September 6th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

 

It’s 4:00 am and my son and his girlfriend should be here in the next half hour, so I don’t know if I will get my entire blog done by then, but I’m going to give it a try.

For my son’s birthday, his girlfriend got him tickets to the opening day game of the Giant’s vs. the Cowboys at the AT&T stadium…in Arlington, Texas. I am driving them to Philly so they can catch their flight to Dallas. It is a REALLY great gift, one I had hoped to be able to get my husband someday, but haven’t been able to afford yet, so it’s still on my “to do” list.

 

I took my daughter and two of her friends around the high school yesterday so they could try and map out their class schedule, but I fear my daughter is even more confused now then she was before. Technically the school was closed yesterday, which meant certain doors were locked, so we needed to find different routes than when her sister and another friend showed her around. I think we will be headed back there later today to try it again.

 

I also stopped by our local library yesterday to speak to the director about starting a weekly writing/critique group similar to the one I attend in Princeton, but he wasn’t in, so I didn’t get that accomplished either. All in all, not a very productive day. I hate wasting time, but I guess sometimes it is unavoidable.

 

Today when I return from the airport, I will be making an old German dish my husband’s Nana used to make when she was alive. I only make this once a year because 1 – it’s when the plums are in season, and 2 – it is very labor intensive. Basically it is an Italian plumb dumpling. You make a potato dough, roll the plum in sugar and place it in the dough, boil it in chicken broth, then fry it up in bread crumbs. It is served hot with powdered sugar on top, but it is still considered a meal and not a dessert. I know that sounds a little unappealing to many of you, but trust me, they are quite good.

 

OK, right to the challenge or I’ll have no chance at getting it done before they arrive.

 

Your Last Challenge was:

Write a story containing the following three words: Licorice, Crystal & Cake.

 

Mom’s coming over for her birthday dinner and I wanted to make her a special cake this year instead of a store bought one. I decided to bring out an old favorite which had been a big hit in the past. It’s a square cake, so when it’s frosted in white, it looks like a box. I then take licorice and fashion a bow around the box and then add nonpareils and when it’s finished, it looks like a Birthday present all served up on a crystal platter. The presentation is lovely, but since everyone has seen it before, it won’t be such a big surprise…until they cut into that is…

 

 

 

Short and sweet today, but I’m under a time constraint. Oh, by the way, true story. The photos are the actual cake I made my mom a few years ago. Hope you have a great day and happy writing!

  

Your Next Challenge is:

 

What did you say?

  

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

September 5th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

I had an interesting experience at the beach yesterday. We went to Sandy Hook, our destination of choice as usual, so nothing exciting with that, but while I was in the water, I got bumped by something. From the feel, I knew it wasn’t a fish or a shark so I wasn’t overly concerned, but I did get out of the water and turned around to look to see if I saw any dolphin. I was quite surprised when I didn’t.

As I exited I told a woman who was entering the water what I had just experienced and she elected not to go into the water and we stood on the shoreline and chatted a while, both watching to see if we could locate what had bumped into me. A few minutes later a couple walked past us with their black lab; I noticed, but didn’t really pay them much attention. The woman, Cheryl, and I chatted a little while longer and then she went back to her blanket. I turned my attention back to the ocean. That’s when I saw what I thought was the black lab swimming with his head just above the water. A wave came and went over the black head. When it didn’t pop right back up, I panicked thinking the dog couldn’t handle the waves, so I rushed into the water to save him. That’s when I got my surprise. When the head popped up again, it didn’t belong to a black lab, but a black seal!

Never, in all my years of going to Sandy Hook, have I seen a seal. I rushed back up to our blanket and told the kids what I had seen so they could see it too. The people around us heard what I had said and they got up and went down to the water. Within minutes the news spread and a huge crowd of people were walking along the shoreline watching the seal’s progress as he headed north. I located Cheryl to tell her they mystery of what had bumped into me in the water was solved and I pointed out the culprit.

Still concerned with what I thought was an unprecedented sight, I located some of the lifeguards who were cleaning up for the season to ask if they could contact a park ranger. When they asked what the problem was I explained what had happened and that I was concerned the animal may be in distress or lost at least. That is when they told me they have actually seen quite a few seals and it wasn’t all that unusual anymore. Surprise number two or is that number three? Anyway, it was an interesting and probably once in a lifetime experience. I am thankful that black head popped up BEFORE I got my arms around it!! Boy would I have really been surprised then!

 

 

Your Last Challenge was:

The Magical Realm is in an uproar…

 

“What’s happening?” “How can this be?” “Why didn’t the veil hold?” “What does this mean?”

 

Mother Nature held up her hands and raised her voice. “Order, ORDER!” Instantly the fearful questions and murmurings stopped, all eyes looked forward. “I realize this morning’s incident has many of you alarmed, but I can assure you there is no need to panic.”

 

A voice rose over the crowd, “How can you say that? That, that child saw us. I know she did. I personally saw the surprise in her eyes.”

 

“I’m sure she did,” Mother Nature cajoled, “as she was meant to.” Before the rumbling through the crowd could get any louder, she continued. “What is it that sustains the protective veil?”

 

“Believing,” the crowd answered in unison.

 

“Yes my children, believing, and in recent years the number of humans who actually believe has decreased dramatically.

 

 

Darn, darn, darn! I really wanted to keep going with this one today. Oh well, tomorrow’s another day. Hope you have a great day and happy writing!

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Write a story containing the following three words: Licorice, Crystal & Cake.

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.