The Wordsmith's Forge

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "Grow into a Scary Place"
Today's Adventures
Poem: "Overkineralization"
Poem: "The Source of Each Other"
Saturday Yardening
Poem: "Fisheye Lenses"
Friday Yardening
Thursday Yardening
Batman vs. Elmer Fudd
Today's Adventures


Last week's Poetry Fishbowl went well. I still have two poems to post that my parents sponsored, "Transpeciation" and "Come Closer in Kinship."


Poetry in Microfunding:
"The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Stylet enjoys a shower and Valor's Widow starts cooking.  "The Higher a Monkey Climbs" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Pips and Jules discuss what to get for G and Joshua after the fire.  

Weather has been mild and intermittently rainy here.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, firecracker plant, morning glories, frost asters, torenia, purple aster, pink sedum, goldenrod.

I saw a couple of sparrows on the fly-through feeder this week, and a hawk in the yard.  I've also seen squirrels scampering around.  They're leaving piles of cracked nuts on the picnic table.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "We Must Bear Witness"
Poem: "An Atmosphere of Shame"
Poem: "Black Swan Lake"
Saturday Yardening
Crowdfunding Creative Jam
The Jewel in the Heart of Quantum Physics
Birdfeeding
Hard Things


The half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics is now complete.  I have a few new poems up already, and more to post.

"Branded in His Memory" is fully committed, so if you pledged money toward that, now is the time to send it (not counting the person who specified a later date of donation).  Look on the sale page to see the tally; I had to put it there because the donor comments kind of spread around several posts.

The discussion "Working Around Microphones" has gained a lot of attention. If you're concerned about accessibility and diversity, please check out this list of ideas for supporting everyone's comfort and communication. If you're an organizer, or you know someone who is, by all means print it out and pass it around.


Poetry in Microfunding:
"The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Stylet enjoys a shower and Valor's Widow starts cooking.  "The Higher a Monkey Climbs" belongs to Polychrome Heroics and has 23 new verses.  Pips and Jules discuss what to get for G and Joshua after the fire.  "Two Foxes" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses.  The Iron Horses tell Kenzie what happened to the gaybashers.  

Weather has been hot and muggy.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells,  firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, frost asters, torenia, purple aster, sawtooth sunflowers, pink sedum, purple sedum.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "The Gifts That Move"
Decoding the Voynich Manuscript
Poem: "The Choices That Make Families"
Poem: "Even for an Old Soul"
Art Imitates Life: Skin Color in Video Game
Emotional Trauma Care in Houston
Poem: "Accommodating Celebrations"
Poem: "Eddies"
Wednesday Yardening
Hard Things
Poem: "Revontulet"


Last week's Poetry Fishbowl went well.  I am still posting some of the poems sponsored by my parents.


Poetry in Microfunding:
"The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Valor's Widow coaxes Stylet to take a shower.  "The Higher a Monkey Climbs" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Pips reveals his attraction toward Joshua Tull.  "Two Foxes" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses and has 30 new verses.  The Iron Horses tell Kenzie what happened to the gaybashers.  "A Haven in a Heartless World" belongs to Diminished Expectations.

Weather has been mild and mostly sunny.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, frost asters, torenia, purple aster, sawtooth sunflowers, pink sedum, purple sedum. 

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Artists Selling Direct
Cooking Day
Today's Adventures
Saturday Yardening
Recipe: "Cutie Joes"
Cherry Tomatoes
Today's Adventures
Wednesday Yardening
Good News


It's been a super busy week here. We saw the eclipse in Chester, Illinois. We bought a 25-pound box of tomatoes and have been cooking up the produce. :D

Next Tuesday there will be a Poetry Fishbowl on "Families of Choice."


Poetry in Microfunding:
"The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies and has 14 new verses.  Valor's Widow coaxes Stylet to take a shower.  "The Higher a Monkey Climbs" belongs to Polychrome Heroics and has 11 new verses.  Pips reveals his attraction toward Joshua Tull.  "Two Foxes" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses and has 11 new verses.  Kenzie is intrigued and a little embarrassed by Ron's caregiving skills.

Weather has been warm to hot here.  We got a little rain last night.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, spiderwort, echinacea, Queen Anne's lace, frost asters, cup plant, black-eyed Susan, torenia, purple aster, rose campion, thistle, sawtooth sunflowers.  

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Sunday Yardening
Oui Yogurt
Unsold Poems from the August 1, 2017 Poetry Fishbowl
Poetry Fishbowl Report for August 1, 2017
Saturday Yardening
Nudibranchs on YouTube
Moment of Silence: Glen Campbell
Friday Yardening
Poem: "Find Yourself in the Garden"
Poem: "A Series of Transitions"
Poem: "Big Brother and the Cyberbully"
Wednesday Yardening
Moment of Silence: Haruo Nakajima
Poem: "Look at Me with Fresh Eyes"
Good News

There will be a bonus fishbowl on Tuesday, August 15 with a theme of "anything goes." Check your notes for whatever you wanted to prompt that hasn't matched a theme. Check your worthy causes and special interests for stuff I haven't covered yet that you would like to request. If you don't have ideas waiting, you can review your favorites and just name a character, setting, or storyline that you'd like to see more of -- I can supply more details from elsewhere. And I hope to see you tomorrow!

Poetry in Microfunding:
"The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Valor's Widow finds out what Stylet has in his backpack. "The Order of Their Stars" is now complete.  Astin and V visit a sex shop.  "The Higher a Monkey Climbs" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Pips gets worried about Jules and drops by for a visit.  "Two Foxes" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses.  Kenzie hears that the Iron Horses are going after the gaybashers, and feels uneasy over his own reactions.

Weather has been variously cool or mild.  We've gotten a lot of yardwork done!  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, spiderwort, echinacea, blackberry lilies, Queen Anne's lace, frost asters, cup plant, black-eyed Susan, torenia, purple aster, rose campion, some yellow thing in the wildflower garden, butterfly milkweed, thistle.  Yellow coneflowers and naked ladies are almost done. 

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poetry Fishbowl Report for July 4, 2017
Recipe: "Smoky Chicken"
Sunday Yardening
Poem: "Treasure Box"
Poem: "The Declension of Gender"
Coins of the World
Saturday Yardening
A Perfect Trip
Unsold Poems from the July 4, 2017 Poetry Fishbowl
Read "Moon Ghazals"
Friday Yardening
Economy for the Common Good
Read "Defending Their Own" by Dialecticdreamer
Poem: "No Power Like the Power of Youth"
Nerd Sex Joke
Moment of Silence: June Foray
Spiderman
Wednesday Yardening
Poem: "This Hazardous Business"
Good News


There will be a Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, August 1 with a theme of "Rites / Rights of Passage." I hope to see you then!


Poetry in Microfunding:
"A Hope and a Promise" is now complete.  Aidan and Saraphina explore the roof garden.  "The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Valor's Widow finds out what Stylet has in his backpack.  "The Order of Their Stars" belongs to An Army of One.  Astin takes V shopping.

Weather has included some beautiful temperate days here.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, spiderwort, echinacea, blackberry lilies, yellow coneflowers, Queen Anne's lace, frost asters, cup plant, black-eyed Susan, torenia, purple aster, naked ladies.  Corn ears are thickening and the corn seems to be done emitting pollen.  I have been weeding gardens, so they're more visible now.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Garden Photos 7-16-17 (pots)
Garden Photos 7-16-17 (prairie garden)
Rainbow!
Sunday Yardening
Badger Engineering


I'm back at the keyboard now after a busy week.

The second session of the July Poetry Fishbowl will open on Tuesday, July 18.


Poetry in Microfunding:
"A Hope and a Promise" belongs to Polychrome Heroics.  Aidan and Mrs. Ozenne talk more about Saraphina as she interacts with another toddler.  "The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Valor's Widow finds out what Stylet has in his backpack.  

Weather has been steamy here.  It rained a little yesterday.  Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, white and red clover, morning glories, spiderwort, echinacea, blackberry lilies, yellow coneflowers, Queen Anne's lace, frost asters, and some yellow thing in the wildflower garden.  Corn is tasseling.  I need to pick more blackberries.  I think there are two jalapeno plants with tiny peppers on them, and more cayenne too.  \o/  Evidently peppers grow better in pots than my efforts with tomatoes.

I have family obligations that will keep me busy most of this week.  I should be available again sometime late Sunday. 

Some news:

1) The linkback poem is now live.  If you have linked to the fishbowl, please tell dialecticdreamer so she can post your verse(s).

2) My net connection is terrible today.  That makes writing very slow and limits my ability to do anything else, such as forward linkback claims.  Also, I may not be able to finish a prompt for every person, or I might need to tweak the fishbowl structure -- I have a lot of outside obligations at the end of this week and most of next.  I will keep you posted.  Sorry for the hassle.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "Uncertain Miracles"
Sunday Yardening
Litha
Saturday Yardening
Super-Queers
Garden Photos 6-22-17 Flowers
Garden Photos 6-22-17 Nests
Thursday Yardening
Poem: "One Familiar with Self-Defense"
Hard Things
Garden Photos 6-19-17 Flowers
Garden Photos 6-19-17 Birds


This week's half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics had only modest participation, despite having the quarter-price option. However, I do have one donor who's still picking out poetry for funds already sent, so there will be something more.


Poetry in Microfunding:
"A Hope and a Promise" belongs to Polychrome Heroics and has 15 new verses.  Aidan and Mrs. Ozenne talk more about Saraphina as she interacts with another toddler.  "Essential for Human Survival" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Cassandra and has 11 new verses.  Groundhog and Cassandra encounter one of the monks. "The Inner Transition" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies.  Valor's Widow finds out what Stylet has in his backpack.  

Weather has been cooler and pleasant here.  The nest of baby robins fledged!  :D  The cardinal nest lost its egg.  :(  Currently blooming: dandelions, carnations, marigolds, petunias, lantana, million bells, snapdragons, zinnias, firecracker plant, torenia, yarrow, white and red clover, penstemon, daylilies, rose campion, coreopsis, morning glories, aster, spiderwort, echinacea, golden rain tree.  Mulberries and black raspberries are winding down.