Dan Antion

Autumn Coming? No Doubt – SoCS

Modelo draft
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Not as good as the Editor’s
Hanging onto summer

After a week of hanging out with my buddy Preston, I am ready to join David for a beer, some catching up and a go at Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Linda has tossed us an interesting curve ball this week:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘a word that contains a silent letter.’ Choose a word that contains a silent letter and use it in your post, or write about words with silent letters in general. Enjoy!”

If we were having a beer, we’d have a lot to catch up on.

“Welcome my young friend. Are you sticking around today, or are you still cat sitting?”

“I am here for as long as you’re buying, David.”

“You sure you don’t want to go check on Preston?”

“Faith is back, and he is busy trying to convince her that I didn’t feed him enough.”

“She’s not buying that, is she?”

“If she has any doubts, they will disappear when he wakes her up at one a.m.”

“Did you feed him that early?”

“By the time the week was over, David, I was feeding him early and often. It was easier than listening to him complain.”

“You sure you weren’t bartending, Dan?”

“We’re not that bad, are we Cheryl?”

“No, you guys are fine. Mr. ‘My martini isn’t dry enough’ out on the patio, on the other hand.”

“I guess there’s one in every bar.”

“Well, I wish he’d take his habit elsewhere. You guys want the usual?”

“Do you still have Modelo on tap?”

“I do, Dan. David, you care to join him?”

“I wouldn’t want to disappoint John Howell, Cheryl.”

“OK, one bourbon with seltzer and ice on the side. Do you guys plan on eating?”

“Do you have any specials today, Cheryl?”

“We have two, salmon and meatloaf.”

“Hmm, they both sound good.”

“Here are your drinks. Let me know if you want to try the specials. I have to attempt to make a dry martini.”

“Maybe you should have someone else deliver it, Cheryl.”

“Why, David? Are you worried I’ll lose my temper?”

“No, I just thought maybe that large guy in the kitchen. You know, show a little muscle. I’ll bet that martini will be plenty dry.”

“Threaten the man? I don’t think so, David. I’ll try something a little more subtle.”

“Good luck, Cheryl.”

“Thanks Dan.”

“Dan, I couldn’t help but notice that you have a cut on your thumb.”

“Yes, I was cutting some vegetables at Faith’s. She has very sharp knives.”

“I thought maybe you were acting out scenes from your book.”

“I wrote it, David, but I’m not dumb enough to play the part.”

“How’d it go, Cheryl? Dry enough?”

“Perfectly dry, David. I suggested if it wasn’t he could settle his debt and try a different bar.”

“Ouch. You have a strange sense of subtle.”

“I’ve been behind this bar too long to let someone like that gnaw at me. What about you guys? Another round?”

“I’ll have another glass of bourbon.”

“Dan, another Modelo?”

“Sounds good, Cheryl. And I’ll take an order of that meatloaf to go, but not on David’s tab.”

“Here are your drinks. I put the meatloaf order in, Dan. Here’s your receipt.”

Preston likes his sun spots
White double Rose of Sharon
Another sign of an early autumn
These guys will be fading soon.
This has been here since August
I love the water drops
There aren’t too many place where I can see the trestle these days.
One of the first to fall
Rows and rows of sunflowers
Standing tall
Sweet corn is a top seller right now
Vegetable stands have been slow to open this year but this one was well stocked
Trying to feed a cat without waking up
Flags Lowered To Half-Staff in Honor of Queen Elizabeth II.


If you like speculative fiction with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:

Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You

Series page on Amazon

My profile page (and books) on Lulu

Giveaway option – count the number of silent letters in the post. Put the total in your comment. The first correct answer can have a free Kindle version of either book. Unfortunately, I think that has to be US only. Amazon doesn’t seem to allow gifting eBooks internationally :(

76 comments

  5. Dan, it would be dumb to put your thumb on a crumb because it would make it numb!

    Preston looks well fed and very content. He and MuMu could spend hours at a window just comparing their notes on you!

    I love the picture of the trestle! Beautiful. And those sunflowers standing so tall. Every time I see sunflowers they’re all bent over or flat on the ground.

    Old Glory paying her respects is still moving sight.

    Happy Saturday. More rain coming, but we need it. We didn’t get much help in our reservoirs with the recent rain.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Preston will no doubt tell Faith I didn’t feed him enough. MuMu is already telling the Editor that I haven’t brushed her. MiMi just looks up and meows, “I thought you were gone.” then sighs. It’s a no-win situation, Ginger.

      I’m glad we dipped the flags in honor of the Queen. It’s good to see us showing some respect for others.

      Hard to believe we’re still behind on normal rainfall, but the rain will be welcome.

      I hope you have a great weekend.

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  6. I’m all about that corn! I’ve spent most of my life in Indiana and early on learned to love the vast fields of corn, under miles and miles of sky. (I don’t mind eating it, either!) As for meat loaf and mashed potatoes, better comfort food has not been invented, especially as we slip into autumn. The flag speaks, doesn’t it?

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    • If they had put a nice helping of corn on that plate with the mashed potatoes, it would have been comfort heaven. There is something about a big corn field, especially around here, because they’re rare. I was glad to see us paying respect to a world leader.

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  9. Preston cracks me up. We feed all our cats in separate rooms, so they don’t eat each other’s food. They know when it’s time to eat because they all go to their rooms and sit by their bowls. I kid you not. Makes me laugh every time.
    Bring on fall! Our temps are supposed to down to the 60’s this week. I am so excited! Have a great weekend, Dan.

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  10. Extra dry huh? How about I make the martini and just pass the vermouth bottle by it on the way to the table?😉 Personally I don’t like martinis at all. Likely the olives. That double rose of sharon is the same variety we had in Georgia, Dan. So lovely.

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  11. Dan, I have not eaten breakfast yet, so the meatloaf, mashed taters and mushroom gravy is making me drool. I foresee meatloaf in my future as soon as I eat up some of the frosty things in my freezer. ;-)

    Faith needs an auto feeder. Seriously. She could set it for whatever amount and whatever time and not have to get up or listen to Preston at 1 a.m. It has worked great with 4 a.m. Gibbs.

    I hope you have a lovely Saturday and are getting the sunny weather that has now left us. Enjoy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Preston is on a prescription wet food. I’m not sure an auto feeder would work. Plus, there’s the matter of the three treats he gets before eating and the two that garnish his food. HE also eats in small portions (so he doesn’t throw up). She doesn’t feed him during the night, but he knows he can get away with it with me.

      Sorry about the meatloaf photos. Comfort food favorite.

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  12. I sure miss the roadside stands at the end of summer. When I lived in Indiana they were everywhere. The corn was especially good. The variety was Silver Beauty and delicious. I would tell Cheryl just to deliver straight gin or vodka. That would be plenty dry. Thanks for the mention.

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  13. It’s nice that Cheryl had the freedom and authority to be assertive with the martini guy. In the early 1970s, I worked at a movie theatre and customers sometimes complained about the cost of a movie ticket. One day the boss was standing in the box office with me and told a guy, “You don’t have to come in.” I was wowed. Only tried that a couple times on my own. One guy walked away. I love the water drops, too. Looking forward to autumn!

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit — that dinner looks amazing. Although I know looks can be deceiving…
    A cut, Dan? My first thought was “So you’ve gotten your monthly injury out of the way and it’s just a little cut.” But knowing you, I think I should instead ask if you still have 10 fingers… Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing.

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  18. Great photos and great post. Preston looks sweet. I am sure Faith appreciates you. I have to say I love a good vegetable stand, too. There is nothing like buying direct from the source.

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  19. I don’t care about pumpkin spice everything which must put me in the minority. More for everyone else. This is my favorite line/lines today: “By the time the week was over, David, I was feeding him early and often. It was easier than listening to him complain.” Not just true of cats. 😁

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  21. Great post, loving the gallery today too. I lost count of the silent letter words in there. Plus I couldn’t wait for a contest. I had to get those books STAT!! I’m about 1/2 way through The Evil You Choose

    Liked by 1 person

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  22. I love this time of year with the stands offering the gardens’ bounties. Corn from the islands across from my town are the best. Sweet and crispy…
    Lovely photos and so nice they put the flag at half-mast for Her Majesty.

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  25. The flowers are beautiful. And I thank you for the lone leaf picture. I still have a leaf on my balcony from last year. I haven’t had the heart to pick it up. It may end up in a poem… Glad to hear you’re healing from your horrific injury.…

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  28. I’m passing on Pumpkin tea, and drinks, but I did pick up some German style lager that my local Trader Joe’s has in now for the changing season. It’s really yummy.

    I hope Faith doesn’t have too much trouble getting Preston back on his regular feeding schedule. Me thinks you spoiled him…just a bit! 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

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  31. Hi – I’m late to the party, due to a you-know-what virus case, so I won’t cheat and read who counted the silent words correctly. ;-) You and I both chose Autumn as a key silent word, so that’s fun to see. Preston sounds a bit like Mary’s cats with the persistence factor. I loved the dew drop photos of the flowers and the flag photo too. I hope your week is off to a great one!

    Liked by 1 person

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