We spent some time today wandering around one of my favourite spots in and around Tokyo. It's a terrific park called Shikinomori (四季の森公園), which means The Forest of Four Seasons Park. image source The

Just a quick post from mobile. It’s hard to see because for some reason the mobile app wants to post pics without rotating them(sorry!), [Edit: Fixed it up from lapop] but this robot greeted us at the

A couple of weeks ago we were visiting the family in Australia and decided (on a whim) to make a Japanese garden (or as close as we could get). This garden is in Queensland with a backdrop of sugar cane.

“Stop fussing. I feel like a goat being dressed for sacrifice.” Lakshmi moved her head just enough that Aditi couldn't attach the last earring. The crystal pendant swung against her neck. “Oh hush. You

Ilsa ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached from fighting the stiff ocean breeze. The wind brought with it a few rain-filled clouds that settled above the town, dumping their contents in a brief

image source I'm currently in the wilds of Yananashi Prefecture about 2 hours west of Tokyo and posting for the first time on mobile (so this may be a disaster). If it is...sorry! I'll fix it when I'm

“I don’t understand.” Ilsa looked over at Kerrie, but she was staring out the window and wouldn’t meet her eyes. Ilsa followed her gaze. Snow had piled up against the window ledge and frosted the tops

She knew it was illogical—-her father would have rejected the idea as fantasy—-but Ilsa knew the very moment her mother passed away. Her mother had been poorly for some weeks, barely eating, slowly growing

The house did not belong to Kerrie’s son at all. Ilsa quickly worked out who was boss, and it certainly wasn't him. With her son absent for long stretches managing Lord Terrington's highland estate, Ilsa

This story has been removed by the author. If you are a writer, come and join us at @ink-ubator

This story has been removed by the author. If you are a writer, come and join us at @ink-ubator

Welcome to the start of something new. I started this tale as a short story. At the time I thought it would be about 500 words. Then I thought it might grow a little longer. It's heading towards novella

How do you like to write? If you're like me (and let's face it, who isn't? amirite?) life tends to get in the way. Well maybe not life so much as shit--shit tends to happen, and certain things get pushed

I have a confession to make. A couple days ago I made a decision. I was standing in the shower, water pouring down my face and I thought to myself, "Are you serious?" Then I thought to myself,

Hey Steemit. It's been a while. Yeah, I know. I thought I'd better come back and post something before it gets, you know, awkward. Wouldn't want us looking at each other across the room nervously trying

This is my entry for the fiction-workshop's beloved editor resident whip, @CarolKean. Please check out her Mad Cow Contest for more (and definitely better) entries. This particular entry was written hastily

To the lighthouse at the end of the world: I’m being released on Friday. Just thought you should know. You know, before you go inside you think thirty years is a long time—a life sentence—but it really

Playing around with a different voice. When the poodle walked in I was practicing picking my teeth with a Bowie knife. She stopped in the doorway and actually took a step back, knocking the blind that

A note from a crusty old pickle jar: source To whomsover finds this bottle: How long do you think BBQ sauce lasts when used as ink? I only ask because using blood just seems wrong (and none seems to come

At some point during the night Squire StinknZombalot realized his crate was bobbing in the ocean. There’d been the sound of some scuffling, then a bit of argument and not a moment later he’d felt the impact