#873 PENCILS

[personinthepalace]

Milligan evading 873 pencils in the line of duty

[norimiya]

STAR-CROSSED

ch.4 | ideas

PAIRING : ̗̀➛ reki kyan x gn!reader | 873 words.

DESC : ̗̀➛ when the new school year starts, reki meets his seatmate for the remainder of the year, you. then with a school project on both of your hands, and spending almost every minute together, the fondness you share for each other begins to change to something different.

The next day there's an awkward air wafting around Reki, with his inability to make eye contact with you and your severe lack of understanding of how this was a big deal to him.

"Reki, we won't get any work done if you keep acting like this," you whispered, leaning close to him so only he'd hear. "I don't want to be rude, but you're overthinking this."

He scratches his head as he lets out a quiet groan, "Sorry," he says softly, catching your eye for the first time that day. "I just can't believe I said that."

"Embarrassing?"

"Surprising." He corrected, "I know I don't think much before I speak, but–" You let out a laugh which Reki smiled at, leaning back in his chair as he tapped his pencil against his desk. "–Just know I meant it."

You lean back with a hum, looking down at your desk. "Will do."

The sun seemed to shine brighter that day.

—

After school, Reki had insisted on taking you to the park to start the project, ranting aimlessly about anything and everything as he rolled slowly on his board next to you.

"Do you wanna try this?" He asks, pointing down at the board, watching you look from his finger to the board. "It's not that hard."

You shake your head, "I've got this inkling in the back of my head that tells me I'm going to fall."

Reki shrugs, not pushing you any further. Instead, he kicks the board up, tucking it between his arms as he walks beside you. "So, aliens."

A snort comes from you, a confused smile painted on your face when he looks at you. "Yeah?"

"Do you think they're gray and green like the movies say they are?" He asks, not looking for a real answer, just for your opinion. "Like, I mean, me personally, I think they're holographic, like an oil spill."

You raise a brow at his words, nodding as you take them in. "Honestly, I have no idea." He huffs. "But I'd like to think they're multiple colors, or like– you know the movie home?" He nods. "I think it'd be cool if they changed color with emotion."

"Maybe we should buy mood rings as an example." He suggested blindly, not expecting anything from it.

"That's actually not a bad idea," you said, pulling on your backpack straps. "The only two things you'd need to worry about is getting them and whether or not we argue about being try-hards with our classmates.”

He barks out a laugh at your words, covering his face with his hand. "What if it adds points to our grade? If we got the teacher one as well, do you think we could?"

"Definitely not." You laughed, looking at him with a grin. "I'm not against the idea. It's just a funny thought."

Reki hums triumphantly, proud that he'd gotten you on board with his 'dumb' idea. "Then I'll keep it in mind."

He moves to turn the corner, breathing in deeply when you get to the skate park. "We're here." He announces proudly, hands resting on his hips. "We can work over there." He points to a square ledge tucked a little ways away from the other ramps.

"Does no one else come here? I wouldn't want to be in the way."

Reki shakes his head, throwing his stuff down before sitting, gesturing for you to do the same. "It's only just me most of the time. I've seen three other people... one of them kinda looks like you."

"That's... good to know?" You reply, setting your backpack down on the space beside you. "Uh, what do you want to get started on?"

He hums, looking at the miscellaneous pieces of paper you presented to him, pointing one out. "Maybe this, we need to hook our classmates, right? Like a sales pitch."

"Do you think we'd get creativity points if we took a stack of paper, slammed it on a desk, and said 'Aliens!' Or...?" He continues, giving a reenactment.

"I mean, we would get their attention." You laughed, writing down the idea. "This isn't that serious of a project, so we can fool around as much as we want." You told him, leaning back against your hand. "We can definitely ask the 'what color are aliens' question. I think that would spark a wild debate."

With a chuckle, Reki nods his head in agreement. "I'd love to start a war between our classmates. Maybe we should actually treat it like a debate or something. Like my side would be aliens being an oil spill, and yours mood colored."

You tapped your pencil against your chin before pointing it at him, "I love the way you think, Reki." You told him, narrowing your eyes with a smile. "This is great. We're gonna have the best presentation."

Reki smiles, nodding his head as you continue to follow his idea. Laughing when you added extra points and shouts of an example argument.

Warmth fills his chest when you look at him with a wide smile, and his eyes soften at your enthusiasm. He sighs when he feels the weight in his chest, realizing his fate was already set in motion.

Reki Kyan has got a crush.

a/n: if you're thinking "already" it's a crush, they happen fast lol.

[chiimeramanticore]

Part of the Band - Chapter 21 - Copy

Chapter summary: The gang takes a promotional day for the band. Mitzi draws a flyer design. The gang meets a new face.

Chapter word count: 873 <- Chapter 20 - Chapter 22 -> Read it on AO3!

Dook sits on the couch of the band room next to Mitzi, who's been drawing a flyer idea for a while now. They're taking a "promotional" day today at practice. Everyone older than Mitzi has been tasked with piles of newspapers, scouring the wanted ads for anyone in need of a band. Billy Bob had suggested they start with lower stakes– even the best bands have to start playing in someone's garage.

"Man, maybe we've got this all wrong," Beach Bear says. "I've seen more ads for clowns for kids' birthday parties than I have for anyone who actually needs a band." He scoffs, adjusting his position in the chair to be even more lopsided than before.

"What, you wanna get into kid's entertainment?" Fatz raises an eyebrow at him.

"No," Beach Bear smirks, "I think we should all become clowns."

Looney Bird laughs. "You'd be a terrible clown, Beach Bear," he chimes in.

"Yeah, you would know, wouldn't ya?" Beach Bear tells him. "You already look like a clown."

"Dook has the nose already," Mitzi adds.

Dook gasps, a hand moving to cover his nose. "It's not that big," he insists. "And it ain't red!"

"Keep blushing like that and it will be soon," Beach Bear teases. Dook doesn't respond, but does in fact grow redder upon hearing it.

"Look," Mitzi says, putting down the colored pencil she was using. She proudly lifts up the paper to show everyone her design. It's a flyer advertising the Rock-afire Explosion– the background is a bright explosion pattern, with the text in vibrant purple and red letters.

"Woah," Dook murmurs.

"Nice job, Mitzi!" Beach Bear exclaims, taking the flyer from her to look at it closer. "We can totally put these up around town."

"We've gotta make copies, then," Billy Bob says.

"Sounds like a trip to the store," Fatz replies.

"Oh! I wanna ride in the front!" Mitzi stands excitedly, already making her way to the door.

·–—–·

The office supply store is not that large, and never very crowded. The store is lined with racks of paper, stationary, scissors, and so on. Near the back wall, a single employee sits bored by the register. Sitting in the center of the store, the coveted copier machine– by their luck, the one thing in the store already occupied.

The group mostly files in behind the cat at the machine, doing their best not to crowd him. Looney Bird and Mitzi wander off to check out the other fixtures of the store. The employee at the register has a radio set up, the sound of the Bee Gees quietly pouring out into the rest of the store. Besides that and the sound of the copy machine, it's dead quiet in the store.

Dook stares at the promotional posters on the wall. This store has a mascot, a tiger holding a cardboard box, promoting that you can send mail from the store. Dook looks back over to the cashier, a small orange cat. Kind of a difference. He looks back at the cat using the copier machine. He's lanky, taller than Dook by a bit but definitely shorter than Beach Bear. He's mostly black, with white fur accenting his ears and hands. He's wearing a T-shirt and jeans, a baseball cap sat backward on his head. The cap has a word embroidered on it: "Swingers."

Dook cocks his head, trying to get a better look at what he's making so many copies of. It's brightly colored, but he can't make out the text. Without thinking, he takes a step forward, trying to get a better look. The cat's ear twitches, and he glances over his shoulder to address the group.

"Oh–! Sorry, I didn't realize how long this'd take." He glances back at the machine. "I shouldn't be too much longer."

"What're you making?" Dook asks.

"Oh, just some flyers for work," the cat replies. He pulls one from the machine and hands it to Dook.

"Showbiz Pizza Place?" Beach Bear reads from over his shoulder. "Never heard of it."

"That's because it's new," the cat says. "Not opened yet. My boss is in the restaurant business, and he's trying to start a franchise sort of situation."

"Interesting boss," Dook murmurs, still staring at the flyer.

"What are you guys making?" The cat continues. "If you don't mind."

"Flyers, too," Beach Bear says, nudging Fatz. Fatz hands the cat Mitzi's flyer.

He looks it over. "You're a band?"

"It's not clear from the flyer?" Billy Bob asks.

"It's just hard to tell past..." He taps the drawing of an explosion on the page. "Are you any good?"

"It's not clear from the flyer?" Beach Bear says, gesturing toward the same explosion.

The cat laughs. "We're looking for a band to perform at Showbiz," he explains. "You should sign up. Keep the flyer."

The copier finally finishes, and the cat picks up the stack of papers it's produced. "I've gotta run," he says, already moving for the door, "but keep us in mind! You could be just what the boss is looking for!"

The front door swings shut, and he's gone.

Dook looks down at the flyer once more, an address listed at the bottom. "Maybe we will."

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem

Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 8                                                                       Week of January 29, 2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR: Thank you to all the readers who responded to my email request.  You have encouraged me greatly and have given me suggestions to include in the paper.  Thank-you! LRMartin

TOWN of SALEM:  * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat 8am-12pm. *   

Talley’s Valentine Card Project 2024 supports local nursing homes and the like.  Talley needs help. Those who would like to bless these residents with handmade cards should deliver them to the Salem Town Hall before Feb 9 for distribution. You may also drop off other gifts such as socks, word search books,  an artificial rose, pens, pencils, a box of greeting cards or stamps, or any other item you think would be nice.  Last year over 400 Valentines and gifts were delivered to 4 different nursing homes. 

SALEM LIBRARY:  Hours Monday 10am-6pm. Tues-Friday 9am-5pm. Closed 12-1 each day for lunch.                         Event: GENELOGY BASICS,  Feb 7th at 4pm at the Salem Community Center for ages 18 and older.  Did you know the library provides free in-house access to Ancestry Library Edition? Learn the best use Ancestry Library Edition for your research.  Register or visit oconeelibrary.org/events. Struggling with your technical device?  Each Tuesday between 2-3 PM, bring your Kindle, iPad, smartphone, laptop, or other device and we will assist you to the best of our abilities.  Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.  (Information from the oconeelibrary.org website).

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 2pm-7pm. Events this week:  Wed: BLUE GRASS JAM at 6:30pm.  Fri: Food:  SIMPLE SAMMIES Music: ANDY FERRELL at 6:30pm  Sat–Food: FRESCO LUNA Music: WEST END STRING BAND 6:30pm    *Featuring Pisgah Coffee Roasters      More info call 864-873-0048

                                                                                                                                QUOTE this week:  Today is the birthday of WC Fields, comedian and actor, born in 1880 in Philadelphia.  “There comes a time in the affairs of man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation.”                                                                             Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell        FEBRUARY: The ancient Romans were on to something when they declared that the second month of the year would be a be celebration of purification. In 2024, it is time to purify our lives by tossing out burdens of past indignities that we have suffered. Rethink grudges that we tote around. Forgiving does not mean that we let evil people off the hook.  We pray for them to be enlightened.    BUT we sever the connection to the past event.  Let it go.  GOD is working on solving this problem.  Quit looking in the rear view mirror. Look at the road ahead and explore new adventures in creativity, learning, and reaching out to others. Oconee County!  I love you a bushel & a peck & a hug around the neck!  MIZ JEANNIE    

ASHTON RECALLS:  by Ashton Hester        

NEW TOWN HALL/FIRE STATION BUILT IN 1963 - (The following story was in the November 26, 1963 Keowee Courier). . .Excavating and grading were completed Friday for construction of a new municipal building at Salem--the ground level to house two fire trucks and the second floor to serve as a town hall. . .Fire Chief Kermit Burrell said the ground level, which was hollowed back into the Main street flag-stoned embankment, will be concrete, and the remainder of the structure will be concrete block. . .Salem has one fire truck which it has operated for a number of years and is getting a new one under the county's rural fire control system. . .The town has operated a volunteer fire department for over 10 years but was reorganized under a new training setup several years ago with Mr. Burrell as chief. . .Other officers of the department are Clyde Talley, captain; Roy Strickland, secretary; and Homer Griffith, treasurer. . .Members of the department are Bud Crowe, Harley Chapman, Bruce Jones, Oscar Wigington, Otto Smith, John Talley, Crawford Nicholson, Leland Talley, Corbin Watson, Garwood Duncan, Eddie Townes, John Rankin, Ray Head, Maurice Head, Marshall McDonald, C.G. Dalton, Larry Dalton, Jim Reid, Charles Burrell, Douglas Wilbanks, Walter Herron, Frank Towe, George McDonald, Dennis Barker, Frank Richardson, Johnny Towe, Larry Smith, Bobby Land, Kenneth Orr, the Rev. C.E. Taylor and Coburn Lusk.  

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER                                              2024 UPCOMING EVENTS       Hope to see you ladies this Saturday at our Women’s Retreat!                                                             Feb 3rd, 1pm-4pm   Women Encouraging Women. 2nd annual afternoon retreat for women to refresh and encourage your faith.  Simply show up to gather at 1pm for Worship and Praise, women sharing stories of hope and faith, women of the Bible. At 2pm fellowship together during concessions and crafts.  At 3pm regroup for our beloved speaker, former T-S school teacher and Minister Martha Lofts Watson.  Treat yourself!  Donation accepted but not required.                                                                                                              Feb.  10, 7pm  Trial by Fire,  A Journey Tribute,   $20 advance tickets  $25 day of  show   Call 864-280-1258                               March 2nd, 2pm-5pm Second Annual Alumni Gathering 2pm-5pm    *March 23rd, 7pm   Oconee Mountain Opry $10     Details soon            * Change from the original published date*

ENAC will host the House of Raeford Farms Chicken Sale: You are encouraged to order before items sell out. But you must preorder online before Feb 29th  ( Items could sell out before the cut off date). Pick up your fresh chicken on Saturday, March 2nd between 9am and 12pm.  Type in House of Raeford Farms, Greenville, SC and scroll down to the preorder section.                                                                                                                               *Visit our website at Eaglesnestartcenter.org for more 2024 events and ticket information.                                                               

The Eagles Nest Treasure Store is open every Saturday morning 9am-12pm.  We are accepting donations during that time or call 864-557-2462.  Information on sponsorships, events, volunteering, donations, or rentals call 864-280-1258.      

CHURCH NEWS                                                                                                                 Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691, worship at 10:30 a.m.                 Feb. 4 Message by George Harper, Feb. 11 Message by Mel Davis, Feb. 18 Message by George Harper, Feb. 25 Message by Mel Davis. Have you ever sung a hymn in church that says so much and has a peppy rhythm, and you found yourself singing or whistling it for the remainder of the day?  Come sing with us!  Like us on Facebook: Bethelpresbyterianchurchwalhalla ;Listen to the service on Facebook.                                                               Boones Creek Baptist Church, 264 Boones Creek Road, Salem invites you to join us for regular worship service on Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10am and followed by worship at 11am.                                                         Salem Methodist Church: 520 Church Street, Salem.  9am for breakfast, 9:30am for Sunday School, and 10:30am for Worship.  You may tune in to our live service on Facebook or view it later on our website.                                         

Isaiah 43:18-19  KJV “ Remember not the former things, neither consider things of old.  Behold I will do a new thing; now it spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

                                                                                                                               11th Annual BELLFEST 2024:   FRIENDS OF LAKE JOCASSEE will host BellFest 2024 at Devils Fork State Park on Saturday, March 16 from 10am-3pm.  Celebrate our rare Oconee Bell, Shortia galacifolia!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE! Aunt Lynne                                                                       

[dedicatedfollower467]

I posted 1,122 times in 2022

That's 240 more posts than 2021!

249 posts created (22%)

873 posts reblogged (78%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@icedragon19

@why-is-it-always-autumn

@nolightsinthedark

@dedicatedfollower467

@wuzzyletoastermac

I tagged 1,121 of my posts in 2022

#about me - 72 posts

#lol - 64 posts

#def is a gm - 62 posts

#motion warning - 57 posts

#def's grand webcomic re-read of 2022 - 57 posts

#video warning - 49 posts

#definitely adhd - 44 posts

#homestuck - 44 posts

#fandom - 38 posts

#def liveblogs fma manga - 38 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#it's less 'this is literally true' and more 'here are some interesting and notable cultural details about this particular time and place'

I sent 1 gift in 2022

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

my favorite thing about experiencing dracula daily with everyone on tumblr is knowing that most later adaptations have turned van helsing into like. this young, heroic vampire hunter who does nothing but hunt vampires all day, and maybe even has like a whole vampire-hunting legacy in his family.

when really he's just an old dutch professor who has done so much kooky research into every possible esoteric subject that exists that he just happens to be the one person in the story who knows a little bit about vampires.

370 notes - Posted September 22, 2022

#4

[image description in alt text]

hoo boy it's been a long-ass time since I have done an attempt at digital pencil coloring. this is technically a wip of a larger piece but i'm very pleased with how it turned out so i thought i'd share it now before i ruin it

385 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

#3

[image description in alt text]

it's finished! fanart i created for @vivifrage's fic "the spider and the wyrm."

i am INCREDIBLY proud of this piece. i haven't done this art style in a really, really long time and it turned out fantastic if i do say so myself.

i have become sliiiiightly obsessed with hollow knight over the past few weeks and may or may not become a black hole of hk content for the foreseeable future.

489 notes - Posted September 29, 2022

#2

if you miss dracula daily and you're interested in reading another classic work of literature in a bit at a time, whale weekly (which is a serialized version of moby dick) just started

1,242 notes - Posted November 21, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

one of the things i love about ebenezer scrooge, and a christmas carol in general, is that, unlike most fictional rich people, scrooge doesn't allow himself the luxuries that he denies to others.

like. he is enormously wealthy, but does he spend his money on good food and nice things and indulgences? no. he keeps his house dark because it's cheaper to not light things, he eats gruel, he barely even makes a big enough fire to heat himself, let alone the room. he scrimps and pinches pennies everywhere he can - including in areas that other people would consider "necessities" rather than "luxuries."

the story of a christmas carol is as much about ebenezer scrooge coming to realize that his misanthropy and miserliness is making himself as miserable as it's making everyone around him, and learning to once again take joy in living in a way he hasn't allowed himself since he was a boy.

it's genuinely cruel to ebenezer scrooge to compare him to assholes like elon musk and jeff bezos.

for all that he is a terrible, terrible person, at least scrooge isn't a damn hypocrite.

3,157 notes - Posted December 5, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[whaleofatjme1920]

If requests are still open I'd love some Engineer content, because it feels like there's never enough of that. sfw, nsfw, anything! Ok, maybe not angst, I'm not huge on that, so maybe some sweet stuff?? Hanging out in his workshop? Nights by the campfire together?? I'll take whatever you got 🙏🏽

Sleepy? No? I Think You Mean 'Yes'

Engineer X GN!Reader

[Warnings: like, none?]

[AN: Man i love Engie. He’s so great. I’m also, like, immensely tired, so that might’ve made its way into the fic lmfao. 873 words <3]

Despite his normally people pleasing nature, Dell doesn’t actually favor a lot of people spending time in his workshop with him. He’s more than protective over his equipment, all of his blueprints, his plans and whatnot - this is his space, for goodness sake - but he’s never been able to say no to you.

You’re actually sitting on one of the stools, hunched over his work desk sketching away. The both of you are artists in some regard, but he’s always thought you were better. Dell watches from the corner of his eyes as you flick the pencil across the paper, a small smile on your face that he mirrors on his own.

“What’cha workin’ on, honeybee?” He asks, voice smooth like butter and sweeter than honey. He stops cleaning his tools for just a moment.

You peek your head up for just a second to give him your attention before turning yourself back to your drawing. “It started out as wanting to draw a portrait of you,” you began, “but it weirdly moved onto animals out here in the desert and now it’s become… steampunk?” You attempt to explain before moving your hunched form back, stretching slightly to show him your doodles. There, on the page are animals and lots of eraser marks.

Dell’s eyes move again from his tools to see your art. The animals look mostly organic save for a very mechanical touch. He chuckles softly before nodding in approval, “these are pretty good,” he says, his gloved fingers dancing just barely over the page.

You feel a light heat blanket your cheeks before playfully roll your eyes and pull the paper back to your side. “Which one is your favorite?” You ask.

Dell gestures to the bearded dragon that you’ve given mechanical wings to. “He looks like a nice little fella,” he observes.

You nod and take out another sheet of paper, slowly working on making a much bigger version of your winged bearded dragon. Your pencil scritches fill the room once more. “And how is your cleaning going?” You inquire as you hone in on your writing, not even caring that your posture is decidedly banana shaped.

Dell glances down to the tools he’s placed down before making a ‘so-so’ motion with his hands. “It’s alright,” he starts. “Feel like they’re never as clean as they could be, but what can you do?” He finishes with a warm chuckle, the corners of his mouth pulling upwards into a cheeky grin. “Almost done with them, so I’ll be messing with my sentries in a moment or so-”

You don’t mean to be rude, but you stop drawing for a moment to yawn, and loudly. Your eyes go wide. “Oh my goodness,” you begin, “I’m so sorry, that was rude-”

Dell laughs. The sound travels up through his chest like champagne bubbles that pop as they reach the surface. He even wipes away a tear, his smile wide, warm and inviting. “Are you really that tired, honeybee?”

You pout and drop your pencil to cross your arms over your chest. “Of course not,” you retort, turning your head away from him as you bite back another yawn. “I’m not sleepy at all.”

He laughs under his breath when you accidentally let another yawn escape through your lips. “Are you sure about that?” He hums, his eyes half lidding with that certain ‘I told you so’ attitude. He places his gloves hands together, interlacing his fingers before resting his chin on top of them, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

You sigh tiredly and shake your head, “not tired,” you continue, “not until I finish this drawing.”

He glances down to see that you’ve already crossed many grounds in your efforts to draw his favorite animal from your doodles. Quietly, he tsks his tongue, sliding off his seat to encase you in his arms. “I think it’s nap time,” Dell hums, his lips pressing against your cheek as you melt into his warmth.

You slide off your seat as well and fall into his grasp, letting loose another yawn. “Nap time?” Your artwork is left on his desk, ready for you to return to after the exhaustion leaves your body.

“Yeah, nap time,” he chuckles deeply. He takes in a slow, deep breath when you rest your head on his chest, already greeting sleep by listening to his heartbeat. Dell knits his eyebrows together lovingly, his fingers brushing over your scalp.

You nuzzle into his warmth, practically floating as he leads you back to your room. “Not sleepy,” you say half heartedly, barely even able to see straight as your legs shuffle through the hall. It’s like the world is floating, and you can’t find your balance.

“Very sleepy,” Dell answers.

Your eyes feel heavier and heavier the closer you get to your room. “Not sleepy,” you repeat.

“Very sleepy.”

“Am not.”

“Am to.”

“Am… Not…” You continue to sound off like a mantra, your form becoming heavier in his grasp.

Dell rolls his eyes playfully as he picks you up, bringing you back to your room. His lips press to the crown of your head, the waves of exhaustion slowly cascading over his form as well. He’d soon be joining you.

[towfuh]

W.C.: 873┊ᴾʳᵒˡᵒᵍᵘᵉ & ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ᴵ┊ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ᴵᴵ┊ ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ᴵᴵᴵ ┊ ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ᴵⱽ ┊ ᴱᵖⁱˡᵒᵍᵘᵉ

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who on the colored canvas reveals himself.” - 𝐎𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐲

Amidst havoc and chaos, men began to seek solace in the brilliance and sensibility of art. The nineteenth century was a period of fluctuation of artistic innovations, dominating the world with works of Western artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, and many more; All of them supplying us various denotations of what art attempts to convey. 

One might ask: what exactly is art? Is it an innovation of creative craft and skill? A love letter from the fleeting minds and wandering souls; Or perhaps the fortitude of resilience amongst the many external and internal agonies that man is bound to dance with. Nevertheless, I am convinced that art is something more extravagant and worthwhile than just that. 

Constantly, the masterpieces of revenant connoisseurs are served on platters for the digestion of human understand and spunk. Feel free to compare art to a singe grain of rice, and the museums that house their framed awning cloths are the granaries. How crucial is rice to the souls of the people who lie dependent on its nutritiousness to thrive; The same goes entirely for art, and the nation’s proclaimed Grand Gentleman, Fernando Amorsolo, was perhaps one of the first who enthusiastically struck through the dirt of conservativeness, and plowed through the field of the art world to plant its harvest.

‘Twas on an unremarkable 30th of May, in the year 1892, when Fernando Cueto Amorsolo had finally parted from the comforts of his mother’s warm womb, and was finally brought upon the world. 

He was born in Paco, Manila on Calle Herran to his loving parents, Pedro Amorsolo and Bonifacia Cueto. Despite his upbringing in the nation’s metropolis, the soon-to-be well-acclaimed painter’s most earliest and most cherished recollections were always the tranquil ambiance of the peaceful existence only savvied in the suburban countryside. 

Due to certain circumstances, Amorsolo’s father was forced to relocate the family from the busy urban center of Manila to the peaceful environs of Daet, Camarines Norte to work as an accountant for two abaca firms when the painter was merely seven months old. It was here that Pedro, the family’s father and ultimate breadwinner, was able to make amends; Enough to guarantee the household some form of contentment and security amidst those particular hectic times in the hands of Spanish occupation. 

As a young child, Amorsolo began to show early signs of artistic talent; While certainly not immediately deemed as a genius or prodigy, Amorsolo was notable for his knack for artistic creations. Not a noob, and not a novice for his age. With the privilege of having lived close to the coasts of Daet, the young man would frequently draw pictures of ships by the wharves, the sandy margins of the coastlines, and the undoubtedly winsome sunsets and sunrises whenever the sky was in a good mood. 

His mother quickly took notice of her son’s enthusiasm and began to send her son’s masterpieces to her cousin, Fabian Dela Rosa, who was, at that time, already an established and prominent figure in the Filipino Art Scene in Manila. At such an early age, Amorsolo managed to display such vigorous affinity for the rural landscape - gently coercing a reflection of his small world through means of both paper and pencil. 

Up until this point, everything may have seemed all happy-go-lucky; However tragedy was none too kind and has never seemed to miss a beat. On one unfaithful evening, Amorsolo was awoken by screams and shouts coming from outside their family’s window. It was then apparent that Amorsolo’s half brother, the eldest son, Perico, was forced to take part in a revolutionary movement against the Spaniards; Despite their declines and refusals to part from one another, Perico relented and went down to join the rebels, never to be seen by Amorsolo and his family again. It was only months after when Amorsolo received news about Perico’s execution at the hands of the Spaniards; Shattered with grief by the news of his son’s unjustified passage, Amorsolo’s father, Pedro, never recovered from the ordeal and died of a heart attack a few years later. 

Present-day critics never fail to regard Amorsolo’s tendency for painting an idyllic world as the work of someone who has never encountered suffering in his life. Although, through discovering the very seedling of his upbringing, it becomes explicitly clear that the painter’s artistic preference was not a result of a lack of exposure to society’s fault, but rather of a purposeful attempt to hold on to what is pure and good before the harsh realities of the world wrecked his quiet life in the countryside. 

Amorsolo’s father had met his end when the painter was merely eleven years old. Before his passed, Pedro made his wife vow to give Amorsolo proper art education, for he had wished his children to follow their dreams and live ambitiously as the future was aspiringly uncertain. Upon her late husband’s request, the widowed Bonifacia gathered her family and relocated once again to Manila in search of better opportunities to support her family. Don Fabian Dela Rosa, her cousin, welcomed the family with open arms. Hence, this became the beginning of Amorsolo’s meaningful encounter with the art world. 

[waywardnerd67]

TFWB - Chap 10 Colors of the Soul

Summary: Misha has the opening of his new art studio. Characters: Misha Collins, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Rachel Sanderson (OFC), Reader Pairing: No Pairing Warnings: Fluff/AU Word Count: 873 Squared Filled: Artist AU A/N #1: This is for @spnfluffbingo​ card

Check out: The Family We Built Masterlist

The sun was just peeking over the horizon as Misha stood in front of his new art studio. The grand opening was just a few days away and he still had a few pieces to get finished. Unlocking the door the smell of paint thinner and his oil paints hit him.

“Shit.” He mumbled opening the two front doors and all the side doors.

After an hour of fresh air, he could finally work in his studio again. The soft open was happening at the end of the week and he still had several pieces to get through. The one he was working on now was inspired by a conversation he recently had with Jensen.

***

Misha knocked on one of the large wooden doors before walking into Jensen’s office. He was seated behind his large desk, his cell pressed to his ear and his face halfway hidden behind one of his computer screens. He sat in one of the chairs propping his feet up on Jensen’s desk.

Jensen glared at him as he continued talking, “Jim, I don’t care. It’s your responsibility to handle this account and not your junior accountant. Fix it.”

“Hey!” Misha chuckled as his friend hit his boots off his desk putting his cell down, “I always find it funny to hear you use your CEO voice.”

“I hate my CEO voice but it is what it is. Come on, let’s go over the final paperwork and have a drink.”

Both of them moved over to Jensen’s small conference table where they discussed the final investment funds for Misha’s art studio. Once all the papers were signed and handed off to his assistant, Jensen poured them each a drink.

“Scotch? Wow, must have been one hell of a day.” Misha commented letting the dark amber burn down his throat.

Jensen slowly took a sip, “You have no idea.”

Misha stared at his friend for a moment. His brow in a permanent furrow hard lines etched into his forehead. His jaw tense and the corner of his lips downcast. He leaned forward grabbing the bottle and drinking straight from it.

“Dude…” Jensen murmured.

“What? Like we’ve never drank from the same bottle before? Tell me what’s really going on.”

Jensen downed his glass before grabbing the bottle himself smirking, “I don’t know. I think I’m just sick of the corporate bullshit. I’m sick of sitting behind that fucking desk and moving pawns all damn day.”

“Then quit.” He grabbed the bottle back chuckling.

“Oh yeah, just quit a multimillion dollar company that I help build from the ground up. Easy.” Jensen scoffed, “Honestly, I wish I could. I would give it all up in a moment if…”

“If what? What is holding you back?” Misha held the bottle away from Jensen when he tried to grab it.

Jensen averted his eyes from his, “Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Disappointing those around me. Take your pick Mish. Honestly, I envy you and Jared so damn much.”

Misha threw his head back in laughter, “Oh yeah, Jared and I are living the high life.”

When he looked back to Jensen, he saw it clear as day in his olive eyes. He truly was envious of their lives, “Jensen you know you could do whatever you wanted too, right? Even now, you can live this behind you and do whatever, be whatever you wanted.”

“Yeah… maybe one day. Come on, I believe we are going to be late to (Y/N)’s.” Jensen got up, rinsed their glasses out and grabbed his jacket.  

***

Misha stood back looking at his finished piece. An emerald brick road of money forking off into a darken forest. The other road was bumpy with rocks and craters leading to a peaceful meadow surrounded in sunlight. He painted his trademark signature on the bottom right hand corner and smiled.

The soft opening of his studio was going wonderfully. Some of Jensen’s investors were admiring his work and even a few bought a few pieces. Misha walked over to his group of friends that were looking at his latest piece.

“Misha, you really out did yourself with this one. What’s the title?” Jared slapped his back nearly knocking his drink out of his hand.

“Road to Destiny.” He looked over to Jensen whose eyes were wide looking closely at it.

When everyone had stepped away, Misha stood next to Jensen, “The road has broken up sentences of your manuscript hidden in it. The trees made to look like pencils and flowers were lined paper.”

“How…” Jensen whispered looking over to him, his eyes shining.

“After our conversation at your office, I inquired with a certain book editor who may or may not have helped me with a page of your work. I wanted to show you that your path is not set in stone but what you choose it to be.”

Jensen pulled him into a tight hug, “Thank you.”

“Thank you for believing in my vision for this place.” Misha kept his arm around his waist as Jensen kept his arm around his shoulder.

“You truly do see the colors of the soul.” They both laughed walking towards their friends and enjoying the rest of their night.

If you enjoyed this story then check out my Masterlist!

My Nerd Herd: @waywardbaby​ @ladywinchester1967​ @akshi8278​ @ericaprice2008​ @deans-baby-momma​ @spnbaby-67​ @dean-winchesters-bacon​ @carryonmywaywardcaptain​ @-lovepeacenhope-​ @destiel745​ @carribear31​ @srsllydunnodoncare​ @whimsicalrobots​ @thisismysecrethappyplace​ @starstruckzonkoperatorbat​ @adoptdontshoppets​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​ @bella-ca​ @drakelover78​ @imascio08​ @pisces-cutie​ @dwgrl1903-blog​ @mannls​ @the-salty-asian​ @winchesterprincessbride​ @xostephanie​ @superromijn​ @witch-of-letters​ @time-travel-bouqet​ @screechingartisancashbailiff​ @myinconnelly1​ @sister-winchesters99​ @thekatherinewinchester​ @maddiepants​ @tumbler-tidbits​ @sandlee44​ @destielhoneybee​ @jerkbitchidjitassbutt​ @thefaithfulwriter​ @stoneyggirl​ @supernaturalginger​ @emoryhemsworth​ @wednesdayismyfunday​ @team-free-will-you-idjiot​ @atc74​ @cosicas-cuquis​ @casseythebee​ @miraclesoflove​ @coldmuffinbanditshoe​

[smellslikestalejam]

This is the weekly planner I made!

Goal: don’t be snowed under the load of topics I have to study for my upcoming IGCSEs.

I used Tombow Brush Pens: Baby Pink 723; Red 845; Apricot 873; Sun Yellow 025; Mint Green 243; Light Blue 452; Lilac 623, Tombow Monotwin for title and weekdays, Black Staedtler pigment liner 0.2 for the lime dividing AM and PM, black tratto pen for the table outline. Highlighters are Stabilo Boss original: 70/56 and 70/150 for Monday; 70/40 and 70/129 for Tuesday; 70/54 and 70/126 for Wednesday; 70/24 and 70/144 for Thursday; 70/33 and 70/133 for Friday; 70/31 and 70/113 for Saturday; 70/55 and 70/155 for Sunday.

For the starting outline, I used Tombow Monograph 0.5 pencil and Tombow Mono plastic eraser

[batmanonthecover]

World’s Finest Comics #111 -  August 1960

Cover Art: Curt Swan

SUPERMAN’S SECRET KINGDOM

Script:  Bill Finger

Art:   Dick Sprang (Pencils), Sheldon Moldoff (Inks)

Characters:  Superman [Clark Kent]; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Floyd Frisby

Synopsis:  The force of a volcanic eruption gives Superman amnesia.  He finds himself in a forgotten Aztec city and becomes the king of the inhabitants.  When Batman and Robin go in search of him, they find the criminal Floyd Frisby who tries to convince Superman that Batman and Robin are really criminals.

Batman story #873

[aroworlds]

To finish this week, I thought I’d put together a master post of my free aro-spec-centred writing. Some of these works are digitally-published pieces, some will be when I have time and health but are currently only available on my website, and others are posted online just for fun. All these pieces include aromantic-spectrum narrating protagonists in stories about aro-spec experiences. I mostly write fantasy, but there’s a few contemporary pieces here as well.

It’s worth noting that much of my fiction also concerns transgender, non-binary, autistic, mentally ill and otherwise-queer protagonists.

Hallo, Aro

Contains: A series of flash fiction stories about allosexual aromantic characters navigating friendship, sexual attraction, aromanticism and the weight of amatonormative expectation.

Length: All stories run under a thousand words.

Links: PDF | EPUB

Stories: Unspoken | Leaving | Friendship | Lucky | Attraction | Existence

The Wind and the Stars

Contains: A non-amorous, agender, aro-ace protagonist discovering that they can invent the fairy tales that describe their life.

Length: 1, 308 words / 4 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB | Smashwords | Gumroad

What if it Isn’t

Contains: An allosexual, sapphic, greyromantic autistic realising that the girl she's pretending to date is in love with her.

Length: 2, 100 words / 6 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB

The Sorcerous Compendium of Postmortem Query

Contains: A sapphic, allosexual, lithromantic trans witch asking questions of the dead in the hope of finding a solution for her shape of love--only to discover that her forebears are far more diversely aromantic than she or anyone else reckoned on.

Length: 8, 115 words.

Links: Web

Love Spells, Rainbows and Rosie

Contains: The aforementioned lithromantic trans woman finds herself delivering a little sage, aromantic advice to someone else trapped by amatonormative expectation.

Length:  2, 991 words.

Links: Web

Love is the Reckoning

Contains: A mentally ill, greysexual, aromantic trans man coming home only to discover that his kin's unquestioned amatonormativity and their inability to support his illnesses are not his worst problems--but he has to survive the horrors of both to find this out.

Length: 11, 561 words.

Links: Web

Ringbound

Contains: An aromantic, gay, trans autistic lying in bed amidst the growing realisation that he just can't marry the man who loves him.

Length: 1, 873 words / 6 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB

Absence of Language

Contains: A bewildered aromantic, gay, trans autistic struggling to cope with abandoning his fiancé, only to find that a stranger has a long-wanted word for just this experience.

Length: 7, 209 words / 20 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB

⁕ Note: These five Marchverse stories form part of a series of overlapping and intersecting characters. Query and Ringbound can be read on their own, but the others are best read in the listed order. Absence of Language is the first chapter in a longer serial I’ll be posting more regularly later this year, but it’s also the sequel to Ringbound.

Old Fashioned

Contains: An irascible sapphic, demiromantic, trans autistic dealing with unwanted romance, amatonormativity and explanations about aromanticism all in the same night.

Length: 4, 509 words / 13 PDF pages.

Links: PDF | EPUB | Smashwords | Gumroad

⁕ Note: This takes place a couple of years after the five Marchverse stories listed above, in which the narrating protagonist knows nothing about Kit’s misadventures ... or the truth of what actually happened in Absence of Language.

Header links take you to information pages with blurb and further links; brief content advisories are included inside each book. Old Fashioned and The Wind and the Stars are also available in the Kobo and Apple Books stores.

If you want aromantic-spectrum narrating protagonists who aren’t in aro-centered stories, you may prefer my Eagle Court books.

Image description under keep reading:

[image description: a cartoony image of four book covers hanging inside wooden frames, nailed to a cracked brick wall with rows of bricks in the colours of the aromantic pride flag: dark green, light green, white, grey and black. Below the wall display sits a glass table with a potted plant sitting on top; a few crumpled sheets of paper and a green pencil sit on the wood floor under the table. The book covers inside the frames include the books Old Fashioned, The Sorcerous Compendium of Postmortem Query, The Wind and the Stars and Hallo, Aro, all by K. A. Cook.]

[alloaroworlds]

Since I made a Tumblr post for all my aro-centred fiction pieces, and I’ve posted a few more allo-aro pieces since my last master post, I thought I’d do a new one for all my works with allo-aro narrating protagonists.

Some of these works are digitally-published pieces, some will be when I have time and health but are currently only available on my website, and others are posted online just for fun. All these pieces include allo-aro narrating protagonists in stories mostly, but not always, centred on aro-spec experiences. I usually write fantasy, but there’s a few contemporary pieces here as well.

It’s worth noting that much of my fiction also concerns transgender, non-binary, autistic, mentally ill and otherwise-queer protagonists.

Hallo, Aro

Contains: A series of flash fiction stories about allosexual aromantic characters navigating friendship, sexual attraction, aromanticism and the weight of amatonormative expectation.

Length: All stories run under a thousand words.

Links: PDF | EPUB | WordPress

Stories: Unspoken | Leaving | Friendship | Lucky | Attraction | Existence | Neuronormative | Loveless

What if it Isn’t

Contains: An allosexual, sapphic, greyromantic autistic realising that the girl she's pretending to date is in love with her.

Length: 2, 100 words / 6 PDF pages.

Links: Patreon | WordPress | Tumblr

The Sorcerous Compendium of Postmortem Query

Contains: A sapphic, allosexual, lithromantic trans witch asking questions of the dead in the hope of finding a solution for her shape of love--only to discover that her forebears are far more diversely aromantic than she or anyone else reckoned on.

Length: 8, 115 words.

Links: Web

Love Spells, Rainbows and Rosie

Contains: The aforementioned lithromantic trans woman finds herself delivering a little sage, aromantic advice to someone else trapped by amatonormative expectation.

Length:  2, 991 words.

Links: Patreon | WordPress

Ringbound

Contains: An aromantic, gay, trans autistic lying in bed amidst the growing realisation that he just can't marry the man who loves him.

Length: 1, 873 words / 6 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB

Absence of Language

Contains: A bewildered aromantic, gay, trans autistic struggling to cope with abandoning his fiancé, only to find that a stranger has a long-wanted word for just this experience.

Length: 7, 209 words / 20 PDF pages.

Links: Web | PDF | EPUB

⁕ Note: These four Marchverse stories form part of a series of overlapping and intersecting characters. Query and Ringbound can be read on their own, but the others are best read in the listed order. Absence of Language is the first chapter in a longer serial I’ll be posting more regularly later this year, but it’s also the sequel to Ringbound. Mara’s brother Esher has his own story in Love is the Reckoning, but he’s not allo-aro.

Their Courts of Crows

Contains: A cis, pansexual aromantic on the wrong side of a war with a necromancer queen ... who just happens to be his mother

Length: 5, 108 words / 14 PDF pages.

Links: Patreon | Smashwords | Gumroad

A Prince of the Dead

Contains: A cis, pansexual, aromantic undead prince struggling to deal with the aftermath of the war in a world where romantic partners are presumed to be the disabled’s primary source of support.

Length: 9, 890 words / 28 PDF pages.

Links: Smashwords | PDF | EPUB | MOBI

* Note: These are the first two works in a series, with multiple aro-spec protagonists, about politics, necromancy, family, ableism and cissexism. The third, The King of Gears and Bone, has an aro-ace narrator, but the fourth story (currently editing) is about an abrosexual, abroromantic man in a QPR with an allo-aro gay man, and the fifth book (second draft) has two allo-aro narrators and one aro-ace one. The aro rep here is more incidental than a major focus, and it’s not even mentioned in the first story, but anyone of positive significance is, or will be revealed as, aro-spec.

The Hallo, Aro story Loveless takes place shortly after A Prince of the Dead.

Header links take you to information pages with blurb and further links; brief content advisories are included inside each book. Their Courts of Crows and A Prince of the Dead are also available in the Kobo and Apple Books stores.

Patrons get early access to all my fiction and exclusive bonus works!

Image description under keep reading:

[image description: a cartoony image of four book covers hanging inside wooden frames, nailed to a cracked brick wall with rows of bricks in the colours of a allosexual aromantic pride flag: dark green, light green, white, yellow and gold. Below the wall display sits a glass table with a potted plant sitting on top; a few crumpled sheets of paper and a green pencil sit on the wood floor under the table. The book covers inside the frames include the books Their Courts of Crows, The Sorcerous Compendium of Postmortem Query, What if it Isn’t and Hallo, Aro, all by K. A. Cook.]

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                                            Volume 7 Issue 6                                                                                                Week of January 23,2023                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR:  I wish we could keep the heart of an innocent child throughout our lives as adults.  But, we grow up and allow the world and self to enter our pure hearts.  We suffer broken hearts that often causes a tough callus where once love existed.  We are quick to see the brokenness in others, and not in ourselves.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-5 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever humbles himself as a child, the same is the greatest in heaven.” What if we all could strive to keep a humble heart.  LRMartin

NEW FOOD TRUCK DOWN TOWN SALEM! Salem has a food truck, Palmetto Spoon, often located across from the Fire Department.  Stop by and check out the breakfast and lunch menu!                                                                                  

TOWN OF SALEM: *Downtown Market every Sat. 8am-12pm.                              COMMUNITY KIDS FREE FUN DAY:  Jan 28, 2pm-5pm. There will be a kids free fun day at the Salem ballfield: Horse rides, face painting, free snacks,water  and more !         Talley’s Valentine Project:  Last year Talley Luce delivered over 400 Valentine’s Day cards to 4 rest homes.  She is asking for your help once again.  Make a handmade card and drop it off at the Salem Town Hall before Feb 10.  Donations are also accepted such as socks, body lotions, pens/colored pencils, lip balm, word search books, a singe artificial red  rose.  SALEM LIBRARY:  Hours: Mon 10-6pm.  Tues-Fri   9am-5pm.  Closed 12-1 for lunch.   944-0912                                                      

.                                            ASHTON RECALLS        By Ashton Hester               DAR SCHOOL DESCRIBED IN 1952 STORY - (The following story was in the June 11, 1952 issue of the Keowee Courier). . .The Tamassee DAR School is located 11 miles from Walhalla on the Salem highway in the Tamassee community. . .It has both boarding and day students. Although it receives some money from the state, most of its money comes from the Daughters of the American Revolution. . .Much of the food that the boarding students eat is grown on the farm. They have fresh vegetables when they are in season, and they can some for the winter. . .The school also has a large herd of milk cows which are fed and milked by the boys who are boarding students. There is also a herd of hogs and a flock of hens that are also tended to by the boys. . .Many of their peaches and apples come from the school's orchards, which are pruned by the agricultural classes. . .The girls do the cooking and wash most of the dishes, although they put some of the boys to work scrubbing pots and pans. The girls also do the washing and ironing at the school laundry. . .The girls who board at Tamassee wear blue uniforms, but the boys dress the same as boys in any other school. . .Tamassee's main sports are basketball, baseball and track. . .The boarding students come from South and North Carolina and Georgia. The day students live near Tamassee and ride to school on buses. . .Most of the teachers live on campus and have a full-time job keeping an eye on the students and acting as mothers and fathers to them. . .Tamassee has a church, a Health House and nurses, a new shop, a gymnasium, a cannery, and a power plant.                                              

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC)& COFFEE SHOP 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed-Sat 8am-9pm.  Sunday 2pm-7pm.  Events this week:  Thurs: Old Time Jam 6:00pm.  Fri– FOOD: Palmetto Spoon  4pm  Music: The Binge  at 6:30pm.  Sat–  Music:  McGaha & Lark 6:30pm Food: ALAZAN  Call 864-873-0048   Book Club Meeting at JVBC: Wed, Jan 25 at 10:00am. Discussing Desert Flower by Warris Dirie.  Landscape Art Class, Thurs, Jan 26, 6pm-8pm $25 Preregister.  864-280-1258

Making it Grow with Amanda McNulty recently celebrated the life of Clemson Extension Agent, Tony Melton,                (Sept 1957– April 2022) who exemplified the true heart of a steward. Tony said, “Touching other people’s lives is what makes the difference.”   Tony was honored by our governor  for his care for the environment and his support for agriculture.  Tony said he “ Worked for people not Clemson university.” Look up PBS Making it Grow for this Tribute.

JOTTINGS FROM JEANNIE:  Oh! You Queens of Isaqueena!  You Princes of Picket Post!  I fear that you are suffering from Mid-Winter Doldrums! To that end, I am sharing some of my favorite borrowed quotes:  * You must DO the thing that you think you cannot do.          * The weariest night and the longest day sooner or later must come to an end   *We could never learn to be Brave & Patient if there were only joy in the world.     *Everything is so dangerous that nothing is really frightening anymore.                                                                                And my favorite quote:  Shoot for the Moon! If you miss, you will still land among the stars!                              Miz Jeannie loves All, All of You ALL & Youse Guys                                                                                                                      EAGLES NEST ART CENTER , 501c3, 4 Eagle Lane, Salem                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ENAC REGULAR meeting Monday, February 6, 2023  at 5pm.                            ENAC TREASURE STORE: Open every first Saturday of each month 9am-12pm.  We need more volunteers.    Call 864-280 –1258                                                                                                                                                                           UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IN 2023:                                                          FOLK MOUNTAIN GOSPEL: FEB 11 Doors open at  5:30pm.  Event starts at 6pm.Don and Donna Mohl play mountain and hammered dulcimer, bowed psaltry, zither and more.   Website: folkmountaingospel.com  * Love offering event.  WOMEN ECOURAGING WOMEN: FEB 18, 1PM-4PM  *Love Offering event.  * This is a wonderful event for our local churches to help sponsor. *  Invite your girlfriends, sisters, mom, or strangers to this local 3 hour retreat. Speaker: Martha Watson.

Tamassee DAR:  Whether you are planning a romantic garden wedding for a small group of close friends, or a chapel ceremony with all the traditions, Tamassee DAR School can make your wedding dreams come true.  From engagement tea, rehearsal, ceremony, to reception – Weddings at Tamassee is a one-stop-venue experience for all your wedding needs. Tamassee is now taking reservations for the next Bride-to-Be Tea Party on Saturday, Feb. 18th at 10 a.m. in historical South Carolina Cottage on the campus of Tamassee DAR School.  Tour our beautiful indoor and outdoor venue options, visit with preferred vendors, enjoy refreshments, and learn more about our affordable wedding packages.   Cost for the Tea Party is $10 for the bride and one guest.  To register for this event, call us at 864.944.1390 or email us at events@tdarschool.org.

SCRIPTURE: KJV Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to walk  justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  

[whittccs]

#873, A Playful Look

#873, A Playful Look

A pen and colored pencil drawing.

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup - June 2021

World Refugee Day was June 20th

Statement by the Prime Minister on World Refugee Day

"This year’s theme, ‘Together we heal, learn and shine,’ calls on us all to renew our support for refugees by improving their access to quality health care and education. Echoing the Global Compact on Refugees, this year’s theme also reminds us of the importance of inclusion, and ensuring that all people, including refugees from diverse backgrounds, have access to the spaces they need to learn and thrive. Canada recognizes the importance of inclusion and diversity, and has a long-standing tradition of promoting these values through our international assistance, resettlement, and integration efforts."

World Refugee Day 2021: A look at Syrian and other major refugee crises around the world

Afghan-Canadian refugee artist designs World Refugee Day Twitter emoji

"UNHCR and Twitter commissioned Afghan-Canadian artist Hangama Amiri to create the emoji for World Refugee Day, celebrated each year on 20 June. It is the first time the emoji has been designed by a refugee. The design features a blue heart cupped between two hands to symbolize protection and solidarity. It goes live today and will be activated on any tweet that uses the hashtags #WorldRefugeeDay, #WithRefugees and #RefugeeDay, in any of 12 languages, through 23 June."

Drawing Home and Hope

"As her family moved from one place to the next, Hangama always carried pencil and paper. Drawing her experiences at an early age gave her a “sense of freedom,” she says. Today, at age 31, she has turned that early practice into a successful career as an artist. Her colourful textile pieces, which recall and reconfigure her hometown of Kabul, are on view in galleries around the world."

Kenya launches elephant naming festival to boost wildlife conservation

"Kenya launched a magical elephant naming festival in order to boost wildlife conservation. Najib Balala, the cabinet secretary at the Ministry for Tourism and Wildlife, said that the event, which will be held annually on Aug. 12, the World Elephant Day, seeks to raise awareness on the plight of elephants and rally support toward their conservation."

Children by the thousands forced to act as soldiers, victimized by war in 2020

"The report confirmed that violations were committed against 19,379 children in 21 conflicts in 2020, with the greatest number of violations committed in Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen. It found that 8,521 children were used as soldiers last year, while another 2,674 children were killed and 5,748 injured in various conflicts."

No place for children in conflict, UN chief tells Security Council

'Will you take the time to listen to us? Will you work with us? Will you have the strength to see the positive in us?' We must.”

- Forest Whitaker, Advocate for Children Affected by War with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation

Children and Armed Conflict Report

May 2021

The high-level open debate on Children and Armed Conflict under the Presidency of Estonia took place on June 28th, 2021.

"The open debate will consider the findings of the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/75/873-S/2021/43). It will also be an opportunity to focus on issues related to the implementation of the children and armed conflict agenda, including the mid- and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the protection of children in conflict as well as the importance of a gender perspective in child protection, considering the specific risks faced by girls in armed conflict."

Settlers Take Action

Make this Moment of Mourning a Movement for Change

Non-Indigenous folk who live in Canada benefit from the colonialism that happened here. That means we are all responsible for our personal role in reconciliation.

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