We have been getting quite a lot of rain lately, and our yard is turning so green! It’s beautiful!
Tag Archives: nature
“The Sacrifice”: Part eleven
Happy April, y’all! Can I say it’s officially Spring now?
I love Spring!
Anyway, The Sacrifice:
The Sacrifice 
Part Eleventh: Hard
The familiar ride ended at the hills, somehow seeming longer and yet shorter than before to the Princess. Brother and sister dismounted at the edge of the very first of the tree-clad slopes. Neither thought to keep hold of their horses’ reins, but Captain and Snowflake stood still and watched them, as if aware that this moment was a solemn one for their masters. Both humans stood and looked at the ground, unwilling to break the silence.
“I have to go,” said Penelope at last.
“I know,” said Henry. Slowly he reached out and hugged her. “This is harder than dying in dragon-fire,” he said softly, as she pulled away from him.
“I am sure it is,” she answered, gently. “But we have to, Henry.”
“I know,” he said again. “But it’s so hard.”
“Of course it’s hard. And your part is harder.” She wasn’t quite sure this was true, but she said it anyway. “But you have to stay. I—I’m dying for these people. They shall need a King. Help them. . . when I’m gone?”
“Sure, Penny,” he answered, halfheartedly. “Anything you like.”
“Anything except forget me?” she teased sadly.
“Right.” Something that might almost pass for a smile flickered across Henry’s face as he brushed windswept strands that had escaped her braids out from between their faces.
Penelope closed her eyes as his hands played across her face. It had always been her and Henry. Did she have to do this? Would anyone blame her if she didn’t? Probably not, but that wasn’t the point.
She shook the thought of turning back out of her mind as she shook her brother’s hands off her face. She gently placed her hands on his shoulders and craned her neck to kiss his cheek before she turned her back and marched up, into the the foothills. She could hear Snowflake whinnying for her like crazy, but she never turned around. She had said goody-bye to her brother as best she could, she would not ruin it by looking back again now.
Music
Hey, guys! I found a few (or more than a few! 🙂 ) music videos recently that I’ve been watching, and I thought I would share them with you all!
Kids, please check talk with your parents first. A lot of these are mostly just lyrics, but figure out what works best for your family. I have had some trouble with Youtube bringing up unhelpful video suggestions at the end.
This song is soo pretty! We sang it at a Bright Lights conference this summer, and I decided I needed to find it somewhere and memorize it!
I had the opportunity to attend a concert by the Gaither band with my grandparents a while ago, and heard David Phelps sing this song. It really stood out to me. We looked it up so the rest of my family could hear it, and I’ve listened to it almost every day since then!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phJo1E94Yk8
It’s from The Hobbit. “What praise could I say more?” 🙂
The picture at the end annoys me, but I like how the video is made!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsGnKWAXhIo
For those of you who haven’t heard, I’m crazy about the new “Cinderella” movie. I enjoyed it more than the old one, though it isn’t necessarily as good for younger kids. “Have courage and be kind.” ♥
This video was very well made! She has the original soundtrack playing, and only does the violin for the vocal parts!
Once again, it’s from Middle Earth. Of course I love it. 🙂
Still Taylor Davis. And still Middle Earth. I love how heart-felt her playing is! She really tapped into the bitter-sweet depth this song has. And look at the violin she’s playing–I’ve never seen one like that before!
Can you tell I have an obsession with violins? (No, I don’t play one.) I love how she practically dances while she plays–she really knows what she’s doing with a violin! And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this, and I still haven’t gotten over her dress–or the scenery! Actually filmed in New Zealand!
And that’s about it. I just figured out I really like music videos, so I’ve been watching to a lot lately! 🙂
Happy Monday!
Bright Red Rose
I got my braces on this afternoon! So far, they haven’t been as bad as the palate widener, and–from what I’ve heard–I don’t think they’re ever going to be, and the worst is over.
Still, they’re weird, and it was nice to have something cheery to come home to:
Lucy bought me a flower.
With her own money. All her idea. And she kept her secret so well–I had no notion of what was going on!
Isn’t it just the sweetest ever? I’ve never seen such a pretty flower.
She asked how long it would last. Dad said three days. I say it lasts forever. ‘Cause I’ll never forget it. It’s going in a story someday–probably quite a few! Everything that a writer remembers lasts forever.
Sparkly tissue paper and everything. Oh, sparkles are the best!
It smells about about like heaven.
I think I have a new favorite flower.
What sort of things do you love just because of the memories they’re tied to?
Colorado
Hi, ya’ll! Sorry I haven’t posted in so long. We got back from a short trip to Colorado last Thursday. It was only a few days long, but a great trip–spending time with my family and the friends we stayed with, being outside, reading in the car (I love road-trips!), and. . . (drum-roll please!) my first time skiing.
It was a cross between the scariest, most stressful thing I had ever done, and the funnest and most exciting. 🙂
So. . . I have a love/hate relationship with skiing, at the moment.
But, I’m glad we went! It was fun, and the weather was perfect, and the scenery was to die for.
But I didn’t die for it (I survived skiing!), so I’m back, and I’m hoping to start posting more. I know I’ve been a wee bit sparse lately.
P.S. Can you get too old for dressing up? We stayed with some friends of ours, and they had the best dress up clothes ever–and they even fit a fifteen-year-old! What more could a girl ask for?
Happy Sunday! 🙂
Homer’s Writing Style in “The Odyssey”
I just read Homer’s The Odyssey for school this year, for something called Great Books, which is a combination of English and History. Essentially, you study the time period a book was written in, read the book, and write about it. This is the paper I wrote about The Odyssey. Enjoy!
Snow!!!
I’m crazy.
I’ve often thought so, but This?
This proves it.
It’s been snowing all morning–big, fluffy, beautiful flakes–and I went out for a few minutes earlier and did archery in it.
I can now say I have done target practice in the rain and the snow. Granted, I didn’t stay out very long this morning due to cold and frost-covered arrows that make your fingers feel like they’re about to fall off; but I’ve done it.
There has to be a story where someone shoots arrows in the snow, right? Or do I have to write that one too?
Anyway, enjoy the snow, if you have it, and if not, then enjoy whatever weather you’re having!
Happy Monday!
Christmas Cheer
I drew a couple pictures recently, and then realized they were a little Christmas-y, so I thought I would post them. Enjoy!
I was inspired to draw this squirrel when we left a cup of tea outside by mistake (a while ago, when it was much warmer!), and I found the teabag torn open like something had tried to eat the tea-leaves!
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
-Luke 2:10, 11
Welcome back, Winter!
The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.
-Psalm 104:19
??? {Mystery Quote #21} ???
Dad ordered a hamburger one night in China that had egg and cheese and probably something else on it, and he let me taste it. It was the best hamburger I’d ever eaten. . .
. . . until Sunday night, when we had this for dinner.
Dad felt like a burger, but we didn’t have hamburger buns, so he fried bread and butter on the electric skillet instead. And then we added egg, and cheese, and bacon, and fried onion–just for kicks. This is a good house to live in! 🙂