Happy “National Bike to Work Day” (if you’re reading this on May 21st)–a day that probably received more activity when there were more people actually having to commute to work. It’s also “National Strawberries and Cream Day” and “International Tea Day”, which seem to go together quite nicely.
Great, now I’m craving a cup of tea and a bowl of strawberries and cream.
For those who missed it, yesterday was “World Bee Day.”
To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day. The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries. We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.
I’ve been doing my part by choosing bee-friendly plants as I’ve been populating my backyard garden, and trying to carefully waft the bees back outside when they randomly wander into the house So far, that’s worked out well for all of us. For now, I’ll be continuing to work on “Stay Away from the Computer Day” on my Friday off along with “I hope the plumber doesn’t find any terrible problems” day.
Fingers crossed on that.
Whether Friday brings a bowl of strawberries, good news from the plumber, or visiting bees, I’ll definitely be adding another minute to my elliptical workout routine (I’m up to 32 minutes) and giving today’s writing prompt and random words a try.
Care to join me?
For those of you working away on a story (whether a first draft or a polished version on its way to publication), if you’re not feeling random, we’d love to hear a bit – whether it’s a scene, a paragraph, or even a phrase that you are especially pleased with and would like to share.
If you don’t have a story in progress, or just want to work on something new, I hope either today’s random words or writing prompt will catch your creative fancy.
Ready?
Prompt: Unexpected guests
Feel free to interpret the prompt any way you choose (or ignore it completely) and include any (or all) of the following random words:
strawberries willow trauma shag
clubhouse bee finishing complicated
likeable brave grit sleep
privileged tea benefit fool
I look forward to seeing your stories in the comments. If you’re not feeling in the writing mood today, or don’t have time, feel free to post suggestions you might have for future writing prompts. Ideas are always welcome.
Happy writing to all!
Eight Ladies Writing 
I couldn’t find a bee theme in today’s words, but I went to town with strawberries! I hope you’re having a good “Stay Away from the Computer Day.”
High Tea
Willow Bappington surveyed the strawberries the Haroldsons were offering for tea and decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. If she’d been fool enough to come unannounced, at least they were brave enough to serve something, however unlikeable and unpalatable it might be.
Having done her best to overcome the trauma of the strawberries, she fluffed out her new shag do, a style designed and styled by none other than Rufus, who served only the most privileged clients. Something that Lacy Haroldson—she of an American finishing school—would never appreciate.
“Cornelius said we should spend the next week or two at the clubhouse,” she confided to Lucy. “He’s got this bee in his bonnet about the painters coming in. Well, you know men. They tend to make everything so complicated. But he’s right—the paint fumes can be so overwhelming, can’t they? We haven’t been able to sleep for weeks.”
“Mmmm,” Lucy said. She’d not rinsed the grit off the strawberries solely to make them unpleasant for Willow, who had tried one and put it down, half-eaten, on her plate. Lucy was anticipating with glee that later she’d have bags of strawberries all to herself. “Yes, it’s so exhausting having the decorators in, isn’t it? I don’t know how you bear it.”
Thanks, Kay; today was a good day—nap included. Hope yours was too.
Enjoyed your sprint, especially your creative use of “grit.” That’s one way give a guest second thoughts about stopping by unexpectedly.