#Sandra Farms Coffee

[elijones94]

🇵🇷 Yesterday was a long and insightful day of exploring in the mountains. After driving through varying mountain roads, we joined a group tour of a coffee farm in the middle of the island. Among the highlights of the tour was sampling different types of coffee before we all left to search for a waterfall nearby. ☕️🌴

[tgmsunmontue]

Season to Taste - 16/? WIP

Explicit Hangster - Celebrity Chef Bradley and Naval Aviator Jake Seresin who have a relationship spanning the globe before they realize how tightly bound they are to one another. Heading into this little world.

PROLOGUE/ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE

TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FORTEEN FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

                He walks out the front to find Vi sitting at one of the tables groaning, her head rested on a pile of books and her laptop set to the side.

                “What are you doing?”

                “Studying. Go to University they said. It’ll be fun they said. It was all bullshit and lies.”

                “You could always run away to another country.”

                “Oh, I am not fool enough to think my life is as blessed as yours is. If I ran away to America I’d probably end up dead.”

                “You don’t want to travel?”

                “I didn’t say that.”

                “But…?”

                “Can you imagine my parents agreeing to let me go?”

                “What if I went with you?”

                “Where?”

                “Anywhere…Everywhere.”

                “Are you serious?”

                “You’re like my sister –”

                “Cousin.”

                “I might actually have cousins somewhere. Anyway, we could always go together. If you wanted.”

…            …            …

                Sandy, Olivia, Maria, Nicola and Mandy are all sitting at the large twelve-seater dining table when he finally steps into the kitchen. He doesn’t say anything, silently pours himself coffee from the pot and takes a sip while he just looks at them. They all look back. They’ve clearly been talking about him, or Leo, or more likely his relationship with Leo. Not that he’s told Maria anything, and for her to be the sister that knows the most is unusual. He doesn’t know whether she would have talked or not.

                Sandra is the oldest, nine years Jake’s senior and got to get the whole college experience before their lives came crashing down around their ears. She’d married her boyfriend from college, a man named Daniel who had uprooted his life in Montana to live in Texas. If that didn’t show love and devotion Jake doesn’t know what does. They have three kids, two girls and a boy, ten, eight and six years old. They call him Uncle Jake and think he’s cool. He doesn’t need the ego boost, but he’ll take it regardless.

                Olivia is six years older than Jake, and of all his sisters he’d have to say she’s the one he has the least in common with. He doesn’t know what happened while she was at college, but he just knows she’d come back angry and upset, raging at the world with no time to consider comforting anyone, or being comforted herself. Now though, she seems happy, her own little house built on the farm a ten-minute walk away from Maria in the main house. She cooks and creates things, rescues animals like it’s her job.

                For a reason he’s not one-hundred percent sure of, Maria lives in their family home where they all grew up and where he’s standing right now; looking at the large table where they all congregate around for every special occasion whether he’s there or not. He has always assumed that Sandra didn’t want to live here and raise her own family. Maria is only three-and-a-half years older than Jake, was still in high school and living at home and he’s always considered her the bridge between them all, a middle child acting as glue. Maybe that’s why she stays in the house, reels them all back in every chance she gets.

                Nicola and Amanda are twins, the ones he’s closest to in age, only two years older than him, but he’s definitely closest to Nicola. Nicola came out as a lesbian before Jake even realized that he was maybe not straight and their parents’ easy loving acceptance and support had made it so much easier for him when he figured himself out. The fact that he’s away much of the time means he makes the perfect roommate, only around for a few weeks, always with an end date in sight so she never seems to get sick of him. Amanda, he thinks, is maybe the bravest out of them all, her decision to go after parenthood and take it on single-handed, refusing to wait for some person to come along to make it happen for her. She currently breastfeeding her son and only half of her attention is really on Jake.

                “You going to say anything?” Olivia asks.

                “What’s there to say?” Jake asks, shrugs and takes another sip of coffee. There are collective eye rolls and scoffs around the table and he pulls a face. “What?” he asks again.

                “Maria told us you have a boyfriend.”

                “Did she now…” Jake says dryly, shooting Maria a look and she gives it right back.

                “Did you take the idiot route?” Maris asks, one eyebrow shooting up like she’s daring him to prove her right or wrong either way.

                “No. I didn’t. However if you think me bringing him here for dinner tomorrow isn’t an idiot move on my part then you all need you head’s examined.”

                “If he can’t put up with a little ribbing from us he’s not worth your time,” Nicola states, and she leans back from the table and folds her arms, looks like she’s ready to throw hands.

                “After seven days? You think introducing a guy to all of you, what,” he looks to Maria. “Forty-eight hours after we actually decide to try having a long-distance relationship when he leaves, that meeting my entire family isn’t a complete overkill?”

                “But Maria got to meet him!”

                “That’s because I knew she’d be able to help him better than I could. And I wasn’t… we were just hooking up.”

                The looks his sisters all now exchange have him throwing his hands up in the air in annoyance, no idea what they’re communicating silently. He skulls back the last of the coffee in his mug, regrets it almost instantly given how hot it still is, but it looks like Amanda is finished breastfeeding Lincoln and he grabs the burping cloth and makes grabby hands for his three-month old nephew. While he’s around he gets first dibs on everything and he’s totally going to use Lincoln to hopefully redirect the conversation.

                “You sleep well for your mom last night?” Jake asks, and Amanda snorts.

                “Stop trying to deflect Jake.”

                Damn. He’s out or practice. Not even one question before he’s getting called out; although trying with someone unable to answer back was probably a mistake. Ah well, it was worth a shot.

                “This is the first guy you’ve ever brought home. It’s a big deal.”

                “Okay. First off. There was no conscious decision to bring a guy home. He just… I literally bumped into him at the market on Saturday.  Until yesterday afternoon we were just fucking –”

                “Jake!” “Language!” “Can you not?” Their voices all overlap and he’s reminded that while he spends most of his time with guys who are trying to get their photo in the dictionary beside curse like a sailor, his sisters have never liked curse words, although when he’s with them one on one they usually let it slide.

                “Making sweet sweet love,” Jake says, giving them all an annoyed look while jiggling Lincoln and patting his back. “Look, I wouldn’t be bringing any guy home after a couple of dates.”

                “Except it’s not just a couple of dates. This is your guy from Italy…” Nicola states.

                “Nicky…” Jake starts, because only she knows quite the extent of his maybe little thing for Leo which he’d built up in his mind. The fact that he’s pretty much had all of that in more the last few days cementing some of his wildest fantasies isn’t something he wants to examine too closely yet.

                “What guy from Italy?”

                “I thought you said it was Bradley Bradshaw?”

                “Yeah. It is. And apparently they met years ago in Italy and Jake calls him Leo,” Maria provides, like she’s repeating something and Jake frowns.

                “It’s what his Italian family call him…” he says defensively, not adding that it’s also what he’s called him in his head for around eight years.

                “It’s how he introduced himself to you,” Nicola provides and Jake shoots her a glare over the top of Lincoln’s head.

                “Italy… didn’t you stop there as part of your first deployment?”

                “Yeah, it was, he sent us a postcard.”

                “Wait. Was he your first?”

                Jake feels hunted, as he often does when they’re all pursuing the same thing or all trying to get him to do something, or find something out.

                “You’re all a bunch of gossips!”

                “Like this is news…”

                “Also that wasn’t an answer. You know…” Amanda says, turning toward Nicola instead of Jake and he groans. Nicola cannot keep anything from Amanda once she knows there is something to know.

                “He wasn’t my first…” Jake mutters, hoping to maybe head them off, but Amanda is studying Nicola with narrowed eyes, Nicola is looking between her twin and back to Jake helplessly and he shakes his head and Amanda’s eyes go gleeful.

                “Ooohhh… there is definitely something. He was –”

                “He’s the first guy Jake ever kissed.”

                “Maria!”

                “What? You told me when you came home very briefly in between rounds of sweet sweet love. Remember? I didn’t realize it was a state secret. We all know who each other’s first kiss are…”

                “Well, we do now.”

                “My first kiss was actually Suzanne McKenzie,” Jake says smugly.

                “You were four. That doesn’t count.”

                “Oh… he was the first man you kissed. And DADT was still in effect.”

                “Yeah,” Jake says on a sharp exhale, and he swallows, looks down at Lincoln to avoid looking at any of them. It was one thing to have their support when he decided to apply to USNA, but they had each taken him aside and told him that DADT was going to make it difficult. They hadn’t been wrong, but other than Nicola he’d felt at the time it was all I support you but…. Nicola had said, fuck them, you go in there and show them what you’re made of.

                So he had.

SEVENTEEN

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Diner Journalism

Tom the Dancing Bug – Chagrin Falls: "Diner Journalism"

TOM the DanciNg Bug Chagrin Falls "DINER JOURNALISM" by RUBEN BOLLING

==

Panel 1: a sign outside a diner

CENTRAL DINER WELCOME BACK ELITIST COASTAL REPORTERS

==

Panel 2: a reporter talking to a waitress

Waitress: Hey, Bill. It's been a while! What's your angle, hon? Reporter: Trump's enduring popularity with salt-of-the-Earth real Americans. Waitress: You'll want Roger and Abby over in booth 4. Roger (in a red cap): Over here!

==

Panel 3: A reporter calling out to men in red caps in booths

Reporter: Anybody here a real American farm owner with a severe labor shortage who doesn't know that Trump opposes immigration? Man in red cap: Me! Have a seat!

==

Panel 4: A reporter and a cameraman at a booth with a woman (Sandra) eating a hamburger

Reporter: Hi, Sandra. Just sit here while I tape my intro... Sandra: Alright. Reporter: "Here in America's real heartland, very real Americans have not wavered in their support of Donald Trump."

==

Panel 5: The reporter from panel 4 continues to speak, while a woman reporter holding a notebook calls out to men in booths wearing red caps

Panel 4 reporter: Outside the ivory-tower confines of the coastal bubble where not-real Americans live, the prosecutions of Trump are seen as... Woman reporter: I'm on deadline! Anyone here a charismatic White Supremacist? Man in booth: Yo!

==

Panel 6: Reporter with a laptop at a booth with a woman drinking coffee

Reporter: Maybe with less racism, tell me again why you support Trump. Woman: Well, when he talks about non-Whites, he really tells it like it is. Reporter: Mmm... A little less.

==

Panel 7: Angry man in MAGA cap at booth talking to rapt reporter

Man: Yes, I'd like to punch you in your lamestream vermin face. Reporter: Fascinating! What are your views on Bud Light? On the price of eggs? Tell me *every*thing!

==

Panel 8: Couple talking to reporter while new man enters diner and speaks to Beth, the waitress

Man from couple: Everyone at January 6 was an FBI agent! Woman from couple: And everyone was a freedom-fighting patriot! Reporter: Got it. Both. Man talking to Beth: Table for one.

==

Panel 9: Man who entered restaurant turns to leave while Beth the waitress talks with him

Beth: Are you coastal media elite or heartland real American interview subject, hon? Speech bubble from out-of-panel: "Then Jack slams his real American fist into my effete, overeducated jaw!" SFX: POW! Man leaving diner: Never mind. I'll eat at home.

==

The End

[shady-lemur]

Horsegirl summer

(do you guys get it… like hot girl summer but horsegirl summer 🤭🤭)

Farmer Ellie x reader

After your parents pass away in a car accident you decide to use the money left in the will to move to your aunt’s farm and fix it up for her and you to live. you end up reconnecting with an old friend.

The reader's like 22, Ellie's 21, Sandra is like mid 40s.

no smut, just some kissing. a lot of it is just them crushing on each other lmaooo

"Babyyy!!! How are you?!!" Your aunt smiles as you get out of your car. She's getting up out of her creaky rocking chair and running down the steps to give you a hug as soon as she sees your face.

Your parents were business partners and you grew up in a penthouse in Manhattan. You rarely got to see your aunt who lived out in Texas because of your family's busy life but the summers you spent with her were the best. Sooo once your aunt heard the news of your parents death she told you to pack your bags and sell the penthouse. "Family needs to stick together, especially in times like these." Finally after a few months, you accepted.

Her farmhouse was old, the paint was cracking and the steps on her porch looked like she had tried to fix them with a few spare nails five too many times. But you had a huge inheritance from your parents so what better to do with it than fix a farmhouse?

"Hi auntie! I'm as good as I can be. Forgot how beautiful this place was." She pulls you in for a hug and squeezes your shoulders. "Isn't it? Air quality's nine times better than that city shit you've been breathing. I bet you're already getting smarter from standing here."

You giggle and shake your head before turning back to your SUV that had been filled to the brim with clothes and appliances from your apartment. "I should probably start unloading things before the sun goes down. Don't wanna get stuck in the dark."

You aunt shakes her head and slaps your arm. "Slow down girl. You need some dinner and a nice night's sleep before trying to unload everything. Get your toothbrush and get in the house. I bet my neighbors will help you in the morning."

You turn back to her and smile, "mkay, let me just get my main suitcase so I have some pajamas."

She gives you a 'mhmm' while turning around and going back into her home. You quickly gather your phone, phone charger, and your suitcase before following her in. You're immediately hit with the smell of her famous beef stew and the sound of her laughing in the kitchen.

This is going to be wayyy different than before.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

The next morning, you sit on your aunt's half-broken porch swing and and sip your coffee as the sunrise paints beautiful colors in the sky. You'd woken up at 5:30 this morning to try to freshen up before aunt Sandra took you around the farm to meet all the animals.

You're completely intranced by the pinks and oranges in the sky until the sound of the creaky wood porch stairs snap you back into reality, making you jump and almost spill your coffee everywhere.

When you whip your head around you swear your heart skips like 10 beats. The freckles, the short auburn hair, the green eyes that look like they'd been filled in with watercolor. No fucking way.

"Oh my god... Ellie?"

Ellie!! The little girl you'd play with during the summer's you'd visit. Your first crush, your gay awakening, someone you somehow completely forgot about when deciding to move here. She sure isn't little anymore... You take notice of the muscle in her arms and her fern tattoo.

"Shit.. Y/n? I haven't seen you in ages, what the fuck?" Ellie grins at you but you don't miss the way she licks her lips nervously. She definitely still has the same vulgar vocabulary..

"I know. Wow... You're face hasn't changed in the slightest." You giggle slightly as you get up off the swing, "can I give you a hug?"

Her eyes widen slightly but she relaxes them and nods, opening her arms so you can fit between them. Your arms lock around her neck as her's go around your waist. "How are you?" She asks once you pull back from the hug. Concern is written all over her face, she definitely knows.

You shrug and give her a dry laugh. "Best I can be doing. I decided to move in with Aunt Sandy."

Her smile reappears on her face and she puts one of her hands in her back pocket. "Are you serious? Dina's gonna be so fucking excited."

You smile at the mention of one of your other friends you'd play with at the farm. "Oh my god! What's she been up to?"

"Motherhood." Ellie holds a completely straight face and doesn't continue on or anything. You just stand there for a second and look at her and then it finally hits you. "No way!! Oh my god that's so exciting."

"Mhm, maybe we should just go see her soon." You nod and you feel butterflies in your stomach when Ellie looks at you. She said "we"!?!??!??!!??!! Her eyes are scanning your face.

After a couple seconds of silence Ellie's smile reappears and she points to your front door. "I usually just help Ms. Sandy out with some errands before starting farmwork.. sooo.. I'm gonna go.."

You shake your head and snap out of your trance. "Oh yeah! Of course..! Um, I should probably take my mug in anyway.. Aunt Sandy's in there watching the news."

🤍🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

"Holy shit.. How do you do that everyday..?" You plop down on the couch after a long day of learning all the yard work and meeting/feeding all the animals. You aunt shrugs and rolls her eyes at your theatrics.

"That wasn't even half of it. Now how 'bout you come help me cut some of the vegetables for the community potluck tonight." She waves you over as she walks out of the living room and into the kitchen. You groan and follow.

"Tonight? I just wanna go to bed.."

She clicks her tongue at you and smiles, "we all do. But I want the town to see how big my girl has gotten!" She pinches your cheek and you laugh. "Plus, Ellie will be there. She DEFINITELY likes girls."

She winks at you and you just stare in somewhat shock but mostly excitement at the new found information. Eventually your aunt puts a knife in your hand and tells you to start cutting the potatoes.

After about an hour of prep and another hour of cook time that you spent playing cards, your aunt's dish was ready and she had shooed you upstairs to get ready. What the fuck were you supposed to wear?? Maybe some jeans and a T-shirt...? Maybe one of the sundresses you had brought..?

Eventually you decide on a mid-thigh length dress. (Whatevs style you want, I'm think like a white flowy.. Maybe with some flowers.) You do some quick makeup, throw on some converse and put your lip gloss in your bag before heading back down stairs.

"Aww, baby you look so beautiful."

You smile at your aunt and thank her before giving her a quick hug, "you look beautiful aswell." She shrugs playfully and flips her hair, "what can I say?"

You giggle and get your jacket, "do you want to take my car to town?"

You aunt makes and face and sheepishly smiles at you. "I forgot to tell you.. I'm going with my girlfriends," she laughs but stops when noticing that you are not. "Buuut!! Joel's gonna give you a ride. I didn't want you going down alone without any directions."

You blink at her and jump when you hear a honk. Her face lights up, "that must be good ole' Joel now! You best be on your way."

You open your mouth to say something but close it once she's successfully pushed you out the door. You sigh and wave at the truck that's pull up in front of the house.

Ellie pops out of the passenger seat and smiles at you. "Hey! Are you excited?"

You laugh and shrug while making your way down to the beat up, rusty, blue and white, truck. "I guess.. What about you?"

"Dina makes it fun."

You nod in agreement, even though you don't really know. You just know that Dina is one of the most fun people in the world. You say hello to Joel as you get into the back seat. He gives you a small, but friendly, smile and nods his head. "How've you been?my condolences 'bout your parents. It's all that big city traffic, I'm telling ya."

Ellie shakes her head at him and clicks her tongue. You smile at him as he pulls out of your driveway and shrug. "I'm good. We were never super close and I'm happy to be living with my aunt."

He looks at you through his mirror and nods before you talk again, "what about your family?"

"Well I've been enjoying my alone time, Ellie's moved out to the garage and Sarah's got a husband and two kids."

You're eyes widen. Joel had an older daughter before he adopted Ellie and she was a little bit younger than your aunt. How had so much happen in the 7 years you weren't around?

"That's great. I'll have to tell her congratulations. Is she gonna be at the potluck?" Joel sighs and shakes his head, "she moved 'bout an hour east from here. Doesn't think weekly potlucks are worth the drive."

You nod and Ellie turns in her seat to look at you. "Dad keeps using the 'I don't have much time left' to try and get her to come visit but she never falls for it because he won't stop doing any fucking farm work."

You quietly laugh and notice how nice her hair looks half up like that..

Joel side eyes her and parks in the community center parking lot, "no more slandering me. We're here." Ellie shrugs and laughs before getting out and opening your door for you.

"M'lady." She grabs your hand and helps you get out. You take her hand and playfully bow your head, "thank you kind sir."

Joel looks at you both before turning around and shaking his head, "you guys are so weird." Ellie scoffs but smiles at you and doesn't let go of your hand until you make it into the church.

"Y/N???????!!" You see and familiar but much more mature face appear right when you walk in the door, Dina's huge smile greets you as she engulfs you in a hug. "Oh my god! I haven't seen you in forever!!"

You chuckle into her shoulder as she squeezes you, careful not to spill her drink on you. "Hi Dina!!"

She pulls away and boops your nose before giving Ellie a not-so enthusiastic hug. "After you guys say your hellos come to the dance floor!! Jesse's parents finally convinced me to leave JJ with them for the night and I need to dance with my girl." She winks at you and waves before running off to find something to entertain herself with.

Ellie scratches the back of her neck and laughs. She looks so scrumptious in the tank top and jeans she has on oh my lorddd. It's literally taking every thing in you to not stare at her chest. She doesn't have a bra on, probably because of the heat.

"I'm gonna go scope out the food.. Do you need anything?" You shake you head and give her a thumbs up.

"I guess I'll just go talk to some people I recognize. I'll find you afterwards?"

She nods and smiles at you before leaving you on your own. You wipe the sweat off your palms onto your dress and prepare yourself to talk.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

Dina chuckles as she twirls you, making you twirl her afterwards. "Are you loving the farming lifestyle so far?" She asks you and cracks a smile when you make a face.

"I do! But the heat is unbearable. I've only been here a day and I swear I'm going to die by the end of this week."

"I feel you. You'll get used to it soon though."

Dina had finally convinced you to dance after begging a few times. You loved to dance but you needed some courage to do it here. She was over the moon about it though, claiming that Jesse and Ellie were just 'mediocre dancers.' Effectively making them both upset because they were sitting right there when she said it.

"You need to come see JJ! I'm having some friends over for board games this Friday night if your free? Ellie could give you a drive." You smile at her and nod, "sounds great. I'll have to check with my aunt but I'd love to come."

Just then, Ellie taps on Dina's shoulder and points behind her, "Jesse says he needs you."

Dina furrows her eyebrows but let's go of your shoulders and blows you a kiss before dancing towards the table Jesse was at. You look at Ellie and grin before holding out your hand, "wanna dance?" She groans playfully but gets in position anyway.

"You look really nice tonight." She talks softly in your ear as she moves her hands to hold your waist. Yours go around her shoulders and you shudder at the feeling of her breath next to your ear.

"Thank you. You look nice too.." Your throat feels dry as she sways with you.

"I missed you." Her hands are rubbing up and down your sides carefully.

"I missed you too. I wanted to visit.."

Ellie hums and pulls you closer, resting her head on your shoulder as you dance. You both stay silent for a few minutes before you giggle.

"Dina was right.. you need some practice."

Ellie's head shoots up and looks at you with a very offended look on her face. "Are you fucking kidding? I'm a great dancer."

Your smile grows and you shake your head. "I've felt you step on my foot like 5 times els." She frowns and goes back to resting her head on your shoulder, "I thought you wouldn't notice..."

"You thought I wouldn't notice you stepping on my foot?" You start to giggle again and it makes Ellie laugh too. You can feel her smile against your neck. "Shut the fuck uppp!"

You try to stop laughing but you can't, everytime you think about it you start to giggle even more. It makes ellie laugh even harder. you both look like fucking idiots.

by the time you’re both done laughing you have tears streaming down your face and ellie’s shaking her head. “oh my fucking god, we’re so stupid.” you hit her shoulder and fake scoff while wiping away your tears. “speak for yourself.. i think i’m quite a catch.”

“whatever lets you sleep at night.”

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

“hi pretty.” ellie says teasingly as she approaches you, she’s wearing a signature wife beater with some dirty jeans shorts and work boots. her hair is tucks behind her ears and she squints because the sun is so bright (but it makes her freckles pop out more!!!)

it’s been a few days since the potluck party and you and ellie have been bothering each other when working on the farms sooo much.

you jump slightly at the voice and stop from pulling the weed you had in your hands. your favorite task on the farm was the garden!!! you cover your eyes to look up at her and smile. you’re wearing a white tank top with lace and some cute short overalls. topping the outfit off with a pair of your own work boots, and gardening gloves. “hi els, what’s up?”

she looks up and points to the clouds, “the sky..”

you click your tongue and shake your head before going back to trying to DEMOLISH THIS FUCKING WEED.

ellie cackles and grabs her work gloves from her back pocket to help you weed. “are you going to dina’s tomorrow night?”

you shrug, “i think, me and aunt sandra have to be out of the house at like 4 tomorrow so some carpenters can come look at the place. are you?”

“yep. do you want a ride? one less car.. and you could always come over to my house when you need to leave. we can hang out before going to dina’s.”

you look over her and grin, feeling butterflies in your stomach. jesus christ… have you seriously not gotten over this childhood crush…

“that sounds great… also what the fuck are you doing weeding my garden? aren’t you suppose to be mowing?” ellie looks at you dumbfounded and just sits there for a second before shrugging.

“whatever. i like spending time with you… what’s this flower?” she points to a flourishing pink flower with bulbs shaped like hearts.

you him and look over before smiling, “that’s a dicentra. most commonly known as bleeding hearts. it’s my favorite.” she watches you as you studying the plant, carefully touching the flowers as if you’re transferring your energy to them. the love in your eyes matched hers. she thinks that if her heart starts to beat any fast it might explode. (i tried to make a pun about the bleeding hearts but i COULDNTTTT)

“shit.. it’s really pretty.” she says softly, still tracing the shape of your chin and bridge of your nose with her eyes as she talks. you start to ramble on about them before finally realizing that she’s studying your face. your cheeks get hot and you try not to make her gaze. “um- sorry. i didn’t mean to start talking nonsense with you.”

she shakes her head and finally snaps out of it. “i love hearing about these things. please.. tell me more about the garden.”

she swears your eyes start to actually sparkle and your smile gets huge. “oh my god! okay wait let me get you some lemonade before i get to talking about the lemon balm verses lemongrass!!”

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

you knock a few times on ellie’s door before stepping back and grabbing the basket you brought with you up off the ground. a couple seconds later you see the door swing open to reveal a very tired looking ellie. her hair messy, her cheeks flushed, a big faded band tee and some gym shorts for an outfit.

she rubs her eyes before taking in your outfit. an off-white tank top with different flowers embroidered all over it and a short jean skirt (maybe a little too short for ellie to be okay with the thought that you’d be wearing it in front of a group of people..) with your beat up converse, bag, and basket.

“fuck.. hi pretty girl. sorry i was gonna get dressed before you came but i fell asleep when i got to my room..”

you frown at her and shake your head, oh ignoring the pounding in your chest from the nickname. “are you sure you don’t want to rest? you don’t need to entertain me..”

but she wants to sooo fucking bad.

“nah, it’s good. come on in.” she smiles at your concern and leads you into her house, very similar to you and your aunt’s except no buckets around the rooms to collect the water that get through the roof and no broken staircases. a lot of extra empty beer cans scatter around though.

“i brought you guys some of the jam i made last night. there’s strawberry and raspberry. i also made some cookies for dina’s get together tonight.” you gently shake the basket and ellie’s eyes light up. “do you still shape them into hearts?” she questions while taking the basket from you and walking to the kitchen, you trail behind her like a baby duck.

your cheeks heat up and you nod your head when ellie turns back around to see you. she laughs and takes the covering off the basket before grabbing a heart shaped chocolate chip cookie and taking a huge bite. “still just as amazing as i remember.”

you smile at her and shake your head, “you dickhead!! they were suppose to be saved until we get to dina’s!!” ellie laughs even harder at your whiney tone. “don’t worry baby, i won’t eat ‘‘em all” you immediately have to stare at the ground after she says that.

having a crush on the same girl for so long must be life threatening.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

oh my god.

ellie kissed you at dina’s house.

ELLIE FUCKING KISSED YOU AT DINA’S HOUSE.

let’s go back a week and a half, shall we?

you bounce JJ on your lap as he sleepily starts to lean in your warmth.

ellie was sitting at the other side of the room, talking to Jesse and glancing over at you and much as she possibly could without looking like a psychopath. you look so good with a kid on your hip. jesus christ if ellie had a dick-

“y/n!!! come onnn! let’s play something.. you’ve been talking to JJ all night.” dina frowns at you and rests her on your shoulder. you pat her shoulder and also frown, “can i help put jj to bed first? he’s so eepy..”

she nods and get up before helping you up. laughing as you situate the sleeping toddler in your arms. “you look like his mom.”

you smile at her teasing and shrug, “i wouldn’t mind taking care of this cutie! would i get a sexy wife out of it too?”

she playfully tucks her hair behind her ear and smiles, “of course. you could stay home and garden and hang out with jj while i worked to make my wife happy.” you laugh at her make believe world and shake your head. “sounds like the dream.”

if ellie saw anymore of the scene that was playing out infront of her there might’ve been smoke coming out of her ears. she knew it was just friendly flirting, dina friendly flirts with everybody. but she couldn’t help the fact that seeing you in the tight outfit you wore with jj and dina and-

before she knew it ellie was excusing herself from the small group she was in and was walking over to you and dina. “hey y/n, can i talk to you real quick?”

you perk your head up at her voice and turn around to look at her, “yeah sure. can i put jj to bed first? he’s clinging onto my neck so hard.”

ellie can’t lie. the sight of you with a toddler clung on your side made ellie weak in the fucking knees.. she never thought she’d have kids, but ellie would do anything if it was with you. ellie smiles and nods before pointing her thumb to the door, “meet me on the porch?”

you give her a ‘mhm!!’ before following dina up to jj’s bedroom.

after what felt like years for ellie (5 minutes… impatient ass) you were finally walking out the door and sitting next to her on a porch step. “hi, what did you wanna talk about?”

“can i kiss you?”

you just stare at her blankly for a second before opening your mouth, closing it again, and slightly nodding. she smiles and grabs your face gently with both hands before slamming her lips into yours. you squeak at the movements and immediately melt into her.

your hands go around her neck as she lightly bites your bottom lip, making your mouth fall open for her tongue to explore. she moans when you start to grasp at at hair, yanking on it. your cunt starts to ache, the feeling only egging you on more.

ellie finally pulls back and looks at you before cursing and getting up.

“ellie?” you call out as she turns to get off the porch hastily. all you hear is a ‘fuck’ before she turns back around to look at you, “i’m sorry- forget that happened i- i’m gonna leave now.. jesse can drive you home” she SPEED WALKS away before you can even get a word in.

“what the hell?”

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

so yes, it’s been a whole week and a half and you haven’t had a conversation with ellie since. it was too confusing, you liked her… you think she likes you…. you kissed…. you should be planning a date or sucking her clit or something.

but instead you were nervously hyper fixating on your garden, making sure it’s picture perfect 100% of the time.

ellie would be lying if she said she wasn’t watching as you try to tame the horse your aunt gifted you or noticing when you’d be out at 11 pm trimming your hedges. she was just too much of a coward to say anything. and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t trying to look extra enticing when picking the blackberries that grew between your house and hers or feeding the pigs.

but you couldn’t avoid this any longer. your aunt had been getting on your ass about asking joel to fix your stairs. he’d do a great job for half the money other contractors were asking for. so you straighten out your short sundress and apply some lipgloss before knocking confidently on the millers’ door.

a few seconds later joel swings the door open and nods his head in a greeting. “haven’t seen you around for a while, you and ellie have a fallin’ out?” the confidence leaves your body immediately… wow, straight to the point joel..

you shrug and tug up the smile that had faltered, “something like that… my aunt and i were wondering if your taking any new clients right now. our stairs are a death trap.”

joel chuckles and checks the smartwatch that ellie and sarah had gotten him for his birthday last year. “i could take a look at ‘em tonight, 6ish. then i can tell ya’ how much it’ll be.”

you nod and smile even wider, “thank you so much! my aunt’s making some chicken parmesan tonight if you wanna stay for dinner when you come. ellie’s more than welcome to join.” joel thinks for a second before shrugging.

“i guess not cooking dinner for once would be nice. me and ellie will be over.”

you take a triumphant breath and give joel a nod. “great! i’ll see you tonight then.” joel gives you a wave before shutting the door and you walk away with a newfound confidence.

now ellie has to talk to you!

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

“you guys should come for dinner more often! i always end up makin’ too much of this shit.” your aunt scoops some more chicken parm on ellie’s plate and smiles. “don’t be scared to take seconds!” ellie awkwardly smiles at her and thanks her before going back to quietly eating.

jesus fucking christ. she has barely said five words the whole meal and joel’s had to smack the back of her head at least 2 times so she’d be polite and answer you. you were on your last fucking straw. she was being such a little bitch about it.. why did she even run away in the first place?

after a few more minutes of silently eating and listening to joel and sandra talk about the ants this year you finally stand up, accidentally bumping into the table, making ellie’s eyes shoot up to you. you smile at her angrily, “ellie? can we talk privately?”

she starts to shake her head until joel smacks her again. she sighs and rolls her eyes before getting up. your aunt gives you a confused look but you just smile at her and grab ellie’s arm before dragging her upstairs.

once you finally make it into your room you close the door behind you and click your tongue at ellie, who looks like a guilty dog. “ellie what the fuck!? you suck the fucking soul out of my body and then leave me fucking stranded at dina’s. i had to sleepover and borrow her shit! and then you ignore me?! what is your deal?”

ellie furrows her eyebrows and just looks at her feet, “i don’t fucking know. can we just forget about it?” you scoff and sit in your bed.

“forget about it? you clearly have some sort of feelings towards me and i want to know where you stand.” ellie groans and sits next to you, a couple feet away. “y/n, i don’t want some stupid feelings to ruin our friendship.”

you look at her, dumbfounded, before speaking again. “how the hell is avoiding me like a fucking std saving our friendship? i like you ellie!! i really fucking like you. and if that ruins our friendship then i guess we can’t be fucking friends anymore.”

ellie just sits in silence.

“can you please say something??”

“how long?”

you watch as she messes with her bracelets and bites her lip anxiously.

“years. ever since you let me ride your pony and taught me how to get on her without eating shit.”

ellie looks you in the eye for the first time all night and laughs. “not without you spraining your ankle first though.”

you playfully scoff at her and throw one of your many stuffed animals at her. “shut up!! i had never even seen a pony until that summer!”

ellie catches the stuffed animal and smiles. “i’ve liked you for a long time too.”

you tilt your head and smile at her, “what made you fall for me, hmm? was it the camp leggings with the hot pink shirt?”

ellie chuckles and shakes her head, “it was when you purple nurpled that bitch that made fun of me for being adopted, at the pool.”

your smile slowly starts to grow and you laugh. “oh my god!! what the fuck happened to her? i didn’t hear her annoying laugh any of the potlucks.” ellie purse her lips together.

“she left for the city to try to make it big on broadway” she does jazz hands and plops down so she’s laying on her back. you smile and move to hover over her. “i hope she makes it big and then her costume falls apart on stage.”

ellie snorts and throws your plushie before grabbing your face in her hands, your heartbeat quickens and you move so your straddling her waist. she smiles at you and traces your cheek before whispering.

“i’m sorry i was avoiding you. i got so damn nervous because i’ve never felt this way about anyone. i swear i almost shit my pants every time i see you. you’re so pretty and kind.. you’re so sweet and.. perfect. i tried avoiding you because i know you deserve someone so much better than me.”

you shake your head and lean down to kiss her forehead. “you are the funniest, bravest, strongest, most amazing person i’ve ever met. except you get a few points docked for playing so hard to get.”

ellie laughs as you press light kisses all over her face. “i’m sorry!! what can i do to make it up to my favorite girl?”

you pretend to think for a few seconds while ellie brings your hand up to her mouth and presses kissed on your knuckles.

“hmmm…. be my girlfriend maybe- maybe give me a billion dollars-“

ellie brings one of her hands down to your thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. “i think i’ll take the first option.” you smile down at her and feel a shiver go up your spine as her fingers trace your back, slightly pushing you down to get closer to her. she cups your cheek before bringing your lips to hers, perfectly slotting your lips together as you melt into her.

this kiss is full of so much passion, slower and calmer than the last one you shared.

you whine as she brushing her fingers against your side and then-

“y/n! can you please help put- oh.” you aunt just kind’ve stares at your position as you and ellie both look like deers in headlights. you quickly get off of her and smile at your aunt.

“yep. i’ll put the food away. i’ll even put some in a container for joel and els.” you straighten out your dress and speed walk out of the room. leaving just ellie and sandra. sorry ellie!! 🤷‍♀️

“umm… hi..” ellie waves at your aunt as she looks ellie up and down.

“mm.. i like you ellie. you’re a smart girl, and a lucky one too for getting to be with my niece. make sure you don’t fuck it up.” she smiles and makes a ‘get up and do downstairs’ motion with her hand. ellie smiles at her and stands up, “thank you, sandy. i promise i’ll be good to your niece.”

sandra smiles and nods.

now downstairs with you and joel was a little more blunt.

you scoop some food into a container for the two guest as joel comes into the kitchen to put dishes in the sink.

“she kiss you again?”

your face burns and you look over at him. he isn’t even paying you any attention, just talking while he starts to wash the dishes.

“uh- yeah. i guess we’re officially dating now..” you smile at the thought of your girlfriend and joel just makes sorta a grunting noise(?)

“finally. she kept askin’ me for advice and i was ‘bouta rip my fuckin’ ears off.”

you laugh and get some of your homemade apple hand pies for ellie and joel to take home. “well thank you. it seems like you gave her some good advice.”

joel shrugs and gives you a smile, “all i told her was that i’d be happy to have you as a daughter-in-law. you keep sending those desserts my way and i’ll keep putting in a good word.”

your jaw drops before you laugh and bag the container of food and pies, handing the bag to joel once he finishes washing the plates. “sounds like a deal.”

just then ellie and your aunt come down the stairs. you smile at your GIRLFRIENDD and she gives you a grin.

“cmon el’ we gotta get home before family feud.”

ellie gives joel a mini salute and gives you a peck on the lips before thanking your aunt and following her dad out the door.

you smile, this was your dream come true. thank god for all the summers at your aunt’s.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

author’s note 📝

thanks for reading guys! i got really bad writers block in the middle of this but hopefully it’s still entertaining. ily guys!! reposts, likes, comments, and asks are always appreciated!

[te-araroa]

Day 12 — Hunters Hut to St Arnaud

8km walk, 12.8km hitch

To get the disclosure out of the way … I was a purist on the PCT, walking every inch. On the TA, however, I plan to skip the roadwalks — I’m here to do a ton of walking and that needn’t include hot asphalt. Find joy.

I was the last to leave Hunters Hut, taking my time with coffee and looking out over the meadow.

My feet were not in good shape. Waterlogged from the day before and close to blistering in several areas. I only had one blister on the PCT, a wet day where I walked too far. I’d rather take it easy than walk on raw skin that isn’t meant to be on the surface.

I ambled down the hill toward the road — beautiful views of the farms and valley below.

When I reached the bottom, I saw a sign announcing trail angels and food in the parking lot. Few things bring more delight than unexpected food: two breakfast coffees, a breakfast pancake, a breakfast taco and a breakfast beer. But the second layer of joy is that it was Oliver and Sandra, two TA’ish hikers who I met in the Queen Charlotte section. They are traveling New Zealand by van, walking most of the TA but covering the less interesting parts by road.

Eventually we parted ways and I started the walk to St Arnaud (pronounced Ar-Nud) … I took it easy, mindful of my feet and put my thumb in the air every time I heard a car. It started to rain so I put on my bright yellow rain jacket and cast a happy-dejected look at each passing car. At one point, I might have faked a subtle limp. Half kidding but also half not kidding. Within 45 minutes, a kind woman with two kids pulled off and took me to St Arnaud.

It then rained for two days so I was happy to kick my feet up at the lodge, periodically running across the street for groceries and downstairs for dinner. A wonderful way to spend two lazy days after the crazy terrain in the Richmonds.

[megicianniacigem]

Clarkwood Universe: Expressing Doubt

I was delivering coffee to our small town police station. Only five officers were ever in the building and Clarkwood had a total of twelve officers including the chief. I jumped out of my little red Chevy truck and carried the drinks inside.

A low whistle rang out as I approached the front counter.

"Now May you know your little pink apron gets my heart fluttering", Mat chuckled as he took the coffee cups from me and began handing them out.

A murmur of thanks spread throughout the police station.

"Oh Mat you always say the silliest things," I said while rolling my eyes.

Mat got reassigned to Clarkwood a month ago and since day one of stepping into my coffee shop, Miss M's Coffee House, he's been chasing my tail. I can't lie that I'm a bit interested, but I've learned to never show all your cards right away - a lesson I learned from my papa.

The door jingled open and Jeff Cummins walked through the station's threshold. His eyes were rimmed with worry and sunken in from what I'd expect was a bad night's sleep - or lack thereof. He came straight up to Mat and me. On closer inspection, Jeff's black and green plaid shirt was incorrectly buttoned and his boots weren't properly laced. This wasn't normal Jeff behavior - a farmer takes pride in their plaid shirts and boots.

Jeff patted my shoulder and gave me a peck on the cheek. We knew each other from birth and were raised as siblings. Our family's properties bordered each other. When Jeff pulled back I noticed Mat's face was scrunched up with irritation. I hardly ever let Mat hold the door for me, but right under his nose, I let another man kiss my cheek.

"Is the chief around?" Jeff asked Mat.

Mat huffed, "He should be walking in any minute now."

Jeff slowly moved his hand down his face - emotions ready to spill over.

"Jeff... Is everything okay?" I asked. I began to have a sinking feeling in my gut.

"Well... no. Around 2 am Sandra came pounding on my door and when I opened up she was a mess." He took a deep breath and continued, "She ran the whole mile to my farm without shoes and her nightgown was torn...Sandra was attacked last night in her own home".

Silence fell throughout the whole station - all the police officers watched Jeff finish the story. I put my hand over my mouth and then remembered seeing a strange man around town lately. I don't like to prejudge others, but Clarkwood is a small town in the swamps of Louisiana, and most people living here are generational with a few exceptions. Yet, this man made me feel unsettled. He would come into my coffee house order one cup of joe, and stare directly at me for exactly thirty minutes before he would get up and leave. Two nights ago, as I parked my truck I saw him standing in the cotton fields across from my home. We stared at each other until he took a step toward me- I turned and ran indoors. I never locked my doors until that night.

Unfortunately, Sandra was as new as Mat. She was a travel photographer who wanted to finally make a little home of her own - here in Clarkswood. She didn't have the experience like us townsfolk to know something was off.

I turned to Mat and said angrily, "I told you again and again at my shop, but you didn't listen!" tears began to run down my face.

Mat looked ashamed and Jeff was taken aback by my statement.

"May what do you mean?" Jeff asked.

I glared at Mat as I explained, "I told Mat this guy I don't recognize has been staring at me intently for the last few days and that he appeared in the cotton fields across my house." I was shaking.

Mat gasped, "You did not tell me he was at your house May! With the previous information I can't do much when a random dude is just staring at you in public". He was fuming. "I'm going to fucking kill him!" Mat raged.

Too late now - poor Sandra already experienced this man's twisted desires. Jeff pulled me into a hug.

"May why didn't you tell me this? I would have come to the shop and told him to leave for you." Jeff said as he glared at Mat. "I thought you liked May, but you just ignored her." Jeff's rage was increasing.

Mat stood there red-faced. Either from embarrassment, rage, or both. "I do like May, but I can't use my position to play power moves."

Jeff flicked Mat on the forehead and said, "Well I nor May can trust you to protect the young single women of Clarkswood. Let's go May I'll bring you round my place and we can check on Sandra. Boys' let the chief know I was here."

Jeff took my hand and began walking toward the door... I looked over my shoulder at Mat. His eyes were rimmed with tears. "May please stay here with me" Mat called out, but I just shook my head.

[professionaltimes001]

High School Grad Shares What It Takes To Be A Travel Vlogger

Mohit Manocha, aka Traveling Desi, shares his experiences as a travel vlogger and content creator on YouTube, and how he went from running his uncle’s business to making a living while pursuing his love for travel. https://theprofessionaltimes.com/2022/09/10/high-school-grad-shares-what-it-takes-to-be-a-travel-vlogger/

Mohit Manocha, more popularly known by his moniker ‘Traveling Desi’ is in Colombia with his wife Sandra.

The 36-year-old travel vlogger and content creator, who has 1.83 million subscribers on YouTube, is documenting the difference between how the country is depicted on OTT platforms and how life really is on the ground.

Not only is Mohit in the country to take in the sights, but also to meet the locals, and understand their way of life, and the local cuisine. He asks the people here about the global perception of Colombia as a haven for narcotics and their own perception of India and the small minority of Indians living there.

Speaking to The Professional Times, Mohit mentions of his encounter with an Indian who’s married to a Colombian and now runs a business there. Tomorrow, he is visiting Medellín, a city famous for its coffee, flower farms, and the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, immortalised in recent years through the Netflix series Narcos.

[qocsuing]

Shadow Slaves: Art Exhibit Brings Slavery to Light

Shadow Slaves: Art Exhibit Brings Slavery to Light

What does slavery look like? Somehow it’s both notorious and faceless. Sometimes it peeks out from bars or restaurants. Often it’s hidden in homes, brothels, and farms, then buried further in international supply chains. Child slaves—forced to haul heavy bricks at kilns in India and stones weighing as much as they do at rock quarries To get more news about Shadow Slave, you can visit innread.com official website. Sometimes it peeks out from bars or restaurants. Often it’s hidden in homes, brothels, and farms, then buried further in international supply chains.

Child slaves—forced to haul heavy bricks at kilns in India and stones weighing as much as they do at rock quarries in Nepal, forced to mine gold and diamonds, and minerals that run our cell phone batteries, while covered in toxic dust—suffer in silence, sight unseen.Slaves in Brazil, making the black oily charcoal used to run smelters that make steel for our cars, are all but invisible. Slaves may pick the tomatoes or catch the tuna that fill grocery stores around the world. By the time slavery arrives as fruit in our produce sections, shrimp at our fish counters, and coffee in our cups, slaves have been completely disappeared. But no matter how obscured or forgotten, slavery is global—it travels, and it exists as suffering.

Artist Sandra Relyea has found a powerful, thoughtful way to bring slavery out of the shadows. Her latest exhibit comprises large works of clever silhouettes that play on the use of light and shadows themselves. Her shadow-shaped figures are meant to represent real people enslaved in the world today. The images, she explains, are “distorted and elongated the way a shadow cast by the real person would be.” Many pieces in the collection are based on photographs and films from Free the Slaves.

Relyea’s point is to show slavery exists everywhere in the world, including the United States, but, she says, “it is largely unseen and lies in the world of shadow: the world of exploitation, crime, and dehumanization.” Her images are evocative in their simplicity and staggering in their force. Each work can take up an entire wall, up to eight feet wide and 12 feet high. The pieces loom yet remain calmly distant: slavery as both stark and shrouded. They are aggressive in their magnitude, and sense of action and movement—they demand you look. Yet they are also quiet and cool, restrained, reticent. The contrast of darkness and light—people defined by outlines yet disguised and indistinguishable—speaks of bondage and liberation both.

A striking, significant piece shows child slaves in Ghana fishing in a rickety boat, tossed on thick, vast waves. Relyea found it difficult at first to depict a shadow falling on water, but the final version is haunting in how much it seems to waver and pitch. “The ripples in the water signify the fact that these children are in peril,” she says. “They do not know how to swim.”In a piece with special significance to Relyea, two Nepalese children with stones strapped to their backs appear as little more than two tiny, fragile blocks, yet they are clearly holding hands. “The holding hands,” she says, “suggests to me the potential that lies in all children, which is denied them when they are not free.”

For more than two decades, Relyea was as a forensic child abuse examiner and often testified as an expert medical witness. As a physician’s assistant in Redding, Calif., where she has lived for more than 25 years, she has helped deliver health services, often from a mobile van, to local homeless, uninsured, and underserved people, many of them children. A long-time advocate for society’s exploited, underprivileged, and disenfranchised, Relyea draws motivation from the act of eliminating injustice.

Several years ago Relyea took an art class at a local college “just for fun”—she ended up discovering the perfect link between her professional advocacy work, which she describes as “cerebral and mostly left-brained,” and the strong font of personal creativity she needed to let flow.

One day she created a work of shadows with a window screen. “It occurred to me issues such as homelessness could be depicted with shadow forms,” Relyea says. She later realized the subject of modern slavery also lent itself perfectly to shadow works. She discovered the work of Free the Slaves when she began researching modern slavery in general, and how it could inform her art.Relyea named her latest shadow collection Demeter’s Children. In the Greek myth, Demeter’s daughter is kidnapped and held in bondage in the underworld, trapping the globe in desolate winter. Relyea intends her slaves-as-shadows portraits to increase public awareness and understanding of human trafficking and slavery.

The human shadow is a guiding philosophical concept, developed by Carl Jung, for Relyea. Jung’s theory goes that individuals have traits and tendencies that cause discomfort, vulnerability, and are therefore relegated to the subconscious where they can be denied or ignored. “We tend to project these shadow characteristics onto others, and [judge them] as wrong, undesirable,” Relyea explains. “This can lead to dislike, condemnation, blame, and even persecution.”

The artist believes slavery is, in a way, the disastrous manifestation of the shadows—the dark side—of humanity’s collective unconscious. Her work explores how slavery can arise from the repression of our own shadow selves, and be borne out in, and portrayed as, the brute oppression of others. The spectral figures in Demeter’s Children emerge to connect slavery to the world, to what we look at, and to ourselves. Even in shadows, Relyea’s work gives us slaves we can see.

[fortheethrill]

Sandra Coffee Farms // December 2018

[redrose-arrow]

Present for @theravenlyn <333

Bunch of headcanons that are absolute chaos but also *exploding heart emoji* once again.

Couldn’t choose my favourite out of all of our convo topics so i just,,, tried to tackle them all?? No plot, just vibes.

Arald and Sandra personally tutor the wards if that’s necessary. Wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last.

Halt Crowley and Pauline call each other by their surnames.

In a modern AU, though Pauline can walk in heels for days, she always makes either Halt or Crowley massage her feet after a long day.

Selethen gave Gilan a kitten. He called it “Hawk”.

When Gilan was still training with Halt, sometimes David would send Arald a letter with some dad jokes he used to annoy Gilan and then Arald uses them too to mess with him.

Arald threw all the cliche seduction stuff at it when he tried to court Sandra. I’m talking serenades, chocolates, flowers, poems. It worked.

The chaos that’s Will Horace Alyss and Cassandra together? Yeah that’s how they all felt about Halt Crowley and Pauline together too.

The letters and the drawings from the wards you suggested? Arald hangs them in his office, bedroom, everywhere.

Rodney is the only Redmont friend who actually always knows what’s up, he just doesn’t say it.

Sandra calls Arald “honey”, “darling”.

Sandra is actually pretty good at sowing and since she’s the only one who actually sorta understands her husband’s fashion, she has made him things in the past.

Arald suggested his friend he write some poetry. Halt cannot and will not do that.

Crowley makes the most jokes about Halt’s royal heritage.

Halt suspects Crowley from choosing the shade of green of their formal uniforms based on what brings his eyes out the best. He’s half right. In fact, Crowley based it on which shade wouldn’t clash with Halt’s dark hair. (I mean you have to have some reason.)

Gilan thought he could escape all the dad jokes when he trained with MacNeil. He was wrong. (MacNeil wouldn’t actually be caught dead making a dad joke but he just has to mess with Gilan that one time.)

MacNeil would always put Gilan on a coffee ban when he was there.

Even though it’s the official back up plan, Arald and Sandra have never ever sent a ward to work at the farms unless they were certain they would enjoy it. They have <<invented>> new positions at the castle.

Arald likes Christmas because of all the red and green. “Red is the colour of the castle, Sandra! And green is like a perfect mix of Redmont’s colours! It’s the perfect match!” Oh and the food, of course.

Sandra proofreads all of Arald’s speeches. Just to make sure.

Gilan and Selethen make use of <<official>> shipping to send each other letters. Is it entirely legal? no. is anyone going to find out? no. reading the mail of those official shipping is a crime.

[thequeenb]

Who Knew A Car Accident Would Bring Us Closer?

I know that i disappeared but guess who is back😏

My routine is very simple. I get up early, i take a shower, i brush my teeth, i put on a glamorous outfit and i drive in the heart of the city to buy a ridiculously overpriced coffee.

Today i was in a good mood. The gala was near and things with Zoey seems to get better. What always ruin it is Poppy and her attitude whenever she sees me. I roll my eyes turning the radio on and oh my god this my song!

I sing along as my body moves to the rhythm, i am a good driver dont get me wrong but when my favourite song plays i can be clumsy. Driving in the city is an annoying habit i had to get used to. When i was driving back in Farmsville things were less complicated and ugh don't get me started with the bad driving skills some people have

I am near the parking lot of the University when my favourite part comes up and i close my eyes for a brief second to feel the music as i sing along the last verse. But then the music stops, and when i open my eyes i see another car coming with full speed towards me. My instincts kick in as i try to avoid it but soon all i can feel is glass spraying around.

I don't dare to open my eyes as i am shocked and overwhelmed. I try to move but the airbag is suffocating me. Think Bea, think. My free arm tried to reach out for my phone as i hear voices around my car. If only i was more focused on the road, damnit!

My anxiety takes over as i try to breathe and only then a man is on the side of my door screaming

"Hey! Are you okay in there? The paramedics are on their way, please hold on"

His voice fades away and my stomach turns. I didn't even notice the pool of blood around my chest, what the fuck is happening. Zoey, i need to call Zoey right now, but before i try to find my phone a familiar sweet voice calls out to me

"Bea are you okay? Please respond to me" despite the current situation i have a faint smile, how adorable she is worried about me.

"Zoey.." thats all i manage to say in hope she heard me

Everything feels heavier as minutes pass by and all i can feel is the blood running down my body. Its a weird sensation really, but i wish none of you ever get to see what it feels like. Everything is sticky and wet but all i can do is try to keep my eyes open.

I wonder who had the audacity to hit my car but then i feel guilty remembering that i am the one to blame mostly. Soon enough i can hear sirens and i am finally relieved.

After several tries the paramedics got me out of the car and the bright light of the sun is blinding. I know i shouldn't complain but what if this is my last moment? Ugh i am sure Poppy is laughing right now with her friends, i can even imagine the conversation

"Did you hear what happened to Hughes? That silly farm girl got into a car accident"

Ugh what am i even thinking. I feel a soft material underneath me and i hardly get a glance around me. I can see Professor Kingsley looking at me with her worrying eyes, then there is Zoey next to me fighting with a woman to let her come with me in the ambulance and is that? No my mind is playing tricks i lost a lot of blood. But no its really her. I see Poppy approaching the man that probably hit my car and she is yelling? Very funny brain, don't mess with me right now. She is happy not sad i am sure

Before i can think more the doors of the ambulance closed but i feel a warmth in my hand

"I am here Bea, please hold on" Of course its Zoey and she is holding my hand tight, i cant imagine how scared she is but i am glad she is here with me. I feel so tired i need to rest my eyes, no no! I have seen to many movies about people dying this way i need to stay awake.

I can feel my heart beat in every sore part of my body, the blood is now dry and uncomfortable, my breath is getting slower and slower. The bright lights above me are painful and the voices around me start to fade. Don't tell me this is the end. I didn't win the crown yet to rub it in Poppy's face, i didn't see her shock after i am pronounced the Queen of Belvoire but wait. Why the hell am i thinking of her that much?

My eyes cant stay open anymore despite my numerous tries, i can hear Zoey encouraging me with the nurses but i give up into my desire to rest. I squeeze her hand one last time before i pass out.

____

How many of you watch Grey's anatomy? Don't lie i am sure some of you have, especially with Sandra Oh that good looking woman god, but thats not the point, don't lie to me. Well despite your answers this is what it feels like. I can hear the machines around me as well as my heart beating steadily

How did things get this sad so fast? It was supposed to be a normal day for me but i guess i had to ruin it. I wonder who's here with me and oh my god i am about to have a heart attack. Next to me is standing who? No guess..i will give you a hint, blonde hair..rich girl..who am i kidding, its the one and only Poppy Min-Sinclair

I blink a couple of times and she notices. Don't tell me she was here the whole time, maybe she came to make fun of me, is Veronica here? Does she film my failure? Oh. We are alone great.

"You are awake" she says as she is slowly approaching

Its hard to speak but i try to do some effort "I guess you are disappointed" i say smiling but she doesn't, she actually looks concerned

"I knew you were bad at almost everything but being a bad driver is so embarrassing Hughes" she roll her eyes, sitting in a chair next to my bed

Oh hell no who says that? Is that what comforting means to her?

"If you are here to make fun of me do me a favour and close the door behind when you leave" i don't look at her, instead i turn around, i am to tired for this conversation

"I was the one who saw the accident" she says and to my surprise she sits up to study me closer

"When i saw your cheap- ah..when i saw your car i was the one who called the paramedics you know"

I turn around to look at her and i can see her eyes sparkling under the bright lights "I mean i didn't have a choice right? I could not help at all but.."

My eyes start to tear up, every word feel more genuine than the other but why? Aren't we enemies? Doesn't she hate me? My thoughts are flooded with painful memories, how embarrassed she made me feel and then it clicks

"But you like me" i say almost breathless. She is shocked and that's how i know i am right, this can't be happening.

I didn't realize that i was crying until Poppy laid her head over my chest carefully. I can hear her sobs, everything that she had been feeling all day come out now and all i can do is cry with her, holding her tight.

"I can't believe i almost lost you" she says as her tears take over again

"Shhh, i am here..i promise" its all i can say. Today was definitely a weird day but in the end it brought us together

After we both calm down she doesn't move, instead i stoke her hair even though i feel weak and i can feel her smiling "the man that hit you is getting sued"

A low laugh escape my lips as she stands up gazing at me "but if you tell anyone about this you will be next" but its her teasing because her eyes say otherwise

I want to thank her, i want to forgive her for all the bullshit she put me through but words aren't enough to describe how i feel. Instead i yank her by her shirt and i kiss her softly. I can feel her body relax against mine but she is careful not to hurt me. I can feel her calm down as she takes a deep breath.

Pulling back she has this grin, its my favourite "Well, your kissing skills aren't as bad as your driving ones"

We both laugh as she takes a sit next to me, we are both talking about various topics and the more we discuss the more we realize we have a lot of things in common. Poppy and i are alike, but unlike her i show my good, kind side. I am greatful she is here because now i know who she truly is.

Tag list: @mvalentine @otakufangirl-12 @princessstellaris @indecisive-choices @i-loveeveryone @kiara-36 @ognenniyvolk @somewillwin @it-lives-in-braidwood-manor @ghalind @sergeant-pepper-loves-choices @dibberdipper @aiswood @alexlabhont @dopeyouth @tyrils-star @alexroyard @uselesslesbianfr

[sandra1219]

From the Sandra Farm house  terrace, a coffee plantation in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico by Photo Krieger on Flickr.  Sigh...Not mine.

[flashfuture]

Kyle would sit on the a farm swing-bench and doodling for hours, landscapes and animals, without moving. Conn would worry if he didn’t know this is Kyle’s happy place. I do think Kyle would tease Conn saying “he be a handsome cowboy.”

What if Kyle tried to be a vegetarian for Conn even if didn’t ask him to do that and he legit cannot do it.

Conn Hawke really did have the extremes of father figures in his life from really good, to okay, to GARBAGE.

Yeah I think Kyle would really like the farm. But you know you sleep there you work there so Kyle gets to help out with the cattle too which would be fun. Plus Nathan is actually the one who has all the old pictures of Conn, and his little drawings and letters he wrote. Sandra dumped them all off with her dad. 

I think Kyle would wanna keep some lol. 

Also back when Conn was 13 and going to the Ashram his Gran argued for Conn going to live with him. 

So there is a reality out there where Conn spent his teenage years in Idaho with Nathan on the cattle ranch. 

I think Kyle could do the vegetarian thing for a bit but he and the other lanterns get to cheat because the rings provide everything they need to live. but yeah I should think Kyle likes meat. Only thing Kyle could never give up is his coffee

Yep Conn had some father figures alright. Ollie was great once he and Conn bonded some. But Armitage didn’t meet Conn till he was like 22 and immediately decided he had to kill his stepson??? It was crazy. I think Sandra narced and told Armitage that Conn was the new Green Arrow  

[aion-rsa]

MrBeast, Charli D’Amelio and More Nab Big Streaming Award Noms

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

MrBeast and Charli D’Amelio are among the nominees for the 2020 YouTube Streamy Awards. The tenth anniversary of the awards will stream exclusively on YouTube on December 13, and you’ll be able to watch them right here.

John Krasinski, James Charles and Addison Rae have also received nominations this year, as have Will Smith and Jack Black. Disney and Netflix will almost certainly be fighting it out again to snag the top brand award.

MrBeast aka Jimmy Donaldson is also up for a Social Good award for his Feeding America Food Drive. The popular streamer dropped out of college to pursue a full-time career as a YouTuber, and has become one of the most-watched creators on the planet, dabbling in a winning combo of expensive stunts and philanthropy.

Here’s a complete list of 2020’s YouTube Streamy Awards nominees:

Overall Awards

Creator of the Year

Addison Rae Charli D’Amelio David Dobrik Dixie D’Amelio Emma Chamberlain James Charles Larray Marques Brownlee MrBeast Sarah Cooper

Show of the Year

A Heist with Markiplier • Markiplier Binging with Babish • Babish Culinary Universe Challenge Accepted • Michelle Khare Epic Rap Battles of History • ERB Game Master Network • Rebecca Zamolo Good Mythical Morning • Good Mythical Morning Instant Influencer • James Charles Liza on Demand • Liza Koshy Nikita Unfiltered • Nikita Dragun UNHhhh • WOWPresents

International

HIKAKIN (Japan) Mikecrack (Spain) Mythpat (India) Sandra Cires Art (Cuba) Whindersson Nunes (Brazil)

Individual Awards

Breakout Creator

Addison Rae Charli D’Amelio Dream Spencer X ZHC

Collaboration

David Dobrik and Justin Bieber – SURPRISING PEOPLE WITH JUSTIN BIEBER!! The Hype House – TURNING THE HYPE HOUSE INTO A TRAMPOLINE PARK! Jackie Aina and Naomi Campbell – NAOMI CAMPBELL GETS GLAM WITH ME!!! Sway LA – Most Likely To Challenge! Zach King and David Blaine – David Blaine Tricks Zach King with Zoom Magic

Crossover

Jack Black Jason Derulo Kevin James Naomi Campbell Will Smith

First Person

Alex Warren David Dobrik Emma Chamberlain Larray Logan Paul

Live Streamer

NICKMERCS Ninja Pokimane Shroud Typical Gamer

Show Awards

Indie Series

20 Seconds to Live Arun Considers Choose Me: An Abortion Story Chris and Jack The Lock Down Buddy

Live Series

BET’s House Party Bright Minded: Live with Miley Cyrus D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Reunited Apart with Josh Gad Verzuz

Live Special

Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020

MrBeast’s $250,000 Influencer Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament Some Good News Prom with Billie Eilish, Jonas Brothers, & Chance the Rapper Travis Scott and Fortnite Present: Astronomical YouTube Dear Class of 2020

Podcast

Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain H3 Podcast Impaulsive On Purpose with Jay Shetty ‎ VIEWS with David Dobrik and Jason Nash

Scripted Series

A Heist with Markiplier • Markiplier Could You Survive the Movies? • Vsauce3 Epic Rap Battles of History • ERB FPS Logic • Viva La Dirt League Liza on Demand • Liza Koshy Unscripted Series Brave Wilderness • Brave Wilderness Challenge Accepted • Michelle Khare Instant Influencer • James Charles Jeff’s Barbershop • Jeff Wittek UNHhhh • WOWPresents

Subject Awards

Animated

illymation Jaiden Animations Ketnipz The Land Of Boggs TheOdd1sOut

Beauty

Bailey Sarian Brad Mondo Hyram Jackie Aina James Charles

Comedy

Brandon Rogers Brittany Tomlinson Gus Johnson Nigel Ng Sarah Cooper

Commentary

ContraPoints D’Angelo Wallace Danny Gonzalez Jarvis Johnson Tiffany Ferguson

Dance

BFunk Dytto Matt Steffanina Michael Le Sofie Dossi

Documentary

AntsCanada Justin Bieber: Seasons Nikita Unfiltered The Secret Life of Lele Pons State Of Grace

Fashion and Style

bestdressed Bretman Rock LaurDIY Sneaker Shopping Wisdom Kaye

Food

Alex French Guy Cooking Babish Culinary Universe How To Cook That Joshua Weissman Tabitha Brown

Gaming

Dream FGTeeV Jelly LaurenzSide PrestonPlayz

Health and Wellness

Chloe Ting Demi Bagby Doctor Mike The Fitness Marshall Kati Morton

Kids and Family

A for Adley Goo Goo Colors Kids Diana Show Rebecca Zamolo Ryan’s World

Learning and Education

ChrisFix Mark Rober NileRed onlyjayus Peter Sripol

Lifestyle

Alexa Rivera Calle y Poché Jennelle Eliana Larray Rickey Thompson

News

All Gas No Brakes Complex News HasanAbi The Philip DeFranco Show Some More News

Sports

2HYPE Braille Skateboarding Dude Perfect No Days Off: Sports Prodigies Ryan García

Technology

iJustine Marques Brownlee Michael Reeves Simone Giertz Stuff Made Here

Craft Awards

Cinematography

Cole Bennett – Lyrical Lemonade Devin Graham – devinsupertramp Niels Lindelien – Lindsey Stirling Peter McKinnon – Peter McKinnon Pierre Wikberg – Climbkhana TWO

Editing

Casey Neistat – CaseyNeistat derkslurp – derkslurp Emma Chamberlain – emma chamberlain Evan Puschak – Nerdwriter1 Hayden Hillier-Smith – Logan Paul

Visual and Special Effects

Aaron Benitez – Aaron’s Animals Buttered Side Down – Buttered Side Down CyreneQ – CyreneQ Sam Wickert and Brendan Forde – Chalk Warfare 4.0 Zach King – Zach King

Writing

Akilah Hughes, Milana Vayntrub, Brian McElhaney, and Nick Kocher – Making Fun with Akilah and Milana CalebCity – CalebCity Chris W. Smith and Jack De Sena – Chris and Jack James – Casually Explained Zach Sherwin, Nice Peter, EpicLLOYD, and Carter Deems – Epic Rap Battles of History

Social Good Awards

Company or Brand

Barbie – Career of the Year • Mattel Dave’s Killer Bread – Second Chance Employment • Tastemade Lyft – Undercover Lyft with Alicia Keys • LyftUp

Creator

The Game Theorists – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital #CancelCancer LIVE MrBeast – Feeding America Food Drive Nabela Noor – NoorHouse

Nonprofit or NGO

Arbor Day Foundation – #TeamTrees • MrBeast and Mark Rober COVID-19 Response Fund – Post Malone x Nirvana Tribute – Livestream • Post Malone Equal Justice Initiative – Bear Witness, Take Action • YouTube Originals

Brand Awards

Agency of the Year

BEN Portal A R and CPMK Reach VaynerMedia

Brand of the Year

Barbie Disney Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Netflix Old Spice

Brand Engagement

100 Thieves Cash App Compound Reveal – Cash App 5-Minute Crafts – Barbie Need for Speed Heat x David Dobrik – Electronic Arts Rihanna’s Summer Fenty Face Tutorial – Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Under the Influencer – Comedy Central

Branded Content: Series

Cold as Balls – Old Spice • LOL Network No Days Off: Sports Prodigies – Got Milk? • Whistle Second Chances – Dave’s Killer Bread • Tastemade Under a Rock with Tig Notaro – Amazon Alexa • Funny Or Die Undercover Lyft – Lyft

Branded Content: Video

Aladdin Meets Parkour in Real Life – Uzbekistan Tourism • devinsupertramp ASMR SNAP SHADOWS TUTORIAL W/ AMANDLA STENBERG – Fenty Beauty by Rihanna I Trained Like Black Widow – Marvel Strike Force • Michelle Khare James Charles Spills the Tea on His Glow – Ole Henriksen Skincare • James Charles We Lost A FaZe Member – G FUEL • FaZE Clan

Creator Product

Chamberlain Coffee – Emma Chamberlain Dragun Beauty – Nikita Dragun Hairitage – Mindy McKnight McKinnon Camera Pack – Peter McKinnon Pro Ant Farms – AntsCanada

Influencer Campaign

ALLNIGHTERLEGEND – Urban Decay

HotGuysMakingLipstick – Bite Beauty

Google Pixel 4 Nebula Superstars in Training – WWE

Multi-Platform Campaign

Disney+ Launch – Disney Gift it Forward with Cardi B – Pepsi The Greatest Challenge of All Time with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marta – Clear (Unilever) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Star Wars Tito’s Made To Order – Tito’s Vodka

Social Good Campaign

DistanceDance – PandG • Charli D’Amelio

My Vaping Mistake – The Real Cost • AwesomenessTV Seize the Awkward – The Jed Foundation • Ad Council Teens for Jeans – Aéropostale • DoSomething.org Undercover Lyft with Alicia Keys – LyftUp • Lyft

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The post MrBeast, Charli D’Amelio and More Nab Big Streaming Award Noms appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3of9HLb

[claudia1829things]

"THE CHISHOLMS" (1979): Chapter III Commentary

"THE CHISHOLMS" (1979): CHAPTER III Commentary Chapter II of the 1979 miniseries, "THE CHISHOLMS" focused on the second leg of the western Virginia family's westbound journey to California in 1844. This last episode focused on their journey through Illinois and Missouri, culminating in their arrival in Independence, Missouri. Chapter III focused on the family's trek along the eastern half of the Oregon Trail, culminating with an unwanted encounter on the plains.

A great deal had happened to the Chisholm family in Chapter II. Their traveling companion, Lester Hackett, managed to seduce Hadley and Minerva Chisholm's older daughter Bonnie Sue and later, steal Will Chisholm's horse in an effort to evade a group of men who suspected him of stealing some items of their friend. Will and the family's second son, Gideon broke away from the family outside St. Louis and headed for Lester's family farm in Iowa. The pair was eventually arrested for trespassing on the Hackett farm and forced to spend one month on a prison work gang. The other members of the Chisholm family encountered a family from Baltimore, Maryland named Comyns and formed a wagon party with them. Following their arrival in Independence, the family discovered that most of the wagon trains had set out on the Oregon Trail over a month ago. The two families encountered a former Army scout named Timothy Oates, who asked if he and his Pawnee wife could accompany them as far as present-day Nebraska. Unaware that Will and Gideon had been detained in Iowa, the Chisholms and their traveling companions continued their western trek. Despite being a month behind and two missing members of the family, the Chisholms' western trek seemed to be going well. For once, Hadley has managed to contain his prejudice against Native Americans and regard Timothy's Pawnee wife, Youngest Daughter, in an affable light. The youngest member of the Chisholm family, Annabel, has managed to click rather well with the Oates. However, it was not long before the travelers encountered their first barrier on the trail. After their first river crossing (possibly the Wakarusa River), they encounter a family named Hutchinson. When the family's patriarch informed the travelers that he and his family were returning east due to a mysterious fever striking their wagon party, Mr. Comyns decided to do the same. The youngest member of his family happened to be an infant and he did not want to risk the child becoming sick. The Chisholm family continued their western trek in the company of Timothy and Youngest Daughter Oates. They first encountered the very wagon train that the Hutchinson family had abandoned. Unfortunately, members of that wagon train were still stricken by the fever. The traveling party then encountered two Kansa couples traveling on foot, with whom they traded coffee for butter. Timothy hid his wife inside the Chisholms' wagon, due to the Pawnee and the Kansa being at war. Eventually, the Chisholms said good-bye to Timothy and Youngest Daughter, who continued on to the latter's Pawnee village. And the Chisholms continued their California-bound trek. Ten or fifteen minutes into the episode, Will and Gideon were finally released from the prison work gang after thirty days. The pair stumbled across a ramshackle cabin in Missouri, where they found dead bodies, a wrecked interior and a traumatized Native American woman who seemed to have been assaulted. Will managed to convince her to accompany them as far as Independence for medical attention. The Chisholm brothers finally discovered the tavern where Hadley and Beau had first met Timothy Oates. The bartender informed them that the other Chisholms had already continued west. The pair also learned that their traveling companion was named Keewedinok and she wanted to accompany the two brothers on their journey. Meanwhile, back on the trail, Beau managed to shoot a buffalo, allowing the Chisholms to enjoy a meal with bison meat for the first time. Unbeknownst to them, a Pawnee warrior had spotted them and raced back to his companions to report their presence. The Pawnees hold a campfire before deciding to raid the Chisholm camp for the family's mules and the women. The episode ended with Bonnie Sue becoming the first family member targeted by the Pawnee raiders. I felt as if I experiencing an oncoming train wreck, while watching Chapter III. This is no negative reflection on the miniseries' writing. The train wreck I was referring to were the series of decisions and bad luck that led to the episode's last moment - the Pawnee raiders' attack upon the Chisholms. To be honest, this series of bad luck and questionable decisions began when the family discovered they had set out for California a month late in Chapter I and continued in Chapter II. But the series of small disasters that the Chisholms experienced in Chapter III seemed to form a crescendo, until it ended with a pay off that culminated in a disaster. Although the previous two episodes featured decisions made by Hadley Chisholm that led to that disastrous moment in the final scene of Chapter III, screenwriter David Dortort did a great job in building up to that moment with a series of memorable scenes. For me, the one most dramatic scenes included the Chisholms' encounter with the fever-infected wagon train. This led to Hadley and Minerva's last quarrel over whether they should continue west to California or turn back. I also enjoyed the Chisholms and the Oates' encounter with the two Kansa couples. It featured an interesting mixture of comedy surrounding the Chisholms' efforts to trade with the two couples; and dramatic tension over Timothy's effort to Younger Daughter from the Kansa, due to a war between the two tribes. Viewers got a chance to experience the beginning of Will and Gideon's adventures on the road as they struggle to catch up with their family, following their release from the prison work gang. The miniseries never really indicated on whether they had met the widowed Keewedinok in Iowa or Missouri. But I cannot deny that Dortort did a great job in detailing the brothers' budding relationship with her. I especially enjoyed how the pair, especially Will, went out of his way reassure Keewedinok that he and Gideon will not harm her with a soothing manner. Another interesting aspect about this scene was the brothers' discussion on who was behind the attack on the cabin. When Will speculated on the idea of hostile Native Americans in that part of the world (Iowa or Missouri, circa 1844), Gideon responded with an even more interesting suggestion that whites may have been behind the attack that left a traumatized Keewedinok as the sole survivor. Although Will managed to convince Keewedinok to accompany him and Gideon, she barely spoke a word during their journey. She finally spoke up at an Independence saloon, where she revealed her name and asked Will if she could accompany the brothers further west. One of the most interesting scenes in both this episode and the entire miniseries proved to be the conference between the four (or three) Pawnee braves who had targeted the Chisholms for a raid. Frankly, it happened to be one of the funniest scenes in the series as the Pawnees debated over the Chisholms' valuable belongings. They also debated over who would lead the prayer for a successful raid. One particular brave seemed to be rather annoyed when the youngest Pawnee kept erroneously praying for horses, when it had already been established that the Virginia family only had mules. It seems odd to think that this rather humorous scene occurred right before they made their first strike at the end of the episode. As usual, the performances featured in this episode of "THE CHISHOLMS" were top-notch. Solid performances from the likes of Stacy Nelkin, James Van Patten and Susan Swift, who portrayed the younger members of the Chisholm family. The episode also featured solid performances from the likes of Silvana Gallardo (whom I remembered from NBC's "CENTENNIAL"), Tenaya Torres, Joe "Running Fox" Garcia, Ronald G. Joseph, Don Shanks and Jerry Hardin. I rather enjoyed Geno Silva's entertaining performance as an Osage man named Ferocious Storm, who proved to be quite a canny trader when the Chisholms and the Oates made their river crossing. Another performance that caught my eye came from none other than Billy Drago, who portrayed Teetonkah, the leader of the four Pawnee raiders. Eight years before his appearance in the 1987 movie, "THE UNTOUCHABLES", Drago made it clear in this production that he would become a screen presence that many would not forget. David Hayward proved to be both solid and charismatic as the dependable former Army scout, Timothy Oates. Hayward did a great job in conveying Timothy's competence as a guide . . . to the point that his departure from the story was clearly felt when the character and the latter's wife parted from the Chisholms on the Nebraska plains. Both Ben Murphy and Brian Kerwin finally got the chance to develop a solid screen chemistry when their two characters - brothers Will and Gideon Chisholm - were released from the prison work gang. I especially enjoyed their performances in one scene that featured Will and Gideon's discovery of the traumatized Keewedinok and their speculation on whether Native Americans or whites were responsible for assaulting her and killing the ransacked cabin's other inhabitants. Speaking of Keewedinok, I thought Sandra Griego gave an excellent portrayal of a woman dealing with the trauma of being assaulted. Griego managed to perfectly convey Keewedinok's state of mind without any acting histronics. She also formed a very good chemistry with Murphy. As for the miniseries' two leads - Robert Preston and Rosemary Harris - they were outstanding as usual. However, there were two scenes featuring the veterans in which I thought they truly shined. The first was a small scene that featured Hadley and Minerva enjoy a brief private conversation together (which included Minerva's astonishment at the different languages spoken by various Plains tribes) that led to more intimate nocturnal activities. Both Preston and Harris were at their most charming in this scene. I also enjoyed their acting in another scene that featured a brief quarrel between the couple over whether to continue west or not, following the family's encounter with the fever-induced wagon train. I did have a few quibbles regarding Chapter III. One, the passage of time struck me as rather vague. In fact, the passage of time for this production has been vague since the last half hour of Chapter I. The miniseries revealed that the Chisholms had arrived in Louisville, Kentucky in mid-May 1844. As of the end of Chapter III, I have no idea how much time had passed since their departure from Louisville. All I know is that Will and Gideon are probably a little over a month behind the rest of the family, thanks to their month long sentence on an Iowa prison work gang. I also had two problems regarding the episode's photography. For some reason, cinematographer Jacques R. Marquette thought it was necessary to film this episode in earth tones, due to the Chisholms traveling west of Independence. I found this unnecessary, considering that the landscape in eastern Kansas and Nebraska is green and the Chisholms had yet to travel that far west. Also, unlike the production's first two chapters, I noticed that this chapter's photography not only did not seem that colorful, but also not that sharp. I get the feeling that whoever transferred this miniseries to DVD did not bother improve the visuals for this episode. Quibbles or not, Chapter III of "THE CHISHOLMS" proved to be both entertaining and very interesting. The episode featured a major shift in the Chisholms' western journey, the addition of new characters and dangers. Chapter III also featured some excellent performances, especially by the leads Robert Preston, Rosemary Harris and Ben Murphy and a series of interesting scenes that led to the episode's cliffhanger.

[protectcosette]

favorite genre of music that people might find odd? what’s your go-to comfort food that you make? favorite recipe for impressing anyone? best feature about yourself? any hobbies you’d like to get into? what’s one topic you have an oddly astute amount of knowledge in? coffee, tea, or some other beverage?

favorite genre of music that people might find odd?

honestly, the weirdest genre of music i listen to is probably like. Kid Pop and Barbie Movie Soundtracks. And I don’t mean Kidz Bop or traditional kids songs sung badly kind of shit, I mean like. Phineas & Ferb songs, and Sandra Boynton’s Philadelphia Chickens, which, looking back, has quite the star-studded line-up? Like, Meryl Streep is singing nonsense words, Patti LuPone is singing about throwing temper tantrums, Kevin Bacon and Michael Bacon are singing about all the fucking chickens in Southeast Pennsylvania breaking out of the farms and swing dancing??? What the fuck was my childhood.

what’s your go-to comfort food that you make at home?

either toast with butter or a toasted tortilla with butter, and hot chocolate, coffee, or tea.

favorite recipe for impressing anyone?

copycat panera macaroni and cheese or this really yummy creamy basil salad dressing

best feature about yourself?

i assume you mean like, my physical form? i think i have nice legs and pretty eyes

any hobbies you’d like to get into?

i just started playing bass guitar, and I want to get back to knitting

what’s one topic you have an oddly astute amount of knowledge in?

this one is a legitimate challenge for me. I really don’t know what I know a lot about, I don’t know what the parameters are for that kind of thing, like, what quantity of knowledge is considered average, or above average, or A Lot?

Anyway I have really good spacial awareness; I’m good at putting things together physically (puzzles? ikea furniture? costumes? yeah baby). I know a lot about character analysis, and music, and ballet, and art, and neurodivergencies, and when i tried to ask my mom for her perspective to help me answer this question, she said i have a LOT of trivia in my head.

Also I realized I know a LOT about sexual health and lgbtq+ history after moving to Utah, where most people really do not know much about those topics.

coffee, tea, or some other beverage?

I love coffee, I love tea, I love hot chocolate, I love most warm beverages.

Send me asks, let’s amuse each other so we don’t die of absolute boredom in quarantine!