Red and Green

Hi! It's Monday (unfortunately), and I have more of my photography for you!

Red and Green Bromeliad

This picture was taken at the US Botanical Gardens in DC, at the same time as Sunshine Flower. I found it when I was looking for complimentary colors and noticed this red and green plant that looked rather unusual. It didn't win anything, but I still like it. What do you think? Please comment and tell me!
-Sarah

Poll Results: What, If Anything, Would You Like To See More Or Less Of On This Blog?

Hello, everyone! My latest poll, "What, If Anything, Would You Like To See More Or Less Of On This Blog?" is over, and I'm going to post the results! Thanks to everyone who voted!

More Stories               2 (33%)

Fewer Stories              0 (0%)

More Photography      2 (33%)

Less Photography        0 (0%)

More Reviews             1 (16%)

Fewer Reviews            0 (0%)

Leave It As It Is           3 (50%)

 

So, it appears that the general opinion is that I should leave it as it is, with the seconds being that I need more photography or more stories. I'd really like to know, though, who is the person who said more reviews? I don't have a problem with it or anything, I'd just like to know. Thanks again for voting!

-Sarah

Castaways, Colds, and Chronicles: My Week

Hi, everyone! Friday has come around once again, and that means it’s time for me to give you an update on my life in general. So, here’s my week:

·        I finally finished Alitene Chronicles #3! At the moment, it’s tentatively titled “Ovulum”, but the title is likely to change. I’m very glad to have that done, as I’ve been working on it on-and-off for quite a while.

·        Of course, I can’t be without a story to work on for very long. So, I began an entirely new story from an idea that I’ve been playing with for a while. The basic plot is something along these lines: Three girls who are very different must come together to fulfill a prophecy. (Or something along those lines.) Although it will be set on Earth for the most part, it will be fantasy, and so it will involve dragons, elves, humans with strange powers, and probably more.

·        I currently have a very small cold, otherwise known as a nose that’s running just enough to annoy me. I am hoping that it goes away soon since runny noses are not the best thing to have while attempting to write, read, or do much of anything.

·        The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series by Brian Jacques is very, very good. The Wilderking Trilogy is also excellent. These are the newest books that I’ve been reading, and I shall eventually post reviews on at least one of the series, if not both.

·        It’s getting warm again! It’s supposed to be in the fifties today, tomorrow, and much of next week. I only hope that it stays warm and doesn’t rain too much.

Well, that’s my week! Please comment! I’d love to hear what you think!

-Sarah

Rosa Chapter Seven and Rosa Chapter Eight

Greetings, everyone! I am back with more of Rosa! Need a refresher? Here's the link to Chapter Six! And now, on with the tale!

Chapter Seven

Back at the castle. . .

            Queen Leila hurried into her room. Picking up the mirror, she whispered “Cullen! Cullen! Come to me!”

            Cullen’s pale face appeared, and he hissed “Yes, my queen?”

            “I have gotten rid of the servant girl.” Queen Leila said. “Are any more beautiful than me now?”

            “Nay, my queen.” Cullen hissed once more. “Your beauty is unapproachable.”

            “Good.” Queen Leila snapped. She set the mirror down and left the room troubled no more by Rosa’s loveliness.

            In a different part of the castle, another member of the nobility was also thinking about Rosa. Prince Owen sat in his room, wondering. His dinner had been late, and when he asked why, the servant had told him that Rosa, the kitchen maid, had disappeared.  He had controlled his emotions then, but now he could not seem to keep it up. He remembered how he had watched her from his window and marveled at her beauty and kindness. He thought about the many times he had wished that she was a princess or at least nobility so he could try to get to know her. So her name is Rosa. It fits her. Prince Owen shook his head. I shouldn’t be thinking about her this way. He tried to banish her from his thoughts, but try as he might; she still kept skipping through his thoughts and dancing through his dreams.

            Down in the kitchen, Mandy wondered what Rosa was doing. I hope she’s safe. The huntsman said she’d gotten away unharmed, but what if something happened to her after she left? Mandy shook her head. Rosa was beyond her help now. Mandy could only hope that she was safe now, safe forever.

And now, since that chapter was incredibly short, I shall also post the next chapter!

Chapter Eight

The next morning. . .

            The first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves and amber striped walls. It danced around the room and fell gently on Rosa’s face. She stirred. What time is it? It can’t be time to get up already, can it? She snuggled deeper into the soft bed, pulling the leaf-green covers up to her chin. A voice filtered up through the floorboards, and woke Rosa up a bit. She listened and realized that it was not one voice, but several voices. She listened intently, determined to figure out who the speakers were.

            “Well,” said one voice, “This is strange.” Rosa thought the voice sounded honey-sweet and full of kindness, like the voice of her favorite castle singer, only far nicer.

            “It is strange indeed.” agreed a second voice. “Has someone else come here?” This voice was deeper, but still kind, like it belonged to a woodland king.

            “This means danger!” exclaimed another voice, this one suspicious and dangerous sounding. “None but ourselves can enter the clearing without dark magic.”

            Then one more voice spoke. “Are you sure? Has it been tried? Perhaps others of our folk may enter by themselves and without hindrance.” This voice was small, but clear and sweet-sounding, and Rosa thought she liked it best.

            The woodland king voice spoke again. “Your idea is a good one, but there are no other elves in the area, and they would not enter without one of us.”

            The singer voice answered him. “When was the last time you investigated that? You have not looked since our sister left. Maybe there are others who we do not know of!”

            The suspicious voice said “Still, how do we know? And where is the intruder? Did he or she come and go?”

            “Nay,” replied the singer voice, “There was no sign of exit in our web, only entry. Whoever it is has not left the clearing.”

            “Then he or she must be upstairs.” the small voice commented.  “But it was certainly kind of whoever it was to clean our home, was it not?”

            “Aye, it was kind.” replied the woodland king voice. “Now, let us go upstairs and see who this kind personage is.”

            Rosa sat straight up, wondering what to do. There was no place to hide, and going outside would offer no escape, for she heard them mounting the rope ladder. She finally decided that her best and only choice was to stay where she was. A few minutes later, the owners of the four voices entered.

Who do the voices belong to? Are they friend or foe? Is Rosa really as safe as Mandy hopes she is? To find out, check back soon for Chapter Nine! Until then, please comment and tell me what you think!

-Sarah
Update: Chapter Nine is up!

The Minions of Time Reveiw

Author: Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry

Throughout his search for the King's Son, Owen has been eager to see who will be the one to unite the Highlands and the Lowlands. Once Owen discovers his identity, will the Son be ready for the challenge? Will he be prepared to battle the Dragon and win?
-Summary from the back of The Minions of Time

Characters: Excellent! Many characters that you didn’t expect to see again return, though there are very few new characters. There are also several revelations about people’s identities, including those of the daughter of the king of the West and the King’s daughter.

4/5

Location: About the same as the rest of the series. There still isn’t much description, and I got even more confused in several places.

2/5

Plot: Excellent! The storyline soars to exhilarating heights, then swoops down to dramatic lows. There isn’t as much humor as in the first three books, but it’s still great.

4/5

Other: No other comments.

Overall Rating: 3/5

Rosa Chapter Six

Hail, ye who have come to my blog! Are you ready for Chapter Six of Rosa? Well, if you are that's awesome, because I'm posting Chapter Six! Need a refresher or haven't read the rest of the story? Here's the link to Chapter Five! And now, Rosa Chapter Six!
 

Chapter Six

Rosa found herself standing in a large, perfectly circular clearing. In the exact center, there stood an enormous oak tree. When Rosa looked down towards her feet, she saw that the ground was covered in a carpet of wildflowers. Turning around, she found that the clearing was lined with a ring of beech trees. In between the beech trees, she saw the huge, dark pines of the forest she had come from. Between the pines and beech trees, she thought she caught a glimmer of something shimmering, but it was gone before she could focus on it. Turning her gaze back to the oak, she studied it, though she kept her distance. To her surprise, she saw a rope ladder hanging down through the branches. Her eyes followed it up through the leaves and came to rest on the immense branch on which it was secured. Rosa noticed that it was surrounded by what looked like a wooden platform. She looked towards the trunk of the tree and gasped. Built around the trunk of the tree and extending outward through the branches was a large, multilayered tree house. It had three large, wooden platforms, the largest of which seemed to extend almost to the end of the branches. Built onto the platforms were large houses, which looked more like huts. They seemed to be made from branches with what looked like amber in between, and the first two ended at the platform above. The top one seemed to be roofed with leaves. Rosa wondered Who is this beautiful tree house for? Does someone live here? How’d they grow a tree big enough to hold it? The smallest hut, if it can be called that, is almost as big as Mandy’s kitchen, and that was one of the largest rooms in the castle! As Rosa gazed at it, she wondered if it would be alright for her to go look around the inside of the tree house. Why not? Then, she shook her head. It wouldn’t be right. There’s no reason, except so I can satisfy my curiosity, and that’s not a very good reason. Suddenly, Rosa heard a howl from behind her, and she spun around. When she saw what was making the howl, however, she almost wished that she hadn’t. In the forest, getting ready to spring, was a pack of wolves, and they were very large wolves. Rosa screamed, then spun back around and ran for the tree and the rope ladder. She had only one thought: I have to escape! She quickly climbed the rope ladder, and emerged on the first platform. Only then did she stop and try to catch her breath.

            After catching her breath, Rosa looked around. The platform was bare, except for leaves here and there that had fallen from the branches above. She then turned and went into the house. It was brighter inside than she expected, for the amber between the branches in the walls let in light. However, the inside was also messier than outside. Odd, thought Rosa, it’s usually the other way around. The floor was littered with dust, dirt, and leaves, and there was a thick coating of dust over everything. The only thing not dusty was a basket of plums sitting on the large, wooden, table built around the trunk of the tree, which rose through the floor. Rosa’s mouth watered at the sight of them, for plums were her favorite food. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and grabbed one, and bit into it. Mmm, she thought, sweet and firm, just the way I like them.  She quickly finished the plum, and then realized what she had done. I just stole a plum from whoever lives here! Oh no! What am I going to do? Oh! I know! I’ll clean this house up! That should pay for it! She spied a broom in a corner and began energetically sweeping the floor. Soon, it was cleared of dust, dirt, and leaves. Then, she opened the cupboards that lined one part of the circular wall. She found a duster in one, and quickly removed the dust from the rest of the room too. Then, she went back outside and swept the platform, clearing the debris from it completely. After finishing this task, Rosa climbed another rope ladder to the second level, armed with broom and duster.

            The second floor was far cleaner than he first. Rosa only had to sweep the outer platform and dust inside. After she finished these small tasks, she searched for a way up to the third and uppermost level. She searched the entire level, and then discovered something odd. There’s no way to get up, not even by climbing the tree itself! The next platform is tight to the tree, and there’s no rope ladder! She looked around once more, and suddenly saw how late it was getting. She hurried inside and tried to figure out what to do. In that room, there were four beds. As Rosa looked at them, she felt incredibly tired. She flopped down on the nearest one and instantly fell asleep.

 What will happen next? Is this place as safe as it seems, or does more danger await Rosa? To find out, check back Thursday for Chapter Seven! In the meantime, please comment and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your opinions!

-Sarah
 Update: Chapter Seven and Chapter Eight are up!

Jellybeans!

Hi, everyone! Today, I thought that I'd post a picture I took of food! Why? Well, the season for this food is quickly (kind of) approaching!

Jellybean Milkshake/Sundae

This picture is an HDR, though it doesn't look like one. It's supposed to look like a Sundae or Milkshake, though I'm not sure if it does or not. By the way, sorting jellybeans by color is not fun. However, that's what it took to get this shot, so I sorted. I actually took it for a contest, but I never got around to entering it. What do you think of it? Please comment and tell me!
-Sarah

Poll Results: Legendary Weapons

Hi, everyone! The "What Should My Legendary Weapon Do To Combat Another Legendary Weapon?" poll is over, and here are the results. Thanks to everyone who voted! I really appreciate your opinions and will consider them and try to use them.

Extinguish any of the fire that comes so close to it. = 2 (40%)
Create a shield around the city. = 2 (40% 
Nothing; Weapon One is just a fluke. = 0 (0%)
Nothing; Weapon One doesn't have to do anything. Weapon Two doesn't exist. = 0 (0%)
Something else. = 1 (20%)


So, Legendary Weapon One should make a shield around the city that extinguishes any fire that comes near it. Either that or Legendary Weapon One should do something totally different.


Please vote in my current poll, "What, If Anything, Would You Like To See More or Less of On This Blog?" I really appreciate your opinion.

Thanks again for voting!
-Sarah

IT'S FINISHED!- My Abridged Week

Hello, everyone! Friday has come around once again, and that means it's time for another update on my life. So, without further ado, my abridged week.

• ELDEN TALES #2 IS FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it's finally finished! I think I shall also name it, finally. The title shall be . . . (dramatic pause) . . . Elden Adventures! Also, by finishing this tale, I have written all these this week: a gigantic (for me) battle scene, a scene in which many prisoners are rescued, a scene in which Leilani and a few others confront the leader of the evil people, another scene where a traitor tries to kill all my main characters, and two deaths. Yep, I've been busy. Of course, I didn't have a large number of new books to read, so that helped.
• There was a photo contest Thursday at the club that Dad and I go to. I got a Third Place ribbon and a Honorable Mention Ribbon. The 3rd place was for "Spoons" and the HM was for "Spot of Color". To see these pictures and others, click here.
• It, unfortunately, is cold again. It's also windy. Very windy. I nearly got blown away when we went to the library today. I do hope that it warms up soon.

Well, that's my week. Please comment and vote in my polls, especially the Legendary Weapons one!

Rosa Chapter Five

Hi, everyone! Been wondering what’s going to happen to Rosa? Well, if so, you’ll find out today, because I’m posting Chapter Five! Haven’t read Chapters One through Four yet, or just need a refresher? Here’s the link to Chapter Four. And now, Rosa!

Chapter Five

Rosa and Mandy hugged each other one last time, and then Rosa turned and followed the huntsman out the door and into the garden. As she looked back one last time, she saw Mandy sitting by the window with her head in her hands. At first, Rosa couldn’t tell what Mandy was doing, but then Rosa realized that Mandy was crying. Shaken, she turned away and hurried after the huntsman, trying not to think about how her life had been turned upside down.

            Rosa and the huntsman walked for hours, first through the small village surrounding the castle, then through pastures and fields, and finally through dark woods. Neither said a word, except for the occasional directions from the huntsman. Then, just when Rosa thought she could walk no further, they stopped.

            “We’ll take a break here,” said the huntsman, “We don’t want to tire ourselves out.” He sat down, and Rosa followed suit. They sat there, barely moving for ten minutes. I could just sit here forever. Rosa thought. It’s so peaceful. Suddenly, Rosa heard a strange sound coming from the trees. It was eerie and frightening, and vaguely reminded Rosa of the castle hound howling, with a bit of the cat’s yowl when someone steps on her tail, and maybe a touch of the scream of pain Rosa had emitted once when she cut a gash in her leg. Rosa’s mind raced as she realized There’s something else too. It sounds unnatural! What could be making this horrible sound? Glancing at the huntsman, she asked “What was that?” Her voice was shrill with fright, and she could barely get the words out.

            The huntsman had leaped up when he heard the sound, and he was now standing with a long hunting knife in his hand.  “Vulges!” he exclaimed. “And close too, by the sound of it.”

            As the huntsman spoke, Rosa heard the nervousness in his voice. What’s going to happen?  She wondered. Will we die? Out loud, she asked “What are vulges?”

            The huntsman looked at Rosa, and she saw that his face was pale. “Vulges,” he said “Are like wolves, only much, much worse. They have two rows of teeth, retractable claws six inches long, and are about the size of a large horse.” As he finished speaking, a growl came from the bushes. Rosa backed away, frightened. She thought That growl sounds as eerie as the howl, and twice as menacing! What is going to happen to us? As Rosa stared at the bushes, she saw two glowing red eyes appear. Suddenly, a huge, dark creature leaped out towards Rosa and the huntsman. The huntsman jumped backwards, and the vulge landed in front of him. “Run, Rosa! Don’t worry about me! Just run!” the huntsman cried.

            Rosa hesitated. I can’t just leave him to be eaten! The huntsman saw her hesitation and called out. “Go, Rosa, please!  It’s the best way for you to help me!”

            Rosa started to say something, but stopped. Slowly, she turned, and then she took off running as if there was a whole pack of vulges behind her. Unfortunately, in her fright she ran into the deepest, darkest, scariest part of the woods. Rosa ran into the heart of the forest.

            As Rosa ran, she heard more howls, howls like those of the vulges, wolf howls, and howls that sounded scarier that the other howls rolled into on and multiplied by a hundred. Out of the corners of her eyes, Rosa saw flickering shapes. Glowing red and orange eyes, huge shadowy beasts, flickering forms that seemed to shift shape in the eeriest way possible, and many more far more horrible things floated just within her vision. Rosa tried to shut her eyes, but they would not, could not close. If anything, they opened wider. “No! No! Get away from me!” screamed Rosa, but to no avail. Now too scared to make a sound, she ran faster, but the phantoms seemed to pursue her. Suddenly, it seemed as if she had run through and into a wall of water, and sunlight hit Rosa’s face. She checked her pace and finally came to a stop. Then, she looked around, surveying her surroundings.

Where is Rosa? Will she be safe there, or has she just gotten into more trouble? To find out, check back soon! In the meantime, please comment! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my writing!

-Sarah

Update: Chapter Six is up!