R's rue

 It’s almost the blog’s birthday. I lost count of how many years it’s been. It’s been one heck of a ride. The most consistent endeavor I’ve ever undertaken. So in honor of a big day tomorrow, I’m going to celebrate. How you ask. Checking the mailbox for snail mail and a handful of candy corn. Thank you for stopping by here each day to cheer me on. I may never meet you in real life, but I’m so grateful for your love and support.  Some of my favorite things on this almost blog birthday.  Meeting you all Finding pieces of myself each day Stretching this writing gene Some facts about me I love thrifting Sweet over savory most days I enjoy Diet Coke I love walking into the drugstore, and checking out new lip balms I can never have too many stamps to send happy mail Iced coffee over hot coffee for me I love a good salad I love to reread my favorite books from R's rue https://ift.tt/6IzNH57

  Most people value astute or pithy quotations that seem to capture fundamental truths in just a few words. I see quotations cropping up a lot in Blogworld where blog owners or commenters often strive to tell it like it is. Quotations can help - like handles to grip on to when riding on a bus. When I was a student at The University of Stirling in Scotland (1973-1977) I honed my academic papers and essays with care and commitment. I sought the right words and backed up my arguments with textual references and points sifted from other writers. My courses were chiefly in English Literature and Education. I took great pride in my work. Perhaps it was in my second year (American: sophomore) that I fell into the habit of beginning each academic essay with an epigraph - a quotation that somehow captured the essence of the writing that was to follow, setting the tone. You often see epigraphs where books or chapters of books begin and I guess I thought to myself - why can't I do that? I enj...

 Peeping the fall hues Red and orange Yellow too While the windows Roll down To let The wind Brush my hair from R's rue https://ift.tt/UzyM7px

  You never know what you are going to get. Monday was grey and chilly with rain. Tuesday came with blue skies and sunshine so I marched away from the house. My route took me up to the top of Greystones Road then down through the woods into The Porter Valley. I took extra care during my descent because of the stormy, wet weather we had just experienced and the fallen leaves all around. Potentially, a lethal combination. From Forge Dam I ascended the hill to Fulwood aiming to catch a bus to Broomhill or Hunters Bar. My first two pictures were taken in the affluent suburb of Fulwood from  viewpoints just five yards apart. The street is called Chorley Road We have got decorators in our house at the moment, patiently working on the heart of the home - hallway, staircase and landing so it was good to get out. I don't know why exactly but having workmen in our house for any period of time really puts me on edge even when they are as professional and considerate as our decorators hav...

 Dreaming of the vast Azure sea shore Ebbing and flowing As is life’s Natural order from R's rue https://ift.tt/oa5v6Sy

Robin Hood? Winston Churchill? Richard the Lionheart? Paul McCartney? Last night in London, a new English hero was unveiled - none other than the captain of our nation's football team - Mr Harry Edward Kane. He won the prestigious Ballon d'Or, awarded annually to the world's best footballer. The winner is chosen by a hundred leading sports journalists from the top hundred footballing nations. Harry is a worthy winner. He is a humble man from a working class East London family and reaching the pinnacle of football was by no means an easy journey for him. He had to work hard to get there, overcoming plenty of disappointments and self-doubts. As a teenager, he trained after the other lads had gone home, educating his left foot to become as lethal as his right boot. Whereas some top players move around from club to club, Harry has really only had two clubs during his career - Tottenham Hotspur from London and Bayern Munich over in Germany where he currently plays. In his club c...