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Group Writing: Odds and Sods
April brings, if not so many showers lately, then seeds to be sown – and I’ll get to them any day now, really I will: Dahlia seeds and all sorts, lamenting the cold spell we’ve been having, have taken to asking me confidentially, wouldn’t I rather sow them in pots on a nice warm windowsill instead?
It also brings digging to be done and roses to be planted – old roses, nice old roses, good old roses with fine-sounding names – like Gloire de Dijon (a golden apricot-yellow climber) and Star of Waltham (a rich open red).
It brings pots and seed trays and things that need washing (I’m getting there, I’m getting there).
It did bring weeding to be done, but I’m mainly ahead of you there – you see I have not been idle! (Or was that March?)
It brings rising sap, budding blossom and leaf, and the feeling that there’s so much I want to do. I may still be looking for the spring in my step (a-ha-ha-ha-ha) – I’m sure I had it here somewhere – but the sun shines here and there, melting the night’s frost and gladdening the hearts not just of the singing birds, but of those who like to listen to them.
Even if what they’re singing is “Why are you still abed? Up and at ’em – I don’t care if it’s Saaaturrrrdaaaay!” (Robins are such show-offs for the big crescendos – God bless ’em.)
What have you got that still needs to be done? What does the spring bring you that you’d like to do? (Answers on a postcard, or a comment: Sit down, sit down – the kettle’s just boiled …)
Published in Group Writing
It would take the soul of a cement slab not to enjoy the lovely imagery and engaging sentiment of this well-wrought post! Although I live in Los Angeles now, I do remember the long awaited effects of the dramatic change of seasons “back east”.
There are an uncountable number of places in North America with harsher, colder winters than Britain’s, and possibly an equally uncountable number with hotter, more humid summers. It’s nice to get a bulletin from the Motherland with a reminder of how pleasant weather can be, when it’s cooperating with us!
Murki very much, maestro! “You’re listening to RSR England — do not adjust that dial . . .”
According to Miss O’Malley, petting her. Luckily, Morgana is curled up asleep right now, so I get one hand free.
Cats have their priorities straight, you’ve got to hand it to them (if you don’t they mrrowwzle up to remind you).*
*: With apologies to Terry Pratchett for borrowing the format of that joke.
I’m going to stop procrastinating tomorrow.
Best time for it.
Weeds in quantity await, but they are patient souls and the weather looks even better next weekend.
See, not many people realise how thoughtful weeds can be like that. That’s even more justification for my policy of leaving a few here and there where they’re doing no real harm, or brightening the place up, or where removing them would make the place look too stark or cause too much trouble to flowers nearby.
* That made me grin. Pratchett is one of my favorites.
Thinking of the group of robins that frequents our yard, along with their orchestral machinations, sent me down a worm hole (hehe) searching for the collective noun for robins. Apparently birders are indecisive when it comes to our lyrical feathered friends, with 16 options:
Imagine my delight when, in my search, I discovered these two articles on collective nouns for birds and fun names to describe a flock of birds.
I have a lot that still needs to be done today, but my Saturday is still young (6:22 am currently.) And, much like @joelb, I’m going to stop procrastinating
tomorrowafter I’m finished thoroughly enjoying the above-referenced articles. (A Vatican of cardinals??!! Brilliant.)Happy Spring to you, @andrewmiller!
This makes me smile — and not just because of tomorrow’s Quote of the Day.
And to you! And see, that’s not procrastinating, it’s serendipitous research!
I prefer a conclave of cardinals.
Lovely post. I really miss English robins. Only about half the size, and much less brash than their American (distant) cousins.
I miss hedgehogs too.
What happens when smoke goes up?
. . . Pope Owlsric III?
(You lot are going to get me into trouble. That, or a very strange children’s book is going to result from all this. And then trouble.)
Murki! It’s the way they hold their little cups of tea while they’re chirruping at you.
And hedgehogs have always had those little embroidered waistcoats down to an art — where do they get the silk, one wonders?
Nice post, Andrew! And great use of “Odds & Sods!”
Thank you!
Seeding, weeking, planting, plucking, plenty to do when April showers start and stop.
There are two major monthly Group Writing projects. One is the Quote of the Day project, now managed by @she. This is the other project, in which Ricochet members claim a day of the month to write on a proposed theme. This is an easy way to expose your writing to a general audience, with a bit of accountability and topical guidance to encourage writing for its own sake.
Stop by and sign up now for “April Showers Bring . . . .”
Interested in Group Writing topics that came before? See the handy compendium of monthly themes. Check out links in the Group Writing Group. You can also join the group to get a notification when a new monthly theme is posted.
Sounds good.
Can’t wait to see the page for a murder of crows or a parliament of owls.
Now that’s just not fair — it’s like you’re trying to get me to draw this . . . Hmmm . . .
Tell you what, maestro, you do the poems, I’ll try my hand at the illustrations, how does that sound?
Do you think there’ll be room for a nevermore of ravens and a stool of pigeons?
I don’t see why not.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear . . . Birds of a Feather.
Also, a sleuth of bears.
Here’s a good start:
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/word-lists/list-of-names-for-groups-of-animals.html
And just because I have it handy:
I don’t need a reference; they’re obvious. A yogi of bears, a tony of tigers…
They’re Greaaaaat!
“. . . Round up the usual suspects . . .”