Coffee in the throes of fall

September 28, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle11 Comments

El sol está brillante hoy pero está frió (the sun is shining but it is cold).

This is my island center piece this fall. Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

Fall is in its full throes. It is too easy these fall days for a chill to creep into the bones. The season welcomes warm sweaters, jeans and somedays a nice scarf or a knit hat. Promises of frost and snows drift on the winds. With a heavy sigh I lift my hot cup of coffee to my lips and blow softly on it so that the warm fragrant steams pillow in my face before I enjoy that first hot sip. Another sigh and a smile.

If we were having coffee I would ask what kind of warm beverage can I offer you today?

I am sad to say that last weekend’s camping trip didn’t go as I had hoped because I was coming down with whatever cold my children are getting over. I ended up sleeping a bit extra and by Monday I was in no shape to go into work. I was describing myself by saying, “Jo estoy la mujer cansada” (I am a tired woman). I am feeling a bit better now but I think it is going to take a few more days to feel 100%. The pie that I wanted to make did get made but not when I had originally hoped which is okay.

Raspberry Peach Pie – Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

An activity that I did complete while I was feeling under the weather is a piece for the Christmas dollhouse I am still working on. Some of you might remember me sharing my progress with it last November. Anyway, while sitting and resting I needed to putter a bit so I took some pieces I had been collecting and created a nice shelf piece. As you can see from the picture I have an empty spot on the one shelf; I have to get something to fill that spot in.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I have completed 6 of my Spanish classes now and I can compose very simple sentences! Jo estoy estudiante contenta (I am a happy/contented student).

I have started to read Terry Brook’s First King of Shannara. I am only about 100 pages and I am happy to say that I am enjoying it. I wasn’t sure when I first started into it but after a few pages I was hooked. Reading time is limited for the next little while so I image at the rate of 1 to 2 pages a night it will be a long while before I to obtain a copy of book two.

If we were having coffee I would ask, ¿Cómo está semana? (how was this week?)

By Shari Marshall – 2019

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Eclectic Alli; hope you have a few minutes to join us for a virtual mug.

Miscellaneous

Pumpkin Love

September 26, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle

SEPT 26 2019 image 2 (2) — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

SEPT 26 2019 image 2 (1) — Photograph by Greg ©

Writing

When the Bottom Falls Out

September 25, 2019February 21, 2026 Writing Sparkle2 Comments

The Penis Chronicles presents, “When the Bottom Falls Out”

My youngest boy can’t swim. The child doesn’t even float; he sinks like a boulder! Now for most of us the knowledge that we can’t swim screams out from the tiny corner of our brain, “STOP FOOL DON’T JUMP! YOU CAN’T SWIM!” However, with my son this doesn’t happen or if it does he isn’t listening. The result is that I have narrowly managed to grab him, any part of him, after he has dashed and dove into the water. By the way, arms or clothing are the best for leverage.

Short of letting him drowned (which isn’t an option) I don’t know how to get this through his head. And yes we are trying to teach him to swim but it seems he’d rather risk death then learn!

When we went to the Miette Hot Springs last year he added a new level to his death stunt. We had all been enjoying the warm waters in a safe manner. The hot spring is a large pool with varying depths so he could touch and was happy for a while. Over to the side of the large pool are a series of small circular pools which the boys somehow managed to see and then wanted to investigate. So, we walked over and before I could blink he jumped. Not shocking but what was shocking was that when I plunged my arm down to grab the fearless sinker I was assaulted by a series of pins and needles all the way up my arm! My little dare devil added polar dip to his sinking boulder routine and he was submerged all the way to the last hair on his head.

Wow, did he love it!

Wow, was I mad!

His next stunt after that didn’t go as he planned because I managed to wrestle, yes wrestle, water wings on him before he propelled his 5 year old self off a small cliff into cenote leaving his father and I slack jawed on the top!

By Shari Marshall – 2019

**P.S. I did jump into the cenote as well and I can see the thrill, but then again I can swim.

The Penis Chronicles is a weekly platform for sharing childcare stories, advice & etcetera. Raising children is an adventure! And please, I know the title says “penis chronicles”, but stories about raising girls are very much welcome. Please post and share your link and/or your comments in the comments section below.

Miscellaneous

Preserve

September 24, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle

SEPT 24 2019 image — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

Miscellaneous

Betwixt

September 23, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle

The shift happened a few weeks ago and the Autumn Equinox is upon us. We are officially nestling into the season between summer and winter. The nights settle on us earlier and welcome the soft glow of candles and the warmth from fireplaces. I enjoy these cooler nights which are quiet and contemplative. It is a time for balance, preparation and reflection. I am thankful for the beauty that comes with this change in seasons as the colours shift from greens to yellows, oranges and browns and the air shifts from hot and muggy to cool and crisp. Even the smell in the air undergoes a shift from that perfumed smell of summer to the crisp earthy smell of fall. Soon we will usher in the dark half of the year but for right now I am thankful for this time betwixt.

Blessed be.

By Shari Marshall – 2019

Miscellaneous

Scarecrow Sweepstakes

September 22, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle

The sounds of corn stalks rustling in the breeze is familiar to the humans that live in the area. It is a typical fall sound that doesn’t gain too much attention. However, in the fields the scarecrows grow restless with anticipation because for them that soft muffled crackling sound means that it is almost time for the scarecrow sweepstakes.

For over 3000 years scarecrows worldwide have participated in the yearly scarecrow sweepstakes. Each scarecrow takes its job seriously; to be bestowed with keeping the crops safe till harvest is an honour. No scarecrow wants to be replaced because the birds and other pests have decided that they want to make friends. That straw hat and plaid shirt are not comfy places for a crow to perch no matter what it thinks and scarecrows can only wave their arms to scare the birds away when they are certain that no human will see.

When the sweepstakes open scarecrows use acorns to gain entry to the Scarecrow Festival where the draw will take place. Each year there are a number of light reflecting devices in the latest styles that each scarecrow dreams to own. Not only do these devices blind the victim with light but some of them make noise that to scare away birds as well. It really offers an added advantage to the job. Scarecrows love to make their human happy and to hear praise about the excellent job they are doing.

Reflective discs come in the form of earrings but can also be hooked through the brim of a straw hat. They are a simple flat circle shape with a hook like hanger attached. The reflective discs are given out in the thousands. These aren’t the least desirable prize but they aren’t the most sought after either. Reflective tape stripes are the least desirable but no scarecrow no will turn its hay away from a tool that will increase its job status. The item that gets the most attention are the wind twisting scare rods. Scare rods are reflective and ornamental. Certain ones come with multiple twisting rods that act like a wind chime.

Next time you inspect a scarecrow check and see if it has won anything from the scarecrow sweepstakes and don’t forget to give it praise for a job well done!

By Shari Marshall – 2019

Miscellaneous

In the Maze

September 20, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle

SEPT 20 2019 image 2 (2) — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

SEPT 20 2019 image 2 (1) — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

SEPT 20 2019 imge 3 — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

Writing

Fall suddenly or heavily asleep

September 18, 2019February 21, 2026 Writing Sparkle2 Comments

May 1, 2019 image 7 — Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

The Penis Chronicles presents, “Fall suddenly or heavily asleep.”

The google definition of zonk as a verb is “1. Hit or strike 2. Fall or cause to fall suddenly and heavily asleep or lose consciousness” (February 7, 2017).

My older boy has an amazing ability to zonk out; it has never been a trait I could master. However, he has fallen asleep chewing pizza and slept through me fishing that bite of pizza out of his mouth, and then moving him from point A to bed. In this particular pizza sleeping incident point A was a bumbo chair and we went out the front door and down the street to our house where I deposited him in bed.

ZZZ is defined by google as “a sound used to suggest the sound of sleeping or snoring. A comic book showing someone sleeping with a speech bubble overhead is an example of ZZZ” (February 7, 2017).

There have been so many of these priceless zonked out moments. Do you have any to share?

By Shari Marshall – This post was originally written for April 30, 2017 A – Z Challenge: Raising Boys: The Penis Chronicles presents the Letter Z for Zonked

Z image 1 — “Shhh, I’m sleeping!” Photograph by Shari Marshall ©

Miscellaneous

Fall into Pie

September 16, 2019February 6, 2022 Writing Sparkle3 Comments

What is better then fall pies or shrinking them down to make fall tarts?

Pumpkin
Pecan
Apple

Those are the 3 traditional pies that pop into my mind. Each one is delicious and fabulous in its own way. Although pumpkin, pecan and apple are 3 of my favourite flavours I would like to draw attention to another fall flavour that doesn’t get enough credit: raspberry or raspberry peach pies.

Yummy!

The tart sweetness of the jam like filling paired with the juicy peaches is mouthwatering. The pastry crust is light, flakey and buttery. It is best served warm with a dollop of French vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee. And who can forget the colours? A golden brown crust stuffed with a red so deep it is almost a shade of purple dotted with soft pinky orange chunks.

Wow!

What is your favourite fall desert?

By Shari Marshall – 2019