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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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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Over the Falls – Sunday Photo Fiction!

Today I am once again writing for the Sunday Photo Fiction challenge. My story is to be about 200 words. The story should incorporate the photo prompt given. And, here is the photo and my tale…

Niagara Falls – Photo by Joe Owens

It was my first time to Niagara Falls. It was as spectacular as they said it would be. The sound was almost deafening, and the spray of the water on all of us was comparable to standing in a fog.

I stood back from the crowd when I took this photo. As I watched the water cascading down a voice in the crowd shouted, “Look! Look over there at the top of the falls.”

Noting where the woman was pointing I looked at the upper right of the falls just in time to see a rubber lifeboat begin to drop! From the boat, a person launched out into the air. A parachute opened, and the updraft from the movement of air off the falls, lifted the person up, and up! I heard a lot of ooh’s and aah’s from the crowd.

Watching the person, drift up and up, I noticed them circling, and they finally started to descend towards the crowd. The person landed into the crowd knocking people over.

David Munday topped his successful attempt back in 1993. He makes the record books again today by being the only person to parachute over the falls from a boat!

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Thank you goes out to Joe for the amazing photo that inspired my bit of flash! And, thank you to you dear reader for taking the time to stop by today to visit and read! Be well… ^..^

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Underwood #4 – Mondays Finish the Story

It is time for another installment of Mondays Finish the Story, which is a flash fiction challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to a story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the opening line… Are you ready for my story?

Underwood #4 – Photo by Barbara W. Beacham

The old typewriter had a mind of its own. The odd thing is that whoever owned this typewriter had bestselling books. Let’s look at some past owners.

In 1926, the first owner was Ernest Hemingway. After a night of heavy drinking, he awoke one morning to find “The Sun Also Rises” stacked neatly next to the typewriter. He did not remember writing this book which became a bestseller that year.

Margaret Mitchell owned it too. No matter what keys she struck, it typed something else. When she was done, “Gone with the Wind” was in her hands. It became the 1936 bestselling book!

This unique device found its way to George Orwell. His fingers flew over the keys, his mind whirling with a story. The typewriter produced two books for him. Both were quite different from what he had in mind. “1984” and “Animal Farm” made the bestsellers list in the 40’s.

The typewriter is now mine.  🙂

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I hope that you enjoyed my entry into the Mondays Finish the Story challenge!

If you wish to join in on this challenge, well, then just click HERE!

Thanks for dropping by today! Have one heck of an amazing week! Be well… ^..^

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Immortalized – Sunday Photo Fiction

This is my entry into Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story to go with the photo using about 200 words. Here is the photo prompt and my story!

Immortalized – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Commissioned by Prince Albert, her husband was to create a statue of historical figure Boudicca. This was to be his greatest work ever. Excited about the task in front of him, Thomas asked his wife and two daughters to assist him. They would be his models.

He began by creating drawings of his project. It took several days to finalize his idea and he had many sketches of what he was going to create. Compiling a list of materials, he made the necessary purchases using money given to him by the Prince.

One of those items was plaster of Paris. Having his wife sit for him, he mixed up the plaster and then began to apply it to her face. He used straws in her nose so that she could breathe. He pulled the mask off her face after the material set. Then he went on to do the same with his two daughters.

After years, with his project finished, they held the unveiling. Prince Albert was delighted with the finished statue. Little did anyone know that the faces of his beloved wife and daughters would look out onto the world in Parliament Square for many ages to come!

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Thank you goes out to Al for hosting this challenge, and to you, dear reader, for dropping by to visit! Have a spectacular Sunday, and be well! ^..^

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Scale – A WordPress Photo Challenge!

Michelle W. over at WordPress has chosen the topic “Scale” for this week’s photo challenge! I think I can do this! Ready?

Sitting down at the end of the hike!

How is that for scale?

The next series of photos were taken in Big Trees State Park in the Sierra Foothills.

Another tree near The Discovery Stump – A bit of perspective

The root end of one tree

The Discovery Stump

One final shot of a ponderosa pine. Notice the horse at the bottom of this photo to get an idea of scale!

Perspective – Do you see the horse?

I hope that you have enjoyed my entry into this week’s photo challenge! Thanks for stopping by! Be well… ^..^

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The Life of a Pirate – Sunday Photo Fiction

This is my entry into Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story to go with the photo using about 200 words…Here is my story…

The Life of a Pirate – Photo by Alastair Forbes

As a boy of thirteen, having come from a poor family, Hector Barbossa ran away from home wanting a life at sea. He knew that he could do well for himself. He got a job on the Providence. He learned quickly moving from being a privateer to first mate. While at sea, he learned about pirates, which they continually had to evade.

Of these, there were many. Hector took note that the job of a pirate involved less work and was more lucrative. And, when the opportunity presented itself, with Providence overtaken by a pirate ship, he turned to the other side.

After many years of being first mate to the Captain, he decided he wanted more. He wanted to be the Captain. In the captain’s quarters one night, carousing and drinking massive quantities of rum, the Captain’s tongue loosened, giving up the location of the Chest of Cortez on the Isle de Muerta.

Barbossa led the mutiny and turned the ship to the Isle de Muerta. Little did he know that the gold was cursed leaving him and the crew undead. Standing in the window of the saloon at Dead Man’s Cove, he swore that he would get back at Captain Jack Sparrow.

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Thank you Al for the inspiring photo that led me to write this story! Thank you dear reader for stopping by! I hope that you enjoyed my bit of flash!

Have a super Sunday! Be well…. ^..^

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Mortgage Crisis – Sunday Photo Fiction

I am taking part today in Alastair Forbes’ flash fiction challenge: Sunday Photo Fiction. The challenge is to write a story that goes along with the photo using about 200 words. Here is my story!

Floyds Bank of California – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Floyds Bank of California was one of the banks responsible for the subprime mortgage crisis experienced in 2008. Recent documents have come to light that indicate this bank, the largest in the State of California, did knowingly lend money to those who would have difficulty in paying back monies loaned.

Evidence shows that they made adjustable rate loans to first time homebuyers, who had less than adequate means of repaying the loans when the higher interest rate kicked in. These homebuyers had little collateral, no money in the bank, excessive debt, low FICO scores due to late payments, and previous bankruptcy filings.

The U.S. Government came to the rescue, bailing out Floyds Bank of California.

In the Executive offices of Floyds Bank, executives sat back enjoying the benefits of the bailout, for they received a no-strings-attached windfall.

“So, Jenkins,” said Masterson, “what do you think we should do with all this money?”

“First, I think we should pay down some of our debt. Then we use some of the money to buy up other businesses. How is that for a plan Masterson?”

“I agree. Invest for the future. And, the best part is, we don’t have to pay it back!”

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Thanks Al for the photo that inspired this story, taken from recent history, and to you dear reader for taking the time to stop on by for a quick read! Have an amazing Sunday and be well! ^..^

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Trapped!

One of my neighbors, EB, heard something in her garage one day, and when she went to see what was up, she discovered one of the local native critters staring back at her. The critter: A Miners Cat, or Ring-Tailed Cat. This animal is really not a cat. It belongs to the Raccoon family! EB trapped the cat and got a hold of an animal rescue to come and pick up the poor little guy. I took these photos as we waited for them to arrive.

Check out this little fellow!

The Miners Cat

This critter is nocturnal which is why the eyes are so big.

Sweet face!

Here in the Sierra Foothills, these animals made nice with the miners, who the animals domesticated! The miners would have a box with a small opening for them, and the box was left near a stove in the house. At night, the miners cat would come out, keeping the house free of mice and rats.

Not really a cat

This little guy was not too happy about being in the trap, so he hunkered down in the corner.

Hunkered down

As we waited, EB’s dog Caesar came out to check out the cat.

Caesar meets the miners cat

Here is a short video of this fellow. You can hear our conversation, but if you listen closely, you can hear this little guy grunt and growl. Watch as this critter lunges at me! Pardon the shakiness of the film!

Thanks for dropping by today! Have an amazing day and be well! ^..^

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The Announcement – Friday Fictioneers

I am once again taking part in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields flash fiction challenge: Friday Fictioneers. This challenge requires writers to create a story using 100 words or less that has a beginning, middle and end. Here is my story…

The Announcement – Photo by Jan Wayne Fields

He stood in the silence of the house looking out the window. The table was set for four. The King family would be arriving shortly. Looking back at the table, he noticed he was missing one bread plate and went into the kitchen to retrieve one. Details, details.

After his family arrived, they made their way to the table. He poured wine for everyone.

“What’s the news?” his sister asked.

“My book is going to be published,” he replied with a huge grin.

They all raised their glasses for a toast. “May you become a bestselling author!”

Stephen smiled!

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Thank you Rochelle for hosting this challenge and to Jan for her inspiring photo! I hope that you, dear reader, enjoyed my bit of flash! Have an amazing Thursday, and be well! ^..^

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