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Lessons from an Avian Challenged Dove

May 2, 2022May 1, 2022 Seana Moorhead 1 Comment

Shikoba prefers the term Dove to Pigeon. The latter conjures up images of park scavengers who peck at the ground and then fly up to poo on your head. However, the former “dove” is a symbol of love and peace. I’d rather be a dove too.

We rescued Shikoba after the tornado pushed her from her nest and left her homeless. She was hunkered into the long grass and as a baby bird, we weren’t sure of her species. The mother was nowhere to be found and if we left her overnight, she would have been likely eaten by a predator, like a raccoon or maybe a rat. Instead, we put her inside our bird rescue box (yes, we have one) and attempted to save her life.

It wasn’t easy.

Taming Your Lizard Brain

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 Lori Twining Leave a comment

I am continuously learning the craft of writing. One of my favourite self-development authors is Seth Godin. I almost fall into a trance when I listen to him speak. A few years ago, he published a book called PUSHING PAST THE DIP: HOW TO BECOME THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I recently reread it.

In the book, Seth speaks about making the long, tough slog through mediocre-ville. Honestly, I laughed while I read it. It was probably a manic laugh, but still, I think about this book often. Seth mentioned that you must concentrate your efforts, push a little harder, commit a few more resources, and leave the mediocre to the average Joe.

Starting With A Clean Sheet

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022 Andrée Levie-Warrilow 1 Comment

Spring. Finally.

It’s Spring! And the urge to clean and declutter comes over many of us. I’ve already made one run to the dump, and there will be more, along with side trips to the Sally Ann with surplus household items. This may possibly include rooster – themed dessert plates and tablecloths from well-meaning kin who thought my appetite for rooster collectables is limitless. It isn’t.

Carrying on

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 Kelly Babcock Leave a comment

Still Alive

I’ve had to take a few tests in my time, I mean, I made it through public school and high school and got a diploma of some sort from college.

And outside of school I’ve had to take various tests in order to be allowed to do different things in life, drive, save someone from a stabbing wound caused by a shard of glass using nothing but my wits, a dixie cup, electrical tape, a box of Read more

The Cutting Game

April 4, 2022April 4, 2022 Donna Judy Curtin Leave a comment

Spring is here! I keep repeating this mantra to myself, even though mother nature (she has a perverse sense of humour) has greeted us the last few mornings with SNOW. But the determined birds keep singing spring’s praise, so much so, that if I close my eyes, I can almost feel spring. I’ve also had the spring-cleaning bug—rifling through closets, dusting off clothing no longer worn to donate and cleaning out the boxes that have been sitting in my back room for months and months.

I’m also shaggy. I am in serious need of a haircut, an eyebrow shaping, and I’m prickly! I dearly need a new razor to release these legs from their winter coat. Too bad we weren’t like animals and could shed our leg hairs each spring. Regardless, it got me to thinking about all this self care and how my current manuscript could the same focused love.

Quest for Truth

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022 Bernice Connell 1 Comment

When beginning this blog, my intention was to explore the language that peppers social activism discussions these days. Terms such as virtue signaling, manufacturing consent, false flags, being woke and right to protect were mostly new to me. Instead, the writing was sidetracked and I learned an important lesson along the way.

FAIR WARNING – RANT ADVISORY!

The Weird Brother, Onomatopoeia

March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 Seana Moorhead Leave a comment

Picture from Pixabay, SashaNebesuyk
I don’t think he got the same advice as I did about running in zig zag patterns

When being chased by a rhino, you should run in a zig-zag pattern. The wildlife guide in Nepal provided this advice to me. Zig-Zag is probably my favourite onomatopoeia word. The very sound of “zig” and “zag” suggests its meaning. I was “almost chased” by a rhino three times— still don’t know if it was a set up for an extra tip by the guide— and yes, each time, I duly ran in zig-zag patterns. Zippy-do-da! I’m still alive to write this blog.

Onomatopoeia refers to a word that imitates or suggests the word’s sound. It can bring language to life by capturing its sound in the word itself. Buzz, crash, whisper are all common examples. Animal noises (bark, meow, chirp) are all onomatopoeia words. Nature sounds lend themselves to be onomatopoeia. (The drizzle of rain; the swoosh of the wind; the gurgling creek).

Writers & Artists Paying It Forward

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022 Lori Twining Leave a comment

Artwork by Birch Notes Creative; Photo credit ~ Lori Twining

Above all else, writers should be writing, but what if you have trouble getting words on the page?

With the world raging in turmoil outside our windows, writers start to wonder if the words they are writing will matter in a time like this. We thought the pandemic was challenging, but now, people are dying thanks to a man with a greed problem. I’m simplifying this because the man has more problems than greed, but I’m sure you understand we are on the verge of World War III now that Putin, the Russian leader, has ripped up the peace deal and has launched a devastating attack on Ukraine by air, land, and sea.

This news is scary shit. Read more

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