ZEPHYR: Soft mild gentle wind or breeze
Cicada’s bellow, bird song loud
their cacophony sometimes deafening
Afternoon zephyr still lingering
but no for long
as summer morphs into autumn
Abundance in the garden – past it’s best
Proof of a magnificent harvest
Trees dropping leaves
Cats snoozing in the last of summer heat
Feijoas signalling in the cooler months
Autumn and its unique beauty
offers time to reflect, contemplate
and prepare for winter……
YCLEPT: Called (by the name of)
I chose yclept because it is such an odd word, and I wanted at least one word I had never ever heard of before included in my A-Z Challenge.
Pronounced: ee-klept
Synonyms: appellation, clepe, named, styled, titled, known as, termed.
In a sentence: My tortoise shell cat yclept Missy Moo stretched as she enjoyed the warmth of the late afternoon sun.
©hk photography
XMAS: Abbreviation for Christmas
My trusty 1976 dictionary contained only 26 X words. It did however have Xmas as one of the 26 words so I am kind of grasping at straws and using an abbreviation – it was difficult finding a suitable word.
So in keeping with the Xmas theme I am sharing with you a fabulous Xmas cake recipe. For the last 10 years, in late October early November, I make at least 20 Xmas cakes for friends and family using a recipe given to me by a friend. This was her mother’s recipe so it is at least 2 – 3 generations old. Enjoy.
Bobbie’s Christmas Cake
Place in a large pan
Bring to the boil, simmer for 1 minute and cool
∗∗∗∗∗
When mixture cool add
then add
Mix all together
∗∗∗∗∗
Line the bottom of 9 inch cake tin with paper
Bake 130C for 3-4 hours
∗∗∗∗∗
Notes:
Thanks Bobbie for your recipe
WHOPPEE: to express exuberant joy, to rejoice noisily
Hopscotch, a favourite game of mine when I was a child.
It is wonderful to see that hopscotch is still played today. And whoopee that children are outside playing and enjoying their environment.
VALOUR: Personal courage esp. as shown in fighting.
“Lest We Forget”
This is my tribute to the nearly 500 Cook Island Soldiers recruited by New Zealand over the course of World War One. Of the 5 contingents recruited, 3 contingents saw active service. The 4th contingent trained at Narrow Neck Camp, Auckland however shortly before their departure in 1918, the war ended. The 5th contingent had been recruited but did not start training.
‘The Rarotongan Company’ httpwww.nzhistory.net.nzwarpacific-islanders-nzefrarotongans, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 2-Sep-2014)
UNIVERSE: All existing things, the whole creation, the cosmos, the world, all mankind
Here is a snippet of my universe
TRANSFORM: Make change in form, outward appearance, character , disposition
Today I leave the past behind
Only looking forward enough to see my foot step land gently on the earth.
I move through the day quietly and respectively, taking the time to look at the moment of now, embracing everything I see, hear and touch; knowing the experience I am having is meant to be.
Making time to be still and breathe in life
Forever thankful for gifts received as I walk my path in this lifetime
Today I am transformed.
SILENCE: Absence of sound, stillness
Silence screams in my head.
I am still, lost in moment of nothing.
Energy ripples through mind, body, soul.
I am awakened and surrounded by the stunning noise of life.
REFLECT: Go back in thought, meditate or consult with oneself.
I sit
And reflect on actions, comments and thoughts of the day
Which ultimately affect my life and ripple through others
Could have – should have – did I – why?
Breathe
Stillness
Let go
Push away thoughts of today, yesterday and tomorrow
Concentrate on now
Breathe
Stillness
Let go
Warmth on my face
As sun seeps through window
Eyes closed, relax
In tune with the noise of life
Birds fluttering, chirping
Distant sound of radio chatter
Occasional car hums by
Heart beat
Then nothing
SiLeNcE
MotionLess
ENJOYING NOW
QUANDARY: State of perplexity, difficult situation, practical dilemma.
Some questions just can’t be answered.
A couple of years ago, I was in my local supermarket standing in the aisle where the water is housed. I was after some water with gas – the fizzy type.
I was distracted by someone in my peripheral vision.
She was about 80 years young
Immaculately dressed
And small in stature.
She stood beside me and perused the shelves of water at her eye level, my chest level.
We acknowledged each other with a smile, eye contact with an understanding that maybe we had known each other in another time. Like minded humans, very comfortable.
Standing together mesmerised at the incredible selection of water.
Spring water, natural spring water, well water, still water, natural water, sparkling water, water with vitamins, water and lime, rose-water, water for energy, organic water and on and on. Water in plastic, water in glass, water in cans, water in boxes. 6 packs, 12 packs, single bottles.
Finally a choice made. Reaching on tippy toes for a glass bottle, she clasped it firmly in both hands and read the label.
Looking up at me with a perplexed look on her face she asked a question
“How do they know that this 1000 year old pure spring water expires in May 2016?”
PEN FRIEND: col Pen Pal – friend with whom one corresponds without meeting.
Pen to paper – who writes anymore
I can’t remember when I learnt to read and write. As a young child, reading and writing was something I did at school, and when the bell rang for the end of the school day, I played. At home, reading or story writing was not something my parents encouraged me to do.
My sister and I were brought up in the days of that classic saying “children should be seen and not heard”. There was no encouragement from our elders to actively participate in conversation or debate, and critical thinking was definitely not on the radar. To interact with adults was considered rude. Our contribution to problem solving was never required, even if the problem was related to us. Our opinions were considered unimportant as decision making was the responsibility of grown-ups.
So my sister delved into the world of books and in a simple turn of a page escaped into the worlds of fantasy and adventure and I discovered the world of writing. As a youngster, reading was not something I enjoyed, but at the age of ten, I found and replied to an advertisement in a magazine for a pen pal. This was the start of a long letter writing relationship with a girl from Malaysia who was exactly my age.
I grew up on a small Pacific island in the years when the sight of an aeroplane was a novelty. At school, we were allowed outside to watch the Calibration planes fly over and land on the airfield nearby, a truly exhilarating experience. Now, the thought of corresponding with someone from the other side of the world was a bigger thrill especially when our letters could be in those planes flying overhead. I was so excited receiving her letters addressed to me. I would devour every word that spilled off the pages and imagine her life in Malaysia and hoped that she would be doing the same with my letters. In my best handwriting, I responded to every comment she made; celebrating her achievements and sympathising with her disappointments. Meticulously I wrote my news, and surprisingly I had so much to tell her. This was my way of overcoming the “seen but not heard” philosophy of my parent’s generation. Someone was hearing me. I felt liberated. Several pages later, the letter was neatly folded, inserted into an envelope, addressed, stamp attached and posted. The wait for her reply seemed forever, and that reply sometimes took weeks to arrive. I was never disappointed. For the first ten years our letter writing was fervent. We were pen pals!
OBSERVATION: Notice or being noticed, perception, faculty of taking notice
He lay there in stillness
in echo friendly casket
Arms gently folded
Hands entwined in rich red pohutakawa blossom
Wearing suit
that fitted so well at son’s wedding,
several years ago
Last worn then
now hiding thin frail human
An alter of flowers, fruit and vegetables
the rewards of years of planting, nurturing and growing
His last harvest
Outside sun shines glorious light beams
Rays of love to all
Family, friends, loved ones
Tears, laughter
Stories, emotion
Pure
He is at peace
this his last night on earth
Farewell
NEAT: brief, clear and pointed, cleverly phrased, epigrammatic, deft, dexterous, cleverly done, tidy, methodical.
According to http://www.urbandictionary.com
NEAT: Wonderful, terrific, cool, clean, orderly, tidy , serving a spirit straight without ice or mixer.
I wrote my first diary in 1974. It was a small 5cm by 8.5cm brown Holiday and Travel Book, given to me by Mum. I was a 16-year-old New Zealander, off on a school geography trip to the Fiji Islands. The travel book was to record my trip.
The A to Z challenge prompted me to read this diary again in search for ideas for the challenge. Several things jumped out at me.
Two words I used frequently in this diary are NEAT and GEE, which were common slang words used in the 1970’s. Neat – this is cool and Gee Wiz –oh wow! So I was using pretty CooL (another 70’s favourite) words. Here are some more 1970’s slang words/phrases: GroovY, SToked, Nifty, TotalLy AwEsoMe and MaY the ForCe be wiTh You.
In my diary, everything I enjoyed doing was “really neat”. A bus driver was really neat, I met some really neat people. We had neat fun. The fish were neat. Then there was GEE. Gee I felt sorry, Gee I had fun.
The ultimate entry was – “GEE the market was NEAT!”
I can’t say this diary was the most exciting read, however it was factual and reading it transported me back to my penultimate year at high school, and the fantastic opportunity our Geography class had going to Fiji. It also reminded me of people I once knew and left me wondering what happened to them.
MAJESTIC: Possessing stateliness or grandeur, imposing
Tuesday’s usual trip from the Kapiti Coast to Wellington
Takes me through familiar landmarks
which remain as constant as Tuesday follows Monday
Passing towns and suburbs
where people are going about their daily routines
Trains worming towards the big city
Cars inching forward in traffic jam
Pass Whenua Tapu cemetery
and a keen eye notices a new monument decorated with flowers
At Paremata
a little apprehensive
wondering if she will be there today
moored between road and rail bridges
Heading south the view between the bridges
is hampered by passing traffic, concrete walls
and walkers
NOT TO BE SEEN
So the wait begins, and as the day unfolds with regularity,
I head north for home
The motorway not so busy this time
as commuters are now parked in office buildings,
shops, universities, coffee houses
Before Paremata
I position myself for the ultimate view
I am not disappointed
I see her sat upon still water
that make the inlet
where fishers catch sprats
She is majestic
this small little boat
I smile as a drive past
KATE
Kate ©hk photography
LIFE: Active part of existence, business and pleasures of the world
Playing trolley tag in the supermarket
Aisle much narrower than the norm
Harassed employee unstacks
then restacks shelves
Clutching coupons he appears agitated
Scrutinises then grabs selected product
Must be a big specials day
Shopper dithering over meat selection
all I want is the lamb shank displayed in front of her
I lean on trolley and wait my turn
Be patient
I wonder
What they are thinking
as product mechanically put in trolleys
Choices made
Would I buy that?
Checkout
Pimply faced boy starts the operation
Lamb shank scanned
Loyalty card swiped
Card inserted, pin keyed
Payment made
There done!
KINDNESS: There is no entry in my 1976 Concise English Dictionary. The nearest I could find was KIND.
KIND: Of gentle or benevolent nature; showing friendliness; affectionate; kind-hearted
KINDLY: Kind, kind-hearted, pleasant, genial
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com define KINDNESS as: The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate:
I am overwhelmed by KINDNESS from family and friends. After my recent diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease and impending surgery, I have witnessed what KINDNESS is.
Generosity, compassion, affection, goodness, grace
Unconditional love experienced first hand
I am humbled
Thank you to everyone who has shown me KINDNESS
I intend to pay KINDNESS forward with love
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love – Lao Tzu
JIM JAMS: Delirium tremens; fit of depression or nervousness
Delirium tremens: a severe psychotic condition occurring in some persons with chronic alcoholism, characterized by delirium, tremor, anxiety, and vivid hallucinations
Stop! I thought jim jams were pj’s, pyjamas, sleep wear.
This is when my trusty dictionary is replaced by Google. So what does google say:
Colins Online Dictionary:
So how did pyjamas morf into jim jams?
I: Me, myself, the ego, subject or object of self-consciousness
I AdmiRe
I BreAtHe
I CrY I DreAm
I EmpaTHise I FRoliC
I GiVe I HOpE I ImaGine
I JouRNey
I Know I LoVe I Meander
I Need
I OverCoMe I PracTice
I QuestioN I RaDiatE
I Sing I TeACh I UnDersTand
I Value I WriTe I XoXoXoX
I YeaRn I ZigZaG
I AM
HONOUR: respect highly, confer dignity upon, acknowledge
I honour my mother
She has the reputation of being a master “ei” maker on the island of Rarotonga.
An ei is a garland made of flowers worn around the neck or on top of head.
Mum picks flowers from her garden with the love and care that bestows any living thing, respecting the gift of nature. In her garden frangipani, gardenia and hibiscus flourish.
She creates each ei with joy and tenderness, her hands gently transforming flowers into beautiful garland, a story unfolding. She looks on with pride as she gifts them to family and friends.
Mum and I wearing her “ei” ©hk photography
Visit A-Z Challenge and see what others are writing about.
GIFT: Thing given, present, donation, virtue looked upon as emanation from heaven, natural endowment
BLOOD DAY
Always the thought that on the day
my GIFT of blood will not be required
Iron level must be above 120
This is a good day, level 125
I can gift blood
My 10th donation – later to find out my last
GIFTED back a T-shirt “Save Lives, Give Blood”, drink bottle and pen
As a thank you
Making fist and squeezing repetitively
to ensure perfect flow
Reading book nonchalantly
as pump works to fill bag
then
Blood packaged, labelled and stored
Forced recovery
Warm milky instant coffee in paper cup
served by volunteer
Cream cracker with marmite and slice of cheese
or plain sweet biscuit
Conversation with familiar donor
My last donation…..
FOOTPRINT: impression left by foot.
©hk photography
EMOTION: Disturbance of mind, mental sensation or state; instinctive feeling as opposed to reason.
I play leap frog with emotiions
My emotions
Frogs in position
me at the start line
This challenge ….not easy …. scary ….fear
Pulse quickens
Muscles twitch, I sense anxiety in my heart
Mind speak “you can do this”
Your’re not the first, you won’t be the last
Breathe….Meditate….Believe…..Have Faith
LEAP
DILEMMA: Argument forcing opponent to choose one of two alternatives both unfavourable to him; position that leaves only a choice between equally unwelcome possibilities.
I was perplexed after reading the meaning from my 1976 dictionary, as this was not my understanding of Dilemma. I get the bit where one has to choose, but the unfavourable or equally unwelcome possibilities got me. Could you not have a dilemma over favourable or equally welcome choices? Or is there another word for that state of mind? I checked online dictionaries and there are no positive dilemma’s.
Synonyms for Dilemma such as predicament, quandary, perplexed, conundrum and muddle, conjure up unfavourable possibilities for me.
So here’s a DilemMa
Must I stop thinking that making a choice between a delicious slice of carrot cake or an exquisite chocolate brownie a DilemMa, because both are favourable and equally most welcome to me!
CAKE: Sweet unleavened bread with other ingredients besides flour, e.g currants, spice, eggs, sugar.
Hmmm… this definition of cake from my 1976 dictionary doesn’t really tempt my taste buds. So online I went and found the following.
cake. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved March 27, 2016 from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/cake
What do you think – still not what cake means to you?
In 1976, the same year as the edition of my trusty dictionary, I lived in Fallbrook California as an exchange student. Class of ’76 at Fallbrook High School if any of you are reading this. I discovered Carrot Cake and OMG – it was delectable. Before arriving in Fallbrook, I was oblivious to cake made from carrots – we used bananas. The good old ever dependable banana cake graced tables at most functions I went to back in New Zealand. Then I discovered Carrot Cake and Combined with Cream Cheese icing sent my taste buds into Cosmic overdrive.
This cake is now one of my heirloom recipes and 40 years on, it is still a favorite birthday cake for family and friends. I share this recipe with love.
“14 Carrot Cake“
♥ Beat – 2 cups of sugar, 1.5 cups oil (I use canola), 3 eggs
♥ Add (sifted) – 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon each of baking powder & baking soda, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and pinch of salt.
♥ Stir in – 3 cups grated carrots, 450grm tin crushed pineapple & juice, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 cup nuts (optional).
Grease and flour (or use baking paper) 9 inch/22cm tin and bake 40 – 50 mins at 325F/160C.
♥ Frosting: 1/2 packet cream cheese,2 tablespoons butter, 1 cup icing sugar, vanilla essence. Mix together on ice cake when cold. (I double the recipe to ensure a thick layer all over the cake, and yes enough to lick the spoon as well ♥
Enjoy – I dare you to try this recipe and tell me what you think. Also, if you know the original creator of this delicious CAKE, please tell me so I can attribute the recipe to them.
BEAUTY: Combination of qualities, as shape, proportion, colour, in human face or form, or in other objects, that delight the sights.
©hk photography
The smell and colour of summer explode into life.
A glorious time where abundance is a word thrown around freely when it comes to summer fruits.
My plum tree drips with ripe and falling fruit and invaded by Kereru.
I hear before I see – a loud whooshing sound rips through the air and Kereru lands on plum tree branch. An incredible balancing act unfolds as bird starts feeding on plums. Dancing between branches Kereru gets the best vantage to select and feast on the perfect plum. I watch bird pluck plum and gobble it down whole; sometimes losing them to the ground below, to be picked at by ground dwelling animals, or composted back into the earth.
The Kereru is the New Zealand native wood pigeon. It is magnificent, a bird of BEaUTY and delights my sight.
Kereru in my garden – ©hk photography
APPRENTICE: Learner of a craft, bound to serve, and entitled to instruction, beginner, novice.
My 58th year as an earth bound apprentice
learning the craft of life
Hungering:
For new experiences
Unknown adventures
Realisation for dreams
Energised:
By what I have already experienced
And lessons learned
Humbled:
At the majesty, dignity and beauty of planet earth
and sacrifices made to support human life
By the generosity of friends, loved ones and strangers
Graduate:
When I leave the planet
A to Z Challenge using all the letters in the alphabet reminds of my typing class at high school.
No computers back in the 70’s just a manual type writer, with a metal cover hiding letters allowing just enough room for fingers to push keys and type.
The quick brown fox jumps of the lazy dog
This sentence used every letter in the alphabet! And we practiced, practiced and practiced.
The correct hand and finger placement for speed typing important and enforced in class. Fingers always hovering over middle row of letters; asdfghjkl
I never did master using all 8 fingers correctly, instead my fingers dance over keyboard searching for the right letter. Mistakes made, but now quickly erased or corrected with the back space key or spell check.
The concise Oxford Dictionary of current English, 6th edition 1976 was my bible before internet and online dictionaries. I still use my trusty dictionary, albeit less frequently.
The first entry in this dictionary is:
A, noun, plural A’s. First letter of the alphabet; (Mus.) sixth note in diatonic scale of C major; first hypothetical person or example; highest class (of road, academic marks, population as regards affluence, etc); from A to Z, over the entire range, completely; from A to B, from any place to some other place
This 1976 dictionary is where I will get my A to Z words and meanings from.
Enjoy
the magic begins the moment you start being yourself
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