Posted by

Posted on

August 13, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Fairy Tale for Girls, Tales for Kids of All Ages

Comments

Clan Destined, Part II

Part II of the newest Adventurous Fairy Tale, Clan Destined, has arrived! In Gregori Returns, Darvin’s foster brother returns injured but alive. Together, they must find a way to stop daylight smelting or the clan’s safety will be endangered. The last part is written and will be published in a day or two.

Photograph taken by busymindthinking

Excerpt of
Gregori Returns

Darvin drifted as part of the clouds for a long time, enjoying shoving them this way and that with his will. He forgot why he was there in the clouds. The ground looked black beneath him.

“Darvin! Darvin! Darvin!!” Darvin heard the call, and he became confused. Where was he? Why could he not move? He remembered he was scrying, and he remembered controlling the clouds. He tried to find his body, but he had lost all sense of direction drifting.

“Darvin!” That sounded like Sillette. He drifted along the water, particle to particle, moving toward the call, his consciousness moving along the water bridge as quickly as sound travels. He let go of his urge to control the clouds. They started to break apart.

Click link to continue reading Gregori Returns.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

August 12, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Fairy Tale for Girls, Tales for Kids of All Ages

Comments

15 Comments

Clan Destined

Friendly Fairy Tales has a new Adventurous Fairy Tale!!

Clan Destined will take you on an adventure to Clan Mountain, home of Darvin, son of the Dwarvish Laird. Darvin discovers new powers in Part I, Flight in the Clouds. Parts II and III are written and will be published over the next few days.

Top 5 Sunrise by Vit Peyr

Excerpt of
Flight in the Clouds

Darvin treasured the quiet moments of dawn. He was crouched among the rocks on the shore, and anyone looking would mistake him for another rock. Cold from the rocks and sea spray seeped into him. As the dwarvish do, he embraced the chill after a night of warm dreams.

As the sun rose higher, the yellow sky was garlanded by purple and orange blossoms. Some dwarvish cousins spend their lives underground never seeing a sunrise, but Darvin’s Mountain Clan live above ground. Darvin could not imagine life without sunrises to center him.

His father, Wizen, lay gravely ill. The peacefulness of the sunrise helped Darvin face his fear. If his father did not pull through, his childhood would be over. He would be Laird of the Mountain Clan. He was only 16. All the responsibility would be his. He told himself to breathe, just breathe. He let the cold bring him back to himself, then he headed home, climbing far up Clan Mountain.

His family longhouse was made of stone, blending seamlessly into the mountain. His uncle Forst was sitting on a boulder plucking a chicken.

Click to finish reading Flight in the Clouds.

Note: Top photograph by the very talented Vit Peyr.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

August 8, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Tales for Kids of All Ages, Young Fairy Tale

Comments

50 Comments

The Shepherdess and the Prince

Jonas walked up a hill behind the soccer field where his parents were watching his brother’s game. Being only six on his next birthday, he was not allowed to play.

Jonas pushed through thick bushes, stumbled and fell. When he got up, he felt as though the world had tilted and then righted itself. He shook his head, and opened his eyes. His vision blurred then sharpened. A strong, salty wind brushed his hair back from his forehead. He could hear surf in the distance.

Before him was a stone ruin, and he walked around it. He walked inside, and admired the thick walls. He had never seen any ruins near the soccer fields before. A tall window was set in a partially standing wall. He looked through, and as far as his eye could see stretched rolling hills and bright blue skies. He stepped through, and the air shimmered.

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

August 7, 2013

Posted under

Awards!

Comments

70 Comments

Miracles

Today, I’m celebrating miracles, because that’s how I’ve chosen to live my life. I’ve survived high winds, close losses, car crashes, surgeries, floods, financial disasters, rejections untold, unwanted advice, criticism, ridicule and chronic pain. I’m still here writing, celebrating life and I have all of you to thank for buoying me up, day after day. Thanks for making me part of your world and for encouraging my writing. As for my newest flood, a deluge of awards… yes, you guessed it. Another award posting, woo-hoo!

The first award is near and dear to my heart, but I’m not accepting. Rather, I’m creating. I’m dedicating it to Elephant at Elephant’s Picture Book, whose idea it was that I come up with my own award to pass out.

Before I get to the first recipients, I hope you know that each of you are a miracle. You radiate magic and love. I’m privileged you share it with me. For all of you, I’m creating this new award: You are a Miracle Blogger Award.

This award comes with no rules or obligations. This award is for bloggers who inspire, who rise above, who survive, who triumph, who struggle or who just live. Bloggers who choose to live as if everything is a miracle. Here are the first bloggers to ever receive this award:

Terry1954
Apronhead-Lilly
Reocochran
Lifeonwry
The Mobius Strip
WishIWereHere
Ms. Vee
Ajaytao
WorktheDream
Simple & Interesting
Tigress00eyes

You have touched my heart.

Simple & Interesting dropped by in the wee hours with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I hope any of the recipients named above, who have not gotten this award and would like it, will take it, too!

Thanks to Klove, who came to my party, and danced like a rock star. She scooped six golden awards and handed them back to me. She’s a miracle of love. Anyone who wants can link to the party site and scoop up to six awards. I’m offering them up liberally, having gotten them again makes me feel gluttonous. Please share them!

A last thank you to all my readers, big and small, new and old, happy and blue, don’t think I’ve forgotten you. Come on a walk with me:

With deep admiration and appreciation for the brilliance of all of you,

Brenda

P.S. Woo-hoo, this is my 50th Post!!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

August 6, 2013

Posted under

Poetry

Comments

54 Comments

Garden Green

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
the song of the birds for mirth,
one is nearer God’s Heart in a garden
than anywhere else on earth.

– Dorothy Frances Gurney

Far up a hill in Edinburgh City are acres of garden.
I headed up one sunshiny day
escaping the din of castles, pubs and tourists.
Tranquility was far from me,
my mind too busy, too full of deadlines.

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

August 5, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Tales for Kids of All Ages, Young Fairy Tale

Comments

17 Comments

The Stallion and the Fortune-Teller

Marcellino’s Grandfather Gerardo took him to meet his old school friend from his boarding school days. His friend had recently become King Bengal of Tropica Nadia, a small country off the coast of India. King Bengal lived in a splendid palace overlooking the sea.

Marcellino’s smile enchanted the king. The king invited him to a party for his young daughter, Sahara, in three days time. Marcellino was very happy, but his Grandfather Gerardo was worried. What should they bring little Sahara for a present? What do you buy for a ten year old princess?

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 24, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Fairy Tale for Girls, Tales for Kids of All Ages, Young Fairy Tale

Comments

27 Comments

The Rain Dance

Two children surprised a fairy. Mona, the fairy, was of the Swallowtail Fae. In the twinkle of an eye, she shifted to her butterfly form. She fluttered to a butterfly bush, then to a high hosta bloom. She watched the children.

The little girl pointed at her, “Stephano! I saw a fairy!” Mona wondered if she should flee.

Stefano laughed. “Isabella, that’s a butterfly,” He shook his head. “But we’re here to do a rain dance, remember?” He clapped his hands and stomped rhythmically in the grass. He danced in a circle, widdershins, and Isabella joined him, also clapping.

“We need to ask the Great Spirit for rain,” Stefano said. Mona was surprised the children knew of the Great Spirit.

Together the children chanted: “Great Spirit in the sky, the garden’s way too dry. Begging your pardon, please rescue our garden. Let rain clouds form and bring on the storm!”

Nothing happened. The sky stayed blue, and no clouds came. Stefano was crestfallen, but Isabella giggled about their prayer. “Mommy! We sang to the Great Spirit, and I saw a fairy!”

The air shimmered as Mona shifted back to her fairy form. Blue Iris petals formed her dress. Fairy magic kept them as fresh and soft as the day they unfurled. Mona was as disappointed at Stefano. She had been using her wand to keep flowers alive, but what they really needed was rain and lots of it.

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 22, 2013

Posted under

Tales for Kids of All Ages

Comments

6 Comments

Safe Harbor

Another C.S. Lewis favorite: “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 22, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Girls, Tales for Kids of All Ages, Young Fairy Tale

Comments

17 Comments

Nana Knows

“Nana, where do the fairies hide?” Jana sprinkled water on the potted flowers with her red watering can.

“Dearest, they could be in the darkest parts of the pine tree. Between rocks in walls, in the curl of an unopened flower or in the wrinkled bark of a tree.”

Jana looked carefully in all those places, even peering into the furled petals of flowers, but nowhere did she see shimmering wings or shining faces. Then she lifted the leaves of a hosta just opening its white trumpets.

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 20, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Girls, Poetry, Tales for Kids of All Ages

Comments

27 Comments

Follow Not The Swans

The Night Swans

by Walter de la Mare

Tis silence on the enchanted lake,
And silence in the air serene,
Save for the beating of her heart,
The lovely-eyed Evangeline.

She sings across the waters clear
And dark with trees and stars between,
The notes her fairy godmother
Taught her, the child Evangeline.

As might the unrippled pool reply,
and answer far and sweet,
Three swans as white as mountain snow
Swim mantling to her feet.

And still upon the lake they stay,
Their eyes black stars in all their snow,
And softly, in the glassy pool,
Their feet beat darkly to and fro.

She rides upon her little boat,
Her swans swim through the starry sheen,
Rowing her into Fairyland –
The lovely-eyed Evangeline.

Tis silence on the enchanted lake
And silence in the air serene;
Voices shall call in vain again
On earth the child Evangeline.

Evangeline! Evangeline!
Upstairs, downstairs, all in vain.
Her room is dim; her flowers faded;
She answers not again.

(Originally published 1902 by Longmans, Green, London, New York.)

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 17, 2013

Posted under

Fairy Tale for Boys, Fairy Tale for Girls, Tales for Kids of All Ages, Young Fairy Tale

Comments

31 Comments

The Three Fat Hogs

Three little pigs were born to Daddy Fat Hog, a Rock Star. They grew up on Hog Heaven Estate in the Bel Air hills. When his money ran out, Daddy Fat Hog went to live in an ashram in India and became a spokeshog for Pigghadistra. Meanwhile, the three little Fat Hog triplets spent their days bickering and eating all the food from the enormous pantry. The sheriff came with twenty deputies, shook them down, and kicked them out. The three Fat Hogs were not allowed to keep any possessions, but waddled sadly out a side gate.

They continued down the mile long drive toward the isolated hills of the Platinum Triangle. They passed Daddy’s Safari Outback where the elephants and giraffes nodded good-bye. They gazed mournfully at Daddy’s old Lear Jet with its bent wing and the Rolls Royce up on cinder blocks.

Continue reading →

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

July 11, 2013

Posted under

Awards!

Comments

58 Comments

It’s Raining Awards at Friendly Fairy Tales!!

Although on vacation, I took a few moments while my flat tire is being repaired, to share this rain shower of awards with you. My children are reading books, riding the carousel and planning our lunch destination.

Thanks to Getting Rid of Boredom for the Sunshine Award. No one should have to suffer from boredom, and we all benefit for this cool blog’s search for all things fun and exciting! 🙂

And thanks to Leslie Jo at Tales of Wild Boomba for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. Leslie Jo never fails to make me laugh. She’s a great writer, who knows the magic of involving the reader.

Thanks to Ajaytao for his trio bouquet of super awards!! I hope you check out his site, he adds beauty and inspiration to your life and makes an ordinary day extraordinary.

A bit more rain fell on my way home with a newly repaired tire. Thanks to Blueribbonfair for making me officially part of the very nice WordPress Family! I hope you will visit her post, she has great arts and crafts and photographs and more!

I’m spending my days with mermaids, leaping fish, and pirates. My children have been laughing, my husband smiling and our days have been fun, despite rain, clouds and last night’s flat tire. Pointing our noses into the sea wind, we are peppered by salty spray. During moments of free Wi-fi I also was inspired by fellow bloggers, whose photographs make my mornings and evenings blossom with story ideas. To say a special thanks to commenters, followers, chance visitors and fairy tale lovers everywhere, here are a few pictures from my vacation, which has been stellar!

I’ve decided to take a vacation from the rules, and I will perhaps visit and nominate you for your very own rain shower of awards. Your odds of this happening dramatically rise from your commenting here. 🙂 Meanwhile, I will work on a new story involving a Dwarvish clan shaman and some magic beans inspired by VitPeyr’s top 5 sunrise. I hope you visit him, too, he has amazing photographs of Australia.

Peace, love, joy and magic to all of you!!

Brenda