This story is my entry for the In Just Spring Contest - let me know what you think. The challenge: write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, maximum 350 words. The only other requirement is that the last line must be “[Character Name] knew Spring was really here!” or “[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!”
Just before winter’s frost could nip his rabbit nose, Mr. Poppenfuss planted bulbs in his garden.
Winter lasted a long time, even for rabbits.
On long winter nights he pictured the globe-shaped bulbs nestled in the soil.
On short winter days he imagined green leaves poking through patches of late snow.
But the days did grow longer. Newborn bunnies cried in their dens. Chickadees whistled. Nuthatches honked tiny tin horns. Woodpeckers hammered against hollow branches. Spring would soon be here.
Catkins, covered in fine, grayish fur, flowered on pussy willow branches.
One after another, Mr. Poppenfuss’ daffodils rose from their short stems.
Every new day he examined every golden bloom.
One evening, he grazed on tender greens in a nearby meadow. When he returned, he found many of his beloved daffadown dillies had been plucked!
“Oh, dear!” he cried.
In the morning he called on his neighbors.
“Mrs. Pockets, have you by chance…”
“Happy Spring!” winked Mrs. Pockets. “Do come in. Look at the lovely daffodils my Billy brought me.”
“Why, yes, they are quite lovely,” he noted.
Billy peeked out from behind his mother, with a rather long face.
“Billy, would you come to visit me? I’d like to show you something.”
All the way to Mr.Poppenfuss’ house they were quiet.
Finally, Billy piped up, but before he could speak, Mr. Poppenfuss stopped him.
“My boy, I am very happy to share my golden treasure, but I would like to be asked first.”
“Pirate treasure? Is that what you wanted to show me?” asked Billy with a melon-sized grin.
“My daffadown dillies are my spring treasure. When they bloom I am rich as a king.”
“I’m awfully sorry. I didn’t mean to steal your treasure. I wanted to surprise Mother.”
“Shall we take her on a walk, then? We could look for more spring treasures, like new yellow willow leaves, soft red maple buds, robins hopping about. Maybe even a rainbow?”
Billy’s smile shone like the sun. Mr. Poppenfuss knew Spring was really here.
The London Eye rises above daffodils blooming in the sun in London March 19, 2011. (Reuters/Luke MacGregor)
This post is for you, Renn. But let me explain a bit about what’s going on right now to any one else reading this: Renn is five years old and a Padawan, or Jedi in training. He is being tested. And it has not been easy. This post is one of many meant to help Renn bide the time (and hopefully make you smile, Renn!) while doctors try their best to locate the cause of his epileptic seizures – in his brain. If you’d like to learn more, you can join the blog at The Brain Of A Jedi, or the Face Book Group at Purple Day. And you can find out what other creative, generous and caring people are scheming for Renn this week on Susanna’s blog – here
Everyone out there, even in galaxies far, far away, please keep your fingers crossed for Renn!
I hope your parents plan to share Schoolhouse Rock with you – soon!
These were carved by Steve Thompson – click on the photo to read about him. I would not recommend trying this until you are a bit older, and definitely not without parental supervision. I think he used a scalpel (ask the doctors in the STAR WARD what those are!)
This is only part 1 of 3 videos, you can watch the rest on you tube. I’m sorry about the quality – but if you have never seen this, you might enjoy it anyhow!
If you click on the photo above, you will come to a site that features all kinds of art inspired by Star Wars. The photo below is from that site too. You should know there are a lot of people out there, JUST LIKE YOU who LOVE Star Wars!
And now for my contribution – inspired by you, probably one of the bravest kids ever – in the STAR WARD!
Or in any galaxy!
(Renn: If you want an image with a better resolution for printing, you just let me know! Anything for you and your family!)
THIS IS ‘JUST ANOTHER HAIR-BRAINED SCHEME PRODUCTION’ - THANKS TO SUSANNA AND BETH.
Check out all the completed Food Fight entries on Marcie Colleen’s blog, The Write Routine.
Out on the plains, stranded in a sea of buffalo grass, lived a farmer and her husband. Running behind their house, was a skinny sliver of a river. The couple used its water to wet their throats and grow fruit and vegetables.
And grow they did! Strawberries and raspberries, brussel sprouts and broccoli, nectarines and tangerines, lettuces and radishes, cabbages, carrots, and more.
One night the wind rolled over the plains, and whistled through the keyhole. It rattled the windowpanes and tossed the couple in their bed, and robbed them of their sleep. The wind tossed the vegetables in their beds too, robbing their scent and sweeping it out over the plains.
The sun was high in the sky before it roused them. They had not heard the munching and crunching in the garden. The couple caught a glimpse of white tails squeezing out between the fence posts, and the sight in the garden knocked their sleeping caps clear off.
“Best to keep guard tonight, dear,” the farmer said to the husband. “We should work in shifts.”
The husband took the first shift. He sat smack in the middle of the tomato patch and waited. The first fuzzy fellow to peek his nose through the fence slats got what he was looking for – but not in his mouth!
SQWATSCH!
“Whoop! I got him,” cheered the husband.
But underneath all that tomato splatter the animal chewed.
CRUNCH MUNCH CRUNCH
Then SPIT! SPAT! Vegetable purée flew from the fuzzy fellow’s mouth and pegged…
the farmer’s husband SPLAT in the kisser.
He doubled over and crawled into the strawberry patch grabbing a fistful of strawberries SQUISH.
The juice dribbled down his shirt and jeans. He took aim at his target. SMASH! The farmer’s husband leaped with joy. “Got that dang varmint!”
SLURP, the critter licked his fur, swallowed and purred, which sent the husband into a dance of rage. The farmer rushed out of the farmhouse to find out what all the kerfuffle was about. Seeing her husband’s shirt soaked in red, she freaked and started lobbing cabbages like a pro footballer. KERPOW!
But the bunny was the head of the Fluffy Dodge Ball Team. He caught the cabbage and took a bite, staring down the farmer with menacing eyes. The farmer’s goat had wandered over now. He was the only one allowed to throw things at the farmer! He hoisted a pumpkin in his horns and chucked it at the bunnies. Poof! Orange fur balls flew in the air.
With a huge PLOP, those orange bunnies did drop, like harvest moons, into a pig’s trough of slop. They sputtered and bobbed, in the green, gooey glob, struggling to get back in the game.
But the pigs were fascinated as they nosed the rabbits down to watch them pop back up in the drink. “Corn cobs are what this stew needs,” said a pudgy pink porker as he scooped up cobs with his snout and SPLASHED them upon the bobbing bunnies.
But back into the game they got. Hiding behind a large pumpkin, the bunnies discussed their tactics. A full-court press was needed. On the count of three with carrots, tomatoes and peppers in hand, the bunnies jumped up and threw. A barrage of vegetables landed Kir-Plat, Splach, Swap on the farmer, her husband and the goat.
They fell backward into a recently upturned patch of earth where the onions grew. Hoping that cut onions would make those bunny eyes water, the Farmer and her husband spilt a few, CRUNCH, and swung them under the pumpkin leaves.
TUMBLE-TUMBLE, but the onions fell short, rolling under the pumpkin leaves. The EFFECT was different though! It worked like a gas bomb! The bunnies couldn’t see through their tears, so when the 3 small bunnies threw their food, it hit the BIGGEST bunny! THUNK! HUNK! TUNK! The Farmer and her husband cheered, sending more onions to get the job under control…
The bunnies retreated, temporarily stymied, but not defeated. UGH, groaned one. WAHH, cried the other. SHUSH, said the third. “It’s time to be smart,” he said. “Why don’t we lay a trap? We’re great diggers, so let’s dig a giant hole to lure them in, and then we’ll bombard them with their produce.”
“We know what to do,” one of the bunnies shouted. “Follow me.” He ran into the barn, jumped on the tractor and turned the key.
RRRRRUMMM, RRRRUUUUUMMMM, the engine roared as another bunny pressed the gas pedal.
A third bunny shifted the gears while the first bunny grabbed the steering wheel.
The farmer said, “Oh my.” The farmer’s wife said, “Golly.”
The bunnies drove the tractor out of the barn and drove it in circles digging a bigger and bigger hole.
But as too many cooks can spoil the broth, so can too many bunnies driving a tractor spoil the fight! The tractor tipped, spilling out the critters in a pile of giggles. And giggling is contagious. All the animals joined in, including the farmer and her husband. Bwahaha! Chortle! Hee, hee! Guffaw! Hackigigigi! Hyuk, ho, hoo! Snigger! Snort! Teehee! They just couldn’t stay mad while laughing so hard! The couple looked into each other’s eyes and they knew. It sure would be nice to laugh more often, so they decided to plant for themselves – and for their friends, and were no longer … stranded in a sea of buffalo grass!
The alternating bold and regular fonts distinguish between the ‘throws’. The only changes made to the added comments were to keep the farmer’s ‘pants’ on the right spouse, because SHE is the farmer in this story!
Special thanks to all that read the story and threw hard: Susanna, Catherine, Jen, Penny, Donna, Heather, Patricia T., Joanna, Lauri, Patricia N., Gretchen, Sarah, Erik, Sylvia, Robb and Marcie – for bringing us all together in this fun-filled community building kerfuffle!
You have to answer 11 weird questions then tag 11 people who would be willing to answer weird questions. I am grateful for weird people.
1. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten in public?
As a picky eater for a good chunk of my life, I’ve managed to wiggle out of eating a number of things! But the texture I have despised having to eat, in front of others, was a big hunk of pork fat. As an exchange student in Germany, I was advised to eat EVERYTHING on my plate. I figured no one else at the table was gonna eat that, but they did, so I did too – yuck!
2. If you had to go on an adventure, with elves, dwarves, or hobbits, who would you take and why?
I be hangin’ with ma hobbies! Come on – got to go with the funny guys, especially if they like a good brew!
3. You are at a rural retreat lodge somewhere deep in Wisconsin or Canada. You are approached by a taxidermist who hands you a stuffed badger and asks you to put it in your lap. What do you do next?
If I couldn’t save his life anymore, I’d take him home…and draw him!
4. If you were given biscotti, would you prefer it with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
That would depend on the biscotti! Fruity with tea, chocolatey with coffee, plain with hot chocolate.
5. In your opinion, who is the funniest man or woman alive today (comedian)
Hands down – Catherine Tate! Am I bovvered?
6. If you were given thirty seconds on television to say something, what would it be?
Answer-come-lately! I’d read aloud a picture book, very quickly!
7. What is your idea of the most romantic date setting ever?
Hike. Picnic. Alone in the wilderness.
8. If you could go on one date with a movie or television star, who would it be and why?
Since this is fantasy, I’m going with Roger Livesey (or his character in I Know Where I’m Going)
Or, if I have to go with a living person, Jeremy from Flight of the Conchords
9. What is the worst song you have ever heard?
No idea.
10. If you could live anywhere else, where would it be?
Too many places, but if I had to settle, and not travel, the place has to have good food available! France, Spain, Italy?
11. Who- in your opinion- was the greatest person to ever live?
Oh dear! A great person I would love to have an all night chat with would be Ben Franklin. Can’t judge the greatest to have ever lived though!
Okay – now the following people are cordially invited to answer 11 questions and tag 11 others:
Head over to Marcie Colleen’s blog, The Write Routine to read the rules – and join in the FUN! If you don’t have a blog, relax…your participation will be needed too. The more people slinging peas and flinging Jell-o the better. See step #3 on Marcie’s page.
If you liked to add to the story below, here’s what you do:
1. Read the posted story and all of the comments that precede you.
2. Post your comment.
3. Be sure to build on and further the existing story. Your comment should flow.
4. The story should read as if it was written by one person when read from beginning to end.
5. ALSO, your comment needs to include at least one word of onomatopoeia and one thrown item of food.
*note- Your onomatopoeia must be a word that has not been used already in that story.
You can add to my story below until March 8th:
Out on the plains, stranded in a sea of buffalo grass, lived a farmer and her husband. Running behind their house, was a skinny sliver of a river. The couple used its water to wet their throats and grow fruit and vegetables.
And grow they did! Strawberries and raspberries, brussel sprouts and broccoli, nectarines and tangerines, lettuces and radishes, cabbages, carrots, and more.
One night the wind rolled over the plains, and whistled through the keyhole. It rattled the windowpanes and tossed the couple in their bed, enough to rob them of sleep. The wind tossed the vegetables in their beds too, robbing the scent and sweeping it out over the plains.
The sun was high in the sky before it roused them. They had not heard the munching and crunching in the garden. The couple caught a glimpse of white tails squeezing out between the fence posts, and the sight in the garden knocked their sleeping caps clear off.
“Best to keep guard tonight, dear,” the farmer said to the husband. “We should work in shifts.”
The husband took the first shift. He sat smack in the middle of the tomato patch and waited. The first fuzzy fellow to peek his nose through the fence slats got what he was looking for – but not in his mouth!
Anybody reading my posts is probably already reading Renee’s – but just in case, head over to No Water River today out check out our harmony created with a tragedy!
Last Friday night, I attended an interesting talk on design approach by Tim Prestero, CEO of Design That Matters. Their project: Firefly. Yes, my town is hot: the local uni biz department invited me (and the rest of the community) to yet another cool event. The co-sponsors have such neat logos I have to include them.
Then I indulged in a Co-Pilot tray at O’Dells (gift idea for Valentine’s: Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout) and managed the table-top ring-toss three times! Skills, I tell ya!
THEN I went home and made this for my scbwi regional chapter’s illustrator meet-up: Valentine Bee Mine. I had to create something three dimensional. And yes, I made up the weird name too.
Sunny and 37 in Fort Collins, Colorado this morning – don’t tell Uncle Phil!
Sad excuse for a photo, but I’m in a rush – dance party tonight! In case you are not familiar, this is my friend Phyllis who visited us last year on her World Tour.
These are her fabulous books, written by Susanna Leonard Hill and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler – visit Susanna’s blog for more fun today!
click on the photo for a good designer-oriented review
See? Sometimes I do read grown-up books that have nothing to do with picture books! Though this does. It has everything to do with working creatively, in writing or illustrating or designing.
Author: Debbie Millman Publisher: Allworth Press; 1st edition (October 30, 2007) Summary: I think Malcolm Gladwell’s blurb describes it best: “A delightful opportunity to eavesdrop on some of the most curious and creative minds of our time.” Why I like this book: For one, this book is not a recipe, or a soul-selling ticket to the short cut, but I think if I had read this many years ago (and had the wisdom to let some of it sink in!), I would have been able to profit by such tidbits as:
Shared by Michael Bierut: “Massimo had this saying: ‘Once a work is out there, it doesn’t really matter what the excuses were.”
Carin Goldberg was peeved with friends not charging properly for their work , worried about losing the client: “I’m a big believer in the bungee jump. I think you have to do the right thing and the fair thing even if you’re afraid.“
Paula Sher shared advice from a teacher: “…find one thing you can do. And only do that. Be the best at it, no matter how narrow it is. And get rid of all the stuff you don’t do well.“
James Victore on telling the truth in your work: “…you have to push everything aside. Everything – and then get down to that one perfect little gem.”; “It’s about taking something and whittling and whittling and getting it sharp and perfect. Then you’ve got something.”
It was also a trip down memory lane, of art school and experience in the field, but it was also a view-bender. It was nice to find that in the end, even the ‘best’ are human. I appreciated the insights of many of those interviewed, especially referring to some things I have struggled with as a designer, like client relationships. The stories brought to mind a logo I designed years ago. It took me weeks to persuade the client to streamline the design, to go from what she wanted, to what I believe she needed. I still think it was one of my best design efforts. I’d like to share the difference in opinion here:
No, no, no - don’t blame me for that one! I suggested the following (I think Vignelli would have been proud of me):
In the end we ‘compromised’ – and that has too often been the root of my problems. But it was never used:
The client called me out of the blue a few years later and asked if I wanted to take on the project again – from the beginning. My answer was blunt. I think Vignelli would have been proud of that too!
Hi, welcome to my blog! I am an artist/illustrator based in Edinburgh, who has just recently graduated from Edinburgh College of Art. If you like my work I would like to invite you to follow this blog which I will frequently be updating with the latest news.
