Jane Austen, Smokejumper?

"Helping fight wildfires is part of my duties as a park ranger," said Jane Austen, Action Doll. "Being trained as an aerobatic pilot, I thought I'd be able to handle being a smoke jumper. Hence, when an opportunity became available, I signed up."

"Fighting fires in the remote areas is very frightening. That's a good thing, I believe. At least for myself. It keeps me from doing disingenuous bravado things that could lead to injury or death of my teammates or myself."

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Ranger?

"I am truly in my element," exclaimed Jane Austen, Action Doll, walking along a path at the Pinnacles National Park, one of the newest parks in the U.S. National Park Service.

"Being a park ranger is definitely my favorite job thus far."

Jane took another deep breath as she looked around her. She threw her arms up in the air. "Delightful!"

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Quantum Leaper?

Hello friends from ABC Wednesday. This post is for the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. You can find the O post for ABCW here.

Quantum Leaper Jane has jumped in time to February, 1967. She is looking at herself, well, rather at 15-year-old Arrmac (the future husband of Su-sieee! Mac) in the bathroom mirror. She wants to make sure Arrmac looks good before the trombonist lines up with his high school marching band.

If all goes well, Quantum Leaper Jane as young Arrmac shall avoid colliding into the behind of a policeman's horse as the band marches in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco.

"May success prevail!" exclaims Jane, picking up Arrmac's trombone.

Note: Quantum Leap was a TV sci-fi show (from 1989 to 1993) in which physicist Sam Beckett, played by Scott Bakula, travels back and forth through time to help someone and fix a historical error. While he is in the other time, he temporarily resides in someone else's body.

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Ofelia the Octopus, The Marriage Officiant

Hello Visitors from the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. This post is for the weekly ABC Wednesday. You can find the letter P post for the April Challenge here.

"Go forward with joy, love, peace, and happiness," said Ofelia the marriage officiant. "I now pronounce you wife and husband, husband and wife."

In the side rows near the bay, Agathe, Edwina, Hazel, Davey and Judge Jennifer sighed in unison as they applauded loudly for the young wedded couple. Hazel the Hammerhead Shark and Davey Daffodil the Dolphin trilled Hurrah, Hurrah as they jumped in and out of the water.

"Dears," said Agathe the Aardvark, shaking her body of water, "I did not bring my umbrella."

"Sorry!" Hazel and Davey said, balancing on their fins. "We'll head over to the wet zone. See you at the reception."

Edwina the Egret contemplated flying with the sea animals, thinking perhaps Iago the Iguana may be there. Agathe nudged her, as she said,"Come back, come back from where ever you are."

"Oh, that was a delightful ceremony," said Edwina. "No overbearingness nor overcloyingness. No obsolete notions. No omission of wonder."

Judge Jennifer the Jack Rabbit jumped in, "Precisely what I was saying to Agathe. Don't you think Ofelia would be the perfect officiant to marry Thomas and Winnie?"

Edwina looked at Agathe. A barely obvious nod assured Edwina of her answer. "Let's go ask Winnie and Thomas then."

"I see them over there with Charlie the Camel and Guy A. Gator," said Agathe, heading in their direction.

"Oh my." Edwina giggled. "Listen to Charlie and Guy crying."

"They get that way at weddings," said Judge Jennifer.

Agathe sighed. "I knew I should've brought my umbrella."

O is the theme for this week of ABC Wednesday. Check out the meme here and the list of this week's participants here. Thank you much, ABCW team!

Jane Austen, Pearl Diver?

"Pearls are a girl's best friend," said Jane Austen, Action Doll, sitting on the edge of the small boat. She took a deep breath and dove back into the sea.

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Oxymoron Phrase Analyst?

"Oh, my," said Jane Austen, Action Doll, wiping chalk from her forehead.

"I like the idea of doing an occasional silent scream in my rock garden. And, to take a mud bath as I consider an impossible solution sounds wonderful."

"Who wouldn't love the image of a group falling into a deafening silence after hearing the idle gossip?"

Jane set the piece of chalk down on the table. "It is a sure bet being an oxymoron phrase analyst is not for me!"

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Nut Farmer?

Hello friends from All Seasons. This post is for the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. You can find the post for All Seasons here.

"Jane, dear, a walnut farm!" exclaimed Martha Lloyd.

"Is it not grand, Martha?" Jane Austen, Action Doll, asked her friend.

"What are you going to do with all the walnuts?"

"Make walnut ketchup, Martha," said Jane, picking up her bucket full of nuts. "You know how much the family and I like walnut ketchup."

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

The Painted Chair in the Meadow

Last Sunday I shared with you the chair I painted that morning. There's the final product in the meadow. You may not see it at first. That's Okay. That's my intent. I don't want the chair to be obvious. I want it to suddenly be a delight in your sight. By the way, Molly the Cat hasn't noticed it yet. I wonder what she'll do when she does.

I ended up painting details onto the chair's frame.  A hodgepodge of things to practice painting impressions of flowery vines, cat paws, flowers, and butterflies. Here's the back of the chair.

For the front of the chair, I decided to paint one subject rather than several. What do you think?

I love the way the chair looks in the meadow. The chair is too flimsy for anyone to sit on, except for Molly the Cat, so I asked the Husband to place it in a hard-to-get place. For humans, that is.

While the Husband and I stood on the sidewalk admiring the chair in the meadow, I thought the yard looks just how I've always dreamed a yard to be. The Husband says sometimes he can't remember what it looked like with just lawn.

Life is wonderful.

I'm linking up with All Seasons, a weekly meme hosted by Jesh at Artworks from Jesh St.G. Click here to check out Jesh and her meme. For the participants list, click here. Thanks, Jesh! 

Jane Austen, Musician?

"I'm all about that bass, about that bass," sings Jane Austen, Action Doll. "No treble."

You go, Miss Jane!

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Lizard Tamer?

"This sweet fellow simply loves to dance," said Jane Austen, Action Doll, to no one in particular. She hummed The Sussex Waltz as the couple glided up and down the wooden floor.

"He does come in handy when I do not want to dance with a chap. One look at this sweet fellow on my arm, and the chap runs away. I do not think Lizzie's Mr. Darcy would be such a coward."

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Kiteboarder?

Hello friends from ABC Wednesday. This post is for the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. You can find the N post for ABCW here.

"What was it that dear boy said?" Jane Austen, Action Doll, asked herself as she rode the wave towards shore.

"Oh, yes. Cowabunga!!!"

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Nfinity x 3 Security

Hello Visitors from the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. This post is for the weekly ABC Wednesday. You can find the letter J post for the April Challenge here.

Their giggles burst into guffaws and laughs straight from their guts.

"Oh my, oh my, oh my," Agathe the Aardvark said, tears running down her face as she stomped her front right paw. Judge Jennifer the Jack Rabbit bounced about the meadow while Bingo Byrd, Edwina the Egret, and Filemon the Flying Squirrel fluttered and soared above them. It was a wonder they didn't bump into each other and fall into one symphony of joy.

Finally the friends hiccupped their madness into happy sighs, as they situated themselves in blissfully relaxed poses on the grass.

"What do you think about them for Winnie's and Thomas' wedding?" asked Agathe. The aardvark was the wedding organizer and today she had the help of several of her friends to decide the matter of security. She read the brochure out loud again, "Nfinity x 3 Security. We offer guard, personal protection, private investigation, and bail bond services. No job too small, but only so big."

"They look too cute to halt an animal with a don't-you-dare command or a sweet jab to the left," said Bingo, eyeing the photo on the brochure.

"Let me see that photo again," Judge Jennifer said, leaning closer to the brochure. "A narwhal, a nyala, and a Napoleon mastiff.

"A bar joke without even trying," said Filemon. "Don't even need a punchline!"

The friends peeled into laughter again.

"I like the looks of them," said Edwina. "Honest smiles. Bingo's right. They look like they can't hurt a flea."

"These guys are good. I've seen them in action. Mellow, easy-going on the outside, but they put and keep everything and everyone in place that needs to be." Agathe pointed to the narwhal. "His name is Nehemiah. Look at that horn of his."

"Nobody would want to mess with him," said Filemon. Judge Jennifer whistled. "No M'am!" piped Bingo. Edwina added, "No Sir!"

Agathe continued. "This is Noah the Nyala. His horns are nothing to kid around either. And this sleepy looking Napoleon mastiff is Nalia. Toughest girl around. And, smart! The three are equal partners, but the other two let Nalia do the heavy thinking."

Agathe looked questioningly at each of her friends. Each nodded in answer.

"All right. It's agreed," said Agathe. "Nfinity x 3 Security will provide security services at the wedding."

"I wonder if they all have sweethearts," said Bingo. Her friends all giggled.

N is the theme for this week of ABC Wednesday. Check out the meme here and the list of this week's participants here. Thank you much, ABCW team!

Jane Austen, Jellyfish Expert?

"Are not these jellyfish simply darling?" asked Jane Austen, Action Doll, of her audience. Some
nodded in agreement while others looked doubtful.

"We only began calling these lovely things jellyfish in 1796, but they have been around for at least 500 million years," The Jellyfish Expert said. "Some of my colleagues believe that they are as old as the dinosaurs, possibly older. Imagine that!"

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Industrial Inspector?

Jane Austen, Action Doll, writes:

Industrial inspector is merely another name for quality assurance inspector. I shall not be one for long. All this climbing in long dresses is rather cumbersome. Not to say quite dangerous.

This job, however, is better than the alternative—an ichthyologist. Imagine me with icky fish. No thank you.

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Hula Dancer?

As you know by now, I am not shy about trying different forms of dancing," said Jane Austen, Action Doll. "Exotic dancing was well and good, but after awhile I found no joy in it. Hula dancing of the Sandwich Islands is more to my liking. I do love wearing the fragrant flowers."

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

A Painted Chair

Hello Visitors from the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. This post is for the weekly All Seasons. You can find my posts for the April Challenge here.

I'm pooped. Happily, though.

I just came inside from painting that chair you see in the photo. I've been wanting to paint an artsy chair ever since I saw a bunch of painted chairs done by artists for a local fundraiser in town. That was over 10 years ago. By the time I mustered the confidence to consider painting a chair, the  group hosting the fundraiser stopped it.

Last night I decided if it didn't rain today, I would paint the old broken redwood chair against the fence that has been wearing the fake evergreen bough since last Christmas. So, I did.

Today is gorgeous. Sunny. A  bit of a breeze. Warm enough to peel off hat and sweater as the painting progressed. I hoped that Molly the Cat would hang out with me, but the rocking chair claimed her. That's okay, every so often a bee buzzed by to see what was what.

I haven't decided if the chair is done. I'm wondering whether to paint polka dots or decoupage fabric to the frame. I do want to find a spot for the chair in the "meadow". Any suggestions—where to put it or whether it needs polka dots or something else?

I'm linking up with All Seasons, a weekly meme hosted by Jesh at Artworks from Jesh St.G. Click here to check out Jesh and her meme. For the participants list, click here. Thanks, Jesh!

Jane Austen, Geologist?

Jane Austen, Action Doll, patted the granite spire before her. She admired its solidity and solitariness.

"If rocks could speak, the stories they could tell us," she said. "Oh, and the scolding they might give us."

"Dear me, where has my rock pick gone?"

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Florist?

Jane Austen, Action Doll, pondered the flower stand on the street corner in the busy financial section of the city. She loved the sight of the white buckets full of gerber daisies, tiger lilies, roses, carnations, gladiolas, baby breath, gardenias, snapdragons, and sunflowers.

"They're so beautiful." Jane took a deep breath. "So fragrant. Mmmmmmm."
 
"Yes, this could be the perfect alternative to being an author," said Jane. She stepped into the flower stand to try her hand as a floral vendor, much to the surprise of the florist.  Jane even brought her own apron.

 My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Jane Austen, Exotic Dancer?

 

"A career as an engineer or an epidemiologist sounds exciting," said Jane Austen, Action Doll. "But, I love to dance."

Jane stepped into a cha-cha-cha, transitioning smoothly into the samba.

Moments later, she twirled, hopped, and, in quick sequence, performed the five basic steps of ballet.

From the fifth step, she stretched into a modern dance pose, did a few cartwheels, paused, then tap danced across the room ala Eleanor Powell.

Jane ended her impromptu dance with a bit of flamenco.

"Perhaps I shall give exotic dancing a try."

My theme for this year's challenge is Jane Austen, Action Doll, Seeks a New Career.

To check out other A to Z participants, click here. To learn more about the 2018 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.

Max, The Monarch Butterfly Kaleidoscope

Hello Visitors from the Blogging from A to Z April 2018 Challenge. This post is for the weekly ABC Wednesday. You can find the letter D post for the April Challenge here. 

"Oooooh, Edwina, you'll never guess who just committed to do the decorations for Winnie's and Thomas' wedding," said Agathe the Aardvark from the archway of the rainbow gazebo at the Honalee Bay Gardens.

The egret looked up from a bridal magazine. She immediately became excited seeing the huge grin on the wedding planner. "Tell me! tell me! I can't even start guessing."

"It's a regal family who will enchant us all with their gossamer wings of hues of bright orange and black."

Edwina the Egret gasped. She jumped up and down. She clapped her wings with much delight. "The Max Family! Oh my! Maxine, Maximus, Maximilian, Maxima, Maxwell, Maxi, Imax, Max. . ."

"Yes, yes, the whole Max kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies. Because it's a July wedding we will most likely see a mix of second and third generation Max's draping themselves and spreading their wings at the site."

"I'm getting goose bumps," said Edwina.

"What we need to do tout de suite is plant a large number of milkweed plants," Agathe said. "I think Iago the Iguana would be the perfect one to manage that task. Will you ask him, Edwina?"

"He always seems to faint when he sees me."

"Iago will always say 'Yes' to you, my dear. Imagine the magnificence of the monarch butterflies at the wedding."

M is the theme for this week of ABC Wednesday. Check out the meme here and the list of this week's participants here. Thank you much, ABCW team!