Flowerby Logo!

I made up a logo for Flowerby!  Here it is!

I hope you like it!  Please tell me your thoughts!

Interview With A Raspberry

Yes.  I am about to interview a raspberry.  Text highlighted in red will be the raspberry speaking and text highlighted in blue will be the interviewer (me, Paloma).

Hi, raspberry!  How are you today?

Well, considering I am going to be eaten after this interview, I am trying not to worry.  And you?

Heh.  I'm fine today.  Shall we get on with the interview?

Of course.

How does it feel when you are being plucked off of the raspberry plant?  For example, do you feel pain when that happens?

You know, it doesn't exactly hurt.  I mean, for me, when I was picked, I definitely felt an ache in my heart, like I was leaving my family.  Of course, I was leaving my family.  Some family members weren't ripe enough yet when I was picked.

Ah, that must've been very sad and heartbreaking for both you and your family.  How did you get along with your package-mates in the grocery store?

Oh, terrible!  I'd rather not talk about it...

That is fine.  I won't pressure you to talk about something you don't want to.  Now, what was it like interacting with other types of food?  Did you make any friends?

I did make friends with a potato!

Haha!  Well, sadly it seems we have reached the end of our interview.  Are you ready to be eaten?

Yes, I am.  And thank you for taking the time to interview me!

>gobbles<

Thank you for listening!  Stay tuned for next time.  I'll be interviewing another food soon!

[Photo   source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Raspberry_closeup2.jpg]

My Taste In Books

Everybody I know seems to love books like Harry Potter and other fantasy.  Well...I personally don't like those books as much as others may.  I prefer realistic fiction.  In fact, the last two books I read were historical fiction and they were really good. They are called The Lions of Little Rock and All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens.  They were really good.
I do like fantasy...just not in large amounts.  I honestly get kind of annoyed when I read a book and all the characters worry about a troll living under a bridge.  Or something like that.  Frankly, I have much more complicated things to worry about.  Yeah, a troll can pose a problem, but it gets a bit annoying after a while.  I like reading about people who have an actual, real problem.  It can involve an argument with a parent or friend, an illness, a life-threatening sickness, or whatever.  I just prefer realistic fiction over fantasy.  I do like to have a couple fantasy books on my shelf, though...because you never know...

Book Review ~ All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens

I had to read this book for a book club and write a review for it.  Here it is:
All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens is the story of a young woman who has strong political opinions.  When she receives an invitation to meet the prince of Wales, as well as be presented to the king, Rosalind must work up the courage to speak up for what she thinks is right.

~Paloma, age 11

Please give me some feedback!

Cleaning Ladies ~ They Have Talent

You may or may not have a cleaning lady who comes every once in a while to clean your house.  My dad does.  I'm pretty neutral on the idea of someone who I don't know snooping through my stuff and seeing all my books and drawings laying around.  I guess that's what I get for being a messy person.  >laughs uncontrollably<
You see, these people definitely have a real talent.  Laugh all you wish, but it's true.  No matter how hard I try, I can never get my room organized, let alone my desk.  It's impossible for me.  Yet, after the cleaning lady finishes up my room, I almost die of the cleanness of my room.  I am just flabbergasted at the thought of someone being able to organize a desk.  My desk, to be specific.
I guess the point of this article was to maybe suggest a day dedicated to cleaning ladies.

[Source for picture:  http://fishstrong.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Mexican-cleaning-lady.jpeg]

Miracle Child ~ Chapter Two

"Shirley, are you ready to come out and talk?" Mother knocks faintly on the door.

I roll onto my side and grump, "No.  Leave me alone."

An hour passes.  I hear my dad come home from work.  Mother and Father talke.  Finally, another knock disturbs the silence, besides my wheezing.

"Honey, Kellie is here.  Can she come in?" I hear my dad ask me through the door.

"Yes.  She may," I whisper quietly.

Light pours into the room as Kellie walks in.  She is carrying something.  A big, large bag.

"Hey, Shirley.  I heard the news.  How are you feeling?" she asks.

"What do you think?" I snap.  That's rude, I think.

"Well, clearly you're sad.  Are you still going to the dance?" Kellie soothes.  I love Kellie.

I sit up swiftly and look at her drowsily.  She has a pleading, gentle look in her eye.  I look away, scared.

"I don't know.  I don't want my lungs to get overworked with dancing.  Now that I know I have cancer, it's worse." I mumble.

Kellie rolls her eyes in an annoyed fashion, "Shirley, your lungs aren't any different than when you didn't know you have-" she stops.

"Go on."

Kellie hesitates, then goes on reluctantly, "The point is, you should still come.  You do realize it is mostly going to be slow dancing, right?"

After ten minutes of persuading, Kellie finally convinced me to go.  We decided that we would meet at the shopping center to go shopping for dresses.

As Kellie heads out the door, I say, "Wait, Kellie!  What's in the bag?"

Kellie turns bright pink.

"Oh, um, I stopped by Gerald's house on the way here," she stutters.

I roll my eyes, annoyed, and say, "Okay, why?  And what is in the freaking bag?  I would love to know!"

Kellie takes a deep breath, something I am envious of and starts to speak, "It's a present.  For you.  From Gerald.  He feel sympathy for you.  He said he might come with us to go shopping.  He wants to ask you something.  Here."

Kellie hands me the bag carefully.  It's heavy, so I set it down on the bed beside me and face it.  Kellie is still here.

"You can go," I say and she stumbles out of the room.

I reach into the bag and pull out a tiny cardboard box.  I open it and pull out a beautiful sapphire bracelet.  "My birthstone," I whisper.  It's silver and studded with perfectly round beads of sapphire.  I slip it on.  It feels cold and refreshing on my chubby wrist.

The next think I pull out is wrapped in tissue paper.  I carefully unravel it.  Cocooned inside is a thick,  berry red, old Dell laptop.  I open it and I see the screensaver.  Gerald and I.  I remember that day.  We were four and still didn't understand that our bodies are private.  We had been running around naked in a creek.  That is one of my favorite days.

There are two more things in the bag.  I pull them both out.  A purple teddy bear and a card.  I cuddle the silky bear and open the envelope.  The card has a cat on it.  The caption says,"You are purr-fect just the way you are!  I love you and please get well soon!"

A tear forms in my eye as I read the card:

Dearest Shirley,

Remember that day at the beach when we ran around naked and I told you that I love you?  Well, I want to tell you that one thing again.  I love you.  I love you soooo much.  I have since our moms met when they were pregnant with us.  Anyways, your mom called my parents today and told us about the cancer.  I was heartbroken.  I had been having this gift bag for you since I was 11.  I decided that this is the right time for me to give it to you.  In it, I have include a bracelet, a laptop, a grape dyed teddy bear, and this card.  I love you.  I hope you get better, because I will be heartbroken if you leave this side of the world.

Love and wishes,

Gerald

I cry for a couple hours after that, clutching my gifts.

Back from New York

My dad came back from New York yesterday.  He had to go there for a work thing.  I missed him, but at the same time, I was mad at him for leaving me behind.

Miracle Child ~ Chapter One

Miracle Child is a story I am writing for fun.  I may or may not publish it.  I hope you like it!  I am open to suggestions.

Chapter One:

"Are you going to the dance this Saturday?" I ask my friend Kellie, holding the phone to my ear.

"Of course I am, Shirley!  Why wouldn't I?  Are you going?  I hope you do," Kellie's high pitched voice stings my ears and I wince.

"I think I'm going.  I have to pay for my own dress and I'm broke.  The only clothing I have are Nike shorts and tank tops.  I can't go in those!" I exclaim.

"Does your sister have anything you can wear?  I'm sure she has something nice from the dance from when she was in 8th grade," Kellie goes on and on about wearing one of my sister's hand me downs.

She soon finished speaking, and I swiftly switch the phone to my other ear and take a deep, painful breath.  My lungs are acting up again.

"Shirley?  Are you there?" Kellie asks.

I heave a weak breath and speak,"Yeah, I'm here.  My lungs were misbehaving again."

"Haven't you gone to the doctor yet?  You should really get that checked out," Kellie scolds me for something I've done already.

"Yes, I've already been to the doctor.  We are supposed to get the results today," I answer, and as I do, my mother walks into the room.  I look at her.  She motions for me to get off the phone.

"Hey Kellie, I've got to go.  I'll call you back.  Okay?"

Before she answers, I hang up, eager to hear what Mother has to say.

She leads me into the dining room and pulls up a chair for me.  I sit down.  Tension fills the room.

"Mother, is everything alright?" I ask, worried.

Mother looks down at her twidling hands.  

"Mother," I say firmly, "Tell me what is the matter."

She hesitates, then says, "The doctor thinks it is cancer."

My stomach flops and I take a wheezy breath.  I let my feelings of question take over my face and I point to my lung area.

Mother nods then reaches to hug me, but I pull away.

"No.  That's not true.  You're lying.  You always lie.  WHy should I trust you?"  I am shaking.  I am breathing heavily.  I run to my room, scared.

'It's just a dream.  Just a nightmare, Shirley, hold on,' I remember thinking these words over and over as I fell asleep.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.  I know the name is a little bit weird but I like it!  I think it sounds very pretty!  You probably want to know a bit about me.  I am eleven years old and I absolutely love Doctor Who and Downton Abbey.  I really enjoy writing, art, and watching movies.  I have a few secrets.  I suppose I'll tell you one of them.  I don't actually like reading.  I mean, I read a lot but that doesn't mean I like it. I suppose I like it in a way, but I don't *really* like it.  I only read so I can escape from my problems and schoolwork.  That's one of my secrets.  Don't expect anymore!  Although I love to write, I have trouble keeping up with blogs!  'Why do you have a blog, then?' you ask.  I have a blog because I admire those who can keep up with a blog and I want to have another reason to admire myself!  My goal for blogging at the moment is one post a day.  Once I get that going, I might do a post every other day.  Then once a week.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

~Paloma (age 11)

PS:  I love fruit!

[Photo from http://changedesktop.com/tag/fruit/page/2/]