Before I share a story, I thought you'd like an update on Mimi (Prized Spirit). I took this pic when we visited the track recently. Her training has slowed down because she showed signs of having slightly sore shins. Although she lives up to her name 'spirit' (and hopefully 'prized') she was relaxed and doing well when we saw her.
Below the story, I share an update on It's a Fluke -
and a link to my interview with Steve Burrows, author of the Birder Murder Mystery Series!
This 'micro' story was written in ten minutes during an Uxbridge Writers' Circle meeting. The prompt was a bookmark with a print of a rainbow-coloured sheep!
Here's what I wrote:
Rainbow Sheep
Gordie couldn't bear it. He heard his father talking on his smartphone, arranging for the shearers to come the following week. Gordie's stomach lurched as images of struggling sheep and the noises of electric shears pummeled his senses. It wasn't fair. It was bad enough that the mothers had lost their lambs - instinctively, he knew better than to ask what happened to these cute, playful balls of soft fuzz. He didn't want to know because there would be nothing he could do about it.
But, this was the last straw - taking the sheep's coats off without their agreement, despite their obvious protests.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Surely he could do something about this. Surely there was a solution. He gazed absent-mindedly at the rainbow he'd painted on the ceiling. He loved the optimism of the rainbow with its promise of a pot of gold at its end. That's when he got the idea.
He rounded up all the spray cans of paint he could find - in the basement, the garage, and the barns. He didn't have quite the full array of rainbow colours - but pretty close.
When the sheep were in the barn at night, he crept down the stairs and reclaimed the cans. He was careful to shake the rattly things out of the sheep's earshot, and then, very slowly and calmly, sprayed all of them with each colour.
This is bound to stop them, he thought. Rainbow sheep - who's going to want rainbow wool?
His father was livid, but the upshot was he got out of the sheep-rearing business and turned to potato farming instead.
And what was even more curious to Gordie, was that from that time on, his father showed more respect for his son.
Vicky Earle Copyright 2024
When Will He Race?!
This is a recent short clip of It's a Fluke having a welcome bath after training hard (a timed work) and enjoying a well-earned carrot offered by Martin (he got more than one!!).
When he's going out on the track for a 'work' he has to be ponied to the start - as you see in this photo. Darwin is on the right of the picture, on his trusty 'pony', and leading It's a Fluke so everyone stays safe until it's time to run.
It's a Fluke is doing everything right but it's proved challenging to find the right race for him. If we do find a good fit, there aren't enough horses entered so the race is cancelled (this has happened at least twice recently).
He's currently entered for a race on the evening of July 18. It's not ideal, but he will go crazy if he doesn't get the chance to run! And we want to see him in action! So, keep your fingers crossed that the race goes and he's in good form and enjoys his run.
Interview with Steve Burrows
Please check out my interview with Steve Burrows.
I recommend the Birder Murder Mystery Series!
Thank you for reading my post.
Please share!
Vicky
PS I'm on my third edit of the 6th book in my Meg Sheppard Mystery Series.
I'm not sure I'll make it, but I hope to release the book at the end of October.
The working title is 'Love and Death'.
Can’t wait to read ‘Love and Death’ !!!