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We've received little snow this winter, making the world for the most part bleak and dreary. But on one of those rare occasions where it snowed, I was inspired to write this story. I cannot for the life of me come up with a title that does not give anything away - so perhaps if you are so inspired after reading it you can help me come up with one.

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Solemn and hushed under a full moon, the forest lay. Its dark trunks stood in perfect rows, stretching further than the eye could see. Yet in the very center, one tree was missing.

A girl stood in the gap, straight as the trees around her. Her feet were firmly planted in the sparse sprinkling of snow on the ground. The full moon pulled her shadow out behind her, painting it dark and straight as the forbidding trees. Her flaming hair flowed loose down her shoulders, barely lighter than her bright red cloak beneath. In all the cold, bleak woods she was the only thing alive.

The air crystallized around the girl with every breath she took, and her hands were blue beneath her cloak. Her cheeks stung with numbness and her pale eyes threatened to melt from the frigid wind, but she dared not move. He had promised.

The night progressed slowly and fleeting clouds shadowed the stars overhead. Snow drifted down, settling like fairy dust on her hair and cloak. The flakes clumped together thicker and heavier, but still she would not move. She could not. He had promised to come.

The full moon touched the earth at the horizon, sending its last rays of pale silver over the world. Already the eastern sky was lightening and the birds were beginning to awaken. Yet still she remained, upright and immovable. He had promised to come rescue her.

The sun arose in its splendor, warming the earth from its chill. Fresh and pure after its nighttime sleep, the earth awoke. People began to stir to life for another day.

Yet deep in the forest, a red maple stood frozen over in the midst of black columns. Its bright leaves still clung to its branches even through the weight of deathly snow. He had promised… 
©Melody 2012

Summer in a Jar

I wish I could capture summer. Bottle it up, so it would always be with me.

All images via pinterest

Don't get me wrong, I love fall & am getting pretty excited about the school year. But there's just something about summer...

Summer embodies freedom.

Summer in a Jar

© Melody 2010

Scoup up some wind,

Mold a mound of brilliant blue sky,

Pour in bird calls, cicada buzzes, and echoing laughter,

Sprinkle on some slurpy juciness, cold creaminess and grilled goodness,

Press together sun-washed grass, refreshing pool water, and a fragrant wildflower meadow,

Shake it all together
Stirring vigorously,

And there you have it.

Summer in a jar.

Do you wish you could keep summer with you always?

Summer Splash!

Y'all know I don't often participate in blog parties (I'm usually simply too busy!). But this one looked too good to pass up. Plus, she has some great questions (and prizes!).

What are two songs that describe you? Only two? Add to the Beauty, and Every Moment, both by Sara Groves. Both are my heart's cry - to create more beauty, and make every minute count with those who I love.

What do you most fear? Rejection from those I love. And needles - I can't stand even the thought of those things. *shudders.*

What color(s) dominate(s) your wardrobe? Anyone who knows me would have to say brown and pink. Though I have been getting into more yellow & green lately... ;)

How do you normally do you hair? I usually leave it down as is, though I love doing pretty much any style I can make it do. In the summer, I often put it up in a bun, especially if my hair decides to be nice and curl next to my ears like it did in the pic below. :)

Do you prefer milkshakes or smoothies? Smoothies, simply because I've only rarely had milkshakes!

Do you like the color pink? Yes, I've always been a pink girl - when I was little it was super hot pink, and now I prefer more muted and pastel tones. My room even used to be pink and purple!

What is your favorite flower? Pale pink rose, though I love the uniqueness of all the flowers God has made.

How many states have you been to? Hmmm... probably about 5 or 6, I'm not really sure.

What is your favorite thing about June? School is over, I get to be home and see my family and friends, have sleepovers, sleep in, and revel in all the beauty of a flower-filled world.
 
Describe your "dream wedding location:" I haven't thought of this much... somewhere outdoors, with lots of flowers and tall old trees and maybe a river or a lake.

Hope you enjoyed my answers! Now it's your turn to hop over and join up. :)

Winter Girl in a Summer World

So today's the last day to enter Olivia's contest "Words for Snow," and I decided to enter. The entry can be just about any genre of art, as long as it has something to do about winter. I've written a short story (very short), which I'm going to enter (about 400 words). I call it:

Winter Girl in a Summer World

copyright Melody 2010

Closing her eyes, she could practically smell the cold, crisp iciness of a winter wind. The taste of snowflakes melting like some delicate crisp candy on her tongue was almost tangible; it could only be described as pure crystal. She could almost feel the delightfully soft and crunchy texture of snow between her fingers, reddening her skin and tingling her all the way down to her toes. The purity of the world shone bright in her mind's eye -- ground washed white in a splendor of snowflakes and healed from the burning, harsh flame of fall and the withering overwhelming heat of summer.

Summer.

The word sat in her mouth, waiting for her to embrace it like all others did. But she refused, spitting it out like a rotten apple. Why did her thoughts always have to go back to this? For that matter, why did the world always have to go back to this? Her pale face puckered into a deep grimace, and she opened her ice-blue eyes.

The scene stretched out verdant and brilliant before her, the epitome of a perfect summer's day. The sky hung sultry and sapphire over the brilliant mass of green trees, the mirrored blue of the lake, and the jeweled heads of flowers all shades of the rainbow. Everything was bright, beautiful and lush.

But not to her.

She felt the hate welling up in her again in her. It was so strong she almost sank under the weight of it. All this color, all this noise and rush and heat was too much for her. It hurt her eyes just to look at it. If only she could wish this all away -- make it always winter.

Someone had once asked her why she hated summer so much. "There has to be some kind of explanation for it - I mean nobody hates summer."

She hadn't been able to give a good explanation to the person, not one they would accept, anyways. She tried describing the delights of winter - the sights, smells and sounds that entranced her senses. Or even detailing the dreadfulness of summer - how hot, dreary, loud, and busy it was. But she was greeted only with puzzled looks and blank stares.

The dark-haired girl looked again out into the vivid green. She would never belong in this bright world with its crazy colors, noisy bugs and birds, and myriad of smells to overwhelm the senses. Only when it faded into the soft, dreamy shades of winter was she truly happy.

Her face reflected the creamy white and the pale icy blue of her favorite season... and she closed her eyes. 

(all rights reserved, please do not copy without permission)

vibrant fall

Today was the first day that was a proper fall day: bright blue sky, trees ablaze, windy and crisp.  It made me feel like having a juicy honeycrisp apple while feeling the wind on my face. Fall is such a beautiful and vibrant season!

Yesterday I made an apple pie for my younger brother's birthday. It took a very long time... but I think the end result is very nice!

 I tried out the lattice weaving for the top, and surprisingly it worked out well!

I used a large assortment of apples: granny smiths, braeburns & one each of Jonagold and Honeycrisp apples.

 

We'll have to see how it tastes... we're celebrating his birthday tomorrow and so we haven't eaten it yet. We almost ate it last night because it smelled so good - but thankfully I rescued it from my family!

Hope you are enjoying your fall as well... take some time to go outside, eat a fresh apple, maybe even bake a pie!

~Melody

Fall blew in yesterday...

The wind blew in fall yesterday.

The yellow leaves were blowing past my window where no leaves had blown before. The sky was covered in gloomy clouds, and the earth was quickly beginning to lose its greenness. It was a moody, melancholy, dreamy day - so beautiful that I had to go outside and experience its glory.

Outside, the wind stretched its icy fingers down my back and whipped my hair around my face. But I didn't care. To quote Mrs. Who from A Wrinkle in Time: "Wild Nights are my glory!" I love the bracing feel of sharp, fall wind that gusts in bursts upon my face. I love the darkness and the mysteriousness of being outside. The only thing that would have made it better was if it were storming.

The day was so beautiful, and the air so strong, that I decided to take some pictures:

I finally had to come inside because my fingers and toes were starting to go numb. But once inside, I turned on music from Lord of the Rings to keep the mood going. Unfortunately, though I felt in a poetic frame of mind with the influences of the stirring wind and music, I had to do schoolwork.

Yes, boring, exhausting, time-consuming schoolwork. Schoolwork is the reason I have not blogged until today, and the reason I will probably not be able to blog until Thursday night. You see, I'm studying for a CLEP test which I'll be taking on Thursday. If you don't know what a CLEP test is (I have been very surprised to find out that most people don't!), it is similar to an AP test. I get college credit if I pass. That's what I'm doing for college this year, so it is very important that I pass.

But after that test is over... bring on the poetry! :)

~Melody