Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 300

February 23, 2021February 22, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

This is the 300th post that Keith Channing has created as a prompt. I joined his prompts after the 36th. So this means I have been enjoying and participating in Keith’s prompts since August 4th, 2015. Boy, time flies when you are having fun. Congratulations Keith on a fine job.

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo,

Kreative Kue #300

Westward Ho by John W. Howell

“Amos. Come here and look at this.”

“What is it.”

“There is someone out in the south pasture on a lawn tractor.”

“I told you to make sure that gate was locked.”

“Never mind that. What is she doing there.”

“From my view, she’s mowing the hay.”

“We don’t want that do we?”

“I’ve thought it’s about time. I was just looking over the baler yesterday.”

“But she is cutting the hay, and look how it is blowing out in little pieces.”

“I think you’re right. That’s not the kind of thing we want. Hey, you on the tractor. in the pasture.”

“Me.”

“Are you on a tractor?”

“I think so.”

“Are you the only one in the pasture?”

“Besides you?”

“Yes.”

“I guess so.”

“So what are you doing here.”

“Heading West.”

“Heading West? On a lawnmower?”

“It’s the only vehicle I have.”

“But you are making a mess of my pasture.”

“I thought you would appreciate getting it cut.”

“The pieces are so small I won’t be able to pick them up.”

“Oh, I never thought of that.”

“You from around here.”

“No. I’m from New York.”

“New York City?”

“Yes.”

“And you came all the way to Iowa from there?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I have to give it to you. I couldn’t imagine doing that myself.”

“You want me to finish the mowing?”

“Maybe you need a break. What’s your name?”

“Jenny. Jenny Deere.”

“You wouldn’t be related to-”

“John Deere? Yup, he’s my dad.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Nerve”

February 20, 2021February 19, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and I got a message attached to a snowball from Linda Hill. Here is what she said.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “nerve.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If you would like to have fun, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here’s the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 20, 2021

“You’ve got a lot of nerve.”

“Who you talking to?”

“The curbside food delivery people. Hold on. Okay, then just eliminate the light fluid but keep the antifreeze. Can’t do that either? Well, cancel the order then. Bye.”

“What was that all about?”

“I decided to order this week’s groceries on-line. After I placed the order, I got a notice that a couple of things weren’t authorized for curbside pick up.”

“Lighter fluid and antifreeze?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you need those?”

“Well, the fluid is so I can light my candles with my lighter.”

“And the antifreeze?”

“So I can protect my car engine from freezing.”

“Seems odd that you would wait for cold weather to protect your engine.”

“I drained some of the antifreeze and put it in my toilets.”

“What kind of insane person does that?”

“I didn’t want them to freeze.”

“Who said they would.”

“No one, it just makes sense.”

“To who?”

“Whom.”

“I mean, the heat in your house would keep them from freezing.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Tell me about the heat.”

“You know I have natural gas.”

“I didn’t, but go ahead.”

“The lines froze.”

“So your heater doesn’t work.”

“Right.”

“What about your pipes?”

“Might be frozen too.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Ask to stay with you.”

“Sure, no problem, but I meant about the frozen pipes.”

“Buy bottled water. Take a shower at your house.”

“The pipes are going to break with the expanding ice.”

“Nah.”

“Why ‘nah?”‘

“Drained out the water and filled them with some of that noxious liquor you gave me over the years.”

“The 25-year-old bourbon?”

“Yup, ten bottles filled them up, right beautiful.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I could have used beer, but I didn’t have the nerve.”

“Okay, I give.”

“It would have been a big sacrifice. Besides, beer does freeze. Want one while it is still liquid?”

“Yeah, maybe. I keep thinking of that 1000 dollars floating around in your pipes.”

“It will still be there in the spring.”

“Never thought of that.”

“I saved the bottles.”

“Good man. Here’s to ya. You ready to go?”

“Got room for five cases of Bud?”

“Not at one sitting.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #299 by Keith Channing

February 16, 2021February 15, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.

The photo.

“Hold on, everyone.”

“I can’t see my feet.”

“Looks like they are running out of shrimp.”

“Did you honestly just sneeze?”

“Where’s the help around here.”

“All you can eat for a buck?”

“Harold, you said this was an exclusive place.”

“Has anyone seen my wing?”

“Chicken wing.”

“Nah, stupid. My wing.”

“Hey, you there. That’s my serving.”

“Get your foot outa of mine then.”

“Where’s the manager?”

“Right here under y’all.”

“I’m never coming back.”

“Don’t let the door smack ya where the good Lord cracked ya.”

“Waiter. Wheres my wine?”

“You are kidding, right?”

“Yeah, make it a birdbath.”

“Anybody want to swarm after the meal?”

“Excuse me, madam. Take your wings off me. I’m not your husband.”

“You sure look like him.”

“I’ve been told that a lot.”

“Who wants dessert?”

“Is it included?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Suet paired with sunflower seeds.”

“Oh, yes, please.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue 298 by Keith Channing

February 9, 2021February 8, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo

Kreative Kue #298

“Trevor. Oh, Trevor.”

“Over here, boss.”

“Over where? I can hear you I can’t see you, though.”

“By the hedgerow. Near the post.”

“There you are. What on Earth?”

“What on Earth indeed.”

“What happened?”

“I was minding my own business on the scent trail of that pesky skunk and all of a sudden I found myself stuck.”

“Can’t you back out?”

“That’s just it. I tried backing out but the snow clumped up on my behind and I got stuck.”

“It looks pretty free now.”

“Yeah, cause I started rocking back and forth to make room.”

“What stopped you then?”

“The skunk.”

“The skunk? How could the skunk stop you?”

“He came over and said he could get me out.”

“Your sworn enemy offered to help you?”

“Well, he said he could get me out if I made him a promise.”

“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.”

“Tell me about it. He wanted me to promise never to chase him again.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him I could never make a promise like that.”

“What’d he do.”

“Walked away. So, now, can you get me out?”

“Sure but I need you to make me a promise.”

“What promise?”

“To never chase that skunk again.”

“Here we go again. I could never make that promise.”

“Well, this snow should be gone in a week or two.”

“Okay, okay. I promise not to chase the skunk again.”

“Repeat after me. And if I do.”

“And if I do.”

“I’ll sleep in the barn until the smell goes away.”

“Gee. I kinda like the smell.”

“Say it or stay here till spring.”

“I’ll sleep in the barn until the smell goes away.”

“Okay, I have you.”

“Thanks, boss. By the way, I had my paws crossed.”

“And I’m the only one who can open doors to let you in the house.”

“Yeah, good point.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – The Beginning, The End

January 30, 2021January 29, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

The end of the week signals Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and I see Linda Hill has decided to leave a big package at the curb. I don’t blame her since it looks heavy. The sign on the side says Prompt so, I guess this is it. Man, this is heavy.

Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “the beginning, the end.” Write about the beginning of something and the end of something. Bonus points if your first sentence contains “the end” and your last sentence contains “the beginning.” <– Read that again. Have fun!

So there you are. If you would like to join in, visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2021/01/29/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2021-daily-prompt-jan-30th/

“The end of your life looks to have arrived.”

“No smart-assed comments. I have a real problem.”

“Besides your mental state, you mean?”

“Har de har har har. To the moon Alice.”

“Huh.”

“Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners.”

“You are lost in the past, I see.”

“Did you ever see the show?”

“Can’t say I did.”

“Lot of good life lessons.”

“What has you all wrapped around the axle today? Please don’t tell me it’s the Hill prompt.”

“A little bit. I need to come up with a beginning.”

“Clear as mud. What beginning for what?”

“For the post. I have the end already up there.”

“The end? Up there? Let me smell your breath.”

“That comes later. The story started with The end, and the story has to end with The beginning.”

“You now have me so confused I’m not sure I can help you.”

“That’s okay, you already did. I was thinking of Ralph Kramden when he used to tell Alice he was boss and she was nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound very nice.”

“Then she would tell him that it was no big deal him being boss over nothing.”

“Sounds like a funny bit.”

“Then they would kiss and make up.”

“To end the show?”

“Nah, for their relationship, it was the beginning.”

“Like with you and I.”

“What do you mean?”

“Beer. The Beginning.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue 296 by Keith Channing

January 26, 2021January 25, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue 296

“I’m not sure I can run anymore.”

“You have to. We need to make it to the yard.”

“What’s the rush?”

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“No, I’m not. Are we late for dinner?”

“No, dinner is hours away.”

“I give up. Why are we running?”

“You didn’t see that thing by the woods.”

“What thing?”

“That monstrosity with the black eyes and glowing nose.”

“You mean the carrot?”

“Carrot? What are you talking about?”

“It’s a snowman with a carrot nose.”

“What about those coal-black eyes.”

“You just said it.”

“What?”

“Coal. The eyes are made of coal.”

“Nah, uh.”

“Un-huh.”

“Whew, let’s stop running.”

“Thank heavens. I can hardly get my breath.”

“So you’re saying it was a snowman.”

“Yup.”

“How’s he get there?”

“That old guy with the beard built it.”

“The one we live with?”

“The very same.”

“The author.”

“Yup.”

“Why would he build a snowman?”

“For a story.”

“Not much of a story.”

“What if the snowman came alive and was chasing us?”

“Now that would be a story.”

“Don’t look now, but we better get to running again.”

“This is fiction, right?”

“I’m not hanging around to find out. I’m going to bug out. You with me?”

“Well ahead of you, my friend.”

Tuesday – Anythings Possible – Kreative Kue 295 by Keith Channing

January 19, 2021January 18, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 80 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue #295

“Look at that.”

“I know. Crazy, wouldn’t you say.”

“Out in this kind of weather.”

“No hat even.”

“Would serve her right.”

“What would serve her right?”

“If she got picked up in the talons of a giant snow owl.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”

“You making a challenge?”

“No, I just said I wouldn’t mind seeing her picked up in the talons of a giant snow owl.”

“You know they don’t believe in giant snow owls.”

“So who would know?”

“I had the same thought.”

“Why don’t you do it then?”

“Then what?”

“Beats mice, I’m sure.”

“To eat?”

“I’m just saying.”

“Ew.”

“Okay, then forget it.”

“You know something?”

“What?”

“You and I don’t have enough to do.”

“Guilty. Let’s think of something else.”

“Like maybe a sheep.”

“Yeah. A sheep in a snowstorm. Now that would be a real challenge.”

“You’re on.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “First Thing”

January 16, 2021January 15, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

First thing this morning, I ran into Linda Hill. She had something wrapped in old newspapers. “Is that fish,” I said.

“Fish? You better hope not. This is your prompt for this week.”

“Oh, my goodness. Why is it wrapped in newspaper.”

“Cause I ran out of birthday wrap.”

“It’s not my birthday.”

“Just as well then. Here take it.”

“Thanks, Linda. Goodbye.”

Here is this week’s prompt. Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “first thing.” Start your post with the words “first thing” and go from there. Bonus points if you end your post with the last thing. Have fun!

“First thing I noticed? Gee, that’s a hard one.”

“Just say whatever comes to mind.”

“Well, the first thing I noticed when we met each other was your complete obsession with the Saturday prompt.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, we had our first date, and you insisted on reading your response to the prompt. I can even remember the prompt.”

“What was it. I don’t remember.”

“It was rutabaga.”

“Rutabaga? What did I say about rutabaga?”

“I put it out of my mind but recall you were planning on planting some.”

“Well, I never did, so how can you say I’m obsessed?.”

“Let me count the Saturday evenings we only talk about your prompt that week.”

“You serious? We talk about a lot of stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Um. Like . . . er. . . the movie we are watching.”

“And how it relates to the prompt. Let me ask you. What caused you to come up with asking me about the first thing I noticed about you tonight?”

“It is the prompt this week.”

“See, the prosecution rests.”

“That’s not the whole thing.”

“What else.”

“We get bonus points if we end the post with “the last thing.”

“Let me help you with that.”

“I thought you didn’t like the prompt stuff.”

“Let me say good night, which will be the last thing.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #294 by Keith Channing

January 12, 2021January 11, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below)as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue

“Where is our bus?”

“I don’t see it.”

“What are we going to do now?”

“I don’t have a clue. Maybe we can catch another.”

“I thought this was supposed to be a lunch break.”

“Yeah, me too. Looks like it was just a quick stop. I told you we should have gotten a translation book.”

“This rain isn’t going to make it any more comfortable.”

“The fact that I’ve grown webbing between my toes should tell us something.”

“Webbing?”

“Just joking. It’s been raining so much. I think we are going to need to tread water soon.”

“So, back to the bus. What should we do?”

“Hold on, I have the tour operator’s card here. Let me call them.”

“Oh, thank heavens. Yes, call them.”

“Hello. This is McGee calling. Bob McGee. We are stranded at a bus stop. How soon for the next bus? You’re kidding? Yeah, we know that now. Yes, sure, put us on that one. Isn’t there anything sooner? Okay then. Thanks. Bye.”

“So that didn’t sound good.”

“The next bus is tomorrow at this time.”

“Twenty four hours in this jungle outpost? There’s no place to sleep.”

“Well, we will just have to make due. The guy said we should never have gotten off the bus.”

“That makes me feel so much better knowing that. So what do you suggest?”

“What do you have in that bag?”

“My dirty red bandana and my harmonica.”

“Perfect. We are saved.”

“How so?”

“I’ll just thumb a diesel down before the next rain, and we’ll sing songs to the driver. We’ll sing every song the drive knows.”

“You sayin’ the windshield wipers will be slapping time?”

“Now, you’ve got it.”

“Gee, Bobby. It does sound good.”

“We are making memories, kiddo. The kind where you might want to trade all your tomorrows for a single yesterday.”

“You have such a way with words, Bobby. Put out that thumb, and let’s get going.”

***

Thanks to Chris Christopherson for writing, Janus Joplin, and Johnny Cash among others for singing one of my favorite songs, “Me and Bobby McGee.” Here is Janis

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Sky’s the Limit”

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness time again, and here comes Linda Hill. She has a balloon on a string and an envelope attached to the string. I’ll bet it is the prompt for today.

“Hi, Linda. Want to come inside.”

“No thanks, John. I just need to deliver this prompt.”

“I like the balloon.”

“Well, grab the envelope and open it. See you.”

“Bye, Linda. Now let me see. I’ll open the envelope. Oops, the balloon just got away. Wow, look at it, climb. The sky’s the limit for that sucker. Let me see what the note says.”

Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “sky’s the limit.” Write about something that has or seems to have no end. Enjoy!

“Hey, why are you looking up at the sky?”

“I just lost a balloon.”

“A balloon. What kind of craziness are you up to now? Oh, wait. The Saturday prompt, right?”

“That’s right. It came from Linda Hill on the end of a balloon.”

“Let me guess. You opened the envelope, and the balloon got away.”

“Once again, you qualify as a clairvoyant.”

“Only you would lose a balloon chasing something as dumb as this Saturday thing.”

“The prompt is for us to talk about something that is endless.”

“Yeah, so what have you chosen? The height that the balloon will go?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“The amount of time you will spend on this prompt.”

“Very funny.”