Monday, May 5, 2014

Ruth's Excellent Short Story

Treasure in the Desert

By: Ruth McKnight

The sand was red hot in the Shimmer-Scale Desert. It was mid-day, and the sun’s relentless heat was beating down upon the three young dragons sitting at a rare oasis. One of the dragons, who had scales that looked like they were made of brass, spread her wings out. Each long spine that supported the wing membrane stretched out so she was covered by the shadow. “Gosh Obsidian, I thought we’d be at the ruins by now.” She groaned. The black dragon, whose wings were more like those of the dragons that stormed castles and battled knights, looked up. “I keep telling you two the directions!” he said, glaring at his friends. “Amber, if I can’t tell where we are, this map is useless!” Obsidian roared, his black scales quivering with force.

            Amber sighed, “What do you think Typhoon?” she asked the blue dragon beside her. Typhoon looked up, the mountain-like horn on the front of his face dusted with sand. He shrugged, “I thought that that rock was closer to us that it was.” He said. The Sapphire and gold necklace around his neck glistened in the sun. Obsidian rolled his eyes. “I keep telling you that we need to go west!” he snarled, his black dragon attitude was kicking in. “Alright, calm down.” Amber said softly “west is that way,” she pointed a claw towards a sand dune in the distance. Typhoon perked up, “Amber, I’m sure that west this that way.” He said pointing in the opposite direction. Amber narrowed her eyes; Brass dragons were very much at home in the desert, so why was Typhoon telling her that she was wrong?

             If only they had a compass, but a sly human thief had stolen the only one they had.  Typhoon’s horns started to crackle with electricity, a sign he was preparing to attack if need be. Amber snarled, and small spikes of flame sizzled between her teeth. Obsidian's throat swelled with acid, prepared for a fight. “Wait!” Amber roared suddenly. “Fighting each other will not get us out of here.” She said calmly. Typhoon and Obsidian looked at her, the electricity slowly faded away, and Obsidian swallowed the acid.  Amber began to dig around in the leather pouch strapped to her side. She pulled out a magnet, a piece of iron form a human sword, and a bowl that was big enough for a dragon to drink from.

“What are we going to do with those things?” Obsidian asked. “We’re going to make a compass.” Amber said “Typhoon, will you fill this up please?” she handed Typhoon the bowl. Amber began to rub the sword blade with the magnet like her life depended on it. Typhoon came back with the bowl, which was full of water from the oasis. Amber pulled a leaf from one of the palm trees that circled the oasis. She set in the bowl, and placed the sword blade on it. The blade and leaf slowly turned until it stopped. “Okay, it’s pointing north, so west is that way!” Typhoon said, pointing towards the sand dune Amber had been pointing at. Amber smirked at him. Typhoon blushed “okay, you were right. Let’s go find that treasure!”



The three friends trekked over to the sand dune, their water bags filled with oasis water, and Amber’s food bag filled with coconuts. Typhoon scooped a snake from the sand, roasting it with it a blast of electricity. “That is so gross.” Amber muttered, making a face as Typhoon swallowed the snake whole. Obsidian was eating a fish from his bag. Seeing her friends eating, Amber opened a small bag hanging from her deck. She pulled out a crystal vial filled with dew drops, and poured the whole thing into her mouth. “Wow.” Obsidian's voice caused Amber to look up from her snack. The ‘sand dune’ was actually a huge temple, buried in sand. Only the entrance was visible. Suddenly, the sand beside her shuddered and Typhoon rose up. He was holding a whole human boat, filled to the brim with gold and jewels! The friends split the treasure evenly, with Obsidian taking the gold, Typhoon taking the jewels ( they were nearly all blue) and Amber taking the boat. “I can’t wait to show this to my parents!” Amber said excitedly. “I know, my dad will flip! Typhoon said. “My brothers will try to steal all of this, they’ll be so jealous!” Obsidian roared happily. With their treasure packs full, the three friends took flight to go back home.


  


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Lost

Lost.

I have been lost.

So sorry leaving for almost a year without a note.

I have been lost in the depths of depression. Depression is a nasty situation. This winter has definitely NOT helped in the least. Yet, it really started to get worse last spring and continued through the summer with is not normal. Usually the warm spring and summer sunshine will help pull me out of my winter funk that I fall in to almost always. But not last year. And of course this winter in Ohio has been one of the worst EVER. Snow. FEET of snow. Cold temperatures that I have not seen since that terrible winter in college (and had a 7:45 am class across campus UGH).

Finally, we are seeing whisperings of spring around here. A few green blades of grass. Robins. Lovely spring robins. And my spring bulbs are poking up. I think they are testing to see if spring really is about ready to spring.

Also, Ruth will be going to a brick and mortar school next year. I have really loved having my big girl at home these last three years. We have grown closer and I feel like I really know who she is. She has also blossomed into a great young lady which has been wonderful to experience first hand. But it is time.

So, I am hoping to get loads of items that have been on my to do list, accomplished. And I am hoping to be able to share them with you.

Here is to the promise of spring.


Andi

Thursday, April 25, 2013

More of what we have been up to...


Here are some more pictures. It is funny to look at the pictures. In one set, everyone is wearing coats and then barefoot and the coats and then shorts.... That is how it has been here this spring.

Easter egg hunt at the local plant nursery. And as you can tell by the winter coats, it was freezing cold.






Made our Easter bunny cake. I put Abbe in charge of the decorating and she did an excellent job. Wesley LOVED it! He made my day! "Aunt Anera, (that's how he says my name - just like his dad did) you made a bunny cake!!!" he said with a great big smile.



Eian's buddy moved to Florida. :(
I think Eian is still a little lot lost without him. He was in Eian's class at school AND lived right down the street. We all miss him.



Abbe had another friend over.



Ummm....wait doesn't she he look familiar? Let's just say Abbe talked him into it. He makes a cute little girl though doesn't he? ;)


Eian is now playing soccer. This is the only picture I have right now. It has been FREEZING cold every game. When it warms up, I will get some better pictures.



We went on the spring salamander hunt.









4-H is starting.

We now have chicks. I will have do a separate post on that whole ..... thing.