The Answer's a Lemon!

MELLOW YELLOW
http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/2009/10/mellow-yellow-monday-41.html

THE ANSWER'S A LEMON!

Like the 'last rose of summer' it hangs on the tree

Feeling as sad as a lemon can be.

It's got quite a complex, it feels so rejected,

Dangling distraught and so very dejected.

'I'm no use at all!' Yes! That must be its cry,

'I'll drop off the twig soon and then I will die!

I'll moulder away in the soil down below,

Nobody cares if I stay or I go!'

*

But take heart, little lemon, your big day draws near.

For any time now Mother's sure to appear!

And then you'll discover how useful you are!

You'll find that you're destined to be quite a star!

Mashed with banana, applied to her face

You'll make sure that blemishes don't leave a trace!

Mixed up with honey you'll banish dry skin!

Brushed on her teeth her bad breath wont begin!

Mixed with coconut milk there isn't a doubt

That you will ensure her hair doesn't fall out!

If she's got dandruff it's something you'll banish;

Lemon mixed-up with egg-white! The dandruff will vanish!

The list is unending! There's use after use!

And so you'll be loved on account of your juice.

*

Just think of the number of boxes I've ticked!

Here comes Mother now!

You're about to be picked!

*

Fruit inspired a lovely picture here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/06/heat-mist.html

64 Chinchen

Before

After

METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

A reprint because it's my favourite metamorphosis.

64 CHINCHEN

Long ago, for a sweet young bride,

A house was built, with love and pride,

With other terraces by its side;

It stood staunchly way back then.

And the front was made to create a store,

With the windows wide and a big front door.

It was filled with joy, in the days of yore.

It was 64 Chinchen.*

And the carts and carriages rolled on fast;

Folk came in and folk walked past,

Knowing it was made to last,

By strong Victorian men.

And the house was filled with a family,

And life was all that life should be;

It was fixed for all eternity

At 64 Chinchen.

*

But the years went by and the house decayed;

The windows cracked and the curtains frayed,

And wrought-iron 'lace' was no longer made,

As it had been way back then.

There was flaking paint and a thousand stains,

And the turgid smell of the ancient drains,

And the losses gave no hope of gains

For 64 Chinchen.

And the front step sagged and the cupboards jammed;

The vandals came and the skateboards rammed!

And, as years went by, it became more damned;

It could never live again.

Then the planners came, with a haughty frown,

Saying 'It's unworthy of our town!

Our only choice is to knock it down!

Old 64 Chinchen.'

*

But the wheel has turned and the attitide

That the things of old are just rough and crude

Has been changed to quite another mood,

And we yearn for way back then.

The house is seen by the eyes of youth,

Which discern this very treasured truth,

That the gracious homes never were uncouth.

Witness 64 Chinchen

Now the walls are white and the floorboards shine,

The new stained glass has the glow of wine;

On every side there's a hopeful sign

That the house can live again.

Now it stands so proud, with a cared-for gleam,

Strong in its every strut and beam,

All because my son had a dream

For 64 Chinchen.

*

*So-called because a Chinese Market Garden stood on the site in the 1800s.

*

Some history from the era here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/11/192solomons-wisdom.html

Madonna Blue

BLUE MONDAY
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/


MADONNA BLUE

Stained glass windows in a wall

Inconspicuous and small,

Blue surround and decoration

With a mood of adoration.

As a choir we sang that day

And, when we were on our way,

I saw these little windows gleam,

With their strong Madonna theme.

I thought how comforting was blue;

Such a very soothing hue.

The elderly could sit and gaze

And think sweet thoughts of earlier days.

While shafts of sunshine pierced the air

And brought some gladness to them there.

An old-age home, quite sad, it's true

But softened with Madonna Blue.

*

A 'blue' memory here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/09/124-essence.html

Scaring Ourselves!

THEME THURSDAY

http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

'HALLOWEEN"

and

CARRY ON TUESDAY

http://carryontuesday.blogspot.com/2009/10/carry-on-tuesday-24.html

Todays quote comes from the 1998 movie 'Aliens'

"We'd better get back , 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night"

I have used the phrases in the following poem.

SCARING OURSELVES!

They mostly come at night

And it'll be dark soon,

And tonight there are no stars

And no light from the moon.

Their eyes will shine like lamps

While their talons claw the air

And a million writhing snakes

Will frame their faces just like hair!

Their jaws will be dripping blood,

Their tongues will be oozing slime!

Their hideous hairy faces

Will be covered with venemous grime!

Their voices will shriek with vengeance

And they'll chase us down the track.............

Mum's made soup for supper!

I think we'd better get back!

*

More monster nonsense here:

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/clash-of-titans.html

Stencil

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY
http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/2009/10/shadow-shot-sunday-75.html


STENCIL


No pen or pencil
Could better stencil
The patterns on the bark.
Each leaf outlining,
Against the shining,
In a perfect leaf-like mark.
*


Mandelbrot's patterns here:
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/07/75-perpetual-pattern.html

Summer Snow

Taken during a holiday in Perth, Western Australia


SUMMER SNOW
To the tune 'Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!'


The sun up above is blazing
And it's really quite amazing
That up to the top we go!
Summer Snow! Summer Snow! Summer Snow!
The sand is all white and shiny
And we're right beside the briny!
We're feeling that summer glow!
Summer Snow! Summer Snow! Summer Snow!
We're on holiday by the sea
And it's just where we're wanting to be!
With the surf and the sand and sun
Life is delectable fun!
The climb to the top is tiring
And quite soon we're all perspiring!
Then we zoom to the beach below!
Summer Snow! Summer Snow! Summer Snow!
*

Sunday Diary

BRY ANTICS

October 25th

This has been a very busy but enjoyable week. Newcastle itself seemed to buzz in one way or another.

The first ship of the Cruise Season arrived.

Andre Whats-his-Name did his thing at the Entertainment Centre.

And Spring sprung. This is our jasmine literally breaking the back fence and smelling great.

SUNDAY was a quiet day and on MONDAY things were pretty routine; the Probus Committee Meeting which is always pleasant, and the Choir Practice, during which we had to manage without our conductor, who had flu.

We had to manage without her on TUESDAY too, and we made one or two mistakes. These upset Lois, our pianist, but audiences seem to like them!

One of the audience members wanted to sing-along. It was her last day with the group too.

In the evening we went to Caroline's for the Book Group meeting. I only managed to get the book, 'The Brain that Changes Itself' a day or two before so I could only comment on one or two chapters. It's utterly fascinating too so I'm going to finish it. Caroline has an unusual house with very high ceilings. I took the photo below half-way up the stairs.

Book Group in session

On WEDNESDAY I organised an extra Scrabble session because Sharon, our member who is still recuperating from a bad accident was so sorry she missed it last week. However, the afternoon wasn't entirely successful, because Sharon, who's still unsteady on her feet, fell and cracked her head on a table! We were all very worried but she recovered quite well.

THURSDAY dawned rather grey but it turned into a beautiful day for our trip up to the Lower Hunter.

I was appointed official photographer for the day but I snuck into this one, cuddling Fred!

We had morning tea at Rose Cottage, and then we visited a typical country museum, which contained some nostalgic artifacts for all the country girls in the group, but which could have been displayed to much more advantage. We had a lovely lunch and then rounded off the day with a visit to some Water Gardens. It was a nursery really, but only for water-lilies and other such plants. This was the best part of the day. I just wandered in the park-like grounds.

We had a good time on FRIDAY morning, performing one of my melodramas at the local Coffee Pot Club. The whole thing is utterly amateur and ridiculous but as you can see from the shot below 'a good time was had by all'.

The 'puppets' and the puppeteers!

On SATURDAY the week dipped. We had to attend the funeral of an old friend. I hadn't seen Roma for some time but we used to be in a Writing Club together, and I acted in one of her plays a few years ago. She was a remarkable person; a writer, painter, activist for the Labour Party, great party-goer, always immaculate and pretty. I don't think I've ever known anyone embrace life quite like Roma. The funeral wasn't religious; in fact it was a 'show'. All her favourite songs were sung; people said poetry. There was lots of laughter and applause.The photo below shows Roma as she appeared in a play not long ago when she was already well over eighty. She died at 87, a performer to the end. I left the crematorium feeling happy.

Roma Duff

I mustn't forget to add yet another piece of good news for the Bryant Family. As I've already said, Rebecca has left the Income Tax job (H&R Block). On the very day she resigned the Government announced a plan for collecting income tax without involving agencies! How lucky can you get!

Till next week.

Brenda