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Storytime Tapestry Newsletter The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural
awareness throughout the world. Hearts and Humor – A Michael Smith Column After you read this weeks story and the comments from last week, please read the safety tip that follows. This idea amazed me with its simplicity. Be sure to read it. A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all in her latest book. Carol Roach M.Ed, B.A. Publisher: Storytime Tapestry Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485 Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com If anyone is interested in greeting cards, Ginny belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed together to market their products. Check them out at: http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com Ginny's cards and other crafts are at: http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational sites at the end. There's something for everyone. Now for today's story. I'm sorry for not posting mid-week last week. Work was a bear. I left for work at home by Hopefully this week I'll have them back on track. New recieved a week ago, but on Thursday night and Friday, we got another 3 to 4 inches. People are trading in their cars for boats. Here's an old story that needed a lot of work. I thought it was a great story when I used it a couple of years ago. When I read it last week, I cringed. My style sure has changed. Here's the new, "Hidden Treasure." Hidden Treasure "Michael, let's take a walk up the back road." Mum said. "Is it spring, Mum?" I asked. We never walked in the winter. It was too cold. "Yes, it's spring." She smiled. "Let's walk up the back road." The "back road" was an old dirt road few cars could navigate. It was a young boy's dream. There were ditches to explore, trees to climb, birds to watch, small animals to admire, and best of all, ponds and swamps with frogs to catch. ***************************** I stood at the edge of a water hole. "Be careful!" Mum warned. "Mum, look at that frog." I whispered. "It's a big one." I reached for it, slipped, and fell into the swamp. Mum grabbed my hand and pulled me out. I stood crying, covered in mud and moss. "I'm sorry, Mum! I didn't mean to get dirty." "I warned you!" She scolded me, saw the tears streaming down my cheeks, and softened. "Never mind, Michael! Let's get you home and cleaned up." I cried all the way. My feet squished inside my mud-caked "Dash" sneakers. Afraid friends would see me and laugh, Mum led me along paths no one traveled.. Except for that one mud bath, our walks were wonderful. I loved adventuring with my Mum. It was her way of teaching me about nature and her favorite flower. The mayflower, or ground laurel, is one of the best-loved American wildflowers, said to be the first blossom seen on the shores by the Pilgrims. It blooms in early spring The creeping stems bear clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers that are sometimes hidden by the hairy evergreen leaves. It is difficult to cultivate and is endangered by the zeal of flower pickers. It prefers the acidic soil of pinewoods in the eastern part of by law. Mum led me off the road, into the woods and, taught me the art of finding and picking her precious treasure. With a keen eye, she'd spot their green leaves, partially covered by dead foliage. She'd drop to her knees. "Michael," she'd instruct. "Sweep away the dead leaves and find the vine. Trace it back to the root, and carefully pinch it off a few inches from the ground. If you pull it up, you'll kill the plant, and next year there won't be any flowers." I did as she said and held the flowers to my nose for the first real scent of spring. We took only a small handful. Back home, we put them in a glass of water. The small handful of flowers was all it took to fill our house with their heavenly scent. Years later I had my own house. I walked into the backyard and into the brush. Partially buried by dry leaves and hidden behind a rock, was a cluster of mayflowers. Childhood memories flashed through my head. I picked a few, wrapped them in a wet paper towel and took a scent of spring to my first wife, Georgia. She was in the hospital waiting to give birth to our first child. Years later, I taught our kids how to find and pick those tiny treasures of spring. I haven't seen or smelled a mayflower since 1996, when I moved away from Yesterday I smelled the scent of fresh cut grass drifting in through our open windows. I remembered the mayflowers and looked at Ginny, my new wife. My treasure is not far away after all. Ginny is my mayflower - my treasure. It took me years to find her. She was hidden many miles and a border away. Life took me through a lot of puddles and through woods so thick, I thought I'd never find my way, but I found my mayflower, my treasure, my Ginny. Michael T. Smith To see what a mayflower looks like, go to: http://www.blupete.com/Nature/Wildflowers/Mayflower.htm If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends. My only request is that you include the link for your friends to join our family. To join our family, go to: http://subs. zinester.com/ 86758/ REMOVE THE SPACES TO GET TO THE SITE. SPAM BLOCKERS ARE HURTING EZINES. DON'T LET THEM PREVENT YOU FROM READING GREAT STORIES. As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites. I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites. Run by my friend Carol, Storytime Tapestry at: http://archives.zinester.com/98907/ By my good friend Keith in Australia: http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/ My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/ Phil's awesome and brutally honest Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/ Heart Catchers is a wonderful site. www.DianeDeanWhite.com www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two wonderful story sites. http://hodu.com/ http://www.mydailyinsights.com/ www.ripplemaker.com http://www.sermonillustrator.org http://www.SkyWriting.Net Here's a newly discovered one I like: http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/ That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with more, I'll add them. Enjoy!!! I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com. I'll include some in every post. Here are some comments from last week on my contest entry: Wow, that really did have a twist to it! So what did they think of it?? Diana ***************** I just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed your site very very much. You are very vry good at what you do with your writing. I write poetry myself. So I really enjoy reading other writers work. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy your writing. Lizabeth **************** Well, Mike, I have no suggestions or corrections. The story held me captivated. At first I thought that maybe the bottle would have a note in it... but then it occurred to me that you just might create it as a recently finished or partially finished bottle of wine or other alcohol beverage. Great job ! Beat wishes, Corena ************** NOW FOR A SAFTEY TIP - SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS This is worth passing on to your loved ones and friends! Great Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around.... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And, remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there..... This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime. |
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