The rebellious red cow

My father told me the story of a red cow my grandparents had when he was a boy.

The cow was a bit of a rogue and liked to head-butt people, especially my father. He was supposed to give her food morning and evening, but it always was a challenge to do it without getting a header from her.

My dad devised many plans to perform his task safely. In those days parents were more of a practical bend of mind and kids were allowed to make their own mistakes and that was how my dad learned how to keep the cow at bay while putting her fodder in front of her. He got a sack from somewhere and would throw it over the cow’s head and quickly put the bucket with her food in front of her. There was a string attached to the sack with which he would pull it back when the food was in place and then he would make his getaway.

This photo reminded me of that story!

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Written for CCC # 196, hosted by Crispina Kemp

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It takes courage to keep silent too!

Mich, of Michnavs wrote this very moving post on Friday. Please do check it out!

Her theme was that people who endure heartbreak, violence and tragedies sometimes keep silent; because it is more heroic to do so. And we, the bystander can very easily say that they should share, talk about it or do something about the situation but it’s not always the best option or it can be more damaging for all concerned.

Consider a domestic abused mom who has to jeopardize the welfare of herself and her children if she speaks up or takes action against her spouse. There is always too much riding on this decision to report the abusive husband and if she doesn’t or cannot do this, we should also stand by her and give her the support she needs till she finally can have the courage to speak. Our society condemns these women because they don’t leave their homes immediately.

Our role as caring and supportive people should always be to understand the mental anguish and trauma of people/women facing abusive or other tragic situations and to be there for them in whatever decisions they take. We have to understand that a person in the circumstances can and does know better what they should do than a bystander.

We should stop the culture of blaming the victim!

Written in response to Mich’s post; The wounds we keep

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#Awareness

How unique are you?

Unparalleled, unique and totally special

Never should you compare yourself to others

You’re special and there cannot be anyone like you

Even if you have a twin, triplet or more siblings

They all are different and unique in their own right

Savor this feeling of being one of a kind

And then be immensely kind to other around you

For they all are as special as you are!

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Your prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is starts with “u.”Find a word that starts with the letter “u” and use it however you’d like. Bonus points if it’s the first word in your post. Enjoy!

Written for Linda’s SoCS- U

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#SoSC

Lakes- still waters run deep

August 10: Water: Lakes

Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays (a Photo or Writing Challenge)

Unlike the flowing water of the river and streams, lakes are still and silent. The water is at peace, staying in one place and providing a mirror to reflect the beauty around it.

Sitting by the lakeside, you experience the quiet beauty and strength of nature which not only provides us with internal peace but also evokes a sense of gratitude for belonging to this magnificent universe.

A few lakes that I have visited, or plan to visit sometime;

Reflection Lake- Mount Rainier- Washington

We visited here in June 2019. The place and it’s atmosphere was so serene. Despite the fact that there were many people there, the sense of calm was overwhelming. The still water reflects the surrounding landscape and the beautiful cloudy sky to perfection.

Attabad Lake, Hunza/ Gilgit- Pakistan

Attabad lake was created in 2010 due to a major landslide in Attabad. It’s a natural wonder and one can still see the trees which were submerged when the landslide caused Hunza river to flood the valley and form the lake. I plan to go there one day. This photo was taken by my son when he and his wife visited this place three years ago.

Written for;WQW #30: Enjoying Great Lakes and Not-So-Great Lakes, hosted by Marsha

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Don’t open this envelope!

A situational prompt this week;

Situation 1

Your character finds an old, disposable camera on the ground. They get the photos developed. What they see tells an unsettling story.

Situation 2 ☑️

The doorbell rings and your character answers it – finding nothing but an envelope with nothing on it. They open it and follow the instructions.

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Always be wary of strangers giving you instructions

You never know where they will lead you or to what

Found a blank envelope on your doorstep with instructions?

If I were you, I wouldn’t open that envelope or read the note inside

But if your curiosity gets ahead of your sensible thinking

Then do stop and contemplate what you’re about to do!

Does this fall in the realm of sanity or is something too outlandish?

Think carefully before you commit yourself to any harebrained scheme

Always remember that only you’re responsible for your actions

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Written in response to RXC # 243, hosted by Reena

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Love at first sight

A new song for me. I hope you like it!

Styx- Love at first sight

Lyrics;

Driving past your house again
I feel the same way I did then
I get weak, just thinking about you
It all began so easily
A look from you a glance from me
Then our eyes met like thunder & lightning

You and I, strangers lost in a moment
Eye to eye
We were caught unaware of the passion inside us

Love at first sight
I know that this can’t be happening
No, not to someone like me
Love at first sight
So rare, and so exciting
I only hope this love we found can last

I’m not a man who acts this way
But lately I can’t concentrate
And I don’t sleep, just dreaming about you
I try to reach you on the phone
But voices there say you’re not home
And my heart aches, thinking I’ve lost you

One more time, seeing your face in the moonlight
One more chance to be caught unaware
Of this passion inside us

Love at first sight
I know that this can’t be happening
No, not to someone like me
Love at first sight
It’s hard to keep your balance
Moving past the point of no return

If you need some time
To understand your feelings
If you need some time away
I’ll be waiting for you
With open arms my love

All that night
We made love in the moonlight
Eye to eye
We were so unaware of the passion inside us

Love at first sight
I know that this can’t be happening
No, not to someone like me
Love at first sight
So rare, and so exciting
I only hope this love we found can last

Source: LyricFind

In response to Thursday Inspiration- sight, hosted by Jim

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#ThursdayInspiration

My space

I have very strong feelings about my space.

I can do all I need to do in my home, taking care of daily chores, cooking, washing, etc, and managing the staff that works in our home but after all that I need to relax in my space.

A space where I can do as I like, listen to music I prefer, watch shows that I like, or keep it at the temperature I prefer.

It’s not that others cannot share this space with me, they surely can but it has to be my way because it is how I like it!

Do you think it’s selfish of me to be so possessive about my space, to want to keep it just the way I want it?

I think that after sacrificing my sleep, my peace of mind for my family for more that 37 years, I’ve earned this corner of my home as my sole piece of paradise.

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Written for Six Sentences Story- Space, hosted by Girlie on the edge’s blog- Denise

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#SSS

Distortions

Photo by Marco Bianchetti on Unsplash

A simple act of crossing the road

Can result in unforeseen consequences

Suddenly my shadow morphed into

Someone else entirely, leaving me alone

And like Peter Pan I am searching now

For my real shadow, my soul partner

I have to object to these distortions

Of space and time that have made my life

Unpredictable and full of complications

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Written for MLMM- Photo Challenge # 426, hosted by Weejars

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Look closely

Look closely



Even a drop of water

Holds a world captivating 

With rainbow hues and

Wonder caught in it


Look closely 



At the world around you 

And you will be blown away

With the beauty in everything 

A feeling of immense gratitude 

Will overwhelm you 

Being gifted with 

A world of beauty 


Look closely!



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Written for;Moon Washed Musings Weekly Challenge – Captivating – August 9, 2022, hosted by Eugenia

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A box of clothes left behind

August 8, 2022, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the one who left the dress.” A 1940s-era dress still hangs in an abandoned house. Who left it and why? You can take any perspective and write in any genre. It can be a ghost story. Or not. Go where the prompt leads!

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My mom passed away 55 years ago, when I was barely 6. When I was 15, my grandmother showed me a box of her clothes that she had preserved with care for me. It was such a unexplainable feeling to touch the clothes she had worn when she was alive, because I hardly remembered her.

I altered most of them to my size as I was quite good at stitching by that age. And wore them with pride. It didn’t matter to me that the fabrics were outdated, just that they once belonged to my mom whom I loved.

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Word count; 99

In response to 99 Words Story- Dress, hosted by Charli Mills of carrot ranch

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