February’s Theme

I’ve decided to launch my own ‘theme’ posts, so that if any particular blogger was stuck for a little inspiration, or just needed a quick prompt for a cheeky post, they would hopefully have a go at using my theme.

I know there are plenty of bloggers out there who provide this kind of post option, but I’m trying to make mine a little different in the fact that the theme runs for a whole month, rather than weekly (although depending on how popular it gets, this may change!).

There aren’t any rules, just a few guidelines:

Write a post (or more, if your imagination is well and truly fired!) based on the theme I provide. The post can take any form / genre / length you choose.
Link your post to the post on this blog (Beyond the Sphere) that introduces the theme for the month (so basically, THIS POST for February’s theme!)
Visit other bloggers who take part, and read their interpretation of the theme.
And that’s it! Oh, and if you could pass the word on, that would be lovely. The more the merrier after all!

The theme for February is:

…and they say romance is dead…

Well, it is the month of Hallo Valentine’s Day, after all…! Write your post and link it to this one between 1st and 29th February 2016.

Jan 29, 2016

Feel GOOD!, Monthly Theme

27 responses to “February’s Theme”

CMStewart

Jan 29, 2016

Grand inspiration for Valentine’s Day, Tom! 😉 I’ll see what I will do…

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Jan 29, 2016
  
  I look forward to seeing what you do, CM! 😀
  
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  1. CMStewart
    
    Feb 14, 2016
    
    Ta-Da! https://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/and-they-said-romance-was-dead/
    
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    1. Tom Merriman
      
      Feb 14, 2016
      
      Thanks for taking part, CM! That art creator site is a bit nifty!
      
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Visionkeeper

Jan 29, 2016

I’ve been alone so long I forget what romance is, well romance between mates anyway. In some ways it is nice to be free to do what I wish when I wish, on the other hand it can get lonely at times, especially when times are rough and there is no one there to get your back. Good thing I am resourceful, a good trait to have I think. Of course I also have Spirit who is there at all times helping things turn out as they are supposed to, for my growth and potential. We are never really alone in the true sense of the word. I believe romance can occur in many situations, as to me it means a stirring of ones heart in a caring and compassionate way. I believe one can even have a romance with nature. It comes in many forms and packages. A handsome man, a beautiful woman, very close friends, a joining with nature’s beauty etc.

Take the ‘Catamance’ I have established between myself and one of my two cats, Elliott and Miss Maymay. Elliott can be a real pain as he is a somewhat aggressive cat, he may be soft and fuzzy but not his behavior. I do love him but he is not big in promoting a Catamance with me. He tends to bite and scratch unexpectedly.He’s not into being touched a lot! But Miss Maymay! Talk about a love bug. I got her at a shelter when she was a very wee baby and had just had surgery for an impacted hairball upon arriving at the shelter. What the heck was that all about? She was lovable from the get go. She is from the Bengal breed of house cat and like her name says, she has the markings of a Bengal tiger. She is brown with distinct swirls of jet black in circular patterns on her sides, but when you stand her up and expose her tummy she has all spots. But I stray from what I was to be talking about. Romance.

How could you not call it romance when every night when you go upstairs to get ready for bed, she follows and sits at my feet while I brush my teeth, then scurries quickly into the bedroom and sits waiting on the bed until I get in there, like it’s a game. Once settled in bed and covers hiked up high about my neck against the cold, I always feel faint footsteps as she quietly and gently crawls up and settles in, half on top of me and half off, just enough so we feel each others energy. Soon she is fast asleep sawing wood or whatever cats do to make them snore. Each morning when I go down to feed them and get some juice, there she sits in her special cardboard box she covets, waiting patiently for breakfast. Actually she does the same for dinner. It is 100% cuteness. She sits in the box so still and rigid in anticipation. I call her statue when she does this. She loves to climb up in my lap when I am writing at the computer. Not always easy to pay attention to both, but she purrs loud enough to keep my attention. Unfortunately, I always end up petting her and then my keyboard becomes fuzzy with her fur and one day soon will probably ignite into flame if I don’t clean it out. Every spring and early summer she becomes ‘Garden Girl’. She loves to follow me to the garden after it has been tilled and I go out to plant the seeds. She flops onto the freshly turned soil and flips back and forth on her side. If I ask her if she wants to be garden girl during the summer when I weed, she runs to the door and waits to go out. She loves it. I guess she loves me and I certainly love her and we definitely have a Catamance going on. Does a Catamance count as a romance TL? Catamance is alive and well 🙂 VK

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Jan 29, 2016
  
  Catamance sounds good to me, VK… and yes, there is a special connection that can be felt between feline and human at times. Yes, some people say they only want food, but when they come for cuddles after being fed, there’s more to it than that!
  
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Visionkeeper

Jan 29, 2016

Thanks TL…I think you too have a soft spot for cats…They are unique and actually quite giving despite their reputation…

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Jan 29, 2016
  
  What, with Spudley (bless), Simba, Splodge, Jasper, Frobisher, Shadow… nah. I don’t know what you mean, VK! 😉
  
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aFrankAngle

Jan 30, 2016

Oh boy … not my writing style. Meanwhile, thanks for the link to the moonbow. Cheers to phones having a camera … or is it a camera that has a phone?

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Jan 30, 2016
  
  It could be absolutely anything that ties or links into the theme, Frank, it’s not just for stories or flash fiction or the like. I’m just trying to build up connections.
  And yes – it’s very handy nowadays that phones come with cameras, all we need now, though, is to be in the right place at the right time with them! And then capture a grainy shot of it! (in my case, although I am getting better!) 😉
  
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And they say romance is dead – Beyond the Sphere

Feb 1, 2016

[…] Tom Merriman on February’s Theme […]

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Just Being Tomanova – Beyond the Sphere

Feb 2, 2016

[…] And they say romance… on February’s Theme […]

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Sherri

Feb 3, 2016

Great idea Tom! Not sure if I can manage it with my writing deadlines pressing in, but if not and either way, I look forward to reading the entries 🙂

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Feb 3, 2016
  
  No worries, Sherri, I understand – I don’t know if it’ll work, but I have to give it a go.
  I look forward to reading the entries as well… we’ll see! 🙂
  
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…And They Say Romance Is Dead… | Diane Henders

Feb 10, 2016

[…] thanks to my blogging buddy, Tom Merriman, for inviting everyone to participate in his February blogging theme. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up fast, it seemed like a perfect fit for today’s […]

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Valentine Sucks! – Beyond the Sphere

Feb 11, 2016

[…] …And They Say… on February’s Theme […]

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A Little More And They Say Romance Is Dead | Beth Younker

Feb 13, 2016

[…] Henders, rather than try to reinvent the proverbial wheel, I’m going to go with the theme from Tom Merriman’s blog in honor of Valentine’s Day, also known to some of my closest friends as Singles Appreciation […]

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“…and they said romance was dead…” | CMStewartWrite

Feb 14, 2016

[…] Not sure who “they” are, but fellow writer (and magical castle-dweller) Tom Merriman put forth this challenge. […]

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Kathy Simmons

Feb 14, 2016

Happy Valetine’s Dhttps://nynkblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/you-get-what-you-pay-for-2/ay! Enjoy…

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Feb 14, 2016
  
  Hi Kathy! Thanks for contributing!
  A very funny story!
  
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  1. Kathy Simmons
    
    Feb 14, 2016
    
    Thanks Tom!
    
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Kathy Simmons

Feb 14, 2016

Happy Valentine’s Day!
https://nynkblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/you-get-what-you-pay-for-2/

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badfish

Feb 19, 2016

Love the idea…may try to join in if time allows (I just posted my first post in almost a month)…

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Feb 19, 2016
  
  Hey, Badfish! Welcome!
  And no worries – I know what time’s like!
  I’m planning on having these themes run for the whole of each month, so that gives a little more time – in theory!
  And thanks! You reminded me that I needed to add the theme link widget back to my main page, which I’ve done now!
  
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And they said romance was dead… Not a chance! | CMStewartWrite

Feb 29, 2016

[…] of the year, I give you part 2 (part 1 can be found here) of my pair-up challenge by doubling up Tom Merriman’s challenge with a goldfish’s challenge (click here for the prelude of this […]

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CMStewart

Feb 29, 2016

Here I go again!: https://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/and-they-said-romance-was-dead-not-a-chance/ 🙂

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Feb 29, 2016
  
  And thank you once again, CM! Love your twist to this tale!
  
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