Time management is critical in my day; dogs, gardens, people, and writing stories all take time. Some mornings, I don’t know what to start with first. I’ve learned that if I take care of my garden first, I am better equipped mentally and emotionally to do for others. 

I am relieved that my dear little Daisy is doing so well eating her food. On her own timetable, of course. Breakfast can be anytime from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and in the evening, sometimes as late as midnight! Today was reasonable; once Daisy was awake, she walked her 1,000 steps or more, walking into all kinds of trouble. Getting caught behind a gate, then a bale of wire, going over and under the legs of the chairs around the picnic table; I call it her gymnast loop. Tonight, Daisy ate early and is now resting peacefully after a beef treat. Henry and I enjoyed three walks today: down in the park, on the beach, and last thing this evening, around the neighborhood. He is also sleeping after his dinner and treats.

I chose to work in my garden this morning. There was much to cut back and a lot of vegetables to pick. A bowl of tomatoes, which I will roast with herbs and garlic, peppers, and beans, will be chopped and frozen. A bag of apples, with which I made six containers of apple pie filling to go in the freezer, and a bunch of rhubarb, hopefully, the last of the season. I gave some away and cut the rest into a freezer bag for another time. Back in the garden, I filled three bags with the deadheaded flowers. Tomorrow, I will focus on other people, doing landscaping for one and shopping for another.

Now, for a creative piece written by one of the members of The Blue Bottles Writing Studio from the prompts: There is an Emu loose on the Highway.

An Emu Story by Allison Schroeder

Persistent honking and yelling brings me out of the blackness. 

GASP – “Oh holy hell, it’s hot. What’s everyone’s problem?” I wonder out loud.

WOOSH! I stumble to the right as something big and fast rushes by me. I catch myself

on a cement slab with my… feathered arm? as even more vehicles speed by. 

I shake my head to try to understand exactly what’s happening. Hugging as close as I can to the wall to avoid traffic, I feel around to see exactly what I’m wearing. IT’S STIFLING! Turns out, I’m inside some kind of suit, similar to what mascots wear at sports events. There are clawed scaley feet, a big feathery rump, a long neck, a big beak, and giant eyes – “I’m dressed as an EMU?!?” I think with disbelief just as someone approaches me with a rope. 

“Eeeeeaaaaasssyyy big fella, I’m not gonna hurt ya,” says a kindly looking wrangler type. 

“Good bird, goooooooood bird!” he says as he’s twirling the rope above his head.

Just as I was about to tell him that I’m in fact a human DRESSED as an emu, the rope expertly lands right on the neck of the costume covering my mouth as he cinches the rope closed.

“MMMRMMPHHH! URRGGHHMMMPPHH! MPHMPHMPMHH!” I try saying something anyways, but he’s just making soothing shushing noises and gently pulling the rope to lead me towards his horse trailer. I flail and jump about but he’s obviously some kind of animal wrangler expert because he’s able to control my movements and finally gets me into the horse trailer. He closes the door behind me and leaves the rope in place, I assume for easy

 control when we get to whatever destination we’re going.

Locked in the trailer, I bang on the sides trying to get his attention. But I guess that just sounds like normal animals in distress so he ignores my attempts and starts up the truck. I feel us moving and all I can do is sit down and wait until we see where we’re headed. 

Bumping along, I have time to backtrack my thoughts to try to make sense of exactly how I got into this situation.

Blacked out and waking up walking down the highway… in an emu costume… how’d that happen? 

Hmmm… ok, I remember other people dressed as animals. There was a lion, a zebra, a turtle, a penguin, I think maybe there was a koala and… yes! A panda! OH MY GOSH the Zoo’s COSTUME PARTY! Of course! I had gone out last night in this get-up because the zoo I work at was having their annual Halloween party and everyone decided to dress up as their favorite zoo animal! The person with the most realistic costume wins the grand prize: a big bottle of fancy bubbly brut!

And guess who won…!