Lisa Thornton

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Are there no fireflies in Virginia?

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thanks, Moira 🙏

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Mine are still green!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Inspired by all those Saturdays staring out my window gooseberry-pie.com/paradise-city/

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

of course

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Wow thanks!!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes I’ve heard! The ones I saw didn’t have a baseball team on them. I think they tried to appeal to everyone by showing him with an Old Style and a hot dog :)

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I’m a nurse and a creative writer

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Cool!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

🥺

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Book mail is the best mail. This cover and these stories are just what I need today when it’s too hot to step outside. Thank you @bathflashaward.bsky.social 💙 (I’m on p. 39!)

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Not too bad this year! I burn a big citronella candle on the porch at night which they don’t like but the fireflies don’t seem to mind it

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

It is!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

You would love it around here!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes, Illinois

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

This is fun! They sound like kazoos.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I agree with him!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Totally

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

✨

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

This makes me happy 💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Sometimes we plan our evenings around them. They start at 8:45 on the nose! Yes, they are magical.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes, we have lots of nests in our trees.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes! They were all riled up bc the hawk was flying near their nest.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Wind turbines (like big windmills)

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

The hawks try to eat baby birds, so the robins chase the hawks away from their nests. The crows do it too, I've even seen wrens and chickadees chase them. It's that or watch your babies get eaten.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

✨💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

That's incredible, Helen! Honestly, this video doesn't even capture it all that well. Sparkling blankets over the corn every summer night as far as you can see. You are welcome anytime!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Wow! You were lucky to see that. I don't think I've ever seen a roadrunner.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Wind turbines

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

That sounds like so much fun! Have a great trip.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

👋

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I've never smelled petunia leaves! Will investigate

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yw!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I’m so glad, Eleanor! It helped me too.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Took the train to the Cubs game. Confirmed they are selling Da Pope t-shirts on the street. Confirmed u can ride the subway & not be afraid. Confirmed u can love the city & the rural. All things are possible.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

There’s actually one down the street. No ghosts though.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Oh that's too bad! I love how they smell.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

💛💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

That is very sad. There are still lots here.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Bluesky you deserve some fireflies in a cornfield. Not pictured-the young hawk chased away by robins, the enormous kale after the rain, the smell of the tomato plant leaves.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Too hot to go outside lying in the coolest part of the house staring at nothing thinking of all projects at once in a sort of torrential silent swirl. What are you doing asks my husband. Writing, I say.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

That sentence burned me as well. We are not dormant observers of life. We have agency. We can affect an outcome! We can not let computers take over!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

July 1!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

"i asked chatgpt" yeah well i went to the doctor, i went to the mountains, i looked to the children, i drank from the fountains there's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line and the less I seek my source for some definitive closer I am to fine

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Water too high for fossil hunting. Perfect for hanging out under the train bridge.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Maybe people are attacking ICE officers not bc their sanctuary city officials are influencing them to but bc ICE is stealing their friends & neighbors 🤷‍♀️

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I’m in a wood paneled room above a garage in Indiana. I’m going to look for fossils in a creek today. The fan is blowing on me & the sun is coming thru the windows. Someone is downstairs making coffee. Starting the longest day great.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Not since last November.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

A lovely tribute, Gina 💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

My susans are susaning! 🌻

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Up late thinking abt how people fight evil just to see it rise up again. There’s no end. No winning. But that’s ok. Pushing it back is what we’ll do with our time. And then so will our kids. And it will continue up & down. It’s a good way to spend our time.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Sometimes, I write a flash that I feel so tender about, and today @jmwwjournal.bsky.social published that piece. "Pineapples" is even more special to me because my sister's photography accompanies it. I'd love if you gave it a read. jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/18/f... #WritingSky #FlashFiction

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thanks so much, Dan!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

“The smoke helps the pineapples grow the same size,” he says, “but first they have to bring them to within an inch of their lives.” And I roll my eyes because he’s not really talking about pineapples anymore. Flash Fiction: Pineapples by Kelly Pedro jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/18/f...

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

🙏💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

ICYMI A story that lives so deep in me. Like the roux of me. The parts that went in first and cooked down to make a base. The base me.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Woke up and it's still summer ✨ 🌾

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Walking around looking at birds differently now. This one? Is it too big? Just right? What song would I want to be mine??

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Beautiful story

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I love this!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes! It felt so unreal but also like it could happen tomorrow.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thank you, Sumitra!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thank you so much, Cole!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I drive by a sign that says “Livingston County Poor Farm Cemetary” every time I go to the grocery store. Today I followed it & found about 100 gravestones from the 1800s w only numbers on them & a corresponding index w names on a big stone. There was one angel.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

💛💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thank you, Ronita 💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Thank you, Elizabeth!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I have a story in the beautiful new @templeinacity.bsky.social! Thanks so much to @eireneeleni.bsky.social for giving it a home among these incredible pieces of writing. Read "The Knights of New Hampshire" here ⬇️ templeinacity.com/fiction-lisa...

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

It's so lovely

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Hiked canyons & waterfalls up by the river today but it was the wheat on the way home

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

💛

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I've never told him this but I remember being very young & being held by my dad while he looked out the window once. For a long time. Me with my head on his shoulder looking into the kitchen, him looking out the window. I knew he was having some kind of moment & I felt so honored to be there too.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I can’t resist these little paperbacks from the ‘60s especially if they’re on the free table 🤩

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes! I keep thinking of the Maya Angelou quote there’s no greater agony than carrying an untold story inside you.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Am working on a longer story as if diagnosing a mysterious illness. Ruling out all forms thru which I cannot tell it, all voices and tenses and points of view which do not work. Dragging file after file to the little trash can. Next!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Reeeaally enjoyed yelling “boooooo” at the guy who kept driving by the protest today w a confederate flag flying from his truck.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Honest Abe having none of it

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Never dreamed my shirt from the old job at the public health dept would become the perfect shirt to wear to a protest but here we are

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Every road here is straight. We used to flip coins at stop signs when I was a teenager to go left or right. We’d get far out of town then stand on the car to see which way to point to get back.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I waited on Phish once

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

One sentence at a time.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

It can be intimidating to call yr reps. But it’s not hard. Google who’s my senator/representative. Google their # in DC/yr state capitol. Jot a script in yr phone. When the staffer answers, put yr phone on speaker & read them the script. If u need to, u can use mine as a template (typos & all)

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

That sounds lovely

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

If only it were this easy

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Two senators and a congressman not answering their phones. Looks like I’ll be reading the statement I drew up in my notes app to the family at dinner instead

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Heard this was good. Didn’t know it would consume my day and change my life.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Drinking a smoothie & wondering what kind of trouble to get into today. Might pick a fight w my dad over whether it’s safe outside of resorts in Mexico.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Yes!

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

The firefly show starts at 8:45. You are all invited.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

My favorite song growing up thanks to my dad’s Pet Sounds record. Then I found The Beach Boys’ Party album & realized people drank & had fires & played guitars on beaches and I was never the same. RIP, BW 💛 m.youtube.com/watch?v=nSAo...

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

I don't know how @dawnsteffler.bsky.social conjured this story in so few words. Pure magic. jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/11/f...

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Woke up with that little wishing ache. For old times? For new adventures? I wonder if everyone feels it.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

wow! 🤩

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Happy Birthday!! 👨‍🦳🎉

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Update- the man in the yellow house replaced his flags with two American flags that I thought were normal even sighed with relief until the wind revealed the face of DJT where the stars should go

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

People are proud of being afraid of cities bc being afraid of cities is code for "I hate(fear) people who are different than me." It's a little white supremacist password. An open sesame, if you will, to a gross club.

Lisa Thornton (@thorntonforreal.bsky.social):

Last year I got up early on one of our camping trips and sat on the dock with a coffee. Loons floated by and then the sun did this. I only saw it because I stopped long enough.