Another crazy week has come to an end. My mother has had a terrible few weeks with blepharitis and severe eye pain. This condition, combined with her chronic dry eye has made her quality of life very poor. She’s been wearing a hat pulled right down over her eyes and the antibiotic cream made her practically blind. Very worrying for me from a fall risk point of view.
I took her to my optometrist at 7.30am this morning (she squeezed her in) and she now has a whole treatment plan to treat both chronic conditions. I’m hoping she will have no pain and be able to read again soon.
TC has also been in India for the last two weeks. He arrives home this afternoon. When he’s not home I have to do everything so life feels even busier than usual.
This is the main reason why my post is late this week but, as I always say, better late than never.
I’ve put a few challenges together again today.
d’Verse and W3
Nancy’s prompt is to write a poem in four-stanzas with eight syllables per line about a hard-earned accomplishment. You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/06/17/w3-prompt-216-weave-written-weekly/
Lillian’s Tuesday d’Verse challenge is Get out your crayons and come colour with me. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/06/16/get-out-your-crayons-and-come-color-with-me/
I’ve been learning colour theory for my painting. I am very happy with the results and will share a new painting incorporating my new skills soon. In the meantime, here is a poem about colour theory.
Splat and that
world of colour theory opens
mixing and matching a great game
drop of red enhances golden
tones that ignite into bright flame
***
splashing orange into umber
instills richness into brown
change like wakefulness from slumber
remarkable shade turnaround
***
smear of scarlet into China white
uplifts it to the palest pink
now white painted sections look right
retraining mind on how to think
***
Van Dyke brown enhanced with light blue
brings a greater deepness to dark
eye perceives subtle change in hue
enriched pigment resets benchmark
d’Verse and Bird of the Week
De Jackson’s prompt is to write a quadrille (44 word poem) about a myth. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2026/06/15/quadrille-250-mything-poems/
You can join in Bird of the Week here: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/egyptian-goose-birds-of-the-week-invitation-clxxiii/
My poem is about the myths surrounding the African Fish Eagle which I was privileged to see on my recent bush trip.
The Messenger
know as the ‘Voice of Africa’
its iconic yodeling cry
trails across the blue sky
like condensation from planes
African fish eagle
steeped in mythology and folklore
revered in Bantu and Shona traditions
as its carries messages
between the heavens
and the earthly realm
My photographs of the African fish eagle
Sunday Stills and CFFC
Dan’s CFFC challenge is green. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/15/the-crayola-box-of-8-green-cffc/
Terri’s Sunday Still’s challenge is also green. You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/06/14/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-exploring-evergreen-and-wonder-in-the-great-outdoors/
These pictures are typical of the South African bush during autumn (except for the Country Club one).
roberta-writes.com 
Lovely poetry and photos, Robbie. I’m impressed you were able to squeeze it all in while managing everything else. I hope your mother’s condition improves and this new treatment plan is successful. You’re both in our prayers.
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Thank you, Dan. I hope so too. It’s very difficult when she’s unwell and it’s so often lately.
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I hope your mom’s eye situation improves soon. What a worry. I love the animal photos especially the mom and baby hippo. ❤️❤️🦛
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Thank you, Darlene. Getting old is hard. Things go wrong in your body.
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So true. Your mom is lucky to have you close by. Hugs to everyone.
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I love the photos and your poems Robbie..and oh, I hope your mom feels better soon. I too have chronic dry eyes, and I am under a lot of gels, ointments, drops name it..but its working..
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Hi Michelle, dry eye is horrible and it’s also quite common. She has a whole cleaning and treatment programme so I’m sure it will improve. I’m glad to know you are managing with treatments 🤗
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Oh Robbie, life can be so chaotic…! Empathise with your mum, I get that. I have to use drops for dry eye daily and a night time one, I also have a hot compress I use daily.. it all really does help.
Love your colour poem, can’t wait to see your painting, and all your lovely pics etc – fab post Robbie 💞
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Thank you, Suzanne. So many people suffer with dry eye now. It’s air conditioning and computers. I’m glad you have a programme that works.
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It’s part of my fibromyalgia too…. And sun glasses all the time..!
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I hope things improve quickly for you and your Mum, and having TC back will be a huge help.
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Yes, thank you, Clive 🤗
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Oh, I wish your mother a speedy and full recovery, Robbie.
I loved the poems. Can’t wait to see your painting.
And wonderful nature pics. You have a talent for capturing those moments.
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Thank you, Jude. I love animals and the veld.
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thanks Robbie, enjoyed all these, pics and poems; the Indian Fish Eagle is indeed a fine looking bird; love the lines: ‘as it carries messages/ between the heavens/ and the earthly realm’.
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Thank you, John. I was thrilled to see this bird.
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ps will pray for mum; hope she gets better ; hugs 🙂
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Thank you, John. I appreciate that 🙏🤗💖
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I hope your mother is feeling better soon! I’m glad your doctor was able to squeeze her in.
You know how much I love color! Loved the descriptions. The photos are wonderful. How exciting to see that eagle! They are similar to our bald eagles, which always thrill me to see. The ones I see around here, fish, too.
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Hi Merril, African fish eagles are related to American bald eagles. It is always exciting to see one. Thanks for your well wishes.
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You’re welcome, Robbie! xx
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💙
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What a fantastic collection of verse, photos, and life. I hope the new treatments help your mother Robbie.
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Thank you, Brad. I think they will. 🙏🥰
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Beautiful poems and pictures, Robbie! Thank goodness for doctors who care about their patients! I hope your mom starts feeling better soon.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Hi Yvette, the optometrist was so kind and spent a long time testing mom and giving advice.
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I love your coloring poem. I played with crayons and paint this week, too (but I’m not nearly as skilled as you are).
At first I thought your picture of the eagle was a bald eagle. It looks very similar to American bald eagles, but after reading up, I learned they are related, but are different species.
I am praying for your mom. It doesn’t sound fun at all.
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Thank you, Priscilla. Sore eyes is not fun but the drops are already helping. I am really enjoying these new ideas about colour.
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I really enjoyed your colorful poem! The rhyme and rhythm were perfect! And of course, your African wildlife never disappoints!
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I’m delighted you enjoyed this post, Violet
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A great combo of poems and photos! Sorry to hear of the issues your mother is having with her eyes.
I love lots of deep color in my paintings. Love your poem.
Your animal photos are really great!
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Thank you, Dwight. I never thought of mixing colours like brown with a dab of red or blue. That ideas new to me.
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Hi Robbie, I do hope your mother will get better and soon. But lovely photos and verses, all very nice, but the best is the photos of the African fish eagle. Could it be Abdu?
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So sorry to har about your Mom
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My thoughts go with your mother. I know about severe eye pain and related issues. Love the pictures.
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We like your poem about colour 👍 👍, dear Roberta
All the best to your mother.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I hope the new treatment plan will make your mother more comfortable. I found your color theory poem interesting and informative.
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I do send my best wishes for your mother Robbie and love the eagle shots!
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I love your colour poems. I could visualize those effects.
The fish eagle looks similar to our bald eagle, but distinctively different.
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Many thanks, Roberta, for your various information:) I very much understand the problems of your mother, because I have the same ones! I wish your mother all the best. I also love your poem “The Messager” and the yodeling cry of the African fish eagle and the various pictures from your surrounding!
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I made a special trip to the Boise zoo to see fish eagles when I was creating a tribal creature for my Lanternfish trilogy. They’re pretty amazing birds. PS: I don’t think that’s a hippo in the bush.
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Robbie, I’m glad you were able to get your mom into the optometrist and hope the treatment gives her some relief. Love all the poems and photos, but have to chime in with Craig about the “hippo” in the bush. 🙂
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The very best of health for your mom, Roberta.
I like your splash of color in poetry and how lucky you could spot the Fish Eagle! Beautiful photo.
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Sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she does better soon. That eagle does look capable of carrying messages from the heavenly realm!
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Sending prayers for your mother and for TC’s safe return home.
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Fantastic poetry and pictures, Roberta! This post shows how talented you are. 😍 I sure hope your mom does as good as possible with her treatment. 💖🙏
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Very sorry to hear about your mother’s current health problems, Robbie. Hope the new treatment plan works.
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That must be so miserable for your poor mother. alas old age does bring with it various parts of us not working or healing as they used to.
My husband wasn’t away often or for long, but it felt like a bit of a holiday when he returned, especially if anything had gone wrong while he was away!
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I am so sorry about your mom’s eye conditions. I wish her a speedy recovery. The poems are beautiful and the Fish Eagle poem is fascinating. I did not know that Fish Eagle’s are called Voice of Africa. The photos are amazing and a lot of fun to look at. However, I assume the last photo should say “Rhino in the bush” rather than “Hippo in the bush”.
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I’m happy to read your mom has a treatment plan, Robbie. Head and eye pain can be so debilitating. Lovey poetry and green photos of animals enjoying their environments. The fish eagle look so much like the American Bald Eagle! Your poem captures the reverence of the Fish Eagle in many ways like poetry written for the Bald Eagle. Very cool tradition!
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I’ve loved studying colour theory in my time so I utterly enjoyed your poem, Robbie! Glad you’re having fun with it. And my goodness, your photos are amazing. It must be incredible where you live!
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