Sharry Miller

Satisfaction, Not Success

Oh, dear – I see that I have been badly neglecting my blog this past week. I’m afraid my attention has been elsewhere with the onset of sunny weather and a shopping trip to Anchorage over the long Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like life is going to slow down any time soon. I figured out yesterday that I’ll be home only one out of the next six weekends. Fortunately, I’ll be mostly... Read more →

Five Sentence Fiction - Charmed

He bowed low in front of her, and asked, “May I have this dance?” She gazed up at him, confusion clouding her eyes as she looked at this handsome stranger whose white curls contrasted with his navy blue suit and whose bright turquoise tie perfectly complemented his brilliant smile. After a moment, the lines in her face smoothed, her eyes snapped with humor, and she said, “I’d be delighted.” He stepped behind her and wheeled... Read more →

Visual Dare - Diverge

Losing Battle Amish dead had been buried in the cemetery for 150 years, intending to spend eternity on a sun-dappled hillside. Their descendants kept the small mounds immaculate, adorned by man with simple wooden markers and by God with spring violets and vibrant autumnal maple leaves. Tears dampened the beards of Mr. Yoder and Mr. Stoltzfus as they dug, their backs bent double with stiffness from long hours of digging and lifting. They still couldn’t... Read more →

Bluebird Day for Sailing

I was in my studio happily sketching away on a new plate design, waiting to assist the kiln in doing it's thing, and planning a 30-mile bike ride for the afternoon when the phone rang. All plans flew out the window with the arrival of an invitation to go sailing with the Swansons. I felt a little guilty for giving up a day of training for my bike tour, but it's still four weeks away,... Read more →

Five Sentence Fiction - Accident

I couldn't resist continuing Sylvia's story from last week. It was just inevitable that an accident would occur during her journey. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!” Sylvia screamed through gritted teeth and pulled off her helmet, unwilling to even look at her snowmobile where it sat smashed up against the trunk of a big spruce tree with a crumpled cowling, skis jutting apart at odd angles, and a shattered windshield. Scrubbing her hands through her... Read more →

Visual Dare - Climbing

Tree Ornaments I planted the acorn when I first moved into the stone cottage. With my help, it grew quickly, but it took decades before the tree was strong enough for decorating. It amused me to consider the possibilities for ornamentation. I live a simple life, but it keeps me in practice to make my surroundings interesting. I’m fascinated by the unusual. Tropical flowers bloom in the snow, macaws cavort with crows, and a pack... Read more →

Say Yes

It may fail to draw me in, I won’t let it show, no no I have thrown away too many days and concluded there's no other way
 This is the winter of yes ~Ari Hest, "Winter of Yes" For such a small town (about 4,000 year-round residents), Valdez manages to draw a surprising amount of talent, particularly through the efforts of the Valdez Arts Council. Each year they arrange for about six acts which are... Read more →

Take Life by the Bars

If you're ever looking for an excuse to ride your bicycle, this is a great time of year to find one. Spring is in the air, in many places the weather is beautiful (but not where I live - it's cold and raining), and our energy levels are starting to soar thanks to longer days and higher vitamin D levels. Spring is made for bicycling! Yesterday was CycloFemme, a global day of women riding. On... Read more →

Five Sentece Fiction - Goggles

Sylvia pulled ski goggles over her helmet and settled them on her face, her fingers working their way around the rim to ensure that the goggles covered the edges of her balaclava completely so that the subzero wind wouldn’t freeze her skin. She was grateful for amber-colored lenses – the flat light made it hard to see the snowmobile trail as it wound through the spruce trees, and it was critical that she not get... Read more →

Miracle Bicycle Adjustment

It only took six years, but I finally did something I've been meaning to do since I purchased Madeleine: I adjusted her handlebars. When I got her in 2007, I'd never ridden a bike with drop handlebars before, so I didn't really know anything about how they should feel. I just kept the Terry factory setting and rode her without any problems, but I always wondered if she'd be more comfortable if I rotated the... Read more →