Summer Stock Sunday - 26

My vintage look at summer for Summer Stock Sunday, hosted by Robin at Around the Island.













Since much of North America has been suffering through a rather sizzling summer, here's a visual cool-down for those of you who would rather fry your eggs in a pan instead of on the sidewalk.

Here on Canada's east coast, summer can mean waking up to fog, drizzle and mist. That's why everyone here dresses by the layers code. Lightweight weatherproof jackets that won't turn cumbersome are perfect when the fog burns off and the sun comes blazing out.

Back in the day - the early 1970's - just before Gore-Tex became the clothing material of choice for Maritimers - denim was the go-to all-weather layer. Here my dad strikes his version of the Marlboro Man pose during a trip he took to Newfoundland with my uncle.

I love the low-lying fog out by the far shore in this shot, and the stunted trees hugging the land from the unrelenting wind coming in from the sea. Very likely this shot was taken by my Uncle Charlie.

Anne MacFarlane says Love those summer days that start off with fog rolling in from the water, then slowly the sun shines through! Like a nice big yellow surprise!

Gattina says In Belgium too we have to dress like an onion, like we say, and then you take the layers off or put them on depending if it gets warm or cold, lol!

Dianne says Fog, drizzle and mist sounds so good right now!! :)

Weekend Writer's Retreat - 19

Here's the latest installment of Scorpius' boyhood back story.

Scorpius is a character from my dark fantasy work in progress. For the first twelve scenes I've posted for the Weekend Writer's Retreat, we've followed him as a seven-year-old, when he outgrew the nursery where he'd been brought up with the other children of the blood.

But when no one from his family came to claim him, Scorpius was released to serve a falcon master as an apprentice.

We rejoin him at age ten.

An incident that took place at the falconer's cottage three years ago has political repercussions that now haunt Scorpius and his master, Richolf.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.



Scene 19

“Let’s get you inside, sir,” Scorpius said, pulling his master upright and out of the cart.

Richolf shook with effort and fever. Scorpius was too consumed with his wobbly attempt at support to give into the fear that nipped at his heels. The falconer could not stand, and it was still a long way to get his master into bed.

Scorpius’ body swayed and buckled as he cajoled, coaxed and commanded Richolf to keep moving. They just managed to cross the threshold into the cottage when his master slipped from his grasp and crumpled to the floor.

Fighting to catch his breath in the gloom of nightfall, Scorpius gazed across the cottage at the bed that was too far away. Unnerving moans drifted up from the falconer, while the dogs continued their noisy quarrel outside. Crouching down beside his master, he laid a hand upon Richolf’s back while gathering the wits that meant to desert him.

It seemed an age before he finally struck upon a plan. Hauling his master’s pallet from the bed frame, Scorpius dragged it across the kitchen and rolled the falconer onto it. Richolf gasped in pain. “No, my lord,” he said, and his master’s desperation tore into Scorpius like talons.

He wrestled their dog inside to keep watch over Richolf, then ordered the cart dog to follow him to the shed, loading the fur pelts to the top for the trip back to the estate he meant to make first thing in the morning. It was late when he returned alone to the cottage, leaving the cart dog to spend the night on his own.

He returned to find Richolf had been sick over himself.

Scorpius spent a long night curled up on the pallet beside his master, offering sips of water, covering him up when he shivered, uncovering him when he sweat. Muttered words haunted the night, words that bore witness to endurance, to unyielding will. Each time Richolf woke with a start, Scorpius saw the courage marshaling behind his master’s wary gaze.

Morning dawned like an outgrown fairytale. Scorpius set off with the pelts to return the dog and the cart to their owner. Once he reached the estate, he inquired as to where he might sell the furs, striking out for the cottage again with money and several tonics for his master.

The walk back without the dog or the estate servant gave Scorpius a chance to settle his fears and sort his thoughts. His master had never spoken directly about that night, the one that seemed to be of such dreadful importance. But now he’d been summoned to answer for the actions of that night, actions done by another, actions that swept them both up like a flash flood.

If he were to keep his own grasp steady, Scorpius needed to truly understand what had gone on that day. So he had it all planned, all the questions he would put to his master, until he re-entered the cottage and saw the shuttered look in Richolf’s eyes.

Sitting on the edge of the pallet, Scorpius took in Richolf’s pale, bruised face, mottled with dirt and sweat. How could he add himself to his master’s list of tormentors?

But he would do it. He must succeed where the other men had failed.

© Julia Smith 2010

Naquillity says Another great segment today. I wonder if Scorpius will succeed in finding the answers he so desperately needs?

Alice Audrey says Oh, careful Scorpius. I'd hate to see you become no better than them. On the other hand, I really would like to know what's going on.

Travis Cody says Caution. Circumspection. Independence. Perseverance. All these previous lessons leading to this next one...Resolve. Nicely done.

5 on Friday - Set 26

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Maybe it was hanging with my high school pals last weekend, but I'm feeling rather wild this week.

1 - Wild World - Cat Stevens

But if you want to leave
Take good care
Hope you make a lot of
Nice friends out there

But just remember
There's a lot of bad
And beware

Oh, baby, baby it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby it's a wild world
I'll always remember you
Like a child, girl

- Cat Stevens



2 - Wild, Wild Life - Talking Heads

Like sitting on pins and needles
Things fall apart
It's scientific

Sleeping on the interstate
Getting wild, wild life
Checking in
Checking out
I got a wild, wild life

Spending all of my money and time
Done too much wild, wild life
We wanna go where we go
Where we go
I doing wild, wild life

I know it, that's how we start
Got some wild, wild life
Paint a picture of me in the daylight
And it's a wild, wild life

- David Byrne



3 - Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop

Gonna meet all my friends
Gonna have ourselves a ball
Gonna tell my friends
Gonna tell them all
That I'm a wild one
Ooo yeah, I'm a wild one

Gotta break it loose
Gonna keep 'em movin' wild
Gonna keep a-swingin' baby
I'm a real wild child

- Greenan / O'Keefe / Owens



4 - Wild Thing - The Troggs

Wild thing
You make my heart sing
You make everything groovy
Wild thing

Wild thing
I think I love you
But I wanna know for sure
Come on, hold me tight
I love you

- Chip Taylor



5 - Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

Yeah darlin', go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never want to die

Born to be wild

- Mars Bonfire



Mike Golch says Wild Thing, I have not heard that one in ages! Boy am I showing my age.

Akelamalu says Wild Thing brought back a whole load of memories! ;)

Shelley Munro says Awesome selction, Julia. I love Born to Be Wild and Wild Thing. They're classics.

Thursday Thirteen - 170 - 13 Things You'd Find in Peredur's World

Today's Thursday Thirteen is a collection of images that are foremost in my mind as I work on my vampire work in progress. This story follows a Dark Age Welsh warrior who becomes a vampire.


1 - Round hut













2 - Sword




3 - Cloak brooch










4 - Spear

















5 - Pewter ring








6 - Vampires













7 - Caverns











8 - Blood












9 - An angel
















10 - Initiation tree











11 - Spells
















12 - Silver chains















13 - Bone amulet







Ann Pino says I like that round hut.

Adelle Laudan says Great idea. I just might steal it. Sounds like the makings of a great book.

Travis Cody says I'm always curious about the vampire culture a writer chooses to utilize. Would you say your vampires are more in the Ann Rice culture, Bram Stoker culture, or some combined varietal?

Wordless Wednesday - 160

Naquillity says Sounds like you had a great time with your friends. And you won, yeah...

Harriet says Haven't played Trivial Pursuit in years!

Through the Opera Glasses - 65 - The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth debuted on The Movie Network and Movie Central last week in Canada, and on Starz in the US.

Hooray! says I, who loves everything medieval. This series, based on the book by Ken Follett, has everything I love: life-or-death royal power mongering, salt-of-the-earth good guys, slippery Gray Character bad guys, several young male characters all trying to find their places in the world, strong and resourceful female characters who push the boundaries of what society allows them to be without zigzagging into anachronistic territory.

There's swords, horses, battles, kings, monks, a wise woman, castles, cathedrals, sins, secrets, and backstory waiting to change everything.

Not only that - there is:


Matthew Macfadyen










Ian McShane















Rufus Sewell


Eddie Redmayne



Naquillity says I don't get Starz but it appears the episodes are online so I can watch them there perhaps.

Jennie Marsland says Sounds great, Julia! I'll have to try to find it.

Travis Cody says Ian McShane and Rufus Sewell eh? That recommends it very well right there.

Poetry Train Monday - 163 - At Least

I'm taking part in The 3:15 Experiment for the first time ever.

It began back in 1993. I signed up to do it last year when I first heard about it, but I was only a few months into my acupuncture treatment, and at this point last year I was still struggling through my days with chronic pain issues.

I enjoyed reading the poems that emerged from this poetry event over at Art Predator's blog, however, and this year when it rolled around again, I made sure I was ready for it.

For more information on The 3:15 Experiment, visit Danika Dinsmore and Gwendolyn Alley and they'll fill you in on all the details.

The Coles Notes version:

Starting on the night of July 31/Aug. 1, set your alarm for 3:15 am, wake up, write a poem in the midst of your sleepiness and go back to sleep. Repeat each night for the month of August.

For today's Poetry Train, here is my first-ever middle-of-the-night poem, in its raw stage, as written at 3:30 this morning.













At Least


Tried to get home
But it had snowed
Tried to return
But the snowfall was epic
Tried to get inside
But the front of the house was plastered
Tried to clear the way
But there was no shovel
Dug in with my two hands
My two mittened hands
Snow shot up inside my sleeves
Tried to get in
Long hours ahead
Two mittened shovels

At least
The porch light was on

- Julia Smith, 2010

For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!

Photo by Steve Gallagher

Naquillity says I do like the poems I've seen from the experiment and yours is no exception. I love what you did here. It's a great start to a month long exercise. Good luck.

Stan Ski says I might give it a go...It seems to work OK for you, in your trial run.

Aniket says I think its a nice idea to wake up "just" for writing and then sleeping. It should be given a try..