2 Fat Seagulls

2 fat (not plump, fat) seagulls

land on neighbors’s roof peak

with a grunt and sigh…

must have been a rest stop

they left in minutes

not a word between them

nor directed toward me

staring out my window

silent, wide-eyed…

they were big as turkeys

maybe strangers were generous

with New Year’s dinner scraps…

it’s a wonder they could fly–

~ Cale

Prompt (early = on-time) ~ JusJoJan

https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/29/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-29th-2026/

FROM LINDA:

Welcome back to our daily Just Jot it January 2026 prompt. Today is the 29th, and our prompt is brought to us by Cheryl. Thank you, Cheryl! Please be sure to visit Cheryl’s blog to read her posts and say hello.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 29th, 2026 is “prompt.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

⌚⏰⏲🕰🕛

I don’t know if it’s OCD, or rooted in my upbringing, but whatever–being PROMPT is some weird kind of pressure-stress-responsibility I carry.  In true no-getting-around-it fact, for me being Early is “on time”…which pretty much means everyone else is “late”, which stresses me out more.  No, it’s not a fun way to live…and why I must live alone.  (I don’t wear a watch anymore…progress, I guess–but I have clocks…and back-up clocks.)

I went to Hawaii once and nearly lost my mind…the people are lovely generous folks, but “island time” is essentially clock-less…I don’t know how they can keep most successful businesses running if they don’t have appointments, as in “some time o’clock”.  I never went back.  ~ Cale🙄

Big Check & Book Gift (6SS)

https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/its-thursdays-six-sentence-story-blog-hop-56/

It’s amazing how a bad day can turn around as soon I as grab my clipboard and start numbering the lined notebook paper 1-6…where a story’s about to happen!  Our 5-Star host, Denise, never fails to deliver a weekly prompt word filled to the brim with creative potential.  So if you need something to lift those winter blues, I recommend you click her link above, get the info you need, and WRITE.  Then join all the fine authors for their big reveals by week’s end.  Don’t just sit there, do it!😊  The prompt is CHECK!

☑🎨🖼📚❣

Coming back from the frost-covered mailbox, Lorelei shivered as she entered Judd’s studio–“warm me up and I’ll let you have this ivory vellum envelope that smells like a Big check,” she teased.

He pulled her close, rubbed her back and chided gently, “you know–you could wear that sweater I gave you for Christmas”; smiling, he then drew out a thank you note and check, payment for a commisioned painting he’d done two months before.

“Now you can buy me another sweater,” she whispered, planting a kiss on his gray temple– “and you’d best change into something not paint-spattered before Pastor Richard gets here–dinner’s in an hour.”

The pastor wore a shy smile as Judd opened the door, welcoming him–the two had exchanged only brief small talk, infrequently (Judd mainly served as Lorelei’s chauffeur on Sunday mornings).

Her greeting was effusive: “come in, Pastor! hope you’re hungry”, to which he responded, “I am indeed–and please call me Richard.”

Oh my! you brought your book!” she exclaimed, and he handed it to her, his cheeks pink…whether from winter chill or bashfulness; “our friend at the library told me Judd’s been asking for it a couple times a month”, he said–“so, as it seemed an urgent request, I thought it might substitute for a potentially bad choice of wine.”

~ Cale

 

One-Liner Wednesday & JusJoJan ~ GRATEFUL

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com

https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/28/one-liner-wednesday-jusjojan26-the-28th-winter-wonderland/

I am ever-grateful the Lord will clear His schedule when I need help Pronto!

And I’m keeping all you winter-burdened folks in my fervent prayers…just call, and HE Answers!! 

~ Cale

Psalm 86:7
In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.

A Plaid Day…

It’s a plaid day…

wearing flannel shirt

I sketch out drafts, write

6 sentences for story

due this week…

the characters

live fierce within me

passionate people

who don’t suffer fools gladly…

I see them clearly, going about their days–

~ Cale

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/sketch-3/

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/write/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/rdp-sunday-plaid/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/rdp-friday-fierce/

Eavesdroppers/Labyrinth ~ JusJoJan

FROM LINDA, the host of Just Jot it January https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/27/jusjojan-26-26-eavesdropper/   “This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “eavesdropper,” is brought to us by Angela. Check out her blog here!”

AND THE CURRENT PROMPT:

https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/27/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-27th-2026/

It’s January 27th already! And it’s time for our daily Just Jot it January 2026 prompt. Today’s prompt is courtesy of Cale. Cale’s blogYour prompt for JusJoJan January 27th, 2026 is “labyrinth.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

 

😊If you’re thoroughly confused… I’m Cale, and I’m combining the 2 prompts because I was unavailable yesterday.

~~ 🗝 ~~

I’m convinced there are eavesdroppers

in both labyrinths, heart and mind…

mischief makers, running one to th’other

they’ve nothing else to do with their time–

matters none to them, confusion they cause me

they think they’re clever, hiding master key 🗝

~ Cale

Cape Hope ~ Sunday Whirl

https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/wordle-741/

🌞⛪🌞

We were wonderland-bound

a place called Cape Hope…

each of us desperately needed

hopeclarity, peace, direction

a future that offered more

than we’d experienced last year…

when we arrived noonday sun

was blindingly bright, glittering

on every inch of packed snow, ice–

we passed three churches

before seeing the one we’d chosen

by way of same dream we’d

had in past month–

it was hardly more than a chapel

yet the Cross in the window

above the altar embraced

entire interior, the mosaic

fairly vibrating with colors…

we were on our knees

heads bowed, mute tears

coursing down our cheeks–

Everything will be alright…

these were words we heard

from the Voice within silence…

Sovereign God of grace, mercies

ever-faithful throughout the ages…

His hand was turning the wheel–

~ Cale

Beware…

Be careful of what eyes

see and claim as captivating–

whatever its shape, shimmer’d flash

may prove to be Temptation’s

subtle slithery shift in mind

heart or weakness of flesh

make one or the other

vulnerable…lead

to slippery compromise

swift sin before soul might

take flight…then curse:

“damn my eyes!”

~ Cale

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/rdp-wednesday-captivating/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/rdp-saturday-flight-2/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2026/01/20/compromise/

 

 

 

The Letter…

I’ve combined Di’s 3TC (three things challenge) with Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt, “Letter” ~ their links are at end of poem.

Di’s prompt words are:  Youth, Yesterday, Yonder

💘💌💘

Since youth, her heart

had penned this letter…

living cossetted

in imaginary world

she possessed no skills

for reality’s requirements–

At 30 she remained

naive…lacking good

sense she followed

her heart instead

of guarding it

and thus set her course

certain that with yesterdays

long passed, “he” would

receive her with love equal

to hers, and make invitation…

But his kind reply did not–

Yonder, all dreams fled

out of reach forever–

~ Cale

https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/weekend-writing-prompt-452-letter/

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/three-things-challenge-mm315/