Written for Six Sentence Story where we are asked
to be creative in no more than six sentences
using the word “light”. This is my story.
![](https://theelephantstrunk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_9934.jpeg?w=1024)
We got a late start with spring cleaning in our yard, especially along the side of the house where our attached garage is located; even though the gardeners had cleared a lot of old shrubbery away for some new plants and bushes, it was just not meant to be after we were derailed by the sudden death of my husbandâs twin brother on April 2 and me being sidelined since the first week of May by a major sinus infection (the heavy-duty antibiotics have left me “out of commission” and able to eat only extremely light meals or, at times, nothing at all).
In mid-May, we put in a couple of small white azaleas, relocated a baby rhododendron which wasnât doing well in the far back corner of the yard and planted a bit of Blue Bugle and Lilies of the Valley for light ground cover (along the side of the house, not visible in this pic), but thatâs as far as our broken spirits and depleted bodies would allow us go.
When Colette is here with us (Tuesdays, Thursdays and the occasional Saturday or Sunday) and the weather is good, she wants to be outside; hell, even if the weather isnât good, she wants to be outside â a phenomenon about most children that escapes me as they (well, she definitely) seem to be impervious to heat or cold or rain or snow or wind â all the elements, times when Bill and I would prefer being inside nestled in our recliners with a lightweight blanket.
Speaking of nestled, we discovered that sparrows had made their nest in an old watering can in the corner of Coletteâs playhouse; the mama and papa birds are very resourceful, building the new home in a location almost invisible to us, one which I discovered quite by accident when I heard a faint chirping noise coming from the playhouse and âŠ. with my trusty flashlight in hand âŠ. I went to take a peek but was immediately dive-bombed by a wildly protective kamikaze sparrow which, when it sped just inches by my head, had me believing it was a small bat …. terrifying!
Tuesday the temps soared to a scorching 86ÂșF â a leap from the mild low-70s of just the day before â so it was, according to Colette, the âperfect day for planting!â âŠ. a concept I did not agree with thinking it was too hot and we would be in direct blazing sunlight for the entire time âŠ. but I did not object (mainly because the child could not be dissuaded and it was far less taxing than yet another round of the Disney edition of Monopoly); armed with our faithful spades, Bill with his macho shovel and pitchfork, we planted another azalea along the side of the house, then Colette and I pulled all the weeds and detritus from the two ancient cement planters on either side of the bench you see in the above photo, replacing all of what was growing in them as haphazardly as Albert Einstein’s hair with two bright pink kalanchoe plants, then stood back to proudly bask in the glory of our gardening prowess.
Of course, manual labor such as that demands a reward and certainly not a monetary one which would be looked upon with disdain and confusion by a 4-year-old whose idea of recompense consists solely of instant gratification in the form of ice cream â the I-don’t-give-a-hoot-how-messy-I-get kind â and after getting Colette situated in her pink fairy chair, pinning up her waist-length hair and snapping on the 15-year-old bib we originally used for our first grandchild, Mckenna, I disappeared into the kitchen and returned with fudge-covered vanilla ice cream pops for Colette and Bill and a lemon ice for me; judging by the look on her face and the twinkling, totally satisfied light in her eyes (photo below), Colette was over the moon with her sweet, sloppy treat and …. you know âŠ. she was right after all about it being the âperfect day for planting!”
![](https://theelephantstrunk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_9935.jpeg?w=768)
NAR©2024
This is âLet It Growâ by Eric Clapton
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantâs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.
Sweet…outdoors, ice cream and sparrows….
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Living the life, Dylan!
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Sweet life!
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I’m so glad you followed her lead, it certainly was the perfect way to spend the day. My black thumb salutes your green ones!
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Oh, she’s the boss, for the most part! Good thing, too. She gives me energy!
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ypu are blessed đđ
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Don’t I know it! đ©¶đ
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A burst of Springtime in a mere 6 sentences! Children, without question, remind us youth is but an ice cream pop/lemon ice away. Thanks for sharing the day, Nancy.
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It was a fun day, Denise …. perfect day for sharing!
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I really enjoyed that – the garden, the ice cream and that great song. Big smile from me!
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Thanks so much, Chris. Our Colette is such a beauty, I need to teach her to stop looking away from the camera every time I take a serious pic. I truly believe she does it on purpose! đ
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oh she;s sooo precious, Nancy. I’m heading to the yard to plant my garden right nowđ
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She’s had a growth spurt recently; no little baby anymore!
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such a happy look
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She’s a happy girl without a care in the world. I’d love to keep it that way but I know I can’t. I hope she never loses her resilience or her loving nature. She is joyous!
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From a melancoly start to an upbeat ending, I feel an ice cream coming on!
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Yes! Go for it! Ice cream is an integral part of happiness and should be consumed every day!
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how lovely đčđč
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Colette is a treasure and I’m crazy about her! đđ
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A wonderful day of planting with Colette. Nice description of the kamikaze sparrow and I would agree with Colette that ice cream does sound like the perfect reward.
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That sparrow gave me a few grey hairs! She’s protecting her babies very well.
Ice cream makes people happy; the world needs more ice cream.
Thanks Frank.
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What a wonderful day youâve had with your precious Colette. And a treat, too. â€ïž
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She’s gotten so big …. no more little baby!
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What a cute kid! All part of that little corner of heaven you’re building, amidst and in spite of sorrows & health challenges. Good fortune family!
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Thanks, Liz! Lovely comments, for sure. We call her Kukla and she’s an absolute joy to be around! Proud of my son and DIL.
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A splitting image of her grandmother it appears
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She looks like my son who looks like me so …. yeah!
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Delightful words and pictures
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Thanks, Glyn! It was a good day.
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Perfect song for the story!
When you are a kid, there is nothing better than ice cream. Even if you are a big kid.
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Kukla (our nickname for Colette) loves ice cream and usually asks for the little cups we have but on the hottest day of the year so far, she wanted a pop! What a mess but it all comes out in the wash!
That is a great Clapton number.
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Live the nickname!
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So happy colette enjoyed her ice cream treat! And awesome you got some new plants planted too Nance! đ Perfect!
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It was a good day, CA. She’s a cool kid!
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wait…wait! Gotta double-check my prompt word count!*
(Once again, getting inspired to try for the multiple word promptage)
*muy coolito
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Livin’ on the promptage edge, dude! Giddy-up!
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Any story that ends with having loads of ice cream is a happy story.
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Many of our days end like that! She’s a connoisseur! đŠ
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Awesome đđŒ
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