Hard pass on what look like peanut butter cookies. Peanuts and all things peanutty are big no-nos for me. That is actually fine because my scale doesn't like cookies either. LOL.

We opened our pool yesterday for the first time in 163 days. We are still pretty much a construction zone. But we met all the requirements laid down by the county to be allowed to open our pool. Seeing all the residents and renters enjoying the new pool furniture I ordered was wonderful. And though I'm still not at 100% after having another mini sinus procedure, there was no way I was missing the first day of swimming in over 5 months. We took my brother, who was so happy. The sun was shining, and it was absolutely gorgeous.

Today's weather looks good for a repeat. 😎

Have a great Sunday, everyone.

Quote by verbal

Congrats to Expresso, Kat, and WG for the podium wins, and the top ten, ad of course anyone who entered! Sorry I wasn't around much for this comp, but the entries I've read were excellent.

Thanks Molly, for setting all this up.

Thanks! 😎

Quote by Mendalla

Beignets! Yay!

And that's a great list of stories. If you haven't partaken, do.

I will grind some dark roast Nicaraguan beans for coffee. For teas, there's Yorkshire Gold and Raspberry in the pots and other selections available along with hot chocolate. Kettle is boiled.

Later, alligators.

Did you say alligators?

🤣

Flash fiction is always fun. It makes me really stay focused when writing, and it makes it easy to read more stories because they are the perfect length.

I'm beyond thrilled. With how amazing all of these stories were, I'm honestly stunned to have my story take second place. I couldn't be sandwiched between two more talented writers, expressomarkie and WriterGirl.

Congrats to all who placed but also to all who took the time to write and enter the comp.

Thanks to Molly for the fun comp theme and all the work you do to make comps happen.

Thanks to WriterGirl and Mendalla, who always remind me to enter! (Esp WG who nudges me).

I'm excited to be writing here again! ❤️😎

Quote by WriterGirl

Emotional day sorting through stuff. Found an old album of young pics of my parents. They started dating in the 9th grade. Mom saved Valentines cards from him in the album, too. They had just celebrated their 60th anniversary before Mom passed away.

HUGS you! I can relate so much! My parents were in 8th grade when they started dating. They had also been married 60 years just before Mom passed away, 17 years ago. My Dad lived 8.5 years beyond that, missing her every damn day.

My sister has all the old photo albums because she had more room to store things. I was grateful that all those pictures were safe and sound up north when Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc last fall. I plan to visit my sis in April and do a lil walk down memory lane through the photos.

Wine, but only if it's white and sweet.

A night out with friends or a night in, snuggling on the couch, binging the latest streaming show?

Here are some beach cookies! After months of nothing happening in the way of repairs to our decimated grounds, the past 6-7 weeks have been buzzing with contractors. Unfortunately, nothing happens quickly in Florida. But besides the fact that the pier looks like a giant chunk was bitten off, the beach seems to be a normal, happy place again. Hence, beach cookies! (Don't worry, that's not sand, it's brown sugar on the plate).

The frustration I have is that so many projects are partially done. I just need something to get finished. 🙄

Quote by WriterGirl

Hiya peeps

I’m lovin’ writing here. It’s just what I need right now!

Have a lovely day! ❤️

I think I need to do more writing here, too! 😎

I just finished reading all the other stories in the Writer's Block comp and see that I have some stiff competition. But I'm confident that I'll make the top ten. 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously, though, I love the different takes on this theme. Fun reading!

Here it is: https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash-fiction/the-dandy-lion-the-whiter-box

Hope ya'll will take a look. I'm still reading the rest of them little by little. So far, I'm utterly impressed!

Ok, I finally submitted my story! I'll start reading the rest of the entries now that mine is finished.

Peeks in for another cookie before we check out the silk flower scene.

If these cookies don't cheer you up Mendalla…

I had an hour to myself in the midst of wedding planning and dress shopping with my girl and logged in to see where everyone had placed. Imagine my surprise to see that I won. What a thrill to finally win a contest. Who knew it would be with poetry? Congrats to Jason and verbal and all the top ten peeps! Honestly, all of the entries were great. I guess we are far more poetic as a bunch than we realize! Thanks, Molly, for a great comp!

Special thanks to WriterGirl, who nudged me to enter, and to Cora for always encouraging me!

I may have to take one of each kind of cookie...😉YUM!

I'm incredibly honored to have placed in the top spot in this competition. All of the entries were so beautifully written. Congratulations to Jason and Verbal for their 2nd and 3rd place poems and those who placed in the top ten. Honestly, ALL of the poems were fabulous; I would not have wanted to be a judge. (But I'm sure thankful for those who DID the judging!).

Thanks so much, Molly, for a wonderful, challenging theme. 😊❤️

Note to self - while it seemed like a good idea at the time, getting the Covid booster, the flu shot, and the RSV vaccine all at the same time on Monday knocked me on my ass yesterday. The day started okay; I was just a little sore. But I was so achy by the afternoon that I just wanted to curl up!

I'm better today. I'm not 100%, but at least I feel human. I'm just ticked that I had to call off my gym workout.

I'm heading up to Alabama tomorrow to embark on wedding dress shopping with my youngest. She's so giddy that her joy is contagious.

Tea sounds soothing right about now. ☕️

Away from madness, we breathe.

I'll grab a Coke Zero and take a breath before heading out again. I'm still waiting for the AC guy to come. After waiting all afternoon yesterday, we were supposed to be his first appointment today. We shall see if he even shows up today. Meanwhile, we move this room AC unit to the living room by day, and the bedroom by night.

The repair needs to happen today as tomorrow we are heading up for the toddler's 2nd birthday. Time flies!

Next weekend will find me wedding dress shopping with my youngest daughter. I'm thrilled that she is engaged and has an amazing fiancé. She spent 6 years with the wrong guy, so it's delightful to see her so happy with the right guy!

Have a great weekend, all y'all!

Hugs for you, Gil. I lost my mother to Alzheimer's, and now I am watching my dearest friend slowly lose her husband. It's been so gut-wrenching for all of us who wish we could do more than be a friend.

Hugs for you, Cora, as you battle feeling unwell. I hope you are on the mend soon!

The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of ups and downs, super high moments (like my oldest daughter finally getting married after being with her mate for 21 years) and tragically low ones (like my brother-in-law who has been on dialysis for 8 years, only to succumb to liver cancer on the same day that my daughter got married). I will be so ready for my anniversary trip in October. Nearly a whole month of just hubby and me bopping around Europe as we celebrate 40 years of marriage.

Anyway, as I promised WriterGirl, I DID finally enter this competition and wanted to share my scribbles with all y'all if you should feel compelled to read: As You Slip Away

Many thanks if you do, no worries otherwise. I've read, liked, and commented on all the other entries since mine is finally published. I don't stand a chance in hell of a podium spot, but I'm glad I finished mine and shared it.

Off for a swim before the AC guy comes to replace yet another part.

It's a balmy 58 degrees F here on Mackinac Island. We've had a string of days where it barely reached 60, so I am hopeful the weather channel isn't lying about it hitting 69 this afternoon. We've been waiting for temps warm enough to enjoy a pool swim (heck, we've been waiting for weather warm enough to wear shorts and skip the sweatshirts).

I got up early to write, and the toddler was up and at 'em 5 minutes later. Fortunately, his dad woke up too and is taking him on a bike ride (thank goodness my son's foot has improved enough to ride his bike).

I've started a new story for this site, but I haven't had much time to write with the kids and grandkids being with us this week. That's okay. There will be time to write when the vacation is over.

Hope all y'all are doing well!

Quote by verbal

Congrats to all the podium winners, and everyone who entered! It was a strong crop of stories. It sure is fun to see comps over here - it’s exciting!

We are off to Denver to see Brooks and Dunn in a few hours! Should be big fun. We are seeing Dierks Bentley in August - this is the Summer of Country Music!

Okay, way too many exclamation marks so far. Calm down Jeff. In other news, asking Talia to look at the Mets score before I watch is working. They actually won a a game!

Coffee please, and a cookie! Things to do!

Have a womderful time!

Congratulations to WriterGirl, Tom, and Mendalla for their podium places! I'm delighted to have finished right behind them in 4th place.

Congratulations to all of us who took that time to come up with such well-written stories that all gave a different take on the theme.

Fun comp! Thanks to all who read the stories, those who judged, and for this site to provide a place to share stories. 😎🥰

Quote by Mendalla

So it was not just me. I felt the same. It seemed like an easy one to come up with something interesting for but I went through three different story ideas that failed at various stages of drafting before my entry, the fourth, kind of stuck the landing.

I also had three attempts that went nowhere. I finally decided just to write a true story and was able to reach the finish line on time!

Ten stories! Unless someone submits a last minute entry. 🥰

I finally submitted my comp story last night!

1975 The Summer of Fun

Now I'm working on reading the rest. 🥰

I've been away way too long! But WriterGirl has nudged me, and I am currently working on a story for this competition. 😎

Kitty Cookies and Kitty Zoomies tea! Yum yum yum!

Couldn't do the beach this afternoon. Too Bleeping Hot. Stayed inside and was going to write, but nothing was coming to me, so I worked on a sewing craft project until hubby was done working and could play cards with me. Heading out to dinner with the neighbors in a while. Too hot to cook! We swam with them this morning and decided dinner at our local tavern sounded like just the right speed today. Sadly, I will not be able to imbibe, but Imma still enjoy a blackened Mahi sammich! Yummy.

It's 91 F with a "feels like" temp of 105 F! When it's too hot to go swimming, it's off to the movies we go! Leaving soon to go see Across the Spider-Verse.

I think getting two kitties sounds marvelous if they are litter mates. I tried to have more than one cat, thinking the first one needed company. What a mistake! She's been an only cat again for the past five years (the other two went to live with each of my daughters), and she is MUCH happier. In hindsight, I wish I'd taken one of her littermates, but they were all long-haired. She was the only short-haired cat in the bunch. She's 17 now and still has grumpy moments. But she's definitely happier being the queen of the castle.

Keep cool all y'all!

Kitty Zoomies and cookies for me, please, and thank you! I've got stuff to do and no desire to do any of it because the cat has sprawled out next to me and dared me to not join her. She's a clever girl!

The temp is currently 88 but feels like 98 with the high humidity. Got my swim in while the pool was still in the shade. The high air pressure is wreaking havoc on my sinuses and causing pain in my teeth. UGH!

The plumber is coming to fix our sprinkler head in our home office, which has now made my hubby extremely crabby. (I get it; he's really swamped today, and the last thing he needs is another interruption. But we've been waiting weeks for this to get fixed).

Is it too late to switch my tea to a glass of Moscato or Sangria?

Back on the beach where I belong! Although I miss my kids/grandkids already, getting back into a routine is good for me. Just popping in to say hey before I go fold the laundry. Hope all is well.