Happy Tuesday! I enjoy reading in the comments what quotes stood out to you, so today, I will share mine. Number 1. It’s how I get through life no matter how crazy some days may get. No, today isn’t one of the crazy days. 🙂
I wish you peace amidst whatever chaos life may throw at you this week. Thanks for reading!
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This is the conclusion to Thursday’s post, Once Upon A Fairytale …
Jared had taken her to a farm! They were standing in front of a red barn. The weathered barn was old, and the colors weren’t as sharp as they once were. This was a far cry from a castle.
“It was good to meet you, Miss Sierra, perhaps I will see you again.”
Jared tipped his hat, and to her dismay, he started walking back to the carriage!
“Wait! Are you leaving? You can’t leave.”
Jared turned around. “I picked you up and brought you to where I was supposed to bring you. My job is done … for now.”
Turning back around, he climbed into his carriage. Took hold of the reins and rode away, leaving behind a stunned Sierra. He really had left her! Now, what was she supposed to do?
Maybe there would be a horse in the barn, and she could ride back home. Unfortunately, she had no idea in which direction to go to get back home. Could she even get there on a horse? Or did she need a time machine instead?
In frustration, she flung open the barn door. It creaked in protest.
Sierra walked into the barn. Colliding with a spider web, she let out a shrill scream, spinning around and doing her own version of karate
“Whats with all the racquet! Do you mind? I am trying to sleep!”
Coming to a sudden halt. Sierra looked around but didn’t see anyone.
Her pulse quickened. Should she make a run for it? Where was the person hiding?
“By the way, your dance moves could use some work. And must you let the barn door open?”
Her face flamed with heat. Someone had been watching her, but where were they now?
Taking another look around her eyes sparked with surprise. There was the most beautiful barn owl up in the rafters.
“WHOOO are you and why are you here, disturbing my peace?’
Something furry rubbed up against Sierra’s legs.
“You did it now. You ruffled the feathers of the great and mighty Odessa.”
“See, that’s why you shouldn’t let the barn door open. You never know what kind of scalawag will slink in.”
“Good morning to you too. I see you are as cheerful as always.” The cat stretched and turned to face Sierra.
“Pardon Odessa for her sour attitude. She can’t help that she isn’t as charming as me.”
“Owww!” The cat yelped in surprise.
Sierra’s eyes widened. The owl had grabbed the cat’s tail with her claws.
“Oh, I didn’t hurt you, just reminding you to watch what you say. You only have nine lives, you know.”
The cat turned its back on Odessa, but not before giving her his best stink eye.
“What brings you here? Can’t say we get many visitors. Are you a friend of the man-servant?”
Man-servant? Was Jared the man-servant the cat was talking about? Ooh, my head, a talking cat and owl, what kind of place is this??”
The cat and owl stared up at her, waiting for her to speak.
“Has the cat got your tongue?” Odessa, the owl, spoke.
The cat shook his head, “I never understood why the man-servant says that. It makes no sense.”
“Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise about the man-servant speaking nonsense.”
“That’s for sure.” Dewey replied.
“Yesterday I overheard him say that he killed two birds with one stone!”
“Nooo!” A shocked Odessa replied, “The man-servant would never kill a bird.”
“Well, I was actually hoping that he did and that I would get them as a special treat. But no, he tried to explain to me what it meant, but I didn’t get it.”
“The language of humans will never cease to baffle me.” Odessa replied.
Sierra was looking back and forth from the cat to the owl in astonishment.
“Who is the man-servant?”
The cat and Odessa looked at her, having forgotten for a moment that she was there.
“He lives here with us on Moonbeam Farm. Takes care of us, and we try our hardest to keep him sane. Right Dewey?” The owl winked at the cat.
Dewey laughed. “Absolutely! If it wasn’t for us, he would have completely lost the little sense that he has left.”
“We would introduce you to him, but he isn’t around right now. I think he is off running some errands. Hopefully, buying me more salmon.” Dewey said.
“So, back to you. Why are you here?” Odessa asked.
The whole crazy story spilled out as Dewey and Odessa listened with rapt attention.
Odessa couldn’t believe it. This young woman may be even crazier than the man-servant.
“You don’t know how you got here? You simply were walking in the park, and you walked into our snowy town?”
Sierra looked embarrassed, “Well, there was more, but you will think I am crazy.”
Odessa cooked her head. “I already know humans are crazy. What else happened?”
“I heard something ring as I was walking. I looked down and saw that I kicked some kind of golden bell. Was going to pick it up, but a flume of pink and purple smoke circled around me, and when it cleared, I was standing on a snowy road.”
“I am a wise owl, but I must admit, Jaxon knows more about magic than I do. You must meet him.”
“Who is Jaxon. Do you mean Jared? He is the man who was there with a horse and carriage to meet me. The one who brought me here to the farm.”.
“I don’t know who this Jared guy is. Jaxon is a jackalope who has some magical powers.”
A magical jackalope??
“What is a jackalope?”
“I will go see if I can find him.” Odessa replied.
“Dewey can keep you company.”
Looking at Sierra, Dewey asked, “Did you hear the joke about…”
Odessa made a quick exit out of the barn before hearing another one of Dewey’s jokes.
By the time Odessa came back with Jaxon, Dewey was asleep.
A rabbit with antlers! Sierra saw it but didn’t believe it!
“Hi, I am Jaxon. I hear that you need some help with magic powers.”
“I simply want to get back home. Can you get me back home?”
Jaxon turned and stared at Odessa.
“What?”
“Do you really think I can get her back home. I appreciate your faith in my magical powers, but we both know I have never done something this big!”
“Well, now is your chance.” Odessa said, looking astute and proud as she preened her feathers.
“I will promise to try my best.” He gave Sierra a kind look. “Do you want me to try?”
Her stomach tightened with unease. What if something went wrong when Jaxon tried to send her home. What if she got sent somewhere else?
The howling wind increased, and snow was flying. Who knew when Jared would make it back if they had a bad storm and lots of snow. Would she be stuck here! It was risky, but Jaxon’s magic looked like her only option.
Drawing in a big breath, she said, “Yes, please,” in a shaky voice. If Jaxon messed up, she hoped that he would at least send her to a tropical island where it was warm!
Oh, Betsy was fit to be tied. Everything was going wrong. Sierra wasn’t the one who was supposed to find the enchanted bell at the park. It had been meant for some kid named Marty who wanted to go back in the past to change his future. Betsy thought she would give him a fun ride with some mad scientist named “Doc”. But all went wrong when Sierra kicked the bell.
When someone kicks Betsy’s enchanted bell instead of ringing it with their hand, things turn upside down. One could meet people with nefarious intentions. Betsy had to save Sierra.
She had been on her way earlier to save her, but old man Fuzzywhistle had decided that Betsy needed a bath. Betsy didn’t mind baths, but he was being so slow this time scrubbing her down.
Not being able to wait any longer, while still soapy, she shook her head, making her cowbell ring. She disappeared into the air. Now she was finally here in front of the barn, but feeling quite itchy from the soap.
Betsy stood in the doorway. No one noticed her. They all had their heads bowed, eyes closed while Jaxon spoke.
“Imagine you are in the park again and that you see the bell. Do you see the bell?”
“Yes.”
Betsy walked up behind Sierra.
“Keep your eyes closed and pick it up and ring it.”
Sierra felt something cool on her neck. Then she heard the ringing of the bell so clearly. Wow, Jaxon’s magic was good!
Pink and purple smoke swirled around Sierra. Dewey, being the curious cat that he was, opened his eyes and saw the smoke.
“Jaxon! You are too cool!”
Jaxon and Odessa opened their eyes and were speechless as they watched the smoke fade away. Sierra was gone!
“You did it! You sent Sierra back to the park. Amazing!”
Jaxon said thanks in a soft voice. He could hardly believe it! Dewey was singing in his off key voice, “For he’s a jolly good Jackalope … for he’s a jolly good Jackalope….” making Jaxon’s ears turn red. Everyone knows jackalopes are shy and humble. Thats why you never see them. They only come out when needed.
Yes! She was back! Sierra sighed with great relief as she grabbed her sweater from off the bench. There was no place like home, but she wouldn’t mind going back to Moonbeam Farm sometime. It was different from any farm that she had ever visited before!!
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When you dream of buying new living room furniture and changing the color … Which would lead to buying new curtains … When you buy new furniture and new curtains you would have to buy new throw pillows as well … Buying new furniture could also lead to repainting the walls … Daydreaming can be expensive … But we would save money on not needing new carpet … you tell yourself, as you go back to mopping the floor.
Friday’s Would You Rather Questions: Would you rather be the cowboy riding the bull, or the clown distracting it? Would you rather have to speak in riddles all the time or always rhyme? Feel free to share your answers in the comments below or ask your own “Would You Rather” question.
A year ago I was at the Von Trapp Family Lodge … A MUCH NEEDED trip after breaking my neck and facing upcoming heart surgery, have I mentioned how THANKFUL I am to have that all behind me now! Feeling Blessed. https://youtube.com/shorts/QuxaaolJga4?si=h_8jKgqK27W1UtvP
https://youtube.com/shorts/KFymayjlBxk?si=ZrC72Fq79foZ8m2t
“Of course! The story of my life.” Sierra lamented.
An odd expression crossed Jared’s face as he looked at the woman beside him.
She covered her mouth, feeling grateful that she could blame the blush of her cheeks on the cold and wind. Sierra hadn’t meant for those words to slip out.
“Sorry. I was simply thinking outloud.” She turned her neck, giving one more backward glance at the castle.
Not saying anything, Jared kept looking straight ahead as his horse plodded down the snow-covered road.
“How long until we get to our destination?”
“Not long now. Almost there.”
Sierra wasn’t too sure about that. He had given that same answer the two other times she had asked the question. Either his definition of “almost there” was much different from hers, or he was hoping that she would give up asking. Sierra guessed it was the latter. He wasn’t a talkative chauffeur by any stretch of the imagination.
He had been friendly enough when asking if she was Miss Sierra ,but after that, he wasn’t much for conversation.
Pulling her coat tighter against her, she shivered. She was not a winter person, but yet, here she was.
How did she get here? That was the quadrillion dollar question. Her brain was still swirling like the snowflakes in the air.
One moment, she had been taking an evening stroll in the park, and the next moment, she was freezing. Wondering how it could be snowing and why a horse and carriage were coming towards her.
Clip clop … Clip clop…. Dew drop …Dew drop….
“I got it!’ Sierra smiled
Jared gave her an odd look again.
“Your horse’s name is DewDrop, am I right?”
“His name is Winter.”
“Winter? What kind of name is Winter for a black horse?”
Jared’s lips twitched, “You may ask its master that when we get there.”
“Master? You aren’t the owner?”
“No, my lady. I was only sent to pick you up. I work for Mr Downey. The horse belongs to him.”
“What is it that Mr Downey wants? How does he know me?”
“I will let Mr Downey have that conversation. I am only the chauffeur.”
“But…can’t you give me a hint? Please!”
“You want a hint?”
“Yes!”
“We are almost there.”
Sierra let out a defeated sigh. Jared was one tight-lipped chauffeur. She had been trying to find out details from him for the whole ride, which felt like hours.
All she knew was that when she had seen the castle, she had been excited about having been whisked away into this fairytale. Then Jared took them past it.
It was the story of her life. Who else but she would magically step into a fairytale, only for her carriage to go right by the castle. Isn’t that where Jared should have dropped her off at? She would be greeted by Prince Charming and ..
“We are here.” Jared interrupted her daydream.
Opening her eyes, she looked around in astonishment.
This! This? This was where her fairytale adventure would begin?
**To be continued **
I have two sources of inspiration this morning. thanks to talented photographer friends. My thanks to Elizabeth from https://bleuwater.me/2025/09/24/seeing-red-2/ , the 3 photos in the middle of the story and to Jason from http://jasonfrels.com/2025/07/04/sunrise-and-stumps/ , the first and last photo of the story. for letting me share your beautiful photos.
Bernadette was humming as she flew in perfect form. She was all about staying fit. Didn’t want to wind up looking like Charlie, the old crow.
Staying fit was important, but she couldn’t help and be envious of the plump, juicy worm that her friend Adeline had caught this morning.
Meanwhile, Bernadette sipped her nectar, which was sweet, but sometimes she craved more. Something to spice up the nectar. Often she noticed humans drinking from cups that had white, creamy froth on top. She wondered how that would taste.
There was Mr Red, looking all proud. He was leading the meeting. Bernadette flew down to say hi.
“Good afternoon, Mr Red. How are you?”
“I am fine, thanks, but I am not Mr Red. I am his cousin. Mr Red would be over there, perched on the strangest bird I ever saw. It hasn’t moved since I been here!”
Bernadette looked over in the midst of cacti and smiled.
“What a pretty shade of pink! A beautiful bird, I dare say.” She looked at Mr C, waiting for his response. He sighed.
Females would often go crazy over colors. He didn’t see what all the fuss was about, though he would admit he did admire how sharp he looked in his red jacket.
“Hi Mr Red, what a magnificent bird you are perched on. What kind of bird is it? It’s staying so still.”
“Hi Bernadette. I asked its name several times, but it never responds. I think its an…” he lowered his voice, giving a soft chirp, “an imposter!”
Fluttering her wings, Bernadette asked, “Are you sure?’
“Yes, I am afraid so. She and her friends want in on our top secret meeting. Percy is over there checking another one out, but she must not be talking either.”
“Well, what are we going to do? We can’t let risk having them hear our secret plans.”
“You are right. We will need to move our meeting somewhere else. Follow me.”
With that said, Mr Red rose in the air and flew away as the others followed. He wasn’t worried about the strange birds following. They looked too big to fly. Even if they did fly, surely Mr Red and his friends would be alot faster. Especially Bernadette. He was always in awe of how fast she flapped her wings.
Sometimes, he wished he could be more like her, but he watched Bernadette and her friends. How they found any sustenance in only drinking red liqud, he had no idea! Give him a bunch of fat brown worms any day.
As he flew, he thought about the cookout that his friend, Jim,the bald eagle, was having later that evening.
Mr Red hoped that this cookout would go better than the first time. No emergencies this time. No one else needed to lose their feathers like poor Jim.
After that incident , Dodo Bird was no longer in charge of the grill.
The birds landed in a lush green meadow, with one big Oak tree. They all looked around. “I think we lost them.”
No one saw the pretty in pink birds anywhere.
“I call this meeting to order.” Mr Red chirped, but no one was listening. They were all busy discussing what had happened earlier in the week.
“Betty, the bluebird is most upset about it all. That’s why she isn’t here, you know.” Tilly, the tufted titmouse tattled.
“I would be upset, too. Can you imagine how that would hurt? It makes me scared to fly. One moment, you are flying high and the next, BAM! You run headlong into the glass. Awful! Thankfully, she recovered, unlike poor Milton, the morning dove.”
“i hope Betty doesn’t end up like Nellie, the NUT-hatch, she hasn’t been the same since her collision a year ago.” Tilly chirped.
Poor Mr Red kept calling for order but noone could hear him.
He gave a desperate look to his friend Winifred the Woodpecker. Winifred nodded his head and started drilling his beak into the tree.
Poor Willie, the whipporwill gave out short, sharp quirts, expressing its agitation at Winifred. His pecking wasn’t helping Willie’s headache. Winifred got everyones attention, and soon, all was finally quiet.
With all the birds focused on Mr. Red sharing his top secret, no one noticed the spy nearby, who was all ears.
Happy Tuesday! If you aren’t feeling as chipper as this cute hedgehog, it’s OK. I do hope that reading my quotes will add some spark to your day and make you smile. As always, thanks for stopping by and reading. I do appreciate it!
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Captivated by the fireflies lighting up the night, Nutmeg’s brown eyes followed them, flying around her.
They didn’t stay for long. One by one, they flew away until none were left, but Nutmeg wasn’t sad. She knew they would return tomorrow night.
“Excuse me.”
Surprising Nutmeg, a firefly flew in front of her face.
“Can you help me please? My name is Twinkle. ” The firefly hovered in the air.
“You can talk? I didn’t know that fireflies talk.”
“Now that you know, will you help me please?”
Poor Nutmeg was confused. The firefly that had been hovering flew away. How would she be able to help her? Did she want Nutmeg to follow her?
“I am over here, caught in this sticky bush. Can you get me loose, please? Hurry!”
Oh, it must be a different firefly speaking to her.
Nutmeg looked beside her but had trouble seeing anything besides the big bush.
Hopping closer to the bush, she finally saw the problem with the help of the firefly’s light. The poor thing was tangled in a web.
Being careful not to bite Twinkle. Nutmeg bit a few strands of the web, enabling the firefly to break loose.
She landed on Nutmeg’s nose. “Thank you so much for your help. If I can ever help you, let me know. “
“You are welcome. Have a good night.”
Nutmeg watched her fly away. She was glad she was able to save the firefly. It was kind of Twinkle to offer her help anytime, but Nutmeg couldn’t hold back a chuckle. How would a tiny firefly ever be able to help her.
Time passed, and Nutmeg kept enjoying eating berries during the day and hopping through the woods with her friends. Playing hide and seek was fun, even if Waldo won most of the games. No one could camouflage like he did.
Jester never won, always disqualifying himself by diving into holes. He thought it was funny.
Winter, the white rabbit, was often late for their group games, but he was doing better since his watch was fixed.
Recently, he brought some new friends with him to join in. They were twin rabbits named Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Some of the other rabbits had laughed at their names and didn’t want them joining in any of the rabbit games.
But on one particularly foggy night, old Thumper came into the woods to say that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. After that, Tweedledee and Tweedledum were always welcome to join in the rabbit games.
It was about a week later that dense fog covered the woods.
Nutmeg had been burrowed in her friend’s home, chatting over creamy hot chocolate, and hadn’t realized how foggy it was.
She didn’t live far from her friend and thought she could make it, but she had been wrong. The fog grew thicker, and she couldn’t tell what direction to turn.
“Help!” She cried.
“Twinkle, are you out there?”
She kept yelling, and when she saw a glimmer of light, she brightened up.
“Hi Nutmeg, it’s me. What do you need?”
“I can’t see to find my way home.”
“Wait, right here.” Twinkle flew away. Where was she going? Nutmeg started to grow concerned, but it wasn’t long until she saw a stream of fireflies lighting up the night.
“Don’t you worry, Nutmeg, my friends and I will shine so bright and guide you to your home tonight.”
The night the fireflies guided Nutmeg home became such a well-known story as it was passed down from one generation to another. To all the woodland creatures. The birds heard the story, and they even made up a song about Twinkle and her friends. Twinkle went down in history, and to this day, the fireflies continue lighting up the night.
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44 years ago this week, the Smurfs premiered and made Saturday morning cartoons better! Is the theme song going through your head now? 😉
Passports renewed … Adventure awaits …. Once money jar fills up … May have to raise the prices on my lemonade stand …
Did you ever have something on you or in your carry-on bag that shouldn’t have made it through airport security, but it did?What was it? Yes, I alluded to this in my The Legend of Mr Cat story this week. It was the one true part of the story, but it didn’t happen to me.
Nuggets of Gold 