Short Story Monday: “Fair Ladies” by Theodora Goss

by Carol6 Comments
I was enchanted by the mix of realism and fantasy in "Fair Ladies" by Theodora Goss. The story starts of in a slightly unconventional way, at least in my opinion. Rudolph Arnheim's father, the Baron, announces that he has found a mistress for his son, who in his father's opinion is spending the time at university idly and is forming a relationship with a young woman who is quite unsuitable. The baron will pay for the woman's apartment and expenses. The woman is "The Pearl." Before the war, she was gorgeous and entertaining, the mistress of important men, and moved about freely in society, until she disappeared. She had been living in a small cottage in the woods, near the Baron's estate, and she was returning to the city only as a favor to the Baron. She would introduce Rudolph to the men he needs to know, set him up with a position, help him meet an appropriate woman, then return...
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One minute about Cake

by Carol5 Comments
Image source: Easy Cake Ideas I found The One-Minute Writer the other day and I though it was a really neat idea. Yes, this is fiction. David knows way better than to put over 30-some odd candles on my birthday cake. Cake There were too many candles on the cake, just annoying. Otherwise it was perfect, white cake with white icing, multi-colored sprinkles, but those two candles yelled loud and clear, he forgot. He doesn’t know how old I am. What else had he forgotten, or not bothered to remember, over the years?...
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Review: Otis by Loren Long

by Carol6 Comments
(Suggested reading level: Preschool through grade 2) Otis is an adorable picture book with a great message. Friends are there for you, no matter how deep in the mud you are. Otis is a little tractor who loves his farm and works hard for the farmer. He also loves to play and his best friend is a young calf who sleeps in the stall beside him and plays in the fields with him. One day a big, new yellow tractor arrives on the farm, taking Otis' place. Otis is left out back, weeds grow around his tires, he feels old and useless and doesn't even want to play anymore. Then the poor calf gets stuck in Mud Pond. No one can help her, until Otis puffs his way down the hill and rescues her. From that day on, the farmer learns that while the new tractor is great in the field, Otis still has a special place and use on the farm. I have...
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The Mariposa (flash fiction)

by Carol9 Comments
Image source:Unknown The Mariposa by Carol 376 words The Queen stared out the window, seeing the desolation surrounding the tower, the trees and flowers that were dying even with the daily care her slaves provided. That damned man was costing her everything. She was well aware that the drought was too localized to be nature. The outlying villages were in no peril of starving, their gardens still green with vegetables growing plentifully. Thankfully she had been intelligent enough to enforce a tribute years ago. As long as her people ate, she would, her army would make certain of that. What farmer would dare argue? But still, her beautiful garden. She needed the Mariposa, the one who could bring life back to the plants, the one who could rejuvenate the land. Of course, the girl had other uses too, returning youth only a part of her power, and even he would not dare attack if it would endanger the Mariposa. The girl’s potential value was enormous,...
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Friday’s Tale: The Frog Prince (Sri Lanka)

by Carol3 Comments
Image: The Permaculter Research Institute of Australia In Sri Lanka, the tale of "The Frog Prince" bears little resemblance to the version I know. About the only thing they have in common is a character who is at one time a frog and at another time a prince. The Sri Lankan story begins with a widow who lives on the rice powder left over after she pounds rice at the king's palace. This woman bore a frog. I'm not sure why her child was frog, it just was. When the frog grew up, the king issued a proclamation. "I will give half my kingdom, and goods amounting to an elephant's load to the person who brings the Jeweled Golden Cock that is at the house of the Rakshasi." The Rakshasi is an ogress. The frog, hearing this, takes some rice and strings it on a wild date tree. Then he turns into a handsome prince and clothes and a horse appear. The prince...
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