The Lesson of The Color Yellow … Friday Fictioneers

February 10, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 29 Comments

A big shout out to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and Friday Fictioneers. An outstanding place for authors to finesse their writing style each week by writing a flash fiction (100 words or less) or short story based on a photo prompt. For more info on how you can be a part of this fun loving group of writers or to just sample their creativity, click HERE!

My entry:

PHOTO PROMPT © The Reclining Gentleman

The crowd was spellbound.

“It’s not just about the color yellow,” she said pausing for affect. “Although if one thinks about it yellow’s a most exceptional color. After all the sun shines yellow, the moon at its brightest is a rich golden yellow and we mustn’t forget glorious spring daffodils. Yes, yellow a truly fulfilling aspect of color.”

The shining vision of loveliness continued. “You see it’s not only about color in one’s life. It’s about the absence of it and most definitely one color should never be sufficient.”

Then with a mighty sweep of her wings the angel vanished from view.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed my words. Have a wonderful rest of your week and weekend to come, rich with colors of every kind!

♡

With sincere affection

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – The Language of the Birds

February 3, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

This week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge is a sweet photo of a mother and her ducklings (Thanks Al), my offering follows. For more information about either participating or reading other writers entries click here.

photo copyright Alastair Forbes, 2016

The Language of the Birds

As I walk along the water, mind in a meditative state, I feel most peaceful viewing the sweet scenic image of a mother duck keeping cautious eye on her brood of ducklings paddling nearby in the fresh water pond. Colorful array of small fish and pebbles just beneath the shallow rippling waters create a pleasant visual sensation of harmony and tranquility, life and renewal.

I admit to being moved by this comforting view of reality, even with the realization of knowing that we all live in a consciousness hologram, set in linear time for the experience and subsequent recording of related emotions. Such is the nature of the great human ‘bio-genetic Earth experiment’ of which I was, until recently an unknowing participant.

Of course now that I am aware, the worldwide pattern recognition reoccurring in all areas of life seem obvious to me. Layers of past, present and future (“the all-time” as I like to think of it) linking together as one. I hope my human experiences are therefore not compromised (as a result of this knowledge) in my memory banks.

However I find it most synchronous, even intriguing to be strolling past this pastoral scene of life and birds, whilst also finding myself in the middle of deciphering a mystical and mysterious book “The Language of the Birds”. An ancient manuscript purported to be about our true human beginnings, mailed to me by an anonymous source. Clearly the language the ducks are speaking here is not of what the book is referencing … but then again, perhaps …

***

Thanks for stopping by, hoping the remainder of your week is a positive and creative one.

With affection,

~ Penny

A Warmth Against Her Skin – Sunday Photo Fiction

January 26, 2016January 26, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 10 Comments

Hi Al and thank you for providing this wonderful weekly writers challenge (200 words or less) based on a photo. I love your city photo below, beautiful! For more information on how to enter Sunday Photo Fiction’s writers challenge (or to sample the other authors creative work) click here

My offering follows:

Photo Credit and copyright Alastair Forbes 2016

A Warmth Against Her Skin

Walking briskly along the street, she listened to early morning sounds of the waking city. Although warmly dressed, chilly air still managed to permeate the several layers of thick winter clothing. She hugged herself feeling an intense need for warmth against her skin.

Continuing her morning walk, she passed street vendors, inhaling the enticing aromas of breakfast fare being served to waiting customers. Recognizing her, a few vendors waved hello, welcoming smiles spread upon their friendly faces.

“Nancy,” one of the vendors called, volume of his voice raised so she’d be sure to hear him. “How about a hot cup of coffee and pastry to warm you up this morning? And say …” he added, noticing she was alone, “where’s your walking companion today?”

She shook her head, smiling a sad little smile back, hugging herself even more fiercely against the cold.

“I’m solo now,” She responded, an involuntary shiver to her movements, realization finally setting in that it wasn’t warmth against her skin that was missing, it was a warmth so desperately needed to stop the cold dark emptiness pouring out of her broken heart.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope your week is a great one filled to overflowing with warmth – in both your heart and your life!

♡

With much affection,

~ Penny

She Plays So Well – Friday Fictioneers

January 20, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 31 Comments

A new week brings a new “flash fiction” writers challenge from Friday Fictioneers. Thank you to the always gracious and talented, Rochelle. To be a part of this wonderful writers weekly challenge or read some of the awesome other entries click HERE!

My entry (for those who follow my blog) is unlike those I generally write which tends to be positive, loving and upbeat. Still I hope all you creative types out there enjoy this very temporary change of pace from me:

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan W. Fields

She Plays So Well

“She plays so well,” he thought with undying admiration.

A virtuoso, her long slender fingers drifting delicately over keys with expertise rarely seen. He was only one of many applauding her amazing performance, but he was the lucky one asked to attend her in her dressing room after.

Happily sharing his love fully and completely, too late realizing he was also the one selected to replace depleted creative energy, he felt her demonic fingers drifting delicately over his body draining him of life.

“Ah, but she plays so well,” he thought even as his beating heart stopped in dying admiration.

Thanks for your visit, I hope you enjoyed this playful rendition of life not going the way you thought it should. A good idea to remember sometimes things aren’t what they seem.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend to come. May your days be filled with only good and positive things!

With much affection,

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – A Beaker of Magic Passion!

January 3, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

Too too long since I have written flash fiction for Al’s wonderful Sunday Photo Fiction, click here for more information on how to enter your own short short story based on the photo (around 200 words) or to read some of the other delightful entries. Thanks Al.

To me the object in the photo looked like a beaker, the lights at the bottom a little bit like magic, so I wrote accordingly:

A Beaker of Magic Passion

“As you can see,” she whispered seductively, “I hold in my hand a beaker of passionate magic. It is up to you to decide what’s to be done with it.”

He scoffed. “More likely a beaker filled with your overactive imagination.”

“Perhaps, as you say, it is a beaker of imagination. Yet I have found imagination to be closely related to the nature of passions in one’s life!” She responded with a sweet smile.

“You speak nonsense.” He said.

The smile remained on her face although there was a strained quality to it. “It is nonsense only in this reality that you currently endorse as your life. But there are many realities and in mine, the beaker I have is filled with passionate magic. What do you wish me to do with it?”

His caustic laughter most unpleasant and dismissive with intent. “Do with it as you wish, my love. As you wish. I care not for your silliness. I shall go about my day doing precisely as I desire – without need for any mythological magic.”

Removing the stopper from it’s container, her smile became sad as she spoke. “I will do as you have requested. I wish for my own passionate love of you to be transferred to someone who loves and respects me believing that all things are possible if you believe they are.”

A moment later she vanished. He never saw her again, but over the years in his loneliness he often thought he could hear her gentle happy laughter echoing in the reality of the empty chambers of his heart.

But of course he knew it was only his imagination!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed. Have an excellent new week ahead.

With affection,

~ Penny

Friday Fictioneers – Wishing you …

December 23, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 23 Comments

It’s been awhile since I’ve spent time with the Friday Fictioneers. Those talented writers, whose creative stories (of approximately 100 words) always make for a good read, are lead by the gracious and talented Rochelle. For more information on how you can become a Friday Fictioneer or just spend some time reading other authors creative musings, click here!

My offering for this week’s photo prompt by Scott L. Vannatter follows:

PHOTO PROMPT – © Scott L. Vannatter

When a Cat Smiles

Writing down the names of my social media friends on my “Socially Correct Greetings” list and then adding which holiday greeting to be used for each (based on their religious beliefs) was time consuming this year.

I didn’t want to use the generic Happy Holiday greeting either. Too impersonal.

My cat smiling, as usual, at both my and my species self imposed idiocy responded accordingly with a single “Meow”.

One sound conveying so much. I liked it and so followed his wise advice.

I wish you and yours … LOVE!

♡

With much affection,

~ Penny

The Heart of the Matter ~ American’s looking for America!

October 21, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 28 Comments

A very dear and cherished friend of mine (not an American, he’s from Scotland currently residing in France) wrote a flash fiction (100 words or less) story for Friday Fictioneers (a very successful weekly writer’s challenge “based on a photo”. Rochelle, congrats on your third year as the awesome facilitator for this literary blog).

His short story was about a trip he took to my country – to experience America – a few years back. It did bring excellent memories of his time here in the Tri-Cities of Washington, as well as Portland, Oregon, and of course San Francisco and many other towns, cities and communities he visited. Here is a link to his story “Greyhound”.

At the close of his story he shared the video of Simon & Garfunkel singing the song “America”! And while it brought back wonderful memories it also reminded me of where we, as Americans, are today.

It seems we Americans are all searching for America with our many concerns and fears for the now of things and our futures but I truly believe the Heart of America is still where it’s always been … inside each of our hearts. (Going all the way back to indigenous Americans and then the steady addition of each of the many of us whose ancestors and current family members came as immigrants and settled here in our amazing country.)

America is truly an amalgamation of all peoples, races, creeds, religions and of course individual points of view. To find the hope and potential of America, my fellow Americans we’ve but to look within our own loving hearts. There is so much potential for all of us. Working together we will accomplish more than we ever have before.

So now after this long introduction, here is my 100 word flash fiction story based on the photo below:

PHOTO PROMPT © Ron Pruitt

Quietly waiting for her turn to board the bus, an elderly woman carrying a ticket, small bag and guitar stood in line. While adjusting the items she carried, a young man also standing in line asked if he might help. The man was thanked and given the guitar to hold.

“Where are you going?” He asked politely.

“Downtown.” She replied. “First to vote and then to attend a gathering of fellow musicians to celebrate.”

“What are you celebrating, and why bother to vote first?” He responded.

“Because I can!” She said answering both questions, a huge smile on her face.

~*~

Thank you, have a wonderful day,

With much affection,

~Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – Maze of corridors or it’s all about directions!

December 19, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 15 Comments

View of one of the outbuildings from the roof of Dover Castle

It’s not that I don’t read directions when I receive them (okay I don’t, at least not very well) but who knew a castle could have so many corridors. Well actually I did, still, I have a map and directions too, but I figured I could just follow the map. Looked simply enough. Right turn here, left turn there and so on until I should have ended up in the dining room.

It was nice to be invited for the festive holiday weekend, but between the cold drafty bedroom, poorly lit hallways, well let’s just say I’d be glad when it was time to go.

Now it appeared, instead of freezing, I’d starve to death before finding my way to the dining room.

Finally I looked at the directions again squinting in the poor light to make out the clearly printed words at the bottom of the sheet of paper.

What I found there, that I should have read in the beginning said, “When you think you’ve gotten enough exercise, use your cell phone and call this number. We’ll come and get you for dinner.”

Proving the point you should read ALL the directions first!

For more information about Sunday Photo Fiction and how you can enter click here for the details. your very talented host, Alastair, will guide you through the steps. And, while there, be sure to click on the little blue guy for more short stories by some great writers!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish The Story – The Dream of Longevity!

December 1, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

Prompt sentence that accompanies the photograph: “In the compound on the hill, lives a man with a dream.”

My entry:

In the compound on the hill, lives a man with a dream. An ordinary man, if exceedingly wealthy. His dream is to live forever, and at the age of 95 and in good health, many believe he’s found some clue to immortality.

But he hasn’t. What he has done is take very good care of himself, shoring up the weak parts of body and mind with the aid of very expensive doctors and other professionals. His quandary is his acute awareness of his mortality and the statistical averages regarding the longevity for humans. He knows he’s running out of time for figuring it out and then one day sitting on his private veranda, sick and tired of being alone while gazing at the expansive and expensive land around him, he knew.

It wasn’t so much about living long as it was about living a full life. He donated most of his many millions to worthy charities and causes, and lived a modest but happy rest of his life (which turned out to be a fair amount of time) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (oh no wait that’s this writer’s dream, well anyway I hope it comes true, re: millionaires giving their money and hearts to the needy! Definitely a wishful dream on my part!)

Thanks for stopping by and reading, I hope you enjoyed.

For more information about Mondays Finish The Story (flash fiction) Writers Challenge, where the writer uses both a photo and an opening sentence for the prompt: click HERE. Barb will guide you through the process, be sure and read some of the other entries while you’re there.

Happy beginning of the week, I hope your week is a great one for you,

~ Penny

Mondays Finish the Story – Dancing for the life of it!

November 24, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

Dancing For the Life of It

“Dance as if no one is watching!” Now where have I heard that before? Oh yes, it’s part of a Mark Twain quote. But I digress. I am only a dancing statue but if I were flesh and blood …

… you’d find me running barefoot through open fields and meadows. I’d be scaling the tallest majestic mountains, breathing in the beauty of never-ending surrounding vistas.

If I were alive I’d swim to the bottom of the ocean, meet mysterious creatures residing in the murky, dark and sometimes luminous “other worlds” of the ocean’s depths.

Being on earth as a human, I’d explore, without hesitation, the wonder and uniqueness of every single living entity … and glory in its creation. I’d meet as many forms of life in the wild and learn of their ways in nature. I’d embrace the natural behavior and order of things. And after I had done all those things … I’d dance … because I have the gift of life!

Thanks for stopping by and reading, I hope your enjoyed.

Happy beginning of the week, I hope your week is a great one for you,

~ Penny