prompt.html

Sepia Saturday - 19 May Where's the Party

SEPIA SATURDAY


WHERE'S THE PARTY?


Alan says "hats off (or on) for our Sepia Saturday theme this week.  Since long ago we had hats as our theme, I'm offering a bit of a hat twist today!

Please note, all the names have been changed to protect their status on Facebook. So those not invited to the party will suffer no ill feelings about missing the ball!

Miss Mary Arabella Belacqua

(sporting an embroidered helmet-like hat)

thought throwing a ball

would be all the rave!

You are all cordially invited to her lovely seaside villa.

Everyone, who was anyone, was certainly on the guest list.

 

To prepare for this gala event

of the year

even the horses were

dressed with

the finest of head gear.

Here, Jose Pappanostos assists Ceclilia Harrison with adjusting Lady-Blackstar's

hat while Jazzy-Lady delights in a snack. 

All in the name of good business.

In case you're wondering, yes these fine horses belong to the Belacqua family.

Of course, Arabella knew that her guests would delight in only the finest of entertainment.

She hired a line of eight chorus girls and included a top-hatted man in the middle of it all.

Naturally she required (per Alan's theme) that they all be dressed with the most attractive head gear!

...and they were, don't you think?

I shouldn't forget to mention, although Arabella wished to keep this a secret

there are always those who decide to create their own little party.....

Some folks would rather just play cards.

But they did wear hats as requested!

(The one gent without a hat, lost it to the wind.)

Oh heavens, this undertaking could not be printed in the society page.

So,

Arabella made sure that Jules Byron (aka Miss Fish-Hat) the town's only journalist would stay far away from their card game, and offered her boat for their card game enjoyment.

Below, Miss (never did marry, ever) Jules Byron

Miss Fish Hat

(trust me, she wrote an all telling but delightful article about the entire ball.)

You aren't mistaken if you see she's also holding something very fish like.

Ah yes, Miss Fishy indeed.

Arabella's family owned their own hat factory, as you see pictured below.

Hence her reason for requesting hats to be worn at all her parties.

Although there were also shops in town that the Belacqua family owned as well.

This lovely Hat Shop was located on 5th Avenue and Sycamore Street.

High on her list of invites is

Violetta Namebury (okay aka as Lillian Russell) displaying her exquisite beauty in a plumed hat.

We can disclose since Lillian doesn't approve of Facebook, that she was a talented American actress and most lovely singer.

However, Maggie Cornelius

Arabella's old college chum

Is still looking for the perfect mate, although a very private and shy woman in her twenties, wishes to remain anonymous.

With every Belacqua function, they hired their own private photographer.

Their family always known for their trend setting, enlisted the services of "a new style in camera men, by selecting a woman camera person."

So, with the entertainment set, reporter and photographer engaged let the tables be set.

....and allow the guests to be seated for dinner....

...and as usual, Gwendolyn Deryn, who believes she has the most attractive hair-do of all refuses with snobby sternness she shall never down a hat.  Ever. Period.

...and so once again, Arabella Belacqua presents the most gala of spring functions from her seaside villa.  Enjoy.  Let the games begin.

As well as more Sepia Saturday post can be found here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2012/05/sepia-saturday-126-19-may-2012.html

Alphabe - Thursday Z is for Zumbrota

ALPHABE - THURSDAY




Our letter for Jenny's Alphabe - Thursday is " Z "


From Zumbro Valley we'll stop by

Zumbrota, Minnesota. 

I'm thinking somebody

was a poet and didn't know it!

They say,
it's also the only Zumbrota in the world.

One important fact about Zumbrota, is that it's known for having Minnesota's only Covered Bridge.

.....and like most towns they all have their own special set of rules, one must live by.

The Sign says, $10.00 Fine for driving faster than a walk across this bridge.

Inside the covered bridge, looking out over the Zumbro River.


The Zumbrota Covered Bridge Park encompasses 44 acres but it's also in walking distance to their business district.

This Carnegie Library has ties to Carnegie Hall. (more about that after a peek inside)


Originally built as a library for Zumbrota, with funds from Andrew Carnegie, it's now called, Crossings at Carnegie and functions as a community music venue, and arts and education center.


I know you'll enjoy a few shots from inside the gift shop.

Just hanging out ...... waiting for another piece of wood to be carved into somebody.

Everything here has been crafted by local artists.

On November 27, 1906 the city of Zumbrota secured $6,500 from Andrew Carnegie for their library. It was the smallest Carnegie Library built in Minnesota and opened in May 1908.

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1848 with his parents. 
A "rags to riches" story.
He made most of his fortune in steel.
In 1901 he sold the Carnegie Steel Company in 1901 for $480 million to J.P. Morgan.

Amazingly, his first job was in a bobbin factory, then bill logger for the owner and soon after a messenger boy, again he stepped up the ranks within the telegraph company.
Until he built Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company.  Through a merger with other steel companies he eventually built U.S. Steel.

Carnegie was an important philanthropist and big on education.
The man who gave us Carnegie Hall, had a net worth of $298.3 billion in 2007 dollars according to the List of wealthiest historical figures.

Bank of Zumbrota

It's nice to see

Small town charm

big on community!

 A community bank locally owned and managed by local people

serving their community with integrity.

Back at the Covered Bridge Park

I think a few of the local artists must have had their hammer and saws out to put their children's play center "Kid's Kingdom" together.


The park also features, a camp ground, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.  Besides, picnicking, horse shoes, and some interesting historical objects
like this

Two stall jail cell!

I heard many stories around town, about how this double jail cell arrived at the park.
One reaching back to the Civil War.

This is only a mere glimpse into Zumbrota.

Outside the Clay Studio at the Crossings at Carnegie.

If you're in the area in late June, you might want to check out the Covered Bridge Festival.  I know I will.





If you want to view more letter Z post go here
at Jenny's blog "Off on my tangent"

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/05/alphabe-thursday-letter-z.html