lazy, lazy, lazy

A blue car arrived.

The pace of workers at the house has quickened. One man in green has started attending the flowers.

The managers workers were also budy discussing the course of events.
Soon there were houses for everyone. For those who liked some horseback riding, there were horses. Kids had their playgrounds. Mom has started barbecueing in the back-garden, beside the well.
After that, Mom got tired, drank some wine and went asleep.

Merry Christmas

Above is our Christmas Tree. It is fairly a feet tall, and is an alive pine. It's seed started growing in our garden and this is his first year as a Christmas tree.

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In the previous years, we used to have another, a larger specimen in the same container, but that one has outgrown her confinement. Each year we invited the tree into our barely-heated veranda. And she did reside there between 24 December and 6 January. But she became large and we had to give her away.

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Now we have this small one, so we decided to decorate the veranda and the container instead. But we do have some decorations on the tree itself.

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In Hungary, Christmas trees are usually set up on 24 December. Most people buy cut trees from street vendors. Some people buy trees in containers and there used to be a movement to tree-recycling, when people gave the tree back after the holidays, but unfortunately, it proved unsuccessful.

Most people keep the tree until mid-January. We, in respect of the living organism, relocate the tree back into the cold once the 'season' is over.

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In our family we decorate the tree together. It is a family activity, when everyone focuses on the tree and on making the room as nice as possible. Most decorations are angel/Jesus/star/plant/fairy-related. Most of our decorations are made of natural materials.

We prepare the room before noon, and decorate the tree after a hearty Christmas lunch. When it's ready, but not before the light starts to fade, we go for a walk.

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There's a Catholic church nearby with a short show called 'Betlehem'. Kids and adults join and re-play the story of the birth of Jesus. Small girls play angels, somewhat older kids play the shepherds and so on. There are animals involved as well. During the play, people can sing the songs along with the amateur actors. These are Catholic songs and folk songs as well.

We are not Catholics and our kids are well aware of that.

We watch the show because it is a good opportunity to walk away from home so that the angels can put the presents under the tree. But also the show is nice and peaceful. There are not really many people there, this year there were about a hundred. There are always friends there so that we can have some small season's talk with them. Everyone looks peaceful and seems to be expecting the evening and seems to be absorbed by the feeling of Christmas. The Curch is located at the very edge of the town, and there are many trees around.
When the show is over, we walk home and voilá - the presents are there, under the tree!

It's magic.

My kids are 11 and 8 and they still believe in the magic of angels.

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This is what we did today - we built a house :

Advent

As the world's pace is slowing down, and the light reaches it's shortest during the year, a star is born. I like Advent - it is about expectations. About a promise that will be fulfilled, an alleviation of burdens when they are the heaviest.

As time spirals towards Christmas, I'm getting into a relaxed mode.

How about you?

I have been collecting presents for the family and now almost everything is ready.

But I don't care much about presents itself.

In the year 2006 I have been gathering packages of grief, and were unable to shake them off quite easily. Some of them stays still and will be staying as long as I am.

I wrote 2006, but not by mistake. The year 2007 has come along with griefs of other kinds, too.

I open myself to the coming of the Winter Solstice, because in times of sorrow, where grayness prevails, one has to look for the smallest amount of victorious light.

I'm looking forward to my birthday as well - with mixed emotions.

I never thought growing old would feel at all.

Now my neck hurts, my knee hurts - these are temporary pains and will go away. But pains do stay longer now. Let us hope and pray that joy stays for longer, too.

I am thankful for having company here, even if it's virtual.

Have a Blessful Advent and Christmas.

A Hundred Entangled Words

I am expected at the edge.
My feet sink deep into the bog as they carry my troubled soul to the Elderly.
At the onset of night, a murmur raises. In the darkness a calling drifts, and a shiver of light lurks the inexperienced towards the marsh.
Some say it’s dangerous to walk alone. Some speak of vicious voices.
But that’s blindness to see, refusal to understand, objection to open up and perceive.

Grandma lived near the woods. She taught me to trust the Elderly whenever I was upset. Her silver hair swam around in a scent of bread, rosemary and apples in the room. She kept telling me stories, among which there was one I liked the most – The Legend of a Hundred Entangled Words:

Awe and respect guide me
Into your realm I’m approaching
Watch me, Elderly
A light guides me
When the Moon’s away
Into your arms I lower my pride
Your words I welcome through the mist
Have I been or done wrong
Judge me, Elderly
Am I the one to go or the one to stay
Tell me, Elderly
Your whisper settles down yet stirs within
Am I to stay or am I to enter the soft door
Under my feet
I bend to your decision
Like a ripple of dew
Take me if you wish
Lead me to eternal light

Well, this is how I came to this land today. I’ve been following the poem. Hush, I already hear the Wise speaking.

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This is a contest entry for Bernita's Weirdly contest.

Lions unite

I am humbled: The Shameless Lions Writing Circle, via Church Lady has given me the award called 'A Roar For Powerful Words'!

I would like to express my thanks to Church Lady for acknowledging my efforts.

I like that she says I have an earthy spirit - this is one of the nicest compliments I have ever been given. Plus, as a dedicated pagan this means oh-so-much to me. She likes my creativity and freshness - well, I like those as well, provided, there's any within me.

I have grown enough inside now to cast this praise away and say I'm not worth it...There were times when I acted like this. But as I grew more mature, I take it with a little blush and try to keep on working and living up to this standard.

Thank you, Church Lady!

Now, there's something about the award:

It was founded by Seamus Kearney. It's aim is to find, initiate and celebrate high-quality and powerful writing.

I am now to give three main characteristics I find of utmost importance in writing.

These are:

1. Depth and outcome and a potential help. There's no use reading/writing about things/people/events that do not explore some parts of the human (or other) soul. No matter how light or serious the subject of the writing is, no matter how long or short the writing is, it has to have a message and preferably, a positive one. Some encouragement. Some pshycological insight. Some help. Otherwise, one might grab and read a manual or a telephone book as well. Violence and pain is accepted - it's not that I can not tolerate them. But they have to have a well grounded meaning within the story. Perhaps it's not right to focus on this point, but meaningless violence and evil in writing hurts and spreads discomfort. And it does not help fight against violence.

2. A careful selection of words. I like when there are exciting or even exotic words in a writing, but...enough is enough. Since I consider myself more of a poet-in-training than a writer of prose, I like new combinations and expressions that make themselves resonate within the reader's mind. I like when reading a poem I feel the need to read it aloud for more pleasure.

3. Accuracy and determination. A purpose. Uhm, I'm sort of confused... How to put it? A writing that comes from true inspiration, that was fished from deep within, was written with honesty, not for a special market but to fulfill the need to write it. The relief the writer must have felt. It's even better when the reader gets some of this alleviation of pains.

And now, here are my list of bloggers/writers I wish to give the award to:

1. Vesper. Her words are powerful. My favourite poem by her is this. Please follow the link. But even when, for whatever reason, her voice is not that peaceful, the reader does get the meaning. She carefully plays with words and forms of poetry.

2. Bernita Harris. She makes readers think. She makes readers think about writing in general and also, she helps working out on some minor details as well. It's not that she provides readers with complex solutions - but she opens up our eyes to look and find and look and find again with the final goal of improving ourselves.

3. Jason Evans. He's quite complex talent provides readers with powerful writings including, but not limited to poetry, vignettes and short stories. I also heart his contests, but most of all I like his attention towards his readers. (The same goes to Bernita and Vesper as well!)

4. Paul at Strugglingwriter. He's definitely got that 'cheerful' touch to his writing. He's down-to-earth mentality is combined with spirituality and kindness. Too bad that his prose is hardly available in this site of his. Readers would clearly need more :)

5. Steve on the Slow Train. I have to admit that I do not read all of his posts. Shame on me, I know. His honesty and dedication toward any topic shows through his writing. His words are powerful. He digs deep and presents us with his findings. Most, if not all of his entries are non-fiction. Well, I love non fiction just as much as I do fiction.

Thank you again, and spread the word!

Recall the close look

This is some statistics I gathered around the 'Take a close look' photo quiz.

It's not that I can't let it go...I just wish to recall once again the fun it contained, and which, as it seemed, we all shared.

Well, I did my part: made macro-shots and that was all.

The best part was on my readers' side: they came and came again to look at my photographs, guess and guess again.

I wish to thank you all for taking part. You fantastic contribution in the comments section truly have made my job worthwile.

Here comes the statistics part of this entry.

Between 28 June and 22 November, there were 10 rounds.

Overall number of players: 62

Average number of players per round: 6,2

Number of individual players: 23

Total number of guesses:95

Average number of guesses per rounds:9,5
Number of guesses per players throughout the whole game: 4,13

A complete list of players, listed according to their order of appearance: Em, Bart, Lanternlight, Jason Evans, Kenju, Hails, Aniina, Bo, Beth, Husband to Bo, Melly, Wordnerd, Hoodie, IllMan, Angelique, Mr. Schprock, Soph, Ello, Church Lady, Pacatrue, Aine, Steve, Kathleen.

Each turn, a winner was announced.

SzélsőFa's now presenting you the winners galore!!!

Em (partial jawbone and teeth), Beth (with porous rock for limestone), Melly (feather), Beth (tree trunk), Beth (mushroom), Beth (soil), Hoodie (sunflower seeds), Jason Evans (moulded pufball mushroom), Aine (deep-fried coating), IllMan (cat fur on cat)

Winners took my compliments and admiration - but, no fancy stuff was sent out. I meant this to be fun, without any obligation on any part.

And after all these data, let me hand out some MORE awards:

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Faith award goes out to the player who took part in the largest number of rounds: Beth (eight)

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Wits and Eye to the player who won the most rounds: Beth, winning rounds 2, 4, 5 and 6.

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Eye and Eye Alone award goes to the player who guessed round Number 8 which turned out to be the toughest one: Jason Evans (rotten puffball mushroom).

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Fair Play award is going to the player who just kept guessing and guessing even while acknowledging she was wrong at guessing : Ello

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The Weird Eye is got by the player who had the strangest guess: Anniina (in round seven with 'heads of bald crows' for sunflower seeds).

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The Funny Eye award goes to the player who had the funniest guess: Hoodie (petrified alligator head in round eight)

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The Scientific Eye to the player with the most scientific guess (for a mushroom top in round five): Mr. Schprock with ***Okay, I am going to guess this is the much-anticipated fifth cranial node an adolescent Venutian male develops just prior to becoming a tertiary stage thrak. What gives it away are the tiny hairs growing out of the node's vespore, a sure sign of Venutian maturation. Females never grow a fifth node, often resulting in classic "node envy."***

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The Close to the Forest Award, with extra points to the player who noticed all my themes were related to nature: Em (in round six).

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Some personal remarks:

I thought round number 3 with feather was the easiest. It really proved to be the one. I thought mushroom head was also easy in round 5, but people came up with various funny ideas and that was a true delight in the history of the game. Sunflower seeds produced the scariest misguess of the whole game, and the player was honored by a special award. Aine's guess (closeup of wolf fur in round 10 for cat fur also made me think some, btw.)

My favourite photos were round 4 (close up of a walnut tree) and round 8 (rotten puffball mushroom). I enjoyed how difficult they proved to my kind readers.

All photos were made by me, between 21 June and 3 August 2007. All, except for soil in round 6, were made in or around our house.

And for the future?

I do NOT plan to continue this contest, at least not in the foreseeable blogging future. If time and inspiration suggest otherwise I am ready to take the challenge again.

But now I have something else in my mind. Another contest. Now, it's also about pictures, but in a different way. More about that when at least 60% of the contest material is available for me.

And you?

Which photos/rounds were your favourites? Did you like the idea at all? Did you like the photos in general? Do you like taking part in fun contests? Do you mind if there are no prizes?

Cheers from behind the lense,

To the Skies I Cry

I feared the fire
And I became the blaze
I feared drowning
And I became the ocean
I feared dissolving
So I flew away
But I never feared earth
And to her, I return

Hiking in the hills

Starting point: Tokod, a small city in the Gerecse Mountains.

Destination: Kesztölc, a small city in the Pilis Mountains.

Distance covered:15kms - convert from metric HERE.

Highest peak: Nagy-Gete 455m.

Weather: clear, sometimes sunny, 5-8 degrees centigrade.

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Worst experience: My son complaining about how dull and pointless hiking in general is. Later he exclaimed he wished to eat one of the berries he knew were poisonous so that he would die.

Best experience: The view from the top. Also, my son saying at the end that it was an interesting day.

Worst hiking experience: Having to go uphill at a 25-40 degrees slope for 90 minutes.

Best hiking experience: I was just as much panting as anyone in the group. Plus, I did climb it, after all. Also, the mactro shots I made.

Enjoy the photos.