WQ #5: February 1: CHILLY AIR

“I said it’s a cold universe and I don’t mean that metaphorically. If you go out into space, it’s cold. It’s really cold and we don’t know what’s up there. We happen to be in this little pocket where there’s a sun. What have we got except love and each other to guard against all that isolation and loneliness?”

David Chase
WEDNESDAY QUOTES Logo by Donna @ Retirement Reflections

Welcome to WQ. Oops, it’s Thursday already and Groundhog’s Day – very appropriate! Six more weeks of winter, I just heard. Let a chilly quote inspire you to share your cold experiences and photos, or write a chilly story, or poem, Feel free to borrow my photos this week if they help you feel a twinge of chill.

Last Week’s Featured Bloggers Who Enveloped Our Imaginations

Thanks for being patient with me last week. There were days I didn’t have internet, and I couldn’t figure out how to post your links with my phone. But I’m back and excited to be with you again.

For More Thoughts Chilly Air

Your post link goes here.

Freedom To Be Chilly

Some people try to be sunny and cheerful even if life is caving in at the moment. Winter’s cold gives us the chance to enjoy the barren and bleak, to rest from our own goodness and busyness.

We can tuck our feet under a warm blanket and turn on the tv and fall asleep at 7:09 pm because it’s dark and cold outside. I know because that’s what my friend and hostess, Jean, and I did all week. We can read a scary novel set in a haunted house and shiver with fear when children with strange eyes attack.

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Chilly air
radiates through life
man's sorrow

Time to think
alone on the street
blowing air

ยฉMarsha Ingrao 2023
Haiku 

A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.

George R. R. Martin
Hail storm
Monsoon wind
cold air mid summer
violent

ยฉMarsha Ingrao 2023
Haiku

Cold Makes for Sad Reflections

“How strange it is, our little procession of life! The child says, “When I am a big boy.” But what is that? The big boy says, “When I grow up.” And then, grown up, he says, “When I get married.” But to be married, what is that after all? The thought changes to “When I’m able to retire.” And then, when retirement comes, he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind seems to sweep over it; somehow he has missed it all, and it is gone.”

Stephen Leacock
Cold breeds bleak
barren and lonely
dark, gloomy

Wind-blown fields
windmills click a tune
no one plays

Clouds gather
swirling in the sky
blow away

warm inside
the car, house, jacket
safe from cold

ยฉMarsha Ingrao 2023
Haiku sequence

Chilly Gallery

Have a great week! I look forward to hearing what’s chilling your air this week.

Upcoming and Ongoing on Always Write

  • WQ Page
  • WQ #6: February 8: LOVE/RED
  • WQ #7: February 15: GRID/GRIDLOCK/LINES
  • WQ #8: February 22BELOW/WRITERโ€™S CHOICE/DOUBLE DIP CHALLENGES/WOTY
Happy Quoting!

67 responses to “WQ #5: Let’s Chill”

  1. Dickens Challenge February 7th – June 9th – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write Avatar

    […] See you tomorrow for WQ (Wednesday Quotes). There’s still time to post your link for Let’s Chill. […]

    Like

  2. Wind Kisses Avatar

    Crisp and cold looking photos in your gallery. That blue sky is often tell tale for us. I do love the Leacock quote. It is true for TOO many.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Unfortunately, it has been for me. And now here I am! Looking forward to what God has for me to do still! I hope a lot!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wind Kisses Avatar

        Always something to put our energy into.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          huff, huff, yes, huff, huff.

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Gary A Wilson Avatar

    Hi Marsha,
    I like thinking back on how I spent my life. Turning 68 next month sounds older than I feel (most days) but my point is that I’m really thankful my daughter got me into creating and storing my stories of growing up.
    These captured, even where I stylized a bit, are trinkets that take me back to the fun I had, the lessons I learned, the odd experiences I had and maybe a few of the lives I’ve changed and accomplishments that I managed. Together, I love grabbing one from time to time and just recalling – reminding myself that in many ways God has not let me waste all the time he’s given me. I have loved – LOVED entertaining so many readers with those stories.
    That I also turned some of my recent hours to creating fiction is also a dream come true even if I’ve not published them other than via my story blog.
    These colder days are great for looking back and recalling what we’ve learned and done and maybe not done – yet.
    Thanks for being part of my journey and for pushing me where I might not have otherwise gone.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      You are still young, my friend. I turned 71 in November, and I feel young and productive still. There are many I have met in their 90s who are still young in their minds – and their bodies and are going strong. My mother’s cousin (97) is one of them.

      Your stories are a joy and it’s great that you are spreading your wings and trying new things. I am hosting a Charles Dickens challenge for the next four months with Yvette Prior (You know her from Story Chat.) and Trent McDonald. It’s my post for today. I’d love to have you play along. You might even create some Dicken’s-type stories. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  4. Debbie Avatar

    Hi Marsha, how clever are you weaving all those chilly references into your post?? I love your Haikus too and your photos show a very chilly landscape, very different to us at the moment ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Yes, you lucky summer people!!! Thanks for your kind words, Deb.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Natalie Avatar

    Hi Marsha, Great Haiku and Chilly gallery! I love that second to last photo with the white cloud formations. We had extreme cold weather with bright sunshine on Friday (yesterday) but it’s been warming up and will be above normal temperatures by Sunday (tomorrow). I bundled up and went for a walk on Friday. The cold steam coming off the lake surface was beautiful and breathtaking literally and figuratively. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I’m playing catch up this week. I forgot to give my post a title even and I was a day late getting it out! I hope your weather will warm up soon. It sounds super chilly!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. KL Caley Avatar

    Hope you had a great break, Marsha. Sorry I missed last week.
    This week’s entry is here:

    She wrote…


    KL โค

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I had a great break, KL. Spotty internet, lots of friends to visit. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  7. She wrote… – New2Writing Avatar

    […] written in response to Marsha’s Writers Quote prompt, which can be found here. Not the direction I originally thought I was going to go with the prompt and quote but sometimes […]

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    1. Marsha Avatar

      I love the changing seasons, too!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        Thanks ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          ๐Ÿ™‚

          Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Diana, it sounds like spring is just around the corner – at least that’s what the birds are saying.

      Like

  8. Where did the chill went? – Keep it alive Avatar

    […] Written for; WQ #5- Chilly air, hosted by Marsha […]

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  9. eklastic Avatar

    Every now and again I get this panic that I am like the boy/man described by Stephen Leacock. But then I pick myself up and … off I go.

    Like

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I did not realize that was the author of the quote I used. I definitely was the boy in the quote – always looking forward to the next step in life. Now I’ve come to a place I’d better slow that down just a smidge!

      Like

      1. eklastic Avatar

        Oh, no, you’re giving me far too much credit. I just took the name from your quote, and was only referring to him in reference to the quote.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          I just found it! LOL I erased my comment so I wouldn’t look so stupid! Funny! I am that little boy!

          Liked by 1 person

  10. Kirstin Troyer Avatar

    These were great Marsha. I almost shared the one about the wind in the trees…I always enjoy the ones you write too. It encourages me to try my hand at some poetry. I haven’t gotten past Haikus though..haha

    https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2023/02/putting-fingers-to-keyboardwqtheme.html

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I’m not much beyond haikus either, KIrstin.

      Like

  11. robertawrites235681907 Avatar

    Hi Marsha, lovely pictures and super haikus to illustrate them. Or should that be the other way around. ๐Ÿ˜Š

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      It depends on whether you are a writer or photographer. As an expert in neither, I could go either way. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. robertawrites235681907 Avatar

        Yes, that is very true.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. robertawrites235681907 Avatar

        I think you are pretty good at both, by the way.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          Thanks so much, Robbie. I enjoy both hobbies and they are very fulfilling,

          Liked by 1 person

  12. ben Alexander Avatar

    Thanks for the prompt, Marsha! I had fun with this one ๐Ÿ™‚

    https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/02/03/mothers-feeling-chilly/

    โค
    David

    Like

  13. Mothers feeling chilly – The Skeptic's Kaddish ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Avatar

    […] quote by Ambrose Bierce above, which I came across by chance for Marsha’s WQ prompt, amuses me greatly as the father of an eight-year-old. It’s so true to life, as this rainy […]

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  14. Prior... Avatar

    PS
    I also wanted to let you know that I will email you and Trent soon
    Need to check in about the Charles Dickens reading challenge
    I was going to make a kick off post for Sunday the 5th
    But I will email you both soon to check in
    Hope you have a great day

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Sounds like a plan. I look forward to hearing from you. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Prior... Avatar

        Hello my friend –
        I am not sure if you got me email – I sent it to you and Trent and heard from him –
        and maybe I do not have the most current email?
        Either way – I did post the kick off post for the challenge and maybe we can touch base about the details this week?
        And by the way – we are so excited to be working with you for this challenge – it should be fun

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          I’m looking forward to it also. I sent you an email.

          Liked by 1 person

  15. Prior... Avatar

    Hi Marsha
    This was an enjoyable post
    The chilly gallery of photos also had energy and interest!
    So did the quotes today and the Stephen Leacock one is sobering
    – also – it seems you have been really having your poetry flow – not sure if the ones here are new or from past times – but they fit so well

    Like

  16. Alison Avatar

    Love the quotes Marsha and little stories and poems. Photos are glorious especially the cloud one ๐Ÿ˜Š

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thank you so much, Alison! ๐Ÿ™‚ xxx

      Like

  17. the eternal traveller Avatar

    It’s fun to read about you all feeling the cold, because here we’re in the middle of a heatwave. And to make it worse, we have 100% humidity so it is really sticky as well. We’ve had several summer storms which only add to the moisture in the air. So we’re chillin’ with the air conditioning on every night to cool down.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I can relate to that. I felt that 100% humidity when I was there – especially in Brisbane. I roasted, but what was super weird to me wasn’t the heat or the humidity, it was the early darkness. Here in the summer because we are farther away from the equator, our summer nights are shorter and our winter nights are soooooooo long. I missed the long days.

      Like

  18. OnceUponaTimeHappilyEverAfter.com Avatar

    The landscape and weather you’ve captured looks so much like my area in El Paso. We have had a mild winter but even at 59* this afternoon, I feel chilled.
    Just finished reading So Long, Chester Wheeler. It is a well-told story and I enjoyed listening to it on Audible. The narration was very good. The Longfellow poem above would fairly describe Chester, in the book. His grumpiness and anger were completely misunderstood.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      That sounds like a great book. I just finished Have You Seen Luis Velez? about a blind woman whose volunteer aide suddenly quit coming to help her. It was fabulous.

      Like

  19. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com Avatar

    I heard a story today about Punxsutawney Phil… he’s right less than 50% of the time, so maybe you’re in luck! Good luck!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Letโ€™s hope heโ€™s wrong. The snow pack is helpful in the dry states, though!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Cindy Georgakas Avatar

    Great poems Marsha! after seeing your pics, I have no reason to complain but I”M FREEZING lol๐Ÿ˜‚

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I was just there, and it was cold, just a different kind. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Cindy Georgakas Avatar

        โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Gloria Avatar

    I love going out walking in the cold. Then coming home to a lovely fire and a hot drink! ๐Ÿ”ฅ ๐Ÿต

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      If I’m dressed for it, I love it, too. I don’t like to be too hot while I walk! the hot drink and lovely fire sound awesome, too. Have a great week, Gloria. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Gloria Avatar

        You too, Marsha!

        Liked by 2 people

  22. Tofino Photography Avatar

    many of these talk about men,I wonder what the women have to say?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Women mostly talk about hot air! ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tofino Photography Avatar

        I strongly disagree Marsha. Women has always been the sensible ones. Men are the blow hards.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          That was me being funny, Wayne. Men and women are both wonderful and not wonderful at the same time. Human, in other words. The quotes that hit me this week just happened to be males. It was not an intentional slight of women. ๐Ÿ™‚

          Liked by 1 person

  23. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar

    Seems redundant for the leafblower to move the ice around, LOL! Do they make ice melters? Great shots of the cold, Marsha! I’m posting “Frosty” for this Sunday’s theme and boy I have some doozies! Monday it was so cold there were glittering ice sparkles flying in the air from the ice-cold wind–tried to capture it with the lens–nope. Pretty though, but it could freeze your face off! Cold sure does bring out some wonderful haikus! 6 more weeks of winter? Errg!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Frosty is a great theme. I can definitely link to that! Thatโ€™s link not drink. Iโ€™ve hardly taken any pictures this month. Of course itโ€™s only the 2nd. LOL

      Liked by 2 people

        1. Marsha Avatar

          ๐Ÿ™‚

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Marsha Avatar

      Leaf blowers are in a world of their own. We were having a huge windstorm one day, and the leaf blowers were busy blowing leaves in the parking lot of the church. I don’t think they accomplished much! I do hope your face doesn’t freeze off. You have a lovely face. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

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