Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 28

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reena’s Xploration Challenge #313 – Nature’s Magic #poem

Reena’s challenge this week is magic. You can join in here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2024/01/11/reenas-xploration-challenge-313/

This is a Garland cinquain which comprises a titled series of six cinquains (2-3-6-8-2 syllables) in which the last stanza is formed from lines from the preceding five, typically line one from stanza one, line two from stanza two, and so on.

Nature’s Magic

Dark heads

Black on soft gold

Planet’s tallest mammals

Enjoying an early breakfast

Stunning

Tree line

Silhouetted

By powerful sunrays

Inveigling their way through stormclouds

Hard win

Long neck

Outlined in brown

Against sky’s bright splendour

A magnificent specimen

Superb

Tower*

Watches lions

With strange fascination

Giraffes, part of nature’s secret

Marvels

The prey

Compelled to stare

Just like human tourists

Do they think they’ll escape using

Magic

Dark heads

Silhouetted

Against sky’s bright splendour

Giraffe’s, part of nature’s secret

Magic

* A tower is a collective word for giraffes

Robbie’s Inspiration – repost Growing Bookworms: The importance of character names in children’s literature

Kaye Lynne Booth and I are kicking off 2024 with a post about the importance of character names in children’s literature.

Robbie’s Inspiration – W3 Prompt #88: To a Lion #poetry #lions

This is last week’s prompt:

Robert Burns (aka Robbie Burns) was a Scottish poet (1759-1796) who wrote in the Romantic style. His works focused on themes of love; A Red, Red Rose, on nature; To a Mouse, and the human condition; Tam O’Shanter.

Please write a contemporary poem inspired by Robbie Burns, choosing from his three themes of Love, Nature and the Human Condition. (You may blend the themes—as in The Banks O’Doon, where Burns combines both love and nature).

Also, Burns is best known for his use of the Scots dialect in his works, showcasing his deep connection to Scottish culture and identity… So, please write your poem, including some local dialect, slang, and/or colloquialism from where you live.

I just couldn’t miss out on this one. You can read more poems for this prompt here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/01/03/w3-prompt-88-weave-written-weekly/

To a Lion

Large, graceful, King of the Beasts

Oh Tau, how you inspire respect and fear Note 1

Do not view me with suspicion

I am a champion of the natural world

A supporter of your rights

***

Mankind’s disgraceful disregard

For this planet’s natural bounty

Causes me much sorrow

I understand your distrust

Of me, and everything I represent

Eish, Tau, it breaks my heart Note 2

***

On rare occasions, you’ll kill a human

But that’s due to the complete ignorance

Of tourists who don’t understand

That wild means … well, wild

And that’s not the same as tame

Or even trained

***

You defend your territory; pace the boundaries

Together with your brother in arms Note 3

Little do you realise that even that privilege

Is not yours to control

It is dispensed at the discretion of the men

Who decide your future

***

You’ve seen your peers shot – their heads stuffed and mounted

Victims of canned hunting Note 4

Perpetrated by fools who do not appreciate your beauty

Or the vital role you play

In the maintenance of the African ecosystems

And all it’s amazing creatures

***

Now, you are experiencing the effects of climate change

A situation to which you have not contributed

But you will pay the price, innocent or not

There is no justice

In this man-made world of materialism

Which runs on greed and a hunger for power

***

But Lion, be assured, you do not suffer alone

The sins of the people will return to them a hundred times over

Destroying their safe lives

Bringing the promised fire and brimstone

To destroy the wickedness

In the new Sodoms and Gomorrahs Note 5

***

Still Lion, you are better off than me

I must live with my awareness and knowledge

Wallow in the guilt of my contribution

To the waste, pollution, and defoulment

You will die in blessed ignorance

While I … I will watch the end approaching

Note 1 – Tau means lion in Setswana

Note 2 – Eish is a South Africanism which is used to express a range of emotions from surprise to annoyance or resignation

Note 3 – Male lions travel in pairs, usually two brothers

Note 4 – Canned hunting is a trophy hunt which is not a ‘fair chase’ as the animals are kept in a confined area and are often feed by their keepers

Note 5 – Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God for their wickedness in the Abrahamic religions

These are a few lion shots from my recent trip to the bush:

Lioness walking along the roadMy, what big teeth you have!I’ll just have a short rest here in the middle of the roadI’m just keeping an eye on him – he’s a youngster you know.

Short – male lion having a good scratch. The way his tongue went in and out amused me greatly.

Male lion stretching.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Repost: Treasuring Poetry – Thinking of cancer sufferers and survivors at Christmas as well as those who have passed

My final Treasuring Poetry post for 2023 pays tribute to Mary Smith​ and Sue Vincent, both of whom passed from cancer in 2021. I am also celebrating cancer survivors, my mom, Elsie Hancy Eaton, and poet and author, Freya Pickard​. Thank you to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting.

Treasuring Poetry – Thinking of cancer sufferers and survivors at Christmas, as well as those who have passed #cancerpoetry #bookreview #TreasuringPoetry

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book review: A Homemade Christmas by Carol Ann Taylor #Christmas #cookbook #recipes

I know I’m on a blogging break, but I’m making an exception to day to share my review of A Homemade Christmas by Carol Ann Taylor. It is a great recipe book and there is still time for you to purchase it before Christmas. What are you waiting for? Get it!

What Amazon says

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But what would Christmas be without delicious homemade food that reminds us of our childhood? “A Homemade Christmas” is a collection of recipes passed down through the generations, gathered from friends and travels, which will help readers revive memories of Christmastime. This book will allow readers to:

Enjoy the comfort of homemade holiday meals with family and loved onesCreate lasting memories of joy and warmthTransform their home into a winter wonderland

This book includes:

Delicious recipes from Great Britain and around the worldEasy-to-follow instructionsStep-by-step guides to making the perfect holiday dishes

This book is the perfect way to make your home feel like a winter wonderland. Happy Holidays.

My review

A Homemade Christmas is a delightful collection of recipes from an excellent cook and baker. This book is a treasure trove of delicious traditional recipes from the supporting dishes like garlic buttered peas, cranberry sauce, three kinds of gravy, and sage and onion stuffing, to the main event which could be turkey, ham or roast pork. For the more adventurous, there are a few recipes with an Asian flair to spice things up such as beef brisket with an Asian twist and Thai fried peanuts with basil leaves.

Well known Christmas snacks including pigs in blankets, sweet mincemeat, and sausage rolls make an appearance, together with recipes for traditional Christmas cake and homemade marzipan, Christmas pudding and fruit salad, for those watching their calory count.

My two favourite sections of this book are the sections relating to the use of Christmas leftovers. I love that as leftovers are always a ‘problem’ after a large and overdone meal. I had a laugh while reading about using leftovers for stuffed flat breads and bubble and squeak. It reminded me of Geoffrey and Una Alconbury’s New Year’s Day Turkey Curry Buffet which used up the Christmas leftovers (If you don’t know, this reference is from Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding – the book!).

Lastly, there is a wonderful section on Edible Gifts. I am a big fan of edible Christmas gifts so this section is very welcome.

After reading this book, I have made some changes to my proposed Christmas menu and am looking forward to trying out a few of these recipes. I follow Ms. Taylor’s blog so I know the recipes will all work well and there is no risk of recipe failure.

Purchase A Homemade Christmas from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Homemade-Christmas-Carol-Ann-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0CP7LD6H4

or from Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homemade-Christmas-Carol-Ann-Taylor/dp/B0CPF4CNSM

Seeing as I’m here, breaking my break (haha!), this is my year in cakes:

Staci Troili’s Holiday Cookie Exchange #baking #meringues #temperingchocolate

Other than my two Writing to be Read Treasuring Poetry and Dark Origins posts, this is my last post for 2023. I am taking a blogging break from 15 December until 8 January. It’s be a long year with a lot of medical complications for family members and I need to relax. I look forward to seeing you all in 2024.

It’s that time of year again and Staci Troili is hosting her annual Holiday Cookie Exchange.

This year, my contribution is chocolate dipped meringues. These small treats are gifts for a few friends and people who provide services to my family.

You can find all the other cookie contributions here: https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2023/12/14/third-virtual-cookie-exchange/

Making the meringuesIngredients:

4 large egg whites at room temperature;

½ teaspoon cream of tartar;

Pinch of salt;

1 cup castor sugar;

Green food colouring (liquid); and

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celsius.

Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of the mixer (it must not be greased and must be clean and dry).

Whisk the egg mixture on a low speed until the mixture becomes foamy.

Increase the speed to high and gradually add the castor sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Allow for 20 seconds of mixing in between new additions of sugar.

When the mixture is thick and glossy i.e. the spoon can stand up in the bowl, stir through the vanilla essence and a few drops of green food colouring.

Line your baking trays with oven-proof wax paper.

Fit the star piping tip into a piping bag.

Spoon the meringue mixture into the piping bag.

Squeezing the bag, draw a thick line of meringue in a circular motion until you have formed a small conical shape. Repeat until all the meringue mixture is finished.

Place the meringues in the oven and bake for 3 hours.

Switch off the oven, and leave until completely cool.

Tray of unbaked meringuesPreparing the chocolate

Break your good quality chocolate into small pieces, or use chocolate chips.

Place two thirds of the chocolate into a heat resistant bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water.

Do not let any water or steam get into the chocolate.

Once melted, remove the bowl from the heat and add the remaining one third of the chocolate.

Allow it to melt slowly, stirring to prevent lumps. Now your chocolate is ready to use.

Pour a spoonful of the tempered chocolate over a meringue and sprinkle with edible gold dust. Repeat for all meringues.

Have fun!

Robbie’s Inspiration – Growing Bookworms guest post with Miriam Hurdle #GrowingBookworms #childrensfiction #readingcommunity

Children’s author, memoirist and poet, Miriam Hurdle​, is my December Growing Bookworms guest with a lovely post about her children’s book, Tina Lost in a Crowd. Thank you for being a lovely guest, Miriam.

Growing Bookworms – Guest post with children’s author, poet, and memoirist, Miriam Hurdle #GrowingBookworms #childrensfiction #readingcommunity

Robbie’s Inspiration – Repost: Y3 Story Chat #5: Sir Stealthy and the Jewellery Thieves #childrensfiction #readingcommunity

Michael and I are over at Marsh’s lovely blog, Always Write. We are participating in Y3 Story Chat with a rhyming verse children’s story and fondant and cake illustrations to go with it.

Marsha has just published the first anthology containing the stories and chats from year 1 and you will find the purchase links and details on her blog.

Thank you for hosting us, Marsha.

PS Michael is still in hospital today as he needed to be on oxygen and to have his blood pressure monitored. The doctor says the 4-hour operation went well. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Y3 Story Chat #5: “Sir Stealthy and the Jewellery Thieves” by Robbie & Michael Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – A repost: “Haiku” by Robbie Cheadle

Thank you to Barbara Leonhard from MasticadoresUSA for sharing my haiku.

“Haiku” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Thank you to Sally Cronin

A huge thank you to Sally Cronin from Smorgasbord Blog Magazine for featuring two of my children’s books recently. You can read Sally’s review of Neema the Misfit Giraffe here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/12/02/smorgasbord-book-promotions-book-reviews-childrens-africa-neema-the-misfit-giraffe-southern-african-safari-adventures-book-1-by-robbie-and-michael-cheadle/comment-page-1/#comment-706058

You can read Sally’s promotional post for Michael and my Christmas story, Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp, as well as some other fabulous children’s books here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/11/22/smorgasbord-christmas-book-fair-2023-childrens-chocolate-christmas-robbie-and-michael-cheadle-bus-rhymes-sue-wickstead-ya-timetravel-fantasy-jemima-pett/

About Sally Cronin

Sally Cronin is a prolific blogger and writer. You can find her blog and her books here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/

My review of Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story by Sally Cronin

I read Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story to my younger son, Michael, aged eleven. My older son, Gregory, enjoyed the story and started coming into Mike’s room every night to hear me read. The story is told through the eyes of Sam and explores his relationships with his two-legs, Sally and David, and also with the other animals that make up his world. My boys were very interested in Henry, an older cat that had gone feral when his owner, a farmer, died and the livestock and buildings were sold. The new owners knocked down the outbuildings and barn and Henry was left homeless. The boys became very invested in the story of Henry and his remaining an outdoors cat was a topic of hot debate. Mike thought that Henry should be allowed to come into the house and Greg thought that Henry was happy outdoors and free and that it was good that he was allowed to come and go as he pleased. The boys discussed Sam’s journey from a very young dog and enjoyed his progress through his “teenage” years and into adulthood. They enjoyed the scrapes Sam got into and seemed to really relate to him. Sam’s trying to learn how to talk “human” had them both rolling on the floor with laughter.

The boys also enjoyed reading about Sam’s journey to Spain and the intricacies of crossing borders with an animal in tow. It was fun for them to discover Spain, a country we have not visited, through the eyes of Sam.

A lovely read that appeals to all ages and enchants the reader with its touching relationships between animals and their owners.

Purchase Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Shaggy-Story-Sally-Cronin-ebook/dp/B00GM0HPQE