animals – Prolific Pulse Blog

Elaine loves to send and receive postcards. But nobody wants to do that anymore. Her friends have all gone digital. They’d rather text or email. So Elaine decides to send postcards to herself. Empowering, outrageous, hysterically funny. What Elaine has to say on these postcards is not what you would expect!

Postcards to Herself is about a woman, her love of Holly, her Yorkshire Terrier, and a very fun and interesting life.

Thank you to these reviewers for their lovely comments:

“You’ll love Laura Stamps’ Postcards to Herself. Enter her world of whimsy, philosophy, and introspection dipped in humor. This book is a treasure!”

-Nolcha Fox, Author of End of Earth

“I love every single book of Laura Stamps I have read. The absolute cleverness of her latest endeavor, Postcards to Herself, is the best yet. If you want to sit in a corner and chuckle to yourself, this is the book. Kudos, Laura, for another amazing book!”

-Thasia Anne Lunger, BSW, Author of Beach Front Property

“I had the best time reading Postcards to Herself. You might even fall in love with Holly, a tiny, sweater-adorned, four-legged star. Lovely pictures, delightful joy cover to cover!”

-Zan V. Johns, Author of Encore: A Collection of Poetry, American Writing Awards Finalist

“With her signature sharp prose and insight, Laura Stamps delivers a gorgeous and heartwarming story in her latest novella, Postcards to Herself.”

-Laura Besley, Author of 100neHundred

Would you like to request an autographed copy? email to LauraStamps18@yahoo.com

poetry

Ode to My Best Friend

April 25, 2020 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

orange tabby cat beside fawn short coated puppy — Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

Ode to My Best Friend

They say it’s in the DNA
but when I see you come my way
while I know I purr and you go ruff
we’ve got this thing of the right stuff

Go figure that we are a match
and if you itch I help you scratch
so if we’re off so be it pal
I’ll be with you even when you yowl

Cats and dogs are not a pair
but I will sniff you out anywhere
so let the scientists have their way
but we have our own kind of DNA

A little fact which you may find
kittens have more of the human kind
it doesn’t matter truly true
my DNA isn’t better than you

Interesting DNA Facts about Animals and People

Written from my prompt about DNA Day

Short Fiction, short story

The Non-Essential Salesman Gets Sold

April 7, 2020 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

photo of bulldog with roses — Photo by Adrianna Calvo on Pexels.com

The Non-Essential Salesman Gets Sold

It was not long before Horace started exhibiting marked changes in his personality, mostly exhibiting sadness, just about two weeks into being closed in his house.

His wife, Charlotte, was at her wit’s end trying to keep her mind as Horace followed her around all day long.

It was all because Horace identified as a salesman in a non-essential business, and he was lost as to what to do with his time.

Never having hobbies outside of his bowling league on Sunday nights, no way to do that with all the restrictions, he would pace the floor and consume mass quantities of any foods within his reach.

Charlotte was quick not to mention how he should have had a hobby or that he might want to read a book or watch TV, neither of which he could settle down to do, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, he was a good man.

Then it happened that on the news there were stray dogs featured who needed good homes and Horace’s eyes lit up and he realized that he could provide a home for a doggy and called the number on the screen; Charlotte smiled to herself as she had set it up that he would see the program and she felt like she may have won the sales award for 2020.

…..

There you have it! This is this weeks response to the Six Sentence Story Prompt of “Identity” Want to join in? You can click here: Girlie on the Edge

Short Fiction

Blue Blanket

August 22, 2019 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

several yarn balls — Photo by Rijan Hamidovic on Pexels.com

Blue Blanket
Red-rimmed eyes, tear-streaked cheeks, cotton mouthed, she sat on her sofa, in her spot, as she snapped open the plastic container. A familiar fragrance teased her nostrils as she gasped and then allowed the scent to overtake her senses. Staring at the blanket through blurred vision, it was soft country blue colored, with fringed edges. Knowing this blanket was her sister’s favorite, she needed to keep this treasure.

Cozying in to the familiar soft comfort of her spot on the sofa, she gathered her yarn and hook. Excitement tickled her soul as she pondered the joy her sister would feel when she saw and touched her new blanket. While it was not her taste, her sister loved blues and mauves. Selecting the soft toned, country blue was easy. This would be a gift for her sister’s 21st birthday and she wanted to give something to her sister to treasure all of her life. As was her habit, she pondered positive thoughts as she hooked the yarn. Believing that keeping good thoughts would only make for many good things, she was certain that this blanket would bring much comfort and joy.

Holding the well-loved blanket to her face, breathing in the scent, closing her eyes, memories flooded her. Feeling the softness as she grazed the blanket with her fingertips, she came across a raised, rough patch. Looking closely, there was a stain, much in the shade of red, as in nail polish. This would have been from her niece. She loved the blanket and was likely wrapped in it while she painted her nails.

Working each row, creating the design, allowing for both durability and beauty, she counted and watched as the blanket unfolded into a work of art. Her old cat would keep her lap extra warm as he crawled underneath the workings. He was old and not so likely to bat the yarn as he did in his younger years. A bit of him would go along with the blanket, as it would be very difficult to pick out his golden fur.

Even after all these years, there were gold flecks in the blanket. Oh Kitty, she thought, you now can rest with my sister and her other pet children. Tell her to keep a warm spot for me, one day. She stroked the gold and closed her eyes, remembering the comfort he brought to her in all of his days. Dozing to a nappy sleep, she woke to nothing more or less than the changes of life. And peace. Peace in knowing that those before have no more pain and peace in knowing that those left behind can best bring comfort to each other. It’s the circle.

poetry

The Art of Painting a Picture

April 12, 2019April 17, 2019 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

staying on task 041219
Art Work by Lisa Tomey

The Art of Painting a Picture

First: you find a place
clearing of the dining table
placing a protective cloth
feeding the dog

Second: get your supplies
sorting through the art closet
moving the ironing board
piling up the non-art stuff

Third: you put all supplies on the table
sitting down, you realize you did not make tea
making tea you look at the art table
watching the cat drinking from your water bowl

Fourth: you sit down with your tea and proceed to paint
focusing on your subject matter, you start
before your brush finds the canvas
you are blowing off cat hairs

Fifth: sitting back in your artist’s chair
resolving to put your brush to the canvas
you hear that familiar sound
tapping at the door, the dog wants out

Sixth: do not, under any circumstances
give up
dip, move, dip, move,
soon it will be done

Today’s National Poetry Day Prompt comes from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Blog: “For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The Art of (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The Art of Writing,” “The Art of Painting,” “The Art of Showing Up to Parties Fashionably Late,” and/or “The Art of Being Awesome.”