A to Z: I - Post Two: 1 Year Anniversary Snapshot Prompt

Incredible - It's been a whole year!

Last year, Wednesday April 10th (no joke, you can look it up), Nicole Pyles decided to put together a photo prompt with 5 mandatory words as a way to meet and visit new blogs. She asked me to help co-host not long after and I gladly joined in. A year later, and it's still up and going, even picking up speed with new writers as we go.

And now, for the Anniversary post:

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WOW! It is amazing - we have reached the one year anniversary of Writer Wednesday Blog Hop.

Can you believe it has been one year?? I'm so happy to have come this far with this writing prompt. Most of all I'm just amazed and grateful that everyone has stuck through this whole year and has been devoted, creative, and inspirational.

A special thank you to my fabulous blog hop hosts - Tena, Leanne, and especially Carrie, who has been with me since the start. Plus, a HUGE thank you to all the writers who show off their creative skills week after week and continue to take part in this prompt.

Before we get to the good stuff, I want to show off the entries from last week's prompt...

Murder at the Amusement Park - Part 10 by Tena Carr
Mindy and the Bus Stop by Scott Taylor
Inspiration by Elaine LK
Trapped by Leanne Sype
The Third Window by Quinn

And most of all, I want to show off the entries from last YEAR's prompt! Here are the entries we had one year ago today -

Darling, What Smells Like Ham by Nicole Pyles
Picassa's Bridge by Carrie K Sorensen
An Evening With Sam and Janet by Randy Lindsay

Aren't these amazing?

Okay, well, today is a special edition of the writing prompt, because we have an extra special thing going on - each entrant that has participated in the writing prompt this past year is eligible for our anniversary giveaway of $25.00 Amazon Gift Card!

And there is still a chance to throw your hat in the ring, because everyone who submits a writing prompt for this week's prompt, will be eligible to win, too. I'm so excited!

Now, for old times sake, we will be using the same prompt from last year. I want to see what everyone can come up with.

A reminder and rundown of the blog hop rules:

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story

2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.

3) You have until Tuesday to link up your post.

4) Link up with your blog hostess (Nicole, Carrie, Tena or Leanne) when you’re done via the inLinkz linky below.

5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow.

And here's the fun part! Here is the photo for this week (from one year ago today!) -

The Words -

1. Ham
2. Spike
3. Parity
4. Girders
5. Sale

 Enter below when you have your story ready! Happy Anniversary everyone!!

A to Z: I - Post One

I have puppies!

This is a two post day because - well, I have puppies!

We also have an anniversary post that will come a bit later in the day and is almost as important as puppies and definitely worth checking out because there is a prize attached.

The prize attached to this post is cuteness. :)

Kia didn't want me taking photos at first, so I had to wait until the very end. We ended up with 7 beautiful, healthy puppies. I haven't lost one yet, not in this litter or any other. We are very lucky to have such healthy dogs who turn in to amazing pets.

Update: Rukia had two more puppies last night, hours after the 7th. Most likely due to the long whelping time, one of them was lost, my first one in 5 litters. From what I've seen this morning, the other one is weak and uninterested in nursing. He could be full and tired. I won't know for until a little later. I'll update as I find out.

Rukia hiding the very first puppy from the dangerous camera phone.

All seven puppies, alive and healthy.

And then, bonus: A 38 second video crammed full of Cute!

A to Z: H

Heck No.

Unfortunately, my team did not win the Championship last night. It is amazing they even got there. Michigan was expected to lose to Kansas, but managed to get all the way through to the final game.

It was a good game for both teams. I can't even pretend to understand strategy, or tell you what the guys not trying to make shots do, but I love to watch sports and have a team to cheer on. I wasn't always a 'fan' of sports. It's more fun than I thought it would be. Even having my chosen team lose this time didn't really take the fun out of it.

Do you like sports? Have a team? Stay up to midnight just to watch the important games of a tournament? Craziness, all of it. But I don't think anyone ever doubted the crazy bit of it.

A to Z: G

Go Blue!

University of Michigan is one of the teams in the NCAA College basketball playoffs tonight. The game is just about to start, and I'm off to scream my support at the TV. :-)

A to Z: F

This post links back to Wednesday's Snapshot Prompt, a flash fiction challenge that limits the writer to 500 words while requiring the use of 5 words and an inspirational photo. You can check back at the original post for this week's stories, or we will feature them in next week's prompt post. Until then, here's my submission.

Fire Away

"You should have gotten the sniper rifle." Kevin closed the pickup's passenger door, shading his eyes as he stared at the roof.


Brock was standing in front of the truck, judging the distance across the parking lot from his cab to the top of the closed down casino. Sunlight reflected off the windows and the lines of clear light bulbs that once illuminated the replica building. What it was a copy of, he didn't care. Those light bulbs, though, those could be fun.


"Nah. You're the one who can only hit toilet paper rolls with a cork gun. My pump action will be fine."

Brock walked to the back of his truck and reached in for the black duffle bag holding his bb rifle and bb's. Kevin watched him with a half-crooked smile as he opened the tailgate and hopped up to the truck.

"Are you gonna seesaw on the roof?"

Brock ignored his friend. Kevin didn't think he would be able to hit a thing. They were parked 100 yards from the building and the roof was two stories up. Hitting any of those bulbs should be a piece of cake, and Brock was going to prove it.

Brock loaded the gun and leaned over the cab of the truck, bracing his elbows on the roof before looking down the sight. The angle wasn't quite what he was expecting, thinking the height of the truck would ease it a  bit. The roof was one of those domed, angular things, but there were so many bulbs, he was bound to get one or two.

One shot. Miss. Second shot.

Miss.

Twenty shots later, Brock stood up to stretch his back. His bb's were somewhere, but not among broken glass.

Kevin chuckled. When Brock looked over, he saw his friend pretending to play the violin.

"You couldn't be a composer if your life depended on it," Brock muttered, glaring back at the roof.

"Don't have to be. Just have to learn to be a violinist. It'll be easier than trying to shoot those lights. The casino's been closed three years and no broken bulbs. You aren't the first idiot who thought he could do it, either."

Brock knew it. He just thought he'd be the first.

Throwing his gun back in the bag, he zipped it up, then hopped down.

"Burger?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah," Kevin shouted, jumping in the truck faster than Brock could get around to his door.


Word count: 408

A to Z: E - A Toddler Tale

Eating Easter M&M's

Sebastian just turned one in February. For Easter we made sure to give him (just a little) candy we felt he was developed enough to eat. So he got to taste milk chocolate M&M's for the first time.

A to Z: D

I was hoping I would have puppies to talk about, but as it is, it's all about the big

Dogs

I've had dogs most of my life. My first dog was an Alaskan Malamute named Belle and we got her when I was 11 or 12. Having her taught me to always learn about the breed before you buy. This poor dog was chained up in the back yard most of the time because she was too big for the house. She was also strong and could bust a cow-chain. All the cops in the county knew our dog.

When I was in college deciding to get my own dog, I did a lot of research into dogs - energy levels, grooming requirements, if they were good apartment dogs, how they were with people - and I ended up choosing a boxer, Chiaotzu. (Strange name, I know. Pronounced Chat-zu.)

I loved him so much, I decided I was going to start breeding these fantastic dogs. Since then, we got Rukia, our brindle mama. And to keep them company, the terrier-mutt, Rambo Roy joined their family.

Chiaotzu is 9, getting up there, but not too old yet. Unfortunately, he had an ACL tear a few years ago and since then the scar tissue and arthritis has built up to the point he re-injured himself this last February. He may have to hang up his hat for puppy making, which means this trio will become four because I am emotionally attached to the idea of having one of his babies. We will see how he heals and what the vet says. As much as I love the puppies, I'm in it because of this dog, and I want to keep him around as long as possible.

A to Z: C - Snapshot Prompt

Contest Winner!

Wednesday posts will be a little longer than others in April. Along with Nicole, Leanne and Tena, I co-host the Writer's Wednesday Blog Hop. The first week of the month, we announce our Monthly Contest Winner, who just happens to be ...

AR Neal

Congratulations, and thank you so much for participating in our prompts! Since you're new to the game, I'll contact you with how it works and we'll work on getting a button up for you next Wednesday to help share your blog.

Now, Nicole actually has the prompt writing reins this week, so the rest comes directly from her. Enjoy, participate and (maybe) win!

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Ha! I still managed to fit in the letter "C" into our weekly writing prompt.

Anyone else really glad it's the weekend soon? Oh wait, it's only Wednesday. But we're close!!

Before you get started, make sure to drop by the stories from last week -

The Wooden Roller Coaster by Cindy
Adventures at Dusk by Scott Taylor

Aren't they awesome??

So, just to recap, here are the rules -

A reminder and rundown of the blog hop rules:

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story

2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.
3) You have until next Tuesday to link up your post.
4) Link up with your blog hostess (Nicole, Carrie, Tena or Leanne) when you’re done via the inLinkz linky below.
5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow.

And here's the fun part! Here is the photo for this week -

And here are the five words -

Cork

Violin

Seesaw

Toilet Paper

Composer

Oh, I'm so excited to see what everyone comes up with.

When you are ready, post your link below!

A to Z: B

Breaking in the puppy box.

You can't see the dogs so well, but the dark brindle is my pregnant boxer. The fawn is the daddy. They are due now, but until then, the boys are helping warm up the box for the new babies. :)

This will be my 5th litter. It's crazy to think that I've been doing this that long, since I only breed once every 2-3 years. My waiting list is already 5 people long and has been for a month. :) All previous puppy owners and their referrals. It's great when people love your dogs so much, not only do they come back, but they bring friends. :-)

A to Z: A

A is for Arlee Bird!!

Sending out a huge thank you to Arlee Bird, the originator of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. This is my first year participating as a blogger, but I've participated through reading in the past and I'm so happy and excited the challenge exists. :)

For the rest of the month I've settled on a -- erh -- theme of "A Story for Everything." Which is basically my blog. I'll have some flash fiction, some stories of my boys and my pups and whatever other stories pop into my mind as each letter approaches.

Thanks for stopping by, and I can't wait to meet new bloggers (well, new to me)! Here's to a great month.