Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 19

Robbie’s Inspiration – Being alone, Sunday Stills – golden yellow and Anti-Midas touch #poetry #photography #lions

I’m sharing this poem, Alone, in response to posts by David and Cindy about life with family.

You can read David’s poem here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/08/06/high-tide-or-happy-as-a-clam/

You can read Cindy’s post here: https://uniquelyfitblog.com/2024/08/09/yabba-dabba-doo-on-fun-fri-yay/

Alone

Sometimes I long to be alone

To think about the vastness of the sky

Reflect on the important things in life

Like what happens when you die

***

There was a time when being alone

Was a situation I’d grown to fear

A couple of well placed phone calls

And company would quickly appear

***

Then, my boys came on the scene

And life became endlessly busy

Rescuing them from daring exploits

Often made me feel quite dizzy

***

Although they filled me with delight

They occupied every cranny and nook

Every single thing they did each day

A reason for me to stop and look

***

Going to the bathroom soon became

A very un-solitary matter

If I managed to steal away to go

Soon on the door they’d batter

***

At night, the children visited our room

In need of a soothing cuddle

They always seem to stay

And we’d wake up in a huddle

***

I never had a moment free

To read or take a private breather

The only time I got any peace

Was when they were ill with fever

***

At those scary times, it didn’t help me

To see them lying quite pale and ill

Being alone did not set me free

Was an unwanted and bitter pill

***

Time has passed so very quickly

Now they venture far from home

Making new friends and experiencing life

As around and about they roam

***

Their leaving home draws ever nearer

Then, I’ll awaken to silence each day

But strangely, I no longer desire this

And seize every opportunity for delay

***

I fear the delight of being alone

Will quickly lose its lustre

I will have to fight against loneliness

With all the will I can muster

Sunday Stills – Natures Golden Yellows – Lions

Terri’s monthly colour challenge for Sunday Stills is golden yellow. You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2024/08/11/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-natures-golden-yellows/

Thank you to Michael from Art in Nature blog who inspired me to share photographs of lions. You can read his haiku here: https://lifeexperiencesandadventures.wordpress.com/2024/08/10/art-in-nature-274-2/

Finally, Sadje had a great picture as prompt last week. I am late posting but here it is:

Anti-Midas

She’s got the anti-Midas touch

Everything she embraces implodes

Yet, instead of moving her out

Leadership always moves her on

Giving her fresh functions,

And people, to destroy

You can read the other poems for this prompt here: https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2024/08/12/wdys-248-a-roundup-post/

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3, Childhood Memory and Tanka Tuesday #poetry #TankaTuesday #W3

I was the W3 POW last week, so this week’s challenge is mine as follows:

Theme: An impactful childhood memory & how it affected you at the timeForm: Any combination of prose and poetry, including, but not limited to (click for descriptions):HaibunTanka proseProse combined with a free verse poemProse poetry

You can join in W3 here:

W3 Prompt #119: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Gun powder – shadorma prose

When I was a girl of eight years old and my sister was a much smaller child, my dad decided to build a swimming pool in our yard. A huge grader arrived to dig the primary shape of the new pool. Soon afterwards, a large pile of sand was delivered to our house. It stood in an inviting mound begging us to dig in it. Dad was easy going about Cath and I playing in the sand as long as we didn’t transport it to different locations around the garden.

One evening, Dad invited the neighbours and their children around to our house for a barbecue. He was proud of his barbecuing skills and had a large jar of spicy salt to flavour the meat. This salt was his own concoction and he was proud of it. The salt was yellow and to my young eyes, looked just like gun power. Always the ring leader, I organised a game of forts and tunnels in the sand pile. Imaginative to a fault, I desperately need caches of gunpower for my fort. What could serve this purpose better than Dad’s barbecue salt.

“Where’s my salt?” Dad asked. Catching sight of the empty jar near the sand pile, he strode over, annoyance visibly mounting with every stride. “What have you done with my salt?” he demanded.

“I buried it,” I confessed, shamefaced. “But,” I said brightening, “I remember where so I can dig it up for you.”

My kind offer was not kindly received and I was sent to my room for the rest of the evening. Ashamed, I spent the time alone reflecting on my naughtiness. Sadly, it didn’t cure my inventiveness.

Runaway

Imagination

Brought trouble

Down on me

I had the best intentions

But never thought first

Tanka TuesdaySky PeachPicture caption: A strange hazy sun in a orange sky

Overripe

It hangs heavily

Ina a strange

Tarnished sky

Invoking thoughts of blood moons

It sullenly waits

Pink in the MorningPicture caption: a bright yellow sun against a vivid pink sky

Pink tinged

Shepherd’s warning? Not!

Absent rain

Curdles ground

Separates into

Cracked mud and dry dust

You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/08/06/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-46-8-6-24-part-i-the-beginning-of-autumn-august-7-21-risshu-%e7%ab%8b%e7%a7%8b/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book Review: Misty the Cat … Unleashed by Dave Astor #humour #bookreview

What Amazon says

Hello book readers, my name is Misty. Yes, I know Misty is a girl’s name and I am a boy cat, but this is what my humans named me . . . and we don’t even live in California!

As you might expect, in this partially true tale, I do discuss the intricacies of furballs, rubbing up against legs, and why cats make the best pets, but this is just scratching the surface . . .

You’ll come along with me on adventures to the recesses of our refrigerator, get a cat’s curious view of a parking lot, meet annoying dogs, discover that trees have bark but don’t meow, and come to understand why some kitties (like me!) need asthma inhalers, especially when one slips a leash and gets lost!

Discover things about human beings you never knew, get keen political insights and commentary, and be among the first to learn that outdoor lamps may actually be giant fireflies sitting on poles.

I also get real about my fantasies which include piloting the Starship Enterprise (“Space: The Final Front Paw”), giving a State of the Apartment Complex Address, exercising at the YMCA (Young Male Cats Association), sleeping more than 24 hours a day, and putting a harness on my humans to walk them!

And what would a cat book be if it didn’t include a sprinkle of presidential pets trivia, offer little-known insight into feline behaviors, and share my favorite movies and music? Get ready for a purrrrrfectly entertaining read!

My review

In line with its title, this book is most definitely spirited and amusing. I really enjoyed the antics and reminiscences of Misty the cat, from underneath the back porch of a unfamiliar yard, far enough away from home to be scary. Having been chased into this dark and stuffy space by a savage canine adversary, Misty must remain in hiding until either his humans find him, or an opportunity to make an escape occurs.

Without his asthma pump and deprived of food and water, Misty wiles away the time by sharing his life story. A most unusual cat, Misty has experienced name changes, moved homes, changed humans, and been diagnosed with asthma, a life threatening ailment which is difficult to control in a feline. Misty is lucky enough to have found a forever home with a wonderful family and his memories extend to anecdotes about these humans, especially the young girl/woman called Maria. These stories are told with a great deal of humour and aplomb.

A most well educated and literarily and historically informed cat, Misty scatters all sorts of interesting facts about famous books and people in an highly entertaining and informative way.

This is a non-standard book, told in a non-standard way, that is guaranteed to raise a few good laughs. Laughter is the best medicine so I can only advise you to grab a copy of this book.

Purchase Misty the Cat … Unleashed from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Misty-Cat-Unleashed-Adventures-Asthmatic-ebook/product-reviews/B0D6Z9FFMY

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3 Prompt #118: Food inspired song parody #poetry #poetrycommunity #W3

This week’s W3 Prompt #118 is as follows:

Punam’s prompt guidelinesWrite a food-related poem in any form

You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/07/31/w3-prompt-118-weave-written-weekly/

Let’s Talk About Food

Oooh, I don’t want to talk about food

I’m on a diet

If I think about food, it’ll make me hungry

Break down my resistance

I’ll succumb

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about pies and ice cream

Let’s talk about all the fillings

That started out as a culinary dream

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Homemade apple pie and ice cream

***

Let’s talk about various baked delights

Whether you’re a food connoisseur or a regular Joe

Those visual displays are delectable sights

Whether your large or slim you can’t avoid eating

If your on a diet you just can’t help cheating

Because all socialising revolves around drink and food

If you don’t join in, you’ll just ruin the mood

So make the most of it – try the appetiser and the soup

Follow it with a palette cleansing lemon sorbet scoop

Those who won’t join the fun, should just go home

Take your bag and your long face and leave us in peace

We want to have fun and enjoy our lives

So come on, pick your main course

Picture caption: Swiss cheese and onion soup

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about chocolate mousse cake

So moist and decadent, it’s like a pudding

Come on, you know you want to partake

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Chocolate mousse cake with chocolate ganache icing

***

Fruit piled high on a meringue pavlova base

Be careful while your eating or it’ll cover your face

It slides down your throat with such great ease

You know the pâtissier must have great expertise

Cream of tarter, egg whites, and fine sugar

Become a light and fluffy taste experience

Out of this world, just add a drizzle of chocolate

For something a little more exotic try lemon cheesecake

Baked or refrigerated, you just can’t go wrong

Believe me, you’ll think you’re in dessert heaven

I don’t believe anyone can resist its tantalising smell

What about Baked Alaska with its flames so bright?

With the right chef it’ll burn to an amazing height

It’s guaranteed to liven up the most boring night

The alcohol burns off leaving the pudding glowing

One taste is certain to get the party going

Picture caption: Baked lemon meringue pie

***

Oh, hey, ooh, ooh, it’s so very yummy

It really is

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about gingerbread constructions

Incredibly detailed and intricate

So amazing! Its hard to be part of their destruction

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Gingerbread chapel and sugar mice

***

Come on people, let’s talk about what we like

Come on people, let’s talk about great meals

Come on foodies, let’s talk about great meals

I’m thinking about butter chicken, with naan bread

Come on now, we’ve all got to eat, make it worthwhile

Everybody should have a favourite meal

Some delicious treat that brightens their day

Picture caption: Chicken tikka masala with a pompadour

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy

Let’s talk about beef and Yorkshire pudding

With vegetables and thick, steaming gravy

Oh my, that loaded plate is so good looking

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Italian beef and mushroom stew

***

Meals are such important societal occasions

Plans to destroy countries are laid out over dinner

Promotions and celebrations are arranged around lunch

Some weddings are followed by a splendid brunch

Don’t be one of those people that only eats lettuce leaves

Tuck in well, enjoy what the magician cook achieves

Try all the condiments, taste a wide variety of salad dressings

The culinary artists will be thrilled, give you their blessings

Might even share their grandmother’s secret recipes

You’ll see how much happier you’ll be after splurging

Your tummy will be full and your mind content

So if your on a diet, come on, relent

You only live once, you’re a long time dead

Make sure when you go, you’re full of joy and well fed

Picture caption: Mexican avocado and tomato salad

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy

Let’s talk about savoury biscuits and cheese

Oooh, they make such a great after dinner snack

When the waiter comes say: “I’ll have some more please”

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about pies and cream

Let’s talk about all the fillings

That started out as a culinary dream

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Do you know which song this is? It isn’t one I particularly like but the idea to turn it into a food song parody came and I went with it.

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3 Prompt #118: Food inspired song parody #poetry #poetrycommunity #W3

This week’s W3 Prompt #118 is as follows:

Punam’s prompt guidelinesWrite a food-related poem in any form

You can join in W3 here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/07/31/w3-prompt-118-weave-written-weekly/

Let’s Talk About Food

Oooh, I don’t want to talk about food

I’m on a diet

If I think about food, it’ll makes me hungry

Break down my resistance

I’ll succumb

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about pies and ice cream

Let’s talk about all the fillings

That started out as a culinary dream

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Homemade apple pie and ice cream

***

Let’s talk about various baked delights

Whether you’re a food connoisseur or a regular Joe

Those visual displays are delectable sights

Whether your large or slim you can’t avoid eating

If your on a diet you just can’t help cheating

Because all socialising revolves around drink and food

If you don’t join in, you’ll just ruin the mood

So make the most of it – try the appetiser and the soup

Follow it with a palette cleansing lemon sorbet scoop

Those who won’t join the fun, should just go home

Take your bag and your long face and leave us in peace

We want to have fun and enjoy our lives

So come on, pick your main course

Picture caption: Swiss cheese and onion soup

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about chocolate mousse cake

So moist and decadent, it’s like a pudding

Come on, you know you want to partake

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Chocolate mousse cake with chocolate ganache icing

***

Fruit piled high on a meringue pavlova base

Be careful while your eating or it’ll cover your face

It slides down your throat with such great ease

You know the pâtissier must have great expertise

Cream of tarter, egg whites, and fine sugar

Become a light and fluffy taste experience

Out of this world, just add a drizzle of chocolate

For something a little more exotic try lemon cheesecake

Baked or refrigerated, you just can’t go wrong

Believe me, you’ll think you’re in dessert heaven

I don’t believe anyone can resist its tantalising smell

What about Baked Alaska with its flames so bright?

With the right chef it’ll burn to an amazing height

It’s guaranteed to liven up the most boring night

The alcohol burns off leaving the pudding glowing

One taste is certain to get the party going

Picture caption: Baked lemon meringue pie

***

Oh, hey, ooh, ooh, it’s so very yummy

It really is

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about gingerbread constructions

Incredibly detailed and intricate

So amazing! Its hard to be part of their destruction

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Gingerbread chapel and sugar mice

***

Come on people, let’s talk about what we like

Come on people, let’s talk about great meals

Come on foodies, let’s talk about great meals

I’m thinking about butter chicken, with naan bread

Come on now, we’ve all got to eat, make it worthwhile

Everybody should have a favourite meal

Some delicious treat that brightens their day

Picture caption: Chicken tikka masala with a pompadour

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy

Let’s talk about beef and Yorkshire pudding

With vegetables and thick, steaming gravy

Oh my, that loaded plate is so good looking

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Picture caption: Italian beef and mushroom stew

***

Meals are such important societal occasions

Plans to destroy countries are laid out over dinner

Promotions and celebrations are arrange around lunch

Some weddings are followed by a splendid brunch

Don’t be one of those people that only eats lettuce leaves

Tuck in well, enjoy what the magician cook achieves

Try all the condiments, taste a wide variety of salad dressings

The culinary artists will be thrilled, give you their blessings

Might even share their grandmother’s secret recipes

You’ll see how much happier you’ll be after splurging

Your tummy will be full and your mind content

So if your on a diet, come on, relent

You only live once, you’re a long time dead

Make sure when you go, you’re full of joy and well fed

Picture caption: Mexican avocado and tomato salad

***

Let’s talk about food, yummy

Let’s talk about savoury biscuits and cheese

Oooh, they make such a great after dinner snack

When the waiter comes say: “I’ll have some more please”

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food, yummy!

Let’s talk about pies and cream

Let’s talk about all the fillings

That started out as a culinary dream

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Let’s talk about food

Do you know which song this is? It isn’t one I particularly like but the idea to turn it into a food song parody came and I went with it.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Who’s That Indie Author? Robbie Cheadle #interview

Thank you to Barbara from Book Club Mom blog for sharing this lovely Indie author interview. Barbara has a lovely blog where she shares book reviews, interviews with a variety of Indie authors, and fun YouTube videos about a variety of topics from piano playing to nature videos.

Who’s That Indie Author? Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Join Colleen and I on a journey INTO THE LIGHT, poetry journal invitation Plus TT plus W3 #poetry #IntoTheLight

I love light. I love the way it sparkles, shimmers, shines, and dances. Light brightens our day and lifts our spirits. We see the effects of light everywhere, in nature, in buildings, and even in baking.

Fall is coming (for many of you). Join Colleen and I on a journey INTO THE LIGHT by participating in our poetic journal with the theme INTO THE LIGHT.

I am always trying to capture light. These are some of my paintings inspired by light.

Picture caption: Into the Light: Hyena – watercolour and acrylic painting by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: Into the Light: Leopard – watercolour and acrylic painting by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: Into the Light: Amsterdam Canal – acrylic painting by Robbie Cheadle

You can play with light!

Picture caption: Burning Butterflies in charcoal and oil pastels by Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Into the Light elephant and Into the Light: Elephant with sunlight – watercolour and acrylic painting by Robbie Cheadle

These are some photographs that capture light.

Picture caption: Duck on sparkling pond – photograph by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: Seven bridges over shining canal waters. Photograph by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: Sunset with hippos – photograph by Robbie Cheadle

If you are inspired, please let me know in the comments OR head on over to Colleen’s blog and vote yes in her Questionnaire here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/07/26/poetry-journal-questionaire/

Tanka Tuesday

Light inspires my poetry.

Picture caption: Peach blossoms in the late afternoon sun (move over Vincent – haha!)Micro Poem 1

See how they shimmer

Peach blossoms in the morning

Make my heart shimmy

Micro Poem 2Picture credit: Bee on a peach blossom. Photograph by Robbie Cheadle

Bees and peach blossoms

Medley of sights, sounds, and smells

My favourite things

You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/07/23/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-44-7-23-24-part-i-sweltering-heat-july-22-august-6-taisho-%e5%a4%a7%e6%9a/

W3 Challenge #117Sadje’s prompt guidelinesForm: BioletTheme: Love/HateBiolet?

The Biolet is a six line poem; the first two lines are repeated as the last two lines, however in reverse.

The rhyme scheme can be expressed as ABbaBA (with the capital letters representing the repeated lines).

The length of the lines can be in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables), iambic pentameter (10 syllables), iambic hexameter (12 syllables), or in unmetered lines of random lengths.

You can join in the prompt here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/07/24/w3-prompt-117-weave-written-weekly/

Winter DreamingPicture caption: Jacaranda tree in its green and mustard winter attire

We dream away the colder winter days

Snuggly wrapped in warm velvet capes

Over our slender branches it drapes

Green and mustard in sun’s mellow rays

Snuggly wrapped in warm velvet capes

We dream away the colder winter days

Are you inspired?

Robbie’s Inspiration – Teagan’s Christmas in July – The grand finale #ChristmasinJuly #bookreview

This is my final post for Teagan’s fun Christmas in July challenge. You can read Teagan’s final post here: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/07/25/thursdaydoors-closing-christmas-in-july/

Picture caption: Gingerbread express with Mrs Claus and Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree Man.Picture caption: Chocolate train

This video is an introduction to Chocolate Land, the world of Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet, and shares short extracts from each of the Sir Chocolate story and cookbooks:

My review of The Geostrophic Pearl: The Delta Pearl Book 2 by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

This book is a continuation of the story started in book 1, The Delta Pearl, and neither can be read as standalone books or out of order.

Following her escape for the net that was drawing her up to the fearsome brown cloud, Emeraude is thankful for her escape. She realises that the situation that is ailing the Delta Pearl and its First Mate, Blue John, has escalated. A few new clockwork creatures are introduced in this book, including the green scarab which gets up to mischief. The actions of the scarab result in Emeraude’s suitor, Victor T Elam, becoming bonded to the Delta Pearl.

Emeraude has been trying to escape her role on the Delta Pearl and sidestep her responsibilities, but in this second book she faces up to who she is and what is expected from her.

The Delta Pearl makes a jump forward in time with some very surprising consequences and Emeraude learns new and interesting information about other members of the crew which help her accept and understand her own role.

She makes progress in unravelling the secret of the brown cloud and the concept of doubles or doppelgangers becomes important. There are new people to meet with fascinating backstories and even an airship called the Geostrophic Pearl with a malevolent captain called Malachite.

An exciting rollercoaster ride of a second book and a marvelous conclusion to this intriguing and clever fantasy.

Purchase The Geostrophic Pearl from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D4R6MB1Y

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog, The boys under the bridge on Chewers by Masticadores #poetry #socialcommentary

Thank you to J re Crivello for sharing my poem, The boys under the bridge, on Chewers by Masticadores.

“The boys under the bridge” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog, Baby farming and Britain’s most prolific female serial killer, Amelia Dyer #AndtheGraveAwaits #readingcommunity

Thank you to Prof Charles French for sharing this post about my new short story collection, And the Grave Awaits. The stories in this book are paranormal, historical, and horror and it’s written under by adult fiction pen name, Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

Charles French is the author of some wonderful fiction books, as well as some excellent books on writing for aspiring authors. You can find out more about Charles French’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Charles-F.-French/author/B01M5BZZ6B

And the Grave Awaits by Roberta Eaton Cheadle