Reporter: Greetings, tree. How long have you stood here?

Tree: Long before its beginning. I have witnessed the sunsets, experienced the sunrises, and withstood all the noons in between. The wind has sighed through my boughs since I was a seedling, the salted breeze that sweeps through the sea. I have gazed at the silver moon… But to my disappointment, have not seen the stars, which are invisible to us.

Reporter: You are quite poetic, tree. I wonder - Would you like to have been planted somewhere elsewhere?

Tree: Perhaps where the wind is not quite strong… And where there are more plants and birds to keep me company… But a tree does not complain.

Reporter: What have you learned from the hurricane?

Tree: That nothing lasts forever, not even me. But the trees that stand are the trees that endure. I will be here for many more years yet.

Reporter: A nice remark on the essence of mortality. What happened to other trees?

Tree: Many trees that have stood have remained. But some of my old friends shriveled to nothing. A pine tree, which wasn’t even dead, was cut down because someone somewhere didn’t like that his crown had snapped. And of course, the hundred new oak seedlings didn’t stand a chance. But that is life.

Reporter: And it indeed is. I grant you good luck on the gales that will come.

The following interviewee is a precious black-and-white kitty cat of a youthful age, with inquisitive bright eyes and a curious marking. He kindly agreed to the interview as I noticed him journeying by the fence. An exciting conversation by Jadefireeyes.

Reporter: Good morning! What’s your name!

Cat: Dashfuly-Black-With-Brilliant-Green-Eyes-And-A-Large-White-As-Well-As-A-Tint-Of-Beige-Patch-On-The-Neck-

Reporter: That’s a rather cumbersome name.

Cat: Indeed it is. But Mother knows best. With so many similar siblings that resemble me, how else is she supposed to call me for dinner?

Reporter: Hmmm. That’s a clever idea after all. But first, let me ask… What’s your preferred sunny spot?

Cat: Right there on the porch, where the sun slants just right.

Reporter: What’s your favorite place in the neighborhood?

Cat: Here in the backyard, where there’s so much to explore: trees, butterflies, flowers, rocks. Smells, scents and sounds!

Reporter: What’s the coolest thing you ever found there?

Cat: An extraordinarily extremely large shoe. I nearly fell inside, but the shoelaces were fun to play with.

Reporter: Where do you go when it rains?

Cat: I shelter beneath cars. I just hope they don’t move!

Reporter: What would you rather be: a cat or a human?

Cat: A cat, of course! Do you honestly think that a fantastic feline such as I would discover as many adventures as a person?

Reporter: Oh, I see… Are you friendly with other cats?

Cat: Not quite. We are solitary creatures, you know. Unwelcome strangers pass by my home all the time. I just give them a stare and they get the right idea.

Reporter: But aren’t you just a kitten? You don’t seem aggressive to me-

Cat: ROAR!

Reporter: Wow! You really scared me.

Cat: ‘Course I did. (Contented purr.) Mama taught me how to be the scariest kitty in the neighborhood. Pretty soon I shall frighten all my siblings into shivering mice!

Reporter: You’ve got big ambitions. You’re quite diabolical too…

Cat: I hope in the right way! (Wink.)

Reporter: It was nice talking to you.

Cat: My pleasure. If you come back, I’ll show you my favorite scratching post!

Whether it's to a random library somewhere in the world or a little cat shop in Japan, the Secret Door surely will place you in a place where you never expected to be.

So go ahead, and open the door. 

The Secret Door is presented by Safestyle UK

I found a very nice website that I've been using to create pictures of the characters I write about. You choose and position various human facial features, and it comes out looking like a nice computer drawing.

Here are some blogs that I find amazing, and that many of you may have never heard about. Anyway, I categorized as best as I could. I hope you find one that catches your fancy! (P.S., post some that you like too!)

(Some of these blogs may be dead but the content is amazing!)

(Simply Stunning!)
http://papermashblog.com/
http://imagineiridescentdreams.blogspot.com/
http://vaporinwind.blogspot.com/
http://lifemaroonaqua.blogspot.com/
http://love-august.blogspot.com/
http://blonde4christ.blogspot.com/
http://ribbonsoflight.blogspot.com/
http://ahsocks.blogspot.com/
http://all-that-is-gold.blogspot.com/

(Writing Tips)
http://goteenwriters.blogspot.com/
http://teeninklings.blogspot.com/

(Photography)
blind-sight-photography.blogspot.com
http://aroseingodsgardenphotos.blogspot.com/
http://razzmatazzblog.blogspot.com
http://gwynsphotos.blogspot.com/
http://fatcatphotography.blogspot.com/
http://chasingrainbowsphoto.blogspot.com/
http://summergirl-ew.blogspot.com/

(Book Review Blogs)
http://a-day-dreamers-world.blogspot.com/
http://alittleshelfofheaven.blogspot.com/

(Writing)
http://mythousandwords.blogspot.com/
http://britishmystery98.blogspot.com/

To some people shoes are just merely a covering for two feet. Clunky things that hold them hostage. The first things to be flung into the corner after a day of school.

Even though this is true to me too, I feel they are so much more than that. Remember your first pair? You were just a little child, still probably couldn't pronounce "shoes" not to mind "stilettos". You were being influenced by shoes all around you. Where would Cinderella be without her glass slippers? As you vigorously moved on to your black school shoes favouring the ballet pumps but compromised with the parents only to get the doll that was hidden in the sole. As you grew, your feet grew and so did your pile of shoes. Strutting around in your big sis's heels and accidentally snapping them then hiding them way under her bed, acting all innocent. Those football boots you wore as your team won while you looked on from the sidelines.Then came converse and they were a must!

Face the facts: Shoes are a part or your life. They can tell so much about the person. They have been with you through rain, hail, sleet or snow. Thick and thin.

This is our life in shoes!

 

 

Just a little Poem I wrote about winter.

Dancing and glittering, snowflakes fall

Red noses and pink cheeks of children out playing

Jolly christmas carollers at your door

Mince pie, roast turkey, yum!

Presents unwrapped from novelty paper

Reading traditional tales on Christmas Eve

Long walks through the snowy park

How everyone loves winter

Peace Out,

Erin x

Last Saturday


Washing the morning dishes,
Just minding my own business,
(A bit grudging, I must add),
When down it rained, beauty-clad.

Strains of pleasing melody,
Triads in sweet harmony,
I cast eyes outward, wonder!
The music did not flounder.

Down it wafted from above,
Gently, gently, like a dove;
Master fingers undisclosed,
As they played the highs and lows.

I hurried with the washing,
No sign of tuneless humming.
Finally done, I grabbed the leash
As excuse of remedy.

With my dog, hasted to sidewalk
And slowed my pace to a walk.
Ears now alert, eyes akin,
For the music was now dim.

Now my gaze is on high grounds,
Still the rapturous effects sounds.
With a sudden jolt, I knew,
Keys I used to play so true.

Oh, joy! One of my Bach piece!
Now the skillful play has ceased
Fleeting time, I'm back at home
The piano's where I roam.



This all really happened, although the “my Bach piece” wasn't. Inspired by the incident, I decided to write it down. This was my best in-one-hour poem I've ever written. ^^


Critiques and comments welcomed!

Hi everyone!
It's Juliet again with my second post. You can check out my first post here (it's a bit from my novel in progress!) and read my blog here!

OK, so today I'm going to talk about a struggle that every writer goes through.

Writer's block. It's every author's nightmare, wouldn't you agree? It certainly is mine, and it happens to me all the time.

So what are some cures?

1. Breaks. If you've been sitting at the computer or at your desk with a pencil in hand for longer than five minutes, and haven't written anything, take a break. Go eat some chocolate, watch America's Got Talent, do what you got to do to get your mind off of writing for a while. The times when I have a great idea are when I'm not constantly thinking about my work.
2. Writing excercises. Look up some writing prompts on Google and get the writing juices a-flowing. Who knows, something you write in a prompt might be used in your work OR could give you an idea for a character, plot, etc.
3. Written? Kitten and Write or Die. OK, so that sounds really threatening, but those are two great websites. The first one, Written? Kitten! (click on it above) Is where you set a word count and if you achieve that word count you get an adorable picture of kittens! Who wouldn't want that? Write or Die (click on it above) is what I use during Nanowrimo season when I absolutely HAVE to get 1500 words a day. You can set the level of consequences and strictness. If you stop writing in Gentle mode, a box will pop up to remind you to continue writing. Normal mode; a really annoying sound is played. Kamikaze mode? your words will start being deleted one by one so you have to keep writing or else! It's a great tool so you don't stop. Even if you keep writing crap, you can always edit it and more than likely, you'll get a great idea!
4. Music. And no, I don't mean listen to a song and plagiarize all their lyrics. That's not what I mean at all. A great tip that I've learned on many writing websites is to listen to a song and try to create a character that you think of when listening to that song, or write a short story based on the song. This, once again, will be sure to get the writing juices in your brain flowing.

Thanks for reading, what tips do you have to cure writer's block?

julietspurplesky@gmail.com

Blog for Joy's original header

These are actual photos from my graduation a few months ago, all warped. My memories of last school year are just as grimy.

Hi! I recently came across a website, freerice.com, that I wanted to share. It has a bunch of sponsors who have agreed to donate 10 grains of rice to starving people for every correct answer that people get on this website. You can choose what to be quizzed on from zillions of subjects. It's cool because you learn things and donate a lot of rice to charity. And it's actually super fun, too.

I've created an award for you all to give out to your favorite blogs. Here it is:

Comment on all the blogs you feel deserve it with a link to this post. If you're here to receieve it, congratulations! You can continue the chain too!

The url to link is: http://blogforjoy.blogspot.com/2012/08/nominate-blogs-you-love.html

If you would like to join Blog for Joy, send me an email at jadefireeyes@gmail.com. I will be waiting.

Nothing makes me sadder than seeing the long list of beautiful blogs in my dashboard, and not having enough time to read them. Their designs are enchanted, their content is passionate, (their followers many), and I do not have enough time. Is anyone else in the same situation?

Speaking of amazing bloggers, I want to thank each and everyone of you for joining, and if you have gotten the chance, to post. But two months ago I would have still been blogging by myself. I am grateful for that.

(By the way, if you haven't already, please follow Blog for Joy. A blog low in followers means it's a poor blog to many web surfers.)

Thanks you again,
Jadefireeyes

In brief, using Google photos is dangerous, or using ANY type of media that isn't yours to begin with! So dangerous, you can get sued for enormous amounts of money. How to find out what you CAN do? Read the original article here.

I went to some well-known websites and tweaked them around. Here are the screencasts. Comment if you believe you see the change!

The Apple Store.

The Chrome Web Store seems to have some troubles...

Poor Google images

I've been playing around with the Winnie the Pooh official website. Can you see the edit I made? Hint: It's in red.

I don't know how much of an "everyone" there is for this blog, but I'm sure there's at least a "someone", and if there's one someone than that's an "everyone"-- everyone who is included in that "someone"-- so I'll say "everyone" all the same.
That said... hello, everyone! I'm Sasha, and I'm new to Blog for Joy. I am 14 years old and I live in California. I really like to write, play my clarinet, act in plays, and take photographs. I have two personal blogs, www.thinkingwritinggirl.blogspot.com and www.sashaspictures.blogspot.com. I am very excited about contributing to Blog for Joy, because it's one of the sweetest websites I've seen in a while. Browsing this blog for the first time did indeed make me very joyful.

Thank you Nicola. If you want to continue the stream, follow these rules:
1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging (blogging for less than 2 years).
2. Let the nominated bloggers know that they have been nominated for this award.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Thank the blogger who has nominated you.
5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your post.

The original screencast of this blog, back when it had no posts a year ago. How things have changed!

1. PYTHONS can swallow rabbits whole and may eat as many as 150 mice in a six-month period.

2. DONKEYS because of the placement of the eyes enable them to see all four of their legs at all times.

3. PANDAS at birth are smaller than a mouse and weigh about four ounces.

4. OYSTERS can change from one gender to another and back again.

5. FIREFLIES are the only creatures that give off light without generating heat.

6. HUMMINGBIRDS beat their wings 60 to 80 times per second.

7. CHAMELEONS that are blind will still take on the colors of their environment.

8. HIPPOS are born underwater.

9. TURTLES can be distinguished by gender by the sounds they make. Males grunt, females hiss.

10. GOATS in large groups are called herds.

11. SQUIRRELS cannot see the color red.

12. CHEETAH cubs have a survival rate of only 5 to 10 %.

13. FERRETS sleep around 20 hours a day.

14. BIRDS can recognize landmarks.

15. SHARKS are immune to cancer!

16. SWANS have over 25,000 feathers in their bodies.

17. MOLES can dig tunnels 300 feet long in one night.

18. FROGS in a group is called an army.

19. DUCKS when they quack they echo.

20. GEESE in a group on the ground are called a gaggle, while a group on the air is called a skein.

21. HEDGEHOGS have hearts that beat 300 times a minute.

22. HUMMINGBIRDS weigh less than a penny.

23. MOLES can dig tunnels 300 feet long in just one night.

24. BULLS are actually color blind, therefore they will usually charge at a matador's waving cape for no reason whatsoever, whether it is green or red.

25. SPIDERS give more people fear than does death.

26. PORCUPINES float in water.

27. ANTS always fall on their right side when intoxicated.

28. SLOTHS move so slowly that green algae can grow undisturbed on their fur.

29. TERMITES outweigh the world's humans 10 to 1!

30. POLAR BEARS are the only mammals with hair on the soles of their feet.

31. IGUANAS can end their own life.

32. SQUIDS have 10 tentacles.

33. SCALLOPS have 35 blue eyes.

34. SEA HORSES pull themselves around with their chins leading them.

35. SALAMANDERS breathe through their skin.

36. PLATYPUSES have bills like a duck and lay eggs as birds do.

37. KOALAS are one of the few mammals that have fingerprints.

38. SHRIMPS are actually born males and then become females as they mature.

39. CHIMPANZEES are one of the few animals other than humans, who can learn to recognize their reflection in a mirror.

40. JELLYFISH have the largest recorded diameter of 2.3m across its bell, while that rule-breaking creature's tentacles measured 36 m in length.

41. LOBSTERS have the largest ever recorded weight of 19 kg.

42. MULES will not sink in quicksand, while donkeys will.

43. COBRA poison, even just a tiny amount will kill up to 30 people. This snake can grow up to 5.5 m.

44. VULTURES occasionally eat so much they can't take off again.

45. ARMADILLOS spend 80% of their lives sleeping.

46. TORTOISES can expect to live 100 years.

47. BLACK PANTHERS are really black leopards.

48. GARDEN CATERPILLARS have 248 muscles in their head.

49. HUMPBACK WHALES create the loudest sound of any living creature.

50. FRENCH POODLES did not originate in France. Instead, they came from Germany.