99 Word Challenge Snacks

September 24, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about snacking. It can feature crunchy snacks or creamy one. Who is snacking on what and why? How can you make this a story? Go where the prompt leads!

September 24: Flash Fiction Challenge

Road Snacks Are Special

Snacks are serious.  No idea when they developed this attitude but they wear the crown well.  Road trip snacks are in special categories while still having the requirement of being bad junk food.  Healthy snacks don’t live in this world. Trip snacks require a salty brand of chips, chocolate that does not melt, caffeine drink and something with peanut butter.

In my vehicle this is a well proven larder that can sustain me for days.  In the past my excuse was mid-west winters that could be brutal.  Now this is just one of those grandfathered laws of my car.

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My Thoughts on the George Floyd Memorial — Midwestern Escapes

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My Thoughts on the George Floyd Memorial — Midwestern Escapes

Challenge # 46 Pumpkins

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year. I am so glad this is almost over, it has now reached the tedious level and I have no plans for after it’s over. I know the writing group is getting together but I have not been brave enough to attend a gathering of that sort yet.

Question:

Have you ever carved a pumpkin? What did you design? Describe the experience in a poem.

Pumpkin

This is based n a party my old roommate hosted. The barn of her suburban house was transformed each year with a new theme. Food was always great and we all came in costumes and we all carved pumpkins. These created the backdrop for her parties each year.

I know I picked just the right one.

This will be beautiful when I’m done.

To pick a pumpkin requires some skill

Wait, is that a better one on top of the hill?

I came here with three friends of mine

There is Bill, his friend Sue and my friend Tyne.

We have a party we all go to each year

It’s costumes, pumpkins, food and lots of beer.

The pumpkin carving is a sight to see,

There are castles and high rises and a TV.

Snow White with all the dwarfs are on one

Another is really huge and must weigh a ton.

The winner this year is a scene from Game Of Thrones,

The Charlie Brown winner is one that looks like a bag of bones.

My carving this year is a simple garden flower,

This Covid brain has very little creative power.

Challenge #45 It’s A Rap

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year. I am so glad this is almost over, it has now reached the tedious level and I have no plans for after it’s over. I know the writing group is getting together but I have not been brave enough to attend a gathering of that sort yet.

Question:

Write a short rap song about yourself. Make sure it rhymes.

I can tell you with all positive information this has never been on my radar. I am not sure if I have ever listened to a full rap song. I may have heard bits and pieces but that is it. So I did the only thing I could figure out, I cheated, well not really but I looked for some help. There is a thing on the internet that will help you write a rap song, you enter a few details and it spits out a song. Not a pretty one or even one that could be considered interesting but one that meets the requirements of the challenge. The only saving grace is that it really is short.

It’s A Rap

Hey all my crafty friends, it’s time,

It’s time, all my crafty friends

Beyond the wall of quilts life is defined

I think of quilting when I am in a Chicago state of mind.

In a Chicago state of mind,

What more could you ask for? The bright silk?

You complain about not enough time,

I gotta love it though somebody still speaks for the ilk

I’m rappin’ to the thread

And I’m gonna move your spread.

Beyond the wall of quilts, life is defined,

I’m in a Chicago state of mind.

Challenge # 44 My California

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year.

Question:

When you think of California, what comes to mind?

My California

Right now, I think of California with a great deal of sadness because of the fires and the loss of lives and property and the uncertainty they are experiencing. It is such a dangerous situation for so many. The first time I went to California was about thirty years ago and I was flying out to visit a friend. It was also the first time I saw fires burning on the mountains as we were flying over and I was very amazed at the isolated areas in the state, coming from the Chicago area where almost every inch seems like it is taken up by some building.

It was a fabulous trip and as we drove around you could smell the ocean and feel the cool air as we got closer to it. Her home was up in the hills and you could watch the fog “walk” up the hill during the course of the day and then magically see the ocean below.

Years later I was living in San Francisco and loved the very cool evenings in the summer. I was frustrated, again because I am from the Midwest, the lack of weather reports on the local news because the weather didn’t change much from one day to the next. Day trips to smaller towns along the ocean or into the mountains.

Special trips to Santa Barbara for the Summer Solstice celebration, what fun. The magnificence of the Hearst Castle and my delight in fulfilling a bucket list item. I was able to help decorate and then watch the float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena. We were also lucky enough to have tickets to the Rose Bowl that year.

Overall I have fond memories of the places and friends I experienced in California. I know there are a lot of not so nice things also, but every place has both good and bad. I was lucky and think it would be nice for everyone to have an opportunity to live there at some point in their lives.

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Challenge #43 Age Improves

This challenge comes from a small writing group.  We have a large series of random questions that we answer and share.  The goal is to answer at least one per week.  My personal goal is to do this for one full year.

Question:

Name something that gets better with age.

Age Improves

First thing that pops into my mind is of course me! Well, friends and family may greatly disagree, but we all know people who improve with age. Dolly Parton, my all-time favorite just gets funnier and smarter as she ages. Cher, who defies age, just gets better and better. That’s just the first two who popped into my mind.

Cheese that just gets better and better is cheddar. We just purchased some 15 year old cheese that wound up costing at least 5 times more than any of the other cheeses purchased at that point and worth every cent.

Music in my mind in many cases is timeless. Operas performed and appreciated today that same as they were 100 years ago. I was a big fan of folk music from the 50’s and 60’s and I appreciate it just as much today as then and much of it seems as relevant today as it was then.

A pot of soup, stew, spaghetti sauce or chili always tastes better after a few days. If I have the time I will always prepare any of these items in advance of when I am planing on serving it. At least one day will certainly help the flavors to blend and deepen.

The Lemon Queens

 August 27, 2020, Carrot Ranch prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features Lemon Queens. Maybe it’s an ancient fairy tale or a modern brand name. What ideas seep into your imagination? Is there a character or place involved? Go where the prompt leads!

This is my current contribution. Enjoy.

The Lemon Queens.

In this year like no other in memory, I am spending more time in the garden. The flowers are mostly putting on their last show for this season. All the veggies know their time is almost at an end, how do I stretch the days. Is there any way to keep the sun higher and brighter in the sky. I, the oldest of the Lemon Queens will need help doing this task. I gather all the queens and instruct them on the chant. As we gather an eclipse happens now the sun is really gone for four more years.

Dress Code

With Labor Day rapidly approaching, I am reminded of a major rule about not wearing white pants after Labor Day. I have been known in the past to ignore or more precisely blast rules out of the water, a bit of that still remains, however I like to know if anyone else still follows those rules.

With the white pants rule, I gathered some of my white shorts and jeans and have been wearing them every day this week. (See photo for a few.) I have more than enough to cover this week with white every day, kind of my last hurrah to summer, what??? In the 60’s they came out with a winter white that I instantly fell in love with, I could now wear my white suit for Christmas, made me happy.

I began to think about a few other rules that I may have crossed paths with. In the 70’s and working in an office, women were not allowed to wear pants. This also applied to my high school, my first college it did not matter, but in high school we wore pants, especially in the winter, under our skirts. Then stood in the front hall of the building taking the pants off so the rest of the school would not be offended by our pants. At my workplace, the rule was it had to be matching pants and jacket, a full suit to wear to work. It was October, I will never forget my purple corduroy pants with a matching jacket. I must have looked like a giant grape. I would probably still rock that outfit today once I added more fabric for the extra pounds.

It was brave of me as I was the first in not just my office, but the entire building to wear pants to work on a Tuesday. I also worked for a very conservative department store in the 80’s and we could only wear pants if our work area was open to the outside, like a loading dock and the temperature was below freezing. Also, no sneakers as we stood on our feet for 8 or more hours each day.

Today I wear my white pants all year long, pants are allowed in schools and offices and I can wear my sneakers to a formal event or wherever. I am glad I broke a few rules, have you?