My last week

was the game of barter with me losing.  It’s a seller’s market today, unfortunately for the buyer!! It’s daunting when one’s funds are limited.  The house in question was a  new manufactured home at top price but who would not want to live by the lake! I am not sleeping well and am a bit frazzled as this was house number two scratched off.  The hunt continues!

Shawnigal Lake crop
woodland by the lake

___________

Now for Monochrome Madness 2-46  for Wed with Leanne Cole.

As Van Gogh wrote, Even in the storm there is peace!

There is peace, even in the storm2

and a stroll through a park  anywhere always calms the most jagged nerves  (notwithstanding spooky trees)

muckross mono crop

 

Some people pat dogs or cats to calm themselves, here I am with old “coo” Bess, looking a wee bit cowed meself! Here is what the coo said:

highland coo2

Och aye the noo

A’ma big highland coo
You could be too
But yer not
Ah stand in ma field
O mystical yield
But a dinnae have a shield
So whot?
By yon bonny brae
A’ma nibbling ma hay
Now nowts left to say
      that’s yer lot

(author unknown)  

Robin Williams was right when he once said you can’t understand a word a Scotsman says and it’s worse if  you’re drunk. 😀

and because life isn’t nerve wracking enough, I was invited by a real life author and theater artist Judith Cullen (A Trio of Irish Tales)  to read one of my stories aloud at a virtual library

I did,  but not before I spilled tea all over my keyboard  trying to set up a mic,  The next day the thing went mad and began typing all kinds of gibberish.  It had to have been the evil djinn of the keyboard  because

You all remember

tales of the caravanserai small
My Story and Reading

and the girl whose  thighs caught fire. The lion’s nerves reached the breaking point but I was able to replace the keyboard before summarily murdering the guilty or innocent (or real estate agents and bankers).

However, the end has not yet been written.

Thanks to all for the wonderful feedback on the tale, -those who read it on either blog and/or heard it  told!

 

 

 

64 Comments Add yours

  1. Ann says:

    Reblogged this on Ann Cavitt Fisher and commented:
    Cybele Moon’s monochromatic photography is stunning, and each visit her site The Runes of the Gatekeeper’s Daughter is an escape into often other-worldy work. Be sure not to miss the ghostly trees in this post!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Ali Isaac says:

    I’m so sorry about the house. All I can say is don’t give up. Your special place will find you. The house we are now living in we lost and came back to us at least 3 times over the course of a year. It was the only one we found which fit our needs and wants, and also had potential to develop depending on Carys’s needs as she got older. We’ve been in it 8 years now. It still needs a lot of work but I love living here so much. You’re place will come to you, too. Xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I so appreciate your comment Ali!! You know something strikes me about your posts about Carys though I have not always commented. Your light and creativity must help her blossom. She always looks so joyful! ( though I’m sure she must have bad days too- like all of us. I seem to have a lot of them lately! I so want a house by the water but in the woods would be great too! lol.

      Like

  3. Amy says:

    Hope your dream home becomes really very soon, Cybele! Love these photos, especially the trees.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thanks so much Amy!!

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  4. DG MARYOGA says:

    Oh,bonny lass,Lady of the Lake from the Arthurian legend,why the tears?Just look at your sweet face,at the adorable Highland creature to see how beautiful life was and still is in the course of time.Majestic light in the Woodland by the lake,the winged seaman in the stormy clouds opens the space,he will soon navigate you to your new warm haven…
    Your photography is exquisite,the game is not over,the end has not yet been written.
    There is a diminutive bench in the park,away from the spooky trees,I’ll take a seat there to relax and read again your captivating folk tale;echoes of Arabic melodies still live in my ears …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. oh delighted to see you sitting on that bench!! and isn’t that a lovely piece of music! We will both fly by the lake on our own creative wings!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. DG MARYOGA says:

        Beyond lovely,Cybele.Intense and most energetic,I was stirred to feverish pitch ✯•♫ ✯•♫ xxx

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Norma says:

    Congrats on the reading Moon. 🙂 I hope you find the best house that suits all your needs in all the best way possible. 🙂 And that’s a very lovely picture of yours along with the fine processed B&W trees photo. That was a nice track. It was so soothing to listen to.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thanks so much Norma! for your compliments and your wishes. -And I love the eastern music!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Norma says:

        You sound like a music loving person.:) And I can only think that you would be into palying instruments, are you Moon? If then, which is your favourite one?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I used to play violin till I had a shoulder injury! But yes, I love music!

        Like

      3. Norma says:

        Oh, I’m sorry about that. I hope you are now ok Moon.
        Violin is (i guess) very difficult to play. I had once tried learning guitar but could not hold it properly…and finally gave the idea of learning it. I used to play casio – that was easy. I too love music specially soft instrumental music. Take care! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Thank you Norma, violin is a hard instrument. Perhaps it was good I had a shoulder problem. My daughter would complain lol.
        I send healing thoughts to you and yours. Music helps our emotions in so many ways. Why don’t you play anymore?

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Norma says:

        Thanks for sending me those positive thoughts, Moon. I needed those. I now know that there will be a kind shoulder blog to lean on. 🙂
        Music certainly does help no matter what you are going through. I had stopped listening to it because it used to give me severe migraine. Now I’m much better. But avoid listening to it as it could trigger the headache.
        I love listening to other people play. I love to draw and paint perhaps one day I will find enough time to start playing too. I’ve always loved violin.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. it’s a challenge to play!! Migraines are awful!
        I also hope you are comforted by good memories. I know it takes time.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Maria F. says:

    Beautiful images as always Cybele!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thank you my friend!

      Like

  7. Adrian Lewis says:

    Good luck with the house hunting, my friend! I love the photo of the trees, the one below your mention of spooky trees – and the little seat makes it look almost surreal. And you and the cow are great >>> as is the Scots’ accent >>> and especially the Glaswegian one – I used to work up there, loved the place and the people! A 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Adrian- I need the luck!!lol. Oh the Scots have great humour don’t they!

      Like

  8. these are beautiful, fairytale like. Stylish – I like a lot 🙂

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    1. that’s a lovely comment Ritva! Thanks very much!!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Congratulations on the reading Cybele. I’m sure you’ll soon find an enchanting house to be creative in 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. yes I must be patient! Thanks Andrea!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Peter Nena says:

    I once spilled tea on my keyboard too. It didn’t work again and I had to get a new one. I wish I could hear the reading. Tales of Caravanserai has a quaint sense of storytelling to it. Like the old tales at the end which people would still learn something to help them get along with one another better.
    All the best with your hunt, Cybele. Have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. haha Peter, I am old fashioned I think! Definitely not an uninhibited writer of today! I grew up with an old library in my parents house, and loved the tales of Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, Aesop’s Fables, Rudyard Kipling etc etc. I like also many of the South American Writers and their combination of reality and fantasy. You do that too in your writing.- Of course, if there is not a happy ending there has to be a moral somewhere ! – my thoughts anyway. Oh I loved Ann Rice’s writing too! A little well written horror is ok too! 😀 Thanks so much Peter for your good wishes and your support! Have a great week as well!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Peter Nena says:

        We love the same writers. I have Kipling’s Kim and Stevenson’s The Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Treasure Island, Wilde’s Dorian Gray, The Nightingale and the Rose, A House of Pomegranates, etc, and Ann Rice’s Vampire Lestat books.
        It’s wonderful to know that we’ve read the same books. Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. great minds Peter!! 😀 and thank you too my dear friend!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Wonderful images! You look great to me! I’m so sorry to hear you’re having a hard time finding a house. The same is happening to my friend here whom I told you about. They’ve been through 2 offers collapsing, and just yesterday she sent me a note saying the seller who backed out last week halfway through escrow is having a change of heart and want to continue with the sale.

    We’ll see how it goes. Their house sold, and they’re now living with her parents. You’re not alone in that boat.

    There’s a reason…your house must not be ready for you just yet.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know I must be patient. It’s an ordeal! Thanks Deb!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Maverick ~ says:

    Great photos as always, love the Highlander!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Good luck with the house hunting, Cybele. Both buying and selling can be very frazzilng indeed. I’m so happy you didn’t have to resort to murder. That would really have complicated matters for you. Love the music track. I felt I was up there on a camel for the second time in my life. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. oh thanks Sylvia. Yes a lovely track! I picked it to go with my (multi media) story of the desert. It took me away from my real life briefly lol. It’s quite an experience to actually read out loud one’s own tale.

      Like

  14. Kerena says:

    Ah sweet Hana… the reading was splendid, the right house for you is still getting itself ready (patience grasshopper) and well…keyboard faeries can be something of a trial, can’t they :)… the important thing is you are still creating and sharing and for you, and your sharing I’m so grateful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thank you so much my friend! As for grasshoppers, hmm lol I also remember the story of the ant and the grasshopper and do relate to poor hopper!! Thank you for your encouraging words always!

      Like

  15. I often go mad and write gibberish!! Usually a symptom of failing to fight my fatigue. Lovely picture of you with the Highland Moo, as my sister and I have always called them! They say that buying a house and moving is one of the most stressful situations a person will ever go through. Trust in fate my friend! The right one is waiting for you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thanks so much Sarah! Yes, this too shall pass!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sooner rather than later I hope!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. robert87004 says:

    On the lake, yes, if at all possible. Good for you, reading your story, murdered keyboards, bankers and all.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. disperser says:

    Very nice processing for those trees. Also, nice caption for the gull shot.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thank you Disperser!

      Like

  18. Anita says:

    You battling evil keyboard djinn could be a story! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Could you tell me the name of the music. I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. it’s one of my old collection of belly dance pieces. called Yearning! by Raul Ferrando

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for looking it up. I’m going to see if l can find it.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. let me know!

        Like

      3. Baught it for 99 cents on Amazon.

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      4. oh excellent!!!

        Like

  20. p.s. I hope you solve the house problem without too much trouble. It isn’t fun being unsettled.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thank you! arggh!

      Like

  21. I love these. They are absolutely wonderful pictures. I wish I could see your photos on this page a little larger. WordPress changed how single images function. You might like to try this work around. I got this from support.
    How to make a single mage click and open in a new window full size:
    You’ll need to open the post for editing using the old editor in WP Admin. Select Posts and select the post you want to edit. The next step is to click on the image and then on the pencil icon that pops up at the top of the image. In the image details window go to display settings and select full size, and link to – media file. This method can also be used to link to a page in your bog or somewhere else.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Done Sherry, thank you! Oh I hate the new format here on WP!!

      Like

      1. It is annoying when they make things harder.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. yeah!! why fix something that already works lol!!

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Robyn G says:

    You should write a story about all of this! You are a funny girl. Even when you’re frazzled you still find the humor. I love that!! Good luck house hunting and with all you have going on.
    Huge congrats on the reading!! 😀 Well deserved (the recognition, not the spillage) 😜 xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thank you dear Robyn- so many stories to tell- so glad we have this venue to tell some of them!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Robyn G says:

        It’s true! It’s a great place to share 😀
        Good luck ‘home’ hunting xx

        Liked by 1 person

      2. thanks again Robyn!

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Suzanne says:

    Wonderful photos. I hope your dream home turns up very quickly.

    Liked by 1 person

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