Author Archives: Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

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About Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

Author of two published books – No Hill for a Stepper, 2001, and The Last Bordello, 2016, and numerous children's books. Her third novel, Distilling Lies is set in 1928 and will be released on May 9th. A former early childhood specialist, she taught bias-free education to teachers at the local, state, and national levels and applies this fundamental principle in her writing. Whether writing for adults or children, her stories revolve around empowering the readers (and listeners) to believe in their potential, to appreciate diversity, and to believe in the power of imagination. When not on her laptop, she willingly serves as the lap-top for her five young grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys boxboxing, hiking, dancing, strength training, and traveling. Occasionally, she pulls out the oil paints to see what emerges on a blank canvas. In addition to her blogging website, cdwcreations.com, you can find her on Facebook and on Instagram @cdwwrites .

Brave New World

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I really like this! Give it a read!

lifelessons's avatarlifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown

Brave New World

We must be brave to face a world
where so much pain has been unfurled,
such scathing words, such vitriol
that we’ve already built the wall
that separates brother from brother,
that keeps us all from one another.

Too many guns and too much hate
until we fear that it’s too late
to ever form a world united.
Too many creeds have been recited
based on fear and hate and greed
instead of what we really need.

True bravery is based on giving—
assisting others in their living.
Where is the leader with a belief
that there’s a way to bring relief?
One able to bring unity
to build a world community.

The prompt today was brave.

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So, you’ve made a mistake. Now what?

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Do you wrap your shoulders in guilt?

Does it make you feel better?

Of course not.

You did what you did, but the moment has passed.

Perhaps it is regret that you are feeling.

Regret is better. It means you have taken that nugget,

examined it with neutral hands

and learned from it.

So, you wash your hands with compassionate soap

and remind yourself that you are not a fraud

but a human flawed

like everyone else.

Be brave and accept

being flawed only adds to your perfection.

homestead 223

 

 

 

Brave

the Sighing of pedals

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My Art 052

I grow my flowers lovingly

 I  touch, their pedals sigh

from knowing of their task in life

–delight and mystify.

The rose, it’s thorns protective, pierce

a skin, naive of threat

but once a droplet, red, descends

the memory’s inset

As the milkweed draws the monarchs

quite stupefied am I

to learn a universe as this

creates to gratify.

 

 

Early artwork by CD-W (I guess because of its simplicity, it’s still one of my favorites)

 

 

Risk anyway

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It’s risky business, first learning to paint

being creative, letting go of restraint

who wouldn’t want to see two women chattin’

girlfriends cropped

But maybe not Churchill

compressed in a wagon.

Winston Churchill

 

(a couple of my numerous early paintings)

daily word prompt: Risky

Try “Playing” Along even if it’s not on a keyboard

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First Movement : I started taking piano lessons when my kids were young. It was, you know, one of those things you want to try. As it turned out, although I truly enjoyed making sounds on the piano, I never could manage to really play.

Second Movement: Before Ludwig Von Beethoven was completely deaf, he composed “Quasi una fantasia,” roughly translated as “almost a fantasy” but better known as Moonlight Sonata.

Third Movement: Around this time, I was also taking art lessons. I wanted to draw something other than stick figures. So, I tucked a bunch of art classes under my belt.

Fourth Movement: I watched a a movie about the great composer who left his estate to his “Immortal Beloved” – also the name of the film. I love this movie! Especially 2 particular scenes – the one at the end (you’ll have to watch), and the one where Beethoven, in his later years, plays Moonlight Sonata with his head rested on the piano so he can “feel” the notes.

Wrapping up this Composition:

So, I took a screen shot of that particular scene. (A great idea for practicing artists)

Screenshot 2017-10-16 22.25.49

And made my own interpretation.

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As I assumed all along, we can’t all be Beethoven’s.

But in our own ways, we can play along.

(Even if it’s a play on words)

Playin Hard to Get

 

 

The “CAN” Polish is Free

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“Getting older is inevitable: Aging is optional” – Christine Northrup

I know, I know. It’s hard sometimes to get motivated to eat right and exercise, not only our bodies, but our minds. But since I’m about to scroll down another line to hit the year I was born (lucky cursor), I thought I’d find some inspiration.

Aging is a relative term. Some might feel their life is almost over when they hit the big 30. Others, like me, understand that we knew very little at that time.

As actress Helen Mirren said, “Your 40s are good.  Your 50s are great.  Your 60s are fab.  And 70 is f*@king awesome!”

Want to keep your get-up-and-go getting up and going? Ponder these:

— “For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest.”   ~Hasidic saying

— “I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.”  ~Frances Lear

— “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”  ~Henry David Thoreau

— “I am appalled that the term we use to talk about aging is ‘anti.’ Aging is as natural as a baby’s softness and scent. Aging is human evolution in its pure form.”~ Jamie Lee Curtis

— “The great thing about getting older is that you become more mellow. Things aren’t as black and white, and you become much more tolerant. You can see the good in things much more easily rather than getting enraged as you used to do when you were young.”    ~Maeve Binchy

— “We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” ~Pablo Picasso

— “You’re either marvelous or you’re boring, regardless of your age.” – Morrisse

— “Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And Dreams are forever.” – Walt Disney

— “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning

 

Accept and be loyal to yourself.

And remember, that WON’T and CAN’T are two entirely different kettles.

The CAN polish is free.

still-life-old-classic-kettle-art-44733996

 

c7abd782d9a242b5f4cfc47885425bd6--kettle-claude

 

 

photo 1: Royal Free Stock Photos

Painting 2: by Claude Joseph Bail (1862-1921)

Daily Word Prompt: Loyal

No Longer Can I Fill these Shoes

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No longer can I fill these shoes.

Yet I remember a time

when the patent leather formed neatly around my feet

soft, worn, comfortable

Soles carefree and made of ease

durable for playing chase and hide and seek

or freeze tag in the dark

the lining soft enough for catching fireflies

and my parents goodnight kisses

The tips firm, protecting toes that so easily stumbled.

The heels perfectly made for scuffling

for dragging my feet when it suited

Shoes, easy to pull off for bedtime stories

and tuck-me-in time.

 

No longer do they fit, those shoes

Yet, it matters not.

I have merely grown into a larger size

the soul intact.

 

My Art 050 (1)

 

art by C. Dennis-Willingham

The Woman’s Wee Man

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So much did she love her wee Sammy Crockett

she kept him tucked safely inside her shirt pocket.

He didn’t much mind the prospect at first

he never was hungry, nor parched from a thirst.

The lining was soft, the fabrics in style

He seemed satisfied, at least for a while.

 

But the day she took him on a long morning  stroll

he started to feel like a con on parole.

He yelled from her pocket, “Enough is enough!

“Yes, I HEAR plenty, but I want to SEE stuff!”

Like bands playing songs, leaves blowing off trees,

a man at a circus atop a trapeze,

the people at market buying their wares,

the making of popcorn at our county fairs!”

 

Well, she loved him so much she planned to devise

something he’d like that would fit his wee size.

She built him a house from a splendid, smooth boulder

and attached the small building to the top of her shoulder.

She filled it with pillows, a couch and plush chairs

and cut out some windows to give him fresh air.

12488204 - image of a hand holding up a house on nice clear blue background.

 

“Look dear,” she said as they ventured to town,

“The queen has arrived with her shiny jeweled crown!

She continued to talk as she traipsed over ground

But her husband said nothing, no peep nor a sound.

 

She turned to the silence, looked in the wee house

and there, snoring deeply, lay Crockett, her spouse.

The townsfolk could hear as she said without doubt,

“He seemed to forget that he yearned to look out!” 

She carted him home, placed the house on a shelf

and decided to do something fun for herself.

 

 

Screenshot 2017-10-15 15.44.43

 

 

first image- 123rf.com

second image:  youtube.com “Walk cycle-the proud naked old lady”