Chicken Sacrifice

Today, we are discussing chicken sacrifice. Graphically.*

The big picture. From one angle... and the other.

Discussion among the hens. Is it ethical? Will this truly empower our baby?

Chanting. The sacrifice is drugged and ready.

The white swan in the corner gazes steadfastly to the egg on the other side.

Then this.

Still, the white swan looks away. A new order is born.

Was this calamity courtesy of the chickens? The toucan? The white swan? The egg? Or was it the gods, angry at chicken stupidity?

Sacrifice is meant to make one stronger. Did it work for any of them? Well, the chickens ended up wasted, which wasn't much of a change. The white swan ended up as guardian of a super baby (this sounds dreadful). And the toucan exercised patience and came out alive. 

What do you think? I think I'm happy the toucan gets to keep sucking on its cherry.

Oh yeah, the gods? They got tired of sacrifices and are moving on to mummification.

*Photos by me, terraforming by Sunshine and Squish.

Have Hope

My dear readers,

Now that the goal has changed and I am writing, I’m really writing. Just kind of intense like that. So I've decided I won’t waste your time with weekly filler (which would be filler if I didn't give the right time on it). Instead, I’ll share when I have meaningful and good stuff for you.

Meanwhile, these tulips are to show you that the groundhog was wrong. Spring is coming.

Love always,

Elm

Icy Terrain

I went on a run the other day to get out of a funk, and found that the scenery was too interesting to rush past. The sun had melted the snow into these little formations that were like looking at Antarctica or the Andes from a satellite. Or like some alien landscape.

Enter metaphorical mindset (you do that when you're in a funk). You're this beautiful, fragile snowflake when you fall to the earth, and then the wind and the big noisy snowplow and the sun all beat on you, along with some extreme temperature changes (brr... pant... it's like that in Virginia)...

... and you end up turning into this glowing object that is like no other, with this amazing character and heart.

I smiled, because I knew I'd way rather be someone tough and sparkly than someone who disappears at the touch of a finger.

I walked back to the house and appreciated that we live on this planet where if you just look around outside yourself, a new beauty can make its way in.

Pole of the day - What kind of snow-being are you?

a) the abominable snowman

b) a snow angel

c) a snowy owl

d) a snow-boarder

e) a glacier

behind and before

be-hind and be-fore

the present is sandwiched

be-tween

with me

and i can see both scenes

slipping yet solid

crying

i don’t budge

from this place

i grasp at my be-s

they balance me so i can step

confident

along my mountain

only a pebble at the rise

yet great, because i have grown

to notice the difference

i’d rather be here

now

not back where i could not see

nor ahead where i cannot be

steady

but always, i am stepping up

to who i will be-come

Celebrating

Dear friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you had the best holidays and celebrated hard. I have relished doing absolutely nothing (except eating) and I’m feeling the creative itch inside my fingertips again. It feels all zippy and zappy. Zzzt.

I have news that involves more celebrating. This blog is officially ONE.

As in, one year's worth of short fiction entries for your reading and viewing pleasure. This was my Goal with a capital G for last year.

This year, I have a new goal.

To finish my book.

I’m several revisions into my YA novel and am hoping to finally, finally send it off to agents for agent-ly feedback. I firmly believe you can polish a book endlessly (and it will never be just right, lol), but so many wonderful writers have given me so much amazing feedback which I’ve tried to take to heart, that this year, it's time to move on.

Kinda bursting with alternate personalities, here... they must be freed.

I'm going to write it as quickly as possible. Honestly, how else will you ever read it? I want you to read it. I’m in love with this book. I'll give you the occasional update to let you know how it’s faring.

Thank you thank you for hanging with me, and I wish you the happiest year. If there is anything I can do to lighten your world, I’m on it.

XOXO,

Elm