dialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "Surprises and Celebrations."

I write mostly gentle fiction (with warnings when I skirt more aggressive elements, of course) which doesn’t exclude drama. With the theme of “surprises and celebrations,” readers can offer negative surprises. The range for prompt ideas is as wide as the readers can explain. “Cold Cash is surprised when he is brought in for questioning by the Feds after the attempt to kidnap the Cort twins,” is a legitimate prompt idea. It is not, however, planned for the story arc.

Wellington Library trials new shelving system based on Māori deities

Under Tangaroa, atua of the oceans, lakes and rivers - and all life within them, and the guardian of knowledge of carving - you can find books on bodies of water, fish, art/the arts and carving.

Rongomatāne, atua of peace, the kūmara and cultivated food is where you find te ao Māori books on peace, agriculture, gardening, food and cooking.

( Read more... )

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poetry Fishbowl Report for July 1, 2025
Unsold Poems for the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Poem: "Provoking Change by Bringing Nature"
Space Exploration
Placemaking: How to Connect the Dots
Birdfeeding
Marketplace Books
Climate Change
Today's Smoothie
Superhero on Call
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Poverty
Extinct Birds
Today's Adventures
Art
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 7-11-25: History
Communities
Focus
Climate Change
Sandwich Alignment Chart
Mushrooms
Artificial Intelligence
Birdfeeding
Roadside America
Activism
Birdfeeding
Cuddle Party

"Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 42 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 146 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 95 comments.


There will be a bonus Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, July 15 with a theme of "anything goes."


sunshine_revival is running through July. See the schedule, meet the moderators, and use the master post to navigate the event. Meet new folks in the friending meme. Spread the word!



* Sunshine Revival Challenge 1: Light
Poem: "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House
Poem: "The Bee Tree's Gift"


summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are Body Worship 69 and Greater Than 69.


"In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" is now complete! Lawrence shows Stan more of his favorite places.


The weather has been variable here. It drizzled most of yesterday. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of mourning doves, a pair of cardinals, a gray catbird, a house wren, a fox squirrel, and at least 2 bats. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, snowball bush, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, narrow-leaf mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, yellow coneflower, wild bergamot, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant. Tomatillo and pepper have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, peas, tomatoes, blackberries, and cucumbers are ripe.

This session's theme was "Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance." I wrote from 12:30 PM to 4:30 AM, so about 14 hours, accounting for breaks. I wrote 3 poems on Tuesday and another 6 later in the week.

Participation was variable, with 10 comments on LiveJournal and another 32 on Dreamwidth. A total of 12 people sent prompts.


Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Always Surprised by Consequences"
"Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness"
"No Such Thing as Finished"
"The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"
"Provoking Change by Bringing Nature"

"An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government" (Polychrome Heroics March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)
"Tomato Seedlings in Tin Cans" (Daughters of the Apocalypse, June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)


Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from July 1. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.


This session's donors include: janetmiles, fuzzyred, and Anthony Barrette. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 4 tallies, so there will be a bonus fishbowl on Tuesday, July 15.


The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.

The following poems from the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. Poems may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my Dreamwidth profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods. There are still verses left in the linkback poems "Delight in Another," "A Sense of Weather Changes," "Ouroboros Insects," "The Loving Embrace of Night," "Generations of Cooks Past," "Homefree and Clear, " "One Bite at a Time," "Stars and Diamonds," "Mishpocha," "Changing Your Nature," and "Besa."

( Read more... )

I've been talking about placemaking with a friend, and how to connect the dots with different activities...

( Read more... )