tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90412678899898039352024-03-13T05:16:42.862-05:00Troll TailsWhere imaginations go to playAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-25845671719857577792016-09-28T08:54:00.000-05:002016-09-28T08:54:50.900-05:00A Confession ... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the thing. There are two Rebeccas. One is quite serious, not much fun at all, but we send her off to the office where she gleefully gathers galaxies of data, squishing it together before flattening and folding it into origami unicorns and paper tigers. Her boss is very fond of Rebecca’s unicorns and tigers, but this exhausted the other Rebecca.
Mischievous Rebecca crawls from this orderly structure and seeks fun in very different ways. Exercising her creative muscles, Mischievous Rebecca has dabbled in drawing and flirted with music, but a dreadful lack of talent nearly caused her to become an accountant.
Then she discovered photography.
Mischievous Rebecca sees magical things through the microcosm of a macro lens, and with cameras being little more than compact computers these days, the two Rebeccas hugged it out and blissfully pressed the shutter. Yet, this wasn’t enough for Mischievous Rebecca. There had to be something out there that could be uniquely Rebecca, both of them.
And there always had been.
From her earliest memories, Mischievous Rebecca has created entire worlds in her head. Everything was fair game. Stones became knights and apples became fairies, but she never revealed her stories to the outside world. Not until one slipped out.
Assigned to write a paper on something uninteresting and utterly unimaginative, Mischievous Rebecca decided to mess with the teacher. In a single paragraph, she built a world living within the stream of ink flowing from her pen. The creatures railed against the humans and their mediocre ideas. Countless died for doodles. They deemed the teacher guilty of wasting ink and demanded she be punished for her crime. Mischievous Rebecca was pleased and thoroughly expected a failing grade, but it didn’t turn out that way. The note in the margin read: "Beautiful! You should write for a living".
Serious Rebecca immediately dismissed the idea, and once again took control until one day not so very long ago.
While watching a kingfisher hovering over a marsh, his eye locked on a school of minnows pooling at her feet, it happened again. An entire community of trolls appeared in Mischievous Rebecca's mind. They were clever and childish, timid and sweet—they were nothing like we had been told. Sitting there on that bench, a story formed, a full story that she thought might be worth writing down.
That’s how it happened. Mischievous Rebecca has reclaimed her uniqueness. Forty-two months later, the legend is complete, and ready to share with you.
Mischievous Rebecca and Serious Rebecca cohabit peacefully now. They need each other, yet neither is dominant over the other. Serious Rebecca has her paper unicorns while Mischievous Rebecca has an entire universe in which to play.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-54434017332395301422016-03-24T11:01:00.000-05:002016-03-24T11:01:24.889-05:00Story Behind the Photo(s), edition six<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4686xAwghg/VvQOXvgLi5I/AAAAAAAADe0/hOIGrFWb_s0RuCc_OaKMT7q6vSVomLDVQ/s1600/frozen%2Bweed%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b4686xAwghg/VvQOXvgLi5I/AAAAAAAADe0/hOIGrFWb_s0RuCc_OaKMT7q6vSVomLDVQ/s640/frozen%2Bweed%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, at my patch of the planet, </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UkcR5BvDHs/VvQOXgfmqyI/AAAAAAAADe4/ivYbu0vrLDsafnrNj5ZLR-26qrXybYSbg/s1600/frozen%2Bweed%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UkcR5BvDHs/VvQOXgfmqyI/AAAAAAAADe4/ivYbu0vrLDsafnrNj5ZLR-26qrXybYSbg/s400/frozen%2Bweed%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it's cold and wet,</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYW9sUJ4fdE/VvQOZg-6hBI/AAAAAAAADe8/h5O2tQHv6fIato1YzWzmLVKai5y6xtfDg/s1600/frozen%2Bwillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYW9sUJ4fdE/VvQOZg-6hBI/AAAAAAAADe8/h5O2tQHv6fIato1YzWzmLVKai5y6xtfDg/s640/frozen%2Bwillow.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> and getting worse every heartbeat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpLiK4G-8DQ/VvQOdwYuRlI/AAAAAAAADfA/9goazP7EkFoaYya8zCu9J8D3FJQbntw4Q/s1600/frozen%2Bweed%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpLiK4G-8DQ/VvQOdwYuRlI/AAAAAAAADfA/9goazP7EkFoaYya8zCu9J8D3FJQbntw4Q/s640/frozen%2Bweed%2B1.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring is so fickle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Nuff said.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-1353310495952152272016-03-23T14:00:00.003-05:002016-03-23T14:24:16.237-05:00Story Behind the Photo, edition five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-QFaj620aw/VvLmoOnWsXI/AAAAAAAADeU/_6ok1DE2IS0-7tCBgXou79nZjEvtIOi2w/s1600/rock%2Bwall%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-QFaj620aw/VvLmoOnWsXI/AAAAAAAADeU/_6ok1DE2IS0-7tCBgXou79nZjEvtIOi2w/s640/rock%2Bwall%2B3.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have many interests (don't we all?) but one thing they all have in common is nature. I'm a creature of the woods, a skulker of the forest, but the world around me offers other paradises. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The photo above was taken at Pope Farms in Middleton, Wisconsin. Pope Farms was once a sheep farm on the edge of Madison. It's now a fabulous restored ecosystem with several types of native prairie and even a some wood. It's a great place to get lost during the warmer months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I miss green. Spring 2016 can't arrive soon enough.</span><br />
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BOUNS photo:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYt2kkGo8Aw/VvLonDyR1JI/AAAAAAAADeg/SBTfvLzh45guocvDr8ugxun3evw2Krylg/s1600/ski%2Bjump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYt2kkGo8Aw/VvLonDyR1JI/AAAAAAAADeg/SBTfvLzh45guocvDr8ugxun3evw2Krylg/s640/ski%2Bjump.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Notice that wooden tower in the distance? It can be seen from the top of the hill in the photo above. It's a ski jump, one once used by Olympians (and I'm told Teddy Kennedy once rocketed down that jump on a dare). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It all takes me back to Henry hurtling down the ski jump in Blue on the Horizon. Imagine you are a troll witnessing the human madness. Certain death awaits young Henry yet he gleefully shoves off and soars into a triumphant descent down a wicked slope. Now imagine you are a rabbit sized troll sliding down that jump on nothing more than a tortoise shell. Insanity! But Twig does it, and helps to save the village. Confused? Read Blue on the Horizon. It's free on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Horizon-Legends-Aurora-Book-ebook/dp/B00CQNDFWE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413043095&sr=8-2&keywords=rebecca+ferrell+porter" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-on-the-horizon-rebecca-ferrell-porter/1123489265;jsessionid=87D97F080FA72AADD77CCDF932CC8769.prodny_store02-atgap07?ean=2940152790955" target="_blank">Nook Barnes and Noble</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1090613909" target="_blank">itunes</a>, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/blue-on-the-horizon" target="_blank">kobo</a> ...most places digital books are sold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wisconsin was once littered with ski jumps. One even existed outside my hometown. Settled by the Norwegians I celebrate in Blue, they brought the traditions of their homeland to Wisconsin. You just won't catch me flinging myself down one of those things.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-40698132928198298472016-03-15T18:10:00.002-05:002016-03-15T18:10:17.554-05:00Story Behind the Photo, edition four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VD-_IJO9zTQ/VuiQ25k27II/AAAAAAAADdo/SqPJht6D4K8L_A8i_HVU7is4ATBL6wU3w/s1600/China%2Bwater%2Bbuffalo%2Bskull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VD-_IJO9zTQ/VuiQ25k27II/AAAAAAAADdo/SqPJht6D4K8L_A8i_HVU7is4ATBL6wU3w/s640/China%2Bwater%2Bbuffalo%2Bskull.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the Field Museum of Chicago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hadn't been the this museum since the first time King Tut's artifacts toured the United States. (That's a really long time ago. Disco was in style and I was years from a drivers license) I love history, always have, and my parents knew what it meant to me so on a blustery February morning, my mother, her friend, and I perched on the steps of the Field Museum of Chicago. With the cold seeping from the granite steps to my young butt, we waited with a hundred other history buffs. There was no internet, no advance tickets. If you wanted to see King Tut, you got in line and waited for the museum to open. Even that was no guarantee of access to Tut's treasures. The hall was severely limited to a small number of visitors per day. I seem to remember something about humidity being the cause. It was fantastic, but to be honest, the details are fuzzy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fast forward decades to December 2015. The hubs and I decide it's time to hit the mega-city again, and this time, I want to do the museum. We spent two days wandering around that massive building. We even worked out way through Egypt which still models Tut's tomb. I could share dozens of photos, but this one caught my eye just now. It's a water buffalo. I chose it because one of the live events was a naturalist handing antlers or horns to people. He handed us an antelope skull and began to explain the difference between antlers and horns. Horns are sheaths that have a bone core. They are permanent features while antlers are shed. (the water buffalo has horns). All this while dozens of school kids screamed as they raced between halls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On this visit, my I was enthralled by the dinosaurs and mastodons, minerals and China. Even with two days, we barely brushed the dust from the surface of the Field Museum of Chicago. If I lived closer, I would be there frequently and it would still take me a year to really see it all. By that time, they would have rotated out the displays. I hope Chicago continues to appreciate this jewel along the shores of Lake Michigan. I will return, and this time, it won't take so long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photos are precious time capsules. Thanks for allowing me to share this historic weekend.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-51523292250018113412016-03-08T13:38:00.000-06:002016-03-08T13:38:03.858-06:00Garden of Betrayal, Available Now!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-larAGEwr9w8/Vt4QJkC5z3I/AAAAAAAADdI/7vfzYzOZFDg/s1600/solar%2Blore%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-larAGEwr9w8/Vt4QJkC5z3I/AAAAAAAADdI/7vfzYzOZFDg/s640/solar%2Blore%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No. That can't be right. I hate fairies. I will never help you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then Terra wins, and magic is doomed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Garden of Betrayal, on sale now. </span></h2>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEomwhO9Gow/Vt7JbDNFC3I/AAAAAAAADdY/PFb2P8sDqYo/s1600/LOTA%2Bpanel%2Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEomwhO9Gow/Vt7JbDNFC3I/AAAAAAAADdY/PFb2P8sDqYo/s640/LOTA%2Bpanel%2Ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>As a bonus to my fans, get your digital copy of </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Horizon-Legends-Aurora-Book-ebook/dp/B00CQNDFWE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413043095&sr=8-2&keywords=rebecca+ferrell+porter" target="_blank">Blue on the Horizon</a> AND </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cairn-Dragon-Memoir-Legends-Aurora-ebook/dp/B00M5RTGRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408362392&sr=8-2&keywords=ferrell+porter" target="_blank">Cairn: A Dragon Memoir</a> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>FREE for the next five days! </b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-80799803760010014792016-03-07T08:26:00.001-06:002016-03-07T08:26:30.039-06:00Story Behind the Photo, edition three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYnzdXga7xA/Vt2MY5XYVJI/AAAAAAAADcs/FfP6k-1LT4Q/s1600/fawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYnzdXga7xA/Vt2MY5XYVJI/AAAAAAAADcs/FfP6k-1LT4Q/s640/fawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's photos reflects one of those magical moments in the forest. This was taken on a hike in central Wisconsin. It was mid-morning, well past the time I normally find deer, and I even had the dog strapped to my waist (more on this exciting means of photographing the world in later posts). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hike circled a small lake and I was busy looking for mushrooms and such when I rounded a corner to this sight. Tasha, normally a huge barker was just as shocked as I was. She stamped her foot, the fawn stamped his foot, fawn's mom bounded off. I raised the camera. Fawn squeaked. Tasha growled. I snapped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then it was over. A few crashing bounds, and the fawn and doe were gone. I could hear them moving along the shore for a long time, but only caught small flashes of brown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adventures like this helped me create, Fern, the orphaned fawn in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cairn-Dragon-Memoir-Legends-Aurora-ebook/dp/B00M5RTGRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408362392&sr=8-2&keywords=ferrell+porter" target="_blank">Cairn: A Dragon Memoir</a>. Her mother lost to a dragon feast, Fern is too young to survive on her own, but then Leaf finds her and Fern's life changes. Drastically. For example, she learns to ride astride a dragon!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cairn-Dragon-Memoir-Legends-Aurora-ebook/dp/B00M5RTGRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408362392&sr=8-2&keywords=ferrell+porter" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_3kvSTMrxU/Vt2PBL0zCNI/AAAAAAAADc4/qu0o5Y9uOio/s320/Cairn%2Bebook%2Bwider.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-24347995202334758642016-03-06T12:03:00.001-06:002016-03-06T12:03:47.058-06:00Story Behind the Photo, edition 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJjm03FtVVY/Vtxu52VCJTI/AAAAAAAADcc/6l0ur6qiXm0/s1600/bette%2Bgris%2Bpurple%2Bflower%2B284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJjm03FtVVY/Vtxu52VCJTI/AAAAAAAADcc/6l0ur6qiXm0/s640/bette%2Bgris%2Bpurple%2Bflower%2B284.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I took this photo early on in my renewed interest in photography. When I look at it today, I see how it could be improved, but I still love the memories it invokes. Taken on the shore of Lake Superior, it reflects that cold, rocky beach in its wild state. This lonely stretch is called Bette Gris. It sits astride the eastern shore of that defiant finger jutting deep into the inland sea. This is my favorite part of upper Michigan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All along Superior lay huge chunks of driftwood and sea rounded stones, some as big as cars, but many, many more palm sized. Each stone is different, yet if you look hard enough, you can fit pair and trios that fit together perfectly. I love my stones, and I've given away nearly all my Superior stones. It must be time to go back. It's not so far away. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-31314653983242696692016-03-03T11:14:00.000-06:002016-03-03T11:14:16.823-06:00Story behind the Photo, edition 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rpjuH-o1x1g/VthtqTPlHeI/AAAAAAAADbo/uZVqQbnJuXg/s1600/white%2Bpuff%2Bclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rpjuH-o1x1g/VthtqTPlHeI/AAAAAAAADbo/uZVqQbnJuXg/s640/white%2Bpuff%2Bclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaferrellporter/" target="_blank">(Rebecca Ferrell Porter)</a> I've been challenged to the wildly popular 7 Day Nature Photography Challenge by a good friend. Although we've never met in person, we've been friends for several years, and in 2013 we undertook a 52 week photography challenge together. Georgia was already an accomplished photographer at that time while I had just rediscovered a passion for the craft, but I've learned a lot since then. (much of it from her)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm finding the challenge fun and now realize I could go on for several weeks as nature is my favorite subject. I'm also using it to tell the micro-story behind the photo. (I am a writer after all) So I begin a new series today on my blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few years back, I decided I needed a photo that would bring the trolls I write about to life for my readers. I really do envision them cavorting through the forest with me on my walks. Oton, Gaven, Uredd, Leaf, all of them ... they are real to me. They have to be, or they will read as flat. I couldn't have that! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So with camera in hand, I crawled among the weeds along the river. Really, on my hands and knees. Suddenly, this amazing puff ball loomed above me. It was about 18 inches tall, and I was looking up at it when I found it. I couldn't have that. The trolls are the size of rabbits, and I'm--well, I'm a substantially larger. Shifting my position, I found a better angle and snapped this photo. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I still chuckle when I see this photo. It looks very much like the back of a troll head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't you agree?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-79189525135471540182016-02-19T06:01:00.000-06:002016-02-19T06:01:04.722-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yN7uf0QzJ3c/VscC47K82mI/AAAAAAAADaM/1FmIzTovquc/s1600/bloodstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yN7uf0QzJ3c/VscC47K82mI/AAAAAAAADaM/1FmIzTovquc/s640/bloodstone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Trolls Love their Agates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Dragons Love their Sapphire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the Fairies know True Magic Lives in the Bloodstone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get started on <a href="http://amzn.to/212E35w" target="_blank">Legends of the Aurora</a>, Now.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-61712191106628802112016-02-17T20:04:00.004-06:002016-02-17T20:04:50.054-06:00Garden of Betrayal ... the day is finally here ... Cover Reveal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SDeYni9y8Q/VsUlKUbGQvI/AAAAAAAADZ8/URCcO5_qj_w/s1600/1%2Bpreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SDeYni9y8Q/VsUlKUbGQvI/AAAAAAAADZ8/URCcO5_qj_w/s640/1%2Bpreview.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coming March 8, 2016 in Paperback and Digital Form </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Garden of Betrayal</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Imaginative Conclusion to the Legends of the Aurora Trilogy </i></span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1LMMoAB9Ok/Vrvdzq67umI/AAAAAAAADYU/UP7-Eeoe1ZM/s1600/Garden%2Bof%2BBetrayal%2Bebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1LMMoAB9Ok/Vrvdzq67umI/AAAAAAAADYU/UP7-Eeoe1ZM/s640/Garden%2Bof%2BBetrayal%2Bebook.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The moment I saw the first draft of this cover, I was in love. <a href="https://vanesagarkova.alle.bg/" target="_blank">Vanesa Garkova</a> instantly understood what I was trying to achieve, and then she took the concept to places I never dreamed. I gave Leaf a voice, but Vanesa gave her flesh and blood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are a fellow author, especially a fantasy author, please do yourself a favor and contact <a href="https://vanesagarkova.alle.bg/" target="_blank">Vanesa Garkova</a>. Her rates are very reasonable, and she continues to tweak the details until everyone is happy. When you do, tell her how happy she has made me. She'll know who you mean. She loves this story as well. Ours is more than a designer writer connection. We collaborated to bring the Legends of the Aurora to dreamers everywhere. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao_hLGYYP9U/VsUlNqagl5I/AAAAAAAADZ4/Q6KAT-zRNgM/s1600/all%2Bthree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao_hLGYYP9U/VsUlNqagl5I/AAAAAAAADZ4/Q6KAT-zRNgM/s640/all%2Bthree.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love them all. I hope you do as well.<br /><br /><i>(Now accepting PreOrders of signed Paperbacks $15 --USA Only-- Contact me if interested) </i></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-82191284461389604042016-02-15T09:26:00.000-06:002016-02-15T09:26:36.143-06:00Cover Tease, Title Reveal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eAVfVoD8nk/VrvaEEwNjqI/AAAAAAAADX8/ovzPHEWfs7w/s1600/Title%2BReveal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0eAVfVoD8nk/VrvaEEwNjqI/AAAAAAAADX8/ovzPHEWfs7w/s640/Title%2BReveal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Okay. I've had my fun. Today I reveal the title of Book Three. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be sure to come back tomorrow for the big reveal.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-34061573848657766922016-02-14T08:26:00.000-06:002016-02-14T08:26:57.126-06:00Cover Tease, Day Six<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCoKVlnkNFk/VrvaEYBWpnI/AAAAAAAADX8/goO6-A-wOKI/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCoKVlnkNFk/VrvaEYBWpnI/AAAAAAAADX8/goO6-A-wOKI/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It takes courage to wear the mark of the dragon.</span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-70873233185193573542016-02-13T12:00:00.002-06:002016-02-13T12:00:13.804-06:00Cover Tease, Day Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8XZjy2JG4s/VrvaE8FSodI/AAAAAAAADX8/LPK6MI75oFE/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8XZjy2JG4s/VrvaE8FSodI/AAAAAAAADX8/LPK6MI75oFE/s320/tiny%2Breveal%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How about a bit of the title today?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-27711512712268433682016-02-13T09:42:00.000-06:002016-02-13T09:42:43.018-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLONyblDyJM/Vr9OXLA00yI/AAAAAAAADZk/6bKLXu9UNPI/s1600/legends%2Bof%2Bthe%2BAurora%2Bbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLONyblDyJM/Vr9OXLA00yI/AAAAAAAADZk/6bKLXu9UNPI/s640/legends%2Bof%2Bthe%2BAurora%2Bbanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What if trolls were the size of
rabbits and dragons grazed among the cows in the field? And what if ancient
Elementals watched from fantastical realms as mere mortals danced in ignorant
bliss? Imagine you live alongside these creatures. Would you seek them out, or
blot out their existence? I’m not done. What if cackling fairies hid in the
shadows of the forest raising fear as they worked their powerful magic? Would
you venture far from home? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 16.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<i><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You would if you were the key to
everything.</span></span></i></div>
</i></h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-42882898853402828442016-02-13T09:07:00.000-06:002016-02-13T09:07:32.986-06:00Cover Tease, Day Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW1NLL2nRnE/Vrvb1mZCFYI/AAAAAAAADYE/1PFEhURtkSo/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW1NLL2nRnE/Vrvb1mZCFYI/AAAAAAAADYE/1PFEhURtkSo/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A little something pointed, and deadly.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-66963886320808418162016-02-12T20:19:00.001-06:002016-02-12T20:19:50.273-06:00Cover Tease, Bonus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Scr3HWZA4Hw/Vr6SM18hOLI/AAAAAAAADZU/cjHyYLKCCPQ/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Scr3HWZA4Hw/Vr6SM18hOLI/AAAAAAAADZU/cjHyYLKCCPQ/s400/tiny%2Breveal%2B4.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How about a bit of context to help visualize what lay hidden in the the cover? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Don't you love that glow? </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-62990569537616079132016-02-12T12:00:00.000-06:002016-02-12T12:00:12.145-06:00Cover Tease, Day Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AG5yh17MA5U/VrvaEIZbUnI/AAAAAAAADX8/MRw0-cRZ6rE/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AG5yh17MA5U/VrvaEIZbUnI/AAAAAAAADX8/MRw0-cRZ6rE/s320/tiny%2Breveal%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By now, you all know how much I love tree roots. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://vanesagarkova.alle.bg/" target="_blank">Vanesa</a> made them come to life. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-45517112305719736842016-02-11T12:00:00.000-06:002016-02-11T12:09:16.466-06:00Cover Tease, Day Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T7lkug_S-_4/VrvaDmTTTGI/AAAAAAAADXY/UWHDfxHJNzs/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T7lkug_S-_4/VrvaDmTTTGI/AAAAAAAADXY/UWHDfxHJNzs/s320/tiny%2Breveal%2B3.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love the colors. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-9169177728246986482016-02-10T18:29:00.000-06:002016-02-10T18:29:00.657-06:00Cover Tease ... Day One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sKlTVJuKfM/VrvVFrNxEyI/AAAAAAAADXI/vI4wVdCEDCo/s1600/tiny%2Breveal%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sKlTVJuKfM/VrvVFrNxEyI/AAAAAAAADXI/vI4wVdCEDCo/s400/tiny%2Breveal%2B1.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Time to have some fun. I've been quiet for weeks, but I had good reason. The conclusion of the Legends of the Aurora trilogy is about to hit the shelves. But first, let's have a little fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once again, I worked with the amazing, incredible, talented, and gifted digital artist, <a href="https://vanesagarkova.alle.bg/" target="_blank">Vanesa Garkova</a>. Truth be told, Vanesa took my crude idea and created a stunning book cover that I can't wait to reveal. In fact, It's so fabulous, I decided to reveal it a slice at a time. Call me a tease.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-70278798813332768532015-12-17T17:50:00.003-06:002015-12-17T17:50:25.162-06:00The Orange Door<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IREKuZVOPSw/VnNGHNmD5cI/AAAAAAAADSU/LemzmVnIjxo/s1600/orange%2Bdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IREKuZVOPSw/VnNGHNmD5cI/AAAAAAAADSU/LemzmVnIjxo/s400/orange%2Bdoor.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Today, we continue down the frightening path first traveled by our intrepid Creature Feature Writer of the Stoughton Press. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Doing my due diligence for
our readers, this reporter attempted to trace the relationship between fairies
and the autumnal equinox, but nothing seemed to fit. Fairies are simply not
regarded as creatures of the autumn. Some claimed they migrated south for the
winter, but others were certain they hibernated nearby. I knew better. They
were out there, waiting for me. Looking back, I now realize they were never
far. With frayed nerves, I donned comfortable boots and a leather coat in an
absurd attempt to keep malicious spells at bay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I endeavored to retrace the
tangled path laid down by Leaf all those weeks ago, but I quickly lost my way,
and I suspected I wasn’t alone. A mushroom winked on to my right. Then another
a few yards up the path. I did my best to ignore the fairies rising like
fireflies from the forest floor, but it wasn’t easy. Afraid to look back, I
sensed mischief as the fairies continued to swarm, pushing me forward, silent
but for the buzz of their wings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leaf stepped from behind a maple, its leaves
ignited by the multi-hued swarm behind me. “There are many sides to a legend,
human,” she said. “Blaze insists you know hers.” A tiny sun lifted from an
oddly pungent wild rose. Behind the white fairy, the portal tree pierced the quarter
moon, a tree so massive it would have taken a dozen men to encircle its base. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I moved closer as the swarm
settled in the shrubbery, their tiny wings humming with distrust. “The trolls
are children, fools living in ignorance and denial, and the dragons are little
more than animals.” Blaze lifted her chin, and I noticed Leaf stiffen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Careful,
Blaze. You had need of the dragons once, and you may again.” The fairy snorted,
but Leaf continued. “You didn’t sniff at the dragons when you needed their help.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blaze crossed her arms and looked away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I heard a snap followed by
crashing through the canopy of the towering tree, and I stepped back, raising
my arm against whatever had grown tired of the pompous fairy as an object
slammed into the ground at my feet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leaf approached it and looked up. “The tree
has chosen you. I knew it would, although I must admit, I hesitate to believe
it.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tapped the glistening plum with my boot. “Chosen—for what?” Blaze
flared, shining her light on the base of the tree. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack">It didn’t
look like any plum tree I had ever seen, but it all made sense now. Slowly, my
eyes adjusted to the fairy’s </a>intense flare and a shape began to appear in
the deep moss shrouding the bark. Indistinct at first, an iron ring, like that
on a medieval castle protruded from an orange door that glowed like a sunset
even as Blaze dimmed her internal fire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“The tree chose you for this journey.”
Leaf smiled up at me as the door began to open. Under the golden light
streaming through her auburn hair, Leaf looked every bit a fairy, but she bore
no wings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reporter in me clawed to the surface, smothering my instincts to
run. “Is it dangerous?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leaf beckoned me to my knees before the squat door. “All
journeys worth taking are dangerous, human.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The harsh squawk of bickering
gulls echoed down the portal as I crawled forward to peer down the passage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Suddenly, a scream—part
panther, part something—other, curled my toes. “Dragons?” I prayed I was wrong,
but Leaf brushed a bead of perspiration from my cheek. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Oh, yes. One very
special dragon.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear seeped in at the edges of my adventurous spirit. “I—I
have a deadline. People are waiting for this story.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blaze buzzed closer as the
moon dove under a blanket of clouds. “The signs are fading, human. We must
hurry.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I looked over my shoulder at the black night, and made up my mind.
Pulling a pad from my pocket, I scribbled this report. I now leave it the
clutches of the swarm, but I have no way of knowing if it will be delivered. If
I don’t return, know that I chose to go, but if I do, imagine the story I’ll come
back with for I am Rebecca Porter, Creature Feature Writer. </span><span style="font-family: Ebrima;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Originally published in the Stoughton Press Autumn 2015</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-74526796465927135652015-12-06T12:54:00.000-06:002015-12-06T12:54:30.668-06:00Early Winter Walk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know. The calendar says it's still autumn, but this far north, winter is underway. Still, I shouldn't complain. The storms that have been raging throughout much of the western half and upper plains of the United States, have swung around us. We were hit with 8 inches a few days back, but it melted quickly, leaving the extra moisture to spread green though out the grasses and moss species of the region. I decided to take advantage of things and got out there with my camera. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why don't you come along?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZOTPl0fkoY/VmSAAUc_HGI/AAAAAAAADNc/FEBtHsqvkns/s1600/frosty%2Bleaves%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZOTPl0fkoY/VmSAAUc_HGI/AAAAAAAADNc/FEBtHsqvkns/s640/frosty%2Bleaves%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s00Pli4I2u8/VmSADNOSI-I/AAAAAAAADNo/ynuI8xMXi3E/s1600/icy%2Bleaves%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s00Pli4I2u8/VmSADNOSI-I/AAAAAAAADNo/ynuI8xMXi3E/s320/icy%2Bleaves%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It may have been a nice day, but winter was certainly licking at the edges of forest.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipHPT_hy9A0/VmSANEpHOSI/AAAAAAAADOI/bXKvq_BRWvM/s1600/mossy%2Bshore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipHPT_hy9A0/VmSANEpHOSI/AAAAAAAADOI/bXKvq_BRWvM/s640/mossy%2Bshore.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CpkvvxHapiY/VmSAXYL5rbI/AAAAAAAADO8/K5i_Nhyu1Ec/s1600/troll%2Bbridge%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CpkvvxHapiY/VmSAXYL5rbI/AAAAAAAADO8/K5i_Nhyu1Ec/s320/troll%2Bbridge%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it wasn't hard to find patches of brilliant green moss, resilient in the face of the bitter cold.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6t6ZMLuEt1k/VmSAMldp6YI/AAAAAAAADOs/vNBllntAlGc/s1600/orange%2Bfungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6t6ZMLuEt1k/VmSAMldp6YI/AAAAAAAADOs/vNBllntAlGc/s320/orange%2Bfungus.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hee4Y4jx1x4/VmSAEeL9DQI/AAAAAAAADN0/eUMGDYfKOaY/s1600/green%2Bteeth%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hee4Y4jx1x4/VmSAEeL9DQI/AAAAAAAADN0/eUMGDYfKOaY/s320/green%2Bteeth%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jupoR09nVUQ/VmSAWt0rbjI/AAAAAAAADO4/8lfwob-Wla8/s1600/snow%2Bdrops%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jupoR09nVUQ/VmSAWt0rbjI/AAAAAAAADO4/8lfwob-Wla8/s640/snow%2Bdrops%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can always count on the forest fungi to add a splash of color. I like to think of the middle photo as a nasty set of green teeth, and this one as snow dripping from delicate cups of fungus.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mD2Dj9Gx7Pk/VmSAANQmr6I/AAAAAAAADNg/wY-fc_OMTlo/s1600/fuzzy%2Brocks%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mD2Dj9Gx7Pk/VmSAANQmr6I/AAAAAAAADNg/wY-fc_OMTlo/s400/fuzzy%2Brocks%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I call this photo Fuzzy Rock. It's coated with a soft fringe of algae at the edge of the river. It waved and dipped with the current, and I had a difficulty looking away. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNPOW4FuXL4/VmSAHfhwnpI/AAAAAAAADN8/QT7zKxIIuI0/s1600/husk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNPOW4FuXL4/VmSAHfhwnpI/AAAAAAAADN8/QT7zKxIIuI0/s320/husk.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zCeGb0EoglU/VmSAT2Jo9jI/AAAAAAAADOo/bDitl3Bo0xg/s1600/seeds%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zCeGb0EoglU/VmSAT2Jo9jI/AAAAAAAADOo/bDitl3Bo0xg/s400/seeds%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrE5EgesBbk/VmSAQW6amlI/AAAAAAAADOY/YLO9gm9uSHo/s1600/seeds%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrE5EgesBbk/VmSAQW6amlI/AAAAAAAADOY/YLO9gm9uSHo/s320/seeds%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rd3uBgMt3ds/VmSARBZOv2I/AAAAAAAADOg/vw-nDTE5Mu0/s1600/seeds%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rd3uBgMt3ds/VmSARBZOv2I/AAAAAAAADOg/vw-nDTE5Mu0/s640/seeds%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seed heads are some of my favorite photo opportunities in the winter woods. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X20ch4QBBvo/VmSCdkcCylI/AAAAAAAADPE/YTMjNMU0FvY/s1600/nevermore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X20ch4QBBvo/VmSCdkcCylI/AAAAAAAADPE/YTMjNMU0FvY/s400/nevermore.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, I wasn't alone. Never. Never Alone in the Forest.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3g7cEvQ5kRc/VmSCfU7ySrI/AAAAAAAADPM/e5BM2YAJ68I/s1600/oak%2Bbw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3g7cEvQ5kRc/VmSCfU7ySrI/AAAAAAAADPM/e5BM2YAJ68I/s640/oak%2Bbw.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the end of my journey, I wished this oak a silent slumber. Winter is a time of rebirth as those seeds fall to the ground and begin their migration deep into the soil with the the cycles of freeze and thaw. Even in slumber, the forest never rests. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-13551404981679598072015-10-25T13:00:00.000-05:002015-10-25T13:00:37.348-05:00Shattered Bones, Beautiful Legacy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jVENtlammU/VivTgEMBB3I/AAAAAAAADBo/jxXwe2v-a-w/s1600/great%2Bbarn%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jVENtlammU/VivTgEMBB3I/AAAAAAAADBo/jxXwe2v-a-w/s640/great%2Bbarn%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While out admiring the leaves this week, I stumbled on this amazing structure. I know some of you are looking at this "wreck" and thinking A. Sad B. Ruin C. Tear it Down or D. All of the Above, but I see a shattered beauty that gave her all for her family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkuPyir3F8w/VivTXy_et8I/AAAAAAAADBM/YZyNNFaoq0Q/s1600/great%2Bbarn%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkuPyir3F8w/VivTXy_et8I/AAAAAAAADBM/YZyNNFaoq0Q/s640/great%2Bbarn%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Look at her. Against all odds, she still stands. She won't forever, but I have a wonderful story to share with you. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TrIVtd6HcG0/VivTYNOYvcI/AAAAAAAADBI/qXdqFWbmEmY/s1600/great%2Bbarn%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TrIVtd6HcG0/VivTYNOYvcI/AAAAAAAADBI/qXdqFWbmEmY/s400/great%2Bbarn%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I pulled to the side of the rural road outside my hometown and slung my camera across my shoulder. Snapping away, I pulled the camera from my eye to find a man walking toward me. Startled, I remembered to smile and say hello. "She's a beauty," I told him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Yep. I learned to milk a cow by hand in </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Grandpa's barn</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He obviously loved this barn. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"I offered to pay for a new roof years ago, but Dad said no. It wasn't worth it, but now I wish I had pushed harder." His eyes twinkled. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DYheQ1gG70/VivTeS1dXuI/AAAAAAAADBc/_WPGnfp1d_g/s1600/great%2Bbarn%2Bhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DYheQ1gG70/VivTeS1dXuI/AAAAAAAADBc/_WPGnfp1d_g/s400/great%2Bbarn%2Bhole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"You want to know what I see when I look at her?" I asked. "I see crisp, early mornings of your family warming their hands in the breath of a cow. I see hot summer afternoons, rushing to finish the milking before showering and heading out on your first date. I see art that can't be purchased. It must been nurtured, slowly."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He looked away. "I get people stopping here all the time. They all want to take a piece. You can't imagine how many people think of this as their barn."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I'm not one of those people. I would never muddy your sacred space, but I want to take its image with me, to cherish when one day it's gone."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He nodded, and I snapped another photo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"How old is it?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Grandpa built it in 1941."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That seemed young to me, but he continued. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"He couldn't get his hands on all the steel he needed. The war, you know. It had to come first. If they had only had more rebar, the foundation wouldn't have given out. The rock part of the foundation is still standing strong, but the cement crumbled, and well ... "</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hair on my arm stood up. I knew that if it had been built at any other time, a time without the rationing of World War II, it would still be standing strong. This man's grandfather gave to the war in an invisible way. "I sensed it was special, but thank you for sharing that with me. It's an incredible story." I took one more photo and said goodbye. I hope it wasn't for the last time. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8MUDE8Utlm0/VivdGgwu10I/AAAAAAAADB4/R5EuNOgaLd4/s1600/guts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8MUDE8Utlm0/VivdGgwu10I/AAAAAAAADB4/R5EuNOgaLd4/s1600/guts.jpg" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-65355795325850786052015-10-24T13:49:00.002-05:002015-10-24T13:49:30.061-05:00A Blaze of Glory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm human, although I often wish I wasn't. Can't you see me as a dragon? Back away from the flame, Rebecca. Anyway, Autumn in Wisconsin is glorious this year, but it always a reminder of the deep freeze to come. (I'm so not looking forward to winter) However, this year autumn has been spectacular. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some year, the gush of golden glory comes and goes in a single week, but 2015 has seen a protracted autumn. I can't stop driving around to ogle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's not all about the trees. It's often the details that catch my eye. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's symmetry in a milkweed pod that is there ... if you look for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But my favorites are trees that slowly start one color only to soften into something darker, richer, more ... autumnal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy the season wherever you live. Here in Wisconsin the sweet smell of summer flowers is already a distant memory, but I'm relishing the final fireworks before the world turns gray and white. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-81515115148344811272015-09-19T08:28:00.000-05:002015-09-19T08:28:00.884-05:00Fairy Activity Escalates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HKaz9CnHrR0/Vf1h8jNxPLI/AAAAAAAAC4s/rx0m8uqgVFE/s1600/glow%2Bgills%2Bmushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HKaz9CnHrR0/Vf1h8jNxPLI/AAAAAAAAC4s/rx0m8uqgVFE/s320/glow%2Bgills%2Bmushroom.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;">Reports of fairy activity continued to flare in and around the city
throughout the spring and early summer. While some city leaders privately
acknowledge unexplained events, none is willing to go public with their
suspicions, but this reporter remains convinced the fairy activity will
continue unabated. Research has shown fairies are egotistical beings who seek
attention both good and bad. Once an infestation takes hold, little can be
done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thus far, the Stoughton Press has confirmed three cases of fairy
mischief. First, a stroller temporarily
abandoned on Main Street, was recovered overflowing with violets and
dandelions. Next, a kitten escaped her owner only to return with her coat
covered in what has been determined to be the pollen from a distant relative of
the plum tree, one never seen before. In response, botanists are scouring the
area to find the tree. Finally, and most
disturbing to this reporter, the fairies have once again made contact. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Arriving at the office early on the morning of August 1<sup>st</sup>, I
was dismayed to find the tattered remains of the previous day’s donuts next to
my desk. While donuts formerly drew me like catnip, they no longer tantalize. Something
I attribute to Oton’s gluttonous habits. The donuts had to go, but as I reached
for the box, my fingers stiffened. Tiny footprints swirled through the powdered
sugar and orbited the colorful sprinkles. Too tiny for troll prints, it could
mean only one thing. Fairies had invaded the office. With growing unease, I followed the
footprints to my laptop and reached for my mouse. I was unsurprised to find it
smeared with tiny, chocolate hand prints. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be at the portal
tree when the summer fades into autumn. Come alone if you want to learn the
truth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The words stared out at me, daring me to close the document, but I
couldn’t do it. My reporter senses floated to the surface although my inner
child cowered in a hidden corner. I pressed print and locked the office door
before I began researching the autumnal equinox, a mere 53 days away. Exhaustive
research failed to uncover reliable references to any tree that could be termed
a portal, but I have alternative resources. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjenWCSr3ls/Vf1h5mB9DgI/AAAAAAAAC4g/LMEfu5CcAdA/s1600/glow%2Byellow%2Bmushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hjenWCSr3ls/Vf1h5mB9DgI/AAAAAAAAC4g/LMEfu5CcAdA/s320/glow%2Byellow%2Bmushroom.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After parking my car behind a stand of sumac, I started down the path. Upon
rounding the first bend, my attention fell on strange mushrooms. With a
hobbyist’s knowledge of the woods, I had never seen anything like them. In
various forms and even more colors, they seemed to glow from within, but as I
approached, the light faded. Luckily, I was able to snap these photos before
they went dark. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QR0_z7euZ9I/Vf1h8hSIHVI/AAAAAAAAC40/pDT7u1HJNks/s1600/glow%2Bsalmon%2Bmushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QR0_z7euZ9I/Vf1h8hSIHVI/AAAAAAAAC40/pDT7u1HJNks/s320/glow%2Bsalmon%2Bmushroom.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;">The winking mushrooms grew sparse then dwindled away before I entered
the village. The trolls remain cautious, but they have grown comfortable in my
presence although I feel like a lumbering giant among the ankle high trolls. I
located Oton and pulled him away. Being troll, Oton has no interest in human
scribbles so I read the message to him. His eyes soared across the valley. “You
know where it is, don’t you.” He looked over his shoulder. “Yes, but it’s not
my secret to share.” I followed his gaze to the even smaller trolless they call
Leaf. “Will she tell me?” Oton shrugged, but Leaf dipped her chin and began
walking. I followed her through the night, her long auburn hair swaying with
each step. I knew we were going in circles, but the tiny trolless never looked
back until we skirted an abandoned farmhouse. Finally, Leaf stopped and pointed
to a massive tree. “You can’t tell anyone. It’s not safe.” A shiver slithered
up my spine. “I’m not sure I can find it again,” I said. “You will, when the
time comes. The fairies will make certain you find your way.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While this reporter prepares to embark on a career making—or
breaking—assignment city residents are advised to remain calm as the fairies
have shown no sign of r<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>eal aggression, but things could
get interesting at 3:22am on Wednesday, September 23<sup>rd</sup>. </span><span style="font-family: Ebrima;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Originally appeared in the Fall edition of the Stoughton Press</i></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041267889989803935.post-89320698278968302312015-08-22T10:02:00.000-05:002015-08-22T10:02:07.246-05:00Betrayal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lovely but TOXIC!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm currently suffering a period of forced relaxation. I have so many projects beckoning, calling out for my attention, but I'm not getting to any of them. In fact, this post is my way of trying to focus if only for a few minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One week ago, I was working on the land my family is converting to a songbird and pollinator haven. It's a lot of work to free farm land, but it was something my father started in the mid 1980's. He's gone now, but we continue his quest. The work is hands-on, get-in-there and get-dirty-type-of-stuff, and with the temperatures expected to top 90 with humidity to match, I was dumb--so dumb. I wore shorts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a non-native plant that originated in Eurasia that is taking over the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, all of Wisconsin in fact. This plant grows in two stages. Year one, it's relatively small and innocent looking. But year two, it soars to five feet and sprouts a showy head of flowers with hundreds of seeds. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ty7HeGNs4A/VdiMOD_DUWI/AAAAAAAACzM/8KJLJeQHQlI/s1600/parsnip%2Byear%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ty7HeGNs4A/VdiMOD_DUWI/AAAAAAAACzM/8KJLJeQHQlI/s200/parsnip%2Byear%2B1.jpg" width="132" /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EvhJZsMHppw/VdiMOPtMX_I/AAAAAAAACzI/WWDAp_C5lg4/s1600/parsnip%2Byear%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EvhJZsMHppw/VdiMOPtMX_I/AAAAAAAACzI/WWDAp_C5lg4/s320/parsnip%2Byear%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wild parsnip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was well aware that it is a poisonous plant, and I was also aware that it was growing on the land, but I thought it was mostly contained in a well defined area as it has been for the last few years. Not so much anymore. It was everywhere. But I was dumb. I didn't understand how wicked this stuff is, but I know now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wild parsnip leaves, stems and flowers are all oily and if that oil gets on your skin, you feel nothing, but add UV light, the stuff that causes sunburns even on cloudy days, you get instant sunburn quickly followed by second degree burns. Second degree burns involve the destruction of the skin layer. The oil literally explodes skin cells when mixed with light! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5Jegr7wwek/VdiMUWDGRFI/AAAAAAAACzU/kLY8rnuGS9E/s1600/parsnip%2Bburns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5Jegr7wwek/VdiMUWDGRFI/AAAAAAAACzU/kLY8rnuGS9E/s1600/parsnip%2Bburns.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not my legs, but they look similar.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried to avoid it, but based on the burn pattern on my legs, I apparently knelt in a patch. The burn showed up the next morning. The next morning, I could barely walk. A trip to the doctor and I'm on oral steroids and chronically checking for signs of infection. As the blisters pop, the pain is exquisite. My legs are swathed in leggings in an attempt to provide a second skin to my traumatized legs. It's nearly impossible to focus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll get better. Eventually. But it occurred to me that this is a sign. Book three, the final chapters in the Legends of the Aurora trilogy, centers around an amazing garden, a Primordial Garden tended by an Elemental. Here's where the sign comes in. The working title of book three is <b><i>Garden of Betrayal</i></b>. While this garden is sublime, it hides infinite traps. Seems like a perfect place to plant a vicious wild parsnip. So while I may morph the plant into some other form, the horrific effects of this torture will make an appearance in the <b><i>Garden of Betrayal</i></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will have my revenge through words.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232482764896877501noreply@blogger.com0