Voices, Vices, Victory, and Values

of Vices and Values
by Ruth Cox

Upon my shoulder sits a wee dark devil in disguise whose whisperings in my left ear often cause me not to hear the voice of the light dwelling inside of me. Yea, though I wander in the valley of this evil one's vices, I rise to claim victory when responding to the sol of my soul burning the lobe of my right ear. I hear; and, I shall live well under the guidance of sol's values from now on and forevermore.

Angel and Devil

This poetic prose is written in response to a prompt offered up by Brenda in her weekly blog hop Pondering with a Purpose. This week's prompt: VALUES

Hop right along with us this week.

Share your thoughts on Values.

2 Peas in a Pod

My Aunt Martha Bell died in the wee hours of this morn. Though she was more than ready, the loss of this lady I shall mourn.

Her granddaughter said to me this morning, "Mom wanted me to call you right away. She said you were like 2 peas in a pod..." O' so very true! I am more like her than I am my mother, her sister. It's a heart-warming thought to know they are together now...

I'll be purchasing these candles to have nearby so I'll smile and think of my Aunt Martha Bell each time I pass by them.

UPDATE: I already made the purchase of those peas in a pod and I've created a Squidoo lens in her honor and hope that you will leave a comment for us there on Loss of a Pea in a Pod. I've much to do today, but will be updating the lens for my Aunt Martha Bell as time permits.

A Sprinkling of Sunshine

For those of you who don't mind an extra click to view, I've just posted a delightful dandelion poem at Gather.com entitled "Sprinkles of Sunshine". You're welcome to comment here, there, everywhere!

A Family Rules

One word: Rules

Upon reading Brenda's Pondering With A Purpose Prompt today, I had two thoughts. The first: I visualized a ruler in the hands of a nun ... never mind that one. Second thought: Earlier, I'd been blog browsing and I'd run across the most awesome sign and had bookmarked the blog for future reference in my wishful thinking for wish lists.

The sign is simply, but beautifully created, and is appropriate for Brenda's prompt today. It's a 4-foot by 2-foot custom sign of family rules. Head on over to the Between You & Me blog and take a peek!

You can ORDER A FAMILY RULES SIGN

~or~

There is A FAMILY RULES SIGN TUTORIAL

Please come back and let me know what you think of the family rules sign and which option you would choose. No doubt in my mind, the custom-made sign will find it's way onto one of my online wishlists!

Dare to Ruffle my Feathers

Do you often find yourself in the company of someone who dares to ruffle your feathers? Do you find yourself lacking in the patience department? Here's your chance to tell the world all about it!

Head on over to Brenda Youngerman's blog post "Pondering With A Purpose - Patience" and blog hop along!

This week's patience prompt from Brenda has prompted me to create a T-Shirt I've had on my ToDo list for some time.


Not being a very patient person, I've always had a quick retort to those who say to me, "Patience is a virtue." Now, I'll have the shirt to wear as a warning to all who dare to ruffle my feathers, ha!

Patience is a Virtue by abitosunshine

Start selling my art online with zazzle.

I chose this pretty pelican and her feathers for the design on the tee because it is Brenda who prompted me to cross this project off my list ... and the pelican is quite appropriate because Brenda collects pelicans! Brenda shares her love for pelicans on her Squidoo lens "Looks and Likes".

Hello Thinking and Pondering #3

"How do you say Hello?"

That question is this week's prompt for Brenda's blog hop, Pondering With A Purpose. Immediately upon reading the prompt, I penned the poem; however, I barely finished the poetry and design combined on time! Nonetheless, I share with you my favorite way of saying, "Hello," to old friends and new...

Thinking and Pondering #2

Blog Hop:
Thinking On Thursday - Pondering With A Purpose

This week's Prompt: BEAUTY

In pondering this prompt of "Beauty" I immediately thought of Saint Augustine of Hippo's quote in The City of God, as translated by Marcus Dods:

"Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked."

The City of God






I'll not pretend to fully understand what it was St. Augustine meant by this statement; however, I shall tell you a bit about what it means to me; and, you can study it further to formulate your own thoughts on the quote.

I believe our Saint is referencing the beauty of all things created, by the Divine, as well as earthly creations, and our perceptions of these creations. Thus, the wicked would look upon beauty just as the goodly souls might -- the difference being the result of beholding beauty -- the good would treat a thing of beauty with love and respect, whereas the evil ones would not see its intrinsic beauty.

When our perceptions of beauty are motivated by external aesthetics as opposed to the whole of the thing of beauty, we may actually turn it into a thing of ugliness, a thing of wickedness or unpleasantness.

Beauty is subjective, as is Ugliness. This can be viewed by all in the story:

The Ugly Duckling
by Hans Christian Andersen.

Thinking and Pondering #1

Blog Hop: Thinking on Thursday - Pondering With A Purpose

I am really looking forward to this new blog hop hosted by Brenda of Fiction With A Purpose. If you're a writer and/or a blog hopper, you'll want to check this one out and hop right along. Each week, Brenda gives us a writing prompt and we post our submission on our blogs, then, of course, add our post URL to the linky list on her prompt post.

This week's prompt: Word Association: from the list provided, select 3 of them and tell me what they mean to you.

My 3 words: riding, embedding, landscape. I chose to write a piece of flash fiction. In actuality, it's more like factual reality, as I do visualize this on occasion!

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Healing Heels
©Ruth Cox

Yearning for the oceanic landscape, I fantasize horseback riding the foot of the foam of the sea. I imagine the strength of animal and wave allowing me to escape reality.

With a subtle kick of my heels, my imaginary horse clicks his in tandem, and off we soar along the seashore. We're one with the ocean's roar, spirits in fine fettle -- blessed by the warming rays of a bit o' sunshine.

The salty balm of the breeze of the beach soothes my soul, embedding the fantastical scene in my mind's eye. Forevermore.
 
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Hmmm... wondering if I should purchase myself a pair of these phantastical Horse Heels to go with my fantasy...
 

Yay or Nay?