#WRITEPHOTO – SKULLS by Masons Menagerie

A box of bones quickly becomes the catalyst for a horrifying murder when Sleuth Holly and her grandfather get on the case!

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – SKULLS prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a cardboard box full of various (animal?) skulls.

Box of Skulls — Skulls – Image by KL Caley

“Well strike me down with a fibula. What sort of skulduggery is this!” Old Archie Hamilton had been a forensic pathologist for forty years. He thought nothing could surprise him.

Then the box arrived in the mail this morning.

The regular brown cardboard box smelled like death. For that reason, Archie had decided to open it on his mortuary table. Inside was the morbid collection of animal skulls and bones.

“What a thoughtful gift,” remarked Doctor Rose Quinton another of the police pathologist. Dressed in her blue gown, she was preparing to examine the remains of a poor soul found in a drainage ditch that morning.

“And there was me hoping for a nice bar of chocolate,” Archie rolled his eyes behind his glasses as he picked up the phone. “Detective Ward, can I see you in pathology, please?”

It was ten minutes before DCI Derek Ward arrived in his graphite grey suit and trench coat. The ageing detective wasn’t alone. With him, wearing an almost identical trench coat was his sleuthy eighteen-year-old granddaughter Holly. The teen was the head waitress in her mother’s Workhouse restaurant. She wasn’t an official police officer of course, but with kindred training was good at solving criminal mysteries.

Archie beamed, he had fond memories of watching her grow up with her grandfather. “Good Morning, Detective Ward. How nice of you to bring your grandfather along,” he said with a wink.

“Hello Archie, it’s lovely to see you,” Holly said with a smile.

…

See more at:

https://masonsmenagerie.wordpress.com/2021/10/21/a-box-of-skullduggery/

Much Love
KL

#Writephoto Round-Up – POISONOUS PLANTS

Deadly but beautiful.
Isn’t nature just amazing?

A few years ago I took an amazing trip up to Alnwick Castle & Gardens in Northumberland. It was a fantastic day out. Alnwick itself is truly beautiful and if anyone does decide to visit, I wholeheartedly recommend Barter Books shop, a converted railway station which is a treasure trove of wonderful books.

Anyway, I stray off-topic. One of the best areas of the Gardens is the aptly named “Poison Garden”. Behind locked Iron Gates are a menagerie of the worlds most deadly plants. Visitors are only allowed to enter the garden with a Poison Garden Warden. Although that is not a bad thing, they give the most wonderful tour filled with various anecdotes and stories about various plants.

Alnwick Poison Garden Gates – Image by KL Caley

One of the most thought-provoking things about the tour is how much wisdom we may have lost. The tour guide pointed out that almost every child knows that if stung by a nettle you can soothe it with a dock leaf. Yet many other pieces of plant knowledge like this, which families once knew has gone with the reliance on doctors, pharmacists and these days, the internet. Whilst I adore the allotment and the discovery of how rewarding it is to grow your own food, self-medicating is not on the list, but it’s certainly an interesting thought, are there more natural less processed remedies on our doorsteps, which our ancestors would have understood far better than we do?

As ever, another fabulous collection! Thank you all so much. Here is this week’s entries below:

Entries:

I hope you’ll join me for another #writephoto challenge published today at 12 o’clock GMT.

Thank you all again for taking part in #WRITEPHOTO – POISONOUS PLANTS

Take Care
KL ❤

#WRITEPHOTO – POISONOUS PLANTS by Masons Mind Menagerie

Drama, tension and a touch of romance by Masons Mind Menagerie

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – POISONOUS PLANTS prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows bright pinkish-red trumpet-shaped plants.

“Listen up, team! We have a small waterfall up ahead. Beyond that, we’ll drop into a smoother current and find a place to pull out for dinner.” Granger yelled over the roaring white water that churned beneath the yellow inflatable raft

“Heard, captain!” replied five of the six rafters.

“Bess, are you with us?” Granger tapped the girl on the shoulder. She was so lost in gazing at the banks whizzing by, she wasn’t even rowing with the others.

“Hey, Bess. Wake up!” said her friend Dave.

“Oops sorry! I was mesmerised by all the beautiful red bell-shaped flowers along the banks. It’s just so pretty over there.”

“No harm done. Those are rhododendrons. They’re rainforest shrubs. See how they choke out all the native plants here?” Granger explained with his deep green eyes focused on the river ahead. “Still they are lovely to look at during spring.”

…

See more at:

Incident at Pixie Falls – Masons Mind Menagerie

Much Love
KL

#Writephoto Round-Up – TOMB

Their creepy and their kooky
Mysterious and spooky
Their all together ooky
The #writephoto family

Definitely plagiarising there but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? And wow, wow, wow – what a wonderful collection of kooky, spooky and ooky responses our little tomb created.

This is actually the table tomb of Sir Rafe Bowes of Streatlam, which sits prominently at Egglestone Abbey. In the prompt, I alluded to the fact this site had its own intriguing little ghost story.

According to legend, in the 1300s Brother Martin lived at the Abbey. One moonlit evening during a stroll along the riverside he met a young girl by the riverside, the two became lovers, meeting every night at their secret location by the river. Racked by guilt Martin confessed all, locking himself in his cell and praying for forgiveness. One stormy evening he ventured from his cell and found her once again by the river. She was overcome with joy but Martin was pale, breathless and sweating, he grabbed her and accused her of being evil, sent from the devil to tempt him. She began to scream for help and his hands found her throat and strangled her. Sobbing Matthew threw her lifeless body into the water.
He returned to the abbey, delirious with fever. The monks nursed him back to health but he never spoke. Upon the next stormy night Brother Martin took himself down to the merciless waters and threw himself in.

Locals have reported over the years sightings of a ghostly monk seen around the ruins or the river. What do you believe?

A brilliant collection of entries. I have tried to reblog a few since the post went out so hopefully, you will have seen some of them trickling through, but here is the list below (if I have missed anyone, please let me know). What is your favourite?

Entries:

I hope you’ll join me for another #writephoto challenge published today at 12 o’clock GMT.

Thank you all again for taking part in #writephoto – TOMB

With special thanks to Sue who originally made the #writephoto challenge so meaningful for all of us and gave me her blessing to continue it.

Take Care
KL ❤

Teaspoon Treasures

Samantha looked at the teaspoon. It had been her grandma’s. A treasure containing a story. Her grandma had stolen it from a rich family she had worked for. They never noticed, she would say with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Too much money, she would then say adding a tut. Whenever anyone important was round for tea she made sure to give them the good teaspoons.

Her grandma had been a kind woman. Smiling, sweet and loving. She had been a hard-working young woman until her family came along, and then she worked harder still at the more crucial job of wife and mother. It was when she was a grandmother that she shone though. She taught her grandkids everything, how to cook, clean, grow edibles and take good care of one’s appearance, all whilst smiling and laughing. Her grandchildren loved her for it. It was a cliché, they were not rich with material goods, but they were rich in love.

Samantha sighed and put the spoons in a “to keep” box, wondering what she herself would leave to her grandchildren one day.

Nostalgia is a bittersweet emotion; it entails the act of recalling complicated memories of bygone days.

Originally written in response to:

Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge (#WQWWC) – Recollections

Take Care.
KL

#WRITEPHOTO – TOMB by TanGental

Toilet paper? Anyone? An intriguing and hilarious entry by TanGental

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – TOMB prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows lots of trays of British money from coppers to notes.

‘You ready, Pammy?’ Gideon could barely contain himself. It had taken 4 years, three years salaries and a Lake Baikal’s amount of tea to keep the builders on track, but their dream home was finished.

Pammy, Gideon’s long suffering girlfriend was also hopping from foot to foot, but for different reasons, although a surfeit of tea was part of it. ‘I need a pee.’

‘Let’s start with the hall and…’

‘I NEED TO PEE.’

‘Yes, light of my existence, but first…’

‘LISTEN, SUGAR PLUM. IF I DON’T PEE LIKE NOW, ALL YOU’LL HAVE TO SHOW ME IS AN INFORMAL SWIMMING POOL AND MUSTARD COLOURED FURNISHINGS…’

Gideon tried to hide his sigh. He had the whole thing planned, down to the last detail. There were two toilets, the small one down st…

Pammy’s face appeared in his line of sight. ‘It does have a loo, doesn’t it?’

‘Pammy!’

…

See more at:

The Trials Of Pammy Sideparting #writephoto | TanGental

Much Love
KL

#WRITEPHOTO – TOMB by Keep it alive

An intriguing entry of loss and regret in mysterious circumstances.

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – TOMB prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows lots of trays of British money from coppers to notes.

Sitting forlornly by the tomb of her beloved
Shedding tear of sorrow and regret
It was her burden for ever and eternity

People often become aware of a presence
When they visited this historical place
A wave of sadness often engulfed them

…

See more at:

WritePhoto # Tomb – Keep it alive

Much Love
KL

#WRITEPHOTO – TOMB by pensitivity101

Ooh I love a dark twist in a tale, thanks Di for this cracker!

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – TOMB prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows lots of trays of British money from coppers to notes.

Father Mitchell was shaking in his cassock.
Who had done this thing?
It was not so much a case of disturbing the dead, but more which of the dead had been disturbed.
He crossed himself. Twice.

…

See more at:

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2021/10/07/writephoto-tomb/

Much Love
KL

#WRITEPHOTO – TOMB by About the Jez of It

Uhoh, I feel a disturbance yn the realms of chivalry. It appears we may have awoken Sir Jeff from his slumber.

Thank you so much for taking part in the #Writephoto – TOMB prompt.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows lots of trays of British money from coppers to notes.

Who was it who woketh me
at my rest, disturbed yn the long nyght
I wander
unseen
unheard
I wander forgotten
with restless eyes readyng the eald words
that remayn amid the ruyns of sanctuary
and I wonders
what happened to this world

…

See more at:

Witterings of Sir Jeff – About the Jez of It

Much Love
KL

#Writephoto Round-Up – EMERGING

“Good Morning,” said the voice, deep and low.

Strange, I thought and slowed my jog to a walk. I looked around, no-one was on the path in front or behind me.

“Sorry if I startled you!”

I looked up and emerging from the wall was a stone man, his skin tinted with green.

“I’ve been watching you go by every day and just wanted to say hello”.

What in the name of…

“Morning Carol”, a bright springy voice came from behind me and caused me to jump.

“Morning Suzie, did you hear that voice?”

“What voice?” Suzie slowed her pace to stand beside me and I looked up at the man. After a few seconds of silence, I began to feel self-conscious.

“Sorry Carol, I’ve got to get going.” Suzie began to jog away.

I looked around for a few more moments and then set off too.

“See you tomorrow Carol”, the deep voice called from behind me.

Emerging - Image by Geoff Le Pard — Emerging – Image by Geoff Le Pard

I just love this photo, how intriguing and I have never seen anything like it. It was taken by Geoff Le Pard on a walk around North London. A special thank you to Geoff who writes over at TanGental for agreeing to be this month’s #guestphoto. See what he has to say about the Not So Little Green Man

Send your feature photo entries to kl.caley@yahoo.co.uk

Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.”
[Apocalypse (Revelation) 12:12]

Thank you to Myrna Migala for supplying the interesting quote above that she thought fit the image. I’ve never had a quote entry before, it’s certainly an intriguing one.

Apologies, I have not responded to many posts this week. We had a little family holiday over on the North West Coast. My tired old phone which normally does so well decided to play havoc with my internet signal and dropped out regularly. The good news is I can read through them all in one tasty chunk today on my lunch break and I can’t wait.

Entries:

I hope you’ll join me for another #writephoto challenge published today at 12 o’clock GMT.

Thank you all again for taking part in #WRITEPHOTO – EMERGING

With special thanks to Sue who originally made the #writephoto challenge so meaningful for all of us and gave me her blessing to continue it.

Take Care
KL ❤