Barbara McVeigh
@barbaramcveigh.bsky.social
Writer, teacher-librarian, ESL advocate & cycling ambassador. SSAC completist. ❤️ my Brompton.
https://barbaramcveigh.weebly.com/
https://barbaramcveigh.weebly.com/
#TheGhostBoxIV
“The Extremophile” by Christian Bök
This excerpt left me wondering where the story goes from here? 😱
Loved The Ghost Box IV. Lots of thrills in this edition. Just the way we like it.
Hopefully it returns next year…Or we can play Ghost Box roulette like I’m doing with the ssac. 😁
“The Extremophile” by Christian Bök
This excerpt left me wondering where the story goes from here? 😱
Loved The Ghost Box IV. Lots of thrills in this edition. Just the way we like it.
Hopefully it returns next year…Or we can play Ghost Box roulette like I’m doing with the ssac. 😁
November 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
#TheGhostBoxIV
“The Extremophile” by Christian Bök
This excerpt left me wondering where the story goes from here? 😱
Loved The Ghost Box IV. Lots of thrills in this edition. Just the way we like it.
Hopefully it returns next year…Or we can play Ghost Box roulette like I’m doing with the ssac. 😁
“The Extremophile” by Christian Bök
This excerpt left me wondering where the story goes from here? 😱
Loved The Ghost Box IV. Lots of thrills in this edition. Just the way we like it.
Hopefully it returns next year…Or we can play Ghost Box roulette like I’m doing with the ssac. 😁
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
November 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
A story Stoppard told several times, in several places:
November 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A story Stoppard told several times, in several places:
“I was far from pleased to be encountering compatriots in foreign lands” (174).
Me, too. Why?
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
Me, too. Why?
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
November 29, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“I was far from pleased to be encountering compatriots in foreign lands” (174).
Me, too. Why?
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
Me, too. Why?
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
Two more sleeps! #ssac2025
Let’s celebrate the history of our beloved Short Story Advent Calendar in the days leading up to the #12DaysofStories #12DoS2025
From December 1st to 12th, I’ll let fate decide which year & which date to pull from the previous SSACs. I’ll post the results by 7 a.m. EST 🤞
Let’s celebrate the history of our beloved Short Story Advent Calendar in the days leading up to the #12DaysofStories #12DoS2025
From December 1st to 12th, I’ll let fate decide which year & which date to pull from the previous SSACs. I’ll post the results by 7 a.m. EST 🤞
November 29, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Two more sleeps! #ssac2025
Let’s celebrate the history of our beloved Short Story Advent Calendar in the days leading up to the #12DaysofStories #12DoS2025
From December 1st to 12th, I’ll let fate decide which year & which date to pull from the previous SSACs. I’ll post the results by 7 a.m. EST 🤞
Let’s celebrate the history of our beloved Short Story Advent Calendar in the days leading up to the #12DaysofStories #12DoS2025
From December 1st to 12th, I’ll let fate decide which year & which date to pull from the previous SSACs. I’ll post the results by 7 a.m. EST 🤞
Day 16: #teawithtracie
Perky Peach - a black tea with peach & apricot flavours. I added sugar even before tasting as I wanted a full fruity sweetness.
Look! I had a tea party. Someone was in the mood to try a “foo-foo” tea 😆
Perky Peach - a black tea with peach & apricot flavours. I added sugar even before tasting as I wanted a full fruity sweetness.
Look! I had a tea party. Someone was in the mood to try a “foo-foo” tea 😆
November 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Day 16: #teawithtracie
Perky Peach - a black tea with peach & apricot flavours. I added sugar even before tasting as I wanted a full fruity sweetness.
Look! I had a tea party. Someone was in the mood to try a “foo-foo” tea 😆
Perky Peach - a black tea with peach & apricot flavours. I added sugar even before tasting as I wanted a full fruity sweetness.
Look! I had a tea party. Someone was in the mood to try a “foo-foo” tea 😆
#TheGhostBoxIV
“Unseen-Unfeared” by Francis Stevens (the pen name of Gertrude Barrows Bennett)
“One good thing I could do, if one only. I could abolish my monster-creating self” (19).
Wonder if Guillermo del Toro has read this one. The monsters around us, in us, created by us.
“Unseen-Unfeared” by Francis Stevens (the pen name of Gertrude Barrows Bennett)
“One good thing I could do, if one only. I could abolish my monster-creating self” (19).
Wonder if Guillermo del Toro has read this one. The monsters around us, in us, created by us.
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
#TheGhostBoxIV
“Unseen-Unfeared” by Francis Stevens (the pen name of Gertrude Barrows Bennett)
“One good thing I could do, if one only. I could abolish my monster-creating self” (19).
Wonder if Guillermo del Toro has read this one. The monsters around us, in us, created by us.
“Unseen-Unfeared” by Francis Stevens (the pen name of Gertrude Barrows Bennett)
“One good thing I could do, if one only. I could abolish my monster-creating self” (19).
Wonder if Guillermo del Toro has read this one. The monsters around us, in us, created by us.
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
As a follow-up to my previous post, if you have never seen the performance of “Fairytale of New York” at Shane McGowan's funeral, you are in for a beautiful moment. Led by Glen Hansard & Lisa O’Neill, along with members of The Pogues, it's a great tribute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8l...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8l...
'Fairytale of New York' played at Shane MacGowan's funeral
YouTube video by RTÉ News
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
As a follow-up to my previous post, if you have never seen the performance of “Fairytale of New York” at Shane McGowan's funeral, you are in for a beautiful moment. Led by Glen Hansard & Lisa O’Neill, along with members of The Pogues, it's a great tribute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8l...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8l...
Day 15: #teawithtracie
Morning Hustle: English breakfast with an Irish kick: burgundy & malt.
What I needed for my on-the-run-don’t-have-time-for-a-whole-cup morning.
Morning Hustle: English breakfast with an Irish kick: burgundy & malt.
What I needed for my on-the-run-don’t-have-time-for-a-whole-cup morning.
November 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Day 15: #teawithtracie
Morning Hustle: English breakfast with an Irish kick: burgundy & malt.
What I needed for my on-the-run-don’t-have-time-for-a-whole-cup morning.
Morning Hustle: English breakfast with an Irish kick: burgundy & malt.
What I needed for my on-the-run-don’t-have-time-for-a-whole-cup morning.
#TheGhostBoxIV
Day 9: “The Sea Was Wet as Wet Could Be” by Gahan Wilson
Beware the “connoisseur of smiles” (7) !
First published in Playboy in 1967 - reflective of the times and still a terrific, contemporary story.
When I finished it, I thought: That was a really bad trip. Wow!
Day 9: “The Sea Was Wet as Wet Could Be” by Gahan Wilson
Beware the “connoisseur of smiles” (7) !
First published in Playboy in 1967 - reflective of the times and still a terrific, contemporary story.
When I finished it, I thought: That was a really bad trip. Wow!
November 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
#TheGhostBoxIV
Day 9: “The Sea Was Wet as Wet Could Be” by Gahan Wilson
Beware the “connoisseur of smiles” (7) !
First published in Playboy in 1967 - reflective of the times and still a terrific, contemporary story.
When I finished it, I thought: That was a really bad trip. Wow!
Day 9: “The Sea Was Wet as Wet Could Be” by Gahan Wilson
Beware the “connoisseur of smiles” (7) !
First published in Playboy in 1967 - reflective of the times and still a terrific, contemporary story.
When I finished it, I thought: That was a really bad trip. Wow!
Combo post
#TheGhostBoxIV story 8
#teawithtracie day 14
“The Lady’s Maid’s Bell” by Edith Wharton - I love a good gothic ghost story - and this is one!
“Mmm Maple” Black tea, calendula & sunflower petals & real maple syrup. Only when I added milk did the maple flavour come out.
#TheGhostBoxIV story 8
#teawithtracie day 14
“The Lady’s Maid’s Bell” by Edith Wharton - I love a good gothic ghost story - and this is one!
“Mmm Maple” Black tea, calendula & sunflower petals & real maple syrup. Only when I added milk did the maple flavour come out.
November 28, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Combo post
#TheGhostBoxIV story 8
#teawithtracie day 14
“The Lady’s Maid’s Bell” by Edith Wharton - I love a good gothic ghost story - and this is one!
“Mmm Maple” Black tea, calendula & sunflower petals & real maple syrup. Only when I added milk did the maple flavour come out.
#TheGhostBoxIV story 8
#teawithtracie day 14
“The Lady’s Maid’s Bell” by Edith Wharton - I love a good gothic ghost story - and this is one!
“Mmm Maple” Black tea, calendula & sunflower petals & real maple syrup. Only when I added milk did the maple flavour come out.
Day 13 teawithtracie.ca
#teawithtracie
Mint Truffle
Tracie lists the ingredients as: black tea, blackberry leaves and peppermint. Where the heck does the chocolate flavour come from?
No sugar, no milk - My God it does taste like chocolate mint! Wowee!
#teawithtracie
Mint Truffle
Tracie lists the ingredients as: black tea, blackberry leaves and peppermint. Where the heck does the chocolate flavour come from?
No sugar, no milk - My God it does taste like chocolate mint! Wowee!
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Day 13 teawithtracie.ca
#teawithtracie
Mint Truffle
Tracie lists the ingredients as: black tea, blackberry leaves and peppermint. Where the heck does the chocolate flavour come from?
No sugar, no milk - My God it does taste like chocolate mint! Wowee!
#teawithtracie
Mint Truffle
Tracie lists the ingredients as: black tea, blackberry leaves and peppermint. Where the heck does the chocolate flavour come from?
No sugar, no milk - My God it does taste like chocolate mint! Wowee!
#TheGhostBoxIV
“Don’t Go into the Woods Alone” by Gabino Islesias
Thought it would be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, then Hansel & Gretel…
Deliciously creepy.
“Don’t Go into the Woods Alone” by Gabino Islesias
Thought it would be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, then Hansel & Gretel…
Deliciously creepy.
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
#TheGhostBoxIV
“Don’t Go into the Woods Alone” by Gabino Islesias
Thought it would be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, then Hansel & Gretel…
Deliciously creepy.
“Don’t Go into the Woods Alone” by Gabino Islesias
Thought it would be a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, then Hansel & Gretel…
Deliciously creepy.
Day 12: teawithtracie.ca
Merry & Bright black tea with pear, plum & ice wine flavours.
Needed a kick of sugar, ergo the sugar bowl in the picture.
Very nice tea. Also contains apple pieces, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, amaranth and safflower petals.
Merry & Bright black tea with pear, plum & ice wine flavours.
Needed a kick of sugar, ergo the sugar bowl in the picture.
Very nice tea. Also contains apple pieces, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, amaranth and safflower petals.
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Day 12: teawithtracie.ca
Merry & Bright black tea with pear, plum & ice wine flavours.
Needed a kick of sugar, ergo the sugar bowl in the picture.
Very nice tea. Also contains apple pieces, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, amaranth and safflower petals.
Merry & Bright black tea with pear, plum & ice wine flavours.
Needed a kick of sugar, ergo the sugar bowl in the picture.
Very nice tea. Also contains apple pieces, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, amaranth and safflower petals.
“Brief Scenes of a Noxious Nativity” in #TheGhostBoxIV from H&O
It’s a three-page excerpt of the eco-thriller Momma Durtt. I needed this excerpt to be longer.
It’s a three-page excerpt of the eco-thriller Momma Durtt. I needed this excerpt to be longer.
November 25, 2025 at 12:54 PM
“Brief Scenes of a Noxious Nativity” in #TheGhostBoxIV from H&O
It’s a three-page excerpt of the eco-thriller Momma Durtt. I needed this excerpt to be longer.
It’s a three-page excerpt of the eco-thriller Momma Durtt. I needed this excerpt to be longer.
Six more sleeps until the best day of the year: December 1 - the start of a multitude of advent calendars.
Join us in celebrating The Best one: the Short Story Advent Calendar. #ssac2025
Join us in celebrating The Best one: the Short Story Advent Calendar. #ssac2025
Twelve more days until we start the unofficial #ssac2025!
=Short Story Advent Calendar 2025
For the first 12 days of December, we’ll revisit previous editions of the SSAC by spinning two wheels to pick a random story. I’ll post the year and date on Bluesky. 1/2
=Short Story Advent Calendar 2025
For the first 12 days of December, we’ll revisit previous editions of the SSAC by spinning two wheels to pick a random story. I’ll post the year and date on Bluesky. 1/2
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Six more sleeps until the best day of the year: December 1 - the start of a multitude of advent calendars.
Join us in celebrating The Best one: the Short Story Advent Calendar. #ssac2025
Join us in celebrating The Best one: the Short Story Advent Calendar. #ssac2025
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
Never mind those pesky clouds, look there! You can see the corn moon all glowy behind them. The corn moon is here for you! Love the corn moon, it loves you. Late summer is beautiful, is it not?
Gone Lawn 61, here you go!
gonelawn.net/journal/issu...
Gone Lawn 61, here you go!
gonelawn.net/journal/issu...
September 6, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Never mind those pesky clouds, look there! You can see the corn moon all glowy behind them. The corn moon is here for you! Love the corn moon, it loves you. Late summer is beautiful, is it not?
Gone Lawn 61, here you go!
gonelawn.net/journal/issu...
Gone Lawn 61, here you go!
gonelawn.net/journal/issu...
Day 11: teawithtracie.ca
Irish cream - black tea, blackberry leaves, calendula petals, sunflower and cornflower. Served with milk!
It is very hot, being a black tea, even with the milk. I’m waiting for it to cool so I can take a sip…
It definitely has a creamy taste!
Irish cream - black tea, blackberry leaves, calendula petals, sunflower and cornflower. Served with milk!
It is very hot, being a black tea, even with the milk. I’m waiting for it to cool so I can take a sip…
It definitely has a creamy taste!
November 24, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Day 11: teawithtracie.ca
Irish cream - black tea, blackberry leaves, calendula petals, sunflower and cornflower. Served with milk!
It is very hot, being a black tea, even with the milk. I’m waiting for it to cool so I can take a sip…
It definitely has a creamy taste!
Irish cream - black tea, blackberry leaves, calendula petals, sunflower and cornflower. Served with milk!
It is very hot, being a black tea, even with the milk. I’m waiting for it to cool so I can take a sip…
It definitely has a creamy taste!
”WIKIPEDIA
As far as I can tell, this is mankind’s most honest cognitive project” (72).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
As far as I can tell, this is mankind’s most honest cognitive project” (72).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
November 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
”WIKIPEDIA
As far as I can tell, this is mankind’s most honest cognitive project” (72).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
As far as I can tell, this is mankind’s most honest cognitive project” (72).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
”Fluidity, mobility, illusoriness—these are precisely the qualities that make us civilized. Barbarians don’t travel. They simply go to destinations or conduct raids” (52).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
”Fluidity, mobility, illusoriness—these are precisely the qualities that make us civilized. Barbarians don’t travel. They simply go to destinations or conduct raids” (52).
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
#Tokarczuk25 #OlgaTokarczuk #Flights
#TheGhostBoxIV from H&O
“The Three Infernal Jokes” by Lord Dunsany
A story told “on the lonely Highland road one autumn evening with winter coming on and the stags roaring.” And the devil sitting in the corner.
Make ’em laugh 🤣🤣🤣 - the eternal story.
“The Three Infernal Jokes” by Lord Dunsany
A story told “on the lonely Highland road one autumn evening with winter coming on and the stags roaring.” And the devil sitting in the corner.
Make ’em laugh 🤣🤣🤣 - the eternal story.
November 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
#TheGhostBoxIV from H&O
“The Three Infernal Jokes” by Lord Dunsany
A story told “on the lonely Highland road one autumn evening with winter coming on and the stags roaring.” And the devil sitting in the corner.
Make ’em laugh 🤣🤣🤣 - the eternal story.
“The Three Infernal Jokes” by Lord Dunsany
A story told “on the lonely Highland road one autumn evening with winter coming on and the stags roaring.” And the devil sitting in the corner.
Make ’em laugh 🤣🤣🤣 - the eternal story.
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
The Library of the Day is Little Free Library #215110! In a world of bookworms, be a BOOK DRAGON 🐲
Find a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app: https://lflib.org/app
Find a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app: https://lflib.org/app
November 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The Library of the Day is Little Free Library #215110! In a world of bookworms, be a BOOK DRAGON 🐲
Find a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app: https://lflib.org/app
Find a Little Free Library near you by downloading our free mobile app: https://lflib.org/app
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
The Temperance Tarot card by surrealist artist and author Leonora Carrington, 1950s
#LeonoraCarrington #Tarot #Surrealism
#LeonoraCarrington #Tarot #Surrealism
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The Temperance Tarot card by surrealist artist and author Leonora Carrington, 1950s
#LeonoraCarrington #Tarot #Surrealism
#LeonoraCarrington #Tarot #Surrealism
Day 10: teawithtracie.ca
Inner Glow herbal tea
Ah!!! This tea is nice! Not for my girl @ttbrader.bsky.social unfortunately - peppermint and spearmint leaves feature in this brew. However, the mints are tempered by rosehip pieces, ginger, hibiscus petals, rose, sunflower, calendula & osmathus.
Inner Glow herbal tea
Ah!!! This tea is nice! Not for my girl @ttbrader.bsky.social unfortunately - peppermint and spearmint leaves feature in this brew. However, the mints are tempered by rosehip pieces, ginger, hibiscus petals, rose, sunflower, calendula & osmathus.
November 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Day 10: teawithtracie.ca
Inner Glow herbal tea
Ah!!! This tea is nice! Not for my girl @ttbrader.bsky.social unfortunately - peppermint and spearmint leaves feature in this brew. However, the mints are tempered by rosehip pieces, ginger, hibiscus petals, rose, sunflower, calendula & osmathus.
Inner Glow herbal tea
Ah!!! This tea is nice! Not for my girl @ttbrader.bsky.social unfortunately - peppermint and spearmint leaves feature in this brew. However, the mints are tempered by rosehip pieces, ginger, hibiscus petals, rose, sunflower, calendula & osmathus.
Reposted by Barbara McVeigh
We're opening for submissions TOMORROW!
That's ✨so soon✨
That's ✨so soon✨
a drawing of a light bulb with a smiling face on it
Alt: A drawing of a smiling yellow light bulb against a blue background
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
We're opening for submissions TOMORROW!
That's ✨so soon✨
That's ✨so soon✨