“Becoming a mother makes you realize you can do almost anything one-handed.”
Mother’s Day Card 2025, created with Canva.
I will share “Something To Think About” for the next four weeks on Sunday afternoons. It may be a quote, a picture, an interesting phrase I heard, artwork, etc. Whatever I share will surely be intriguing or involving enough to spark a casual discussion or in-depth conversation. Stay tuned every Sunday for this feature!
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-BookandPaperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak aboutthe most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
Flash Fiction response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Prompt
Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels. The image depicts a side view of a chipmunk with a tiny teacup. On the ground in front of the chipmunk is a tiny tea dish with a blueberry on it. The ground appears to be a stone-type walk, and there is a dark blue background.
Mr. Doyle lives across the street from us. He’s an older guy with wiry fire for hair in a golden rage. My mom hates him… says he’s on some sort of in-house arrest for his past following him all the way here. I don’t know what she’s talking about, but I like Mr. Doyle. He has this lisp that I bet could scale a ladder quicker than The Flash. I have tea and danishes with him twice per week. He paints nature–makes it pop.
Today’s piece is a chipmunk sipping from the tiniest teacup I’ve ever seen. He also has a rather fat blueberry on a plate in front of the chipmunk. “A proper breakfast”, I comment. Because who wouldn’t want tea and blueberries?!
He tells me he’s titling the painting The Beauty of Voyeurism, and I sit back on the green, crunchy cushions of his couch, swirl the name around in my mouth. I like it. But . . . “Why voyeurism? Isn’t this a more sexually derived term for being too nosy and too into what you’re snooping up on?”
Mr. Doyle rolls back and forth on the heels of his feet, nods his contemplative head, and shouts in my direction, “YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, SAM! If you notice, the chipmunk is focused, entirely too focused on the tea. The blueberry is lonely. It would like some of that attention, too. But the chipmunk has become enticed by, influenced by the deliciousness of the tea–so much so that its pleasure has been satiated by the tea alone.”
I know I ain’t the brightest crayon in the box, but I know at this point, exactly what Mom was talking about when she said Mr. Doyle has a past following him. I get up from the couch, grab my windbreaker, thank Mr. Doyle for the tea and danish, and high-tail it across the street.
Ain’t no way I’m telling Mom about this. NO WAY at all!
This flash fiction piece was written in response to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge. Maybe you’d like to give it a go as well? Here’s hoping your mind doesn’t take you to where my mind took me. It was a fun write, nonetheless, though.
Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?
I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.
My 8th tattoo, the Aries Ram, artistically expressed courtesy of Drew Collins at Art Attack in Winston-Salem, NC. Photo Collage Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Aries ram . . . respectfully, yes, I did capture the 8th in a colorful sphere of creature quality for the first zodiac sign.
the artist touched my heart with his artistic discretion. my left thigh is home to change that is constant.
a therapeutic session after my therapy session that both pained and invigorated me opens eyes and launches illustrated conversations third eyes can’t see.
I am a ram. to put it plainly, I breathe Aries. my sane self greets my insane self and we make magic and miracles jealous.
Haven’t you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?
Visual Artists, Writers, Collectors, and Creatives, here’s a chance for you to become a part of something magnificently gargantuan.
I hope to see your work in Portraits, the upcoming digital magazine, launching in March.
Portraits on Tiffany is a blog full of artistic goodness, “funkdafied” music, and reminiscent reflections. I am happy a digital magazine is being produced by such a worthy artist. If you haven’t visited her website yet, I invite you to do so soon.
2. My doggy nieces: Bella-Rue and Stacey-Lou. Photo Credit: M. Monique Steele
1.Abstract African Woman print via artist,Digital Prints ArtRO is a stunning representation of bold art. I love the colors, the stoic look on the subject’s face, and the ensemble the subject is wearing. When I look at this art piece, I smile. I feel moved and empowered. Enlightened and awed. I think it’s an exceptional masterpiece.
It’s a bit pricey to me (as a print, and I literally have no wall-space for it), but that doesn’t stop me from admiring it from afar.
I may end up getting it anyway!
2. My doggy nieces: Bella-Rue and Stacey-Lou. They are two years and one year old now. They were a bit younger in the photo shown above. The two are my best friend’s puppies. She used to have Nala and Reese and they both died. They were alsoBoston Terriers.
It is no secret we miss bothNala and Reese, and we always will, these two are in no way replacements, but they have helped to fill a void for my best friend when Nala passed away nearly 3 years ago.
I am so attached to them and I love them with a love that is sound and gargantuan. They have become Jernee’s little cousins who listen to her and abide by her rules. LOL! I am so happy they are a part of our family.
We will probably get another little one soon! My best friend is looking into a litter from their mother & father, and she also wants another female. I asked if I could name her and she said, “Sure! It has to be a two-part name like theirs!” I had a name ready and I shot it to her rapidly: “Talulah-Bell” and she declined. LOL! I came back with, “Misty-Blu,” and she approved.
So, if she really does get a third Boston Terrier female, she will be “Misty-Blu.” I will keep you guys updated!
A Cornered Gurl 
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