Allison Bruning's Blog, page 59

#BlogFlash2012: The Woods

[image error]
This week we were asked to write about the woods. I have always loved the outdoors. One of my favorite things to do is to go hiking in the woods. There is nothing like taking a hike in the backwoods somewhere. My love with the outdoors began at an early age for me. It was in Girl Scouts that my fascination with the camping, hiking and anything to do with the woods began. I was an avid backpacker with the dream to hike to Appalachian Trail someday. I still hold to that dream but haven't been able to work on that goal. Every summer my mom would send me to 4H camp, church camp and Girl Scout camp. By the time I was in  High School I was so in love with the woods I wanted to work at a camp. I was even an expert at surviving in the wilderness. I have never been more in my element than in the middle of the woods.

Nowadays, when I walk in the woods my mind wanders. I think about what life must have been like in the woods for the Native Americans and early explorers. It helps me to connect with a part of American history that has been long since forgotten with our cities. I love to write about the cultures of Woodland natives. They are so fascinating to me. I also love to experience life like they would have. The woods. A place of peace, tranquility and knowledge. 

#BlogFlash2012: Recipe for Successful Writing

August 23, 2012"Cooking"A Writer's Recipe
A pinch of inspirationA heaping of encouraging friends A touch of writing groupsA dash of your own blood, sweat and tears1 teaspoon endurance1 teaspoon perseverance2 cups of imaginary friends who talk to you1 cup of captivating plot lines 1/4 cup of beta readers1/4 cup of editors1/4 cup of reviewers
Mix together inspiration, encouraging friends and writing groups until you have a pleasant, creamy liquid mixture. Set aside until needed. Stir your blood, sweat and tears with perseverance, endurance, your imaginary friends and plot lines until smooth. Periodically add the mixture add a tablespoon of the creamy mixture you had set aside to ensure your batter is light and smooth. Do this several times through the process until your batter is consistent and breaths with the aroma of freshness. If there is reserve left over do not through it away but set it aside for another day. Bake it in the oven at 350 degrees until it is refined. Take it out and let it cool while you make the frosting. Mix together the beta readers, editors and reviewers until you have a frosting that is creamy and delicious! Place the frosting on top of the writer's "cake". It only makes the "cake" taste better. Enjoy!

[image error]

#BlogFlash2012: Kentucky State Fair

August 22, 2012"Holiday"

[image error]


It's Fair Time!
Keeping traditions aliveEveryone up here agreesNo one does it better than a good ole’ state fairTwo weeks of non-stop thrills for allUnfathomable shows of wonderCattle, donkeys, pigs and moreKrispy Kreme donut burgersYoung and old from all over the state
Stay up late for a concertTables full of goodies All the kinds of fun things to doTell me, oh please tell me, why are the kids in school?Exhibits for 4H, Girl Scouts and FFH
Fun days of adventureAll in one placeIt’s fair timeR we ready to do this again?
[image error]

#BlogFlash2012: True love's kiss

August 21, 2012"Night"
True Love's Kiss
Closing my eyesI let my mind escapeFlying higherI soarStraight through the doorOf Evermore
With wings of fairiesMagic lifts me towards youSongs of the larkGuide me homeTo a world I never want to depart
Friends merry met I long to seeElves, fairies, unicorns and moreAlas my true love Approaches me with his arms open wideI run, oh how fast I run.My heart beats fast as he holds meHow I have missed this prince of mineHe leans down and grants me My true love’s kiss.
[image error]

#BlogFlash2012: Soccer and Mia Hamm

August 20, 2012"Sports" [image error]
I haven't always been that much into sports except for when it comes to soccer!  I played soccer from 1st through 10th grades. I had fallen in love with the sport from an early age. I would watch the World's Cup and even cheered for a professional women's soccer league. I love the thrill of soccer! Sure, I was in track and cross country too but the one sport I couldn't wait to play was soccer! During my off season, I would take up track and cross country to help tone my body for running down the field. A long distance runner I played defense and midfielder. If you are a sprinter you do well on front. There's nothing like defending the goal. I was vicious and competitive. I wanted to be Mia Hamm! It's been a long time since I have played soccer let alone watched it. I will never forget my heroes, Mia Hamm and how she inspired girls everywhere to play in a mostly male dominated sport. 

#BlogFlash2012: Old Glory

August 19, 2012 "Fireworks"
[image error]

Old Glory!

Oh say can you see….            The beauty of the red, white and blue            She waves proudly over the land            Announcing to all            America has withstood            When no one said she would. By the dawn’s early light…            Though tattered and torn            Old Glory waves triumph            A symbol of freedom            Battered and bruised            Our soldiers cry our victory!‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom…            Those fireworks above her proclaim            Bursting with color            Like bombs lit in the night            Recalling the battles fought            The lives lost            And the freedoms our soldiers protect.I’m proud to be an American            Where my forefathers sacrificed all            When I think of my patriot            Words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude            What fears he must have had to know he faced an impossible task            In order that I and future generations would have a better life            So let those fireworks burst            Let Old Glory fly            Sing the songs and never forgetMy country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty

[image error]

#BlogFlash2012: Wild One

August 18, 2012"Wild One"







The Wild One Graduation behind meCollege before meThis one horse town beckons me to stay.Freedom!Oh, glorious freedom awaits me!I’ve got to get out of here!
My parents are mad!They expected more from me.Expectations I could never met.Get married, settle down and have a family of my own. I don’t want that.I need my open space.
The world calls meThere’s so many places I want to go,People to meetAnd things to do.I can’t list them all.
This small town is killing me.My family yearns for me to stayMy heart says flee far, far away. With eyes on the horizonI pack my car.Ready for a new adventure.
I am the wild one,Independent and freeI’m off to explore the brand new worldNever looking backAlways looking forwardFor my next great adventure. College here I comeFar, Far away from home.
My parents are disappointedWild One, they now call meWhy can't you stay here like your sister?I can taste the freedom.College is calling my name. Despite the disappointment I bring themI leave this one horse town forever!

#BlogFlash2012: Ode to Grandma

August 17, 2012 "Grave"




Grandma The thought of death doesn’t elude meAs I sit upon the hard, cold groundJust beside your tombstoneBeckoning my sorrowsI never thought this day would come
Life without you GrandmaSeems so unbearable Why did you have to leave me?Memories of those joyous days we sharedThe past my friend, The future without you, my enemy.Oh how I will miss your Laughter, wisdom and love.
My heart cries with sorrow! Who will sing to me the songs of long ago?Who will listen to my stories?Who will share a strawberry shake with me at Burger King?Who will I confide my secrets to?Now that you are gone?
Grandma, Oh Grandma!You taught me life long lessonsAnd showered me with unconditional loveYou laid the foundations of my faithAnd taught me to chase my dreams
A world without youHow can I go on?My guide and friendBlessed by all who called you their grandmotherYou possessed a gentle heartKind spirit and unyielding faithMourned by manyYet only a few truly knew you
You, my gracious wise grandmotherRest with the angels nowReconnected with your mother, brother, father and husbandNever forgotten and always lovedI shall be the woman you want me to become. Never forgetting you nor the lessons you have taught meGrandma, O GrandmaYour time has come. 



My Grandma Carr and I on my wedding day. She passed a few years later. 

#BlogFlash2012: The #Native Muse

Blog Flash 2012 A Different World

"Native Muse"
                  She watches earnestly with wisdom,                  this Native American woman on my desktop wallpaper.                  Guarding my writings and photography,                  she beckons the writer within me.                                    I heed her call.                  What wonders will she take me to today?                  Shall we ride the plains with the Blackfeet or Sioux?                  Or dance with the Shawnee around the great campfire?                  Follow the Navajo sheepherders?                  Or fish with the great Pacific tribes?
                  Words spread across my Microsoft Word.                  Images of lands far away,                  people, creatures and ideas foreign to my fast paced, computerized world                  Yet familiar to her.                                    A moment becomes a day.                  Lost in time, I forget the keys under my fingers.                  Paragraphs become reality.                  I lose myself in the plot.                  Suspense, history, romance and danger await me.
                  Her world transforms my thoughts.                  No longer am I the writer,                  I actively take part in her story.                  Her ideas and speech create emotions I’d never felt before.
                  The land, the people, and the ideas they’re so real.                  Her story becomes my own.                  I want to press on.                  I have to know more.                  She guides me through her story only to release me into my own reality.
                  I lean back from my computer,                  released from my creative endeavor.                  My Native American muse sits quietly upon my desktop wallpaper,                         with a stare towards me.                  Her secret journey my own,                  given to those who dare to read.                                    

#BlogFlash2012: The Bookworm

BlogFlash 2012"Books" [image error]

The Bookworm

Wonder by wonderI travel to places I’ve never beenDazzling places I’ve never knownTime under my control
Daring princesMonsters to slayA murder to solveA game to play
Far of placesAdventure, romance, suspense  O myCharacters so real I cry with they die!

Up and down my emotions run. I can’t read but just one!More, give me I cryI must have more!
Hardback, paperback, kindleI don’t careJust give me something to readIf you dare.
Amazon, library and bookstores alikeFeed my addiction Book by book They are my delight!Who needs television, film or radioWhen a book can give you so much more
Page by pageMy world disappearsUntil I forget my own.
Glorious, wonderful books!I can't have but one.How would I survive? 


(Gotta love Belle)