Recap of a month of small stones

So January was meant to be a month of writing a small stone every day. I know I've talked about them before, but they're essentially you condensing down a moment or a thing to its essence. The idea of them is to make you take notice of things more carefully - being in the moment (or thinking back to the moment) and recording it properly. I do pretty well in general of noticing the little cool things, like moss on a wall, or a sapling shooting up between cracks and all that jazz, so I thought it would be easy. But I resented the feeling of "having" to do it every day. I set an alarm so I wouldn't forget to do it each day, and of course one day as I was sitting here holding Madeline with Tho dozing next to me enjoying the moment, the alarm goes off and my phone is across the room and wakes them both up. So that was a bit self defeating. I think I'll just go back to writing them when the mood takes me.

Here's a selection of them that I like the best

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The view from outside: insanity
From inside: love
My wife's extended family: my family

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A cold morning
I hold the wigglepotamus under the blanket
Listening to a "multitude" of birds
Dawn chorus on a budget

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Look! Large lemon leaves
flung forcefully float falling

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Yesterday, the 23d of January, 2012
Was Tho's 10,000th day since her birth
May she have 10,000 years or more
Together forever!

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Wind howls round the house - trees sway

A cricket chirps in counterpoint

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Mindful Writing Day - Small Stones

Today is the 1st of November, the start of Nano (got a grand down, but I am happy with that), and also meant to be Mindful Writing Day - which is for writing small stones. Here's my couple from today. The second one isn't very classy, but they don't have to always be happy and uplifting. And be glad I didn't find a picture to go with it, like I usually do!

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Simple fare cooked with love, tastes better than a banquet.

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Ropey tendrils of dribbling, glistening yellow snot
A guilty pleasure, squeezing the hanky so they squish moistly
Caramel mucus that sticks to porcelain as if fighting for its life
Make the most of sickness - find fun where you can!

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Small Stones

I forget how I stumbled upon small stones - but I loved the idea of them. Its meant to be a short, descriptive piece where you're paying full attention to something, and capture it perfectly. A nice idea making you take notice of what is around you and  simple wonders, convenient as its only a titchy piece of text, and good practice for me as I tend to comma splice myself into long, rambling sentences... like this one. A lot of the ones I’ve read tend to be visual, which makes sense as it takes a lot less effort for something to catch your eye than your other senses, but I’m going to make an effort to cover everything. In the demo the instigator of this idea had, some of the steps said about trying a different sense and I’d already had a crack at them.  

I waited till our daughter arrived before I made my first one, thinking it only right she should take the premier position. Here’s my list so far, I might throw them up every month or so I reckon.  They’re not poems though there are a few haiku and a couple of the sexy new (to me) elfje - instructions for which you can find here

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Our baby has arrived; a hiccuping bundle of happiness!


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Lego with our young nephew.
Practicing English, burgeoning imagination.
For me, childhood revisited

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Humid
Dripping sweat
Temperature rising oppressively.
Susurration of the aircon:
Oasis

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With blanket, hot
Without - too cold
Top sheets a rarity over here
A negligible difference, yet I pine for home

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The rattle of the neighbours squeaky gate
Tho's peaceful dreaming breaths make me smile
Then the Bronx cheer of Madeline filling her nappy makes me laugh

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Back at work after holidays
Yellow leaves, swept into knee high piles
A splash of colour, soon to be removed

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Simple Pleasures
Hardly gourmand fare
Soggy Ramen, the opposite of al dente
A burnt lip slurping them up
But still so appealing
Yum!

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The insistent whine and hiss
As the pump summons the milk
Sounds like marching mecha

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Banana palm in the gloaming
Surrounded by rusted corrugated iron
A splash of yellow & vibrant green
Amidst the rust and concrete

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Simple sustenance: spud, quid, shrimp - scrumptious!

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Tonal languages are complex
I called my father-in-law (bố) a potty (bô)
And asked my mother-in-law to please pass the vaginas (lồn) instead of the pork (lợn)
Gales of laughter ensued

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Newborn
Madeline Mai
Our beloved baby
Sleeps, cries, eats, poos
Darling

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My classes are always raucous
Shouting like happy magpies
Their cheerfulness is infectious
Even when exhausted
Smiling imps

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Perched in the rocking chair
Our newborn in my lap
Cloudwatching
One sunlit, and half in shadow
Above hidden greenery in Hanoi's bustle

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Fourth term is fun
Swimming with the kids
Splashing, throwing them
Holding their heads underwater
Laughter and silliness

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Scarlet
Flame Trees
Riot of colour
A happy, cheerful sight
Synchronicity

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Drab background shattered
Exploding like fireworks
Flame trees greet the sun