Wednesday 8 December 2010

Through the Keyhole with Brian

The divine Ms Madeleine's Through the Keyhole blogfest's rules are:

Describe someone's living space in no more than 500 words so that we can vividly imagine the absent person. Then guess from the descriptions posted the type of who lives in a room like this?

This is my entry (it kinda very loosely follows the rules. Ahem!):

*************************************
The Garden

The first thing you will notice is the apple tree. It stands at nearly ten feet tall in the middle of sorry tufts of bits of lawn clinging around the tiny garden space.

Two sheets of wood panelling fence the back with slats broken and rotted through.

Green chicken wire encloses either side, but wind and rain and neglect have bent and misshapen them.

Rosebushes edge the borders. Their days of giving lush cream and red pink blooms are long gone. Unchecked they’ve grown gnarled and woody.

You wonder how small the garden truly is once the tree is cut.

I can tell you with certainty that a child could run from one end of the garden and back in the kitchen in 15 seconds flat.

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I wrote the above with the very modern idea that a garden is so an extension of one's living space. *looks shifty and then runs away!*

Charlie says: I live here with my own palm tree and fevvers!

For a lovelier story not related to the blogfest, please do read "Trees of Life - a Christmas Story" by Brian of Brian's Home. He is one talented and amazing kitty!

Have a wispy Wednesday everyone!
17 frivolous days to Christmas!

36 comments:

The Words Crafter said...

Not me, I'd pass out if I ran anywhere in 15 seconds! =P

Is this Charlie's garden?

Kea said...

It makes me think that an impoverished, possibly elderly and widowed person (man or woman) lives there. Maybe a widow(er) who is depressed after the death of their spouse, or someone who has dementia.

But trust me, my own garden is smaller, too small for any tree. LOL.

Well done!

I read Brian's story earlier today at work, cried all the way through it, of course.

Tell Charlie his cube rocks!

m.q said...

hiii brian

Susan Fields said...

What a great description of The Garden - I can really see it!

I absolutely loved Brian's story. I was so glad he got his Christmas miracle!

Anonymous said...

we like your garden story. Brian's Christmas story made our eyes leaky!

Ann said...

I have no idea who lives in that garden. But enjoyed the read. Have a wonderful Wednesday

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

Charlie, you have your own oasis! Hmm, catch tunas if any swim by!!

Ellen Whyte said...

Argh our comment got squished!!! We siad we liked your pic and have a small garden too.

Unknown said...

Cool space, both in story and for Charlie. I think you described the garden lovely.
CD

Marg said...

That description sounds like my garden. LOL. Charlie we love your tree. It is just the right size. Brian's story is great. We loved it.
Take care and lets have another description of a living place.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like rather a neglected garden, maybe of a derelict council house? Great description :O)

Creepy Query Girl said...

This sounds like a garden my husband would own if he didn't have me around to spruce up the place...;)

lupie said...

Well, at least this garden sounds much more interesting than mine!

Charlie has a very luxurious boxy garden indeed! :)

Hannah and Lucy said...

We had read Brian's story yesterday and it was sad but it had the happiest and best of endings.

Anonymous said...

15 seconds at full sprint. I should try that today just to see if I can do it. Great story. I like Charlie already.

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

We loved your garden story. We also loved Brian's story.

And of course, we love you and Charlie!!!!!!!!!!

xxxxxx

Brian's Home Blog said...

I could so see everything clearly though that keyhole! Thanks for the shout out on my Christmas Story, I appreciate you! You too Charlie!!!

Joanna St. James said...

I hope its charlie's garden or a balcony garden

Bossy Betty said...

Love the description. I want a box like Charlie's. I'd stay in it all day.

Esme said...

Your writing is lovely. How are you doing with all the snow over there?

Hart Johnson said...

I think if someone spends the most time in the garden, then that is definitely a more telling place to describe than inside! (I thought maybe it was Charlie's garden, too)

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Lovely! Your description was wonderful! :-)

notesfromnadir said...

Sounds like this garden is much more attractive in the spring & summer!

I'm glad Charlie has a cute little palm tree! :)

Words A Day said...

Your garden brings to mind a widower, who is laid low by the loss of his wife even after many years, the tree is his love for her.

I can see him looking out the back window on the garden, wishing he had the heart to tend to the roses she loved so much.

Its been a long time since anyone has visited...but I hear the sound of his front gate, heels on the path...

his estranged daughter has decided to forgive and forget.

Sorry Old Kitty - getting carried away! Your description was very evocative!

Talli Roland said...

Hm, I'm not sure I like the sound of that garden! A good passage of writing nonetheless, Old Kitty!

Happy Wednesday. Hope you and Charlie are keeping warm. BRR!

Roxy said...

I loved reading a piece of your writing, Kitty! Please post more. Charlie is very well set up, lucky cat.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Your piece made me feel sad for who ever lived in the home that the garden belonged too. :( I hope they are okay...

Charlie has a great garden. :)

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

The description of the neglected garden made me think of sadness too, someone once vibrant but now dulled by life somehow.

Hello Handsome Charlie!

purrin
xoxoxo

Dominic de Mattos said...

If you know for certainty that a child could run it in 15 seconds then you must have run it as a kid! I think it was your grand parents' house!

Theresa Milstein said...

I can see the neglect masking a former splendor.

Liike this bit:

...tufts of bits of lawn clinging around the tiny garden space.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I am so sorry that John Lennon documentary will not play for you, Jen! Your story is wonderful...very well written

Luna said...

Very lovely, but so sad the place was let go like this. It was all so vivid, I could picture it in my mind. The giant tree sounds wonderful. I enjoyed reading your piece!

Oh, Riley has the same toy!

Summer Ross said...

I really enjoyed this entry and you are so right, a garden can be one's living space as well. very creative. Mine will be up on saturday.

Golden Eagle said...

It sounds like a sad, but somehow beautiful garden place. I'm guessing that it belongs to someone young, who, since they don't really care for the older generation's occupation, are letting it fall into disrepair.

the writing pad said...

Am intrigued by the owner of this garden - I think the apple tree, and its size, in relation to the rest of the garden's significant, though, in some way? Look forward to all being revealed !
Karla

Anonymous said...

I have a key award that you can pass on to anyone who guessed your room's occupant correctly over at mine. Thanks for joining the fest it was great fun to read your entry. :O)