I’m late this week. I had planned to post this last night but I had a three-hour art class in the morning and then I had to take Mom back to the optometrist for more tests and to chose new frames for her two new pairs of glasses. My mother loves shopping and she can not be hurried, and shouldn’t be because she enjoys it so much, so she tried on just about every frame in the shop. We chose two really lovely frames and she is very happy. I was exhausted when we got home at 4pm as I learned a new technique at art which was quite difficult to implement initially (I’ve got the hang of it now) and then all the traffic and stress of the tests. The good news is the technique looks really good on my current painting and Mom’s eyes are doing a lot better.
Tanka Tuesday
Willow asked poets to write a tanka poem about a photograph that brings to mind a particular memory. You can join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2026/06/30/tanka-tuesday-challenge-71-photo-tanka-photo-tanka-6-30-26/
This photograph of a gold roses cake I made for my mother’s birthday some years ago is the inspiration for this poem.
The Invastion (double tanka prose)
Whenever I see a shoebox, I am reminded of cockroaches. During the height of my cake making phase, I used to make a lot of fondant flowers. To create the cupped shape of the various flowers, I moulded tinfoil into a bowl shape of the correct size for the flower and carefully arranged the flower inside. I then placed the flowers inside a shoebox and left them to dry for at least a week. Some layered flowers, like roses, took me three weeks to a month to make as I gradually added additional petal layers week by week. I kept a collection of empty shoe boxes in my pantry and used them when I needed them. There were at least ten piled up on a shelf at any given time. Early one summer, I noticed we had several cockroaches in the kitchen. I set some cockroach traps around the room but the problem continued to escalate. A few weeks later, I decided to clear out the entire pantry in an attempt to get rid of the cockroaches. When I brought down the shoeboxes, I discovered they had been adopted as cockroach nests and the boxes were full of these nasty, little creatures. The boxes were disposed of, the pantry cleaned from top to toe, and cockroach traps set just about everywhere. This did bring an end to the invasion but I have never recovered from the horror of discovering all those revolving insects inside those shoeboxes. I no longer collect shoeboxes and am paranoid about cleaning under the fridges and stoves to ensure no unwanted visitors gain a foothold in my kitchen.
peaceful neighbourhood
twenty-four hour food service
attracts cockroach guests
unappealing as they are
nature always has her way
***
taking precautions
to keep insect world in check
part of normal life
should these creatures disappear
world as we know it would end
CFFC
Dan’s CFFC challenge this week is brown. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/06/29/the-crayola-box-of-8-brown-cffc/
Terri’s Flower Hour
When I went shopping this morning I saw this gorgeous King Protea flower. I bought it to photograph with a view to paining it. Terri’s The Flower Hour prompt is patriotic florals. The Giant or King protea is the national flower of South Africa.
You can join in here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/06/30/the-flower-hour-37-patriotic-florals/
roberta-writes.com 
Every mother should have a daughter as loving as you Robbie!
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Thank you, Wayne. Mom is very happy with her new glasses. I took her shopping this morning to get a new jacket to wear with them. She likes to look good 👌💙
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I’m happy to hear your mother is doing better, Robbie!
Cockroaches–ewww!
Great animal and flower photos. I don’t know of the King Protea flower, but I can see why it would be your national flower!
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Thank you, Merril. The King sprites is very stunning.
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You’re welcome, Robbie!
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That optometrist visit sounds long but successful, Robbie. And love the creature photos!
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Thank you, Dave 💞
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All that work making the petals followed by the shock of seeing all those cockroaches. I had a creepy experience with the beach hut one spring. We do use it in winter, but not often. I had not left any food in there, but when I opened up I saw mouse droppings and discovered they had been nesting in the trunk where we keep rugs and cushions. I threw out stuff, then next time came armed with cleaning gear. I was just about to take a cushion down to the bin but it started moving, there was a mouse inside. I couldn’t put him in the bin which he could not escape from, so put the cushion in the undergrowth behind the huts to give him a chance!
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Cockroaches are just the worst!! I’m so glad I no longer have to deal with them. How absolutely awful that they ruined your fondant creations. I love the wildlife photos! The first one seems to be posing for the camera. (Hello, there, beautiful . . . )
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I looked up how big King Protea flowers are. No wonder they are “king”! Enjoy painting it, Robbie! Your poem speaks the truth. We don’t want the insects with us, but we can’t live without them.
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These are gorgeous animal and flower photos Robbie. And your tanka is creative and surprisingly tame considering the cockroach story!
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Wow. Great shots especially stunning, the lion portrait from the side.
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Your fondant flowers are beautiful, Roberta, and so are your photos of creatures and flowers! Your meaningful tanka is fantastic!
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The story gives me goosebumps. The photos are delightful, especially the two close-ups. Well done.
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great pics, Robbie, and that cake ! yummm, lucky mum.; glad she got herself sorted; I love your ‘ode’ to cockroaches; such an unappealing subject: never thought of them in that way before —
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You are a great daughter! I am sure your mother appreciates that you don’t try to rush her.
Cockroaches are a nasty pest and they multiply so fast. Ants can be bad also.
Great photos. I love the last one of the male lion!
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Hi Dwight, thank you for your lovely comment. That lion is the one I plan to paint.
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I was wondering about that! Can’t wait to see it!
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I wear glasses so I get the try on phase of it! Time well spent, Robbie! Love the animal pics, the lion looks so regal! Hate the idea of anything to do with cockroaches! Ugh! When we lived in San Diego for time, in a condo, we discovered they could FLY! The floral you chose is quite stunning, it looks very large!
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Hi Terri, I like this lion picture. It is a magnificent lion. King Proteas are about 15 cm from the bottom of the flower to the tips off the petals.
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Ouch! I hate cockroaches in the house. I’m glad you caught them and cleaned the house. Lovely poem and pictures Robbie
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Yes, cockroaches are horrid little things but they have their place in this world.
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Yes they do. And they better stay outside where they belong
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Phew! There’s a lot happening in this post, Robbie. A good friend has a 90 year old mum who still delights to shop so I feel your pain. The same friend is having cockroach issues. Disgusting things! Let’s move on to happier stuff like that gorgeous cake, and the protea xx
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Tell your friend to check inside all boxes 😂🤣. The animals and proteas are divine 👌💚
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awww…so happy to hear your mother is doing well Robbie…I’ve lost my mom just recently and I know how it feels to fear losing a loved one.
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I am really sorry to learn of your loss, Michelle. Huge hugs 🤗
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I’m glad your mother is doing well, and that she has beautiful new glasses.
What a horrid experience with the cockroaches. They are amazing insects, but not in one’s pantry!
Beautiful photos, and thoughtful tanks.
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Robbie, I’m happy to hear that your mom is better. This is an all around lovely post. The protea is pretty and fascinating. I’ve only seen one in person once. All the animals are stunning, but that lion is magnificent. Hugs.
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With pests like that we try and get rid of them, a bit like ants. Possibly because we do not like them invading our homes.
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So much happening here, Robbie. I’m glad your mom is doing better, and your photos are stunning.
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Beautiful poem, Robbie..I.agree that though unwelcome, cochroaches have their place in the earth’s eco-systems.
The King Protea flower is amazing. Wonderful gallery and share.
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I have lived in several states that are just havens for cockroaches- so I can only imagine how hard it was not to just throw the box when you saw what it contained! heheheh My heart breaks for all of your fondant work – you are so absolutely gifted in that arena!
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The national flower of South Africa is beautiful! I can only imagine the horror of discovering the cockroaches in the shoe boxes. Your poem depicts the invasion well. Super animal photos, especially the lion.
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All excellent, apart from those cockroaches (so difficult to kill those… I know too well), but the best is that gorgeous lion (wow).
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Busy day – and yet you create this lovely post! 🥰
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Thank goodness your mom is feeling better. ❤️ Beautiful poem and great photos, Robbie — thank you for sharing! Hugs….
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Shopping is often exhausting for me, but it’s wonderful that you were able to let your mother take her time and enjoy herself. I love the wildlife photos, especially the lion profile at the end. When we lived further south, keeping the big cockroaches at bay took a lot of effort. I still make sure I don’t leave food out.
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