Grama’s Tea

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Tara Jo

PHOTO PROMPT © Jen Pendergast

Grama’s custom tea blends and that little pot had been with me as long as I could remember, first on weekends and holidays at her house, then college, my first foray into adulthood. Every Friday, like clockwork, a small package arrived in the mailroom. I’d head to my room, start the water, and open it. She always knew what I needed: a pick-me-up after a bad date, comfort after a tough exam. No package was ever the same, but each one healed something invisible. Her teas weren’t just blends. They were love, wisdom, and care, steeped into every soothing sip.

Posted in 100words, friday fictioneers | Tagged | 3 Comments

Summer Time

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Tara Jo

How many times have we discussed this, the tent, the chairs, everything has its place.

Why is there a chair in the trees?

No one has set up the camp kitchen!

The fire hasn’t even been set up, forget actually lit and ready to use.

Do you people even camp!?

And now we have to get out the bumbershoots because the rain has started.

But more importantly. No. Most importantly! The outhouse tent does not go this close to the living space! We are going to sleep and relax and fix meals right here!

This is just not right.

PHOTO PROMPT © AJ Wilson

Posted in friday fictioneers | Tagged , | 2 Comments

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Tara Jo

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a beautifully written celebration of the power of fiction to enrich and transform our lives. The novel follows nine diverse readers who are each impacted in unique ways by Alice’s debut novel, a work that shares her own struggles The characters include a teenager hiding a secret, a widower dealing with grief, and a free diver facing struggles of his own.

Bauermeister’s writing is evocative and heartwarming, as she explores the ways in which reading can offer solace, hope, and new perspectives to those who need it most. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of literature to connect us to one another and to the world around us, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on any reader.

Overall, No Two Persons is a beautifully crafted and deeply moving tribute to the magic of literature. It is a must-read for book lovers of all ages and is sure to inspire readers to pick up their next great read. So, it is highly recommended.

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The time had come

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Tara Jo

She could see it across the yard, she knew she had to, but that didn’t make it any easier

She knew what waited, it wasn’t her first time heading to the shed
Every few weeks it was required of her, the expectation had been set for years

She slowly walked across the yard, dragging her feet through the grass listening to it swish against her converse sneakers

She slowly reached out toward the door, one last beseeching look toward her father, but no, he would not give way, she would have to get the mower and deal with the lawn

Join me for some short story writing every week at Friday Fictioneers 
https://rochellewisoff.com/2022/08/31/2-september-2022/

PHOTO PROMPT © David Stewart
Posted in 2022, friday fictioneers | 6 Comments

Family Recipes – Griddle Cookies

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Tara Jo

Griddle Cookies


You make these on a griddle, and the dough freezes well.


3 1/2 c sifted flour
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 c. shortening
1 egg
1/2 c milk
Cut shortening into dry ingredients, beat egg, mix with milk then add and stir til all ingredients are moistened and dough holds together.
Roll out to about 1/4 inch thin and cut with 2 inch cookie cutter
Heat griddle pancake hot, oil it lightly and place cookies on it. As bottoms brown tops puff up, flip over and brown other side. Makes about 4 dozen

Posted in cookies, cooking, family, familyrecipes | 1 Comment

I must explain

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Tara Jo

As she walked around the curve in the road, she slowed, dragging her feet through the gravel and dust.

She could handle it, she thought, the note weighting down her backpack.   How would they react?

She knew if she could just explain first, they would understand why she had to do it.   She HAD to do it; they must realize that.

As she neared the house, she could smell the garlicy sauce, she would make the spaghetti to go with the sauce, she and Grama did their best talking in the kitchen, it was going to be OK after all.

Join me for some short story writing every Friday at Friday Fictioneers 
https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/09/23/25-september-2020/

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
Posted in 100words, 2020, friday fictioneers, writing prompts | 5 Comments

Final Notice

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Tara Jo

I hear the shuffle of steps below but can’t make out the quiet conversation. It is too late or maybe too early for visitors.
I slip out my window and look over the porch rail, but it is too dark with the streetlights shot out in the alley.
I’m not supposed to be out on the porch or have my window open at night, but it was hot and stuffy, my fan not working.
A crash and some shouts, then unnerving quiet.
I slip back inside.
As the sun comes up, I see the results of an ignored final notice.

Join me for some short story writing every Friday at Friday Fictioneers https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/09/16/18-september-2020/

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Posted in 100words, 2020, friday fictioneers, writing prompts | 8 Comments

The store

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Tara Jo
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

She pulled against Mom’s hand as they walked down the street, eager to reach their destination. She had seen the sign as they drove by to setup their camp on the beach.  The store had been there every year, but never open when they were in town for their yearly vacation.  Her mom had finally agreed to let her go and spend the allowance she had been saving for months for this trip.  All those summers of only being able to  peek in the windows at the treasures inside! 

Then the realization the sign did not say open after all.

loosely based on summer trips to the beach where i never got to spend as much time or money as i might have liked in the tourist shops haha

Join me for some short story writing every Friday at Friday Fictioneers
https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/09/09/11-september-2020/

Posted in 100words, 2020, friday fictioneers, writing prompts | 8 Comments

The order

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Tara Jo

You can barely see him on the other side of the glass, shoulders hunched over the bench, tools close at hand

Each movement carefully planned as he selects a tool, and with hammer starts the pattern

The children look on, wanting to help but knowing with this project it is time to be quiet and learn

The carving complete, he grabs the stains and dyes to add color to the design

He selects the first stamps and adds the letters to the skirt

The saddle is done , it now only needs delivered to the big house on the hill

PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

Join me for some short story writing every Friday at Friday Fictioneers
https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/09/02/4-september-2020/

My Grandfather was a leatherworker and the saddlery sign in the window inspired this story, I can recall hours spent watching him create amazing detail in leather, and being allowed to stamp my name on a scrap of leather was always an exciting moment. The saddles above are some of his work

Posted in 100words, 2020, friday fictioneers, writing prompts | 6 Comments

Family

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Tara Jo

Friday Fictioneers 8-28-2020

He could see the flames dancing from the top of the hill but could not hear the crackle and pop of the fire. He was not sure if it was the house or the barn. He ran quickly, lungs burning as hot as the fire ahead.

As he got closer, he could see house was not aflame, it was his family dancing around the yard.  He had always known that he was different, but he had no idea how different until now and understood why his mother sent him into town every Friday with instruction not to return until morning.

Join me for some short story writing every Friday at Friday Fictioneers
https://rochellewisoff.com/2020/08/26/28-august-2020/

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ff8282020-1024x768.jpg
PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

Posted in 100words, 2020, friday fictioneers, writing prompts | Tagged , , | 7 Comments