Hello!
Welcome back to the Two Pentacles Newsletter!
This is where you will find tips, prompts, stories, and updates from the previous month.
If you’ve created something based on one of our prompts and would like to see it featured in next month’s newsletter, please check out our submission guidelines, and send it our way!
If you utilized a writing tip and would like to share your experience, please get in touch! We would love to share your story and any creative work inspired by this tip.
Thank you so much for joining us this month. We can’t wait to see what your imagination has in store!
-Dawn and Colleen-
News and Features:
At Two Pentacles, we love what we do and we aren’t shy about it!
This month, we’ve gotten a bit of a break.
Though we’re still hard at work on our many projects, we have also been able to take a step back, breathe deeply, and spend a little time with our boys.
If you follow us on social media, you may already be familiar with Danny and Bucky, our beloved family members and unofficial quality control supervisors for Two Pentacles.
Mr. Daniel Elliott is a dapper young man who is always dressed formally, regardless of the day’s activities. He is a demanding supervisor, who likes to peer over your shoulder as you work, and complains loudly when things aren’t up to his high standards. Danny also enjoys chin scritches and birdwatching.
Sir Buckington is a more laid-back manager. He prefers to be available to assist at all times (lounging nearby while you work on difficult projects), and is content to wait until you ask for his help. However, he tends to fall asleep and snore loudly, which, honestly, can be somewhat distracting. Bucky also enjoys long walks at the park and fine dining experiences (such as eating street tacos that he finds under bushes).
As we move towards autumn, we’re looking forward to shifting gears slightly, under the watchful eye of our supervisors, of course.
Stay tuned to find out what’s happening next, and follow us on Instagram to learn more about Danny and Bucky.
This Month’s Tips and Prompts:
All month long we share Writing Tips and Writing Prompts on our Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr accounts.
If these tips and prompts spark your creativity, let us know! You can send your feedback and stories to info@twopentacles.com for the chance to be featured in next month’s Newsletter!
July 8th, 2021
July 14th, 2021
July 21st, 2021
July 28th, 2021
Feedback:
We love hearing how you used this month’s Writing Tips and Prompts, and how they’ve sparked your creativity!
Here’s what you had to say this month:
On Facebook, Two Pentacles received some feedback from Andy!
“Two consummate professionals! Their dedication to quality is taken personally. They won’t release a product until the client is happy with it. They put their heart and soul into every step of the publishing, editing and production process for each and every client. 5 stars!”
On Instagram, Jessica particularly liked our prompt about keeping your rough draft simple.
“Perfect writing advice! It will come in handy for my next work proposal statement letter.”
Your Creative Works:
We love sharing your creative efforts! Here is just one of our favorite submissions that we received this month.
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Old Hopewell Store
By Samantha Massingale
I pulled up to an old building with signs that covered the front, all from different decades. There were old Coca-Cola signs from the 40’s and Monster energy drink signs from today. I stopped in Hopewell on my way up north to Portland. There was an accident up near Wilsonville so I decided to take the scenic route, as I was in no rush. I had no idea that these little towns were speckled across the countryside.
As I stepped into the building, there was a cool blast of air, refreshing in the summer heat. I saw aisles that had pretty much everything one would need. The left side of the store had refrigerators lining it and freezers in the back. The front had a small produce stand and the aisles behind it had the basics: flour and sugar followed by boxed bakery items. The aisles that were closer to the cold section had a pharmaceutical area and chargers.
I stood there soaking it in when a tap on my shoulder broke my day dream.
“Excuse me miss, can I help you find anything?” An older gentleman asked me. He was dressed up in a simple gray suit with a mauve vest. He had a pocket watch chain on his chest pocket. His smile was soft and his mustache was white with age.
“Oh no sir, I was just stopping for some water and a snack, thank you though.”
We both nodded and he went down one of the aisles. I headed to the coolers and pulled out a big water bottle and turned to see that they had those packaged fruit pies. I grabbed an apple pie, thinking of Mr. Pete, the apple man I once knew. I went around to the front and grabbed an apple too and went to the register. There was a teenager standing behind it. He looked a lot like the old man who asked me if I needed anything.
“Just these?” he asked with a smile. It was the same as the old man’s, so I was sure they must be related. I nodded.
While handing him some cash, I asked, “Is the other person here your grandfather? You two look so much alike,” He looked miffed.
“There isn’t anyone else here, ma’am. Just me and you. And my grandfather passed away when I was a kid.” He handed me my change and a bag with my stuff. “You have a nice day now” he said.
“You too, and I’m sorry for your loss,” I apologized. He nodded and went back to his phone that was on the counter.
I was a little miffed myself when I walked out of the store, down the stairs and to the side where I parked my car. Then I spotted the old man. I walked over and introduced myself.
“My name is Samantha, what’s yours?” I reached out my hand and he gently pulled it up to kiss it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Samantha, I am George Gay. You have a nice day now.” He let go of my hand and opened my car door for me. I slipped in and when I turned back around to thank him, he was gone.
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Thank you to everyone who sent in submissions!
If you would like the chance to be featured in our newsletter, send your writing or art to info@twopentacles.com!
Other Magic:
This month, we received some wonderful news and helpful information from our friend Patty Fletcher that we are excited to share with you!
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Hello, my name is Patty Fletcher and I’m here to share a bit of news with you.
The following is from the Training and Instruction department of The Seeing Eye Dog Guide School in Morristown, New Jersey. I hope you’ll take time to read it and watch the video linked within as well.
“ Dear Friends,
All of us at The Seeing Eye are pleased to tell you that Patty is in our present class of students and will soon return home with her new Seeing Eye dog.
We are writing to you because you play a significant role in the success of the new working partnership. We cannot overemphasize to you enough the importance of the first few weeks at home in the development of the relationship between them. In that time, the success of the two as a working team will be determined. Good teamwork develops when the owner follows three rules in dog handling: consistency, praise when earned, and correction when necessary.
Family, friends and co-workers can help by observing a few simple rules of their own:
- When owner and dog arrive, greet them in a relaxed manner. Do not rush up to them.
- Avoid inviting family and friends over to meet the dog during the first few days. Give the dog a chance to adjust to its new surroundings gradually.
- Let the dog make the first advance to greet you. Don’t stare at the dog; it’s unnerving.
- Never follow the team when it is working. The dog will recognize you and look back at you rather than paying attention to its work. This is a serious distraction and will prevent the team from working safely and effectively.
- Never touch or talk to a Seeing Eye Dog when in harness.
- The owner should insist upon good manners in the home – this means, for example, no tidbits at the table at mealtime, no barking at the doorbell, no lying on furniture.
- The owner has been taught to correct the dog by using the leash. A leash correction does not hurt the dog; coupled with affection, it results in efficient guide work and good behavior.
- The owner has learned how to groom and care for the dog completely. It is the owner’s responsibility to feed, groom and take the dog out 3 or 4 times a day to meet its needs.
- A Seeing Eye dog is not a pet, but the family need not ignore it. The important thing to remember is that the greatest amount of affection and care must come from its owner.
- Even though the owner has a wealth of experience gained from working and living with a previous dog, a new dog means a new relationship. The owner needs to help the dog adjust to new working conditions away from The Seeing Eye and the instructor. Each dog has a unique personality and will be quite different from its owner’s previous dog.
We hope that this information will help you become more familiar with The Seeing Eye program and more confident in your role of helping to strengthen a wonderful working partnership. To view our Coming Home video, please paste link into your browser: http://www.seeingeye.org/graduates/coming-home-video.html.
Sincerely yours,
David H. Johnson
Director of Instruction and Training
DHJ/ncn ”
Below is a nice picture of Blue and me. Picture includes descriptive text.
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If you would like the chance to be featured in our newsletter, send your writing or art to info@twopentacles.com!
Get in Touch!
Want to connect with us about your current or upcoming projects? Not sure where to start? Interested in finding out more about our services or pricing?
Check out our website or email us at info@twopentacles.com!