Writers, your challenge is to write a story, poem, play, article, report, micro-blog -- something -- anything -- about this picture. You may write your piece to any length, as long as it doesn't exceed 50 words. The shorter the better, of course. If you want to write a Twitter length story, give it a whirl but don't exceed 140 characters.
Try your hand at micro/flash work and feel free to post as many tiny pieces as you'd like in the Comment section below. Your work is yours, you own the copyright -- we're just making a spot available for you to share your creativity with the Sunflower Ranch visitors. You can experiment here and tweet them or post them or even use them as seeds for longer, more involved work.
This post has no redeeming social value -- but it is a lot of fun. Great to play when you're frustrated, or thinking up just the right phrase to use in your travels around the 'Net -- or let's face it, just to waste some time, that precious commodity of which we have so little. I don't care. I like this. A friend sent it and all I can say is, "It's addictive!!!" Click here to play Fly Swatter. Enjoy!
I found this video today and just had to share it with you! It consists of three very short clips -- but the last one is my favorite and is well, just so cute, I had to drop everything and post it for you! I hope you enjoy it!
Writers, your challenge is to write a story, poem, play, article, report, micro-blog -- something -- anything -- about this picture. You may write your piece to any length, as long as it doesn't exceed 50 words. The shorter the better, of course. If you want to write a Twitter length story, give it a whirl but don't exceed 140 characters.
Try your hand at micro/flash work and feel free to post as many tiny pieces as you'd like in the Comment section below. Your work is yours, you own the copyright -- we're just making a spot available for you to share your creativity with the Sunflower Ranch visitors. You can experiment here and tweet them or post them or even use them as seeds for longer, more involved work.
With all the buzz about the US government taking over our health care system, here's a story you might have missed.
Oh, it's a health care story alright, but it stars an unlikely heroine. Find out what happened to Motola, the 48 year old elephant who stepped on a land mine. Click here for her story and additional links -- but make sure you have the hankies handy. She is a brave old soul and her inspiring story will warm your heart.
My sis sent this photo of three bumblebees in a squash blossom. Her backyard garden is in full bloom and harvest mode now, but she can't remember if this blossom was from one of several prolific zucchini plants or the "volunteer" pumpkin in the corner. She confessed she went through the garden snapping stuff more to test her new camera than make an exact record of the progress of her vegetables.
She thinks it might be the first pumpkin blossom from last year's Hallowe'en pumpkin left out near the small compost pile. Through all the heavy rain, snows, and freezing winter, those seeds survived and just popped up cheekily when they were ready.
I am unconcerned about the genealogy of this blossom. I love it nonetheless! And I thought you might too, that's why I've enclosed a larger sized copy if you click on the link above. [You are free to use it for personal use only.]
I also thought it was the perfect metaphor for a busy Monday. I hope your Monday is going well and you are doing your "busy-bee" routine -- and having fun at the same time. Thanks for dropping by!
Writers, your challenge is to write a story, poem, play, article, report, micro-blog -- something -- anything -- about this picture. You may write your piece to any length, as long as it doesn't exceed 50 words. The shorter the better, of course. If you want to write a Twitter length story, give it a whirl but don't exceed 140 characters.
Try your hand at micro/flash work and feel free to post as many tiny pieces as you'd like in the Comment section below. Your work is yours, you own the copyright -- we're just making a spot available for you to share your creativity with the Sunflower Ranch visitors. You can experiment here and tweet them or post them or even use them as seeds for longer, more involved work.
My self-imposed exile from my blog sped by so quickly, I can hardly believe two weeks have slipped away! I'm excited to start posting again -- at least that's my plan.
I've had a little set-back that makes it slightly more difficult for me to sit at the computer. I pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder that lead to a pinched nerve. When I tilt my head or move it suddenly in a certain direction -- which is actually in any direction!! -- I get a stabbing pain!! Talk about being a pain in the neck! LOL -- ouch! Not funny!!
So I'm kind of doped up with pain killers and muscle relaxers and the doctor said it would be at least a week before everything healed and I would feel "normal" again. [It was all I could do to not laugh myself off the table at that remark! Normal?? What is that? LOL] The first night with the medication really made a difference -- but subsequent nights have not changed the situation. I seem to be stuck on feeling a little better, but still have the sharp pains if I make any sudden moves or lean back to rest, which I need to do, because I'm sleepy from the meds. This is not good for speedy healing. I'm going to do what I can here but just wanted to let you know if things seem a little off-kilter that's the main reason.
My two weeks were filled with a lot of relaxing but fun activities, which I will share with you as the rest of the month unfolds. However, we were also hit with a killer heatwave that first week, which put a damper on going places we'd planned to visit. We had a string of several days in the 90s followed by four or five days that reached 100+, with the top temperature of 106 on my birthday!! Unheard of for this placid and cool corner of the Pacific Northwest. But I did have a great birthday week, despite the brutal heat. We had the master suite air conditioned and basically camped out in those four rooms, escaping the coolness only to water the plants, enjoy the cooler night air, and fix quick meals in the kitchen. I hope never to experience such a week again!
Now it's back to serious work at the online store and fun work here at the blog. And the end-of-summer cleanup around the Ranch, and all the rest of the usual August activities. One thing I love to do is watch the Perseid meteor shower, which happens this time every year. Last night was the middle and most active night of the week-long event, but it wouldn't have been possible for me to watch it, even if I could lean back and lift my head without pain. After weeks without our trademark rain, we're finally being blessed with some solid and intense showers. Coupled with the heavy cloud cover, we weren't able to see any activity in the night sky this year. But here is a very cool video to show you where to look tonight and for the next few nights before the shower passes.
I hope the night sky is clear where you are and that you can take advantage of this celestial extravaganza. If you do "catch a falling star" during this annual event, please share your experiences here. I'd be right out there, too, if I could be -- let's say the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Thanks so much for stopping by -- I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi All! I'm still off for the rest of the week, trying to stop spinning for a few moments long enough to read my emails, and check in at the Ranch. Thank you for your comments and good wishes!
My sis sent me this link and I just had to post it and share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
Glad you stopped by! You'll find a bit of everything here -- frequent posts of life at the Ranch, once in a while an original short story, some poetry, the latest information about our store, interesting links to a great variety of blogs, what we're into right now in the books, music and movie department, and more. We also have a cool online Sudoku game, daily financial advice, daily literary quote, a new piece of art each day, and as we find cool things to add -- more. So kick back with a steaming mug of espresso, a plate of just-out-of-the-oven cookies and spend some time at Sunflower Ranch, nestled in the quiet, forested shadow of Mt. Rainier. Enjoy your visit! You'll always be welcome! Be sure to leave a comment and let us know you've been here. And you're invited to become a Sunflower Ranch Follower, too! You can also email Sunflower Ranch. Thanks for visiting today!
