The Rig – Sunday Photo Fiction

Rig – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Upon looking at the big rig, the front part of a semi-truck, which is to be the subject of this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, thoughts brewed through Barb’s mind. “How does this photo inspire me?” A series of questions came to mind.

Why do they call them semi-trucks?

What do they deliver in semi-trucks? Occasional furniture.

What do they call occasional furniture the rest of the time?

Why do we call it a hamburger when it is made of beef?

Can you imagine getting sick at the airport and having the terminal Dr. treat you?

If cannibals ate clowns, would they taste funny?

Aren’t all babies new?

Why do Dr.’s practice medicine?

Looking again at the rig, I realize that for today, this is as good as it gets.

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Thank you Al for the photo and for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction. And to you dear reader, I thank you for stopping by today. Be well…. ^..^

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The Find of a Life – Sunday Photo Fiction

Inside – Photo by Alastair Forbes

All it took was a quick stumble. The toe of the left shoe caught on a small piece of uplifted stone. He landed flat on his face. Rolling over, he checked out his ankles and knees. He saw no major cuts or scrapes.

Now what was it that his shoe caught on? There it is. He moved over towards it and noticed that the stone now had a series of spalls. Taking out a wide paintbrush, he started to clear the area. More and more of the pieces splintered away.

He knew he had discovered something significant. He received government funding to continue the project, was able to hire a team to do the archeology, and secure for him a nice place to stay.

While clearing one of the many painted walls, he found himself caught up in the scene that was emerging in front of him. Looking closely it began to move. “How can that be?” he thought.

In a rush and a whirl, Alastair Forbes found himself in the painting, and could hear the echoes of the curse as he and the art became one.

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A huge thanks to Al for the inspiring photo, hosting the challenge, and for taking part in my bit of flash for the Sunday Photo Fiction.

Have an amazing Sunday and be well…. ^..^

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Arc of the Covenant – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is in bold and italics. Here is my story.

Nightshade – © 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The team employed the use of Nightshade to get the information they wanted from their captive.” He was the last of the Knights Templar. They wanted him to reveal the location of the Arc of the Covenant.

Many believed that the Arc is located inside the money pit on Oak Island. The team was unsuccessful at finding it there.

They held the prisoner’s nose closed and put the cup to his lips. He had no choice but to open his mouth if he wanted to breathe. Some of the liquid dripped into his mouth. After a half hour, they could see the drug was taking effect.

His pupils dilated, his speech a bit slurred. They began questioning the knight who responded with one word. “Frog!”

The team looked puzzled. What did a frog have to do with the arc? They poked at the knight and asked again for the location of the arc on Oak Island.

“Wrong,” said the knight, “Frog Island.”

New excavations began immediately.

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I hope that you enjoyed my story today! You too can join in on the Mondays Finish the Story challenge by clicking HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. Be well… ^..^

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A Lesson From Nature

Wouldn’t it be great if we, humans, could all just learn to live together and coexist peacefully? I took a series of photos after seeing for myself how this is possible. The lesson came from watching the birds in my area.

Imagine a world where we can all live together side by side in peace. None of these birds make fun of one another because their feathers are different colors, or that some are bigger some are smaller.

A mix of birds

Imagine a world where we can share without bickering.

Sharing

Imagine a world where everyone of us cooperates with others without anger, greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, envy or pride.

Cooperation

Imagine a world where there is no fighting.

No fighting

Imagine living in a world of peace.

Living in Peace

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world? Think about the trees in the forest. Oaks, pines, madrones, tamarack, all share the forest floor. They do not ridicule one another for the differences in their bark. They do not fight each other for ground. They live in peace.

Every day nature shows us a world living in peace. We, humans, just need to stop and take notice that we too can live in a world of peace.

Here is John Lennon, singing one of my favorite songs: “Imagine.” Credit of the video goes to JohnLennonMusic. The video begins with a commercial (sorry about that) and you can click on the bottom right to skip the ad.

Be well… ^..^

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Buffalo in Yellowstone – Mondays Finish the Story

It is Monday which is the day that I devote to the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. The rules for this challenge are to write a story that goes with the photo and that one uses the opening line provided. The word limit is between 100-150 not including the opening line, which is in bold italicized letters. Here is the photo and my story!

© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“They followed the buffaloes and their babies along the trail heading into the woods.” The group was in Yellowstone listening to a park ranger.

“Back in the day, Native American tribes revered them. They only took what they needed,” he said. “Sadly, as folks migrated to this continent, they over hunted the buffalo, dropping their numbers from millions to a little over 1,000 by 1899. Conservation efforts have increased the population of buffalo to 500,000. Most are not true wild buffalo. They are a crossbreed of cattle and buffalo.”

“Here in Yellowstone, we have approximately 5,000 wild buffalo. These herbivores travel in groups led by the female. Babies are born in the spring and they nurse for eight months. By one year, they are full grown and independent. The adult males weigh in at 2,000 pounds; the females are 1,000 pounds.”

“Mommy,” said little Peter tugging at his mother’s sleeve, “can we bring one home?”

“No dear. We have to admire them here in their home.”

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Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy day to stop in to visit! If you would like to join in on this challenge, click HERE!

Have an amazing Monday and be well… ^..^

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The Riddle – Mondays Finish the Story

It is Monday and once again I am participating in the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. The rules for this challenge are to write a story that goes with the photo and that one uses the opening line provided. The word limit is between 100-150 not including the opening line, which is in bold italicized letters. Here is the photo and my story!

The Kingdom Behind the Fog – Photo by Barbara W. Beacham

Once upon a time in a land far, far away behind the blue fog was the Kingdom of Cantabile. The time had come for the King to pass the kingdom on to one of his three daughters. To choose the best of the three he asked them the following question:

“A ship has a ladder with seven rungs hanging over its side. The distance between rungs is 20 cm. The length of the ladder is 180 cm. The ship moves from salt water to fresh water. The displacement value of the water is 2,240. The ship moves at a rate of 10 knots. As it moves to fresh water, how many rungs will still be visible given these values?”

The first and second daughters begin working on the problem. The third daughter without hesitating answered first.

“Seven,” she said.

“Correct!” said the King. He signaled the Page. The blue waters of the Kingdom now ran red signifying a new leader.

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You too can join in on this challenge. Simply click HERE!

Thanks for taking the time to stop on by today. Have a magnificent week! Be well… ^..^

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Views from Jackson, CA

We took a drive to historic Jackson here in the Sierra Foothills. The town has a lot of charm. I decided that for today I would share some photos of things that I captured that day. Ready to see bits of Jackson? Let’s go!

Let’s begin with an old photo. There is a union sign and an agency sign out front along with four dashing fellows of the day…

An old photo

Here is a view of one of the storefronts. The building needs a bit of work…

A storefront with rooms above

Walking along the sidewalks, I discover that the hardware store used to be in this location. It is another business now, but the pavement still shows what was once here.

Embedded in the sidewalk

Shortly after this we came upon a rather funny historical marker.

A historical marker

In the entryway to one building, I discover a really bad tile job!

A bad tile job

One final shot, this of the Jackson Hotel! Here you can not only rent a room for the night but enjoy a juicy steak at Stanley’s!

Historical National Hotel

Well, thanks for stopping by! Have a great Saturday! Be well… ^..^

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Express Yourself – A WordPress Photo Challenge!

Today, I get to express myself through photography with this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge! So, here we go!

Majestic!

A Lioness

Regal!

Such a regal face!

Content!

My name is Hamlet!

Electric!

Bright night

Vibrant!

Vibrant

One last shot! This one is a bit silly!

Silly!

My husband

Thank you for dropping in today! Have a fantastic Friday! Be well! ^..^

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Art on a Ship

When we went on a cruise, one of the things that I noticed was that there was artwork everywhere! It was in the hallways, staircases, and in the main gathering areas. I wondered what it would be like to have a cruise line want to use your art. Imagine? For today, I wanted to share the variety of the art that we saw! Ready?

I love this artist’s work that we saw on the outer wall of the art gallery on board.

Landscape at the art gallery

At ceiling level, near the elevator, was this bit of metal artwork.

Hanging from the ceiling

On the walls in one of the corridors I found these next two pieces which are of ships…

Painting of a cruise ship

Ships

Outside one of the restaurants, this piece was on the wall.

From outside one of the restaurants

Art could be found on the floors too! Check out this floor!

Tile work on the floor

Now if I could only get them to feature my photography…. 🙂

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for dropping by today! Be well! ^..^

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The Leaves of the Fall

This fall the colors here in the Sierra Foothills are popping! The trees and shrubs are brilliant this year and I think it has to do with the stress of the drought. When driving around the area I almost feel as if I was on the east coast! Grabbing the camera yesterday, between the drops of rain, I headed out to capture some of this beauty! Heading out to my yard I capture these beautiful colors that surround us!

Fallen black oak leaves

The lovely colors on the smoke bush

Varied colors of the pistachio tree

Golden hazel nut leaves

A view of the trees in our area

Barberry on fire!

Crepe Myrtle leaves floating in the bird bath

Hearts from the red bud tree

Stars of the liquid amber

Aren’t they colors amazing? We are blessed to have this beauty around us!

Thanks for taking the time today to drop on by! Have a terrific Tuesday and be well! ^..^

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