The verdant hillside rippled with the last of the day’s heat, the scent of fresh turned earth and olive trees carried on the breeze. Lizza sat alone in the cantina, sipping wine and watching as both tourists and workers arrived, taking seats throughout the patio.
As the sun set a delicate fragrance caught her attention, Jasmine, one of her favorites; she hadn’t noticed before True Jasmine planted throughout the courtyard. She considered the rest of the courtyard, Oleander out front, Belladonna and Foxglove in planters on all the windows.
What had she stepped into? Just then, her dinner was served.
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This week’s word is Cantina. The word limit is 100 words. This one comes in at 100.
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QBG_Tilted Tiara 
This is very interesting. I really enjoyed it.
Glad you did, they are written for pleasure.
The questions keep coming: had this cantina been recommended? Was there an alternative motive? Is she in Hell and doesn’t know it? Maybe she arrived in the Twilight Zone by mistake? Or went One Step Beyond?
Love how you twist it up.
I am so glad you enjoyed this one, I certainly had fun writing it. It does lead one to wonder, what is happening and why are so many there for a meal, why?
Oh no, poison where there’s food!
What did she say? Take a walk on the wild side….. 😉
Neat! A completely poisonous garden… where food is served. Love this!
I was feeling, well a tad peckish.
😉
There’s something satisfying about freshly turned earth and the ground after rain
Especially once you figure out you are surrounded by poison flowers 😉
Sounds like the beginning of a movie “The Killing Cantina” … or “The Poison Cantina” 🙂
Verdant … definitely a great word, but, sadly, not easy to work into everyday conversation.
I know, right? There are some words you only get to use in writing, I think that is one.
After PBS shows like Frontline, they reference the sponsoring MacArthur foundation, “committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.” I always think how nice that sounds!
Oh, I want to figure out how to use it in a conversation. But I am afraid. I live in Texas don’t you know, I think most people I am around and talk to might think I am cursing them in Spanish.
😉
I can imagine! There are several words I see in writing that I never hear spoken: diaphanous, insouciance, susurrus …then some words all of a sudden get “discovered” and subsequently overused: epitome and epiphany are two that my brother-in-law loves to use inappropriately. Also, “literally.” Ugh. Hmm, this could be a blog topic for me.
I will await this topic from you with breath baited!
I love the description of the fragrance of flowers. I have jasmine in my patio and the scent is so strong, but hopefully it’s not true jasmine. Yikes. Interesting that the Cantina’s growing these particular flowers. One can only deduce that this is going to be a mystery of sorts. Hmm…
Monica, I also love the smell of Jasmine. Isn’t it strange how some of the most beguiling and lovely things in nature are also the most fatal.
I am so in LOVE with this garden. Maybe you should come out and help me plant one in my yard! I think I could put it to good use 😉
You have children, you do not want this garden! But I hear you, sometimes I think this would be a spectacular garden myself.
XX
Maybe I should plant it at my sister’s house. She is kidless…and really smart…and looks so horribly innocent she might be the one I can nudge into my dirty garden work after the harvest!
Now now, don’t encourage bad behavior.
hahahaha…..
Hey great Val. I am always anticipating your punchline. Very clever.
Now you know what not to plant in your garden 🙂
Val, You are wonderful. and when you get around to reading last nights post, you will know my position on the matter of yard work, I cant wait to hear your reaction.
I get the feeling that many of my pics sparked this thought! 🙂 ….. Great imagery.
That is indeed true Eric. That and the idea of sitting solitary as the winds blew down from a vinyard or an olive grove. I just needed to be twisted about it. 😉
Indeed – what has she stepped into 🙂
Peace my dear,
Eric
I would press the ‘Like’ but it isn’t working,
it does that on my Space too so I have no idea
why that happens, even my reader is not
functioning properly on my Space, which is
also a PITA 😦 Be good tonight, like me 🙂
Andro xxxx
Just refresh the page. It acts up now and again.
I love this one Val, it has all the beauty of your
writing and the wickedness just at the end, I had a
little giggle over that one, and how delightfully
woven, it is truly magnificent my sweet friend 🙂 🙂
Andro xxxx
Thank you Andro. I wonder how many people will know how truly wicked it is 😉
Val, I don’t want to ask but I read it three times I read all the comments and I googled some stuff. It really was beautiful written. I did the work I promise so can you just tell me what she stepped in it. you can message it to me if you don’t want it on your page. You should probably leave my comment. Your followers will know you don’t look down on the foolish haha love you Val
True Jasmine, Oleander, Belladonna and Foxglove are all poison. Each and every one of those lovely flowering plants could kill you.