Little by Little

"Little by little,

One travels far."

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

 Hullo, friends! How's your summer been lately? Mine has been an exciting adventure. ♥

~ S. F.

I Shall Not Live in Vain

Ever since I first heard this quote, it has been one of my favourites.

"If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease on life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain."

~ Emily Dickinson

The Authorly Bucket List Tag

Thank you, Kara, for tagging me for the Authorly Bucket List tag! To do this tag you are to, "List 3 to 7 things to work at in writing, and 3 to 7 things you'd like to try."

Things to work at...

1. Just WRITING! That is definitely something to work at. ;)

2. Coming up with how characters look. I have the basic idea for some of them, but other than that. . . ?

3. Editing. Something else to definitely work at.

Things I want to try...

1. Putting songs and poems into my stories. I like writing songs and poems, so why not?

2. Writing Non-fiction. Something I really want to try!

3. Having a character with an accent. As in, having someone from Australia or Norway.

4. Writing first person. I've tried it once (or maybe more) but I'd like to try it again.

I tag Elizabeth L. and S. W.

Now, everyone, go write!

~ S. F.

Never Give Up

Edit by me • I'm not sure who took the picture (it came form Pinterest) but I thank them.

"When you get into a tight place 

and everything goes against you, 

till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, 

never give up, 

for that is just the place and time

 the tide will turn."

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Misty Streets - A Writing of Mine

Picture from Pinterest

A walk in the early morning while the streets are still misty is a delightful treat.

I stroll a moment too long and miss the taxi.

Leaning against the post of the "Taxi" sign, I pull on my coat tighter and watch the people walking by.

 

There is the lonely person walking by themself & the large group of friends.

There is the scowling person and the person who can't stop smiling.

There is the wealthy business man and the poor girl in rags.

There are those strolling slowly along and those rushing by.

 As the taxi finally drives up, I find someone else rushing up and asking if they may go first.

With my permision granted, they pay the taxi driver and state their thanks to me.

And I wait for the next taxi to come along.

The Changes Begin

Look to the side-->
There are pages.
If they aren't there,
Here they are:
You Can Call Me S. F.
Quote Worthy
Take a look.
More to come.
Is it only me
or is this sounding
like a telegraph?

 

↑ More to come. . . ↑

~ S. F.

A Feeling of Love

In my morning reading of the Scriptures this morning, I read First John chapter four. Perhaps you know the chapter I am talking about, but if not let me share it with you verses seven through nineteen:

 (From the King James Version of the Bible, all sentences that are italicised are the ones that stood out to me.)

 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Pictures from biblevideos.org

 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 

 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

 

 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

I found such comfort and joy from this chapter. It brought me to tears  as I read of the love my Father in Heaven and Christ have for me.

God bless you,

S. F.

Meanwhile

Things are being sorted out and...here I am posting again. :)

I just did a guest post over on Kara's blog which you can read if you are able to read this. Because if you weren't able to read this then you wouldn't be able to read and you therefore wouldn't be able to read the guest post I did on Kara's blog.

Enough said. Besides this quote by me:

Love ~ S. F.

- REMEMBER -

Remember the Freedom was fought for.

Remember what you can do to help keep fighting.

Remember the Soldiers who fought for their country.

Remember those who bore the grief after the Soldiers passed on.

 Remember the Soldiers from all around the world who died for Freedom.

Remember that you wouldn't be who you are today if it weren't for them and what they did.

REMEMBER THEM BECAUSE THEY FOUGHT FOR YOU. 

REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN.

  REMEMBER AND THANK THEM TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID.

~ S. F.

Hello?

Are you still there?

*sighs*

Oh, YOU ARE STILL THERE! :) I'm still here, too, even though it has been quiet for the last little while.

Via Pinterest. My handwriting is in no ways at all this good!

I am here to tell you that you can expect some short stories soon! I have one ready to share, but I don't have a picture to go with it yet. And also another that has to be edited, and then should be ready to share. :)

My thanks to you if you're reading this post. All of you are the best.

Love,
S. F.

~ The Sunshine Award ~

The Awards are coming around. 

They're contagious.  

They spread like wild fire.

It's a plague, I tell you.

 Yet another award from Kara over at Saved by Grace! And this time, no rules. I know I've already gotten the Sunshine Award, but this is drastically different: the picture is'nt the same. That makes all. the. difference. in. the. world.

Kara asked two sets of questions, one for Tolkien fans, and one for not. I'll answer the Tolkien ones. :)

Tolkien fan questions. . .
  
The Hobbit or LOTR? I like both, but I think I'm going to say The Hobbit. I liked how it was simpler then the LOTR, when Middle-earth was mostly at peace.

   Favorite movie in the LOTR movies? The Return of the King.

 If you were Peter Jackson how would you make the last Hobbit movie end? "And {they all}lived happily ever after, to the end of their days." <- While "Happily ever after" is not my favourite book/movie line, I would have it end like that.

 If you could be any character from any of Tolkien's Middle Earth books, who would you be? . . . Bilbo. (How'd you guess?)

 How did you first hear about the LOTR movies (or books)? My parents. When I was around two or one. :)

 Did you go see any of the Hobbit or LOTR movies at the theater? The first two Hobbits.

 Favourite Hobbit character? You would never guess, it's Bilbo.

 What is one of the reasons you love Tolkien's Middle Earth? The hobbits and Hobbiton I love how it can be compared to almost any ones life, and the brilliant characters.

5 questions that I ask. . .

1.What books have you been sticking your nose in lately?

2.Ever traveled out of the country you live in?

3.Are you more apt to giggle or guffaw?

4.Summer's almost here! What makes summer special to you?

5.How would you describe this? :

Photo via Pinterest

To accept or not accept, that is the question.

Les Victorie

Abby and Phoebe

Lily 

Sarah 

Carissa

Elizabeth Lindsay

I I understand awards are getting out of control and they're everywhere by now. (☺) You are entitled to your own free will: you will spread sunshine even without accepting this award.

~ S. F.

Liebester Award

Kara, over at Saved by Grace, did the honour of making me smile by awarding me the Liebster Award.

 Thank you, Kara! :) 

The Rules for this Award:

1. Link the blog that nominated you for the award.

2. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate that have less than 200 followers.

3. Answer the questions given to you.

4. Let the people who you have nominated know when you have done so.

5. You can’t nominate the person who has nominated you.

6. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you’ve nominated to answer.

7. You must follow the blog that nominated you.

1. When are you happiest? Different times. But nothing cam replace the feel of finally getting a book you've been waiting for, then devouring its every word.

2. What was the last thing you ate? I really don't remember.
 

3. Introvert or extrovert? Introvert.

4. Favorite sport? Maybe archery or sword fighting or writing (those are sports. Don't tell me otherwise!)
 
5. City, country, mountains, or beach? Oh my, why must this be so hard? *sigh* Country or mountains.
 

6. Do you own more books or songs? Heh, books. Definitely books!
 
7. What was the last movie you saw in the theater? The Desolation of Smaug. It. Was. Epic.
 
8. Favorite book of the Bible? I really don't know. ^-^
 
9. What do you spend most of your typical day doing? Depends...writing, reading, bein' with my family, more reading, music practice ...
 
10. How many kids do you want? Eh, as many as I can?
 
11. What’s the best book you've read so far in 2014? Ohhh...let's see. Besides the Scriptures, perhaps the Hobbit?

And now who shall I nominate?
 -----------
 Les V.
Carissa Rose

Sarah

Lily Marie

Abby Kautt

S.

I can't think of any more to award. But theses are your questions:

1. Given the chance to go anywhere else at the moment then where you are now, where would you go?

2. Favourite colour?

3. If the situation called for it, would you call the police, a detective, or rely on yourself?

4. What's the most serious injury you've had? (Please don't go into detail, for the faint of heart*! :)

5. Washing dishes or doing the laundry?

6. Are you gifted with the art of drawing?

7. What piece of poetry do you enjoy most?

8. Someone (you know this person) says that right then and there you can go swimming in the ocean-to the bottom of it, if you wish,-or fly, which will you choose?

9. Talkative or shy?

10. If you are a photographer, what is one of your favourite pictures you've taken?

11. Everyone must have a "dream pet" (a dragon, a peacock), what is yours?

*Not me. :)

If it is not your desire to do this award, don't do it. I won't be offended, I promise! Oh, if you're not following me and don't want to, you don't have to.

~ S. F. 

Go Ahead and Cry

I cut this little snip-it out of a magazine. It inspired me to write the below.

Go ahead and cry

I'll catch your tears.

Go ahead and cry.

I'm here to comfort you.

Go ahead and cry.

Even when I can't comfort you.

Go ahead and cry.

I know He will.

Go ahead and cry.

Your tears were meant to be cried.

Go ahead and cry.

I don't mind it a bit.
Go ahead and cry.

I'll catch your tears.

A Favour from You (Followers, Readers, etc.)

 Happy     New     Year!  

I know very well it's February 8th 2014, but I can wish you "Happy New Year" now!
To be truthful, I started this post on New Years day, but 'tis my fault I haven't published it till now. I kept putting it off. The reason unknown. And I admit I haven't been the best at commenting, either.  
Come now, S.F., stop blabbering on about your self! Get to the point of this post.
Alright. I'm still here. But that's normal. Because I would obviously be here if I was posting this! Hmm...

It being a new year and all, I had Rose do a new design. And personally, I think she did a wonderful job!

Recently I've been thinking about what I should post on this blog; for alas! all of my ideas really don't sound very good...What shall I do? Perhaps...perhaps...Ah! *looks right at you* Yes, it's perfect. You wouldn't mind me asking you, my fellow readers and followers, what you would want? Oh, I know it's a brilliant plan, you don't have to tell me. In fact, why didn't I think of it before?
 And now I come to the point of this post: what do you want to see here on "On Solid Ground"? My writings? My photography? Something utterly out-of-the-blue? WHAT?!
And don't give me the, "What ever you do will be great!", because it's nice and all, but it. doesn't. help. "-" <--(frightening face I discovered. Or perhaps someone discovered it before?)
Thank you.
~ S. F. the Fourth (nah, not really.)

P. S. I LOVE taking pictures of marbles and light!

Image Copyright - S. F. 

If I could travel...

Photo from Pinterest

...I would take the road to the land where dreams come true.
where the roads go ever on and on.
 where we all can be what we want to be.
  where we don't have to be grown up to do big things.
   where there is love for everyone.
    where we're all brave in our way.
     where we can be ourselves.
      where the people from books are our friends.
        where everyone is happy. 
Take me to that land.

Altaithe sona! (an lá tar éis)

Yes, I got that brilliant idea to say "happy Thanksgiving!" in a different language (Irish) from Elizabeth Lindsay at One Light in a Dark World.  

Well, today's the day after Thanksgiving, but any old way...

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:

sist ers.

bl og  fri en ds. 

breath.

Jesus Christ.

home.

family.

music.

life.

books.

camera.

The list could go on-and-ON! It's kind of hard to stop. :)

Copyright © S. F. 2013

Love ~ S. F.

::WARNING:: very short post

Just a little pop-in to say:  

I know I'm behind in the challenge.

Today's 11-12-13.

And my sisters and I have a new blog!

~S. F.

Shall or Will?

I have a strange thing about using words.

 At times I prefer to use some word, and other times it's a different one.

So tell me, which you prefer of the different words~

"Shall" or "Will"

"Eh" or "Uh"

 "No" or "Nope"

I prefer: "Shall", "Eh" and "Nope"

 Sooo...just leave a comment and tell me what you like. :)

~ S.F.